Logs:Grounds for Firing
| Grounds for Firing | |
|---|---|
| Dramatis Personae | |
| In Absentia | 2024-12-11 I will face Scott Summers and walk backwards into Hades |
| Location
<XAV> Back Patio - Xs Grounds | |
This patio is expertly laid out for relaxing singly or in groups. The section nearest the back door is a more or less conventional veranda, the mansion's eaves--supported by elegant white wooden columns joined with matching railings--extending out to shelter the long porch swings, rocking chairs, and a chess table from the elements. Down the stairs or the ramp from this is a fan-shaped expanse of slate flagstones populated by clusters of deck chairs and picnic tables, always changing in number and arrangement, and stone planter boxes bursting with seasonal flowers and ornamentals. The centerpiece is an elegant pavilion with a hot tub open for use year-round, even if the transition in and out may prove chilly in snowy weather. The beautiful sunny day out side is a trap, it turns out -- what looks bright and cheery through a window turns out to be sharply, bitterly cold outside. Nevertheless, Sriyani is doubling down on their decision to eat breakfast outside in the not-particularly-pleasant sunshine. They're snugly dressed, at least, softly fleece-lined overalls over several layers of shirt, plaid fleece lined flannel over top of it all. Knit beanie on their head (red with an embroidered black flag). They're at a chess table, but not playing any chess; their side of the board is taken up with a plate of heavily syrup'd and whipped-cream'd and berry-compote'd waffles and a thermos of something hot. They're plugging away at the waffles with one hand, their other occupied with texting -- maybe they should be doing that part inside, their thumb is kind of fumbling at the swipe as it gets colder. There are, for the record, several patio heaters at various points around the seating area, but has Sriyani turned one on? No. Evidently, just like Going Back Inside, that would be giving in. There's a swoosh from above, a rustleflap of feathers, and then one large bird~~man~~ is landing on the empty side of the chess table opposite Sriyani. Horus has his tablet strapped to his chin and a black faluche (decorated with several colorful pins) on his head -- already sitting a little lopsided and tipping even moreso when he tilts his head waaay to the side to peer at Sriyani. Or maybe just at Sriyani's breakfast, because when they look away back to their phone he is darting his head in quicklike, snatching a stray piece of waffle from the plate and looking just about as pleased as any seagull with himself. Abigail is wandering in from further out on the grounds, using the patio to head back in. She's decked out in a red puffy winter jacket with a candy cane striped stocking cap, complete with a puff ball on top. She's also wearing jeans and hiking boots. More importantly, she's carrying a camera in her half mitten gloves, her frozen fingertips keeping the camera from slipping out of her grip. She sees Horus land next to Sriyana and changes direction. She lifts one hand to wave at them, speaking before she's polite conversation range. "Mr. Horus! I wanted to ask you a question about the assignment!" "Wooah hey that's --" Sriyani is complaining reflexively, jerking startled-upright. Their phone, fumbled, falls to the flagstones. A moment later they're reconsidering very awkwardly: "Oh, um, sorry, Mr. Horus, I --" Their nose scrunches kiiind of uncertainly, and they're hesitantly offering: "... there's still a lot of food? In the dining hall? If you're, um..." They look very relieved for Abigail's interruption, and take the opportunity to not-so-surreptitiously pull their plate closer. "Oh wow you're very dedicated." Horus is dipping his head to rub his beak on the edge of the table. He clacks it several times before unlatching his tablet so that he can swipe out a message, read out in the deep sonorous voice of his AAC: No. No no no no no no questions! No more questions ever ever ever Horus is fired. Ask new new new teacher this bird free to do anything now no more teaching only freedom. "Dedicated, or still used to a time zone three hours different from this one." Abigail answers cheerfully, though there's a wide eyed tired expression on her face that may belie any true morning pep. She's about to turn back to Horus to question him when the tablet produces words. "Fired? Should we..." Abigail pauses and listens until Horus is finished. "Freedom? Were you forced to be a teacher? Or is teaching that bad?" "Wait, what?" Sriyani forgets all about guarding their food, dipping downward so that they can pick their phone up in order to immediately fire off more texts. Do they have any of the story here, no, but they're sending it anyway even while asking (indignantly!): "How could they fire you this is discrimination. What did you even do, they let the bog teachers get away with anything, I'm going to start a petition..." Though around here their outrage is losing some amount of steam, mostly in the face of a curious: "... wait, are you happy about it." Horus nabs another bite of Sriyani's waffle while they are down plucking up their phone. He's bobbing lightly in place, a quick and peppy sway that interferes only a little bit with the reply he is tapping into his tablet: Yes yes yes discrimination discrimination poor bird you should protest. He is continuing his bobbing happily to himself for a moment before remembering to continue: No not happy no more paycheck poor poor Horus. But but but more time more freedom less rules maybe maybe less rules what rules do you have for studenting. "Oh... yes, protest? okay, but what do you mean about rules for studenting? Are you going from teacher to student??" Abigail is quite confused, but she clips the camera she's carrying to a strap around her neck and lets it hang, pulling the mitten part over her fingers as standing outside is definitely seeping into her finger bones. "Hey --" It's a little more halfhearted this time, Sriyani far too taken with this news to continue defending their breakfast. "I'll get people together we can make some noise about this -- what did they even fire you for? Everyone loves your class." They start to cut another piece of waffle off, and continue with their mouth full as they chew it. "-- ee 'af lof of ools --" Then, swallowing, "-- not that everyone, like, follows them or anything, but." Shrug. Love love love everyone love. Good very good teacher of pictures. Horus is rustling his feathers out into a thicker poof. Make noise pure discrimination poor discrimination. Age age agism. Professor Ancient Billionaire can teach the ethics but no no no pictures for birds. When is the protest. "Ageism? For real? How old are you? I mean, I guess i'm not supposed to ask that, but I'm just very confused about all of this." Abigail looks to Sriyani. "I guess we can have the protest... as soon as everyone knows." "... ageism?" Sriyani is pausing their furious texting. "I mean, any billionaire teaching ethics is kinda sus but --" They forcibly reroute their thoughts back to the outrage at hand, squinting in some confusion at Horus. "You -- don't seem that old but I guess with birds it's hard to tell?" Horus squawks, bright -- his wings flare out, and he shifts position on the table to better display his fluffed up feathering. Hard hard hard to tell! What a distinguished what a distinctive what a venerable adulty bird but no not allowed to be adult. Born too late banned from adulthood. Rank rank rank discrimination. He pulls his wings back in, exhaling a small sharp puff. Have to do school first they are putting me in with all you. Worthington Wing. Still need to pick classes. "OH mist err Horus! You're going to be our classmate! That's the best news!" Abigail opens her arms wide and almost gives in to the impulse to cuddle the bird guy, but halts. "Oh. Sorry. Uh, please accept my intangible celebratory gesture! I am too excited." Her arms fall back to her sides slowly and she shuffles back a half step. "They'll give you a guide with all of the rules, but it's mostly show up to classes on time and don't disrupt them and don't use your powers on others without their permission. Or if it will hurt them. Maybe. Some powers uh .. just involve blood and stuff. So there's harm?" "Huh? Harm's graduated." Sriyani looks a little confused at what Abigail is saying, but doesn't sit with the confusion very long with this more exciting nonsense so close at hand. They're back to texting, quickly, their head shaking quick. "Are you serious how old are you? How did you get the teaching job in the first place if you aren't --" They look up from their phone sharply, brows creasing. "... They're sticking you in Hades? Did that trick really piss off the administration or what, they're putting you with the real..." They trail off here, shifting with a slight embarrassment and hastily amending: "I mean, I'm sure not you, your whole family seems really nice, I just mean, there's some pretty grody company over there. You should watch out." Horus skitters quickly back, talons clickclicking on the table with his abrupt haste to move out of hugging reach. His feathers have puffed back up big, and he's only settling when Abigail shuffles back. His head dips, carefully preening at his feathers. Don't know don't know. Don't even have powers power of bird power of flying. He shifts a little bit, side to side, eying both of the others. Always watching always always watching. Good good good eyes. I will face Scott Summers and walk backwards into Hades. And with that he's spreading his wings wide, fluttering off -- not backwards, not walking, just circling the patio once and then taking off into the distance. "No, no, I'm in Hades, cuz I got the grody." Abigail nods solemnly, ask if this is just the way things are and everything is best this way. "My family is super nice. I'm the black sheep... Or the red sheep, so it makes sense that I'm there. Plus, you know, we gotta split up the Allreds, otherwise the forces of nature or society or something will align and Things will happen." She gives a little wave to Horus, then turns to Sriyani, "Your waffles look good. I'm going to get some myself. Inside. Where they are hot." "Oh gosh I did not mean you," Sriyani is quick to assure, but they're still looking very embarrassed about this flub. Maybe it's a relief that Abigail is going -- their cheeks have gotten just a little darker with their blush, and they lift their chin in farewell before turning back to some rapid texting. | |
