(D2 Sept 3rd during lunch)A mountain of food

[Layla Smith]

Classes had been quite interesting so far for Layla. The teaching style was dramatically different (and much louder) than she was used to back at Hogwarts, but she chalked that up to American enthusiasm. One thing she was struggling with however was food.

Namely...what an American considered an acceptable lunch portion! She was very slowly eating through what seemed to be a typical American lunch of chips (no, fries!) and...nothing else, because the lunch portion of fries was so much already.

How do they eat so much...

She sighed, holding one in front of her and gazing off into the distance, thinking of what her few friends back at home might be doing, and not really paying attention to around her.

[Sylvain Leloup]

Sylvain walked around the tables looking for a place to sit with is dinner consisting of a few ears of corn with some side grub.

[Layla Smith]

Layla looked up as someone passed by her, and noticed the boy she knew carrying a plate of not-carbs.

I didn't see anything like that...

She waved in his direction.

[Sylvain Leloup]

Sylvain, actively looking for a place, could hardly miss the transfer student's wave and thus moved in that direction

''Hello again miss Smith. How are you?''

[Layla Smith]

"What's with the Miss Smith? Call me Layla" Layla chuckled, not understanding the formalness. Must be a French Canadian thing.

"I'm...I'm ok. Wanted to apologize again for messing up the potion though, my first school day and I made so many mistakes, I feel like a complete idiot."

[Sylvain Leloup]

The boy chuckled

''Like Master Yoda said: The greatest teacher, failure is.''

[Layla Smith]

Layla blinked, taking a few moments to work out what the boy was on about...then she realised.

"Did...did you really just quote star wars? Of all the things..." she couldn't help but laugh "I suppose that little green thing has some wise words. Never really watched the films though, so can't say anything. I don't really want to keep failing though."

[Sylvain Leloup]

''Well huh...'' Sylvain was positively confused and not sure if he was offended or amused ''The original trilogy has great wisdom you know''

That was a strong affirmation!

''I am surprised you know about Star Wars though, I thought wizards in Britain where stuck living like somewhere between 1867 and 1904''

[Layla Smith]

"That's only the teachers. I swear the headmistress is like the original witch" Layla laughed "Hogwarts does value a lot of tradition though, but it's the school every other school is basically based off, so makes sense. Although isn't star wars like...a super old film anyway?"

[Sylvain Leloup]

''It's old but it's a classic... still very relevant in the mundane society.''

He picked up one if his corn and took a bite

''So, how do you find the school so far?''

[Layla Smith]

Not wanting to annoy the seemingly nice student, she decided not to challenge the idea of it being relevant.

"It's nice. A little smaller and less....old than Hogwarts, but they seem to make up for it with mountains of food" she eyed up his plate "do they give different food to different houses?"

[Sylvain Leloup]

He nodded then came the odd question about the food

"No, it is pretty much the same buffet for everyone...why?"

[Layla Smith]

"I see..." Layla frowned "I guess I didn't look past the insane amount of...carbs on display. The food has taken some getting used to. I don't eat much by British standards. American standards are beyond me."

[Sylvain Leloup]

''What do you...'' he looked down at his plate ''The corn? That's actually from my own stash...the rest is just well hidden.''

He squinted at the buffet and pointed towards a location with a certain degree of subtlety

''The third dish from the right is actually a mashed spiced squash dish with beans, it is available on Tuesdays usually. Delicous and healthy but most students are adventurous.'' he stretched his neck lookig at the other end of the counter. ''There is also a strawberry fatouche three or four dishes left of the pancakes. They will stop serving it soon though since it is already past strawberry season.''

[Layla Smith]

"Oo, fresh strawberries?" Layla wasn't sure what a fatouche was, but she peeked in the direction Sylvain was motioning.

"Strawberry salad? How interesting. That a local dish?"

[Sylvain Leloup]

''Not quite.'' he said between two mouthfuls of corn ''A fatouche is normaly a lebanese salad but that one as a lot of diverse influence, some local.''

The boy became thoughtful for a second while recalling the ingredients

''It a salad with fresh mint, strawberries, pita crisps, soja seeds along with some salt, black pepper and crushed piri-piri peppers. The dressing is a mix of balsamic vinegar, pommegranate molasse and olive oil. It goes all extraordinarely well all together.''

[Layla Smith]

"You sold me on strawberries already, now you're just rubbing it in. Wait here, I need to try this!" She hopped up, going to get a bowl of exotic strawberry salad, coming back with a small bowlful and sitting back down.

"Here goes nothing..." she had a mouthful...and immediately looked happy with the choice.

[Sylvain Leloup]

''There is a lot of bad food in the US but teachers and students from all over the continent helped introduce a good variety of dishes. Either traditionnal or fusions'' he said proudly

[Layla Smith]

"I approve" Layla said after a moment "I got a little focused on the bad stuff on offer, as there's so much of it. I need more stuff like this" she holds the bowl up "I was already going to take up running to deal with the food here, maybe I don't need to run as much!"

[Sylvain Leloup]

''Running is always a good thing...but now there is less health pressures I guess.''

And one cob down

''I run in the woods, myself''

[Layla Smith]

"You go run in the woods?" Layla leaned forward, curious "so you know about that weird old tower out in the woods, right? Know anything about it?"

[Sylvain Leloup]

''The thirteeth tower?'' he nods ''Yes, it is a dark place. Something is not quite right with it''

[Layla Smith]

"Dark? How so?" Layla took a chance to enjoy some more of the salad before adding "dark can mean many things."

[Sylvain Leloup]

''Indeed'' he frowns ''There is a sense of danger there...but I never got too close as of yet since most animals stay away from it.''

he paused

''I should visit sometime, however''

[Layla Smith]

"So you've never been in the tower? Has anyone?" Layla tried to hide her surprise. It felt like one of those places teenagers would go to.