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

[bigdamnprincipal]

There were chairs and tables set up all across the lawn; some were by the bonfire, for the people who wanted to be warm and central to everything else at the picnic, and some were set farther away from the action, for the people who wanted more peace and quiet.

There was no escaping the glitter though. Sorry, but not really.

[OCD is up! This is the picnic post for general mingling. Roommates, fake siblings and teachers are all here. Since it's outside, the picnic is open to all students, teachers, and townies!]

Comments

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

Elsa had meant to come to the picnic just long enough to meet her new younger sibling, and word from Barry about the possibility that she'd run into Anna had her a little more jumpy than usual. But the fresh air was good for both her and Canute, and she thought that maybe she could let him run for a little bit, along the edges of the picnic.

She was starting to realize her strategic error in being won over by a dog who was bred for endurance. Maybe she could steer him toward the park, away from all of the people, instead? And then she could head to the library for her shift there, no harm, no foul.

Dream big, Elsa.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

Jalian was curious to see the new people, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to greet the old ones.

"Hello." She nodded to Elsa. "That's your...dog?" He didn't look much like the dogs ken Selvren had, but radio had said it was a dog.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"Jalian," Elsa replied, warmly, if a touch nervously. She was still trying to spot Anna in the crowd. "That's him. Meet Canute."

Who already came roughly to Elsa's knees and who was trotting up to Jalian to say hello, waggly tail and his tongue lolling out and everything.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

Jalian crouched down and gave him her hand to sniff. He really was sort of adorable, and she couldn't help but grin. "He's so...fluffy!"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"He's very fluffy," Elsa agreed, biting her lip in an attempt to keep from smiling too broadly, herself. "He's been bred for cold weather, so he's got a layered coat to help him handle the elements."

You know. For those brutal Maryland winters. And the Arendelle ones that weren't all that different.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

Carefully, in case he objected, Jalian ran her hand over his head to his back. "Oh, that does feel like it would be warm. And good for keeping dry, too. What does he do?" Yes, she was aware that pets in this timeline were mostly decorative, but Canute seemed more sturdy than most. "Or, what will he do when he's grown?" she amended.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"Well, his breed is meant to pull sleds," Elsa explained. "They're working dogs, and they can handle heavy loads in the coldest weather for miles and miles. I... don't really have any heavy loads for him to pull, he's mostly meant to be a companion. But I'm certain I can find something for him to do so that he doesn't get restless."

Canute was still wagging that tail a mile a minute, attempting to crane his head back to lick Jalian's hand. Hand! Hi hand! Hi friend!

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

Jalian nodded at the explanation, then laughed and let him lick her hand. "He's very friendly. I have nothing for you to pull," she told him apologetically. "But there is probably a stick to catch?" She looked to Elsa for permission before trying to find one.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh, he likes sticks," Elsa replied with a nod, crouching down to let him off his leash. "He could chase them for... just about forever, and you'll have a friend for life."

A wee, fluffy friend for life. Who would eventually be a much larger fluffy friend for life. Possibly part bear. Who knew for sure?

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

"Sticks are very good," Jalian agreed solemnly, rubbing Canute's head. "I'll go and get one."

It didn't take long, and she came back with a decent-sized twig, rubbing the sides to get the roughest of the bark off. She showed it to him. "What do you think?"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

Ooh, she got rid of the bark! That meant that Canute was going to have to give one, just to show his approval! Or maybe he was just barking because he knew a good toy when he saw it, and she was going to throw it, right? Was she? She must be about to throw it!

"I think he likes it," Elsa laughed, covering her mouth a little, though her eyes were bright. "I mean, he does have very discerning tastes, as I'm certain you could tell."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[kenselvren.livejournal.com]

"Very discerning," Jalian agreed. She eyed him a moment longer, then took pity and threw the stick - not too far away, but enough to let him run a bit.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

And Canute was off after it like a little bounding rocket!

"And there," Elsa announced, "you've made a friend, Jalian. You've passed the stick test."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[notamascot]

Kaylin nodded at her roommate, then her eyes went wide when she saw the... big furry thing with her. "What is that?"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"Um, he's a puppy," Elsa said, blinking down at Canute, and then offering Kaylin a sheepish smile. "Eleanor and Joker gave him to me, right before I left for the break."

Canute was already trotting over to say hello. Hello! He was adorable and just wanted to love you!

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[notamascot]

Kaylin didn't jump back. She totally didn't jump back. Much anyway.

Her hands did go automatically to the daggers on her hips and then fell away as the... puppy?... came up and bumped against her legs.

She stayed very still. It didn't seem as if it intended to attack her as yet, so maybe if she stayed very still...

"What is a puppy?" she asked.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"He's a dog," Elsa supplied. "He's a baby dog, only a few months old."

And then, because she didn't much like the look of those daggers, and really didn't want her roommate stabbing her new pet, she added, "And he's very friendly. He probably just wants to sniff your hand."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[notamascot]

Kaylin wouldn't stab the dog. Probably not even if it attacked her now since it was Elsa's. She gingerly held out her hand, hoping that Elsa was right.

"You say it's just a baby? Are you sure? It's very big."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"He's a very big baby," Elsa confirmed, watching as Canute sniffed at her hand, and then licked it a few times in greeting before barking and trotting around in a circle. "And I think he likes you."

This was not difficult to ascertain. Canute liked everybody.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[notamascot]

"Can I... touch him?" Kaylin asked. "He looks very soft."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"He is very soft," Elsa promised. "And if you would like to stroke his fur, he'd like that, very much."

Here he came, trotting around for another good sniff.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[notamascot]

Kaylin reached out very gingerly, trying to both touch him and keep a good distance.

And ended up on her behind on the ground, feeling foolish. And even more so when the puppy thing decided she must be playing and climbed happily into her lap.

There was a brief moment of panic at the climbing and the happy bark and the puppy Right There, but then he nuzzled at her and Kaylin stroked his fur - not entirely to appease him and keep him from taking a nibble - and then it was all over.

Her eyes went wide and she stroked him again and then actually giggled as he nuzzled at her face. "Oh my!"

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

"See," Elsa laughed, crouching down nearby. "He's really very friendly. And I think he likes you."

He was doing that happy but-wiggly tail wagging thing again, which Elsa had quickly discovered was a good sign.

"He did that to me when I first met him, too," she added.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[notamascot]

"I guess... babies like to be held," Kaylin admitted. "And made much of."

She giggled again as she dodged a tongue-licking. "Stop it, silly."

She smiled up at Elsa. "I think I like him too."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2015]

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. Elsa gave a soft little laugh at that. Knowing that Kaylin liked Canute took at least a little bit of the anxiety of her day away.

"Well, good," she replied. "Then we'll all be happy, won't we? I have toys for him to play with in a box in our room, and if he was going to be too much trouble, I was going to ask Barry if I could keep him in the warehouse..."

She really, really wanted to keep this dog.