Crocodile Pit campfire, Sunday night

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

Snow had lived in a castle most of her life. Just not an inflatable one. She was worried about puncturing the strange material it was made out of, so she was very careful about not bringing anything sharp inside as she claimed a corner as her own.

Fortunately, she did know how to light a fire. It wasn't cold out, but the light it provided was nice, and she felt more comfortable sitting outside rather than inside, not just because of the weirdness of the bouncy castle, but just because she could be outside.

She idly poked at the small fire with a stick, then leaned back to look up at the stars.

[Open!]

Comments

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

Theo had experiences with bouncy castles but he really didn't want to live in one even if Dev had convinced him to bounce around earlier. It'd gotten boring quick so he'd come outside.

"Hey," he said when he spotted someone familiar at a nearby campfire. "Interesting living conditions we're dealing with, right?"

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

Snow smiled at Theo as she sat back up straight. "I've never seen structures like these," she said. "They're like no castle I have ever been in!"

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

"They're pretty fun at birthday parties," Theo said, taking a seat and stretching his legs out. "I don't know if I necessarily want to live in one for a few weeks but they can be fun. Good workout too."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"It was fun to bounce around when I first went inside," Snow admitted. "I don't know how easy it will be to sleep if others are moving around, though."

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

"That's what I'm afraid of," Theo agreed, rubbing the back of his neck. "And what if someone loses their balance and lands on you? I don't think a knee to the stomach will be very fun either."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"I suppose we could take the mats outside and sleep on the ground," Snow said, reaching for another stick to toss on the fire. "At least, as long as it is not raining."

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, we could," Theo said, glancing up at the sky. "And as soon as I tried that, the skies would open up and it would pour down on me. And then I'd slip in the mud and land face first in a puddle."

It would happen. He knew his luck.

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure the castle would be much better about protection from a storm," Snow said. She glanced in the direction of the school. "But we have to stay here, don't we?"

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

"Seems like it," Theo said though he was having thoughts of going back to his room as well. "But, could we get into that much trouble if we go back to the dorms?"

"Yes, yes you could, Theo," Ange said, shaking her head. "That's against the rules."

"Who cares about the rules! Go back to your room, Theo. It's more comfortable and you'd have it to yourself!" That was Dev, of course.

Dev's idea was really, really tempting.

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"I don't want to get in trouble, especially after everyone has been so kind to me here," Snow said. "It's only two weeks. I've slept in worse places."

Much worse. This was a real castle compared to her prison.

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

"Probably a good idea," Theo said after some consideration of his own. "I guess if it gets too bad, we could go back to just get a breather but probably shouldn't just move back there."

The bouncy castles couldn't be that bad. "The campfires are kind of nice. I haven't been camping since I was small."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"I never have been," Snow said. "But my time here has all been new experiences for me. I know how to make fires, at least. Will we have to cook on them?"

She was going to miss the magical refrigerators back in the dorms.

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

"I...don't think so," Theo said though he wasn't really sure, if he was honest. "Wow, I hope not because I can't cook and I don't have enough money to constantly order pizza every night. Maybe someone else will do the cooking and share?"

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"If I find someone who will be cooking I will tell you, if you will do the same," Snow promised, laughing a little.

[theoplustwo.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you've got a deal," Theo said, nodding. "And if I don't, well, I'll just make sure I find you and share the pizza that I'll be ordering and eating every single day, then."

[dressedinblood]

Anna had done her own investigation of the tent, and now emerged, shooting a wryly amused look over her shoulder at their new domicile.

"I don't think people are supposed to live in these," she concluded.

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"They are very strange," Snow agreed. "Does this happen every year here?"

[dressedinblood]

"Well, last year we had to come out here for a while, but there were normal tents," Anna explained. "These are new...and, yes, strange." She reached out and gently shoved a corner of the tent, and watched the whole thing wobble.

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"You must be Anna or Madeline?" Snow guessed. She'd seen the list of names of people who were sharing the castle with her, but she'd only recognized Billy's name from her classes.

"I'm Snow White," she said.

[dressedinblood]

"Anna," Anna confirmed, and then she hesitated. She had seen Snow's name on the list, as well, and...well, given the the fact that it was a coherent phrase, and, well, Fandom, she just wasn't sure, and didn't want to offend. "Is it...do you go by Snow? Or always Snow White?"

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"Snow is fine," Snow said, smiling. "Where are you from? Have you been here long?"

[dressedinblood]

"I'm from Canada," Anna said, and, since you could never be too sure around here, "That's another country, it's north of here, and if you already knew that, well, you get used to having to explain it around here. And I've been here...about a year and a half?" She had to pause and do math, because she was not so good with the passage of time sometimes. "Yes. I got here last January. What about you?"

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"A place you have probably never heard of," Snow said. She'd be surprised if she ever encountered anyone who had. "The Kingdom of Tabor. I have only been here for a few weeks. It's been very strange, but I am learning."

[dressedinblood]

"You're right," Anna admitted, "I've never heard of it. And I think that's pretty much how everyone's first few weeks here go. More or less."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"We don't have electricity or televisions or refrigerators where I am from," Snow said. "I think I will miss them when I am able to go home, though."

[selfhelphero]

Billy never really got used to the camping thing, but the bouncy castles were just way too weird, so he was going to be sitting out at the campfire until he felt confident enough to squeak in and lay down. "I was really hoping for tents," he said as he plopped down. "Even if it meant sleeping on the ground."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"You're Billy, right?" Snow said. He was in two of her classes, but they'd never spoken. "I'm Snow."

[selfhelphero]

"I am indeed Billy." He'd figured he'd be easy to spot in a castle full of girls. "It's nice to meet you."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"You're in Cultural Appreciation and First Aid with me," Snow said. "It is nice to meet you as well."

[selfhelphero]

"You mean First Aid and Eat Food for Thor class?" Billy said with a laugh. "Those are two of my favorites."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"That class is nothing like I expected," Snow said, laughing as well. "I did not know it would be about food, but some of the things we have had to try are very interesting at least."

[selfhelphero]

"I thought it would mostly be about looking at Thor," Billy said with a snicker. "And maybe learning something along the way."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"He looks like someone I know from back home," Snow said. "I thought he was that person at first. But I can see now they are very different."

And yes, he wasn't that hard to look at. She wasn't blind.

[selfhelphero]

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Billy asked. "That they're different."

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"I'm not entirely certain," Snow admitted. "He served someone who wanted to hurt me, but he didn't know their true purpose, I think."

[selfhelphero]

"Oh," Billy said with a frown. "Well, Thor would never hurt anyone. He's a hero where I come from. Are you here to get away from whoever wanted to hurt you?"

[fairest-blood.livejournal.com]

"Would you believe magpies led me here?" Snow said. She hadn't seen any except Loki's Ikol since she arrived, but she had to wonder if they were around somewhere. "I was running and they brought me to a . . . I am told it's called a portal? And that brought me here."

[dressedinblood]

"Maybe it won't be too bad if no one moves around too much in their sleep," Anna suggested. "If it helps any, you won't have to worry about me."

[selfhelphero]

Billy snickered softly. "I don't move much either. I'm just wondering what will happen if one person has to get up way earlier than the others."

[dressedinblood]

"Maybe if they move very carefully?" Anna suggested, but she sounded doubtful.

[selfhelphero]

"I think people might end up getting kicked out of their castles if they move around too much," Billy said. "Either that or we're all going to get really close."