Japan.
I'm sorry, let me repeat that, JAPAN.
Artifex was so excited she could feel the butterflies fly around her tummy like a whirlwind. She didn't think she'd get a wink of sleep on the flight and yet, as usual, the car-like motion of the plan knocked her right out for most of the journey.

That said, from the moment she stepped off the plan her pale, gentle features were stuck in a permanent grin. This was it, this was the beginning of a whole new life.

Barely able to contain herself when she came to the camp the energetic ginger ran straight to the mess hall. Now, being a morning person you would think that Artifex would always be on time if not early. This was never the case because as long as she could remember her and her entire family had been tardy to just about everything and this was no exception.

The large room was already filled with numerous campers, some had finished their meals, some were on seconds and she was just getting in line for her first go-around. She had to admit, Arty was pretty anxious about all this. She was not naturally a social person, it was something she had actually spent much of her elementary school years developing. She would hover on the edge of large groups and quietly watch the way the popular kids acting, adapting that behaviour into herself until it became second nature.

That didn't stop her from being anxious at the prospect of having to start over in a new place though. Make new friends all from scratch, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Remain calm.
Arty was rather glad at the diverse group of people though. Standing at 5'11 for a girl was ridiculous enough back home in Canada but in Japan? She may as well have worn a Godzilla cosplay.

~You should totally do that!~ spoke that little voice in her head, ~It'd be hilarious! Rampage across the country side. THE UNSTOPPABLE GINGER-ZILLA HAS COME!~

A snort of laughter came from her as she turned sharply away from the line with her plate of food-a little too sharply actually. Artifex suddenly found herself stumbling over a shorter camper which sent her teetering back and forth as she desperately tried to regain her balance.

A few steps right, "aaahhhh" some hasty steps left, "Aaahhhh!" and forward-it was almost mesmerizing to watch her try and keep the glass of orange juice on her tray from tipping over as she did the dance of 'please don't spill!'. "AAHHH NOT THE JUICE!" she yelped as she stumbled back, finally losing her footing completely and falling right on her butt. The food of course, went flying but in a desperate attempt she reached out and actually caught the glass of orange juice, mid air, without spilling it. Never mind the mess of food that had now ruined her specially planned 'first day' outfit.


"Wholey Ice in a Bucket" Artifex blinked at the cup of OJ in her hand, "DUDE! I CAUGHT IT!" she may have said that a little louder than planned and quickly began to blush red enough to match her hair. Arty wasn't normally such a clutz but whenever she got too enthusiastic about something it seemed like she would start running into everything.