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

[bigdamnprincipal]

It always felt like a bit of a stretch to call an event in January a "picnic," and the weather today wasn't helping with how seasonably cold it was outside. Thankfully, there was plenty of warm food to keep everyone toasty, along with as many carafes as The Perk would offer, filled with hot water for tea, light and dark roast coffee, and hot chocolate.

It was time to welcome in another new semester, everyone!

[Going OCD-free this time, stay warm together!]

Comments

[not_a_haint]

She'd also rode up on a dead horse so Caleb was absolutely refusing to judge anything.

"I'm from Kentucky but," the second part of that question brought him up short. "I'm sorry ma'am, did you ask when was from?"

[deathsmajesty]

Now then, let's be very clear, it wasn't her undead horse. Hers would be much less bedraggled looking.

"Yes, darling, I did," Liliana said. "Welcome to Fandom University, which is at the center of a dimensional nexus, which is something like crossroads of an untold number of times, planes, and realities. So right now, we're near the city of Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, in the country of the United States of America, on the plane of Earth, in the month of January, the year 2026. Do any of those sound familiar to you?"

Yeah, she didn't know about Kentucky. That was absolutely one of those states that she had no interest in.

[not_a_haint]

Caleb needed to sit down. But he'd settle for bracing himself against a table with one hand. Sure, for most people it would make far more sense that all this was an elaborate prank. Or a home for...confused people.

But Caleb had glimpsed a little of the power around here so he seemed more inclined to accept it. He'd travelled almost a century into the future, to another dimension?

Eat your heart out, Burroughs.

"I'm from America, the year 1935." he finally managed.

[deathsmajesty]

"Ah," Liliana said quietly. "From what I have learned about Earth history, that is quite an adjustment. Do you know who your faculty advisor is, darling?"

[not_a_haint]

"A Mr...." fished the paperwork out of his pocket, "Stark. I haven't spoken to him just yet." sometimes these multi-thread things are like a jigsaw puzzle

[deathsmajesty]

"Ah," she said. "He will do his best to be gentle, and he's been on this plane far longer than I, so he might be better equipped to explain the difference between your time and this one."

[not_a_haint]

"I'll, I'll add it to the list I guess." And he had just been worried about getting lost on his way to class or whether he'd be able to find a job.

[deathsmajesty]

Well, the job thing would be easy enough, at least? Good luck with the rest of it.

Liliana continued to regard him with fathomless purple eyes, heavy with the weight of time and power. "Have you received training for whatever...?" She waved towards his general self.

[not_a_haint]

In a manner of speaking. He was able to not allow it to summon horrors from the earth, and if something did start to stir he was able to put it back. It had been deemed too risky to test it any further.

"Yes'm I got a handle on it." he assured her. Long as he didn't get killed, all should be well.

[deathsmajesty]

If Liliana had any idea what 'having a handle on it' meant, she would be torn between drinking heavily and finding ways to travel to 1930s Kentucky to yell.

Fortunately, she could multitask. And those two activities complemented each other nicely.

Even more fortunately, she didn't have any idea. "I would be interested in learning more about your powers," she told him. "Death magic is my specialty." She had an advanced degree in it, even! Her Multiverse took magical education seriously nsjs! "And I'm certain that I know several things that will work nicely whatever you have already learned."

[not_a_haint]

The Walkers and Brother Bartholomew know what they're doin'. he reminded himself. Nevermind that this was sounding more and more what he'd been cautioned about in regards to staying hidden.

It was fortunate he hadn't tried the old "I don't know what you're talking about" routine because it turned out he had no talent for deception. So when he said "I'll keep that in mind, Ma'am." The subtext of "eep!" was plain.

[deathsmajesty]

A smirk flitted across her face at that subtext. Smart boy.

"Yes, do," she said, amusement still playing around her eyes and mouth. "I'm sure once you've had a chance to settle in and wrap your mind around the changes in your situation, you'll have more time to chat. Though, to be clear..." Her amusement faded and her expression darkened, "should your hold ever slip and people end up hurt because of it, it will no longer be an offer of lessons."

That's right, Caleb. The consequences of losing control would involve mandatory lessons.

...Just ignore how she actually didn't have a say in anything like that, because she sure was.