atreideslioness: (Beautiful Princess)
Ghanima Atreides ([personal profile] atreideslioness) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2025-09-09 10:55 am

Reclaiming Your Childhood, Tuesday, Period 1 [9/9]

Class had been handwaivly notified to meet outside the front door of the school. Upon arrival, students would find that Ghanima was coaching Trebor through tying his shoes.

Was he only two? Yes. But her culture had children wielding knives at this age, so, she did not think it totally outside his capabilities to learn how to make a bunny-knot with enough practice. "I hope you brought your walking shoes," she said, looking up at all of them. "Because today, we are off to the zoo!"

"In particular, the San Diego Zoo."

"It began with a collection of animals left over from the 1915 Panama–California Exposition that were brought together by its founder, Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth. The zoo was a pioneer in the concept of open-air, cage-less exhibits that recreate natural animal habitats. It houses over 12,000 animals of more than 680 species and subspecies, and it is one of the most visited zoos in the United States."

"The reason I've selected the San Diego Zoo, over the many options, is both their wide range of exhibits, including multiple aviaries," was that private apology for Arden after last week had made her visibly uncomfortable? Yes. Absolutely. "--and because the zoo is active in conservation and species-preservation efforts. Its Institute for Conservation Research raises over a hundred and fifty endangered species and has helped increase populations of endangered animals worldwide, both in captivity and in the wild. As a result, they have reintroduced more than thirty endangered species back into the wild, and have conserved habitat at fifty field sites." Ghanima beamed at the assembled class. "I have a particular interest in wildlife conservation, and so you must all suffer."

After all, what good was teaching if not to force your special interests on impressionable students?

The Portalocity portal blinked into existence behind her, and Ghanima stood to begin distributing physical tickets to everyone, including tickets for the Inside Look and Animals in Action, and two gift cards -- one $25 card good at any restaurant in the park, and another $25 card good for the gift shop.

Ghanima was an Empress who almost never dipped into her royal stipend. If she wanted to use her salary to spoil her students all semester, she was allowed.

"I paid extra for a 'time skip,' so if you want to stay at the zoo all day, you will still make it back in time for second period," she laughed. "So have fun! Take pictures, sketch, explore... all I ask is that you go into the experience with an open heart and mind, and learn one new thing -- about the world, or about yourself."

She waived towards the portal. "Let us depart!"
afraid_of_marshmallows: Nathalie Emmanuel (Smile - Cloud Hair)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] afraid_of_marshmallows 2025-09-09 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
More than ever, Arden was glad that she'd taken photography courses with Prompto; even just using her phone's camera, she was able to get some beautiful shots of wildlife.

"That's what I should have asked Castor for for my birthday," she mumbled to herself, taking a picture of Gray grinning at the sloths. "A proper camera."
napking: (Default)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] napking 2025-09-09 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"There's always Christmas," Gray reminded her. "Get your list in early, and all that." So he didn't buy you a winery.
napking: (hoodie lyfe)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] napking 2025-09-09 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, you know, your Christmas list?" Your list for Christmas. You knew about Christmas lists, right, Arden? "Hey, do you wanna go see the birds next? Actually, let me rephrase. Which birds do you wanna go see next?" So many birds.
Edited 2025-09-09 21:01 (UTC)
afraid_of_marshmallows: Nathalie Emmanuel (Smile - Grin Backwards Shoulder)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] afraid_of_marshmallows 2025-09-09 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh! The Parker Aviary!" Arden said, happily skipping over the prospect of Christmas lists in favor of birds. "They have tamarins in there, too! And a bunch of Central and South American birds with beautiful plumage--wait no! Safari Park! We've gotta go see the kestrels in Safari Park, they're my favorite."
napking: (aw shucks)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] napking 2025-09-09 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Do we want to go see the penguins in the African thingy?" Gray asked. "They're cute." Even if they didn't fly.
afraid_of_marshmallows: Nathalie Emmanuel in 4 Weddings and a Funeral (Smile - Distant Thoughtful)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] afraid_of_marshmallows 2025-09-10 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Sure! But after the kestrels," Arden said. "Kestrels first." Beat. "Also, are the penguins kept slightly removed from the audience? Sometimes birds get...excited. To see me."

AND THEN KIWIS JUMP INTO HER ARMS AND SHE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT BEING DEPORTED FROM NEW ZEALAND.
napking: (aw shucks)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] napking 2025-09-10 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Okay, if we go anywhere and we decide the bird separation isn't good enough we leave immediately," Gray decided. "We don't want to cause any jailbreaks."

The good news was they couldn't be deported from San Diego? They could, however, be kicked out of the zoo.
afraid_of_marshmallows: Nathalie Emmanuel in 4 Weddings and a Funeral (Laugh - Face Down)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] afraid_of_marshmallows 2025-09-10 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
And then Lady Ghanima would be disappointed with them!

"Good plan," Arden agrees. "...Unless it's a kestrel. Then it's okay."
napking: (hoodie lyfe)

Re: To the ZOO!

[personal profile] napking 2025-09-10 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Unless it's a kestrel," Gray agreed.

Sorry, Professor Atreides.
Edited 2025-09-10 03:17 (UTC)