Bardic Orientation, 3/9 - Extended (Class Five)

[Deryni]

Marek was staring blindly at the ceiling above him, trying to get his mind functioning properly before the students showed up. This is going to hurt. His head was killing him. If someone handed him a cup of poison right now, he imagined he'd down that liquid death with a smile. Good gods... oh good gods... what the hell did Leanne put in that drink? The blond could remember that some of the others had decided alcohol would make the losses they'd taken a few days ago easier. Granted, Bardic hadn't lost any of theirs, but losing Heralds - and that way - was still painful. And no one could dismiss that it was damaging them. Derrick in particular had been friends with the Bards and minstrels, thanks to his sister and his friendship with the Dean. And it's hard to decide what's worse, seeing the Dean not able to really smile, or the way none of us are sure if Valla's going to ever be alright again.

So, they'd started drinking. Marek didn't really drink to help with grief, but it was easier than dealing with the others in the room. Then someone had decided drinking would make the first day of classes more forgettable, and the second day easier to forget. If I ever remember who came up with that, I'm going to kill them with their favourite instrument. Leanne, for providing whatever the hell had knocked him for a loop, was already going to die, the damned minstrel.

Now, now the Bard had to teach the first year Bardics, who, if they were at all sensitive to the mood (which most Bardics were), were going to be on edge because even if they didn't know what had happened, they knew something was wrong. "An' I gotta teach..." Because he was orientation teacher. And he wasn't going to give Tirah something else to worry about. Maybe the kids won't show, and I can nurse this hangover in private.


((Tags: Steph: Mouse, Vallesai; Deryni: Canna; Evi: Giri, Rendah (Arrival: 3/10); Ethi: Alan (Arrival: 3/28)))

[Stephamarie]

Mouse was humming to himself as he walked through the halls, he didn't have any books with him or even the stupid uncomfortable uniform that would have looked more appropriate on Smelt or Renel. Mouse was certainly neither the firetamer nor the perfumer and didn't wish to dress similarly to either not that Esteri would ever make any set of clothing that looked so boring and uninspired. Instead he was wearing assorted shades of his own colors.

A half jacket of soft leather that was left loose and open was mostly dark gray with tan accents, the light tan shirt beneath that, was dropped long, to mid-thigh on the right and down to his lower thigh on the left and it was brought tight around the waist by a dark gray leather belt and a thin patchwork sash of both his colors at various shades. His pants were a light gray, cut comfortably loose, and had a sash similar to the one at his waist but smaller tied about one leg half way down just above the knee. Beneath his outer clothing he was actually wearing one of his skintight performance suits as he had figured out that wearing it beneath his other clothing actually helped with the cold.

Strapped at his right thigh, the one without the sash, was a small combat knife that could be reached through the pocket that wasn't a pocket but actually a hole, though the other pocket was a pocket and in those pockets he had his hands casually tucked. From his belt there was a pouch and his flute in its case and hidden in a band on the inside of a sleeve of his jacket were his darts. Fucking stupid place with the fucking stupid weather and bizarre fucking priorities.

Despite his less than cheerful thoughts his demeanor actually seemed pleased, confident, and ambling. Quite as if he didn't have a care at all, despite that being quite far from the truth. It was like this that he strolled into the classroom still humming quietly. So, this class is supposed to tell me what it is to be a Bard and all that - too bad I'm not going to be one.

Entering he smirked at the teacher but gave a nod of respect that may or may not have made the half smile seem less pointed. He only hoped he wasn't asked to talk a lot - he really hated languages... Making him think hard to say things he already knew how to say in his own tongue was just annoying. Huh, I'm the first one here... Looking over the empty chairs he frowned for a moment then took a seat in the front but not right in front of the teacher as that would have made him feel creepy. A few seats from the right end of the horseshoe of chairs.

[Deryni]

That was someone coming in the classroom. Dammit. Well, time to pull himself together and act like an adult teacher. As he took in the unusually dressed Rust, Marek's lips curved up in a grin that was weaker than usual, but still friendly. "Mornin'." The Bard shoved aside the way his head felt like it was three times the size it should be, and inspected the boy. "Mouse, yes? Master Bard Marek. How was day first?" The man paused, then made a face. "First day?"

As he was speaking, there was a slight thump at the door, and the man looked up to see who it was. Immediately he got up, despite the way his expression proclaimed that he hadn't enjoyed the sudden movement, and went to the woman in the trainee uniform. "G'mornin' Canna. I hate you fer bein' sober." He lightly slipped his arm under one of her hands, and helped her through the door, taking her to a seat. "One of yer classmates is here ahready, Mouse. He's from th'Blackmoon Caravan."

"Mouse, this Canna. Waiting now for Giri and Vallesai." His stomach rebelled as he turned his head, and the sandy-haired Bard hid a wince.

"Head hurting, hmmm...?" The red-headed woman's voice was amused as she settled down. She knew exactly what had happened last night, having been in the Bardic lounge for a chunk of the time. "Nice to meet you, Mouse."

[Stephamarie]

Mouse was about to speak on his first day, truly delightful and amazing...yeah, right. He'd made it through half the day though before he got a comment on his note uniform. Whatever, he'd been expecting extra chores anyway. Before he could form any of those thoughts into words though there was another at the door and the Bard got up and helped the woman to a seat. He'd seen her in a few of his other classes, enough to realized that she was blind. When the woman greeted him he smiled out of habit but otherwise stuck with words. "Nice to meet, Canna. In a..." He had to paused and sigh as he thought of his words. "In a few other classes, I think."


Vai was making her way through the halls in an exuberant manner though she was tending to run late for a number of her classes just from getting distracted by various things. The classes with her twin weren't as bad as she missed him and so was eager to get to those classes more so than the others. Still there were so many interesting things around this place that even having looked around before she couldn't help but have things catch her interest.

When she got to the door she walked in with a bright smile beaming at her lips and she waved cheerfully at the instructor before looking at the horseshoe shaped lines of desks. Walking to the first row as that she sat a few down from the end by the door. She was dressed in her uniform and had her hair loose about her shoulders. In her arms she was hugging the notebooks they were given wrapped in the book belt that had supplies in a pouch attached to it. With the books was also the slate that she was making use of in the classes without her twin.

[Deryni]

Canna listened to the voice, then smiled. "Aye. Law and government, and history. You don't wear your uniform, either, unless one set of chores has made you do so?" She ran her fingers along the panpipes she'd carried in with her - the only thing, in fact, that she was carrying. "An the Blackmoon Caravan. Now that was a fine show all of ye put on, an a good day out." At the sound of footsteps, the red-head looked over in that direction, an eyebrow going up at the lack of greeting. Oh wait- It's probably Vallesai.

***

My, what a class. A blind woman and a mute girl. It really only could get more interesting if the rebellious teen here was deaf. "Mornin' Vai. Vallesai, th'boy is Mouse, th'woman is Canna, who y'should know fer her cookies. Mouse, is girl Vallesai, or Vai. Sweet, no talk. Twin to pain in the ass Tobias, Tobi." The fact that Marek had no problem at all with the words 'pain in the ass' despite his unfortunate tendency towards choppy, inaccurate words in Trade, was likely a result of common usage.

"Canna, y'know Vai?" At the nod, he settled down again. "One left." Just as he started to stare at the ceiling again to try and ignore the pain in his head, the last girl came in. "An' mornin' Giri. Giri. Shy one. Giri, th'boy is Mouse, th'woman is Canna, an' th'girl is Vallesai. Welcome, one an' all." Oh gods my head hurts. "Get comfy, Ah'm not startin' 'till th'bells ring." Because I don't want to make whimpering sounds in the middle of my introduction speech.

"Morning Master Bard!" That exuberant voice was pitched just right to make Marek want to curl up in a ball. I hate that girl some days.

***

Reena strolled in and settled in a chair next to Marek. "I'm here to translate, and it means I'm going to miss a class with my new teacher. But we all took pity on Mouse - I've heard your Trade. Morning Mouse. How badly has he butchered both languages so far?"

"Ah know what ya said, Reena."

"So you do." The older Rust grinned shamelessly at the hungover Orientation teacher. "Think of me as your happy little helper for the day. Guessing you're stuck with the chores from yesterday? Should be easier today - all Bardic classes, and we're mostly easy-going compared to the Unaffiliated teachers."

[Stephamarie]

Mouse made no effort at hiding the pride that coated his casual expression with the compliment of his family. Of course they put on a fine show, they're the Blackmoon caravan. Not that he said as much aloud - this time. When the other Rust walked in and the teacher spoke in Trade he blinked for a moment before putting the correct inflection to the statement said. For a moment, all he caught was "Mouse is girl" and he was rather confused. After a moment he gave the girl a grin and a small wave as he slouched in his chair. Wow, she sure looks happy - like happier-than-most-should-be happy - like Sharys happy. He looked down at that thought with a smirk that then faded as he ground his teeth slightly - at least she's gotten closer to that again lately.

Vallesai smiled and waved cheerfully at all those introduced, even Canna, as she hadn't really noticed the woman couldn't see and likely would continue her usual greeting when she saw the fellow Rust after she did. Her smile widened even more at the mention of cookies.

A familiar voice made Aren's amused smirk settle firmly back in place and he nodded just slightly at his mentor entering the room. "Nah, worst was I thought he called me a girl but so far its been better than my Valdemaran." He gave a short chuckle at that. "Yeah, I don't mind chores. Think they'll get more interesting tomorrow when I show up smiling again?" It was a rather rhetorical question and he sounded obviously quite amused. Yeah, maybe if they fill my time with chores I can forget I'm here. His bitter thoughts weren't wholly felt but still carried some weight. Maybe I'll try to like it once it's warmer.

Vai grinned and waved at Reena as she entered then listened to her and the boy talk even though she didn't know what they were saying. She seemed really happy.

[Deryni]

"That's all? He must have been practicing." Reena crossed her ankle over her knee, foot idly moving to some beat that no one else heard. "Nah. Most chores are pretty standard unless you do something really bad." Or annoy the Mage Dean or Weaponsmistress, but I'm not going to give you that invitation, just in case. "How are you doing, Vai? Jaime hasn't scared you off yet? That girl unbalanced me, and I'm not easily unbalanced..." Reena giggled. "Of course, she unbalances Shawn more when she decides to use him as a form of transportation... Just asking Vai about her mentor, a girl I mentored once. Jaime's fun, although she's got too much creativity and energy to be healthy." Another laugh slipped past Reena's lips. Oh dear. I hope Vai hasn't encountered the girl when she's writing music...

***

"Ahright, so... Stop laughin', Reena." Marek couldn't glare at Vai for being so happy this morning, but he could tell Reena to stop being so amused by everything. "So, we're goin' ta be havin' some fun. Y'see, Vai, miss Canna over there, she don't see. An' you don't talk as folk but yer brother hear." Marek blew out a breath, getting some of his hair out of his face before realizing he was going to need to put more effort into it. Right about now... He waited a couple moments, knowing the bells were going to ring from the experience of years of living there. There we go. When they finished their clamour, he smiled warmly. Won't be repeating this experiment with drinking again.

"Sa, one who doesn't talk much Valdemaren, one who needs to write on th'slate, an' one who needs ta hear everythin'. See? Fun. Mouse, try t'talk Valdemaren, since Reena can't be skippin' all her specialization classes." Marek raised an eyebrow at the slightly abashed expression on the older Rust's face, then continued on. "Fer Canna's sake, Ah'll repeat anythin' ya write, Vai."

The man chuckled. "Sa, ya'll are from much different places. Vai an' Canna, ya ought ta know some of what a Bard does. We've no minstrels this run, ya all have Bardic Gift, as well as Talent or Creativity. We'll get ta that in a bit. What do the three of you think Bards do? Aside from play pretty songs, that is. An' not all of us are good at that, either."

[Stephamarie]

Mouse's smirk remained through Reena's talking a brow rose in amusment as he rubbed his chin with one hand. So, he was likely to have the same chores - these people just weren't creative at all were they?

Vai giggled and nodded at the other girl's talking of her mentor - she really liked Jaime she was a lot of fun. When the teacer began speaking her head tilted slightly with interest. Not see? Ah, that made sense now.

With the Bard's request Mouse sighed though his expression remained amused. He was getting the general sense that this man was suffering a hangover, if his many times witnessing family members in such a condition were anything by which to judge. "Yes, alright." He responded after his sigh - he honestly wouldn't mind his mentor skipping classes to sit in front of any of his, what a shame.

With the instructor's question Vai's brows furrowed as she thought it over. Mouse crossed his arms not sure if he should make some guesses or just listen being that he didn't rightly know.

[Deryni]

"Information." Canna's lips turned up as one hand idly toyed with her braid. "A Bard or minstrel passing through a village gets asked for as much in the way of news as in songs. A gleeman isn't dependable, but those two, especially Bards - they know what's going on in the country. Bards, they collect information, it's like coin to them."

Marek rested two fingers against one temple, rubbing gently, but nodded at her answer. "It's true. It isn't jus' songs that we keep stored in our memories - it's knowledge. A Bard is quite welcome in th' far reaches of th' country where news is hard ta get, much like where y'lived, heyla Canna?" The man sighed a bit, then looked over to Vai and Mouse. "Vai, what do you remember 'bout Bards any time you saw them? Mouse, feel free ta make some guesses 'bout what you think we do."

Reena had to close her eyes as she translated, trying to remember everything said as she worked through the words. At the end, she grinned. "Yes, what do you think we do?" In many ways, the Rust was curious as to what the teen she was mentoring would think - she'd heard other OutKingdom views on Valdemaren Bards before, and they always made for interesting listening.