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

[myownhand]

America? [She pauses to think about her lessons from her mother-- she vaguely remembers where that is on the map. Though the lands much further outside DunBroch aren't touched upon much in her lessons.]

What's it like there? I never really hear much about any place outside of Scotland.

[allucinator]

It's-- it's good, actually. Real crowded. It's a city, you know, so not much, you know, green stuff-- but I like it. It's . . . I dunno. There's a culture to it. Or somethin', I don't know, I ain't so good with words. What about Ir-- Scotland?

[myownhand]

S'nothin' like anythin' here! Mostly mountains and forests. I mean, there's a few villages outside th'castle, but none of them come close t'anythin' here!

Like those! [She points up to the lights in the ceiling] We don't have anythin' like that where I'm from.

[allucinator]

We don't either. I mean, we . . . do, sorta, but I only saw em at the state fair. They're real new, I ain't surprised you don't got em.

[A beat. He grins.]

Me friend's kid brother were on me shoulders when they turned on all the lights-- they had this real huge display, you know? I thought he were gonna fall off he were wigglin' and shoutin' so much.

[myownhand]

[She beams brightly at the image trying to imagine DunBroch lit up like this.] My brothers would cause chaos seein' anythin' like this. They'd probably take th'whole school down with 'em, tryin' t'figure everythin' out.

Just be glad they aren't here. Wee lil' devils cause too much trouble for their own good.

[allucinator]

How young? I, uh, I live at a lodgin' house, we got all ages there. From two to seventeen.

[myownhand]

They've just turned four this year, they're growin' like weeds, though. Every other day they seem t'grow an inch.

[allucinator]

Ahh, that's a good age.

[Despite himself, his accent is slipping back into something a little more Irish.]

They can start to understand stuff a' that age. And you're-- you've got to be round me age, yeah? Sixteen, seventeen?

[myownhand]

Aye, turned sixteen this year. I guess we'll be in th'same level of classes then?

[WELL SCHOOL DOESN'T SEEM BAD ALREADY.]

[allucinator]

Oh. Uh, yeah, probably.

[He looks a little uncomfortable-- but, hey, whatever, moving on!]

So-- what'd you do back in Scotland? I think me grandparents were farmers or somethin', I dunno, Ma never talked about em much.

1/4 JACK KELLY YOU AHVE FRIGGIN DONE IT NOW.

[myownhand]

I--er--

2/4

[myownhand]

I was---

3/5

[myownhand]

Y'see. My parents-- they---

4/5

[myownhand]

[THIS IS GETTING YOU NO WHERE MER. GOD. SHE REALLY CANT THINK OF ANYTHING--]

done.

[myownhand]

[With a sort of final resolute tone.... And also grumbled under her breath]

I'm th'princess.

[allucinator]

[He watches her, baffled-- is she homeless? Does she not have parents? Both situations flash through his mind, and he opens his mouth to let her off the hook--

--and promptly closes it. He stares for a few seconds-- and then grins.]

You're bullshittin' me.

[myownhand]

[She's pouting even more now.]

No, I'm not.

[Have a sweeping curtsey.]

I'm Merida, first born of clan DunBroch, daughter of th'King and Queen.


[AT LEAST SHE WASN'T MARRIED YET.]

[allucinator]

Jesus Christ.

[He stares at her openly now, eyes darting up and down-- that's a far richer cloth than his own, he notices now, and that curtsy is far too practiced to be a joke.]

Jesus Christ, you're serious, ain't you. You're a goddamn princess!

[myownhand]

[Just gonna be shushing you right now mister. Hands held up and everything.]

Y'don't have t'go tellin' th'entire academy about it, y'tumshie! [Really that's said more playfully than as an insult.] I rather like not bein' a princess here.

[allucinator]

Why? You're rich! You can order people around!

[But he keeps his voice down, as per her request.]

[myownhand]

I don't want to. Bein' a princess comes with responsibilities. Act right, speak right, talk right, walk right!

Imagine your whole life bein' planned out for you, with out your say in anythin'.

[allucinator]

[Yeah, okay, that sounds like shit, and Jack pulls a face. He's got many complaints, but at least he's free to go where he wants.]

Yeah, but you don't work, right? Or ever have to worry about money, or food?

[myownhand]

Bein' a princess is work. I have t'memorize th'lands, th'people, I have t'learn literature and poetry. I must know th'proper way t'react diplomatically once I become queen. [She may have been imitating Elinor at that last sentance.] Every single day of my life has been lessons about how t'keep our lands safe and secure, especially once I'm t'be betrothed and married.

[That's a bit off point so she'll take a breath to gather herself.]

We don't worry about money or food because our lands are well-tended. If th'people of DunBroch suffer, then th'royalty isn't fed. My mother and father make sure that we're all protected, safe and secure t'make sure that no one within our lands goes with out food or a place t'live. I don't know if it's like that every where, but that's how my family runs th'kingdom.

[Their family wasn't big on flaunting royalty as a title, rather it was a responsibility to her. One which she couldn't take lightly. She knew people's lives would rest her hands one day, which is part of the reason she was so hesitant to be thrown in to marriage. She wasn't ready to commit her life to a person, or ready to dedicate herself entirely to her people, not yet at least.]

[allucinator]

[He considers this with a jaded air-- one speech isn't going to change his mind on rich people, sadly-- but at least he considers it.]

They sound a hell o' a lot better'n most rich people I met, then.

[A beat-- and then he flashes a grin.]

But I never met no princess before, so maybe it's different. Do I gotta call you my lady now?

[myownhand]

No. [that was quick] --I mean, back home they do. But I'd rather not continue that tradition here.

Merida works just fine by me.