Fandom High Welcome Picnic, The Park, All Day: Part III

[bigdamndean]

The park was getting pretty filled with people, but there was still an area further away from the food tables that wasn't too crowded.

[For further mingling, you insanely chatty people! I'm not bothering with OCD here, so go ahead and post away.]

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[bigdamndean]

After spending some time in her office, Zoe came back to the picnic and made a graceful beeline for the food table, before heading to the more open area. Crowds and her still-growing belly were not a good match.

[ambassadorinara]

Inara decided that she could risk the food, and decided to try some of the grilled vegetables. She smiled at the obviously pregnant woman, deciding that she was probably a teacher of some kind. "Hello," she greeted her.

[bigdamndean]

Zoe looked over at the greeting, and broke into a happy grin. "Inara? I didn't know you'd be here."

[ambassadorinara]

Inara was surprised by the familiarity, since she hadn't come with anyone else she knew. She glanced down at the name tag. Of course that was how the other woman knew her name. "Luck of the draw, I guess," she smiled, "I didn't know either, until a few days ago."

[bigdamndean]

"That was a very lucky draw indeed." She looked younger than Zoe remembered, but for the moment, she was chalking that up to the fact that they were elsewhere. "Are you here to be a student?"

[ambassadorinara]

"I am," she nodded, then asked, "What else would I be here to be?"

[bigdamndean]

"I don't know," Zoe admitted. "But it's good to see you nonetheless." There was an uncharacteristic unfamiliarity about Inara, and Zoe decided she had to ask a question she was afraid she already knew the answer to. "Do you know who I am?"

[ambassadorinara]

"One of the teachers?" She guessed, still a bit confused about what was going on.

[bigdamndean]

Zoe couldn't help but sigh a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you. Allow me to start this conversation over again. I'm Zoe Washburn, I'm the principal here, and I know who you are." She paused. "I meant for that to sound less creepifying, I think."

[ambassadorinara]

Creepifying? "Oh! It's nice to meet you, Principal Washburn." And then she looked confused, "How do you know who I am already? I'm very sorry, but I don't remember meeting you."

[bigdamndean]

"I think I come from your future. The Inara I know is older, and works as a Companion. She's probably the most respectable person on our ship," Zoe explained. "You'll find that time gets a little strange here."

[ambassadorinara]

"I know you in the future?" And it was strangely reassuring to hear that she had a future as a Companion, "then can you tell me...where and when am I? What do I need to know to live here?"

[bigdamndean]

"Right now? It's 2007 on Earth-That-Was," Zoe said. "Needless to say, the customs are a little different. But the other students come from all over the place, so their customs are different too. Have you gotten the full spiel from anyone about the strange things to look out for here?"

[ambassadorinara]

"We're on Earth-That-Was?" Inara asked, shocked and wanting to see and explore everything now, just to see if the stories were true. "I've heard a little bit, about the aliens, and I know people are pilots, but not much more than that."

[bigdamndean]

"There are people who are pilots. Good ones, in fact. And yes, we had a bit of an alien problem recently, but I have faith that the school will be rebuilt as quickly as possible. As for the rest...this is a strange place, I'll be honest about that. Just try to keep an open mind about people, and you'll be fine."

[ambassadorinara]

She smiled, "I can probably do that. Everyone's so friendly. Is that usual?"