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

[unpocoloco]

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...

Comments

[unpocoloco]

"Oh, come on!"

Seen through within seconds. Terrible.

"It's not like it'll hurt me! I just breathe out of habit!"

[hawkwardness]

< Still creepy. Geez. What would you say if I flew in and asked you to tape my beak shut or take away my voice? Friendship goes both ways, dude. I don't want to make... >

Oookay, that may have been harsher than he wanted to be. Rude, Toby, what the hell.

[unpocoloco]

"You're a kid. And a bird. Doing it to you would be creepy, but that's not what's happening, I'm doing it to me, I just need to find some."

Though now the rest of what Tobias is saying clicks. He pauses, stills, then looks confused at the bird.

"... I did think we were friends. Have you not... have I... screwed up?"

[hawkwardness]

< You matter too. > Honesty is more than words--there's something softer in his tone, something real beyond his usual calm steadiness.

< I'm not good at saying it, I never had to before. You matter to me. > Odd, that this is coming out so easily. < No one's cared so much about me before, and we live together. Sort of. So why wouldn't I care about you too? >

[unpocoloco]

"I--"

He hasn't been able to shut up since this stupid spell started really working. Yet, now he doesn't know what to say.

"I don't know. I didn't think about it. You're a kind kid. I wouldn't... I wouldn't expect that you didn't care, I just..." He shuffles in place, feeling like the awkward kid here for once. "I didn't know I was making you feel that way. I'm sorry."

[hawkwardness]

< So... let's not duct tape your mouth shut, okay? Why would you even...? > Seriously, what the hell. Studying's out, he doesn't think he can concentrate on it any more tonight, and he leaves the book where it is, walking to the edge of the table.

He's quiet for a moment. < I want to help. When I can. It's harder to stand back and watch lousy things happen, I'm sure you get that. You'd feel the same way, right? I want... I want you to go home, too, as much as anyone. >

[unpocoloco]

He goes to sit. He might as well. He pulls up a chair so it's him and a bird and an empty classroom. He nods because he does get it.

"...I screwed up another resurrection. I didn't even think I did anything so I didn't notice until this evening when I couldn't just shut up. I've got to tell the truth. But I can't. I can't tell people I'm dead or that I'm... not keeping it together. Or all the other things I'm supposed to keep secret."

He doesn't know what to say so he's just talking. Filling the air with nothing.

"I don't have the answers Tobias. I don't expect you to have the answers. And I don't want you to look for them because you will, you'll do that, you'll sacrifice your time and your well-being and everything and you'll think it's fine but it's not. You beat yourself up and you deny yourself things and I get it that you want to help, I do, I do hate to watch things happen just like you say for you. But, dios Tobias, you were robbed. You should've had so much and you had nothing. I don't know what to do for you. I don't know if I encouraging you to be human more often is taking back your life or if it's just going to make you think I don't care and want to put you in a box. I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing. I didn't even get to be a father to my own daughter, how am I supposed to take care of you?"

His face goes into his hands. He curses softly, in a way he'd never do in front of a kid if not for this spell.

"What's going to happen to you when I'm gone? I'm scared for you. And I'm scared that telling you this is just going to make you hide all your pain more."

[hawkwardness]

< Héctor... > No other words follow right away. So much to digest there. So much to feel. He nestles down onto the table, making himself comfortable in his own way.

< I don't mind being human more often. It's fine, you're not forcing me to do anything. Maybe that's what I am, a little human, a little hawk. Just have to find the right balance. > A beat. But he has to keep going, before he's interrupted-- < And if you can't be a priority for a while, however long it takes... when can you be? You don't need to 'take care' of me right now. I just want you to... I want you to make it, so much. And go home. The rest can come later. >

[unpocoloco]

He reaches out a hand running over the top of Tobias' head, over his feathers. He leans on the table, laying his head in his arms by the boy's side.

"...I'm doing what I can for me. Can you believe that much? Can you trust me that much...?" It's not like he can really lie right now. "You can be so many things. But you can only be a kid once. I'm doing what I can. Don't miss out because you put things off for me."

[hawkwardness]

He stands and moves closer, leaning against Héc's head, feathers touching skin. Being soft, without any hugging involved.

< God. > he says, more pained that angry. But it's a fierce sort of hurting. < You can't really think saving my shitty childhood is more important than saving your life. Unless you think... there's not much I can do that would make a difference. > Reasonable, no matter how much he hates it. He doesn't know a damn thing about necromancy, he'd just be pouring over the same books Héctor is. Backing off is a much more difficult thing to ask of him, though. Can he? Does he have to?

He lowers his head, aching inside. < ...I guess. Then. Whatever I can do to make things... nicer. Make some more good memories. When you have time. >

[unpocoloco]

He says nothing. It's difficult to respond to that. Even the close contact, the small bit of warmth, doesn't really help him word this in the right ways.

"I can make time for you, mijo," He says. And that much is true. That much would be easy.

And it would be nice to do normal things, even if he's not sure what he can do just yet.

"Don't think you're useless. Okay? That's not what it is. I just really don't know what more can be done. But we can make your childhood... not shitty. That's a thing that can still happen. That's important too. I keep saying, this is my second chance, but it's your first. Both lives can be important. So... yeah. Don't forget to do things for you."

[hawkwardness]

Plenty of things they could do. Watch movies. Play games. Maybe even board games, he's never had any. Listen to music, anything but de la Cruz. Infinite ways to keep on goofing of. Pity he can't teach his favorite people to fly, though.

< I know. I know it's what you think. > Words bubbling inside him, things he shouldn't say desperate to get out. There must be something wrong with him too. But what's not wrong with him? < I do do things for myself. While you're asleep. Flying, hanging out with people, reading... > Well, that he mostly does at night, needing less sleep than a human.

< But it's... I'm... god. > He jerks his head to the side. < I think it's hitting me too. >

[unpocoloco]

"That's good," He admits, though he's still unsure. He can't help being unsure. Tobias is just... so hard on himself. So quick to put himself last.

And he can't, for so many reasons, really be there to help that. The final confession makes him sigh.

"Lo siento. That's probably my fault." It seems like he's been spreading it to people all day.

[hawkwardness]

< Not as if you have any other choice. I... can't think of any better ideas. >

He struggles against the urge to keep running his 'mouth', and loses. < Don't let anyone get on your case for testing spells on yourself too much, unless they've got a better idea of their own. I'd... probably be doing the same thing. >

[unpocoloco]

He lifts his head a little, to better look at Tobias. As well as to smile. He runs a hand over the boy's feathers.

"Thanks. I'll try." He needed to hear that one, he thinks. "I don't like disappointing people. I don't want to drive away my friends. But I can't stop until I've got something. I won't."

[hawkwardness]

< You're just trying to survive, and... is anyone helping you besides that creepy doll? >

He turns and nibbles at the guy's fingers, an odd show of affection. Best he's got. No shifting without clothes nearby. It clashes with his bitter tone. This... hurts. < God, they should be doing more than telling you to quit. To give up and die. >

[unpocoloco]

His smile slips. Guess they couldn't keep hopeful forever.

"Sira. And Imelda was helping me," He says. She's not anymore, of course. "There's only so much anyone can do, Tobias. Necromancy isn't simple to begin with. It's complicated and messy and there are good reasons that in a world of crazy magic, people don't really trust it. But I'm already undead. Blighted. Necromancy isn't designed to be used on people still here. I'm having to figure this out as I go and what it means for me. Some of the ways that people might help won't necessarily work on me. And a lot of people just don't know this in general. No one's telling me to die. They're just... not sure."

They're still his friends though.

[hawkwardness]

< Sorry. I know I need to drop it. I'm just... > His beak is pressed against Héctor's arm and he goes quiet for a moment.

< I guess I'm kind of a mess too. I don't know how to do this. > To even think about losing someone. He's never had anyone to lose. Fifty pounds of feelings in a two pound body. < Don't stop. And I'll... do whatever I can, if you change your mind. >

[unpocoloco]

Any other time he might offer advice. Right now, it tastes sour.

"Okay," He says and he manages not to mention that there was a time in which he wasn't sure about this either. But he's come too far. "I'll let you know."

[hawkwardness]

He really should have tried harder to keep that in. Nice going, Tobias. Pity duct-taping his beak shut won't make him be quiet. Can't shut up a telepath without knocking them out, and he doesn't feel like trying to nap in a classroom.

He means to say he'll leave the guy alone, only for something else entirely to come out: < Do you, uh. Mind if I stay a while? >

[unpocoloco]

"...Please do," He says back. He doesn't mind if Tobias sleeps even. He just wants to stay.

[hawkwardness]

Héctor can stay either way, it's only Tobias who might have left. Before he says anything else selfishly stupid.

< Okay. Sure. I've... got my phone if you want to listen to some music. Or whatever. > Watch a movie, read a book--though the screen's pretty small from a human's perspective.

[unpocoloco]

"Okay," He says softly. "Gracias." He doesn't know if he will. There's a lot on his mind and he kind of just wants to untangle it while the urge to blurt it out has calmed momentarily.

[hawkwardness]

The quiet lasts for a good few minutes--give the bird-boy credit for that much. The desperate urge inside him builds until he wants to scream, talk about anything. What's a safe topic he can latch onto?

Oh.

< You know what would be nice? If we could fly together. I think you'd like it, flying as a bird. I know, I know, it's stupid. Doesn't stop me fantasizing about flying around with some of you. Almost every day. > A beat. < God, you were robbed too. >

[unpocoloco]

"Mmm," He hums. "I'm not the greatest with flight. Dios knows I've tried. Imelda would have flown with you. Miss her..."

He hadn't meant to add that last part but this is the situation he's in. As for that part on Tobias' end.

"Death doesn't care about age much. Unfortunately."