Tiger Blood Campfire, Friday Afternoon

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

Yiiiiiiiiikes, where did the whole summer go?

Not that you could hear it out loud unless you happened to be telepathic in which case you'd be welcome to overhear it, but Stephanie was sure thinking it pretty loudly. Kind of hard not to be thinking along those lines when she was sitting outside by the campfire pit, going through the Gotham University course catalog and trying to finalize her schedule for the fall semester.

Still, to all appearances she was just perched on a rock with the catalog spread out over her knees, tapping a pen restlessly against her lips. And occasionally chewing on it.

Going home was going to be a new and slightly intimidating experience after all this time. Exciting, sure, but she'd have to get back into the groove of Gotham life again, and --

Ugh, that train of thought led to Bat-style brooding, and she was not appropriately costumed nor situated atop a roof, so no. Better to focus on her class schedule instead, or hope for a suitable distraction.

[OOC: So totally open.]

Comments

[notconflicted]

"I had to get away from that castle," Sia announced by way of greeting.

And since Stephanie was out, Stephanie was her excuse!

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

Stephanie was convenient like that.

"Not a fan, hmm?" she asked in the tone of oh, I totally feel you there, sister, setting her course catalog aside. "I have a sneaking suspicion that this is all a theoretically clever plan to make sure we get out there and enjoy the great outdoors whether we want to or not."

[notconflicted]

"Mine is transparent," she said, taking a seat. "I can even experience the great outdoors inside."

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

"But with a wobbly view." Stephanie made a face, though, and glanced over her shoulder toward the tiger-shaped castle. "These accommodations -- they're grrrrrrrrrrrrreat!"

She had a daily pop culture reference quota to meet, okay?

"I may never want to eat Frosted Flakes again."

[notconflicted]

"...Because they're difficult to eat in a bouncy castle?"

Seriously, some pop culture references either had to be more obvious, or Sia had to pay better attention.

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

Stephanie had not considered that, but now she had to. This was the explanation for her sudden horrified expression.

"My guess would be yes, with a bonus of making everyone else in there hate you when it gets everywhere, and attracts insects, and . . ."

Criiiiiiiiiinge.

". . . that is, their mascot's this giant orange tiger who encourages kids to get out and play. See? I knew it was all a plan to get us out!"

[notconflicted]

"Ah, yes. It all makes sense now. It's the tiger's fault," she nodded.

She maybe talked to Jessica too much.

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

Stephanie waved her hand. "It's all really just to distract us from how the cereal is, oh, coated in sugar."

She nodded, deadpan. "Vast conspiracy. Really."

[notconflicted]

"Understood," Sia said, nodding again. "I have no idea how we started talking about cereal, by the way."

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

"Also the tiger's fault," Stephanie said. Very seriously, of course. "He looks like he could be on the cereal box. How goes it on a Friday afternoon, besides bouncy?"

[notconflicted]

"Frustrating and also boring, for bouncy reasons," she admitted. "Though I am getting plenty of exercise walking back to the dorms just to get dressed every day. Yourself?"

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

"Bizarrely enough?" Stephanie twirled the pen in her fingers and laughed slightly. "Enjoying the, well, bizarreness of it all. Sort of soaking it all in while I still can, before it's back to home sweet gloomy home."

Not to say Gotham City wasn't bizarre, or whimsical. It was usually just trying to kill you in a bizarre or whimsical way.

[notconflicted]

"Is home that bad?" Sia wondered.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"You're brooding," Tony said, bumped her shoulder as he took a seat by the fire.

And yes, the summer just disappeared on them. Time travel may have occurred.

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

Stephanie was not ruling time travel out at all.

"Am not," she objected halfheartedly, scooting closer to lean her head against him. "Okay, technically I was en route to Broodville, and then you came by."

She fluttered her eyelashes at him in a ridiculously exaggerated way. "Oooh, my hero."

. . . no, really, she did appreciate it.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

Tony batted his eyes back at her, leaning in for an overly exaggerated Eskimo kiss to tease her with. "Nervous about leaving?"

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

"Little bit," admitted Stephanie. If he was going to do that, she had to counter with trying to sneak an actual kiss. Oh no. "The end of the summer crept up on me. It's not supposed to do that."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

Oh noooo!

"That's what summers do, I've been informed," Tony replied loftily. "And you're going to do awesome at college."

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

What were you gonna do about it, Tony, huh? Huh?

"I'm not too worried about the academic stuff," Stephanie told him. Though she was worried about being able to juggle nighttime vigilante-ing and staying awake during class. Thanks, early-morning freshman year prerequisites! "I'm looking forward to it, even. It'll just be a big adjustment, being home for good again."

She nudged him with her knee. "All set for MIT, sweetie?"

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"As set as I'll ever be," Tony replied with a sigh. "Remind me again why we have to go to college?"

Other than an education.

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

"Because the diploma makes a nice addition to any wall?" Stephanie suggested. Also, you know, that education thing. "Anyway, you can't tell me you're not looking forward to all the geeking out you'll get to do."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

PFF. EDUCATION.

"Maybe just a little," Tony admitted.

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

Stephanie laughed and nudged him again. "I know you'll run nerdy circles around the rest of the freshman class, if it's any consolation."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"I should make a flag for when I claim a section of the lab for the Stark name."

Seriously, you two?

[batwaffles.livejournal.com]

"Don't forget the brass plaque," Stephanie told him. "And never underestimate the importance of a good logo."

They were hopeless, really.