New York, New York

[eudaimonikos]

Who: Michael and the Drama Club
What: Drama Club class trip to NYC! Gonna see the sights! Absolutely not fight any monsters in the subway tunnels!
Where: A plane / New York City
When: March 29 - March 31
Warnings: None anticipated?

Flyin' High

[The flight to America leaves late - a necessity, given that it's the last day of finals and some students may still have had tests to take. But it's going to be a long one anyway, so sleeping through as much as possible is probably a good idea.

Fortunately, the group has first-class seats. Michael's always willing to spend Daybreak's money, and he's never bothered with human air travel before. He wants the best out of this experience!

This is probably a good thing, because the flight is so, so long. Hopefully you can get some rest.]

Out and About

[We've got a few days to kill in the city!

Michael doesn't want any students going out entirely alone, but he's only one professor and there's a lot of them, so he doesn't mind if people break off to do their own things so long as they're at least partnered up. There's plenty to do in New York, after all! There's no way for one person to see it all during this trip!

Of course, the hotel is also pretty nice, for when you get tired of walking. There's several suites for the students to divide among themselves, while Michael has his own room nearby. It's attached to one of the student rooms by a door which he has very clearly locked and may or may not ever answer. He probably shouldn't be a chaperone.]

Daemons for Ham

[It's time to go see Hamilton! Where did Michael get tickets? Don't worry about it.

He snaps his fingers before the group leaves the hotel, and suddenly you all look like child versions of yourself. Or, at least, what Michael imagines you looked like as children; he only knew a few of you at that time, so he's just making stuff up.]

Now, if anyone speaks to you, you're all orphans from, oh, eight to twelve, and you're dying. Don't take off the illusions, no running - can anyone cry on command? This is important Drama Club stuff.

[And off we go!]

Comments

[playitagain]

[It takes Nana about three minutes. She has to do some acting, pretending that she's having trouble sleeping (true) and just needs a snack (false). She's back, with a small plate with a trio of almond cookies.

She hands them to Michael.]

Here you go!

[eudaimonikos]

Thank you~

[He accepts the cookies and, while there's no visible component, feels the Contract come to a close. All terms fulfilled, everybody's good.]

I could try teleporting you back, you know. But a lot of mortals don't like the way I do it. Might make you sicker.

[playitagain]

It's okay. I'm looking forward to visiting New York! I've never been. And, besides, since I don't feel sick... maybe sleep some?

[It doesn't quite dawn on her that was, technically, a Contract.]

[eudaimonikos]

Just something to think about when we head back.

[Michael didn't really even mean it that way. He won't make anyone pay him to take them back home; that's all just part of his job here.

He's never been the sole custodian of students before. It sort of feels different from just standing in a classroom teaching them.]

[playitagain]

I'll definitely keep it in mind. It's really nice of you to offer, in fact!

[Because less air travel does sound lovely.]

[eudaimonikos]

I'm not dying to do this again either.

[He's not airsick, but he's pretty bored.]

The food's not bad, though.

[playitagain]

It's pretty good for airline food but nothing I'd go out of my way for.

[eudaimonikos]

It's a minor plus. Could really do with some better in-flight entertainment. Movies are okay, but I've never seen ones that are good enough for me to watch seven of them back-to-back.

[playitagain]

I...

I can actually think of more than seven, but I'm sort of a weird case...

[eudaimonikos]

So, what are they?

[playitagain]

[Immediately:] The English Patient, Your Name, Seven Samurai, Chariots of Fire, Rat Race, Driving Miss Daisy, The Breakfast Club, A Fistful of Dollars, History of the World: Part 1, and Airplane!.

[eudaimonikos]

...I've never heard of most of those.

[although, when has Michael paid a great deal of attention to pop culture]

[playitagain]

[And he's the theater teacher? Nana marvels. No, she has to fix this.]

Do you like funny, exciting, or sad movies best?

[eudaimonikos]

Funny or exciting. Who wants sad?

[playitagain]

Sad is nice sometimes, though! Especially if it turns out okay in the end!

[eudaimonikos]

Do you think so? I've felt sad once or twice, and I didn't like it at all.

[playitagain]

[She hates feeling sad about herself. And other people. But... maybe that's not what she wants to admit to. Instead, she explains it as:]

It's different with a story. It's... like you feel sad about people who feel real, but aren't. And then you feel better, when it works out -- or if it doesn't, there's a tragedy to it, but it's not... the type that really hurts you?

It's a way to feel something, without the things that you need to have happen occurring. Which, for sad or scary things. is bad.

[eudaimonikos]

I don't know that things in movies feel real to me all that often.

[Because he struggles with empathy towards real people; why on earth would he be fussed about fictional ones?

But that's something he should work on.]

But I could...try?

[playitagain]

Maybe you like it, and... at worst you don't, right? And then you can say, "Well, I tried."

[Maybe it's not a thing for daemons.]

Is there any type of story you really like? Maybe I can suggest one from that.

[eudaimonikos]

I like...

[stories that might upset Nana, probably]

Why don't you pick?

[playitagain]

Well... okay. Maybe try...

[She tries to decide. The English Patient? No, she likes that movie but a lot of people find it disturbing (and it's really long). Animated movies might take more explanation. She has to really think a little, before deciding on:]

Oh, try Moulin Rouge. There's a lot of singing, a lady who lives inside a house shaped like an elephant, and drinking problems. It seems like your thing! [sometimes she's a weird one]

[eudaimonikos]

...I'm not arguing, but what part of that seems like my thing, exactly?

[He can't say it's not his thing, but do the students associate him with singing? Elephants?]

[playitagain]

Well...

[She's glad she has an answer for this.] It's over the top, but not fanciful to the point of being superficial, and maybe a little grim but cheerful about it.

[eudaimonikos]

[.......huh]

Alright then. Let's see if we can find it.

[playitagain]

I hope the plane has it!

It's a little older...