WINTER TERM OPENING CEREMONY AND CLASS START

[thewatchers]

WINTER TERM OPENING CEREMONY AND CLASS START
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The snowfall has only intensified as Daybreak moves into the first day of Winter Term classes. A school-wide orientation will be held in the auditorium, followed by an open period where tours will be given to new students by student volunteers. After a noon lunch in the main hall, short introduction classes will be held where the syllabi will be distributed and professors can give a brief overview of what they’ll be covering over the term.

A. ORIENTATION ASSEMBLY

With a new school year comes a fresh address. The orientation assembly is one of the few times that the Headmistress and High Seer, Mila Duchene, speaks to the gathered faculty and students about their purpose and why they’ve been found and gathered here. About how Nightfall looms ever closer, and how together they will be the flames who light the coming darkness.

It is, in the manner of many orientation speeches, fairly long-winded. Those who have been here for more than a year have likely heard this speech before, though it’s slightly more urgent this time. Maybe it’s a good time to get to know the people on either side of you a little better while the Headmistress talks, because you’ll be here for a while. Or maybe you’ve planned ahead, and you have something to entertain you at orientation - much to the shared entertainment or dismay of others in your vicinity, perhaps.

Or you could actually be listening to the speech. It’s up to you.


B. SCHOOL TOUR

For students fresh to the academy, the sprawling nature and architecture of Daybeak Academy can be quite intimidating. Fortunately, helpful student volunteers have been tapped to help escort the new students around and give them a feel for campus. Student volunteers are typically chosen for both their experience on campus and helpful nature. While some scripts are provided, students are encouraged to ad-lib and put their own spin on campus and what they like about it. New students are, of course, encouraged to ask as many questions as they can to make sure they fully understand and familiarize themselves with the campus as quickly as possible.

C. SNACK STATION

During the first three days after the Holiday break, throughout the campus grounds are small stations manned by the kitchen staff and volunteers, the smell of hot chocolate, cider, and frying bread fills the air, stirring the appetite and promising warmth on this cold winter’s day.

Every booth has hot chocolate, some spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, others rich and creamy, but always with an option for marshmallows, peppermint bark or caramel drizzles - with non-alcoholic hot cider for those with an allergy to chocolate. For food options, naturally being France there are crepes of all types and beignets on offer, with jam- or custard-filled berliners, while those looking for a more savory fare will be treated to rissoles - a fried bread stuffed with minced meat or bechamel sauce and cod.

While the drinks are on tap and readily available, it may take a few moments to get the treats out, so might as well make conversation while a fresh batch is made.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[unpocoloco]

He finds himself grinning at that reaction. A superhero, huh? This kid...

That grin soon slips though.

"I don't know, to be honest. I don't always agree with it. I think you're right, there are things people should know. Things that shouldn't matter." He sighs softly and shakes his head.

"I know that a lot of Mage families are really protective and that there's a lot of laws just for them that they have to follow," He explains. "They've had these traditions for years and years, to protect them from other people and jealous families. Disobeying that could get them cast out or even killed. You've got the Rune Guard and the Hunters, and for them, it's their whole job to keep these things secret. People get hurt sometimes when they fall into this stuff and that makes them want to hide it more. And then of course you've got the contracted, the lycans, the undead, and a lot of those are considered to be dangerous. It's a big risk to come forward with something like that, even here where we're all welcome. You just don't know who's going to be on your side and it... becomes easier to just tell no one." He's quiet for a long moment, looking away from her. "I think that it's a lot of people hurting and hurting a lot. So with it hidden, they can kind of control how much hurting happens, even if they can't completely stop it."

[leekspins]

"..."

She wasn't sure what to say. He explained it well, and she thought she could understand the point he was trying to make. Orihime held a fist to her closed mouth and quietly huffed out a breath of frustration.

"So...it's because the Outworld has more violent and destructive versions of lycans and undead...all of them...where people would get scared and possibly attack the ones that are trying to help people fight back...?"

If so, that made sense. She didn't like it, but scared people could easily become desperate and less likely to think before reacting.

"I think I can understand that."

Wasn't that what she was doing now, hiding the true nature of her abilities for fear of being ostracized? And that was from people who did know about the Outworld. The other civilians outside of the schools wouldn't get even that much.

[unpocoloco]

She seems like a nice girl. Kind. And yet, even with that there's still a moment where she begins to talk of the outland, focusing specifically on the blighted, that he braces for this all to turn on him. She wouldn't know so, but he'd still be hearing someone curse the dead for forcing this secrecy he hardly wants.

But to his surprise, she doesn't. The ones that are trying to help... The tension in him eases without his notice. There's a sadness in his eyes but a smile pulls up upon his face.

"It's a tough situation," He goes on. "But this place is here to support everyone as long as they're willing to help. And being here is a good opportunity to turn that help around for someone else. You never know who could need it."

And he does honestly like this part of the job, even if he'd rather be home. He gets the sense she might like that too.

[leekspins]

"I'll try to be more observant," Orihime promised. "And I'll work hard to be a good hero!"

Even if she, personally, thought she could benefit a lot more in training if they did have attack robots and flying buzzsaws to dodge. The greater the danger, the greater the growth in skill and knowing what to do in a critical situation. It's too bad!

"So when do they create your specialized crime-fighting vehicle? After you graduate, or do you have to get a certain amount of credits and grades to qualify?"

He could expect a lot more questions like these as the tour continued. But he could also expect her to be a lot more invested in what he was saying, sticking close to his side for the rest of the day.

[unpocoloco]

It's hard not to laugh. She makes it really, really hard not to laugh. It's just... sweet. Hearing a girl talk of being a hero.

And then completely ridiculous as she veers right into 80's cartoon hero-mobiles.

"Ahah... I... don't know if that's how it works here..."

But silly as the questions could be, he takes them in stride, offers alternate suggestions-- "You could probably make your own vehicle here though if you really wanted to."-- and he finds it's nice. Comfortable in a way, getting to talk to this bright eyed teenage girl speak so excitedly of all of this. He wonders if his own daughter is anything like this now. Maybe someday soon he'll be answering questions like these for her.

Just, maybe, a little less bizzare.