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

[bigdamnprincipal]

Picnic-ing in January - still not the best idea ever! But there were tables and chairs set up in the sun, and a nice bonfire going, and plenty of warm food for everyone to encourage socializing for as long as possible.

[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

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

"Great!" Mabel grinned and gave her hands a little clap. "I'm sure you'll find somewhere great! And if you ever need more stickers, I'm your girl!"

[ungue.livejournal.com]

"I will keep that in mind." She wasn't sure why she would need more stickers, but hey, better be safe than sorry.

"If you need help with... anything, let me know." Specially if it involved cutting things up.

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

Ooo! Laura would be super good at scrapbooking!

"Will do," Mabel replied. "And if there's anything else I can help with, don't hesitate to ask! Waddles and I will be happy to help."

She leaned forward a little, whispering conspiratorially.

"I think he likes you."

In fairness, Waddles liked basically anybody who didn't think he'd be better as bacon.

[ungue.livejournal.com]

If you got over the whole metal claws tearing her skin before...

"Okay." She honestly didn't know what help Mabel could be. But as she was getting the idea that Fandom was weirder than anywhere else she had been (and she had been places) she wasn't about to turn away a helping hand. A helping ham? No, bad Laura. Bad.

"I like him too. Pigs are known to be very intelligent animals, even more so than dogs. They are also very clean, usually." Waddles looked very clean.

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

Waddles was exceptionally clean!

"Oh, he's super smart," Mabel enthused, nodding happily. It was good to see that somebody at the picnic understood just how awesome Waddles was! "We do almost everything together. He'd come to classes with me if he was allowed."

Mabel paused to consider that.

"I don't think Doctor Lecter would want to have him in the kitchen, though. I'm not sure about the other teachers I have this semester."

She'd have to look into that.

[ungue.livejournal.com]

"I suppose the rules against pets are to be obeyed," she said. "Despite the intelligence of the pet." She vaguely remembered Kitty having a pet dragon, although as far as she could also remember, he wasn't a pet as much as a companion.

"You can always ask, of course." Unconventional requests for an unconventional place.

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

"That's true," Mabel replied, nodding thoughtfully. "You never know if a teacher actually likes pigs until you ask, right?"

And Waddles could prove to be a major asset to... uh... American History?

[ungue.livejournal.com]

"No loss in asking." She wasn't an optimist, but hey, let's not crush the girl's dreams here.

"Does Waddles stay on the dorms?" She had just realized that.

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

"He does," Mabel proudly confirmed. "He stays in my room with me and Alluka, my roommate. He has his own little pig bed and everything!"

This was a sort of odd living arrangement for a pig, but Waddles didn't much seem to mind.

[ungue.livejournal.com]

"I see." And now she was wondering about pets. Dogs. Little puppies. Sad memories.

If she looked distant for a moment it was because she had been reminded of her past too recently.

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

Aw, Laura. There was no need to be sad! Mabel was here to make you feel better!

... Or, rather, to nudge Waddles a little so that he was bumping up against your leg. He was a good pig, see?

"You can give Waddles a hug, if you want," Mabel offered, because that always helped her when she was feeling distant. "He's really good at those."

[ungue.livejournal.com]

Way to wiggle your way under someone's skin, Mabel.

But Laura was going to embrace Waddles. Not the strongest hug ever, but it felt good anyway. "Thank you", she muttered.

"He is, indeed." Stress piglets needed to be the next big thing.

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

Mabel prided herself on her ability to be adorable. She'd spent her whole life perfecting it!

"You're welcome," she said, beaming. "Any time you need a hug, okay? Waddles is there for you."

And Mabel too, but Laura seemed like the sort who was more comfortable around critters than people. Mabel could respect that.

[ungue.livejournal.com]

Practice makes perfect, after all.

Laura nodded. She was taking this seriously. "Okay", she said. And then she stood up. "It was nice to meet you two."

Now Laura needed to go be alone somewhere else because wow, feels overdose.

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

"It was great to meet you too! See you around, Laura!"

Mabel started to wave a cheerful farewell, and then, on second thought, crouched down so that she could pick up one of Waddles' little trotters, so that he could wave goodbye, too.

That was just how these two rolled.

[ungue.livejournal.com]

Add cuteness overdose to it, then. Laura waved back, trying not to smile too much because she might break her face.