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

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[hexentotchen]

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]

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]

"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]

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]

"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]

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]

"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]

"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!"