Fandom High Welcome Picnic, Front Lawn of the School, Saturday, All Day

[bigdamnprincipal]

It was the start of a new term, and there were some new people around, so it was time for a picnic! The sun was shining and the last bits of summer weather were still upon the island, so a few of the lawn's sprinklers insisted on doing their spraying duty no matter how much Zoe tried to turn them off. In less frustrating news, the food was ready, the nametags were out, and everything was set up for a lovely picnic day!

[Flying OCD-free, have at it!]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Steven had absolutely gotten hit by the lawn sprinklers on the way in. So he was now looking around for napkins or a paper towel to dry himself off.

[stykera]

The sprinklers were a new hazard! And some people only had one eye. A recipe for disaster at some point, surely. But not quite yet.

"Hello, Steven."

[hasaknightjob]

"Stark, hello!" Steven said with a wave, the cheerfulness of which was undeterred by it being the side where he'd gotten soaked by the sprinkler. "How are you?"

[stykera]

"Doing well," Stark assured him. "Summer and I went away for a couple of days. To Seoul. We'd been staying on Thursdays after Ignis's class, wherever it was, so we decided to keep that going for this week at least."

Going forward they'd have to see how it worked out with both of them having classes on Friday mornings.

"And you?"

[hasaknightjob]

"Seoul? That sounds like a great deal of fun," Steven said. He frowned as he tried to think of the last time he and Stark had spoken. "Last holiday I took was with Llewellyn for his birthday. Went up to Cape Cod for a food truck festival and some whale watching. Though there's going to be a great deal of travel in our future. We're taking your class, did you see?"

[stykera]

"It was fun," Stark confirmed. "I could have stayed longer but we wanted to be back for today." Also it had been a little exhausting.

"I did see you signed up," he said, flashing a smile. "I hope it's enjoyable."

[hasaknightjob]

"We're in your hands there," Steven said with a smile. "And it was Llewellyn's doing. He suggested it and made it so it would work with our schedules."

Funny how easy it was to take time off when you were the boss.

[stykera]

"I hope it will be enjoyable," Stark said again. "I can't guarantee it but I'll do my best."

And try not to worry too much about it. Try. He was very good at worrying.

[hasaknightjob]

"It sounds interesting at least?" Steven said. "Plus an excuse to see you more often. That was considered a bonus for the both of us as well."

[stykera]

Aww.

"It will be good to see both of you as well," Stark said, flashing a quick smile. "I haven't figured out all of the places we'll go yet. I still need to do more research."

[hasaknightjob]

"The nice bit is it's likely to be all new to us," Steven said. "We're trying to do as many new things as we can, you see. So this is one new thing every week."

[stykera]

"I've...I've been trying to go more new places myself," Stark said. "Trying to travel more."

He was getting better at it! Not nearly so anxious about standing out too much.

"Ignis's class helped with that, this summer. And Summer, of course, Summer always helps."

[hasaknightjob]

"That's wonderful to hear," Steven said. "I know it was difficult for you, wondering how people would react. Has it gone well? Summer's been supportive?"

[stykera]

"Except for when I turned into a koala when we were meant to go out in Japan," Stark said. "Though we went out anyway. I just wasn't quite myself."

Because Japan was the best place to bring adorable fuzzy animals to the club. Clearly.

"Summer always helps," he repeated. Summer would probably fight anyone who gave Stark much trouble. "And I haven't been bothered. Not really."

[hasaknightjob]

"She's teaching a class this semester as well, isn't she?" Steven asked as he tried to remember what the other offerings were. "Are you taking it?"

[stykera]

"She is," Stark confirmed. "I try to always take her classes when I can. Hers is right before mine, on Friday mornings. It's on...weird things."

Because of course it was!

[hasaknightjob]

"Ah," Steven said. "Well, convenient then yeah? With the timing? I wasn't certain I'd be able to take classes at all this go round. Schedule's been a bit tighter lately, with Marc and me."

[stykera]

"It leaves other days free still," Stark said. "Which is good. And we both work Mondays, usually, and there's the bar on Wednesdays. And the radio in the morning."

"I haven't seen Marc," he said after a pause. "He's doing well?"

[hasaknightjob]

"He is, yeah," Steven said. "He's more reasons to pop out what with the boarding house and all. We're trying it out where we sort of split the week in two? Not always. Not a strict schedule. But if there's something regular, say. For me and Llewellyn. Try to push that to the end of the week so Marc's got the beginning for himself. So your class worked out nicely, far as all that."

[stykera]

"There's been a bit on the radio," Stark said. "I'm glad he's doing well. Tell him hello for me?"

"And I'm glad it worked out. With the class. Always good to have friendly faces, especially when going new places."

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course," Steven said, regarding the hello. "Yeah, it's been interesting. Seeing what radio says. But that's true in general, I find. Never know what squirrels will think is worthy of note."

Just one of those things you said in Fandom.

"I'm glad as well," Steven said. "You can see how it's not been easy to pop by when you're at the clinic to say hello. esp since Mondays still suck for the mun IRL You're still doing that? Mondays?"

[stykera]

"The squirrels are odd," Stark said in a contender for the biggest understatement of the day.

"Still on Mondays," he confirmed. "I suppose it could change, if needed."

[hasaknightjob]

"That's me out then," Steven said. "Not that it's rigid. Flexibility if Marc and I need. But as I say. Things that are hard and fast make it, well, harder. But we'll see how your class goes. Is - is it all right if we don't make it some weeks? Not that I'm looking to not go. Only if something comes up?"

Steven had his own anxieties about things.

[stykera]

"Why wouldn't it be all right? Things happen. Especially here."

Odds were good class would be canceled on account of minor invasion or something similar at least once too!

"And...if you ever wanted or needed to talk, or to see me, you've only to ask. I hope you know that."

[hasaknightjob]

"Likewise," Steven said. "I'm still doing Thursdays at the museum. And, er, Marc doesn't keep regular hours but sometimes he's in his office at the boarding house on Tuesdays. If you feel comfortable popping by."