fandomhigh | Earth Tourism, Tuesday 5th period

Entry tags:

around the world

Earth Tourism, Tuesday 5th period

"Hello, everybody," Lana greeted them with a smile when they met at Portalocity. "I hope you all got the information I ~~handwavily~~ sent on modern Earth clothing styles. As I said in the email, you're not required to dress like that, but if you want to blend in, it's a good start." She herself was wearing jeans, a green t-shirt, and boots.

"We'll plan to meet here each time, unless there's other things going on, in which case I'll let you know as far ahead of class as I can. Today we're not going far, just across the causeway, but a portal's still easier than driving on Earth. It's all surface vehicles and there are a lot of rules about it." Also she doubted Anakin would have trusted her with the bus.

"Fandom is located just outside Baltimore, which is a mid-sized Earth city in the state of Maryland, which is part of the United States, one of the major countries on Earth. They speak predominantly Basic - English - which should make this fairly easy. One thing you may notice as we travel, is that so far as humans are aware, they are the only sentient beings on Earth. It's debatable, honestly, even in those versions that don't have other bipedal species, but it's what they believe. Everyone we see is likely to look human. There are a lot of different languages and cultures, though, so don't let the surface similarities fool you."

She mentally reviewed her list of things to cover. "Weapons are generally not carried in public here, so if you have one, I suggest you hide it. Also any abilities outside of the human norm. Otherwise, if you're used to how people in Fandom act, they'll be similar here, although perhaps a bit ruder." Just a little; it was a big city, but it wasn't Chicago.

"We'll be visiting a military historical site that was apparently the inspiration for the country's national anthem, Fort McHenry. After that, I was given a request that we eat while we're out, so today we'll be heading to a place called Locust Point Steamers, which serves the local staples of crabs, an edible crustacean, and something called Old Bay, which I believe is a spice."

She looked around. "Any questions?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ready for Baltimore!

Yukari Tanizaki

Cal Kestis

Arden Finch

Belle

Charlie Gale

"Oh," Lana added, "before we head off, could you please let us all know who you are and where and when you're from? And maybe how much of Earth you've already seen."

"Oh, I'm Yukari," Yukari said, waving her hand dismissively as if who she was didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, like she wasn't here to get to know anyone or anything, "I'm actually from Earth myself, but I just took this class because it seemed a good way to get a lot of free trips places."

At least she was honest?

"I'm from Japan, though, and apparently about twenty years ago? Which has been great for milking compliments went I get carded at the bars! But I haven't had a chance to travel much outside of Japan,except that last school trip where we went to 'outer space'"--was she still putting that in finger quotes? Was she generally accepting the conceit of this class enough to feel like she was exploiting a loophole while still simultaneously denying they'd been in space? You better believe she was!--"so this'll be great!"

"As someone from 'outer space'," Lana mimicked her air quotes, "I can confirm Earth is very different in many respects. One of which is that it's got a lot of different cultures, so hopefully we'll find something new for you."

Knowing that she was going on a trip today, Arden had packed another outfit to change into after self-defense class, so at least she didn't have to wander around Baltimore in a sweaty sports bra after being covered in porg tears. Score one for foresight.

"I'm Arden Finch," she said, "from the Triangle in North Carolina, just a few years in the past. I haven't seen much of Earth, just that section of North Carolina, the view out the bus from there to BWI, and New Zealand when we went last fall."

Edited 2024-05-14 19:31 (UTC)

"Hello, Arden." Lana nodded to her. "I hope you'll enjoy getting to see more of it. Is the Triangle a rural area or an urban one?"

"Urban," Arden said. "There are three major research universities in three different cities - Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill - and together they created Research Triangle Park, the largest research park in the US between the three of them, and full of a bunch of high tech companies.

"Oh, that sounds fascinating!" Because Lana was a nerd. "So you're used to cities and the local culture."

"I guess?" Arden said. "I mean, I'm not an expert or anything, but if you plunk me down in a city somewhere, I won't freak out or anything, yeah."

"I'm hoping that's true for all of us," Lana said, grinning. "But it's good to have some people familiar with at least part of Earth, as a baseline."

"Uh, I'm Cal." He had left BD-1 home today to try to make sure he blended in. "I'm from a planet called Bracca, and I've seen this island so... I'm looking forward to seeing more."

"Hi, Cal." Lana smiled. "You're in for a treat, I think. Earth is fascinating."

"Charlie Gale," she said, "From a few years back, and I'm from a town in Ontario, Canada. I've been some places with the school, but haven't spent much time anywhere else."

"Hello, Charlie. Is Ontario much like Fandom?"

"Well, we've got four seasons, though they're a bit more pronounced than here," Charlie said in a vast understatement. "But otherwise they're really different."

"Is it urban or rural?" Lana asked.

~~Yes?~~

"More suburban," Charlie said. "Not far from the big city, but not exactly country either."

"Which city is the big one?" Lana asked.

"Toronto," Charlie said.

"Oh, that's where Detective Watts is from," Lana noted. "So you're familiar with cities and with all the weather in this place."

"Yes," Charlie said, "Though we're quite a distance apart in time."

Lana nodded. "I imagine the city has grown quite a bit in that time."

"Well, I wasn't there," Charlie said with a grin, "but I'm sure you're right. And just in general things have changed quite a bit."

"I've noticed that Earth seems to change a lot more in less time than my galaxy," Lana said. "I imagine it comes of having so many cultures in one place."

"I'm Belle," she said. "From the Marchlands in the Kingdom of Misthaven. I've only seen the places I've been to with the school, so far."

"Is your world similar to Earth?" Lana asked.

Explore! Learn about the Star-Spangled Banner! (Not a Cap/Hulk crossover.)

Was Cal going to climb the walls of the fort? No. Was he thinking about it and considering all the good handholds in the brick? Absolutely.

Eat!

So weird! There was something about these crabs that made Arden think of Dean of all people.

Huh. Weird.

Cal was the one who had requested they check out food places, so he was ready to see how many crabs he could figure out how to eat before they had to leave, but he couldn't not look at Arden with how she was dressed. Did she know what she was doing? Was she clueless? He'd never have the nerve to ask!

"Is the spice worth it?" he asked instead.

Why, Cal? What was it that she was doing, exactly? Did you not like her outfit?

Unaware of his thoughts (and how much BD-1 was probably screeching into a pillow, able to sense this even from miles away), Arden just grinned from where she was sitting behind her own pile of crabs. "Not bad," she said. "Not the goddess's gift to seasoning the way everybody in Maryland seems to think it is, but still pretty decent. I bet if we asked Mr. Lebeau to make us crabs, you'd like it better. Cajun cooking can get spicy."

"I do like spicy," he said, taking a seat from across her. "The fort was pretty cool, huh?"

He had to be neutral or he'd just keep staring at her lack of neckline, and that was bad!

He liked spicy, but he didn't like her lack-of-neckline, tch. Make it make sense, Cal.

"I'm a little sad you didn't climb it," she said with a laugh. "You looked like you wanted to."

And she wanted to watch his arms while he did. You had denied them both.

"I definitely wanted to. Isn't that how you test a fort's security? If someone can approach from the ground, there needs to be measures against that." Things would be very different if every soldier had arms like his, that was for sure.

"I like seeing places from high up, you understand. And it's a fun challenge to figure out how to get to the top of places without falling."

"Well, if you do decide to climb something, let me know and I'll take pictures," she said. "...Either that, or backpack you like BD-1. You can carry me and still climb, right?"

Please actually say no, Cal. It would be too hot if you could.

"I mean, I could certainly try. You'd have to hold on tight though," he said with a smile. "But I haven't lost BD yet."

Dammit, Cal. She was going to have to wear deeper necklines to combat this new unfairness.

"I guess we'll have to add that to our to-do list, huh?"

She's here!

Too tired for icons.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Earth Tourism, Tuesday 5th period

Sign in!

Re: Sign in!

Re: Sign in!

Re: Sign in!

Re: Sign in!

Re: Sign in!

Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Re: Listen to the lecture / Introductions

Fort McHenry

Re: Fort McHenry

LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Re: LP Steamers

Talk to Lana!

OOC!