fandomhigh | Fandom High Welcome Picnic, Front Lawn of the School, All Day: Part I

Current Mood: excited

Entry tags:

!event: welcome picnic

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

The weather was just as hazy, hot and humid as a typical July on the East Coast of the United States could get, but the sun was shining brightly, which was kind of a rarity this summer.

It wasn't raining anything weird, the teal deer were keeping to themselves in the Preserve, and another welcome picnic was underway complete with tables and chairs for chatting around and a buffet table filled (and then some) with all kinds of ~~moddable~~ summer treats.

The lists of new roommates, student siblings and teaching buddies were posted in a prominent location. Now all that was needed were people to enjoy the day!

[OOC: This is part one of the picnic, specifically for meeting siblings, roommates, and teachers. The rest of the picnic will be in post two in an effort to stop our browsers from dying. Since it's outside, the picnic is open to all students, teachers and townies!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Since he had an assigned teaching buddy and there might be some new people curious as to who the guy in the black cape and cowl might be, Batman was actually wearing his cape like a normal person might wear a cape; it was almost completely trailing behind him, showing off the bat-emblem like the most personalized nametag ever.

Also, this showed off the fact that he was wearing a spandex-like body armor with the underwear on the outside, and that was always a good way to make sure local people were uncomfortable.

This place had seemed interesting when Hannibal took the job, but he was beginning to suspect there might be more to it than even the brochures had promised. Maybe it had something to do with the bouncing pink horse, the odd skin tones and clothing of several of the students, and the fact that the contact he'd been told to look for was called "Batman".

Well, the environs looked suitably elegant, and at least he wasn't the only one who refused to wear shorts despite the heat. That was promising. Being well acquainted with conferences, he'd come with his own pin-on name tag; his lapels would tolerate that much better than some sticky monstrosity.

The man strutting around with the cape on didn't have a name tag precisely, but the large bat on his chest was certainly suggestive. Hannibal decided to watch him for a little while first.

And what Hannibal would see for that little while was Batman barely moving as he watched the rest of the picnic. And then, finally, he turned toward his brand new teaching buddy. "Ready to speak yet, Doctor Lecter?"

Hannibal raised an eyebrow, nonplussed. So, the man was an observer and fairly blunt. He could work with that. "I take it then you are this 'Batman' I was told to look for?"

"What gave me away?" Batman snarked. Now that introductions were done, Batman took a few steps toward Hannibal, using that as an excuse to swoop his cape into its natural resting position, covering most of his body.

"Well, I was beginning to think I might have to look for an actual bat." He gestured at the pink horse again. "I must admit I wasn't expecting quite so much color here."

He looked over Batman from head to toe. "That is quite an interesting outfit. Or is it traditional wherever you're from?"

"I'm something of a trendsetter in my home dimension," Batman admitted. "Costumed vigilante. Crimefighter. Whatever you want to call it."

"Ah." Well, now, this was interesting. "And I imagine which you call it largely depends on who is doing the calling, yes? Like 'freedom fighters' and 'terrorists'." He made no judgements, but that didn't mean he couldn't poke. "And which do you prefer?"

"I prefer 'Batman,'" Batman said. It really was synonymous with a certain brand of sanctioned vigilantism in Gotham.

Hannibal chuckled. "Well, it is good to be secure in your own identity." Even if it meant he might be harder to play with. Hannibal did love a challenge.

"So, how long have you been in this place? What is it you teach?"

"Since the start of the summer," Batman said. "I taught a class on survivalism last session." Normally he'd clarify that it wasn't the man vs nature or post-apocalypse preparation sitations people usually associated with survivalism. He was willing to let Hannibal make his own assumptions, though. "This semester, I'm teaching about teamwork." In a sense.

Hannibal nodded. "Both worthwhile pursuits in the life of a Batman, I should think. Do many of the students here share your interests in...shall we use a bit of both and say 'costumed crimefighting'?"

"It's an island filled with people who intend to leave a positive mark on society through helpful actions," Batman said. He could have just said yes.

Somehow, Hannibal has a feeling things aren't quite so cut and dried. These are, after all, teenagers. "Very admirable of them."

It was quite hot out, and Hannibal reached into the small (and elegant, naturally) travel bag he'd brought with him for the thermos of cucumber water. He poured himself a cup and politely tipped it to Batman. "Would you care to join me?"

"No, thank you," Batman said. The fact that he was going through a warm day literally covered in black without drinking anything was probably less weird after he mentioned teaching survivalism. "What are your plans for the session? I saw that you're teaching a class on food."

"One of my passions," Hannibal said with a nod. "Most people, I find, have a very limited palate; I enjoy broadening their horizons. So, the philosophy of food."

He can't resist adding, with a smile that could be either teasing or smug, "For instance, were you aware that in some parts of the world bats, especially fruit bats, are something of a delicacy?"

"They've been hunted aggressively enough as a food that certain species are officially listed as endangered," Batman said. "I'm well aware."

"Ah!" Hannibal toasted him. "A man who is in touch with the larger world. That is always good to see."

"Don't worry," he leaned in conspiratorially, "there will be no bats on this semester's menu. I strive to ensure that all of my meat is taken with the utmost care to the biosphere."

"That's a more active interest than most people take in where their food comes from," Batman said. "How do you ensure that?"

Hannibal shrugged. "It's not so difficult as some might think; you simply have to do your research. I know of several responsible butchers in the Baltimore area, if you're interested." Not that he always used them, but he did know them.

"I also grow most of my own herbs and source the rest as well as my fruits and vegetables from local organic farmers. Though I confess it's not entirely for altruistic reasons." He grimaced. "I loathe the taste of pesticides."

"I appreciate the offer, but I have my dietary needs worked out already," Batman said. Was he being super vague about even odd details like that where he shopped? Of course. He was Batman.

If there was one thing Hannibal could appreciate, it would be vagueness on diet. "Well, let me know if you change your mind. Meanwhile, is there anything I should know about this place immediately? I assume there will be the usual array of paperwork in my office, wherever that is."

Everything up until this point was to make sure Hannibal knew that Batman was direct, blunt, and practical. This was important, because the answer to that question was going to be weird.

"All offices and classrooms are in the castle. Be wary of the gremlins. Their venom is highly hallucinogenic. You may wake up some days as a different person or with some kind of bizarre change to your physiology. This will pass in a day or two. Your students will be from alternate worlds and dimensions. Be open to everything you see and hear but don't truly believe without actual evidence. And if you see a squirrel, it's writing down whatever you're doing for broadcast on the radio. If you don't see a squirrel, that doesn't mean it's not there."

Blunt and direct, Hannibal had gotten. Practical...well, the man was wearing a bat costume. But still.

He paused with his cup halfway to his mouth. "Normally I would ask another question or two before determining if you needed to be committed or were merely drugged. However, I can see much of that for myself already." He nodded at the blue woman and the large amphibious-looking... whatever it was, then at the exuberant pink horse.

He watched for a moment longer, then shook his head and kept drinking. "Your caution about needing evidence is well taken, though, thank you."

And he would definitely have to watch for those squirrels.

"If you have any other questions or need to reach me, you can contact me at this number," Batman said, pulling a slip of paper from his utility belt and holding it out for Hannibal to take. "Don't bother trying to trace it."

Re: Meet Your Teachers [Summer 2013 - II]

never-dull.livejournal.com - 2013-07-06 21:40 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Meet Your Teachers [Summer 2013 - II]

amthenight.livejournal.com - 2013-07-06 21:46 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only