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

[adelphoi]

[ literally an emoji huh... that is believable ]

This way.

[ she knows exactly where that section is, considering she visits it like... more than any other section. like as not she has read every text, probably at least twice, so she guides him with ease back toward the shelves that hold the runic texts. ]

Are you new to the use of runes?

[punshots]

[ ...Nerd. ]

...Uh, yeah. I mean, I saw some of my, uh, colleagues using 'em in the field, but I've never really tried to apply 'em myself.

[ He avoids mentioning that they were a group of Hunters as much as possible. No need to stir that pot up again if he can help it. ]

[adelphoi]

[ it's fine, it's not as if she's forgotten that he's a hunter. of course she hasn't. but he does not flaunt it in her face, so in pursuit of peace in the dormitory she puts it from her mind as best as she can. he seems so kind.. it is difficult for her to reconcile his lifestyle with the way he portrays himself.

but that is none of her business, anyway. she gives him a brief look that is not quite disapproval, because his life is his choice, but something instead like cool acknowledgement. ]

I see.

[ and then, turning to the shelves she draws her fingertips along the old spines of several tomes before hooking one at last, drawing forth a thick, hefty book. ]

This is what I recommend, if you are beginning.

[ a brief history of the runic arts, their uses, and applications ]

[punshots]

[ ...That is sure one hell of a book.

Prompto's smile wilts somewhat at the sight of it as she hefts it off the shelf. She really expects him to read that? As a beginner? It looks like it could knock his head clean off his shoulders if she threw it at him.

At yet, he is committed to this. He was brought here for a reason, and so he's going to do what he can to stick to that purpose. He reaches out to take it, brow flat as he peers at the title. ]

...Alrighty! Good a place to start as any. I'm gonna be up late tonight...!

[ It looks like a real page-turner. ]

[adelphoi]

[ yeah it's probably pretty intimidating to a simple boy who would sooner read a comic book than an archaic tome, and she can't entirely blame him. it's a big book.

so she takes pity.. ]

Here.

[ taking the book from his hands again, she opens it, passing the table of contents and all the innumerable forewards and indices to the first chapter. from her pocket she pulls a spare hair ribbon and uses it to mark the page. ]

Just start here, and focus on this chapter, for now.

once more with feeling

[punshots]

[ ...Oh, well if she's going to cut like a tenth of the book out, then that's fine by him. It's still intimidating and overwhelming, but he's determined to give this his all. Doing any less would be a slap in the face of the powers that brought him here in the first place. ]

Right! Gotta lay the tracks before you can drive the train, huh? [ He flashes her an easy grin. ] Thanks, Alisaie! I owe you twice-over now.

[ Once for the tour, and twice for the book rec. ]

[adelphoi]

[ briefly, something like a smile twitches at the corners of her mouth, her expression softens. she's not.. used to people thanking her for anything, okay!! ]

'Tis nothing.

[ ahem!! ]

To check it out, you need only take it to the counter and show your student ID.

[punshots]

[ Wait, was that...? ...No, it'd couldn't have been a smile. There's no way he could make her smile. It's just wishful thinking, probably.

It...would be nice, though, if he did make her smile. He bets she has a really nice one. ]

...Oh, right! Heh...ohhh yeah, I'm gonna check this book out...

[ He winks at his own bad joke, before starting



in a direction that is not towards the front desk. ]

[adelphoi]

[ it was the least smile a smile can be.. but it was a smile!! sort of. vaguely. she tried.

also she.. sort of gets that joke? but not really. she gives him a quizzical look, but then he's off in the wrong direction. quick to snag him by one sleeve(?), alisaie just.. turns him around, back closer toward the direction they came from. ]

That way.

[punshots]

[ >prompto
>sleeves

But in any case, Alisaie gets his attention, and he turns...oh. Yeah, this isn't the direction they came from at all, is it? He got totally turned around in here... ]

O-oh, heh...right! I mean, left. This place is like a labyrinth!

[ It's really not. He's just dumb. ]

[adelphoi]

.. no. It is really quite straightforward.

[ it's just a big square. possibly with a few floors.. but whatever!! either way, she walks beside him to ensure that he doesn't find himself lost forever, or fall through a window, or something. he has to be more capable than he appears, right.. otherwise he wouldn't have been accepted here...

r-right........ ]

Anyroad, there you are.

[ checkout counter is right there, prompto, in the open, super obvious. he can't miss it?? ]

[punshots]

[ Look, he might get lost forever, but he won't fall through a window?! Alisaie, please. ]

O-oh! Gotcha. Uh...thanks! Again.

[ She better get used to hearing his thanks and apologies, because she's likely to hear a lot of both. Off he goes to check out his book. It feels heavier in his arms every moment... ]