Fifth floor common room [Sunday afternoon]

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

After she'd gone to church, Rilla came home, put Jims down for his nap and headed into the common room to make treats for Ken and Walter at the front.

Shortbread would last the long transit to France, and so would fudge--but she was making plenty in case snackers stopped by too.

[OOC: Open! Distract me from reading the news.]

Comments

[flickofthewrist]

The reappearance of Jude last week had made Flick feel a little better about things. At least he knew his brother had found him and would come back at some point.

It made sleeping a little easier which meant he didn't feel quite as exhausted as usual when he wandered into the common room having smelled food that was definitely not something from a microwave.

"Smells good," he said mildly, peering over at Rilla and the kitchen area. That seemed like a good greeting.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla beamed at him. "Thank you," she said. "After a week of burning toast in cooking class, I needed to prove to myself that I could do better. Would you like a shortbread cookie? I think it's cool enough to cut now."

[flickofthewrist]

"And here I was thinking toast was easy," Flick said, coming closer because he wasn't going to pass up free food. He'd learned not to do that a long time ago. "Probably the only thing I'll manage not to burn."

The shortbread cookies did look good. He wasn't sure if he'd ever had them. Maybe Jude had bought them once or twice. He didn't remember.

"I think I'd like a cookie, yeah."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla cut her shortbread into triangles and passed one over to Flick. "It's really just sugar and butter," she said. "There's not a lot not to like. And they last for months, which is good because it will take them a while to get to France."

[flickofthewrist]

"You're sending cookies to France?" Seemed a long way to for cookies to travel. He took a bite of the cookie and it was pretty damn good. "What's in France for the cookies to enjoy? Are the cookies a fan of the Eiffel Tower?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"My brothers are fighting in the Great War," Rilla explained. "They're not terribly close to Paris at the moment, though."

[seveninchmotto]

It was only for so long that Isabelle could explore and roam the dorms with her heels clicking against floors before she had to make a stop somewhere with actual people. Since there were actually more chances of that here than back at the Institute.

So her wandering into this common room had been just a matter of time. "Ooh, is that fudge?"

[flickofthewrist]

"The Great War?" Flick said, brow furrowing while he tried to figure out which war had been dubbed that. It didn't take too long before he landed on the answer. "Ah, guess my suggestion of just sending a gift card wouldn't work, then. Probably not available during that time period."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla laughed. "Not really. They prefer their socks and blankets in person rather than just a promise of them."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"It is," Rilla confirmed with a smile. "Would you a like a piece?"

[seveninchmotto]

"I would like several," Isabelle retorted, striding in and closer to the kitchen area. Honesty was the best policy, right? "But I can probably settle for one."

[flickofthewrist]

"How long they been over there?" Flick asked, leaning a hip against the counter. "Any indication they might come home soon?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla laughed. "Well, you may have some," she said, "but I need to make at least four care packages with the rest of it."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Jem has been there almost from the moment they called for volunteers," Rilla said. "He and Jerry. Kenneth went six months later, and Walter three months after that. They've all been gone at least a year." Her smile faltered slightly. "Hard to believe it's been that long."

[flickofthewrist]

"They're still alive," Flick said, which was as optimistic as he could get. "That can't be said for a lot of people."

[flickofthewrist]

"And the allure of free food ropes another person in," Flick said idly, eating the last of the cookie he'd gotten from Rilla. "Seems to be a time honored tradition here."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla nodded vehemently. "It hasn't been true for everyone in the village, but it seems almost like something magically is protecting my brothers and their friends."

She didn't think it could last.

[flickofthewrist]

"Surprised you didn't say a higher power was protecting them," Flick said, using air quotes around the words 'higher power'. He had a lot of jaded thoughts about religion. "I believe in magic more than that crap."

[Disclaimer: thoughts on religion are all Flick's and not my own.]

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla pursed her lips. "Of course there's a God," she said. "And Jerry's father is the Presbyterian minister, but I don't think the Lord is going to pay particular attention to my brothers and friends just because I pray for them daily. He must love all of the people at the front equally."

[seveninchmotto]

"Care packages?"

A logical question!

[flickofthewrist]

"How do you know there's a God?" Flick asked dryly. "Because of a book with a bunch of words someone could have made up? He's letting people die in a war, isn't he?"

He'd let his brother die. His mother. Felix. Lucas. And Lucian Mandel was still alive.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"He didn't start the war," Rilla said. "Germany did. He is probably sorrier than all of us about the pointless waste of life. I believe because I have faith that there's something bigger out there than my little life can understand."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Rilla said. "I send cookies and socks and blankets to my two brothers and some friends who are on the front in France."

[seveninchmotto]

"So I've heard." Way before coming here, even. Benefits of her family connections. Isabelle brushed her hair over her shoulder. "I guess it shows people here aren't hopelessly stupid."

[seveninchmotto]

"There's a war in France?"

It was possible Isabelle didn't pay enough attention to the mundane world to be sure whether that was the case in this time or not. HEnce the raised eyebrow.