aterat | Video; Academy Findings and Mischief Afoot

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Video; Academy Findings and Mischief Afoot

Good afternoon, everyone.

[ The mage looks oddly pleased for once as he set his phone against something to record. The tired frown he was known for had lightened to something close to a smile as he grabs a pen to write while he speaks.]

I just wanted to share some news concerning the Academy. In my spare time, I’ve been going through the records room for anything that survived the incident. In doing so, I’ve come across the names of past supporters of the Academy and we’ve actually managed to locate some of the ones that are here now. Since then, we’ve put together and presented them with a proposal that they’ve since accepted and agreed to financially support the school as they did before.

[ Some scribbling is heard before the pen is traded out for another with a small hum, the first had been empty. ]

Anyway, this will mean a few things. First, those of us who’ve been working there will start receiving pay. Second, the academy will be able to hire for a wider variety of positions as well. Such as maintenance, cafeteria, administration, more teachers and other things. [ More scribbling. Another pen is traded out. Then another. Waver is starting to wonder if any of his pens have ink in them. ]… Finally, the academy is going to be undergoing a full restoration. Local businesses will likely be contracted to assist with both structural and cosmetic repairs.

[ Yes, despite the pen thing, he’s definitely smiling at this point. Seeing a school in disrepair has been bothering the professor for obvious reasons. Still, there is more to address, so he moves on even as he reaches for another pen. ]

Along with old lesson plans and financial records, I’ve also found that all official documents bore the signature of the headmaster from when the school was last operational. His name was ‘Percival Quincy.’ I would like to ask if anyone recognizes the name, or if they can get in touch if they run across anything relating to him? All I've heard about the headmaster before now would be that he was involved with the research of the cryst… So I think it would be beneficial to learn more about him and his work if we can.

[ Waver's brow twitches in slight annoyance as yet another pen hasn’t got ink in it. Pulling a fountain pen out of his coat pocket, he goes to continue and… Nothing. Unscrewing the pen, he gets a rather ridiculous befuddled look on his face. There’s not even a cartridge in the pen itself. ]

What in the…? [ He lets out an annoyed huff, tossing the pen to the desk among the others. ] It seems that I have to go and deal with someone's idea of a prank now. Thank you for your time.

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[Of course he's interested in getting paid and that means that he can purchase fresh ingredients for his beloved scones and pastry things. He whipped up some pretty mean chocolate truffles too.]

So they're expanding it are they?

[This sort of sounds disdainful but it's Arthur's not wanting to get hyper about this sort of thing.]

If that's true, then more jobs would be beneficial of course. But I don't recognize this name you mention. I will see what I can find out though.

[Because helping a fellow teacher is important.]

Do you need a new pen?

[This was asked, but then he shook his head.]

I had the same sort of thing happen on my way in. It appears the carrot I used for my snowman was bitten in half and his currant eyes had gone missing along with his hat.

Edited 2022-12-09 06:24 (UTC)

Yes, as long as all goes according to plan, we should get it back in the shape it deserves.

[ Even if he wasn’t sure how it would go… Waver was pretty stubborn on this front. Schools were one of the few things he considered sacred, after all. Even if he hated how the one he worked at was run at times, he’d been dedicated to his department and dragging it up from the neglected state it had been left in. ]

Thank you, Arthur. I knew it might be a long shot for people to recognize the name, but I appreciate you sharing anything you do come across in the future.

[ The question gets a frustrated huff. Holding up a different fountain pen from the one in the video, it’s also missing its ink cartridge. ]

I do, or at least a cartridge for one. Every damn pen I’ve come across is either out of ink or has had the entire cartridge removed from it. I can understand not noticing your pens being almost out of ink until you go to use them, but the cartridges being removed definitely mean someone thinks they’re being funny.

[ Alright, he could see wildlife going after the edible pieces of a snowman… But the hat? ]

Hm… Sounds like we’ve potentially got more than a one mischief maker going around, then. [ Was this normal? Some kind of weird tradition this place had around Christmas time? It’s his first time here. ] What kind of hat was it?

Well I'll look forward to it then if that's the case.

[Even if he isn't really sure anyone would be here long enough to see such a thing. And he smiled with a nod.]

I'm quite the researcher when I have a mind for it. And if it will help solve some things and speed other projects up, I can lend a hand.

[The huff is understandable and he nods sympathetically.]

I've some pens here that haven't failed me, I can bring some over if you'd like.

[With the part about the snowman there's a sigh.]

It was a rather nice black top hat I bought it for the purpose of the snowman. I've a picture actually..

[There's some shuffling and he produces a picture.]

Good to know there are a few of us here, then. The more people keeping their eyes on the subject, the better chance of happening on something.

[ At the offer, was silent for a moment as he considered it before nodding. ]

That would be helpful, I have some papers to work on and I can’t make much headway like this… Though I can’t guarantee that it will be safe from whatever is going on if you do, so make sure it’s not one you like…

[ It’s a risk that seems worth mentioning. ]

A top hat… [ So not even a knitted winter cap or something that might be more desirable in the change in season. Yes, a top hat was still a hat but… They were formal and fancy, and not as practical as other options unless you were desperate. He hummed as he looked at the picture. ] Definitely a fine hat… If I happen to see someone going around with one, I’ll let you know.

That aside, I now find myself wondering if anyone else has experienced anything stranger than usual.

[This place was definitely giving him a purpose and if he could help others out along the way he was alright with that. This man didn't sass or irritate him as America or France did and so he wasn't half as cantankerous as he usually was at home.]

I'm sure the pens that I have will work.

[He would personally threaten to curse them before he handed them over if they didn't do their job. Still he nodded and a small amount of irritation hit his tone.]

It was a top hat I was planning on wearing for the upcoming festive season so I put it on my snowman. Only to discover that someone nicked it.

[At the thought this might be a thing for everyone had England sighing.]

I suppose it won't hurt to ask the other professors if they've experienced it as well.

Then I’ll be grateful for them, though before I borrow them I think I might try to put something in place for extra security around the office in case they do strike again…

[ He intends to get to the bottom of this pranking. Waver does not enjoy this brand of nonsense in the least, and he wants to give them a piece of his mind. He now has some work to do to set up something to alert him if someone enters so he can trigger an extra bounded field for containment, perhaps… Hm… The professor is now shuffling through drawers for materials. ]

Yes, that time of year is upon us again. I know I should probably start thinking about that, but I’ve been a bit tied up with a few things.

[ And it feels… weird without the others, if he was being honest. ]

It wouldn’t hurt to, no. It might help to see if there’s some kind of range on the incidents; if they’re contained in a small area or if they’re more widespread. Where did you build your snowman?

[England sighed and nodded.]

If this is such a thing going 'round, I have to wonder if anything will be safe.

[And of he caught the thief, they'd be in trouble. He really wished he could see one of his friends from home and have them be on the lookout. Still, Arthur smiled briefly at the mention of Christmas. It was always lovely to go to Sandringham with Her Majesty and her family that kept growing. But the other's voice cut those thoughts short.]

I built the snowman front of the Green apartment building. I plan to go back after work to see if I can find anything as I didn't have time this morning.

Depends on what we’re dealing with specifically.

[ Waver responded absentmindedly, setting a few materials on his desk and frowning lightly. ]

If it’s just a person? A bounded field might be enough to contain them long enough to confront if triggered while they’re in the space, as long as they’re not too powerful themselves. If it’s some kind of magic cast from a distance, then finding out how is irrelevant and focusing on why to point to who is what I’d focus on after I get this set up. [ Spoken like someone who’s been stuck in situations where finding out who was responsible for something more than once. Although pens being pranked is at least on the lighter end of the spectrum, considering the nature of his usual cases. ] Though the immature nature of the prank strikes me as ‘bored and looking to cause trouble’ for a why.

[ Arthur’s answer is, unfortunately, less than ideal. ]

So it is more widespread, then. [ Great. ] Could be multiple individuals, or it could be spells that allow the culprit to cause mischief regardless of where their target is.

Yes that is true.

[He didn't want to think it was some sort of horrible thing that couldn't be solved easily. However if that indeed proved to be the case, then he was more than prepared to buckle down and get things done. If it was magic, England could try and figure that out. That wouldn't be too hard for him.

And the bored comment brought France and America to mind.]

Whatever we're facing, I can get on it after my work is done here and see what I can come up with. And it sounds as if you're wishing to do the very same.

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ask_whydunit - 2022-12-23 15:10 (UTC) - Expand

Was there nothing of value that the former supporters of the Academy could tell you of him? If not, I wonder if that indicates he was something of a recluse that spent most of his time on his research?

That was the odd thing. When the subject of him came up, they would say that he was a kind man, or very inventive… But if I asked for specific details, they simply couldn’t seem to recall. [ He rubs the side of his head lightly ] The fact that so little even survived the incident here at the academy, I’d hoped to find more going through the records but… [ A small shrug, something was better than nothing… ] Names seem to be the extent.

...That is quite odd. It sounds almost as though something erased their memories of him beyond what's observable on the surface level. [ But why would anyone want to do that? That is the real question here. Or how would anyone do that? She let out a tiny sigh. ] Names specifically? Again, that seems far too coincidental.

That’s certainly how it seems to me, or perhaps it’s as simple as their memories being incomplete due to what happened and how they were brought back. [ A hand rubs at his hair, messing it up slightly. He hates not having a solid idea of what was going on. There were too many pieces missing. ]

It is, but it’s at least another bit of information to add to our small collection. If we can find other references to the name, we might be able to make some connections and broaden the picture. [ Sighing, he sorted through a few papers in front of him. ] That was my hope for sharing his name, anyway. That someone else might have heard or come across it in relation to something else during their time here and not known where to connect it.

How much do we even know about how that works? [ From her perspective it seemed like it was next to nothing. But perhaps she simply lacked some information. ]

I wonder where else we could look for such information. Surely it couldn't be as simple as looking to the Historium....

Though...I wonder where his home was. No matter how dedicated he was to the Academy it seems unlikely he actually lived there, wouldn't you think?

Not nearly enough, in my opinion. So most of it’s just speculation and theories on my part… But it takes a lot of power to bring back a complete person, and no one has ever truly done it where I’m from. [ Even the spirits summoned in the grail war were a bit incomplete in the sense that they only remembered their own base history rather than any other summons experienced. The true, complete soul that retained all memories remained on the throne of heroes. ]

You would, although some might say I lived at the clock tower more than my own flat sometimes. [ He responded with a slightly wry tone. Gray often found him slumped over his desk and some books, and he was only the dean of a department rather than a headmaster of an entire school. ] But the fact that he probably had a residence aside from that remains, whether they were around the school grounds or in the city… But no mentions of that has been found, or at least no one has come forward with having found a place tied to that name.

To be quite honest, as foolish as this may seem, I had simply assumed these people were...created here? Not fully resurrected. [ Perhaps that was simply because she didn't want to think too much on the idea of them having died previously and then been brought back. Her tone did sound as though she found the admission rather silly to have thought. Silly and quite embarrassing really. ] Though...perhaps that would explain a great deal about their missing memories. I cannot imagine the trauma that might cause if they had all of their memories the moments they came back to life. Particularly depending on how precisely this world was destroyed in the first place. [ There's a sympathetic lean to her tone there. Perhaps whoever had brought them back, this Creator or whatever, had indeed tried to spare them how overwhelming it might be? Ah, but that was nothing but another theory. ]

My father often spent more time at his office than our home and my grandfather often spent more time in the lab than home. [ So, really, she's hardly surprised to hear he did similar. ] How vexing. Just like so much of this place. Perhaps...do you know anyone with any sort of tracking or scanning capabilities? Maybe they might be able to find more. I would offer Artemisia but her skills are rather limited and I doubt I would have much luck with so little information to go off of.

[ Waver could understand why she hadn’t wanted to think about the people in this place that way. It wasn’t exactly a good scenario, for the exact reason she followed up with. There was no telling what kind of trauma the people here had endured beforehand in the disaster that had struck, or what might have been repressed magically or otherwise. Waver had seen, after all, what a disaster born of magic gone wrong could do to a city. ] It would, what with the vague things they remember without any particular clarity or specific details to things they don’t recall at all… [ Tapping a pen on the desk lightly, he hummed. ] Even the eventual recalling of things that they hadn’t talked about before, stuff might come back to them as necessary without too much at once.

[ Waver was not sure how he felt about being compared to those two people in Mitsuru’s life, but he also couldn’t deny… People with a particular drive tended towards such behavior. He had it, and an unfortunate need to keep his mind occupied some nights more than others. Instead, he focused on her question. ] It’s worth asking around if anyone does. If a couple of my students were here and we had something with a solid connection, they could probably help me with a tracking spell. We’ve done it before, although that was with someone who was around… Which I admit could be possible, considering the memories issue.

[ But asking every Percival that happens to be in the city without any prior leads or reasons to suspect one of them might be who we’re looking for might be a stretch, he supposed. ]

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Illyana is a treasure, I adore her threads XD

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