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!]

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[thatsmysword]

Sleep still did not come easily to Henry. (What kind of husband would you make? You can’t sit still in one place for an hour at a time, Theresa's voice whispered in his ear.) He'd spent most of last night roaming around the island, too restless to go back to his room; soon enough it had been too late not to risk waking up Erasmus, and he'd wound up sleeping in the bloody barn with Pebbles and Mutt.

But it was morning now, and his growling stomach drew him out towards the dorms at last. "Are you as hungry as I am, Mutt?" he asked the brown-and-white dog at his side, and received an enthusiastic bark in return. "Right. Let's see if there's any sausages at the buffet."

And to the buffet they went, chasing distraction.

[sairis]

Sairis had been riding through the night to reach the capital. He was thankful for the saddle Merek had given him; the poor nag's spine would have drilled through his backside otherwise. He was also grateful for his raincloak keeping him dry through the miserable weather.

So when there was a sudden surge of magic, then it was suddenly daytime and not raining, he was on immediate alert. He looked around, his eyes going wide at the unfamiliar city around him. He scrambled down off the horse and quickly led it to a nearby hedge before anybody could notice it was dead. And hid himself behind it, too, so he could think for a moment.

This was not Chireese. He had no idea where this was. Lamont? Falcosta? Somewhere across the Shattered Sea? The first thing he had to do was figure out where he was. Preferably without anybody finding out there was a necromancer around.

He ordered the horse to stay between the hedge and the high wall it stood next to, then changed quickly into his master's nicest trousers, silk shirt, charcoal waistcoat, and black overcoat and rolled his cloak up around his own things. He took his coin and stuffed a few charms into his pockets. Then he patted the horse and headed out.

Just inside the gate to what looked like a large estate was...some sort of food setup. Sairis straightened and did his best to act like he belonged here while keeping a wary eye out for trouble and a hopeful one for a map.

[not_a_haint]

The brisk walk, uphill in the snow both ways had warmed him somewhat but Caleb was still so bundled up that all that was visible were his eyes as he finally reached the school.

No, the castle. Had he wandered into Camelot or something?

In one mittened hand was his suitcase, in the other the town map that had helped him get up here.

"Oh that's a lot of food."

[thatwaslucky]

Rey liked the picnics. She did not like the weather. She was too-bundled up and had a cup of very hot chocolate in her gloved hands, and she was debating how long she might stay out here.

It wasn't being a cold wimp when the weather was stupid.

[sairis]

Sairis heard him and cautiously came a little closer. "It's not normal, is it?"

[not_a_haint]

The idea of a buffet outside, in the dead of winter was so odd that seeing someone else dressed for the weather made Caleb feel a bit better about the whole thing somehow.

"Uh, I apologize if this is a rude question, but...do y'all do this a lot? Have picnics outside in the freezin' cold I mean? Or, are you new too?"

He had pulled the scarf away from his face so he could drink his own hot chocolate but otherwise every inch of him that could be covered, was.

[not_a_haint]

"Well I just got here, so I couldn't say for sure. But it's more food than I think I've ever seen at once. But I dunno how many folks they're lookin' to feed."

[thatwaslucky]

"It's only in January," she assured him. "There are other picnics that take place in warm weather, I promise."

[mindofageneration]

Well, Riri had survived all the weird shit of the holidays and randomly turning into a cat for a week. For reasons she couldn't figure out. And she'd honestly spent way too long trying.

But that was fine. And she'd also figured out a good system for making money again with, ah, only a tiny bit of academic dishonesty. Not important. The important thing was the free food and the decent weather.

[sairis]

"Me too," Sairis agreed. "It's a strange place, this..." He hoped the other man would fill in the name of wherever they were.

[not_a_haint]

"So, is this," he gestured at the table, "Kind of a stubbornness thing?" Because that he understood, even if he might prefer they'd given in to the weather.

[not_a_haint]

It seemed odd to Caleb that this man wouldn't know the name of the place he'd come to. But it was also odd to have a buffet outside in 20 degree weather, and he was pretty sure it was odd that there was a university in a castle in America. So why not.

"Uh, Fandom. Fandom Island, and Fandom University. But I think that's all I could tell you, I just got here myself."

[stringstothesoul]

Erasmus was freezing to death.

Yes, yes, he was bundled into a puffer coat and layers. He had a hat and gloves on. And he was dying. He was sure his teeth would start chattering at any moment. How did people live like this?

[stringstothesoul]

"How do people live like this?" Erasmus greeted Riri, and if his narrative elsewhere said the same thing, well, it was heavily on his mind right now.

[mindofageneration]

"It's not that bad." Said the girl from Chicago who thought a hoodie worked for the weather.

[thatwaslucky]

"Henry," Rey greeted him as she made her way over. "Good holiday?"

[thatwaslucky]

"It's either that or an attempt at giving everyone a conversation starter," Rey mused. "At least for anyone who left the indoors for this."

The sane people.

[thatsmysword]

Henry put down the half-eaten sausage in his hand - beside him, Mutt had no such reservations and kept going rather happily at the one given to him. "Not much of one," he said. "I wound up at home. It's still spring there."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve was bundled all the way up, including an electric vest under his coat that had been a gift from Tony for Christmas.

It was still not his favorite weather, but he wanted to welcome the newcomers.

[thatsmysword]

Henry's arrival - a few steps away from the massive meal he'd just had - was announced by a loud barking, as Mutt raced forward towards the new human.

"Erasmus! Are you all-- Mutt, no! Sit!"

And there was Henry.

[sairis]

"Fandom." Sairis frowned. He'd never even heard of that country. Wait, island? Was he actually in the Shattered Sea? Or on it, he supposed.

He weighed the benefits of an answer against the danger of letting on his predicament, and decided.

"Where is Fandom? I'm afraid I'm a bit lost."

[throughaphase]

Kitty had signed up to teach one class. Kitty had found out today that she was teaching a second class. About glitter.

So uhhh she was happy to talk to people especially if they had ideas on what to do for that.

[thatwaslucky]

"Still spring?" she asked. "Is that good or bad?"

Weatherwise, good. Definitely good.

[throughaphase]

"How do I teach glitter," Kitty greeted him, and then added, "Hi."

[thatsmysword]

Henry shrugged. "Neither good nor bad, I think?" he said. "It just is what it is. No holidays, though. Easter's already come and gone."

There was something a little bewildering about being back at Fandom, having a completely normal conversation with Rey-who-had-a-strange-sword and everything, but... well. It was what it was.