fandomtownies | Parents' Weekend Meet & Greet, The Park, Friday Afternoon

Parents' Weekend Meet & Greet, The Park, Friday Afternoon

The day had dawned crisp and clear, but by the time afternoon had rolled around... it was really still kind of ridiculously warm for fall. People could probably get away with not wearing a sweater, even.

Which made rather good weather for a picnic, convenient since that was the traditional way of kicking off the Fandom High Parents' (and assorted other relatives, friends, acquaintances, or sometimes even enemies, but that was harder to fit nicely on a banner) Weekend. So there were rows of picnic tables decked out in blue and yellow, laid out with just about any sort of foodstuff one could imagine. And just in case there was any lingering doubt as to the purpose of the picnic, a glittery banner (Petra's work, naturally) adorned the registration tables:

[ooc: ocd up! registration / security / food & drink / mingling / post two ]

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Kate arrived late (exactly as planned, thanks), and proceeded to uh-- Not look for Greg.

Of course, she wasn't actively hiding because that was pathetic. She was out there leaning against a picnic table, arms firmly folded, wondering just how long she could go this weekend before she got a lecture.

It probably wouldn't take him long to find her. It never did.

Greg made his way over to her. "Kate," he said calmly. "It's good to see you. Are you well?"

"You know. As well as." Better than she had been stuck in the Order academy. She managed to be polite enough to leave that out, which was impressive given Greg usually managed to bring out every sullen teenage urge in her. "I'm not a man, so it's one up on last week."

"... Travel well?" It wasn't a 'good to see you too', but it was something.

He raised an eyebrow, singling on the oddity. "Not a man...?"

"Little gender problem last weekend." Yep, with Greg she was downplaying it. "As you can see, not a problem right now." The weekend itself, she'd been cursing at anything and everything.

"Should I take that as your journey being awful?"

"My journey was... manageable," he said. "Tech gave out partway to the portal, so it took longer than I had anticipated."

But not longer than he had planned for. He was a Knight of the Order of Merciful Aid, after all.

[ooc: Not getting any notifs, dammit! Grabbing dinner shortly, then home after that.]

Oh, yes he was. A fact he made sure Kate could never forget.

She nodded along, finally unfolding her arms. "They don't have that problem here. I don't really understand it, but... Magic and tech, all working all at the same time." It made no sense in the world she'd grown up in, but here it was a given. "It's pre-shift... Or, really similar to what it would've been then, I think."

"Did you know, when you sent me here?" Greg seemed to know everything, so she had to wonder if he had some idea what he was throwing her into.

Greg shrugged noncomittally. "I had some idea things were different here and that students with various... abilities were welcome here. I also hoped that perhaps after a time of being here you would realize your place was at the Academy."

He caught her gaze. "I've spoken to them and they are more than happy to have you return after this semester, sooner if you wish."

Kate sighed her frustration. Of course. Why else would he have taken time away from that job, if not to try and herd her back in what he believed was the right direction. Knights, always the same. Their way was the best way, and always would be to them.

"And why would I do that?"

"Please, Kate. Suspend your dislike of me for a few moments and listen to what I have to say. It makes sense. With your rating you are invaluable to them."

And he could protect her better if she were a member.

"E rating, only eight in ever. I know the deal... I've heard it all before." Still didn't like it. "They have plenty of people willing to throw in with them, they don't need me."

"It's bad for me, and it's bad for them, and you know it."

He sighed, hardly perceptible except to someone who knew him well and when he looked up again his eyes were terribly sad. "I wish you'd reconsider."

Aw, c'mon. Did he have to pull the disappointed eyes on her? It annoyed her irrationally, although she knew it shouldn't.

Kate purposely looked through him rather than at him when she shook her head. "It's not going to happen. Be glad you've got me to stick with this."

"You have plans while you're here?" He probably shouldn't expect her to be a tour guide...

"Just consider it," he said, then let the matter drop. For now.

"I had thought perhaps you could show me around the island. I'd like to meet with your teachers, see what is being covered in your courses."

And see what shortfalls would need to be dealt with.

"I'm sure they'd love to chat." Probably more than her, at least. "One of them was even crazy enough to think I'd make a passable teaching assistant."

"And there are tours. Daily, I think. But it's not a big island. I doubt you'd get lost without one."

Greg raised an eyebrow. "Teaching assistant. That's promising."

He sighed in that barely noticeable way once more. "I hadn't thought you would be so displeased by my visit that you would not even be willing to show me around. But given your stance... are there any areas that I should avoid?"

The way one would avoid Unicorn Lane, perhaps?

Annnnd now she felt guilty. Damn it, Greg.

"No, nowhere," Kate answered after a moment. "... But there's a bar with zombies you might want to steer clear of." The other one was run by a vampire, which might also not go down well.

He nodded. "If I develop a sudden interest in frequenting bars I will keep that in mind."

Though...

"How do they keep them in check?"

Perhaps he could help remove them from the bar.

"I haven't investigated," Kate admitted. "As far as I know, nothing much. But it seems to work that way." They might smell bad and give her the creeps, but they hadn't tried to eat her, so she assumed whatever it was did okay.

"I figured it was better for me to leave well alone."

He nodded. "Discretion can often be the better part of valor."

[ooc: Greg's checking in with Oz. No Tyrion yet.]

"You honestly believe I'm thinking about the valor by doing that?" That was his thought process, and definitely not hers.

He blinked at her. "It would be the prudent thing to do. But then, I suppose prudence isn't high on your list these days."

Otherwise she'd have already come to her senses and decided to return to the Academy.

"What is it you think is so wrong with what I'm doing?" she had to wonder. "I'm living in a whole different world. Which seems pretty prudent to me."

Which might have been part of the problem. There was no way he could feel confident about her safety or understand what dangers she might face here.

"I don't believe we're getting anywhere with this conversation," he said gently. "I just feel you could be safer... elsewhere."

He wouldn't mention the Academy again.

Today.

It was Kate's turn to sigh. Despite not saying it, she knew exactly what he was getting at. It wasn't hard to guess.

"Do you want me to show you around then?" At least that might distract him.

Re: Mingling! [PW1]

of-the-order.livejournal.com - 2011-10-02 00:50 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Mingling! [PW1]

withasword.livejournal.com - 2011-10-02 00:54 (UTC) - Expand

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