The Watchers of Night ([personal profile] thewatchers) wrote in [community profile] daybreakacademy2019-01-10 08:52 pm

WINTER TERM OPENING CEREMONY AND CLASS START


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
leekspins: (Ha ha oh gosh!)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-15 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
Thank goodness!

[The moment he switches, so does she, speaking with ease. She's been away from Japan for three years, but there's still someone she talks to in Japanese every night. She clasps her hands lightly in front of her, smiling as she listens.]

I can't imagine what it was like growing up knowing about all of this. I only found out about a month ago, and I'm still adjusting. Everything just seems so exciting and amazing!

[Orihime knows she should take it seriously, and to a point, she does. But that doesn't mean she has to be grim-faced or nervous about the future, right?]

Is there a big difference between a familiar and a contract? I don't really know much about how familiars work.
hippocarnival: (✮ 086 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-15 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
I didn't grow up around as much of it as other people... I'm still learning, too.

[But he does have a two year head start on Orihime, so he can at least help acquaint her. He taps his chin, considering.]

It's... a different kind of partnership? A contract is an exchange. You get something, like power, and then whatever you're contracted to gets something from you. But a familiar is something that you bond to yourself, so you need to have power first to be able to use that spell.

[Yuya waves a hand quickly.] But it doesn't really work trying to force a bond with something that doesn't want to be your familiar! Even if you succeed, you'll be weaker for not being able to get along. Especially if it's something from the Outlands.
leekspins: (Winter Sky)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-15 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
[She nods slowly. It makes her wonder what the Shun Shun Rikka get from her in exchange for her abilities. She honestly doesn't know. Her bond with them sounds more like what he says about having a familiar, but she definitely didn't have any power or spells to call for them. It's something she'll have to think about.]

Then you didn't know it would be a dragon that would respond until you saw him? Do familiar take other shapes too, like unicorns, or giant robots?
hippocarnival: (✮ 001 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-15 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, probably? There's all sorts of things in the Outlands, and some familiars are actually pieces of the Tamer imbued in something. Or a normal pet that becomes magical.

[He rubs the back of his neck.] I didn't really know what I was summoning when I first called on Odd-Eyes. That was really dangerous, but at least it worked out.
leekspins: (Leekspinning)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-17 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah! It's a good thing you got a dragon, and not a talking dustpan, ha ha!

[She understands what he means, though. Most creatures that come from the outlands have been hostile from what she understands. The one that attacked her school definitely wasn't something interested in making friends with humans.]

Where does he sleep? Does he fit in your dorm room?
hippocarnival: (✮ 026 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-17 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yuya laughs at the joke, then shakes his head at her question.] No, he's uh. Not supposed to be inside anymore except for training areas. He stays on campus, but everywhere outdoors. Usually outside my dorm.

[He points that vague direction.] You can meet him if you want.
leekspins: (Playful)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-19 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[She nods quickly, smiling. Poor dragon, the winter must be tough on him. Hopefully he's not cold-blooded!]

I'd like that very much! Let's meet him together, I don't want to overwhelm him by being too excited, ha ha!

[It still might happen anyway. Who wouldn't be thrilled at this kind of opportunity?]
hippocarnival: (✮ 012 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-20 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Yuya nods emphatically.] Sure, sure! He should be... [Yuya looks around, spinning on his heels before pointing.] That way!

[Which leads back in the direction of the Lumiere dorm, of course. He isn't straying right now.]
leekspins: (Captain Hime)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-20 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Please lead on!

[She's content to follow, opening up her spiritual senses now that she has a general idea of where a dragon might be chilling out. She can feel all kinds of unusual spiritual signatures, especially since Odd-Eyes is by a dormitory of students with special powers, so she's not sure which is which just yet. But she can feel Yuya's soul next to her. It's strong and warm and bright. She smiles as she turns her head to look at the younger boy, then faces forward once more.]
hippocarnival: (✮ 053 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-20 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yuya jogs with a pep in his step as he leads the way to the dorm, and then around the back to crunch through the snow. It's an open enough area that Yuya doesn't have to call Odd-Eyes into view--a red, wingless dragon roughly ten feet tall with a long neck and spikes along the jaw and back.

Who is currently scratching his head on a tree, ripping bark off as he uses it to itch.]


That's him. Odd-Eyes!

[The dragon stops with an unintelligible sound, and then quickly reels back.]
leekspins: (Hope)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-22 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
Hooouuu...!

[She thought he might look majestic and fearsome. And he is! But Orihime was unprepared for the cuteness of a dragon trying to scratch an itch. She giggles, and when it jerks back in surprise, she restrains herself from bolting forward. That's a good way to get bit by a stray dog, and a startled dragon's bite is probably way worse!]

Here. Let me see if I can get that for you.

[She takes a step forward...just one...and holds her hands up with her palms exposed just in case he needs to sniff out her scent.]
hippocarnival: (✮ 096 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-22 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[Odd-Eyes tilts his head down, sniffing around Orihime instead of just her hand. He snorts, not finding anything offensive about her or her scent.

Yuya continues to cover introductions.]
This is Orihime. She's a student, too.
leekspins: (Ha ha oh gosh!)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-22 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm very pleased to meet you!

[His breath is warm and ticklish, and she lifts her elbow with a laugh despite her best efforts to remain still. Her hand extends towards the top of the dragon's head, slowly, ready to withdraw if he seems uneasy. But if he allows, she'll scratch at his scales. Orihime turns her head to grin back at Yuya.]

Can he speak? Or are you the only one who understands him?
hippocarnival: (✮ 001 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-22 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Odd-Eyes lowers his head to allow the scratches.]

He can't speak like we do. [Yuya shakes his head.] There's some other language spirits like him speak? I understand him because we're bonded. It's like... even if I don't know the words, the meaning is completely clear to me.

[Yuya suspects he wouldn't understand the other spirits the same way, though he's never been able to test it.] He doesn't seem to have trouble understanding us, either.
leekspins: (Daydream <3)

[personal profile] leekspins 2019-01-26 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
That's amazing...! So he's not only awesome and strong, he's really smart too. A triple threat!

[She beams, clearly enjoying herself the way most people would enjoy petting a dog. She's watching the big scaly head for reactions, moving her fingers to see which spot was making him itch.]

I wish we could learn Outworld languages. It'd be incredible to speak Draconic, or...what's the one for fey...Sylvan? There are friendly beings that dwell there too, so it would be great to meet them.
hippocarnival: (✮ 053 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-01-27 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Odd-Eyes is going to gleefully soak up the attention.

Yuya's pretty sure part of the problem is not being able to actually speak said languages, but he won't point it out. Instead he nods, grinning.]
That's right! The Outlands aren't all scary... there's some amazing stuff out there. And people.

[Not that he has any first hand knowledge of the Outlands that he knows of, but... he's learned from Odd-Eyes, and some of the staff they incorporate at the school. It isn't all daemons and blight.]