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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He winches and they resist the urge to scratch at their arms. That was a mistake. They can't make another one.

"When did this happen? And are you okay?"

They don't ask if the other person that he's speaking about is okay because by the sounds of it they're clearly not. He said he's scared and they have to make sure he doesn't feel scared anymore. Happy. He needs to be happy.

He's oblivious to it, missing the pain in front of him because he's caught in his own. He laughs somewhat hysterically, shaking his head.

"No. No, I'm not okay," He admits. "I haven't been okay for a long time."

And not for lack of trying. Not that he hasn't had good, even wonderful moments. But when he gets down to it.

"The first week of April. They got switched into another body. They went back before I could find out anything. I don't know what to do. I don't know who to go to."

The first week of April, so probably when those pranks were happening. But there was so much going on during that week Adriel hasn't had a chance to hear much given how much chaos there was. Nobody was hurt though...

Then again, he said they switched to another body. Was someone hurt mentally and then ported over to someone else? That's probably the case.

"Maybe we can go to the Seers? They might have seen something happen but couldn't find the person because they were switched around."

Adriel starts thinking harder about it to make sure there's not something they're missing. If they find this person, maybe Héctor would feel a little more okay.

He laughs again. It is deeply, deeply bitter.

"The seers won't do anything," He says.

He wishes they would. He wishes he didn't feel so bitter about all of this.

"I was hurt. I was hurt badly, like this person was. They didn't stop it. I don't even know if they cared." He laughs again. It starts to sound like something else. "He's still here. The one who hurt me. He's just... wandering around like anyone else. And I never said anything. I never... I hardly told anyone... if he hurt them, it's my fault."

He feels sick.

They are...struck by what he admits. Not just because it is a heavy subject, someone being hurt very badly and the bitterness aimed towards the Seers. Adriel can sort of see it from the Seers' angle - while they can see everything, that doesn't mean they can necessarily be everywhere.

But there's something within the angel that understands that bitterness. That someone who was supposed to protect, who had the knowledge and ability to protect but...didn't. And the anger. That burning, painful anger.

"I'm sorry Héctor. I really am." It's not something that'll help fix this but it's a start. "I can't...I don't have magic that can make the memories go away. But do you want to sit down for a moment with me?"

They hold out a hand for him to take, if he wants it.

He nods his head and takes the hand offered to him. He lets them lead him to sit. It's a small bit of relief.

"It's okay," He says. "It's better that I remember anyway. There were things I needed to learn."

He learned of Rex. He learned the pain this world could inflict. He learned how he could protect Coco, and maybe how to speak to that person who slipped away. Not to mention Imelda and all the others he'd be that much more distant from.

He scrubs at his face with his free hand.

"The person said- they said they were close to me. I don't know what that could mean. They were so angry, I can't imagine it's someone just hiding. They're trapped. They could be being tortured right now."

And he's just helpless.

They take him to a place that's a little more open so he can breathe better. Look, there's pretty flowers here too.

"That's good then. Even if that's all I can say about it."

It comes out a little more blunt they intend it to but...well like they said, there's no magical spell that'll make what he experienced just go away. Even Adriel couldn't heal his scars because that deep sleep they were in messed with their very biology.

Adriel listens carefully to what Héctor has to say before responding. "Maybe...maybe the person saw who they were changed with? When the potions were being thrown sometimes I saw the person I was switched with. And if that person was swapped with someone else I think that means they're not physically trapped. They'd have to be able to move around so they could be hit with the potion."

Unless someone made them drink it through force. But sometime about that line of thought disturbs them.

He doesn't mind the bluntness. The situation warrants it, even if it's unusual coming from Adriel.

He frowns at their reply. It's a good point and it at least erases some of the fear that they're strapped down in some secret basement.

"You think maybe they're being watched?" He asks. "Like, their torturer is keeping an eye on them so they have to keep up an act?"

And here he was, not needing to be told. Just hiding it of his own will.

"Maybe. It'd explain why they didn't tell you everything. They might have not wanted to drag you into something dangerous if that was the case."

Maybe. It might be unfair of Adriel to think this but one would think that someone would be more blunt, shared more information quickly or tried to escape. Unless whoever was keeping an eye on that person could detect individual souls, the chaos of April Fools would have been a good chance of doing it even with inevitably having to go back to their own body eventually...

"What were they like, Héctor? I know you said they were angry but...it feels strange that they didn't try to run and get help. Did they seem confused?"

Maybe there was a spell of some sort making it hard for them to think or something.

He doesn't think that's it. It didn't seem like they were afraid to bring anyone in so much as afraid of being hurt.

And that thought, with their question, it gets his heart sinking.

"...They looked lost. Like they didn't know where they were. They were just tearing apart everything they could, throwing stuff. I think the only reason they stopped was that there wasn't anything left. They tried to speak and they had this look like their voice surprised them. They just broke down. So, yeah, I guess confused is right."

Are they... is it that person who's lost their memories? God, he hates this.

"They asked me for help."

So they lashed out? Well...that also makes sense. It actually startles them how easy it feels to put themselves in that person's shoes. Free from being hurt, free from who or whatever that was hurting them in the first place...

Adriel would be angry too. Even if it was something that wasn't expected of them. It feels strange. It hurts.

Focus. "If...if they didn't know where they were, maybe they were brought here without seeing Daybreak before? Or maybe they were put under a spell before the body swap? I really don't know...I'm sorry."

And they don't know what to do when Héctor says that person asked for his help. They really don't know.

A spell is looking more likely. And worse, it will be impossible to spot here. So many people used magic just in their daily life. Even he was covered in runes now, nevermind the magic that he literally was at this point.

He shakes himself when they apologize.

"No, no, it's not your fault, Adriel. Dios, you're probably the last person who'd hurt anyone." At least from everything he can tell.

He sighs heavily. He can't help thinking that person put their faith in the wrong guy. When has he done more than let people down?

"I didn't expect you to have the answers. Or anyone. If it weren't for this stupid spell I'm under I probably wouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry to burden you like this."

"It's not a burden." Yes it is.

"I just wish I could help you more." It's what I'm meant to do.

They shake their head to rid themself of those thoughts because it's not their own. They don't think like that. They don't.

Think. Find a solution. Find something that'll make him happy.

"Do you want to try and find a way to break the spell? It's bothering you, so it going away should help. Then we can explore more options."

A way to break the spell. The spell he set off trying to revive himself. Not a problem except for the part he has to explain himself.

His hands fly up and slap over his mouth.

Does it really matter if they know? Does it matter when so many have found him out or otherwise been told by him? Does any of it matter any more when he can't even get this right? It's not like he's saving himself pity. It's not like the school and all the damn world doesn't know he's a mess, worthless and stupid and no better than...

His fingers dig into his jaw but the spell keeps pressing, demanding, give, give, give. His magic flickers through his body.

No, no, no, it does matter because it's supposed to be his choice. His hands fly down and grip the edge of the seat he's own.

"I can't. I can't." He flickers again.

They see the way his magic flickers like a dimmer switch and Adriel knows they've made another mistake.

"I'm sorry!" They blurt out. The angel puts a hand on his arm, trying to be reassuring.

Trying being the key word because their hands are shaking.

"I shouldn't have suggested that. We don't have to do it or anything else if it won't make you happy. You're sad now but you'll be happy again soon."

And they'll do what they must to make sure that happens. They have to make up for this mistake and being unable to help him find the person he was looking for. That's why they're at this school, to help.

Whatever it takes.

Happy. Happy? Happy is so far from his mind. He's trying for safe and alive and so many steps that come before happy.

Yet he can tell they're panicking. He can hear it. He can feel it in their shaking hand.

"It's not you...! It's not you." He pushes that out through his teeth. "You didn't do anything wrong. I just can't- talk about it. Lo siento."

He needs to get it together. He needs to find some other, small piece of truth, like Sherlock suggested.

"You're shaking, Adriel. Are you okay?"

He says it's not them but they're the one who made the mistake and so-

But they finally clue in on the fact they're actually shaking when Héctor points it out. Slowly Adriel pulls back and curls their hands into fists. Deep breaths. It's fine.

"I'm okay." Wrong. Hypocritical. Ugly. "I just was worried about you."

Everything's fine. It's all fine.

"Do you...want to do something else? We could listen to music together and we don't have to talk."

Easier on him, they think.

Worried. So worried that they shake? He supposes torture could warrant such a reaction but he's unsure.

"Adriel..." He looks around, at the empty room, then back again. They're alone here. "I don't know. Talking about all this... I don't know if I can just push it aside, you know?" Or at least, it doesn't feel right.

Not to mention, being happy again, he really doesn't know when that's supposed to happen.

"You don't seem okay either. Do you know something?"

"I didn't mean pushing it away, I just..."

Wanted to suggest doing something to keep his mind off of past things for a little while. But everything's coming out all wrong, they're saying the wrong things, and -

No. Calm down. Deep breaths. Adriel takes a deep breath and counts to three, just like their Handler taught them.

(Just like how a little mage taught them?)

"I'm okay. This spell is just a lot. But I don't know anything. I'm sorry if I gave off that impression, Héctor."

He stares a moment longer before his shoulders slump. He runs a hand through his hair.

"No, it's okay. You're fine. I think I'm just... being paranoid. You know."

He takes a breath for himself. It wasn't something he learned to calm, but rather to channel his power. He's been using it for both, but now that he's thinking about that, he puts his mind to Imelda, to Coco, getting himself steady again.

"I'm sorry. I think you're probably right. I can't help anyone like this. I need to get a grip. I don't mind talking. I like talking with you. But, si, music might be good too."

They remain silent to let him just have a moment to himself. And it lets Adriel calm their own thoughts and try to get their thoughts on this topic back on track. Music. They can do music.

Adriel stands up and stretches, their wings reaching their full span and flapping once before they rest normally. There. Out of the box.

"Then let's go listen to music and we can talk about something nice. We can do it outside so you can get some fresh air too. I know some really quiet places!"

It'll help him breathe a little better since it's outside and away from classrooms and people.

He watches them rise. It's still pretty cool, seeing a real angel, wings and all, and watching those wings spread wide. No big deal, but cool.

He rises up too, less graceful in every way, but especially with his limping leg. He really should have grabbed his cane today.

"Alright. That sounds good. Real good."

He can pretend for the thousandth time that he's under the stars of Santa Cecilia instead. He lets Adriel lead the way.

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

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