daybreakacademy | A teacher's duty...

A teacher's duty...

Who: Ziggy, one prompt open, the other closed to Kano
What: Outlands Survival class, with today's topic: fae
When: First prompt a little bit before the Kagerou plot, second the day after the faculty in-service
Where: A classroom, then Lumiere floor 3
Warnings: Nothing anticipated for the classroom prompt, but the Kano prompt may include talk of murder, depression, suicidal ideation, and similar ugly things relevant to both of their backstories.

[Classroom]

[The Outlands Survival classroom is significantly smaller than the one Ziggy uses for his combat class, owing to the much less hands on subject matter. Today, the topic is something that's been causing a bit of trouble lately: the ever-unpredictable fae.]

Dealing with daemons is often straightforward, as it tends to be clear when they have malevolent intent. Fae, however, are far more unpredictable. Last month, we had an incident with one creating child doppelgangers of students and staff, and while his intentions seemed benevolent, he ultimately caused a lot of trouble. That's always the first thing to keep in mind when dealing with fae: their mindsets are very alien compared to those of humans, and a well-meaning faerie could easily be more dangerous than a malevolent one.

Most often, however, they fall in the middle. The faerie circles around campus are an example of that, simple mischief with no true desire to help or harm. I hope all of you have been cautious enough to avoid them, as it's rarely easy to undo their transformations early without help from a specialist.

As for how to respond when a faerie has taken note of you, there are a few general things to keep in mind. First, many fae are incapable of telling a direct lie. You might think this makes them easier to trust, but it actually accomplishes the opposite. Fae with that restriction become masters of half-truths and technical truths, deliberately misleading by presenting true information in a way that leads to a false conclusion. Typically, they will avoid making clear and direct statements whenever possible.

Second: fae are usually proud creatures, with a strict set of social protocols. They take insults gravely seriously, so it's best to use your best manners when interacting with them. If one offers a favor that isn't presented as a reward, however, you should always ask what they want in return. Debts are a central part of fae culture, meaning they can usually be trusted to offer some form of compensation for acts of kindness, but it's important to remember their alien mindset. What they consider a fair trade might be worthless to the person negotiating. That's why contracts with even benevolent fae are ill-advised, as you can never be certain that what you get in return will be worth the price.

You might have noticed I've been speaking in non-exhaustive terms. This is because fae can vary, much like any other Outlands species, and the limits of one may not apply to another. Like the rest, though, this rule has exceptions: all fae, to my knowledge, share a weakness against objects made of iron. A cast iron frying pan could easily be more effective against a hostile faerie than the sharpest adamantium blade. In some cases, simply touching an object with a high enough iron content can be enough to injure and weaken a faerie. In this case, it's even more effective a disabling tool than orichalcum, so I would advise carrying something made primarily of iron any time you venture into an area suspected to be populated by fae.

[Lecture finished, he glances around the room to gauge his students' interest.]

Are there any questions?

[Lumiere]

[A quick review of Kano's attendance records is enough to tell Ziggy that he won't be in the classroom building during school hours. His free periods are usually spent planning lessons, but today he takes the walk to the Lumiere dormatory. When he knocks on Kano's door, it's light and evenly paced, but with the sharp tone of something hard hitting wood.]

I'd like to check up on you after this week's events. Don't worry, I'm not here to give out a punishment, I just want to talk.

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[Toki doesn't bother raising his hand, isn't sure if he signed up for this class, and doesn't have a question.]

I need to say something here before you take questions because the students need to be aware of your misinformation! The fae didn't create dopplegangers! They were wish children made from memories and desires! Also! Their mindset made sense most of the time! It was logical, even if coming from a place of ignorance to humans' traditional way of thinking! They made a mistake and they rectified it the best they could! You don't know what you're talking about either, because you just absolved yourself from any incorrect information by saying it doesn't apply universally and shouldn't be held as facts! That it's "to the best of your ability" is like saying you have no idea if this is right or not, but you need to teach a class so you'll make up some nonsense for the lecture but negate it at the end just in case you're wrong! Are you even qualified to teach this class!?

[Toki probably should be in this class, just for the caution against ways he can get in trouble.]

The nature of the doppelgangers' origin is less important to the point than the fact that they were created by a faerie's misguided attempt to help. You don't need to defend them, I bear them no ill will.

I also don't claim that fae don't have their own system of logic, simply that it's far removed from any sort of human sense of priorities. It's entirely possible to learn their mindsets with enough observation and interaction, but this lesson is meant for those who have limited, if any, practical experience in the matter.

Furthermore, for creatures as varied as fae, it's important to note that exceptions exist. Negotiating with a creature you believe to be incapable of lying is incredibly dangerous if that assumption turns out to be false. It's the same as if I said humans can't see in the dark, the fact that some have exceptional night vision would make it irresponsible to give the impression that any human would be harmless in low-light conditions.

If you say the origins and reasoning behind these types of things are less important then you'll never understand their perspective! Fae in general, I mean! You're already giving people who don't know anything about fae a way to dismiss anything that might come up in favor of labeling their behavior misguided because humans are somehow superior and our way of thinking is right or whatever you're going on here! Isn't this making an assumption just as dangerous as believing they can't lie!?

[Ziggy makes no sense. Trying to brush off any concerns in his curriculum with a simplistic human-related anecdote only furthers Toki's belief that he's unqualified.]

[ Kano doesn't go to school on the best of days, not unless there's an exam to sit in and he'll do his best to make it to them. But it's not an exam week, and even if he were feeling up to going outside again, it's a struggle to even sit up from where he's lying flat on his back in bed, bearded dragon weighing down his stomach as he shifts slightly to look from the ceiling to the door.

Alright. Okay. Deep breath, it's "showtime." ]

"I just want to talk" is about the scariest thing you can lead with, you know???

This class is on surviving the risks of encounters with Outlands creatures. If you want to learn their psychology, you'd be better off with Mr. Atcheson's class, he's far more qualified than I am. But I should correct one thing: I never said humans are superior. A clash of cultures is bound to cause misunderstandings even between similar species, adding an entirely different mindset is only going to exacerbate that on both sides. However, given the fact that power comes much more naturally to fae than to humans, it's far easier for their mistakes to have lasting repercussions than the other way around. I did note, however, multiple ways in which a human could be the cause of conflict, or even hurt a faerie with objects they'd normally consider harmless.

I mean it, I'm not here to punish you. I'm concerned...you were in that other world for longer than anyone else, correct?

[ And anybody can lie, as Kano is very well familiar with; not everybody holds promises to be sacred. Was he in the other world longer than anybody else? He must have been the first in there, seeing as he's the instigator, and when Ziggy had come to get him later he'd put up such a struggle in his disorientation and panic that he wouldn't doubt it everybody else were to have already escaped.

It doesn't matter. ]

Hm~ I guess!! It's so easy to lose track of one's sense of time, in a place like that~ But it's alright, it's alright, a couple nights' sleep and I'll be fine!

I've taken his class and he's definitely a better professor, I agree~! However, I think the psychology, which is a totally human concept and therefore irrelevant anyway, of the fae can't be neglected if half of your points are based on the idea that their mindsets are alien! Not all humans think alike and you can't put them all in one box, so to say there's a collective mindset on the human side of things versus a fae mindset is really just furthering a way of thinking where your conception of humans comes off as superior even if you're not outright saying it! Anyway! You're obviously not understanding me, so carry on~!

[He waves his hands in a dismissive "continue your lecture" gesture. He's dropping this class, if he did indeed sign up for it.]

Maybe physically, but that's not my worry.

[There's the sound of padded metal clanking against the floor as he sits down.]

A world that draws on someone's worst fears...I'm worried how that might have affected your emotional state.

[ Oh. Sitting means he's here to stay for the long haul, which makes Kano move his lizard onto his pillow so he can flip over onto his stomach and bunch the blankets underneath him to prop himself up. ]

...I'm fine. I'm out of there now, after all, aren't I? It was a nice, quiet time in there, so I think I got off rather easy!

[ As if he doesn't subject himself to the same sort of isolative environments on purpose, from time to time. As if his emotional state hasn't been shaky long before this all happened. ]

[He gestures to the sword he has casually against his back at the mention of iron]

Is there any reason to actually deal with them? One's usually better off with eliminating or avoiding them.

But here's an important question: If one were to end up in one of the fairy realms, what would be a means of escaping their clutches?

[He's quiet for a moment, before the sound of something softer bumping up against the door.]

...Sometimes, quiet can be the worst thing of all. It gives you time to reflect on memories you'd rather leave forgotten. I won't pry about what you're afraid of being left alone with if you aren't willing to talk about it, but I can tell you that I understand what it's like.

[Rescuing Kano had been hard on him, too. Silence hasn't been his friend in a long time.]

[ Kano worries at his bottom lip, trying not to think back to his time in the darkness, but the moment his thoughts drift there, it's difficult not to get caught up in them again, the emptiness, the silence, the depersonalization to the point where he wondered if weren't really dead, if he couldn't see or hear or interact with anything around him. There was no way to escape. Each step that he took, he couldn't tell if he were walking the right direction or the wrong one, and the more steps he took, the less it mattered, everything remained the same and eventually, he'd just

stopped

When Ziggy had found him, Kano had already given up. If he was really dead, that was good, that was what he deserved; having a second chance like this, lying in a soft bed and empty room, he can't help but feel more resentment than relief at being alive.

For somebody to understand what it's like— everything he'd gone through, all the thoughts in his head and fears in his heart- he doesn't want to believe it. Nobody should understand what it's like.

He doesn't answer Ziggy for a long time, but when he does, his voice is soft, and careful. ]

Understanding what it's like doesn't help me. You don't need to help me, either. I'm fine, so go check up on somebody else.

[Toki's badgering just left him feeling exasperated, but this suggestion gets a narrowing of his eyes.]

Because just like humans, fae are individuals. No species deserves to be eliminated on sight, not even daemons.

But if you should find yourself trapped in a faerie realm, my first piece of advice is to eat nothing you didn't bring with you yourself. Eating food provided by a faerie puts you in their debt, and ensures they won't allow you to leave until it's repaid in full...a task that becomes never ending, as you need to continue relying on their hospitality as you work to pay off your previous meals.

Promises are important to fae, as are debts. If you can't find a way out on your own, it's possible to convince a faerie to show you the way in exchange for a favor or fulfilling a challenge. It's also possible to win passage in a contest or battle of wits, but this option should be a last resort. Breaking a rule of engagement is treated as a forfeit under standard agreements, but you can expect your opponent to exploit any and all loopholes in wording. You should do the same, but be prepared to explain how your actions fit the letter of the rules.

I may not need to, but I want to. I've seen immense suffering in the time I've existed, and the times when I couldn't stop it were what hurt the most. Don't think of yourself as an imposition, or as less deserving of concern because you brought it on yourself. I'm here to help all the students to the best of my ability, even the ones who make mistakes.

[ All of that just makes Kano frown. "Even" the ones who make mistakes, as if normally nobody would give them a second thought, yeah. Who cares if Ziggy hurt most when he couldn't stop people's suffering, that has nothing to do with him, Kano thinks to himself as he turns around in bed so that he's facing the wall instead.

He's not going to be somebody's pet project so they can "fix" him and feel better about themselves. ]

Then you'd better be off then~!! Lots of kids out there who need you more than I do~ Thanks for the welfare check, bye-bye!!

The ones who insist they need help less are usually the ones who need it the most. I've heard of your reckless behavior, and I've noticed a familiar pattern to it. I don't want to see someone else go down the same path I have.

Hm~ The same path, huh? What'd you do?

[ The most basic technique there is, turning the conversation around so Kano doesn't have to talk about himself. He knows it's obvious, but at the same time, Ziggy can't expect Kano to open up without opening up himself first; he knows how these things work, and he knows how to exploit good people. ]

[Ziggy doesn't really care about keeping it a secret, anyway.]

I was reanimated against my will following my death, and burdened with enchantments preventing me from deliberately harming myself. For the past seventy years, I've been seeking out missions with the highest chance of death I could find. To others, I'm certain I just look like a daredevil, but it's never been about the thrill.

[ That's... not really the same thing at all, is it? Not in Kano's eyes, anyways, who had summoned Michael because he ultimately chose to live instead of dying alongside his mother. It's not like he harms himself on purpose, or seeks out death... it's not the same, he refuses to believe that. It's the opposite. ]

So, what, you want to go back to being dead? I can help you with that?

[ ...He closes his eyes. Even though he said it, he knows it's a terrible thing to joke about, the way his words are always flippant so they purposely hold no weight. ]

I'm also incapable of abandoning an assignment...nor would I be inclined to at this point, between what I've seen and heard this week and what's at stake. My own life may have ended decades ago, but I still made a promise to protect the students here and do whatever I could to help prepare you for the coming threat.

[ Mnn..... He really hopes this welfare check really was just Ziggy wanting to see how he's doing, not an assignment he's taken on that'll result in this place feeling even more like a jail than it already is. There's no way Ziggy would notice the number of guards stationed on the floor, though he's sure they're giving him more space at the moment on the account of a faculty member being present. ]

Prepare me, huh? Actually~ There's something you can do for me! How do you feel about a little shopping trip~?

I wouldn't mind.

[There's a couple metallic thuds of him getting his feet under him, then the door shifts slightly as he stands up from leaning against it.]

What were you looking for?

Ohh, how helpful! Something I'm having a little trouble getting my hands on~ A little acacia gum, if you can find it! That'd help me out a lot!!

[ sends Ziggy out on a shopping trip so he can turn around and go back to sleep, yeah, yeah ]

I'll see what I can do.

[Sounds like it's time to visit a baking specialty store...]

Bye-bye~ Come back when you've got some!!

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A teacher's duty...

[Classroom]

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Classroom

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Yep, here's where the suicidal ideation comes in.

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