daybreakacademy | Reverend Reverend please come quick 'cause I got something to admit

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Reverend Reverend please come quick 'cause I got something to admit

Who: Ernesto OR Héctor + TWO Mingle spaces
What: TOUR AND A MOVIE PART TWO; STARING YOU? + NECROMANCY; HONEST EFFORTS (a.k.a, Héctor's failed revival this month is a truth spell.)
When: April, late in the month
Where: A filming location in Soliel, Daybreak Academy
Warning: N/A
Notes: People affected by Héctor's accidental truth spell can also bring this into the movie mingle. Have you ever lied without actually lying? Now's the time to learn!

TOUR AND A MOVIE

Filming is ramping up.

Just as before, Higher Daybreak faculty are encouraging participants to see this as a way of learning to use their magical skills in a way that is discrete and ensures the protection of the Veil. It's spoken of as a chance for students to better learn how to hide their abilities while still putting them to use, disguising them as various other talents. In turn, they'll be credited in the film's production once it's complete, as well as receive extra credits in related courses. And of course, besides the great publicity, what better way to make a hit movie than adding a magical touch to it?

While work around the set continues to be welcomed and encouraged, this month filmmakers are particularly keen on finding those who can fill a newly opened role for an extra! Daybreak students are being to the very rare and special opportunity to audition in, without even going through the gruelling ordeal of terse agents, discouraging phone calls, and dull waiting areas! Just line right up and give it your best!

The following roles are open:

-Kindly and Adoring Town's Person Number Five

-Irritable Officer Number Two

-Overdramatic Restaurant Employee (or Customer, adjusted to match ages)

On top of this extraordinary opportunity, the winning student will be treated to a day on the town with De La Cruz himself.

On top of all this, with the improving weather, more scenes are being shot outside and in the heart of Soliel. It's quite possible to wander on set entirely by accident! Just remember that maintaining the laws of the Veil during this important project is still of utmost importance.

~~~~~~

HONEST EFFORTS

Nothing happened. He took precautions, he followed the spell, he did everything right. He double-checked the runes and then triple checked the cage he'd set himself up in. There was light, there was energy, a whole burst of it shooting up around him and then darting out past the walls (and over the campus). And then nothing. He was still just as dead as before. He wasn't even a different kind of dead like his usual screw-ups led to. He made a flashy light show and nothing more. In a fit of frustration, he scraped the whole circle, packed up, and settled in to go back to work the next night.

But, with that morning, students and faculty alike around Daybreak may find themselves afflicted with a sudden need to be a little more candid than usual. Maybe a lot more candid.

The urge for honesty may manifest in being suddenly unable to lie-- either directly or at all. It might mean talking way too much. Maybe it means confessing things you've been bottling up, or simply showing who you are inside when you'd normally be inclined to hide it. It might just be something small and simple going throughout the day. Or, it could build into something so overwhelming it becomes impossible to bear until the truth is out. It varies from person to person and does, eventually, go away.

But it also may be intensified in those who might be just a bit too close to a certain someone...

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A. In class

[Emille looks tired today as she stands in front of her class, showing slides of various daemon biology information. As usual, she's stuck an image of a Dragon amidst everything else so she can have her daily anti-Dragon speech. It's routine. What isn't routine is how she stops dead in her tracks, sighs, and addresses the class.]

I feel like being frank with you today, class, so I want to let you in on something that has been on my mind for some time. [She gestures at the Dragon on the screen.] You see that Dragon there? It and all of its ilk are coming for us. I am not sure if we will be able to fight back and be victorious when hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of these beasts descend upon our world. Furthermore, their invasion will most likely occur around the time of Nightfall, when we will be at our weakest and most ripe for the harvest. Yes, you heard me. These Dragons wish to dine on all of us, and our chance of survival is low!

[She allows her assertive statement to echo through the room, which is so silent that a pin could drop and create a cascade of sound. Then, just as loudly as before, she continues:] However! The facts are frightening, but we have a way to fight back against those monstrosities. It is ill-researched as of yet, but we have reason to believe that Dragons are weak to the Radiance. We must have a strong will to fight and an even stronger will to win! Take that to heart, all of you.

[With that, Emille returns to the presentation, clicking past the image of the Dragon in order to continue discussing the properties of a werewolf's fur as if nothing had happened.]

B. The faculty lounge

[After class ends, Emille has found herself taking a break in the faculty lounge, sipping a cup of hot tea in the corner. She's absorbed in her own world, still dealing with the pent-up anger that surged out during her lecture, when she finds herself muttering to no-one in particular:]

I wish the people I worked with were more serious about Nightfall. If they were, we would be much more prepared for the Dragon, Herald, mage, daemon, whatever onslaught that is to come. [She grumbles into her tea mug.] It looks as if I will need to tap into a secret weapon or two of my own to make up for this incompetence.

[Yeah, just ignore the short scientist stewing in the corner. Surely things aren't as bad as she's making them out to seem.]

[Puella remembered why she did not like coming to these lectures.]

[It's Radiance again. It always come back to Radiance. That thing that was supposed to save everybody but only a select few could use properly, if even that. There were a great deal of things riding on it.]

[And yet...]

But...I don't want to fight. [Using Radiance actually hurts some of those she likes.]

[Emille can't help but soften the hard frown on her face once Puella makes her remark. She knows that exact feeling. If it wasn't for her eternal hatred towards the Dragons, she would have none of this.] Miss Tempus, it is likely that none of us truly wish to fight. We are all being thrust into a war that we have little hopes of winning, against forces much stronger and far beyond our control. The only hope that we have is to utilize our Radiance against the evils that wish to destroy all that we know and love.

[She hesitates a little, but feels compelled to divulge a little about herself.] Truthfully, I have little desire to physically fight, myself. I may have Flame abilities that aid me in battle, but that does little for a weak woman stuck in a child-sized body. Yet merely being a Candle proves that I have the willpower to fight for our world against the encroaching darkness that threatens to consume it. Not just against the Dragons, but everything that surrounds the coming of Nightfall. And because you also have enough willpower to be a Candle, Miss Tempus, you should be proud. Do not think of it as hurting others, but as defending our future. [She punctuates this with a determined nod. A pep talk honestly isn't much, but maybe it's just enough for now.]

[Oh, wait, a quick addendum, also coming from personal experience.] Even so, if you find it intolerable being on the front lines of combat, there are many supporting roles you could undertake. It is certainly an option to keep in mind, especially if you have abilities that are not combat-oriented.

Well, this is the first I've heard about any secret weapons on your part, miss Emille. Should I ask?

[ He's going to leave aside the complaints for now. ]

With such a statement, you have already asked, Sir Gehring. [Even if she didn't want to answer, something about her current state of mind compels her to respond anyway.] They are not so much my weapons as they are Murakumo's. I only assisted with testing them, and furthermore I have only seen a small fraction of their projects. In truth, they may not be the most ethically acceptable sorts of experiments, mostly dealing with the effects of altering DNA within test subjects, but they may be useful in times to come. It is merely one way that Murakumo has chosen to work towards subverting Nightfall.

[Emille hopes that's enough of an explanation to satisfy him. She has also tactfully left out any information that would determine her current access, or lack thereof, to these projects.]

I see. [ He takes a sip from his cup of tea, and doesn't press the question. 'Not the most ethically acceptable'...he just files that away for later. ]

So you really think so poorly of your fellow staff members? That's a pity. [ Sip. ] I think they pull together quite well at need.

[She frowns a little. That comment wasn't quite meant for anyone else to hear; they were just opinions fired off into a mug of tea.] Perhaps a rephrasing would make what I said less harsh. [She takes a sip of tea to give her time to prepare her words.] I have yet to see the faculty of Daybreak prove themselves through action. I do not doubt that they are capable, as this facility is still standing and carrying out its mission. I suppose I am simply used to an environment where everyone focuses in all seriousness on their team's goal, which in turn bolsters the main goal of the organization.

[A slight sigh after fighting back something she feels compelled to say.] In truth, coming to Daybreak has been a major shift for me in many ways, and I am still acclimating to the slightly more laid-back environment. Yet, I am looking forward to seeing my fellow faculty members at their full potential. It is not that I do not wish to work together with them, I just... struggle with it at this time.

[A new girl chimes in.]

Well. That's incredibly scary!

...

That sounded a lot more sarcastic and cool in my head.

...

Also I didn't mean to say it out loud, sorry.

[Emille looks over at the new girl who just blurted out loud in reaction to her spiel. It's not the fact that she suddenly spoke that catches Emille's attention, but it's what she says that puts a frown on her face and a growl in her voice.]

If you are here at Daybreak, then you are aware of Nightfall, yes? This is the literal end of the world that we are fighting to prevent. There is no room for sarcasm when it comes to the threat the Dragon daemons present to us. As someone who has witnessed Dragons feasting on friends and family and barely surviving an attack in order to bring this warning to you, you should take this more seriously and perhaps be grateful that I am providing us with this fighting chance. [Sorry Anand, this is Emille's great sore spot that you're poking on a day in which her words are just flowing out of her mouth with teeth attached. She's usually more tactful and less biting in her responses, but today is not that day.]

[Emille, in all her four-foot-tall-but-aided-by-a-stepstool glory, looks intently at Anand and poses a question.] Do you have the willpower and ability to stand up to our destiny, Miss?

[Anand's hardly shy about her opinions, or one to back down from a callout. Normally, she'd be more circumspect and clever with a teacher, but unfortunately her filters are as off as her feathers are ruffled.]

I'll throw myself at any problem if it means stopping my nightmares of the kind of thing you're describing. Even if I don't know how to fix it, so I'm here to learn how, because there's no avoiding it anyway. The humor's just a defense mechanism, because it's genuinely terrifying!

...with respect. Ma'am.

Edited 2020-04-15 00:54 (UTC)

[Emille doesn't flinch at Anand's retort; actually, she is much more pleased at her fiery response than anything. Yes, incite your anger and kindle your rage -- it's how Emille has survived since her life went to hell a year-and-a-half ago, and she knows it's a great motivator and weapon. It's probably not the best way to encourage her students, but it brings results.

She nods in approval to the outburst.] Good. Your determination is shining through. It will carry you through what is to come. I will be counting on you to learn all you can, fight all you can, and do your best. Though there may be little hope, the fact remains that hope does exist. You being here is proof of that.

[Emille usually doesn't do this at all, but she gives Anand a rare smile for just a second.] I am glad that you have joined us in class today, Miss... [She trails off, hoping for a name to finish the sentence with.]

[Anand would apologize, but she's really not sorry. It seems she's lucked out as far as teachers to yell at go, and she's thankful for that much.]

Anand Maere. I'm new here.

[No, don't be sorry. Emille is all for getting a rise out of students to help them understand the weight of everything, and how important it is to be encouraged to do their best for what lies ahead.]

Ah. Miss Maere. [She lifts her gaze to take in the entire classroom, and after ensuring everyone else's eyes meet hers, Emille booms with pride:] Class, please learn from Miss Maere's example set here today. Be honest with your fears, and allow them to turn into strength. Do not take these lessons lightly, but be willing to put your all into what your professors are telling you now. Together, we will overcome!

[She's full of speeches today, it seems. Before returning to her lesson, however, she has one more thing for Anand.] Would you be able to stay around after class and answer a few questions for me? I will try not to take up too much of your time.

...also not something I usually like to hear but now I'm intrigued. I have nothing important to do, other than maybe research why I'm running my mouth like this.

Good. I appreciate your willingness. I only wish to know the answers to a few customary questions that I ask all my students.

[With that, Emille returns to teaching the last ten-or-so minutes of her class. After the other students leave, she flips the image projected on the screen in the front of the classroom back to an image of a sleek, wingless white and orange-striped dinosaur-like Dragon with very sharp-looking claws.]

Miss Maere, have you ever seen or heard of the type of daemon known as the Dragons? They are not exactly the stereotypical winged fantasy lizards that breathe fire and hoard treasure, but instead they come in many types with a plethora of different magical and physical abilities. The Dragon on the screen is but one example of hundreds of sub-species. There is more to this, of course, but I will leave you with this simple question for now.

[Anand moves to sitting on her desk when she realizes this isn't anything particularly related to academics and more to extracurriculars. From there she looks at the picture closely.]

I knew there were a lot of things that people call dragons, but I'm not familiar with the Daemon kind, no. We get a lot more Fey where I come from.

I see. [She didn't expect much, so her expression doesn't change.] Dragon daemons, as you heard me say in class, are very dangerous, so it is for the better that you have not encountered them first-hand.

Fey, you say. I am only familiar with one being who has Fey blood. She has taught me much about magic, yet it has been some time since I have seen her. I hope she is doing okay. I am beginning to grow concerned about her, as she had been acting strangely before she disappeared... [Emille notices that she's rambling, and allows herself to trail off. After clearing her head, she changes the picture on the screen from a Dragon to beautiful orange flowers on purple stalks.]

A final question. Have you ever seen these flowers, either in person or in images? Or have you heard of anyone encountering orange flowers that cause sickness with exposure to them?

Regular strange or Fey strange?

[She frowns at her own words.]

Normally I'd phrase that different...anyway, no, I'm not familiar with those flowers, but I'll keep an eye out. Are they an Outlands thing?

I hope she is going through a time of, ah, regular strangeness, but it could be linked to her Fey heritage. I have no way to tell, as I was reduced to the realities of magic and the Outlands and Nightfall only a year-and-a-half ago, and so much of this is still new to me. [She doesn't mind admitting her greenness to a fellow faculty member, but telling a student she just met that she doesn't really know much about what's going on? Emille shakes her head and goes on to answer Anand's other question.]

Yes, beware the orange flowers! They are a sign that Dragon daemons are nearby. They emit these flowers, which have toxic pollen, in order to weaken their prey before devouring them. That pollen has the potential to cause a debilitating illness in humans. Even so, I am working on producing an antidote to counteract the effects of the pollen so we can launch an attack on the Dragons when we are ready.

[Emille's eyes widen when that last bit slips out. Her mouth is a freaking sieve today and maybe she should just hush now. With a sigh, she tries to change her wording a bit:] Excuse me. I mean, when the Dragons come to us, as they inevitably will. We must fight back, and deny them any victory over us! [She's not sure if that was any better...] In any case, please alert me immediately if you ever see any of those orange flowers, and do not engage the Dragons alone.

[She's not avoiding a raised eyebrow from that one, student/teacher power differential notwithstanding.]

I'll keep that in mind, but you're not seriously planning an offensive against Daemons in the Outlands, are you?

[Anand's statement causes Emille to produce a slight but bitter chuckle.] If I had the strength and capability to slaughter every single one of those damnable beasts, I would do so in a heartbeat. Yet I am weak, and I am also not foolish to think that I could prevail against their combined power alone. That is why I am working in cooperation with both Daybreak Academy and a governmental agency to equip and prepare this planet as well as we can in order to defend it against the advent of the Dragons. As their coming will coincide with Nightfall, it is most advantageous to make others aware of them as another adversary that we must overcome.

[Standard speech over, Emille narrows her eyes.] Even though we are officially taking more of a defensive stand against the Dragon threat, I would not be opposed in the slightest to taking the battle to them in the Outlands. However, victory would only be assured if everyone fights together, and as some would surely be opposed to such tactics, I am relegated to merely dreaming about earning my sweet revenge before its due time. [She may sound as if she's a madwoman, but she's extremely serious. Perhaps it's that seriousness that makes her a madwoman, then?]

...there's a story here, and I'm not sure I want to know it. It's not really any of my business why anyone else fights, anyway, and you've clearly been at this for longer than I'll probably ever have a chance to be before Nightfall hits the fan.

Still though...given a choice between revenge and protecting people, I'm guessing you'd go with "revenge"?

My battle has only spanned a mere second of time in the overall story between our world and the Dragons. While we have yet to decipher the entire history between our species, we know that there is evidence that their cycle of consumption has spanned for centuries, and possibly even millennia. And it will continue far into the future if we do not eradicate it while we have our chance. Therefore I would recommend considering this your battle as well, Miss Maere, and preferably sooner than later.

[Emille narrows her eyes at the pointed question that follows. Oh, why are her usual grace and tact failing her today? It is a question she has considered in the past, however, so she just blurts out what she'd decided all that time ago:] If we were ever faced with a situation in which we would have an opportunity to make a powerful, crippling blow to the Dragons, especially to one of the fearsome True Dragons... Yes, I would consider it a worthy sacrifice to lose a few humans now in order to preserve our future. [She stops there and considers saving face, but this conversation has gone too far for her to bother.] And yes, I would savor it as a glorious act of revenge. Once we can finally go on the offensive and strike back, we will be able to prove to those monsters that the inhabitants of this planet, the ones that they likely only see as cattle for fattening and feasting upon, have the willpower to fight back and resist their higher position on the celestial food chain.

[She has to catch her breath after all these words finally finish leaving her system. But, honestly? It feels great to be able to get some of this bottled-up anger off of her chest. Should she do this more often? Or would it scare everyone away?]

Well, I'm not gonna lie and say you don't sound crazy, but...I understand the basic reasoning. I can't argue against the idea that there's a lot of monsters out there who deserve to eat a big helping of humanoid spite.

Out of curiosity, have you ever read Moby-Dick?

I am glad that you understand where I am coming from. And yes, you would not be the first to call me mad. Insane. And I very well may be. But this hatred is what propels me forward, and I cannot let go of it until all is finished. There are many daemons in existence, but few if any are as callous towards us as the Dragons. [In other words, they are definitely worth hating.]

Moby-Dick? No, I have not. I have little time to read for pleasure.

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preventedmurder - 2020-04-29 18:38 (UTC) - Expand

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hatesdragons - 2020-04-30 05:25 (UTC) - Expand

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Reverend Reverend please come quick 'cause I got something to admit

OTA -- the truth makes her grumpy though

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