Fandom High School

//Finals week,// Jono said, hands on his hips and a pleased look on his face. //And we managed to get through a whole semester of classes with no horrible disasters or students getting terribly drunk somewhere around the end of the universe. I'd say that's a cause for celebration, but I'd really much rather get this final over with so I can stop pretending to be a functional adult and half-decent role model for a while.//

Jono told it like it was, okay?

Hannibal was as cool and unflappable as always, but then, he'd been that even faced with students getting terribly drunk around the end of the universe. Well, student. Edward. "So, today as promised, you exhibit your art - whatever form it may take - to the rest of the school. As it's so nice out, we'll be doing this on the lawn." They might as well make use of the warmth while they had it.

//We'll let you poke through whatever pieces you did throughout the semester that you'd like to showcase,// Jono shared. //If you need an instrument of some sort, let us know, and we'll do what we can. You might have to get by without a grand piano, but I have faith that you can manage with whatever we can carry from the music room.//

"We'll also be choosing our favorite pieces of yours, should they not be among your favorites," Hannibal said, smiling. "We've seen many lovely things over the weeks, and would hate for others to miss out."

//Sometimes, something that you think is little more than a throwaway sketch catches a crowd's eye more easily than a masterpiece that you've spent months on,// Jono noted. //You might be surprised by the reception you get for something you created, and then didn't so much as think about afterwards.//

Hannibal rarely was, but then his art often had other reasons for appreciation. Or at least, catching eyes.


[OOC: Anyone is welcome to drop by and comment on the artwork!]

This week, class had been advised to bring anything they wanted to create with - guitars, chalk, pencil - with them to Portalocity. Hannibal himself had brought a portable - somewhat, anyway; it ran on batteries and had a case - theremin with him. He was wearing (designer, expensive, plaid) jeans and a light sweater along with (expensive, designer, not-plaid) hiking boots.

"Welcome, everybody. This week will be slightly different - we'll be spending the entire class time at our destination, and indulging our creativity there."

//We'll be hitting up an old power station in Perth,// Jono intoned, a backpack over one shoulder and a mischievous glint in his eye. //It's been sitting abandoned for quite some time now, but it's quite the destination for people looking to explore old abandoned tunnels, get into things they generally shouldn't be getting into, and to paint on the walls.//

The bag, of course, was full of spray paint. Because Jono was an excellent role model.

"There are also bound to be some very interesting acoustics, for those of you who may be musically inclined," Hannibal added. "And if you'd like to explore, the tunnels apparently lead down to the sea. Please be careful, but enjoy yourself." He brought out another bag, this one with several hard hats in it. "We are required to wear these while within the structure. Everybody please take one." Not that they could force the students to wear them when they weren't in sight, but that wasn't his concern.

//Paint, explore, sing at the top of your lungs, whatever you see fit. Don't get yourselves hurt - bring a light with you into the tunnels if you do end up going that way - and we'd rather not have to go hunting for you at the end of the class period, but besides that, go nuts.//

And with that, they ushered the students through the portal, Jono opening up the bag of spray paint and flashlights for students to help themselves to once they were on the other side.

"Welcome." Hannibal nodded at the students. His hand was unbandaged this week, with only a band-aid over the stitches, and he was otherwise healed. "We have been mostly visiting inspiring physical sites lately, rather than other forms of art." When they weren't being hijacked to bingo, Jono. "This week, we're taking in a bit of auditory inspiration."

//You don't even want to know how many realities we had to scour before we found this place,// Jono noted, looking in far better spirits than he had been last week. //But apparently, look hard enough through the multiverse, and you can find just about anything. Including an amusement park that's primarily opera themed.//

Portalocity practically falling over themselves to assist once they found out it was for Hannibal's class had been helpful, there.

Hannibal's dire - if utterly calm and almost cheerful - explanations about the bingo mishap helped. Even if it hadn't been a mishap.

"We have several hours, thanks to time differences, but please remember to return in time."

//So, have fun. You've each got a bracelet for nonstop rides, and the food might be a little morbid-themed, but I'm told it's fantastic. For fair food.// Jono shrugged. Like he knew what the hell the difference even was? //There's a section of the park specifically for some of the more, er, adult themes of the opera, but your bracelets won't get you in there. Sorry, kids.//

Jono wasn't that sorry.

//So, without further ado... enjoy Così Island.//

The name was wordplay. So help him, Jono was in a bit of pain as he said it.

Hannibal loved it. This probably surprised exactly no-one.

The teachers waved them through the portal.

Jono had been so disappointed to find they'd missed Halloween due to being in New York. If he could pout, he probably would be. As it was, Hannibal was certain he had moped all night. And shared.

Jonothon really couldn't help it if his favourite holiday ever just happened to be Halloween, okay? It was one of the very few things he actually thought the Americans did right.

So, the bright and cheery thing they'd planned for today was out, and Hannibal had employed all his charm to get Portalocity to change their portal for another. Hopefully this would at least be dark and foreboding enough to cheer Jono up.

Or something like that.

"I hope you all had a lovely weekend," he began. "Today we will be returning to Italy. However, Il Parco dei Mostri is a very different place, so I hope you won't feel we're repeating ourselves. This place was created in the sixteenth century, and contains a number of sculptures, designed to be more awe-inspiring and shocking than beautiful."

He smiled. "And as we'll be in gardens, I've brought a bit of a picnic as well. I hope you all enjoy our trip."

//As usual,// Jono chimed in, //respect for our surroundings. Though by this point, I'm certain none of you need to be told.//

... He wasn't looking at Dante. He wasn't. Dante was a big boy and didn't need to be told by this point either, dammit.

//Right, then,// Jono gave a little glance at the class assembled at the portal this morning, and then nodded his approval. //I know you're probably all either completely knackered or still wound up after our trip to Jurassic World, but today, we're going to be visiting a different sort of wildlife park. One more invested in conservation than sensationalism and baby triceratops petting.//

Don't be fooled, though. Jono had thoroughly enjoyed the baby triceratops petting.

//This week, we'll be taking a trip to New Zealand, where a two-million dollar pest-proof fence is helping local conservationists restore a patch of local forest to protect native fauna. Most notably, the birds.//

"In most versions of Earth…" Hannibal thought about it (Jurassic World, the Savage Land, other possibilities) and corrected himself. "In many versions of Earth, birds are the closest you'll see to dinosaurs. They are thought to be their closest descendants. They come in a very wide variety, though mostly quite a bit smaller." And mostly less predatory than, say, the T Rex or mosasaurus.

//At the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, you'll be liable to catch a glimpse of some of the recovering native species, including the titipounamu, the kaka, and piwakawaka.// All of which were also very fun words to say. Or even to think out loud, as the case might be.

And don't think Hannibal was fooled; you could have mentioned the sparrows or brown creepers, Jono.

//There are also reptiles, plants, and insects that are returning to the area. Things you won't find? Mice. Possums. Feral cats. Anything that man introduced to the area over the years that has been threatening local bird populations. There are pathways to follow, and lookout points. Please, don't stray from them. The goal today is to keep the park just as pristine as it was when we arrived, and not to disturb the recovering wildlife populations.//

"Man's presence in many ecosystems has proved catastrophic, for the species he introduces, the climate changes, and the sheer occupancy of the land. Places such as this one aim to limit or reverse that impact to whatever extent they can." A futile effort in the long run, most likely, but potentially useful in limited areas.

"Please do your best to honor that and listen to the guides if they request you keep away from anything. If you have any questions, feel free to ask." Hannibal spread his hands. "If you're unfamiliar with New Zealand, the local language is primarily English, so the guides will also be able to help."

The class had been hand-wavily instructed to wear simple clothes they didn't mind getting soiled, and to leave an extra set in the classroom. If any of the students were worried about this...well, they could probably take a cue from Hannibal, who was in jeans and a t-shirt today. (Metallica. What? He didn't have many of his own.)

Jono, who was in a black-jeans-and-plain-black-t-shirt combo, would miss that shirt. Ish. Dearly. Ish.

//Right, so this week we'll be making a trip to Korea, in July, to take in the Boryeong Mud Festival. Which... is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.//

And he sounded maybe a little too delighted about this. So sue him.

Hannibal was already having flashbacks to Woodstock, but at least this time the point was to be muddy, rather than it being an unpleasant side effect.

And admit it, Jono; seeing Hannibal in that shirt was worth it.

"There are a number of mud-related activities, from bathing and wrestling to giant slides using it. There are also colored muds for body-painting. There is a beach nearby if you prefer not to get muddy, but in that case, be certain to stay well away from the festival - anyone caught within it not muddy will be imprisoned until they are."

//It's a mud prison,// Jono explained. //It's all meant in good fun. You're not actually going to jail.//

He had to glance at Hannibal just to make sure, though.

Hannibal shrugged. "You'll simply be placed in a large cage with other non-muddy people and blasted with a wave of mud until you do become muddy. Or until we leave. So - the beach, or the festival. Unless that mud prison sounds like your sort of thing." He wasn't judging.

"They're quite used to tourists, and there are a good number of Western military bases around, so language shouldn't be a problem. Please let one of us know if you need anything, though. Agreed?"

And with that, their portal arrived.

When today's class had been asked to meet on the Causeway, there had been no special instructions, no strange vehicle in wait for them to take them somewhere strange and exotic and dangerous. Just Jonothon and Hannibal, waiting near an open portal, like so many classes before this one, back in the summer sessions.

Jono, at least, was looking pretty pleased about all of this. He liked today's inspiration of choice.

//Morning, class,// he greeted, giving the students a nod. //Today, we're going to be taking in another man-made wonder, and one that's rather close to my heart.// Please nobody mention how his heart had been left behind in bits and pieces all over a coat room in London somewhere, thank you. //Today, we're going to the library.//

Hannibal looked equally pleased with today's jaunt, though his content expression was somewhat marred by a still-healing black eye and bruised jaw. He was in a very nice suit and looking as suave as possible to compensate. Or at least to avoid looking like an unsavory character. "Specifically, we're going to the Abbey Library of Saint Gall, in Switzerland. It's one of the oldest and most beautiful in Europe, so I'm told. There is evidence of a library there as early as 820, and its collection has become renowned over the years; it has been declared a World Heritage site."

//If you have any sense of appreciation for beautiful things that persevere, you might find yourself awed by the architecture and the books alike,// Jono added. //But please, be respectful of both. Much of what you'll see is very literally priceless, and libraries deserve respect.//

"If you have any questions, please let us know." Hannibal nodded at Cosette. "Most of the staff will speak French, and some will know English as well," he told the others, "although if you know German, that will be easiest." Hannibal knew them all, naturally.

After making certain there were no questions, he waved them through the portal.

The students had been handwavily advised to dress comfortably for warm weather and the beach, and come to Portalocity, where they were met by their teachers.

Hannibal was in linen slacks and a lightweight shirt, with a large square bag over his shoulder. He smiled at them. "Welcome; welcome back to some of you. Those of you who don't know us, I am Doctor Hannibal Lecter, and this is my partner, Jono Starsmore. The class is 'Creative Inspirations', by which we mean we will bring you to a number of places and hope that they inspire you to art. You will be graded primarily on attendance - not only showing up, but paying attention to the world around you."

//Just like last semester, we'll be aiming to provide you with a variety of different inspirations, both natural and man-made,// Jono noted, watching the new faces in the class to see how they took to his telepathic voice. He was always a little worried about that, when it came to new students. Hopefully, this batch was fairly unflappable. //Not all of our destinations will necessarily be pleasant, though we'll try not to outright traumatize the lot of you. That said, if our last batch in this class managed to make it through the end of the universe and the meal that went with it, I have faith that you'll all manage just fine.//

Hopefully with less of a hangover.

Don't drink the Gargle Blasters.

//If anything does make you uncomfortable and you need to take a few steps back, please, don't be afraid to talk to us about it. The aim of this class is to inspire you, not to break you.// Jono slanted a glance at Hannibal over that one. //We're both reasonable adults.//

What was that look for, Jono? Hannibal was a perfectly reasonable adult. Edward had been the one who wanted the drink. Besides, he tried not to break people too young if he could avoid it.

"For today," he continued, "we'll be making the most of a bit of sun and beach. We'll be heading to Baia do Sancho in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago of Brazil. We'll do the introductions there, and have a spot of food," he patted the large bag, "and then you can enjoy the sand or go snorkeling or wandering the island, so long as you don't go too far to return in time."

//After we're finished on the beach, we'll make our way back to the school, where you can create something. Anything. Whatever you're inspired to make, be it a painting, a poem, a song… Far be it from us to limit your creativity, after all.//

"We will be there for advice or assistance," Hannibal said. "At the end of the term, we plan on having a show of some of the pieces you're proudest of. We hope your creativity will not be limited to the classroom." He waited a moment for questions, then waved them through the portal.

Jono looked...tired. He still hadn't quite slept off his little rampage through Zinyak's ship yesterday, and that was at least partly thanks to the fact that laying down with the blaster burns he'd taken on his way out had been an impossible proposition at worst, and a night of sleeping face-down and precariously balanced on mostly shattered ribs with no actual chest to support him at best.

One thing he could say for the simulation? Being able to drink coffee had been great.

//This week, we're hoping to take it easy on you lot,// he said, nodding to the students as they congregated for their portal. //Which I suppose isn't much of a stretch, considering this is a 'field trips and arts and crafts' class, but...it's been a long week for at least a few of us. So we're going to go and look at butterflies.//

Yes, butterflies.

Hannibal wasn't looking much more rested. Fortunately he didn't need much sleep, but nevertheless, having Jono half-draped over him and both cats on top of them hadn't been a recipe for restfulness. Especially given the number of times said cats had woken them up out of sheer perversity. (And once to throw up on the coverlet, because they weren't meant to eat nothing but store-bought treats they had found somewhere. At least they both seemed fine otherwise, though Hannibal had a sneaking suspicion there might be one fewer flamingo in the yard.)

He had a thermos of coffee with him, and was perfectly willing to share with Jono. He'd been very tempted to add vodka or bourbon to it.

"Butterflies are extremely fragile - not just physically, but in the effects that habitat change has upon their populations. So there are any number of places that seek to bolster their numbers, educate people about them, and also give us the opportunity to observe them."

//Today, we're going to England.// Because it was a butterfly conservatory that Jono had actually heard about, and he hadn't had a lot of time to really look into other options this week. But also because... //Slightly in the future. There's a place called Butterfly World in Hertfordshire, which currently has several hundred species of butterfly to observe, but they've got big plans to expand into something far more impressive still, and that's what we'll be going to take in, today.//

So, if butterflies weren't your thing, then at least you could observe the hummingbirds, or go into the underground caves to check out the spiders and scorpions, or poke around the ruins... The butterfly conservatory had options.

"Everybody please take note of any and all safety signs, and obey the conservationists," Hannibal cautioned. "There are many small and, as I said, fragile creatures in there."

The portal came, and he waved them through.

"Good morning," Hannibal began when they were all present. "Today we will once again be experiencing a manmade curiosity. In the thirteenth century, the abbot of the Sedlec Cistercian Monastery brought back soil from the holy land, prompting a great number of the faithful to want to be buried in the church. As has happened in other places, once there was no further room for burial, the bones were kept in an ( ossuary )

[OOC: OCD up! Also, a warning, links lead to photos of (very artistically arranged) human bones. Click at your own discretion!]

When the students met their teachers at the causeway, they might notice something very odd - Hannibal was wearing jeans. And not his plaid, designer, tailored jeans - fairly inexpensive blue jeans. And motorcycle boots. And a t-shirt. And a painstakingly neutral expression.

( Cut for length, because these two. )