daybreakacademy | The cold weather never stops the grindstone...

[January had, mercifully, been an easier month for Gunvolt, short of helping with the whole Fear the Great thing. ...And the whole thing with Vivi nearly dying, but it all eventually working out. Okay, so maybe it wasn't a totally easy month but at this point, if there was a moment on the horizon where things weren't looking almost apocalyptic or potentially dangerous for anyone immediately around him, then that was a moment he could be relaxed, relatively speaking. Especially now, knowing one of his best friends wasn't going to die by expiration date.

Once that was cleared up, it was a lot easier to settle back into what could pass for a routine. He kept up his training, but looked to other pursuits.... and perhaps somewhat oddly for him, he seemed to be in brighter spirits despite the darker, colder days of the waning days of January, the dead of winter.]

[A]

[With most of the post-submission reworks on his prototype railgun now done, it was time for Gunvolt to work on a new runic project. But he decided this time it wasn't going to be for a weapon. Or armor. Or anything with combat application. No, this time he was working on something a little more personal, for someone very important to him. And it was also something secretive. He kept most of his notes and progress securely locked away, and anyone in the workshop with keen eyes would notice he never seemed to work on it if Monarch was with him.

If you happen to be an expert in runic inscription or in advanced technology, you might have Gunvolt coming to you in the lab.]

Hey, do you mind if I pick your brain for a little bit? How much do you know about magical or holographic projection? Or advanced illusions? Or application of magical telekinesis?

[...Those certainly are unusually specific questions. Alternatively, he'll be posting somewhere private on the school network, away from prying eyes of a curious AI core.]

So, do we have anyone here on campus that has experience with hard light? Or... maybe advanced robotics? I think we had an android student here at one point, right?

[B]

[An odd occurrence happens in the quad rather spontaneously one day in January, on a gray day while snow lightly fell. Atop one of the switched off fountains, a bright looking girl belted out cheerful winter songs while decked out in heavy winter clothing, with big orange and black butterfly wings behind her. Something of an impromptu concert led by Monarch, meant to brighten and liven the days of the students during a dreary and cold day. Of course, that meant if Monarch was there, Gunvolt or Desidera probably wasn't far away either... so no funny business would be tolerated from the gathered pool of fans.

That said, once she ended her impromptu performance and the crowd mostly dispersed, if you happened by whether having been watching or not, her hologram would float over to you, wings carefully flapping to make it look like she hovered, to speak with you. She wore a bright smile, but one that wasn't performative.]

Ah, hello! Did you enjoy the show, even if there wasn't any new material? There's more of that coming though, I promise! ...Once I'm able to do a comeback show, of course!

[She looks very hopeful for this... though there's doubtlessly more than few hurdles in the way for that. But if you wanted to ever talk to Monarch one on one, this seems like a good chance to do just that. Though don't get any ideas of trying to do something to the AI core.]

[C]

[When not busy working or relaxing, Gunvolt can be found in the common room of Aube, working on homework and studying (despite all the hard work he puts in, there's still the fact he has to go to classes, after all!). He might be in there with you comparing notes for class, practicing conversational Italian, or whatever else. Otherwise, he'll break for the kitchen, cooking a simple meal of instant noodles and a sandwich for lunch. Something of an indulgence, considering Gunvolt normally preferred to eat healthier options at the cafeteria to keep in shape.

Either way, whenever you come by, he greets you with a wave.]

Hey, good to see you. You just passing by, or are you here to visit?

[D]

[Your obligatory wildcard, if you need or want GV somewhere else.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, good show! [She claps.] I take it it's an effort to spread cheer. Though perhaps something indoors would fit well next time, given the cold.

Sure is! I don't actually have much else to give to people right now. ...The music rights are still tied up with my... former "employer," unfortunately.

Though yeah, you might be right about doing it inside next time. The cold makes me run better but others not so much. But how often do you get to dance and sing on a frozen fountain? Never, I'd hope, because that'd be dangerous for people with an actual body!

...true, I must admit. Sometimes I go out here at night to think, though I have wiped out more than I care to revisit.

The ice out here must be very bad at night. Maybe the groundskeepers need to put down more sand or salt on the paths?

[For what it's worth, she doesn't even seem to think that it might simply be because Kokoro might be a little loose-footed sometimes.

She tilted her head curiously, though.]

If it's not prying, what do you come out here to think about?

Life, often. How drastically the world has changed. Even just my world, in the past few years since the proliferation of Candles.

I don't have a lot of experience with the world before Candles, but even then... the world truly has shifted seismically. Even before the Veil fell...

How have Candles changed your world, Kokoro?

Candles themselves? I would say just how many came to this school. Suddenly being surrounded by people who weren't raised around the supernatural and for whom this was all new, I must say, made things... perhaps I should not say interesting, but it made it imperative to understand what they felt and thought.

It can be hard to see what that world must be like when you're immersed in it your entire existence. Guess we have that in common too... though you've surely seen much, much more.

[Between her own experiences and being alive longer than the AI, as well as the entire family history she possesses...]

And I'm sure they had to do the same sort of understanding how you felt and thought in turn. ...I hope that more often than not that they did.

I believe at least most did. Some people are difficult to understand, but I believe that applies to all of us, no matter our background.

I think that's true. We can do our best to be empathetic and understanding of others, and put in the effort to try, even if it's hard. Especially if it's hard, because there's only so much people are willing to talk about.

[Her hologram sat down at the edge of the fountain, the cold of the stone clearly not bothering what amounted to an image.]

The world's only getting bigger, too. And more complicated. But... I'm glad for it. Seeing everything grow and change in front of us is... refreshing. And it's going better than I thought it might.

...I was afraid. Afraid that when the Veil finally broke that good people like the ones here would get hunted down or exploited. Sumeragi already did so much of that behind the scenes... I feared it would become not just overt, but the norm. Hard not to, when that's all I knew before...

I'm aware there are those who try. [How often, after all, has she had to defend being a Hunter?] Even so, you're right. Things have gone better than I'd feared when the topic of removing the Veil ever came up. People, in general, are good. And while there may always be those who would exploit or attack others, we must do everything we can for them.

That's the only thing I ever knew. My family's mission, that is.

[The hologram blinked, and regarded the Belmont before her for a moment, before giving her a soft smile.]

...Your family is very noble, Kokoro. And so are you. Don't ever change that about yourself.

[Truth of it was, as far as the Monarch AI was concerned, she sometimes had trouble believing people were in general good. She wanted to believe that when she was created, and wanted to believe someone would rescue her somehow. She got her wish, rescued not only by people who wouldn't abuse her, but went to bat for her on principle.

Even after that, it was still a challenge deep down for her to accept that there were more people like that... but going out with everyone during missions and working to build a better world reminded her that there were all kinds of people out there... and there were many more good ones than Sumeragi would've had her believe.

Despite having the appearance of a beautiful idol girl in a hologram, the AI Core did her best to not be as naive as she appeared at first glance.]

...Speaking of... I think I might need a bit of a change myself...

What do you mean, Monarch? Just training and developing something new, or...

I'm not sure how much I can really 'train' per se, without a body. But... maybe a new look? If only for a little while, at least.

...Actually, would you be willing to give me your thoughts on one I've been experimenting with? It's not that much of a change from my normal idol look, but... it'd be something for a special occasion.

I am no expert on fashion, but I will do what I can. What do you wish?

I just want your honest opinion with a simple change. I've looked at it in a mirror and I like it... but I want to see if other people like the change.

Oh, and also, don't tell Desidera or Gunvolt about it! I want it to be a surprise to them, okay? Promise me that.

[The AI Core near by whirred a little more loudly as it increased its processing power, throwing up an elaborate looking booth around Monarch, blocking off view from three different sides so only Kokoro had the angle to see her. She knew Gunvolt wasn't too far away, and didn't want him catching sight by accident... nor did she really want too many other curious onlookers gawking and spreading rumors.

Either way, after a moment, the hologram's form shimmered, coming back into focus wearing a similar outfit to what she was before, though some of the flat oranges were replaced with vibrant, iridescent blues that shimmered more in the light.]

I know it's not much of a shift... but I think it's really pretty. It's more like the school's colors and... [She trails off there without finishing the thought, before shaking her head.] Doesn't really fit well with the Monarch name, I know, but... for something special...? What do you think?

[Kokoro smiles. She nods enthusiastically and claps her hands together.]

Well done! It may evoke a different sort of butterfly, but even if your name is Monarch, it fits you. And it'll surely catch people's attention.

The cold weather never stops the grindstone...

b

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