fandomhigh | Fandom High Graduation Ceremony, Class of 2012, Early Saturday Evening (Part 1)

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!event: graduation

Fandom High Graduation Ceremony, Class of 2012, Early Saturday Evening (Part 1)

With things back to normal - or as normal as Fandom ever got - preparations for graduation had gone into full swing. The ceremony was set for right after sunset, to make sure all types of guests could safely attend, and the lawn had been lit up with blue and gold lights, creating safe paths in which to walk to the seating area and giving everything a twinkling, serene appearance.

Of course, the staff knew that graduation was rarely a serene event, and the fact that Ingvar's volcano was being unusually active emphasized the need to prepare the seniors as much as possible. Last year's cache of weapons had been discreetly stashed in a trunk behind the podium...and yes, they'd all been properly cleaned. Who knew what dried Viking blood could do to metal?

Once everything had been arranged, the guests were let in, and all that was left was to pray everything went smoothly.

[OCD is up! Have at it! Welcome | The Processsion | Speeches | Diplomas | OOC]

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"That's not food, Hania."

Leto tugged the toy scorpion out of his daughter's mouth. The baby, sitting on her mother's lap, let out a displeased wail. Leto smiled, shaking his head.

"She's determined, as usual," he said to Alice.

Also, he was keeping an eye open for old friends, but a seven and a half month old did require a lot of attention.

"Hush, now," Alice laughed, jostling her knee in the hopes of distracting Hania from the worst thing that had ever happened to her (in the last five minutes, which was, of course, the same thing). Perhaps a few dozen kisses on top of the child's head might help?

It frightened her, the way Hania made her feel as if her heart had flown too close to the sun. But she no longer wanted to run from it. And if she had wanted to, her legs would no more carry her than she could grow wings and fly.

"If she were a passive, quiet child, I would be convinced that she were not ours," she said, easily.

"True." It wasn't like he was complaining. Hania was of course perfect in every way. Unlike Alice he wasn't concerned by this overwhelming love. It was human, and he clung to what humanity he had.

Leto leaned in to kiss Alice's hair lightly.

"Also, I'm sure the graduation ceremony will offer her some distaction."

"We'll have prime seats for whatever happens to the graduates," Alice agreed brightly. "Better still, the bloodshed usually doesn't reach the stands."

Hania was far too young to participate. Although Alice and Leto's definition of 'too young' was not quite that of other parents. Those who were not raising a child on Arrakis, perhaps.

Hania, herself, used this opportunity to begin chattering excitedly to herself. And chewing on her fist.

Hania was too young to kill the injured enemies on the battlefield, and besides, they were all just here to watch. The graduates would manage on their own, no doubt.

"I'm sure we'll not be disappointed."

Here was an old friend who was happy to see them all. "Kiss kiss," Karla said, dimpling at the adorable family picture they made. "Hello, little lady," she said, waggling her fingers at the baby. "Aren't you big?!"

Hania made a loud noise that could be interpreted as 'hello, auntie Karla' and waved the toy scorpion at her, while Leto grinned.

"Hello, Karla. Yes, isn't she?"

"May I?" she asked, reaching out for the baby. Not to hold her--unless she was acting as a Healer (and thus, distracted), Karla was terrified of holding babies. What if they wiggled and squirmed and she dropped one?

But poking and prodding at babies, letting them grab her fingers and flail around at her? That she could do.

...With adult supervision.

"Such a beautiful little girl. And so aware of everything!"

Dropping Hania would not be a good idea, although Leto didn't think Karla really would.

Grabbing fingers was something Hania really enjoyed. Also, grabbing hair was even more fun!

"Of course." Karla's compliments caused that smile of paternal pride to appear. Leto was well aware of it.

If Hania went for her hair, Karla would just have to distract her with something else!

She knelt down in front of Leto, putting herself roughly at eye-level with the baby, and leaned forward, hands out for Hania to grab onto. "Lookit you," she cooed. "Already to protect mommy and daddy from graduation? Huh? Who's my big, strong girl? Is it Hania? I think it iiiiis!"

Babies. Worse than cats for sounding like an idiot.

Hania made cheerful noises and clung to Karla's hands. People always sounded silly in her presence.

"She has grown a lot stronger," Leto commented.

[and I need to sleep now!]

"She's lovely, Leto." Karla said, tearing her eyes away from the baby to give him a fond smile. "How's fatherhood? And...everything else you're up to?"

[Never a problem!]

Edited 2012-04-29 02:17 (UTC)

"Good. Very good." Well, fatherhood was, and his life with Alice. The rest - it went according to plan.

"And you, Karla?"

"It's my birthday today!" Karla said, ignoring the elephant in the room about what else today was. Sure, graduation was why Leto, Alice, and Hania were here, but it was her birthday and she could ignore that face if she wanted to.

"Then I wish you a very happy birthday," Leto replied, smiling a little. "How old are you?"

"Eighteen," Karla said, grinning a little. "Two years before the age of majority back home. But now old enough in this world to do all of the things I don't care about."

Smoke. Join the army. Vote. Buy lotto tickets.

"Are you sure, dad? Maybe she needs to check," Dinah teased, coming up to the small family with a pleased smile. "Hi Hania! You're doing that growing thing just fine, aren't you? Sooooo big!"

"She's certainly making sure I'm not mistaken, every day," he replied with a chuckle. "And how are you, Dinah? It's good to see you."

"I'm doing good. Finals week for me next week, finishing up my second year," Dinah said, sitting down and folding her legs, fingers fluttering at Hania, to give her something to grab. "Planning a trip to Santa Cruz pretty soon, for some friends' wedding. Has it been seven months for you guys too? It looks like it on Hania, but..."

"As if you were any better about putting things in your mouth at that age, although you actually knew better," Ghanima said, coming up behind them. "Besides, she's only half-wrong. Scorpion meat is quite tasty."

Leto reached for his sister's hand. "Yes, but it's not a real scorpion," he pointed out. "I even tried real scorpions, remember?"

There were many reasons that there was a good thing Hania wasn't Pre-Born.

Ghani grasped his hand warmly. "How could I forget?" she teased. "I thought Harah was going to have a fit."

"She got used to us quite quickly, didn't she?" Leto recalled. Harah was an impressive woman.

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Fandom High Graduation Ceremony, Class of 2012, Early Saturday Evening (Part 1)

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