Fourth Floor Common Room, Monday Evening

[bearmaidenfair]

Talking to one of the new kids at the picnic had reminded Vider of what it was like to be new here and not sure where the food came from at a place like this, which had reminded her that it had been a while since she'd provided food for the community rather than swiping whatever was unlabeled in the fridge. So she'd done some shopping, and some cooking, and now a big pot of beef stew was simmering away on the stovetop. There were also two six-packs of honey soda in the fridge; one was blank, but the other had Vider's name clearly written on each bottle. Her generosity only extended so far.

((Open common room is open!))

Comments

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

Hanna followed her nose down the hall, wearing her brand new Tasmanian Devil T-shirt. And Tweety socks.

"Vider, hello." She stopped to sniff at the stew. "This smells very good."

[bearmaidenfair]

Vider's world didn't have those cartoons, but she'd seen those characters on the TV often enough to know it was a thing here. She guessed Hanna was a fan. "Hi, Hanna," she said. "You can have some if you like, it's for everyone."

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

More like Sparkle, but Hanna was getting there. She would be, if she ever saw the cartoons themselves. "Thank you, I would like that." Another sniff, as she took a bowl. "What kind is it? And did you have class today?"

Maybe that was something to ask about in her Adulting class. How to cook, or cook for other people.

[bearmaidenfair]

"It's beef stew," Vider told her, "and no, my classes start tomorrow. Did you have classes today?"

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"Adulting 101. With Miss Pryce," Hanna added. "It seems like it will be very useful. And not terribly difficult." She settled down to eat the stew, liking it better than the cafeteria food she'd had at lunch time. "Are there jobs one can find on the island?"

[bearmaidenfair]

Vider vaguely wondered what they taught in Adulting class (holmgang procedures, maybe?) but she addressed the actual question. "Sure, a bunch of the businesses hire kids. They seem to pay really well, too."

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

Hanna stirred her soup for a moment, then took another sip. "I do not have any experience. Do you think that would be a problem? Unless it is with the outdoors." Another sip, and "What class do you have tomorrow?"

[bearmaidenfair]

"I don't know, I've never tried to find a job here." She had a government stipend that was more than sufficient for her needs. "But it never hurts to ask. I have two classes tomorrow, Defending Against Magic and Creative Problem Solving." The second had appealed to her Lokiskin side.

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"I would like to know how to defend against magic. Since I did not know it was real until I arrived here, but... everyone confirms it. And I saw Cassandra appear out of nowhere." Hanna hummed. "Will they turn you loose in the wilderness to find your way home, in the other class?" That was the kind of 'creative' her father would have assigned.

[bearmaidenfair]

"...they might. I don't know, I haven't been to the class yet. But the other one should come in useful." Especially if there was a way to defend against magic while she was in frenzy.

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

More stew, and a little slurping. Manners were for company. "Do you know who carved the angels that are in the forest?"

[bearmaidenfair]

"No. What are angels?" Different theological system here, Hanna.

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"Mythological guardians, and messengers. From the Christian religion." Hanna scraped a bit at the sides of the bowl. "They are depicted as winged, and usually beautiful. But the ones in the forest have scowls, and fangs, and sharp teeth, and are reaching to punish someone, I think."

She still liked them, though. It made sense that powerful beings would be vengeful and angry to her.

[bearmaidenfair]

"They sound like the Valkyries, sort of," Vider mused. "They don't have wings, though," and they were already pretty vengeful and angry. "There are statues in the forest?"

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"A circle of them, in a clearing," Hanna clarified with a nod. "Valkyries-- those are Norse, yes? Daughters of Odin?"

[bearmaidenfair]

Vider sort of choked on her stew. "Uh, no, they're handmaidens of Odin, not his daughters." She did not think Frigg would be thrilled if they were. "Why would someone put statues in the middle of the woods? That's odd." Something alarming occurred to her. "Was the clearing sunny? Maybe they're trolls!"

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"It was sunny," Hanna said with hesitation. "...trolls?"

[bearmaidenfair]

"They turn to stone in the sun, and come alive at night," Vider explained. "I've never heard of trolls with wings, but on this island, who knows?"

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"So if they're moving at night, they're trolls," Hanna checked, finishing her soup, and licking her lips. "We should make sure."

Yes, this was the best plan, clearly!

[bearmaidenfair]

Vider was exercising a little more caution, because she knew a bit about trolls. "First, before we go rushing out there, how many were there, and how big were they?" she asked.

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"Six, in a ring. They are a head taller than I am," Hanna reported, thinking aloud. "Wearing robes or dresses. With claws as well as the teeth."

She was allowed to go fighting trolls, surely? ... Funny how she'd thought she didn't want to fight (people!) but the chance to hit something was so appealing.

[bearmaidenfair]

Vider considered this. Part of her wanted to race into action; part of her was still more practical than that. "If they are trolls," she said, "we'll need some help to deal with them. Let's go back in sunlight and see if they've moved."

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

That did seem wise. If they were active during the night-time, then they would need more people, perhaps.

"Acceptable," Hanna said, and then, "May I please have more stew?"

Manners were also for when you were still hungry.

[bearmaidenfair]

If they went at night Vider would have to track down Soren to drag with them, at the least. "Sure, there's plenty," Vider said. "I shouldn't be surprised there might be big trolls on this island," she added, "considering the little trolls in the vents."

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

Hanna stopped, blinking. "In the vents? .. Do they live on vermin?" That was the only reason she could think of for anything to be in the vents. If they weren't escaping from top-secret facilities, that is.

[bearmaidenfair]

Technically Vider thought they were vermin, but... "Sometimes they come out and bite people, and then they hallucinate. At least they're not eating them, I guess, but I make offerings to them just in case."

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

Hanna's eyes were wide. "Does that work?" She frowned. "And how does one go about making an offering?"

[bearmaidenfair]

"So far it has. I put cakes and mead in the vent in my room once a month, and ask them not to harm me. Or my roommate, of course." You were welcome, Scott.

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

That sounded sensible. "Mead?" Aside from not knowing where to get that, of course.

[bearmaidenfair]

"It's an alcoholic drink made from honey. We drink it a lot back home." Where they didn't have your pesky 'drinking ages.'

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"Ohh. Do you think they would like beer?" Hanna asked very seriously.

[bearmaidenfair]

"Probably, but mead is better for offerings," Vider said, equally serious.

[hexentotchen.livejournal.com]

"I shall attempt to acquire some." Hanna looked down at her stew and added, "And learn to cook something to return the favor of this nice stew."

[bearmaidenfair]

"You don't have to," Vider assured her, "but if you do want to provide food, you could always just order takeout. Just make sure you order less than you think you need for a crowd, they always bring too much here."