Cafeteria; Friday, Lunchtime [ 10/29 ].

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

Ariel had hopped down to the cafeteria for lunch because she was hungry and knew there was always plenty of food there, and couldn't help giggling a little as she filled her plate with offerings like Spooky Spaghetti, Dead Meatloaf, and Lady's Fingers Cookies.

"Gosh, you guys really went all out, didn't you?" she complimented the staff before helping herself to a little bit more Zombie Zucchini Bread before going to find a table.


[[ CAFETERIA POST. Open for all your holiday themed eating goodness ]]

Comments

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"No, I am not eating Dead Meatloaf," Rilla told the cafeteria worker with a sniff. "But thank you for offering."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

Grinning a little at overhearing Rilla, Ariel set aside her Curdling Custard a moment to bounce up next to her friend. "I think it's just normal meatloaf," she offered helpfully, "just with a spookier name."

At least, she certainly hoped so.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Around here, sometimes it's important to err on the side of caution," Rilla declared. "Hello!"

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Hi, Rilla." Ariel smiled. "I don't suppose you'd be more favorable toward the Spooky Spaghetti?"

It really seemed a matter of discerning what was so spooky about it.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps," Rilla said, gesturing for some to be put on her plate. "I'm certainly never looking at ladies' fingers the same way."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"They're pretty good if you can get past that they look like fingers," Ariel offered. "It helps to just start with the nails."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Ew," Rilla replied, wrinkling up her nose. "You tried them?"

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

Ariel shrugged a little. "It's not like they were actual fingers. I made sure of that. They're just cookies!"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"We don't do things quite this...gruesomely...at home," Rilla said. "It's why I'm having difficulties coming up with a costume."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"I've already got mine," Ariel said proudly. "It's great! I can't wait to show everyone."

And insist that it was clearly a costume.

"You should be a princess, maybe?" That seemed like something Rilla couldn't object to too much.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Oooh, that would be fun. I'd love a big poofy dress!" Rilla squealed.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"I've got tons if you want to borrow one!" Ariel informed her excitedly. "Especially if you like pink! But I saw lots at that shop in town, too; that's where I got my costume."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Maybe I'll go to town so I can also get a really big tiara," Rilla mused.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Ooooh, yes!" Ariel said. "You'll definitely need one of those, and I haven't got any here to lend you."

Most of Ariel's were coral and pearl, anyway, which probably wasn't what they were going for.

"I love this idea! You're going to look so beautiful!"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla beamed at her. "What are you going as, or is it going to be a surprise?"

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"I'm going as a mermaid!"

Someone thought she was being clever.

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla looked very excited. "I grew up on the sea! I know all about mermaids!"

Not really.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Oh, really?" asked Ariel, laughing at Rilla's excitement, though now she couldn't help being terribly curious. "Like what?"

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Like how they sit on rocks and sing the most beautiful songs to lure sailors to their deaths," Rilla said, nodding wisely.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

A very pleased smile began to blossom on Ariel's face as Rilla described how mermaids were viewed in her world. A smile that dropped away almost immediately when Rilla reached the last part.

Excuse Ariel as she stared for a moment.

"That last part's new," she said. And the first part was kind of just her thing.

Wait.

Was that why she never had any problems finding sunken ships?

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"Oh, the sailors on the shore could tell you all about them," Rilla said earnestly.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

Another pause.

"But if their singing leads sailors to their death, how would they know? Wouldn't they be...you know...dead?"

Unless they were zombie sailors!

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

Rilla frowned. "I'd never thought about that part."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"See, they might be making that part up," Ariel said. "I can't imagine mermaids wanting to kill sailors..."

Ariel thought for a second of all the derogatory terms her father had for humans.

"Er, well, not by singing at them, anyway..."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"It did seem like a rather roundabout way to kill someone," Rilla mused, "unless they were working in concert with sharks?"

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"I don't think mermaids and sharks get along very well," Ariel offered to help it sound a little less like she knew from personal experience. "Sharks don't tend to get along well with anyone."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"They seem rather aloof," Rilla admitted. "I much prefer dolphins."

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

"Oh, me, too," Ariel couldn't help gushing with a fond, reminiscing smile. "I hear they love to play tag, and they're so clever, too."

[rilla-myrilla.livejournal.com]

"I saw a television show where one was playing with a ball," Rilla squealed. "It was the cutest ever."

Yes, Rilla was very fourteen.

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

And human.

"They are adorable," Ariel agreed, a little sad that she felt she couldn't really say much more without giving too much away. "There are a lot of really interesting sea creatures out there, after all, and you might be surprised about all the things they can do."