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

[bigdamnprincipal]

Gosh, the summer picnic was so much nicer--and warmer--than the spring one. There were tables and chairs set up in the sun and the shade, and more than enough food for everyone. Hopefully, everyone was up for socializing for a while!

[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 [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

Rufus had found a plate of food and taken it off with him to sit under the shade of a tree and people watch for the moment. Dark Nation snoozled against his side, and Rufus studied the crowd thoughtfully.

He'd get up and make the rounds soon enough. Just not now.

Every now and then his gaze drifted up to look at the sky. Even though he'd been to Costa del Sol more than once, he was odd to think that there'd be visible sky where he was living for the next few years.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[era_two_triangle]

Right. So. Peridot was to be... stuck... here. Earth or something like it. For quite some time. She might as well get to know the locals. Or at least familiarize herself with her surroundings.

That one was different. Not the human under the tree, but the creature beside him. So. This was Peridot, walking over, crouching down, and staring.

At the dog. Thing.

Very intently.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

Rufus raised one eyebrow and looked at the... green... person. There was so much green in his vision now.

That stare was disconcerting only because it was directed at a sleeping Dark Nation. Rufus didn't care about many things, but he cared about his dog.

"Why are you doing that?"

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[era_two_triangle]

"I'm studying it," Peridot said, barely glancing away from the sleeping creature. "It isn't moving much, but its body is expanding and contracting in a manner that suggests that it's still breathing, like some organic creatures do. What is it doing?"

Good job, Peridot. You had figured out that the puppy wasn't dead. Gold star.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

"He's sleeping," Rufus said slowly, relaxing slightly. The strange green person didn't seem inclined to harm Dark Nation, which just left him with...

Well, a lot of staring at his dog.

Given the question and the way it had been asked, Rufus elaborated slightly: "He's recharging his energy."

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[era_two_triangle]

That gave Peridot a slightly better idea of what was going on, there, at least. She squinted for a moment, and then straightened up a little bit.

"Do all organic life-forms need to recharge their energy this way?" Sorry, she'd never really encountered sleep before, Rufus. It was kind of fascinating. "Isn't he concerned that he's leaving himself vulnerable?"

She had also never encountered puppies before, for what it was worth.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

That was a fascinating question really. It revealed so much about the green person.

"To the best of my knowledge, organic life-forms need to recharge their energy in this way, and in other ways. Consuming food--nutrients--is also a necessity." Rufus petted Dark Nation. "And no, he's not concerned about safety. He's young and in the company of one he trusts."

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[era_two_triangle]

"He... trusts you." Peridot's voice was thoughtful rather than judgmental, as though she was piecing together some form of puzzle, here. Really, she might as well have been. "You protect him? What function does he serve, to have his own escort?"

Really, these questions were probably saying plenty about where Peridot was from, weren't they?

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

They really were and Rufus was filing all of it away for future reference.

"He serves as my companion. That's his primary function."

Of course he trusted him.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[era_two_triangle]

"Humans keep other creatures around simply for companionship?"

That... that made no logical sense. If the creature was larger, she could picture it standing guard while this human slept, as well. Or perhaps being put to work as a beast of burden of some sort. Did humans still use animals for that?

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

They did!

"Yes, of course," Rufus said, since... it was really that obvious. After all, he did. "It's a beneficial relationship for both of us, given that I have his companionship and he gets fed and a safe place to live."

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[era_two_triangle]

If you asked Peridot, Rufus was getting the short end of the stick, here.

"Companionship is that important to your species?"

This possibly merited further investigation.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

"Yes," Rufus said simply, since it was. "It's not for your species?"

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Oh, you're just so cute!"

No, not you, Rufus. Ringo had bounced out of the general swirl of people and was now bent over offering the back of her hand to the totally adorable dog. Sure, he looked like he was sleeping, but maybe he was just resting and would perk up and play.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

Dark Nation had been getting around to getting up, in any case, and the girl's voice just woke him up a bit sooner. Up came the puppy head, followed by a sleepy little yawn, and sniffing at that hand while both his tail and tentacle began to wag.

Hi person, hi!

Rufus just raised one eyebrow. It was a novel experience being ignored in favour of his dog, but he didn't mind it. It was... refreshing.

"His name's Dark Nation."

That was a completely normal name for a dog, wasn't it?

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo shot Rufus a glance. "Did you pick it?" She figured she should ask before pointing out that it was a terrible name.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

"Yes," he said mildly.

Why wouldn't he have picked it?

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Oh. Um. It's a nice name?" No it wasn't.

If it had been a gift from someone, Ringo might have risked insulting that person by pointing out how bad a fit that name was for such a cutie.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

The cutie who was going to lick Ringo's hand if that was okay? Totally going to do that and demand more attention. He liked being petted and head rubs too!

Rufus watched his dog for a moment before turning his gaze back to the girl. "Am I supposed to believe you think that?"

Really, she was a terrible liar...

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo wasn't the worst liar she knew, but it was probably a close thing.

"Um, yes?" She sounded both sheepish and distracted as she knelt down to give Dark Nation the attention he clearly deserved. Even if he needed a better name.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

"I don't."

He... didn't really sound bothered by it. Rufus knew what Dark Nation's name sounded like, after all.

"Who are you?"

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Ringo," she answered, waving vaguely at the nametag still attached to her dress. "What about you?"

She tried to sound interested, but scratching at Dark Nation's head held most of her attention for the moment.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

He still didn't mind.

"Rufus Shinra," he said, which really was the ultimate test to see if she recognized him.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[soniaroadsqueen]

"You're new, right?" Her expression gave absolutely no sign of recognition, so either she was a way better liar than she'd appeared earlier, or she really did have no idea who he was.

Re: General Mingling [Summer 2016]

[studyingfear]

And it only made him feel like smiling, just a little. Oh yes, this was a marvelous gift.

He'd still be careful because to be otherwise would be idiocy, but... so far, Rufus had no objections.

"I'm new," he confirmed. "I take it to mean that you are not?"