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

[bigdamnprincipal]

There were plenty of chairs and tables by the bonfire, and some further out on the lawn for anyone who might want to enjoy their food alone, or just gaze at the new folks and try to figure them out. All of these potential activities were valid!

[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 [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

"It's a lot to take in," Liam acknowledged. "And I'd always thought it was one of those things just meant for kids so I'd never been, myself."

Well, that and pre-Fandom he'd never had had the time for something like an amusement park trip, anyway, workaholic that he was.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"And then you get there and you realize roller coasters are amazing?"

At least that had been Rey's experience!

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

"Yes," Liam said fervently. "There was one that was supposed to be like flying through space. It wasn't, really, but it was still a lot of fun."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"Yes! I appreciate that they tried!" she said happily. "I'm glad you got to do this."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

It was a good thing that both the Disney and Lowry entertainment empires had a section of their amusement parks dedicated to 'futuristic' themed attractions!

"I'm already trying to find a reason to make another trip sometime," Liam said. Because while he had in fact accepted that fun was a thing he was allowed to have, he hadn't quite made the leap to 'can go on a trip somewhere just because he can and not necessarily because of a special occasion'.

"Oh! And I picked you up something," he added, rummaging around in that bag he'd brought with him.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"Oh, you didn't have to do that," Rey told him.

Like whatever it was wouldn't be kept forever and treasured because she was still fairly new to presents.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

She and Liam absolutely had that in common.

"It was either this or a magic wand, they're kind of... what Lowryland is known for," he explained, handing the item in question over. "And I figured after Halloween the magic wand might be a little too on the nose."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"Oh, this is adorable," she said, grinning. "Thank you."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

“You’re welcome,” he grinned back at her. “I’d never realized how many variations there could be on the ‘flower crown’ theme until I started looking in the souvenir shops,” he said, shaking his head. “It was mind-boggling.”

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"Apparently people like a lot of options. I love it," she said. And while she didn't think this was something she'd be wearing around town, she was absolutely going to end up displaying it on her wall or something. "So how've you been? We haven't had a lot of time lately."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

Yeah, of the handful of people Liam had picked up crowns for, probably only Nina was going to end up actually wearing it as a regular accessory. Which made perfect sense for Nina.

"I have been a bit preoccupied with the whole 'suddenly, a parent' thing, the last few months," Liam acknowledged. "But things are- good, you know? Settled. I haven't felt that way in a while."

At least, not since this time last year, just before they'd gone on that little adventure to Beau's world and he'd kind of screwed up his own mental health there for a bit by accidentally-on-purpose absorbing the memories of a slaver, oops.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"Settled sounds good," Rey said with a little smile. "How's the parenting thing going?"

She hadn't really gotten to hear much about that yet aside from the party where she'd made some Decisions.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

There sure had been a lot of Decisions made at that party, that was for sure!

“Good,” he said. “Great, really- which. I’m sure won’t last forever,” he acknowledged, sobering slightly. As much as he was enjoying the whole being-a-dad thing, he knew it couldn’t be smooth sailing all the time. Sooner or later they’d hit a snag, and he just... wanted to be prepared. Could you even be prepared for something like that?

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"Well, teenagers," Rey said, like she hadn't just been one.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

“Exactly!” Liam said. “I don’t know anything about teenagers!” He’d just been one too... for like, a weekend. “I’m totally winging it.”

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"I kind of get the impression that's what most people do," she said. "But I can't say for sure."

Some people just made it look easier than others.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

"Most people at least have memories of being a teenager themselves to fall back onto," Liam replied. Technically he did too, in a way, but there was still that sense of... removal, when it came to accessing his parents' memories.

Also, like, regarding Nina specifically, underneath that exuberance was someone who had a whole load of abandonment issues, and Liam just-

He just wanted to do right by her, okay?

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

Rey got it. Similar reasoning was why she felt a little weird about parenting kids for a weekend.

"You know her as a person. Isn't that enough?" she asked.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

"It'll have to be," Liam decided. A beat, and then: "She does think it's hilarious that she's technically twice my age."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"It is very Fandom of you," Rey said with a smile.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

"That was basically her response, yeah," Liam said.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"I suppose 'you're older than me, how is this supposed to go' is a good tension-breaker in the right argument," Rey mused.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

"I hadn't actually considered that angle, but you might have a point," Liam said thoughtfully. "I'll have to keep it in my back pocket as an option."

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[thatwaslucky]

"I'm learning things," she told him.

Re: General Mingling [Spring 2021]

[firstofitskind]

"Well, I'm glad you're willing to share what you've learned," Liam grinned at her. "I did also ask that she cut me some slack if I screw up due to the whole..." he waved a hand, "having no idea what I'm doing thing." Which went both ways, really, since having a family was new for her, too.