Fandom High Welcome Picnic, Front Lawn of the School, All Day: Part II

[stars_and_money]

There was the bonfire for everyone who thought Maryland in January was a little too cool for their taste, as well as the moddable warm food and drinks, and chairs and tables in the school colors of blue and gold. Some tables were also set a little further away from the crowds.

Because there were always people who preferred the fringes.

[OCD up! This is the FIRST post for general mingling. Please use this post first, if your browser can handle the comment load. Roommates, fake siblings and teachers are all here and there's more room for mingling here. Since it's outside, the picnic is open to all students, teachers, and townies!]

Comments

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

Arietty looked up with a grin. "Great! Eggletina appreciates the break, too."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"I'll bet! She probably isn't a big fan of the cold either." Mercy smiled at her. "If you ever need a hand getting around in the snow or anything, though, just let me know."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

Arietty's eyes went wide. "I didn't even think about snow! I mean, I've seen it, but it was only a little and we were near the Underground. . . ."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"We don't get nearly as much here as back home," Mercy said, "but sometimes we get a bunch."

"Don't worry, though. You can pretty much get by without having to go out and like I said, if you want, I'd be glad to bring you places."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"Oh, but I want it to snow!" Arietty said. "I want to see and try everything!"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"I'm sure you'll get your wish," Mercy said, laughing. "We may not get as much as back home, but we'll get a bunch!"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"Oh good!" Arietty said. "Where are you from, anyway? I'm not sure I've ever asked before."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"I'm from a place way up north called Aspen Creek, Montana," Mercy said with a smile that was more than a bit wistful. "Way out in the middle of nowhere. Lots of forests, mountains, room to run free."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"It sounds beautiful," Arietty said. "I've only been to a few places in London and here."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"I love it," Mercy said honestly. "But I can't ever go back."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

Arietty frowned. "Are you stuck here, too?"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

Mercy shook her head. "No. I was just... I got," kicked out "sent away and pretty much told I couldn't come back. My 'home' is with my mom and her new family now, but it's really different."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"Oh." Arietty tilted her head. "Something like that happened to my dad once. Well, he kicked himself out, really, but that's why I grew up under a clock. Where does your mom live now?"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"Portland, Oregon," Mercy said. "Wetter and not as cold. And it's a city, so there's not as much open or wild space. It's, well, it's technically where I live now, but it's not really home."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"I know what you mean," Arietty said. "This place is where I am now, but home'll always be under the clock with Mum and Dad."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

Mercy nodded. "This feels more like home than my mom's, but I kind of have the feeling that I'll end up making my own home somewhere. A place that's more mine."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"With lots of big spaces to run around in," Arietty guessed. "And snow."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

Mercy nodded grinning at the idea. "Yeah, exactly. But also somewhere that gets hot. I like that too. And somewhere I can just be who I am without anyone else's expectations pushing at me too much."

She was a teenager, she didn't quite realize yet that she'd always be dealing with that in one way or another.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"I wish I could show you the Underground," Arietty said. "I mean, it's not wide open, especially not for someone as big as you, but no one looks at me too funny there at all. Everyone's really nice."

It helped that her father had managed to save the entire community, yes.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"I'd love to see it," Mercy said. "You must miss being with people your own size who are all really nice to you."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"Mostly I miss Mum and Dad," Arietty said. "It was hard not getting to go home for Borrowing Season."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"I understand," Mercy said. "I still really miss my foster mom and dad. What's Borrowing Season?"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"Beans usually call it Christmas. You all get together and sing and there's usually lots of leftover food and things for us Borrowers."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[walkswithcoyote]

"Oh, yeah, that makes sense, I guess," Mercy said. "There's always more than anyone can eat around the holidays. I'm sorry you couldn't get home for that."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2013]

[notalender]

"I'll figure it out eventually. There was a weird hole that dumped me here, there must be one that goes the other way, somewhere."