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

[believedinapeach]

[He's probably the only one here who isn't weirded out by the giant talking mouse. He is a bit unnerved by the speech, though. It didn't instill much confidence.

Shifu sighs and starts looking over some of the papers he received upon arriving: paperwork relating to his class that he'll need to fill out, a map of the campus, rules of conduct, etc etc etc... He's keeping to the side of the room, where he hopes he's out of everyone's way, but-come on. He may be a few feet below eye level, but the regally-dressed red panda sticks out like a sore thumb.]

[aislingoftheforest]

[For just a moment, Aisling stops on her way to the doors to glance at the strange creature. She feels a prickle of curiosity--the creature has more papers than she has--but no, she needs to find her way to somewhere more comfortable.]

[believedinapeach]

[One of his ears flicks toward her, and he glances up in surprise. He was under the impression that the students would be older. Her ghost-white appearance is a little startling too, but.. something tells him that she isn't a normal little girl.

He folds the papers and tucks them in his sleeve. Feeling a similar pique in curiosity, he decides to follow her to the doors.]

Are you looking for something?

[aislingoftheforest]

[Aisling spins, not at all expecting to have anyone follow her.]

Yes. A place to stay in the boh-tan...in the gardens. [She tilts her head.] What're you?

[believedinapeach]

The botanical gardens? [He 'hm's quietly to himself and pulls out the map from his sleeve.]

I doubt they'd let you stay there... but yes, I can take you.

[He leads the way, using his staff as a walking stick. He doesn't look back as he answers her question.]

I am a red panda. My name is Shifu.

[aislingoftheforest]

Yes, that. I don't care if they let me, I'll stay there anyway. It sounds better than the dorm-place. [She sounds matter-of-fact rather than downright nasty about it, though.]

...I'm...I'm Aisling. [She isn't used to introducing herself.]

[She scrambles on all fours behind him.] I haven't heard of red pandas before. I don't think they're in Ireland.

[believedinapeach]

[He raises a brow. She's pretty independent, but considering the circumstances for why they're brought there, that's not the best thing.]
Really? Well, whether you like it or not, the dorms will be a safer option when the Mist comes through. We can't look out for you if you're by yourself.

[He tries to hide how shocked he is when she crawls like that. Yeah, definitely NOT a normal little girl. Between her wanting to live in the gardens and walk like an animal, he's starting to piece together an understanding of the wild child.]

No, I don't think we are. I'm from the Land of Dragons.

[aislingoftheforest]

[Pause. He does have a point...] Yeah. But I can stay in the gardens when it isn't here. I don't need looking after, I never did in my forest.

I've heard of dragons, but not an entire land named after them. [She giggles at the look on his face.] Animals can't talk like this in Ireland, either, or usually walk on two legs.

[believedinapeach]

I see.. But you know, this academy is here to help you. These are dark times, and we should be working together.. I only ask that you try.

[He sighs bemusedly at that. That's the biggest culture shock he's had to deal with so far.] It seems that most animals don't.. I never realized we were so uncommon!

[Oh hey, remember those gardens? They aren't far up ahead.] Ah, here we are.

[shepherdofthefrost]

[ Jack happens to be acquainted with a six foot talking rabbit who also happens to be the protector of Hope and Spring. Talking red pandas with carefully groomed mustaches really aren't that weird, as far as he's concerned, and hey, this guy's even wearing actual clothes. Unlike a certain Easter Bunny.

Still, he has to ask, and pops up from the other side of one of the booths rather abruptly to do it: ]

So are you like, the Easter Raccoon, ooooor....?

[believedinapeach]

[Shifu might not know what he means by “Easter”, but the raccoon comment isn’t a new one. He sighs quietly, rolling up his papers into a tube. If he wasn’t someone who had recently achieved inner peace, he might consider smacking the boy on the head with it... But he’s a changed panda, of course.
He turns to Jack, raising a brow. He can guess by the lack of uniform that he isn’t one for authority. Wonderful.]

I’m not a raccoon. I am a red panda.

[shepherdofthefrost]

[ Jack eyeballs Shifu up and down (which really doesn't take much eye movement, with how tiny he is), looking skeptical. He technically - sort of - knows what a red panda is. And this one doesn't appear to have a sense of humor.

Which of course only means that he's not going to admit he actually knows what a red panda is. He leans on the table, folding his arms and resting his chin on top of them. ]

Are you sure? I thought pandas were...bigger. And rounder. And look, you even have a fuzzy little raccoon tail, with the stripes and all...you're totally a raccoon in denial.

[believedinapeach]

[His tail swipes behind him as soon as Jack points it out. He's been through this a few times before, even prior to leaving the Valley of Peace. His bizarre fur patterns and colors have even caused confusion from members of his own species.

But at this age, he can recognize when someone is trying to rile him up for the sake of his reaction.]

Was there a reason you needed my attention? Because I do, in fact, have some work I need to get back to.

[He unfurls the papers he's been holding, the topmost being the unfilled paperwork for his Kung Fu class.]

[shepherdofthefrost]

[ You know, usually people don't ask those kind of questions, they just get annoyed like they're supposed to. So Jack really doesn't know how to react, and he's kind of at a loss for words for about...three seconds. ]

Uh, no. Not particularly.

[ But being nosy, he peers over the table at Shifu's paper and catches the words Kung Fu. ]

...You're the guy who's doing the Kung Fu class.

[ WELP. And he is in it. Awesome. ]

[believedinapeach]

[It's quick, but there may be a glint of something mischievous and amused in Shifu's eyes as he rolls the papers back up. There's something satisfying about shattering someone's expectations...

Not to mention the sweet sense of revenge in taking the spark out of a prankster.]

I am. And I'm guessing that you signed up for it?

[shepherdofthefrost]

[ Jack folds his hands in front of him and twiddles his thumbs, sinking back down behind the table. He awkwardly glances left, right, down - anywhere but actually at Shifu. ]

I...might remember doing something like that, yeah.

[ Whistling casually. ]

But no promises. I'm only saying I might have. I could be remembering wrong, and actually be in Home Ec or something.

[believedinapeach]

[Jack, if you're intimidated now, you're gonna be in trouble...]

Oh, what a shame if that were the case. People of your age tend to handle the physical challenge fairly well..

[Or they die trying. It's unsaid, but certainly felt.]

[dreamingoflove]

[Giselle spotted Shifu almost immediately. She hadn't been sure who or what to expect to see at the school along side her, but she was happy to see an animal, when she had seen so few since leaving Andalasia. Though, she was somewhat confused over what he might be. Another mouse of some kind? Or a bear?

Curious, she made her way over to him. She smiled brightly and greeted him.]

Hello!

[believedinapeach]

[Shifu looks around over his shoulder, like he doesn’t initially believe that such a happy greeting could be directed at him. He turns back to Giselle and smiles, bowing to her in return.]

Good afternoon. Are you also a member of the faculty here?

[dreamingoflove]

[She politely returns his bow with a curtsy. Oh, and she's so glad he could talk. The animals in New York had worried her.]

Yes, that's right. My name is Giselle. I'll be teaching cooking and sewing.

[believedinapeach]

An essential subject! [And one that isn't respected nearly enough. It's good to know that the kids will be learning from such a passionate teacher.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Giselle. I am Master Shifu. I will be teaching the art of Kung Fu.

[dreamingoflove]

Oh! I love art! [She claps her hands excitedly.]

What kind of art is Kung Fu?

[believedinapeach]

[...Oh, right. Not everyone knows exactly what that means. He shakes his head, a little flustered.]

Oh no, I think you misunderstand- Kung Fu is a martial art. It's used for self defense, combat, physical fitness, and meditation. It's about finding excellence of self, and strengthening both the mind and body.

It's not like.. painting, or writing, but it is it's own kind of art.

[Kung Fu covers so many things at once, and can be such a blanket term... but even in terms of fighting, he can think of nothing more beautiful.]

[dreamingoflove]

[She tilts her head slightly as she lets the information sink in. It certainly wasn't what she had been expecting, but she supposed it sounded like an art of it's own as he described it.]

I see. I've never particularly liked fighting of any kind, but it sounds like much more than just that.

[believedinapeach]

It is. You're welcome to come and watch one of the lessons, once classes start.