fandomhigh | Culture Shock: Adjusting to Life on the Weird Side

Current Location: Demon Marcus

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culture shock

Culture Shock: Adjusting to Life on the Weird Side | Tuesday, Period 2

Another week, another class meeting at the school entrance. Though they weren't going to a movie today.

No, today was for fashion!

Cecil didn't look as happy as some people might have expected at this turn of events. Though really, it was a little hard to tell. He was still bouncing, but he was all huddled up and his face was nearly invisible behind a huge, furry scarf.

"It's cold today!" he protested.

Kanan, who was not all bundled up and was, in fact, still dressed in his usual getup, plus a long jacket he'd stolen from the Boards back around Halloween, didn't seem terribly swayed by Cecil's plight.

"And that's exactly the point. It's cold. Not everyone in the class is used to the cold, I'm sure. And I'm willing to bet at least one or two of them are going to want to be able to dress for it once the weather starts getting even worse. I know I am." He looked at the gathered students. "And that's why today, we're going on another field trip."

"We're going shopping!" Cecil said, a bit more happily. "Hurry up and let's get inside where it's warm!"

"To the Demon Marcus, where the manager will be happy to help you with any questions about the merchandise that you might have," Kanan added, gesturing down the road as they walked. "He's even offered a discount to students in our class in need of winter gear."

Because Sparkle was a goddamn bleeding heart, that's why.

And today was accompanied by a...never mind, really; the bleeding-heart metaphors were too easy. Hannibal was leaning on the counter to greet them as well. He nodded and waved to Kanan as they came in.

"I heard you were in need of winter fashion advice."

And if there was the faintest note of exasperation there, he'd only tried to convince Kanan himself to go clothes-shopping how many times?

Dammit. Now Kanan was stuck for it. If he left this building today wearing plaid, there was really nothing left to do but burn it all to the ground.

"I mean... It couldn't hurt." Really, it couldn't. Both teachers were kind of fashion lost causes. "The students might need it more. We'll take things as they come today, okay?"

Hannibal smirked. "Should any of you need advice about modern Earth fashions, or simply about what might look good on you, please feel free to ask."

Cecil breathed a sigh of relief as he unbundled himself a little. "And I'll help, too!"

Nobody take Cecil's word for fashion. Please.

Sparkle just looked faintly amused from where he was sitting behind the counter. Hey, if everyone else here wanted to do his job for him, who was he to complain?

Don't worry, Sparkle; you'd be the go-to person for younger, hipper (and/or less godawful-what-were-you-thinking) fashions. If anyone tried to walk out in too much plaid, or in pink galoshes and furry pants, you were the last line of defense.

He was truly doing the work of gods.

"So," Kanan said, glancing around the clothing store as though the fluffy sweaters were going to come to life and try to eat him, "go ahead, browse. Throw together a winter wardrobe if you need one, or just get a feel for the fashions of the season. Whatever makes you happy."

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Once they ping in

Cecil is here. Wearing a glittery pink puffy coat, orange poncho, furry pants, and galoshes.

Sorry, Sparkle and Hannibal's eyes.

Hannibal is ready to help anyone who might need it.

Or to stage an intervention if necessary.

Kanan was here, and if he was attempting to give Hannibal a wide berth... it really wasn't anything personal. It was just that he was well aware that he'd been putting off actually making this trip for... months... and Kanan was not the greatest at fessing up to stuff like that.

That, and he really wasn't a plaid person.

Fortunately, Hannibal was very good at being sneaky. And there were only so many places to hide in the store.

"Have you bought your own winter clothing yet?"

Ah-- damn it. Kanan had been doing so good at looking appropriately busy, too. He was wearing a fairly easy smile when he turned to face Hannibal all the same.

"Would you believe it was the next thing on my list? It is why we're here today, after all."

He'd been hoping to be long gone by this point.

Mm-hm.

"Tell me," Hannibal said, "is it all shopping you loathe, or shopping for clothing in particular, or are you terrified I'll attempt to dress you as I dress myself?"

"Would you believe none of the above?"

Even Kanan didn't believe that.

"I just keep meaning to not be here. And leaving means saving up credits for fuel. Winter clothes just keep not being top priority."

"Oh?" Hannibal gave Kanan an overly patient look. "And where do you expect to buy this fuel?"

"I know a guy who knows a guy who might be able to reverse-engineer it," Kanan sighed, well aware of the look and trying not to look ruffled by it. "And if that doesn't work out, I take off for Illium instead, pawn the Expedient off on some mechanic or something who can actually convert it to their local fuel source, and buy myself a ship that I can get fuel for. Beats sitting around here for the rest of my life."

Which could be short, it should be noted, since Darth karking Vader knew he was here, and all.

Edited 2016-12-06 23:29 (UTC)

"And if you end up on another planet with cold winters?" Hannibal asked, still patiently.

"Then at least I'll be ending up on a planet with cold winters on my own terms," Kanan replied, shrugging. "If I choose to be somewhere like that, then no, of course I'm not going to opt to freeze to death. I wasn't going to be here long enough for winter to hit, that's all."

How was that working out for you, Kanan?

"So you would rather freeze because you aren't here voluntarily?"

It was already winter, Kanan. Admit it.

Kanan sighed and shook his head.

"I already said the reason I'm here is to get winter gear," he pointed out. "I'm giving in, the winter won, I've seen the error of my ways. If I was standing here and not planning on looking, I'd say you're on to something, but this is kind of like beating a dead bantha, Doctor."

He shrugged.

"I'm stubborn, but I only hold on to that stubbornness to a point."

... Most of the time.

Re: Talk to the Teachers

never-dull.livejournal.com - 2016-12-13 01:32 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Talk to the Teachers

uncertain_dume - 2016-12-13 01:37 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Talk to the Teachers

never-dull.livejournal.com - 2016-12-17 00:41 (UTC) - Expand

Sparkle was totally here to be hit up.

He was also totally here to side-eye Cecil's getup and wonder if they did Pride in December in this neck of the woods and he'd totally managed to somehow miss that fact.

Either way, he was the guy with the authority to give discounts up to and including 'free,' depending on how dire your winter gear situation was, so feel free to hit him up.

"I worry about that man," Hannibal murmured, also looking at Cecil. "I realize his home is somewhat odd, but do you think that's normal for there, or simply him?"

"Little from Column A, little from Column B?" Sparkle gave his shoulders a shrug. "Cecil strikes me as the kind of guy who's so used to standing out that he actually thinks he's blending in. He's a bit... Cecil like that."

Little bit Cecil, yes.

Hannibal watched Cecil for a moment, then shook his head. "I would say perhaps we should attempt to disabuse him of the notion, but I suspect it would be a lost cause."

Still keeping an eye out for anyone who might need help, he said to Sparkle, "Jono and I are planning on eloping this weekend, but a witness or two would be welcome, if you'd like to join us. We're heading to Pennsylvania for a few hours on Saturday."

They thought.

There was some epic side-eye going on, there. A little less like Sparkle had been invited to a marriage, and more like he'd been invited to dance naked in a pile of salmon and honey in the company of ravenous bears.

"... Yeah? I'll consider it. How armed should I be?"

"No ceremony." Hannibal held up his hands. "I was begged not to. Just signing a document before an official. In a world that has no magic, mutants, aliens, or any other sort of overt hazards."

Sparkle considered this for a moment or two more.

"Which country?"

Because Planet Earth had plenty of overt hazards, Hannibal. You couldn't pull the wool over his eyes that easily.

"The United States. Pennsylvania, to be precise. They have the fastest mechanism for getting married without a church official."

Sparkle considered that one a liiiittle bit longer.

"Who did they vote for?"

Sparkle.

He sighed.

"Sorry. It's just, the last time I showed up to your wedding, things got... ugly. And the first time I showed up to your wedding things got ugly. There were fucking puddles of human everywhere. Crazy cyborgs tried to murder everyone. We'll see on the weekend if I'm up for even a chance of another round of crazy, but... I mean... I'm not made for that."

"I understand," Hannibal said. "But we aren't publicizing this in any way, nor even sending invitations. We simply plan on showing up and signing the necessary documents."

"You know that if I show up and there are guns I will never forgive you, right?"

Sparkle just had to check to be sure. Because... Look at his year, Hannibal. Look at it.