fandomhigh | Discovering Earth, Friday, Period 2

The students today had been ~~handwavily~~ told to dress for colder weather, and for good reason. After all, today's trip was going to be to--

"Earth-Hoth," Kanan muttered, shaking his head and wrinkling his nose at the mittens he was wearing. "Of course Earth has a tiny Hoth stuck right to the bottom of it."

"Antarctica," Hannibal corrected. Again. "Don't worry; we'll be spending most of it in a helicopter, viewing it from the air, and we've got arctic gear for when we land."

Even though Hannibal had the best hat.

"Antarctica was the last continent on the planet to be colonized," he told them. "There are just over a hundred permanent residents, though there may be several thousand people there at any given time, in the research stations. There are around forty countries that share the rights down here, and it's almost entirely used for scientific research."

"Very cold scientific research," Kanan added. "While we're there, you can expect to see ice. Rocks. Water. More ice. And these black and white birds I can't remember the name of. But they waddle."

Earth-Hoth had plenty to take in, clearly.

"Penguins," Hannibal supplied. "We also may see seals, and if you look out over the water, perhaps whales. There aren't many animals that make Antarctica their home. You'll also be able to see glaciers, while they still exist."

"Climate change," Kanan noted. "It's one of like three things I keep hearing in the news. It's the only one that's relevant down there, so..." He shrugged. "Planet gets hot, ice melts. Ocean levels rise. You'd think somebody would have done something about that by now, since people can't exactly just get up and go to a different planet, here."

"You would, however, not be taking into account human greed and stupidity," Hannibal said. "However, while that is certainly an important subject, for now, let us simply enjoy what we have. And perhaps return with new reasons to fight those who encourage such things."

They were very rude, really.

"Or at least return with a new appreciation for hot beverages," Kanan said, then turned up the hood on his coat and waved the students through the portal, where a flying vehicle (that was not a starship no matter how much Kanan wished it was) was waiting for them. The loud one with the spinning blades on the top. Whatever that was. Earth aircraft was so archaic.

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Keeping warm.

Ada Miller

Kaylin Neya

With a moment of environmental preachiness to rival Happy Feet. Also, a helicopter.

In which we'll see majestic ice formations from above. Lots of majestic ice formations from above. And water. And yes, even a pod of humpback whales.

Flying!!! Kaylin was all about that and had herself plastered to the windows to try and see everything!

The colder part of the excursion. Walk around on ice and rocks, and take in the sight of walls of ice towering well above you to one side, and a colony of king penguins to the other side. The ice is gorgeous, the penguins are tall enough to stand about eye to eye with Kanan's... pelvis, and yeah, it's cold out.

Why were they here? Why? At least Ada owned a coat now, which was more prepared for winter than she'd been last year, but it just a standard winter coat and was nowhere near enough for something like this. Her hat was pulled down as far as it could go, and her scarf pulled up, so the only part of her face that was visible were her very cranky eyes.

She was a creature of heat and sun. This was miserable.

"Ada," Hannibal called before she could get too far. He held out a waterproof, quilt-lined jumpsuit to go over her existing clothes. "There are boots here, too. We wouldn't make you go out in this unprotected."

Ada reached out and took the jumpsuit but... "I can't wear th' boots," she admitted quietly. "I can't walk in anything that heavy. I'll just stay in th' 'copter."

Well, she could walk in them, but it'd be like walking on knives, and then she'd be in crippling pain for the next few days. Penguins weren't worth it.

Kanan watched all of this with a thoughtful eye, trying not to look too much like he was actually paying attention to what was going on. Something was clearly the matter here -- he'd noticed the way that Ada had looked horrified at the prospect of the beach during their first class, and now this...

Looking for all the world like a casual tourist just going for a stroll in Antarctic weather, he made his way into the group of penguins, crouched down, opened himself up to the Force, and made a connection.

Five minutes later, a handful of penguins had broken away from the group, and were now peering curiously in the helicopter door, making sounds that were kind of reminiscent of seagulls crossed with kazoos.

There were six students in this class. Like hell Kanan was going to let one of them sit out, dejected, if he didn't have to.

Hannibal watched him and smiled at Ada. "I don't think you'll have to worry. But put the suit on anyway; it will keep you dry, and you'll be much warmer."

He'd noticed a bit of the water thing, too.

It was freezing and honestly the penguins pretty much freaked Kaylin out. THey were huge and what did they want? And why did they walk so funny? Scary!

"So," Hannibal asked, "which weather do you prefer - the cold or the hot?"

"I don't know," she said honestly. "But at least in the hot place there weren't the scary huge waddly things."

"The penguins?" Hm. "Most Earth people find them adorable. They're birds, although flightless. And built for swimming rather than walking, as you can probably tell."

Look at them, Kaylin. They weren't scary, they were ridiculous.

"Penguins. Are they sentient?" Kaylin couldn't imagine they were, none of the animals in this place seemed to be, but it was good to ask.

Sorry, Hannibal, they were scary. They might... fall on her. Or beak her to death or something.

"Not so far as anyone is aware," Hannibal answered. "And they mostly avoid humans, when Kanan isn't playing with them, although they can be curious. Wouldn't you be?"

She couldn't exactly deny she was a curious soul, not when it got her into so much trouble. "I suppose. And at least they're smaller than horses."

"True," Hannibal said. "And much slower as well, at least on land."

When they tag in!

Earth-Hoth. Earth-Hoth and spinny-blade flying machines. Kanan sighed as he bunched up his shoulders and tried not to feel too weird about having a hood up, at least. This was a hood to fend off the cold, not a 'hiding my face from people who might recognize me and kill me' hood, or even a, 'it came with the Jedi robes and adds a certain sort of mystique' hood.

Anyway, the ice formations were interesting. Kanan would let himself get absorbed in watching those.

Hannibal had never been to Antarctica before, so he was enjoying the opportunity, and the look of the ice.

Even if it really was very cold. He had his jumpsuit's hood up over his hat, and he still wouldn't be spending too long out here, no.

I'd say 'thank god it's Friday,' but let's be real, I'm working through the weekend and never getting a day off again.

Discovering Earth, Friday, Period 2

Sign In

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Lecture

Antarctica - Helicopter Flyover

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Antarctica - On the Ground

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Talk to the Teachers

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OOC