2nd Floor Common Room, Saturday Morning

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin had not woken up to the sound of hundreds of dwarves breaking camp. That had been the first tiny hint that things were not as they had been when he'd fallen asleep last night. The second hint was that the ridiculous 'roomba' that he'd had years ago had attacked his foot as he escaped the room he had been given.

Yeah, that had factored in.

He was definitely back at that school and away from his people until the island felt it well and good to release him. How lovely.

For now he was going to enjoy a cup of coffee with only a little lot of guilt over having such a luxury right now.

[[Open!]

Comments

[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin's experience with children was limited, okay? Very limited.

"As you say," he settled in diplomatically. "There is coffee."

Like that made up for wayward children.

[not_a_moonie]

Well, it wasn't as though Alana was an expert on dwarven fertility issues. Or that she necessarily would have cared if she'd known.

"Thank all the gods," she muttered, and went to pour herself a giant mug. She'd decided that wherever Hazel had gone, finding her could wait until she had life-giving caffeine in her. "I'm Alana, by the way. I know I saw you around, but the names --" She shrugged. "They get fuzzy."

[dwarvenswagger]

RUDE. But accurate. Damn messed up gender ratio. THANKS, TOLKIEN.

"Thorin Oakenshield," he replied with a slight bow that was probably charming for some. "At your service."

[not_a_moonie]

"Good to meet you," Alana said. "Or meet you again, if that works better."

She frowned at the kitchen. "I swear, they haven't upgraded this place in 20 years. Makes me wonder what they do with the tuition money."

[dwarvenswagger]

"Spend it on kidnapping students?" Thorin suggested. But maybe that was just him.

[not_a_moonie]

"They sure never seem to run out of money for that," Alana said wryly. "Oh, or food. Or glitter."

[dwarvenswagger]

"I had very nearly forgotten about the glitter."

SO CLOSE.

[not_a_moonie]

"I can't forget it," Alana said. "I was still finding flecks of it in my hair years after I got home."

[dwarvenswagger]

"It was even in the food," Thorin replied, sounding almost fond. Those were indeed the days when things weren't horrible all the time. "Should be look forward to more?"

[not_a_moonie]

"I hope not," Alana said. "But I wasn't on the planning committee, and who knows what those losers got up to."

[dwarvenswagger]

"I will wager food will be part of the festivities."

He hopes so. A feast would be... amazing right now.

[not_a_moonie]

"Safe bet," Alana nodded. "I'm looking forward to it even if it's glittery. I can't get really good guacamole or anything at home."

[dwarvenswagger]

"Is that the green paste that comes with nachos?"

Nachos he remembered, okay?

[not_a_moonie]

"Yes!" Alana sounded pleased he remembered it. "All ... tangy and rich and delicious. And there's nothing like it anywhere else that I've found."

She was hungry now. She reached up into the shelves, pulled out a disappointing box of cereal. "Want some?"

[dwarvenswagger]

"I would not say no." Also, thanks for being able to reach it.

Damn tall people.

[not_a_moonie]

"You got it," Alana said, and busied herself with bowls and milk and spoons until she'd assembled two bowls of something terrifyingly sweet, one of which she offered Thorin. "There. Homecooked breakfast a la Alana."

[dwarvenswagger]

"Your skills in the kitchen are truly unrivaled," Thorin replied, taking the bowl gratefully.

[not_a_moonie]

"Hey, you want something better, you make it," Alana said, around a mouthful of cereal. Being back in high school had caused some regression in her manners, too.

[dwarvenswagger]

"It was only teasing," Thorin assured her, taking a bite himself. Wow that was sweet. "My thanks. Truly."

[not_a_moonie]

"Sorry, that came out bitchier than I meant it," Alana apologized. "It's no problem, but you're welcome. Truly."

[dwarvenswagger]

"You have a child, you said?" Thorin asked, moving onto a safer subject.

[not_a_moonie]

"I do," Alana confirmed. "Hazel. She's 15. Light of my life, pain in my ass, all of that. Do you have any?"

[dwarvenswagger]

"I am not yet married," he replied, going for the diplomatic answer for 'way too young still to even think about it' of cultural differences.

[not_a_moonie]

"Didn't stop plenty of people I know," Alana said dryly. "But yeah, you have time. No reason to rush it."