daybreakacademy | Summer Course Work: July

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Summer Course Work: July

[A Practical Trip... on the sea!]

[Valvatorez's classes for the summer generally resumed as normal; he was still quite strict on making sure things were done right, because even with the summer classes all being handed out with As, information was still important, and he viewed his lectures as just as important as ever. ...Though, he was at least much more understanding about students taking time to rest, relax, and recuperate too. And frankly, even he had to recharge his batteries to some degree.

So, one of the things he offered to any students taking his classes was to join him on an extra credit excursion onto the ocean to go fishing; included would be a lecture on marine biology, but... everyone going really would know it would be about an hour or so long lecture about sardines. For the students that could stomach that, what would follow would be a fishing trip on Valvatorez's personal fishing boat as sanctioned by the Academy.

Out on the blue ocean, the weather is perfect with a nice sea breeze, and calm waves. Valvatorez spent some time going over the proper basics of fishing, and told people to have at. They could keep or release whatever they caught, and enjoy the trip however they wanted. Drinks and snacks were provided, and students would be free to mingle about the boat, and even talk to Valvatorez.

Their professor. Who saw fit to dress "appropriately" for the trip.]

[Office Hours]

[Both before and after the trip, Valvatorez is available as usual during his office hours, which are a little shortened, given the amount of students on break. Occasionally, he can be found in the faculty lounges on campus, or maybe even a cafe in Soliel, enjoying... rather oddly for him, an iced coffee.]

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[Nana walks up to Valvatorez, wearing a large brimmed hat, a tank top, and shorts. Her fishing pole is in hand. She looks around, before she glances back at Val. She pauses, for a moment, before she says:]

...do you get your sardines on trips like this, Professor?

[People with crazy food obsessions can't judge each other.]

[Indeed they cannot, and Valvatorez beams a little proudly.]

Sometimes! When I need a fresh catch of live fish, I often come out on the Fish Strong here and go to work. I raise them back at the academy too for easy access, but... sometimes catching them right from the ocean just is better.

[He looks out to the ocean, the sun glittering off the blue waves and whitecaps.]

...Plus, it makes for a heck of a view and a good break.

[Nana makes a note to herself: ask why the ship is named the Fish Strong. One thing at a time, though.

She nods her head to his explanation.]

That makes a lot of sense... I heard that wild-caught fish are tastier, though I couldn't say why.

It is very relaxing out here, whether that is true or not!

[Oh lord, here he goes.]

It's quite simple, really. The wide open ocean gives the fish much more room to exercise and move freely. Wild specimens, are, in that sense, even stronger than domesticated ones. And that's desirable in certain types of fish, especially oily ones like sardines, tuna, and even salmon.

[Yes, he looks proud of this knowledge. He's a damn nerd.]

And yes... I'm not daemon of the sea, but... out here, it can be a nice change of pace.

Oh, I think I see! Because the oily meat means it's already tasty, so stronger means more meat and better texture!

[Nana might bake more often than not, but she knows how to cook other things too.

And she's also a food nerd.

She looks at him, then nods her head.]

How long have you had the... er... Fish Strong?

Essentially that, yes! It also means a stronger flavor. Some people might not appreciate a "fishier" taste, but the fresher and stronger they are, the better they are for you.

[...Is that really true though....?]

Oh, probably about ten years now. I've owned other vessels prior to it, and have retired them as need be. I'm no salty man of the sea, but it's not my first time on a boat either.

Something about... the oils?

[She's not sure why those fish would be better for you.

Nana brightens at the idea of multiple ships. It makes sense; an immortal could get a few, couldn't they.]

That sounds like fun! Do... you hire crew, or just operate them all yourself?

[Toki hasn't spoken to Valvatorez since the lecture after Kano's daemon summoning two months ago, and it's with more than a little apprehension that he decides to remedy that. He has a lot to apologize for, and clarify maybe. He's not entirely sure where the conversation will go, or if one can even be sustained.

Promptly when office hours begin, he arrives with his personal guard, Marcel. Toki fiddles with the straps of his backpack leash while Marcel knocks on the door to Valvatorez's office.]

[As usual, Valvatorez is pretty much going about in his office like Toki's used to seeing. He looks up when the knock comes, and he... is actually surprised at who he sees there.

Toki hadn't been by in many weeks. He hadn't been surprised, given what had happened. But now that he's here again... well... Valvatorez could only wonder why. But he suspected he'd soon find out, and rather than assume anything and make mistakes, he'd simply let this ride.]

Ah, Toki. Do come in. What can I do for you today?

Thank you, Professor Valvatorez.

[An attempt at eye contact is quickly abandoned as Toki enters the office. He stands there for a few seconds, before he begins.]

I uhh.... I...

[He takes a breath and collects his thoughts, trying to put things into coherent sentences.]

I came to apologize for, well, I don't think that I said things out loud, but I thought things about you. I made assumptions, during your lecture about the daemon summoning, assumptions that you, and other faculty members, were holding me responsible for Kano's actions and I felt that it was unfair and reacted as such. However, I now see the errors in judgement with the way I went about trying to warn people, and that in itself allowed Kano to continue in his efforts. I should have been more direct and contacted those of authority even if my previous experiences doing so were ineffective.

[It's almost a question at the end, because he's certain he didn't get things across well.]

[The vampire remains silent as Toki speaks, but it's very clear that he's giving the boy his undivided attention. ...Well... that was... all rather unexpected. But not at all unwelcome either. When he finishes, Valvatorez nods solemnly to him.]

I see. Well... your apology's accepted, Toki. Considering the circumstances, I do find it difficult to blame you for any of that.

[He doesn't bother with the formality, for once, in an odd bit of actually being familiar.]

...I also wish to apologize to you as well. I do not believe I've conducted myself with the greatest of empathy for your situation, the sorts of challenges you personally face head-on. I must confess, I do not fully understand them, and that has doubtlessly led me to make mistakes in how I work with you, and how that may have hurt you. I will make no excuse for that failure on my part.

I am sorry. I will endeavor to do better in the future, if you will let me.

[Toki doesn't know what to do with this. It's contradicting what he's been told and what he's trying to change. He doesn't deserve empathy; the 'challenges' are his problem, not anyone else's. He's wrong and needs to be fixed.]

I... this is.. you're not...

[This is a test of some sort, to see how he would respond. To see if he would place himself as the hurt party, as Valvatorez is suggesting he is, but that would be... delusional. Yes. It's a test, and he should have expected something like this.]

I cannot accept your apology, Professor Valvatorez, as it is unwarranted and references have been made to hypothetical inferences of potentially misinterpreted events and the effects thereof. I was wrong, and this is a fact and there cannot be any excuses or misdirected sympathy for false beliefs and interpretations on my part.

[It's spoken slowly and deliberately, and he makes eye contact. He needs Valvatorez to see he understands this and the logical and correct conclusion has been reached.]

[...The vampire takes a moment to study him carefully, realizing that he's definitely making an effort to do... something. To try to be rational and logical, but...

...Ugh. Trying to understand Toki was still a challenge he had not mastered. But, even if Toki himself would not take the apology, Valvatorez himself had resolved to at least try to do better. One step at a time, and if this was what he needed right now, that's what would be done.]

...Fair enough.

But nevertheless, I do want to say one more thing to you about the matter.

[He closed his eyes for a moment, and let his expression soften a bit.]

You already talked about how the delivery may not have been... ideal, but. I wanted to personally thank you for speaking up about Anastasia. ...You very likely saved her life by doing so.

[Toki listens intently; it seems he has passed the test. Until the prom incident is brought up. He's a little less organized with his response this time. It's getting to him, like they want. He will fail. But he can't.]

That action does not... It is not something to be lauded because speaking of a future incident, which may or may not occur, is unwise and... and this would have occurred the same whether the parties involved had heard prophecies or not. The knowledge of potential events has no bearing on them and stating this... in any way, if it's delivered at all is... needlessly... is needlessly broadcasting unsubstantiated claims of impending doom?

[His voice is wavering by the end and he's very confused.]

[Jolyne was probably the last person to be here, since she was taking none of these courses. But she had to know something that she was sure he knew about.]

I got some questions about a former student you had, if you'd be into that.

[He blinked and almost did a double take when he saw who it was come into his office. Still though, he shook off that surprise rather quickly, and gave her his full attention, whether she was in his classes or not.]

Sure, I don't mind. Obviously I can't tell you anything confidential, but I'll certainly tell you what I can.

Make yourself at home and ask away.

[How does she even begin to ask or word this shit? She's not... real sure, but she'll wing it, as she always does. His shock or not is really none of her concern as she's taking a seat with a soft bit of a huff.]

You've been here for a while, right? Got some questions about my prick of a father, since evidently he was here for a bit and knowing his dumb-ass shit with marine biology, I take it you'd have dealt with him.

[He nods to her first question, and does listen to the rest of her statement, quietly ignoring the crack about one of his fields of study. The more important thing is the clear animosity present in the family, to which he doesn't want to prod at any more than she wanted to talk about.]

You mean Jotaro? ...Yes, actually. He took all of my marine biology and oceanography classes. So I've spent some time as his instructor.

What sort of questions do you have about him?

[Animosity is the nicer term for it, but that's neither here nor there for the time being. She at least seems to be mostly settling down and calming herself down, she'd expected this to be a lot more difficult than it's becoming.]

Of course he did. [She's muttering under her breath, but quickly moving into her actual questions.]

... I guess mostly if you had any idea why he would've pulled the shit he did. It's not really a secret that he dealt with this whole supernatural shit at this point, but trying to, I dunno, figure out how the hell he thought any of what he did was a good idea. As far as I know, all of our fucking family with these dumbass birthmarks get into all kinds of trouble with this garbage and somehow he thought he could fix it?

Or, well, that's what he fucking said, anyway. [Of course she believes literally none of it, but that's something better fit to talk to someone more qualified about.]

[Valvatorez is quiet for a moment. Admittedly, he didn't know too much about what she was talking about; what Jotaro may have done after he left the school, or what caused all this anger. ...Clearly, it was something, and it was something big. He'd seen his fair share of teenage angst over the years, but this didn't sound like it was being blown out of proportion. Not completely, anyway.

And either way, how he read into it was largely irrelevant anyway. What was important was giving her what answers he could.]

So what he said was that your family line marked with birthmarks has a history of running into trouble? ...He never much talked about it to me, though I did know he had some sort of power to him.

...Frankly, powers running in family lines is fairly common. And sometimes curses run with them. Though I am unsure if that's the case in the Cujoh line. If he went out to do something about it, some sort of family curse could be a possibility. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of any such thing while I was instructing him.

[A lack of information, a lack of reasoning, along with a whole lot of teenage issues is probably a more likely cause. But she's quiet as she listens to him, a frown playing on her lips. Not remotely the answer she was hoping for, but him being absolutely silent and vague with things sounded... right.]

Same kind of familiar shit I have, that's about as far as I know with what his can even do. I don't even know the damn thing's name.

[She can't help but snort softly at the Cujoh answer, good grief.]

Evidently our family name changed a bit, started at Joestar, from what I've heard in bits and pieces. I think some shit about being British initially or something. [She pauses for a brief moment, leaning back in that chair.]

There's another of the family around this place, but I don't think he knows much more about it than anyone else does. It's all kind of a bullshit mystery, I guess?

He never once told you about it? Hmn... really, I should not be surprised.

[He ponders that, but his mind quickly returns to what she adds.]

Indeed, this does sound like one of those genealogical mysteries. These things can get tangled up very quickly... and might make a source difficult to pinpoint. Though, it might not be impossible with the Academy's resources, if they were leveraged correctly. Even knowing that your family line originated in Great Britain might be helpful if you or someone else were to go looking.

...Though why he didn't come back to us for help is a mystery as well.

Something about "trying to keep us safe" or what the fuck ever. You know, because that worked out so well now that I'm here and dealing with it. [She may be the tiniest bit salty about, well, everything. Always. At all times.

This is how you form complexes.]

... I guess that's not a bad idea, if they won't tell me anything, then searching for it on my own shouldn't be too hard to do. You'd think, for a group that helps out fucking hunters, that they'd find telling me something is better than absolutely nothing. [It's all a horrendous mess, but no one should really expect any differently at this point.

She certainly can't help rolling her eyes at the last part.]

Because he's a dick that thinks he can do anything and everything on his own.

Honestly, the simplest answers are correct quite often. He was quite cocksure as a student. Never grew out of it, then.

[Definitely didn't, judging by Jolyne's reactions.]

Do one better than your old man. Use the resources we have here. The library, the various professors, magic experts, and more. Someone might be able to point you in the right direction. Familiars aren't my specialty, but I know a few things about curses. If you dig up anything about it, I might be able to help you, if you so desire it.

[There's a lot of family drama there that probably doesn't need to be said, but he's probably right.]

Curses... [She hadn't really thought about any of it being akin to a curse, but seeing as anyone of their line gets dragged into this whether they want to or not? It's looking more and more likely that's the case, it's absolutely worth looking into at the very least.]

I don't think familiars really is for anyone, not these types, anyway. [Other than her grand uncle, but she's not sure if he's really the best to ask about it.]

It's a place to start at least. Thanks.

[ Why is he here? Not to supervise anyone who falls off the boat or some such (he's sure Valvatorez can take care of that) or to treat minor injuries (that's what first aid kits are for), but, shockingly, for an actual break. ]

It's good weather for fishing. You timed the trip well.

[ He's also changed clothes from his usual uniform into something more summery, which is honestly the most surprising part. The hat does not appear to impede his vision at all, considering how attentive he is to his fishing line.

It's bobbing peacefully out in the open ocean. Nothing has seen fit to take the bait so far. ]

[Truth of it was, Valvatorez was quite surprised Ekkehardt had expressed interest in going, especially for something of some time off. But he wasn't about to complain about good company, in addition to his students.]

I've come out here around this time of year in the past. Usually it works out, though some years do still get rather unpleasantly hot.

[He takes his own pole and casts a line out into the sea with a practiced flick of his wrist.]

But the risk is worth it. If it's too hot, I just wait until nightfall to fish. One benefit of being a vampire is I'm not beholden to the same schedule most humans are.

[ The amount of times Ekkehardt has taken time off without being practically forced to do it, you could count with one hand. You wouldn't need all the fingers, either. ]

Mm. I imagine it makes some things much easier when you work better at night.

[ His voice and posture are almost lazy, or what passes for lazy with him - which mostly means he looks and sounds noticeably less stiff than usual. But since his 'relatively relaxed' is most people's 'attentive', it doesn't make that much of a difference. ]

I admit I didn't expect you to enjoy fishing this much. [ It sounds a little silly, saying it out loud, but he feels there's a difference between researching fish and actually catching them. ] Or have your own boat, at that.

Iced Coffee? Are you okay? That's not your go-to.

[The voice comes from behind, good-humored in tone. He's not really supposed to hang out in the faculty lounges, but he frequents enough while dropping things off. Papers and the like. Besides, it's nice to actually associate with adults sometimes.]

Edited 2019-08-02 15:08 (UTC)

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Summer Course Work: July

fishing trip!

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[Office Hours]

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fishing trip

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Office Hours