But youth is my best bet.

[fireindreams]

Who: Grimm and you! Grimm and Ekkehardt.
What: Grimm returns from dealing with Troupe business. Later on he drops into the infirmary to visit a friend.
When: Just before Spring Break.
Where: Around campus | the infirmary
Warnings: None expected. Will update in case of changes.

[It has been a while since Grimm stood on the grounds of Daybreak Academy. A teachers' assistant he may be, but Grimm was also the Master of his Troupe and working here did not absolve him of his responsibilities. But a busy scheduled was something he willingly accepted when he came here so there was no complaints to be made.

And besides, Daybreak Academy was often a wonderful source of people and entertainment. Now, let's see what has changed in Grimm's absence...]

[1 - The Grand Hall

As always, the Troupe Master's appearance is heralded by a loud bang as he teleports into the Hall. For such a startling entrance Grimm's reason to be here is rather simplistic - to be caught up on everything he missed and get back to work. Telporting in is is just faster!

(And really, it's more fun then simply using a door.)

Grimm strolls along the Grand Hall, offering those he passes a friendly smile and greeting. His ultimate destination is the teachers' offices but he will stop and chat with anyone who crosses his path that want to talk. It's been a while since he has seen the students and staff, so how could he say no to a conversation?]


[2 - The Infirmary (locked to Ekkehardt)

And speaking of catching up, there is one person in particular that Grimm wished to see. From what Grimm has come to learn, the staff of the infirmary had been quite busy this year! And that likely meant a certain someone may be overworking himself. So!

(A moment of silence for the silence in the infirmary...)

There is a loud bang that announces the Troupe Master's arrival and he waves away the smoke with a flourish. It is unsurprising that Grimm looks amused but part of it is genuine fondness.]

Good afternoon, dear Ekkehardt. Have you been well in my absence?

[All things considered.]

Comments

2

[spelleton]

[ It's easier to count the times when Ekkehardt isn't overworking himself, honestly. Lacking conventional lifeblood, his penchant for constant, tireless work seems to have replaced it.

While he's no slouch in the attentiveness department, teleportation is one of the few things that he can't sense coming, at least not without help.

The distinctive crack of Grimm's teleportation abruptly shatters the silence, and he's on his feet with a knife in hand before the rest of his brain catches up with him and he relaxes.

The knife is dropped back into its hidden sheath, as quick to disappear as it was to appear. ]

Well enough, Grimm.

You still won't use the perfectly good door, I see. [ He sounds mildly fond - rather than irritated or bothered - though. ]

[fireindreams]

[And that is why "Is Ekkehardt overworking?" is a bet with no losers. That is not to say that Grimm does not admire the focus it must take to stay fixed on your work for such long periods of time - even the Troupe Master could not preform forever without rest - but there are limits. Or at least he thinks so, but it comes down to personal choice at times.

Grimm does see the knife for the split second it appears and bows his head slightly in quiet apology. His teleportation was loud enough to startle many so he wasn't blind to the possibility it would have the same effect. But that sort of effect was not his intention to provoke.

Still, if Ekkehardt wasn't going to bring it up, Grimm will not any more then that. Instead a rather mischievous smile spreads across his face.]

But it is not as fun. The quiet broken by fireworks and soft smoke to herald the entrance of a friend! It is a wonderful sight for both the one using this ability and those seeing it. [And, as an afterthought:] It is also very convenient.

[Basically he will never use the door because of dramatics. Whatever cosmic force that gave Grimm his teleportation ability is probably kicking itself.]

I heard from those who I have encountered before coming here that the infirmary staff have had their hands full this year. The world's antics certainly seem to have set itself at your feet nowadays, my friend.

[spelleton]

[ He leans back on the table, the most he'll allow himself to relax in someone else's company, even someone he can honestly call a friend. (The amount of people he considers actual friends, he can count on one hand.) ]

Convenient for you, perhaps. [ He sighs. ] I can see you're the same as ever, even after so much time away.

[ He speaks in the same tone as usual, so it's impossible to tell whether he's expressing exasperation, fondness, frustration...

His polite smile is the same as it ever was. ]

Ah, it's only to be expected. The darkness is drawing in, after all. The world only gets more dangerous.

But no doubt you've seen enough of that, on your travels. How is your troupe doing?

[fireindreams]

[To that remark Grimm just laughs. If there is one thing about him that is guaranteed to go unchanged is his love of dramatics. It may shift directions here and there ("Stagnation is death. You are not." someone says.) but to be a bright star in the sky rather then a flash in a pan is something Grimm desired to be. It is more fun that way.]

Certainly so. But I continue to hope the darkness is aware of taking the occasional coffee break. [For the sake of everyone's blood pressure.] They are doing well. A few more have joined us, and there are many shows to take place in the future. It is absolutely wonderful to see as it all takes shape.

[The shows were always a thing of beauty but seeing it all go from concept to the stage itself was fascinating and was something Grimm loved to see. It likely has to due with the fact that he once worked backstage and knew the hard work that they put into everything to make the final product shine brightly.

(And thankfully they haven't had to deal with the Nightmare King's old clan lately, but that is neither here nor there.)]

And yourself? Do you have any plans for the break, my friend?

[spelleton]

[ He huffs a little. ] If only it was that considerate. I'm managing well enough, especially with Hieke here. He can do most of the things that my magic cannot. [ He was basically running the infirmary himself before, despite not technically being a staff member. Having an actual healer who can do the expected range of activity has lightened his load. ]

You must be proud. [ It's more of a statement than anything else; he can read it on Grimm's face, his voice, if he couldn't glean it from his words. ]

Ah, I'm going home, as usual. I might take someone else along, or he'll mope about and probably find something terrible to drink while I'm not here. But it's no different from what I usually do, otherwise.

Grand Hall

[hattersgonnahat]

[The loud noise in the hall sure got Puella attention. Hopefully something didn't just fall over and break - and if something did she better not get blamed for it. But for curiosity sake she just had to go and see what caused it. One little peek couldn't hurt, even just a cautious one.]

[Oh. That was definitely a new...teacher, probably? Not someone she had seen before. But then it has only been about two months at this school. It's unlikely, but there may have been some faculty she hadn't encountered yet.]

[fireindreams]

[One would think that to avoid the assumption that something broke because of the loud sound of his teleportation, Grimm would tone the sound down. But it would not be as fun if he did so he won't. You could take the Troupe Master away from the stage, but clearly you can't take the stage away from the Troupe Master.

Grimm spots Puella eventually and smiles in her direction. He too does not recognize the little girl, but much like Puella there are likely people he has not met in the Academy. He has endless fondness for people so it is nice to meet someone new.]

Greetings, small one. How are you doing during this wonderful day?

[He may be a Vampire but that doesn't mean he can't appreciate the morning's wonder.]

[hattersgonnahat]

[...Okay he seems friendly enough after all.] Hi!

Not bad. Are you new here? [She thought she was being a good host by asking the simplest things possible. She had no idea who or what Grimm was, but he seemed really cool, especially if that explosion was anything to believe!]

[fireindreams]

I have been here for a while now. [It does not really occur to him to say exactly how long. Grimm keeps track of his friends and the Troupe...but not time. Three years is not that long for someone who is well over a thousand.]

But given the grand size of this place I am not too surprised we have not met. I am Grimm Lavoie, one of the TAs. May I have your name, my friend?

[hattersgonnahat]

Puella! [New friend achieved.] ...Actually I only arrived recently, so maybe that's why. Though I think I would have heard you sooner.

[That bang was...pretty loud.]

1!

[inflictwounds]

[The bang is an easy way to get someone's attention - Hieke is making his way through the Grand Hall when Grimm arrives. It's one of the few times he's been out of the infirmary since getting summoned by Kano, and the daemon is exhausted.]

I don't think we've met, yet.

[Hieke's only been here since January, after all. He doesn't recognize him in the slightest.]

[fireindreams]

[Grimm has been here longer himself, but that didn't mean he knew everyone here. Really, there were even places within the Acadamy itself the Vampire didn't know. It is always entertaining to find those place and meet new people, however.]

I do not believe we have either! I am Grimm Lavoie, one of the TAs.

[He bows, smiling at Hieke.]

May I have your name, my friend?

[inflictwounds]

[Grimm Lavoie... He files that name away for later, just in case.]

Hieke. [Just Hieke. No last name to speak of.] I took over for the school nurse last quarter.

[fireindreams]

It is a pleasure to meet you Hieke, and thank you for your efforts this year.

[He has heard here and there that the infirmary staff has been quite busy as of late. But speaking of the infirmary-]

I take it you are acquainted with Ekkehardt then?

[inflictwounds]

Eh, it hasn't been that bad.

[Which is a lie. The infirmary has seen a constant rotation of people coming in for the most ridiculous things.

At the question, he nods.]

Yeah, I know him a little bit. Why?

I.

[nor_iron_bars]

[Jail looks at Grimm, arrived out of the very air in smoke and resplendent red... and silently holds up a piece of notebook paper.]

[It says, in ballpoint pen: 7/10.]

[She's never met this guy before, but... Look, sometimes you just have to judge the dramatic entrance. It's not bad, as entrances go. She's willing to go as high as 7.5, but he'd have to throw in more pyrotechnics before she'd be satisfied scoring him with a full 8.]

[fireindreams]

[And to that response Grimm cackles loudly, clearly amused by Jail's scoring of his ability. He bows with more flourish then usual before addressing Jail.]

Thank you for the score, my friend! I was not expecting it but it is quite generous. However, I must ask how I could improve this entrance of mine.

[It is a good score as he's said, but it could be better and Grimm was always trying to be better. Stagnation is death, both his predecessor and...someone else once said and improvement often lead to new discoveries.]

[nor_iron_bars]

Hey, don't mention it.

[Jail grins and gives him a thumbs up. It's always fun to find a good sport about this kind of joking, instead of someone determined to be serious every second of the day.]

Okay, now, hear me out here: [She spreads her hands in a little flourish.] Theme music.

[fireindreams]

[You know what they say: all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It is the same for Grimm, just without the ghost possession and homicidal rage.

And at Jail's suggestion the Vampire's eyes light up. He may have just met her, but he likes Jail already.]

That is an absolutely wonderful suggestion. I have used music for my entrances on stage but never tried outside of it.

[It is a little hard to work music while teleporting without a stagehand following him everywhere and they are more needed with the Troupe. And Grimm's personal tastes in music tended to jump all over the place for various reasons that he often did not get into.

But really Grimm does genuinely love the idea of music accompanying his entrances off the stage. Because why not.]

Perhaps I will need some way to work music in with my powers....

[It leads to more ideas, after all. Music that follows his flames would be wonderful as well.]

[nor_iron_bars]

[This is the start of a beautiful friendship, or a very unfortunate school play. One of the two.]

[...please don't actually let them near the drama club.]

Could be kinda tricky to get the timing right, but you could probably get a cell phone to start playing something on cue. [Sometimes, you need magic. Other times, there's Siri.]

1

[morelikeisabeast]

[Isabel yelped at the sudden bang and flailed off the bench. When she got back up she had a mace made out of paper in one hand and an aura of spectral force around the other (which Grimm may or may not have been able to see depending on how in tune with the supernatural he was. I'll leave that up to you.)

Oh, it's just some guy. And he's just standing there.]

Holy flapjacks what vampire YA novel did you crawl out of!?

[fireindreams]

[Grimm turns when he hears someone yelp. He knows that his teleportation is startling (that was the point) but that did not mean he would be happy with it hurting someone. But Isabel seems okay, aside from the rather curious magic she is using...

Her comment catches his attention faster and Grimm just laughs. Isabel is certainly not wrong in her assessment!]

A good one, I would hope! There are some rather strange ones out nowadays.

[You kids and your "Twilight"s. Human beings certainly had interesting ideas of what made up a vampire.]

[morelikeisabeast]

[He didn't seem to be immediately attacking her, so once the shock of the teleportation was past, Isabel's natural fearlessness and mouthiness took their traditional center stage position again.]

Depends, do you always wear a cape or is this a special occasion?

[fireindreams]

[Well Grimm cannot say he doesn't have some fondness for sass. And Isabel continues to be right on the money with her comments.]

I was under the impression that creatures of the night always wore capes. [And Grimm has no problems with embracing that look for a laugh.] But yes. Although in my defense, this particular one is what I wear for business with my clan.

[And because he likes it.]

[morelikeisabeast]

...Honestly I think it's better this way. Cool vampires are unbearably full of themselves.

[She's 14 why the hell does she think she's an authority on vampires? Probably because everyone is full of themselves when they're 14.]

Just to be clear, you ARE a vampire, right?