Reclaiming Your Childhood, Monday, Period 1 [9/2]

[atreideslioness]

Students had handwavily been informed to meet at the old campground today, where they would find Ghanima and Trebor waiting, and a fire already in process.

"Good morning!" Ghanima started off cheerfully, once it seemed everyone had arrived who was going to arrive. "I am Ghanima Atreides, and this is 'Reclaiming Your Childhood.'"

"The goal of this class is simple: I, like most likely many of you, lacked what could be termed a 'normal' childhood," she said bluntly. "You may have noticed by now, but Fandom Island seems to attract the unconventional resident."

"And as a still relatively new parent, attempting to navigate the world with Trebor, I decided... why not? Why not give myself, and everyone else who was interested, a chance to do the things you always wanted to do, but never got the chance?" Ghanima continued. "So, to start off today, we're starting simple with s'mores!"

She gestured to the supplies laid out around the campfire. "We're going to do this in a few different steps. First, everyone pick out a journal and pen from the box over there. Do not worry, we are not doing therapy journaling -- unless you want to -- it is mostly so that you always have a pen and paper for my Suggestion Box. Trebor?"

Trebor, just happy to be helping, beamed, and held up a wooden box with a hinged lid and a slit in the top.

"Very good, beloved," Ghanima praised him. "The Suggestion Box is for things you want to do. It is one-hundred percent anonymous, so that you do not have to feel self-conscious about your requests. Just jot down a on your papers things you think would be fun, and put them in the box, or hand them off to Trebor and he can put them in the box. He cannot read yet, so do not fret on that front."

"Once you have had a chance to pick out your journal, let's get started on making some s'mores and doing some introductions." Ghanima smiled brightly. "Paper first, as it were, and sticky fingers second."

Comments

Re: During the Lecture

[napking]

As soon as Gray realized what the class activity was going to be, he stood up straighter and started looking around to see if Arden was in this class.

Re: During the Lecture

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden was there and already looking a little green around the gills. "I'm gonna move upwind," she muttered. "You mind grabbing me the writing stuff?"

Re: During the Lecture

[napking]

"Yeah, I got you," Gray assured her. "Any special requests? Favorite color?"

Re: During the Lecture

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"I like birds," she mumbled and skittered off.

Re: During the Lecture

[napking]

Gray did know that!

A few minutes later, Gray was back with his haul. "Okay, I got you this journal and then these mini notebooks. I couldn't find any bird pens, but I thought these were pretty, and this one seems fun, and look at these cute erasers! Oh, and look at my sloth stuff!"

Was his attempt at a distraction from the s'mores action helping, Arden? Please say it was helping.

Re: During the Lecture

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden gave him a kind of sickly smile. "This is a whole haul, Gray, thanks. And yeah. Lemme see your sloth stuff? I bet they're cute. Anything anime?"

She was trying so hard, Gray.

Re: During the Lecture

[napking]

Gray shrugged. "She didn't stop me. I didn't see anything anime in particular, but the strawberry cat pen is kind of kawaii, see? Look, it can punch things." Like any marshmallows that came nearby.

Re: During the Lecture

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

And it was toasted marshmallows specifically. The worst.

"Lemme see?" She reached for the pen, making it punch the air. "Kawaii...?"

Because Arden didn't speak weeabo and look at me, I'm roleplaying.

Re: During the Lecture

[napking]

Raiden might disagree but Gray thought the toasted marshmallow aversion was more tragic than not being able to eat fried chicken.

"It's Japanese for 'cute,' basically," Gray explained. "But in Japan it's also a particular aesthetic of things that are cute in a certain way. Like--" He racked his brain for examples someone who didn't speak anime would know. "Like Hello Kitty, or meta for Pikachu."

Re: During the Lecture

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Oh!" Arden said. "Like...very round?"

Re: During the Lecture

[napking]

"Yeah!" Gray agreed. "Big eyes, usually. I guess the strawberry cat doesn't count for that."

Re: During the Lecture

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"It can be cute even if it's not properly kawaii," Arden decided, making it punch the air more. Look at that double arm action go!