Opening Ceremony!

[principalmouse]

Who: Everybody!
What: Opening Ceremony! Say hi to all your new friends! It's a meet 'n' greet!
When: OPENING DAY!
Where: Just inside the Academic Building
Warnings: None yet. Yet.
[In a wide open hall with banners and a various sundry of celebratory items, the headmaster's rousing speech begins to come to a close.]

In short, you all are here to save our world! There is a threat out there that we must face, but we cannot face it alone. [His demeanor is pleasant, but thinly veiled. His stress is evident in his words, but he is attempting to stay cheerful.] We must do our best to watch over our friends and family and neighbors, no matter who they may be.

We are all responsible for one another. [He lets the silence hang for a moment before letting off and overly cheerful--] HaHa! [Was that a bit forced? Or was it just me?]

Well, guys, it’s time for me t’go, got lotsa stuff to take care of bein’ headmaster and all. But please, get to know one another, go check out classes, and find out where you live on campus! [He gestures to various sections of the room, all labeled with bright colored papers and text.]

I’ll see y’around!

[And with that, the headmaster is off! No, seriously. Watch him go, he’s movin’ fast for such a short guy.]

((OOC: WELCOMING CEREMONY LOG! Feel free to create starters here and tag everyone! Don’t be shy. :) You can use prose or action text, whichever you’re more comfortable with.))

Comments

the once-ler | ota

[thneed]

[ The debate begins: Mouse vs. Annoying Furry Peanut.
Mouse: 1
Mustache: -10

The mouse gets +1 for asking in a formal letter, thinking-- no knowing Once-ler can help change the world, and not questioning anything. Good on you, mouse. Good on you.

He's idly wandering around off to the side of everyone else, keeping to himself while he gets a feel of the area, and just watching everyone with a bit of an uncomfortable expression like he feels really out of place. Or maybe he's silently judging everyone. (What the heck is that person wearing over there??)

He's definitely not sure how to approach anything at the moment and keeps drumming his gloved hands on his sides awkwardly. It's not exactly like he's around people too often unless they're his family or customers or some random rich people at some function you want to get money out of. These are peers right here though. They're going to be people you learn with, and maybe save the world with, and aren't there to get money out of (yet). He should know them on a personal level. Connections are to be made. Networking. Socialization! Going to have conversations about things not business. ...When was the last time he spoke to someone about something completely unrelated to business?

...

Uh-oh. Drawing a blank. ]

[barelyknow]

[Needing some space, M.K. filed through the crowd until she had found a somewhat clear area. She was sociable enough, but she needed a break every once in a while, especially under circumstances as crazy as these. Part of her just wanted to go back to her dorm and crash back into bed. She'd almost be able to pretend nothing was wrong there. Thinking that sounded and awful lot like quitting M.K. shook her head to clear out any thoughts like that.

She heaved a sigh and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. She nodded casually at Once-ler before leaning up against the wall. She gazed out at the other students before glancing back at Once-ler.]

I'd ask if you're new, but that seems kind of moot at this point.

[thneed]

[ His thoughts snapped out of trying to find something "normal" in a social life that seemed to only include tiny bears and his mother. And money. Money's good.

But hey a distraction. He crossed his arms and gave a M.K. a once over before offering a little smile and an agreeing nod. ]

I think the novelty of someone being new won't kick in again until at least a week.

[barelyknow]

I guess that is a plus to showing up at the start. New kid stigma is never ever good, no matter what parents might tell you.

[Mom's intentions had been good, but there had been nothing about starting a new school that had been "positive" or "life-affirming".]

[thneed]

There are parents that actually disagree with new kid stigmas being a negative thing?

[ He's pretty sure his mother mentioned something about the new kid getting hung up by his underpants unless he got in with the popular clique. Good thing everyone's new. ]

[barelyknow]

[She shrugs.]

My mom was a particularly optimistic person. She was thinking about the great opportunities and all that.

[thneed]

Sounds a little familiar. Might be a certain type of mom thing.

[barelyknow]

I wouldn't be surprised. There's probably some switch that flips on once you become one. Suddenly you become optimistic about everything and forget all about your own school experiences.

[thneed]

I don't think mine would be optimistic about an actual mouse running things, mom switch or not.

[la_plus_belle]

[He wouldn't be the only one taking in the variation of faces and dress. Needless to say, it's only a matter of time until her eyes land on him.

The poor man; he looks completely out of his element. If anyone knows how awful that feels, it's Belle. That was her reality day after day in that poor, provincial town. She rises from her seat, smooths out her skirt, and ambles over, stopping to stand beside him.]

You look a bit nervous. Are you all right?

[thneed]

[ Oh Seuss. Was he coming off nervous? He points at himself in a silent 'Who me?' fashion before he looks over at her. ]

Yeah, I'm good. Thanks for asking. [ Look at her. She did her hair with a ribbon. How often do people use ribbons, nowadays? That seems so fancy. He silently admires it. ] I haven't gotten out in a while is all. How about you?

[la_plus_belle]

Hopefully you'll feel at home soon enough.

[Frankly, Belle is hoping that for everyone, herself included. New surroundings, while an adventure, aren't exactly the most comfortable.]

Seeing as it's my second time away from home, I think I'm doing as well as can be expected. At the very least, being here is exciting.

[thneed]

Hopefully.

[ He can prove himself more than he already has here so no leaving. He made himself feel at home in the valley and that worked out great as far as he's concerned. Round 2. ]

Hey, it's my second time away too. You're looking pretty confident in yourself. What makes being here more exciting?

[la_plus_belle]

What a coincidence.

[And here she assumed the people of the school would have been far more worlded than she; knowing that she isn't alone in her lack of worldly experience is comforting.]

I think the confidence comes from being a staff member and needing to stay calm. But being here is an adventure, something new, something different. I'd say that alone makes the experience exciting.

[thneed]

A staff member? [ He goes head to toe on her with a curious look. She's got to be around his age, right? ] I thought staff was going to be all old people. Or mice. What do you do on staff?

That's a good point about the excitement though. It's all shiny and new and adventure-y what with them wanting us to help save the world and everything.

[la_plus_belle]

[True, Belle isn't terribly old, around nineteen years. However, she'd rather share what she loves to do and help with what she can offer than dilly dally as a student in subjects she isn't terribly keen about.]

No, anyone qualified can be a staff member; though I don't blame those who would rather take a learning position. In my case, I'll be teaching a few classes; nothing too extreme, just French and a specific kind of literature course.

Yes, exactly. I'm... not exactly suited to "saving the world", but I'd like to do what I can to prepare people for a life after the Black Mist... and maybe even give them something a bit fun to do, should life become challenging here at the school in the meantime.

[thneed]

Oh! French. I think I signed up for that. [ Folds his hands behind his back and rocks on his heels a bit ]

Doesn't that count as "saving the world" in a way? Preparing everyone for a life is indirectly saving them all and giving people something fun to do is saving the world from boredom or slowly going insane from stress.

Re: the once-ler | ota

[shepherdofthefrost]

You know, the fastest way to make new friends is probably to actually...talk to them.

[ Don't mind him, extremely tall dude. He's just sitting here. Chilling. On the floor. Definitely not in uniform, and definitely not wearing shoes, either, though he doesn't seem to be particularly bothered about either of those things. ]

Or you can bribe them with food. I hear that works pretty good, too.

[thneed]

-What?

[ His immediate reaction to hearing Jack address him is to look down and take one step away from him. Was this kid sitting on the floor the entire time he's been standing here? Also ew. Why is he not wearing shoes? ]

It does work but I didn't think to bring any bribing cookies with me, unfortunately. I'll remember that for next time.

[shepherdofthefrost]

[ That's a new reaction, but Jack's not too bothered by it - he raises an eyebrow, but then just keeps talking like nothing happened. ]

We do have kitchenettes in the dorms. I'm sure it wouldn't be that hard to cook up a batch. Besides, you look like an expert baker anyway.

[ Okay he actually doesn't know what an expert baker looks like and is making this shit up, but you know, give him a break. ]

[thneed]

I am an expert baker. I'm glad that shows. [ Straightens his gloves out with a proud expression. Thank you for the ego boost, random shoeless guy. ]

I'm not going to the dorms just to bake cookies though.

[shepherdofthefrost]

[ Wow okay he was just guessing but if it was a good guess then he'll go ahead and pretend it was obvious. ]

I'm sure cookies from an expert baker will be worth the wait. If you're not going to the dorms, though, where are you going?

[thneed]

They will be. If I make them. Which is a maybe.

[ It's so obvious, right? How could that have been a guess? Finally. Someone noticed his baking skills. ---Where is he going? ]

Oh, I don't know. Places. I hadn't had any place in mind. Once I go to the dorms, I'd probably just. Hang there.

[shepherdofthefrost]

[ Jack regards him for a couple of seconds, then hops to his feet, spins on one heel and floats up to eye level. ]

That's not a very good way to make friends either. Unless you have a roommate. Do you have a roommate?

[thneed]

[ Hold up. He can't answer that question right away because he's far too busy staring at Jack's face in surprise. People don't get to eye-level with him. ]

No roommate... -Are you even touching the floor anymore?