Graduation Brunch: The Park, Sunday, mid-morning to mid-afternoon

[loverlyviolets]

A banner, the letters wrapped with fresh spring flowers, hung from the trees, spelling out CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2009! No missing letters or anything.

Spread out across the park were plenty of tables and chairs, some under the shade of picnic shelters, some out on the grass in the sunshine. For those who felt like getting back to nature, there were even red and white checked blankets spread out in a few areas for old-fashioned picnic-y goodness. Lack of ants not guaranteed.

The long table that ran along next to the picnic shelters was laden with a vast moddable array of traditional brillig-y food, including fruit, veggie snacks, breakfast pastries, sandwiches for the especially hungry or those who arrived more toward the unch end of brunch, and a wide variety of J,GoB-catered desserts. Drinks included coffee, tea, juices and soft drinks, and while there were plates provided, there were also wee picnic-basket-shaped trays for carrying things back to your seat, wherever that might be.

A space had been cleared for dancing, if people cared to do more than just listen to the light music being played through the speakers, and there was also an area set aside for outdoor games of croquet, horseshoes, or frisbee.

Everybody's welcome. Come celebrate with the Class of '09!

[OOC: Wait for the OCD. Don't make Eliza Doolittle have to cut a bitch. OPEN! And no one had to get cut! It's a good day!]

Comments

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

It was a beautiful day, and Dōjima was feeling rather fantastic as she sipped her mimosa and wandered around looking for people to chat with.

She was a high school graduate. Even if she was sticking around for the next few weeks, it still didn't feel any less surreal.

Re: Mingling

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

For such a tall man Father Juliano managed to blend into a crowd remarkably well. But since he was actively seeking Dojima out, and since Dojima was actually good at spotting people, she was sure to find him sooner rather than later.

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

It also helped that Dōjima possessed a 'Father Juliano' radar, which was working in top form ever since she'd run into him at the diner.

"Father Juliano," she said brightly, appearing at his elbow with a muffin in-hand. "What a surprise! I would have thought you'd have been on a plane back to Europe already!"

Re: Mingling

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

"I promised your father I would extend his congratulations to his newly-graduated daughter once she was, in fact, newly-graduated."

He had done no such thing.

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure my father will delighted to hear that I do, in fact, have a diploma, and that I conducted myself with all the dignity due our clan," Dōjima replied dryly. "I didn't even have to sleep with any of my teachers to get it, either."

If he wanted to play 'cover stories', she'd oblige him, but Dōjima wasn't going to pretend she believed that line for a moment.

Re: Mingling

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

"And," he added, "I wanted to extend my own congratulations."

He bent forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. "You've done very well, Dojima Yurika." He's proud of her.

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

To say that had been unexpected was an understatement, and Dōjima simply blinked, stunned for once into silence.

"Arigato gozaimausu, Colegui-sama," she said finally, giving him a small bow. "I'm very glad you were able to make it today."

Re: Mingling

[withoutverona]

Romeo slipped up behind her, a stolen bottle of champagne in one hand. "Does your mimosa need freshening, my lady?"

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"Always," she giggled, holding it out for him. "Where did you steal that from?"

Re: Mingling

[withoutverona]

"A bartender was careless," Romeo answered, as he refilled her glass. "And we deserve it. I spoke with your Father."

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"Did you now?" This was not Yurika's 'surprised' face. "Better pour me more of that, aijin-mine."

Re: Mingling

[withoutverona]

Romeo took a swig straight from the bottle for himself, then compliantly filled her glass to the brim.

"He is not the kindest of men, for all he cares for you." That would be understatement -- uncharacteristic, perhaps, but they were in public.

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"If he was kind, he would not be half the man he is," she agreed quietly. "He is what he is, to do the work that must be done."

And he was proud of her. Yurika still couldn't get her mind around that.

Re: Mingling

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Hey." Sokka held out a hand for her to shake. "So, goodbye, and good luck, and stuff."

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"Hai," Dōjima answered, taking Sokka's hand with a grin. "Are you leaving already? Really?"

Re: Mingling

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

"Gotta go save the world and all that. You know how it is." Sokka shrugged. "...HELP save the world. I'm off to be a sidekick again."

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"Hey, it's not like the hero can get anything done without someone looking over their shoulder," Dōjima said. "Quality control. Someone has to do all the real work while the hero does the PR-shtick."

Not that Yurika would know anything about that.

Re: Mingling

[sarcasm-guy.livejournal.com]

Sokka shrugged again. "No, Aang does all the work, too. He's got superpowers and all. I'm just there for back-up. And plans. I'm the plans and back-up guy."

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"Never underestimate the backup," she lectured, wagging a finger at him. "Especially backup that's sneaky enough to film things like girlkissy parties and gremlin bites, and make a fortune off of it."

Re: Mingling

[the_merriest]

"Is all the orange juice in nice glasses like that?" Rikku asked with a grin. "And how have I not pestered you for graduation-hugs yet?"

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"I don't know about all the orange juice, but the mimosas sure as hell are," Dōjima answered, holding out an arm for a hug. "If I keep this rate up, I'll happily pass out before I actually have to tell people good-bye."

Re: Mingling

[the_merriest]

"Wouldn't that be nice?" Rikku asked, leaning over for a tight, squeezy hug. "You know, if we dyed our hair strange colors, I bet we could lie and say we were new students."

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"My hair is far too pretty to dye," Dōjima replied as she wagged a finger at the other girl. "Stay and TA for a term, Rikku. We can be terrible rolemodels for the new kids and everything."

Re: Mingling

[the_merriest]

"I dyed mine purple once," Rikku noted. "It was kinda pretty. But I have to get home. Yunie's all burned out and I have to go be a bad influence on her."

Rikku was very good at keeping Yuna sane. It was like a superpower.

Re: Mingling

[dojima-hime.livejournal.com]

"You can't just abduct her here for a few weeks, or take her to Mexico?" Dōjima whined. "Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiikku!"