Daytime. Kanaan Devries, Garage Chance, Ikra, Wilbur Jenkins (NPC)
It was Detention time. Wilbur Jenkins sat writing an essay "Why igniting fellow students, despite the heavy protection charms on the building, is not allowed?"
Kanaan's brow was furrowed as he pretended to read the newspaper. He was really staring out the window as Ikra hopped up and down, and probably chased his tail, though the familiar could ever admit it. The familiar was to proud to admit he was scared of his shadow.
Garage had been teaching a class on iron in the Lesser School building. He didn't make it down this way a lot; he was more often teaching spells in the middle school. Sometimes however, the kids needed extra help with their elemental studies and he was one of the more practiced scholars with the ability to manipulate the iron element. He'd had a rather successful afternoon of it and was heading back to his office. He peeked in on the classroom set aside for detention and saw Master DeVries staring out the window rather than watching Wilbur scribble away at his essay. He smiled momentarily, thinking it would be a pretty funny picture for the school newspaper.
DeVries was brooding apparently, but his baseline was depressed. He was preoccupied by his mood lately, but not enough to even think of taking time off of work or taking things easy. Even the little familiar was a bit tired. The stillness was broken by the noise of Ikra catching something his almost eagle eyes. The Familiar ran across the room to the door towards Garage.
Kanaan roused. "Its about time to leave. Have you completed your work Mr. Jenkins?"
"Uhhhh. I guess."
Kanaan shook his head "Very I will review and you can come tomorrow." He said "I must leave for a meeting."
"Tomorrow. But I was going down to Cap ou Pas Cap"
"Well maybe you can go when you've finished your assignment." He put the papers into his bag. Now off to dinner."
The boy looked totally shocked.
Garage was a little shocked by this interaction as well and thought to linger a moment. "Hey Ikra," he said offhandedly as the little familiar reached him. He'd never met an odder familiar in his life. Ikra was certainly one of a kind. He stepped to the side aiming to give Wilbur space to get out of the room, as well as allowing Kanaan to pass him by.
Wilbur stormed out of the room clutching his bag to his chest muttering and griping and moaning. He almost ran into Garage as he grumbled and was absorbed in the horrible tragedy of being forced to sit through detention after school.
"Hi. Master Chance." The boy nodded. He was only just into Middle School, 15 and terribly precocious. He had been in school since he was 7 over half his life. He moped audibly.
"Have a good afternoon Wilbur," he said politely. "I'll see you in spells tomorrow," he added. "I believe we're meeting at 11."
"I'll probably be here working for..."Mr. DeVries" and his stupid essay." He kicked the ground. "Stupid junk."
The familiar wagged his tail at both of the young men looking at them wondering why no one was petting him. "Sttttttoooooooopid." The creature grumbled and mimicked "Stuuuuupid."
Garage rolled his eyes. "Well Wilbur, I imagine there are a number of reasons why Master DeVries assigned you the essay." He tried very hard not to be condescending with his students and clapped Wilbur lightly on the back. "Class before detention," he said lightly. "I'll make sure he'll let you come. We're doing some cool work tomorrow and it would be a shame to miss it," he peeked at the top of the essay, "for igniting a fellow student. Which I'm certain was an accident," he finished. He reached down to scratch Ikra behind the ears. "Do take care Wilbur," he added as he looked up from his crouching position.
"Well yeah of course." He stiffened "You don't believe me. What happened to you? You used to be cool. This is ridiculous." The boy said, tromping off.
"RI-eeeeediculous. Bye Jenkins." The familiar shouted in Garage's ear by accident. But soon after he greeted the young Teacher. Then he lapped at his nose excitedly. He was very affectionate. "Master Chance. Gimme a kiss!"
The teacher stood up. rolling his eyes at the animal as he collected his paperwork. "Master Chance." He greeted his colleague.
Teenagers. Garage thought. They flew off the handle at the slightest thing. "Ah, good afternoon Master Devries," he said easily as he rose from his crouched spot at the door. "Do you think Mister Jenkins could come to class before detention tomorrow?" he asked politely. "I have some interesting things we're working on and I'd hate for him to miss out on it."
He closed his bag shut "I don't think him being in class is the problem." He said "This is the third detention he's had this semester." He growled. "Honestly I don't know what is going on out there. But I can't abide bad behavior like this." He erased the board. "I am the only one here who cares." He grumbled to himself.
The familiar looked sadly at his crabby human, so full of pity. The little familiar worried about his human when he was like this. He rubbed against Garage's leg as if he was looking for emotional support. "He won't be able to succeed if he can't keep trouble out of class." He said "I wonder if anyone is going to do anything about this."
"Well, they're young," Garage offered lightly. "They don't understand how important it is to have a good education. I don't think they know how hard it is to teach them, even without the distractions their behavior casts."
He sighed a bit. "I'm not sure about Mister Jenkins. Perhaps it might be best to put him in another class, or suggest another path. He might be acting out because he's not happy with his current studies."
"The only thing that he seems to enjoy is wandering about in second rate dangerous junk shops and driving me insane with his pranks." He said. Perhaps he was taking it too personally, but he was always an intense uptight person. He looked around "I sometimes think there is no structure around here to accommodate so many children without the parental supervision." He said. "Children need discipline and control. And now it seems they are cutting our funding for student programs." He said. "They don't know what is going on." He said "I'm supposed to be there in a half an hour to discuss the problem."
He knew that he seemed a little stressed now, so he tried to sooth his voice.
Garage didn't know what to say to that. He didn't know how the board of governors worked, nor how the funding for the school worked. He wasn't sure what to say to that end and smiled lightly. "Well, I imagine you will sort it out," he offered. "This system has worked for a long time; I don't see why the governors would want to change or threaten it now."
"It is always the case when a man sees an opportunity for power and wealth that they will try to change things until they alone benefit." He said. "Perhaps it is best that we do have a new king to change things for the better for the children."
He picked up Ikra. "I fear things may get lean here. It is fine for me. But some of the teachers might be at risk. A young couple starting out might not be so lucky." He said. He was trying to be candid, but it was hard for him, trying to protect people from grim realities. "And it may impact Student Activities outside of schools."
"Don't worry about Samra and myself," he said in reply. He wouldn't say more than that, but he was fairly certain that he and Samra wouldn't be a couple for very much longer. "We've always been able to make ends meet," he added lightly. "As for student activities I'm certain something can be done. I'll bet if we reorganize our resources we can figure it out."
"Yes but with Little Enki, things could become more complicated. This is the real world." He said. "It will take some time to reorder things." He said "And more effort then some of the teachers are willing to contribute on a reduced salary." He said. He said. "I could be over reacting. But some people have been threatening to quit if we lower their salaries any further." He said. He shouldn't be confiding such information to a young teacher barely there for under a decade, but Master Chance was a smart young man with ability, in a fashion, and a good feeling with the students. There were few people at this school who could say they were there for more then a paycheck.
"What do you think of it Master Chance?"
"I think if you talk to Hamlin he will help," he said. He might have offered to talk to Hamlin himself, but with the complications of that relationship he didn't think he'd be able to keep a level head while talking to him. Their last conversation hadn't gone over so well. "His grandfather set up the school after all. I imagine he could speak with the governors; he's always had a good relationship with them."
"That is someone I haven't talked to in years." He mused "A reunion of old troublemakers." He almost smirked. "They all can't be as upstanding as you Garage." Garage never seemed to get in trouble in those days. A quiet boy. Unlike Hamlin who always struck him as an intelligent strange and befuddling personality. He always got the strange impression that at any moment he was hiding something. But he was good hearted, just mysterious. "If you think that he should be a part of this. The Governors are all becoming harder and harder for me to deal with these days."
"It's not a bad idea to have him involved." Garage smiled briefly before he remembered why he wasn't really talking to Hamlin at the moment. "He has a special way of getting things that he needs." He shrugged. "I think the governors might just be wary because of how things are changing," Garage said as a way to get off the topic of Hamlin. "You know, with a new, young king. There's change in the air."
"So they wish to take it out on people who have no power." He said "Innocent children." He tsked. The familiar in his arms growled sympathetically. "Shhhh." He hushed the beast. Giving him a pet. "Quiet down Ikra." He was very weak and strained, like he was pulled far too tight.
"I wouldn't say that our students have no power," Garage said lightly. He wouldn't say that they were innocent either, but he kept that thought to himself. He offered a smile to Kanaan. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it cannot be easily resolved there are people who will help."
He nodded. "It is good to know. This school is the most important thing in my life, Master Chance. I've dedicated my life to making sure every student has the best education we can provide him. It makes me angry when something comes along to change that." He said. He shook his head. Ikra nuzzled his master.
Garage nodded at that. "Perhaps we should have a meeting with all of the faculty and staff," he suggested. "Once you have a better idea what the governors want to do."
"That is a good idea. I have a theory that things will be changing at the academy very soon." He said.
Garage was intrigued by this idea, not knowing what Kanaan meant. "Perhaps that would be something to bring up at the faculty meeting," he said. He didn't want to ask, but he didn't want to bait Kanaan into telling him anything either. He figured he'd find out eventually.
"I think change is in the air. Since King Chai has been appointed things have been too quiet, for such a radical change. There have been no laws past. I have a nagging suspicion something is brewing for us in the future." He almost worried his lip. He was always a restless worried unsatisfied person. But it left him prepared to excel under extreme circumstances.
"I wouldn't be terribly concerned," Garage offered. "I think everything will sort itself out." He quirked a little smile. "I should probably get going," he said after shifting his feet and glancing at the time piece Samra had given him for his last birthday. "I have a class shortly."
"Very well young man get to class then." He said. "Come now Ikra. There won't be time for a snack." Ikra looked absolutely crest fallen and was tempted to stay behind and not go with Kanaan. Looking up at Garage, But seeing how upset the human was he started to follow him. "I will see you soon Master Chance." The little familiar walked behind his master. "Bye Chance." The animal called out.