fandomhigh | Fandom High Welcome Picnic, Front Lawn of the School, All Day: Part I

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!event: welcome picnic

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

The weather had turned out absolutely lovely for today's picnic, through no interference of dark magic (as far as anyone knew). The bonfire had been scrapped for the season, replaced with more blue and gold chairs and tables for people to sit at. The usual buffet was out, and this time there were plates and to-go containers, because really, no one should have to resort to the unsanitary measure of pocket food in the 21st century.

Happy picnic day, everyone!

[OCD is up! This is part one of the picnic, specifically for meeting siblings, roommates, and teachers. The rest of the picnic is happening here. Since it's outside, the picnic is open to all students, teachers, and townies!]

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It was the Focus - the little metal triangle by Aloy's ear - that pointed her to the girl first, her nametag glowing bright purple on Aloy's display. "Well, here we go," she sighed to herself, and paced across the field to the blonde girl who lit up so bright.

"Astrid?"

"Yes?" Astrid turned her head, blinking a little, surprised to hear her name despite the nametag. It hadn't really hit in the somewhat familiar atmosphere of the station, but actually being her had made her start to feel adrift in the world, started to make her realize just how far away from home and anything familiar she was. Her eyes took in the other girl, realizing that she'd at least not have to worry about running out of interesting things to draw around here.

"I'm supposed to be your big sibling?" Aloy ventured. "Sorry if I caught you in the middle of something."

"No," Astrid shook her head, "I'm just..." She looked around again, eyes dancing from one spot to the next, never sure exactly where to land, "taking it all in."

But those roving eyes did land eventually, on the other girl, and her head tilted. "Big sibling? Like to show me around and stuff?"

"I think that's the general idea," Aloy said, her mouth turning up wryly. "Tell the new kids all the weird stuff they're not going to believe until they have to deal with it, too. I think it's a special kind of torture they put us all through."

And that was a hell of a way to start out. Astrid's brow knitted.

"What kind of weird stuff?"

Not that she'd believe any of it, apparently.

"A couple of weeks ago, everyone who drank anything containing alcohol got superpowers," Aloy said. "Before that, people's future children started showing up. Last winter we fought some people from the future." She shrugged. "Apparently it happens a lot."

Didn't most people who drank alcohol at least think they had superpowers? That one was easily the only one Astrid could wrap her brain around, and the others...?

"Right," said Astrid. "So...hazing the new kids. And this is when you tell me you're not making it up, it's true, that I'll see it eventually, while everyone snickers into their hands."

She'd been a new kid a lot, she knew how this went. But she had to admit, getting threatened vaguely ridiculous premises was a whole lot better than getting threatened for her shoes or her life.

Then again, she had met someone who claimed to be psychic and that girl with all the stuff on her face who acted more like a robot than a person. Her case worker had warned her that coming here was a bit...off the beaten path, so there was still a kernel in her willing to just roll with it.

"If that's what you want to believe, I won't stop you," Aloy said, her tone matter-of-fact. "It's not like I can blame you. We should get to the more practical stuff anyway."

Well, that was interesting. A little worrisome. When people were making things up, they had to put in effort to convince you. When they didn't bother....or maybe the other girl could just sense Astrid's skepticism and wasn't going to waste her time pushing a stubborn boulder uphill. Either way, Astrid realized she was thinking about this way too much, dissecting every little thing, and she really shouldn't. It was going to be a long summer if she didn't just let it go.

Practical stuff sounded more useful, anyway.

"Like what?" she asked.

"Did you know you were going to be coming here?" Aloy asked. "And if so - or not - do you know what room you've got?"

"I did know I was coming," Astrid nodded. It might have seemed like a strange question if it weren't for the fact that at least one other person at the station definitely seemed a little out of place and confused. "But, no, I don't know what room I've got yet. The bus driver said something a list, in case I wanted to duck out and nap. My flight was....really early."

"No one will stop you if you just grab some food and a bed," Aloy said. (Lucky Astrid. Aloy was still trying to get out of here.) "The lists are over there. The school'll have given you a roommate."

She pointed helpfully.

And that all seemed fairly normal, about what she expected, distracted a moment glancing toward the list and wondering what her roommate would be like. But it was roommate, not plural, and that was a relief.

"Is there anything in particular I should know?" she ventured. "Any important rules or anything like that? How strict is it? Is there a curfew? What about meals? Do they assign chores or anything like that?"

She'd heard some of these places do that, and had been glad she hadn't landed in one that did yet.

Aloy snorted softly. "If there are any rules, I haven't heard," she said. "There's food in the 'cafeteria', whatever that means, and there's game in the woods if that's more your style."

It was definitely hers.

"Otherwise, do what you want. Nobody cares."

Nobody cares, that was familiar, but that other part?

"Well, that's...."

Astrid didn't even know what to call it. Interesting? Frightening? Exciting? All of them seemed appropriate. And she didn't think she liked it.

So she just finished with a soft, thoughtful snort of her own.

"Ridiculous?" Aloy offered.

"Sure," Astrid allowed, though she didn't think that was among the many words she had in mind, "that works."

And with that choice in mind, she looked at Aloy a little more thoughtfully. "Where are you from, anyway?" she asked. "How long have you been going to this school?"

"I've been here for about a year, give or take," Aloy said. And then shrugged. "I'm pretty sure that if I ask you if you've heard of the Nora, you'll say no. So it doesn't really matter where I'm from."

"My mom used to work with a Nora at the magazine." She was one of the ones that always gave them the stink-eye: Ingrid for her short skirts, Astrid merely for existing. "Somehow, I don't quite think that's what you mean, though."

"Your mother knew a Nora?" Aloy said, frowning. "What was their name?"

"No, that is her name," Astrid said. "Her name is Nora. Nora Flint, I think?"

"Oh." Aloy sighed and shook her head. "My people live in their Sacred Land, and I'm pretty sure we're a few years out from... this time and place."

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

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