A homework assignment for a professor - OTA

[aquawayfinder]

Who: Aqua and anyone who wanders into the open lounge
What: Aqua has been tasked to watch Romcoms. Thank you, Emma Frost.
Where: An open public lounge, since she has no clue how to work the DVD player on her computer.
When: Backdated - Middle of the day, April 7th
Warnings: Will add if needed.


Having been assigned by Emma to watch romantic comedies in order to potentially understand the point in having a date when she chaparones prom, Aqua has done what she has always done when facing a task at this school. She went to the library and took out research material.

Armed with every Romcom the school library had in stock, and wondering why the librarian had looked quite so amused, she found a lounge that no one was using and put in the first DVD. She turned on the player, and sat down to watch.

This... lasted a whole minute before she was up and pacing. She really didn't like sitting still. But... she reminded herself, this was a task, a challenge set before her. A skill to learn and master.

So she sat back down and worked on mastery as she watched, focusing both on the movie and the restraint to stay sitting.

Anyone want to come laugh at the confused look on her face?

Comments

[koukai_kirai]

He gives the screen one last, lingering look of confusion, then shakes his head.

"...Looking for a book. You haven't seen one in here, have you?"

[aquawayfinder]

She dug around under the movies and picked up a few novels that had somehow been handed off to her along with them, all the same sort as the movies, then found the book she was using to make notes, and the book on philosophy she brought that she would rather be reading.

"Any specific book?" she asked. "There were also a few on the end table over there, when I came in. Can I help you search?"

She tried not to sound too eager, but she was about ready to rip her own hair out rather than watch any more of these movies. They made no sense. Only her Mastery had kept her in her seat, enduring the... torture.

[koukai_kirai]

"If you'd like." She sounded almost desperately eager for the escape of being allowed to help, in that moment. It seemed somehow cruel not to let her have it.

"It's about this big. Green cover. Written in Japanese -- it's a poetry collection from the 18th century, if you can read Japanese. I'm not sure if it's in this room, or somewhere else around here."

[aquawayfinder]

"A little," she said. She started walking around, to help him look. "Tales of Ise?" she guessed. She wasn't sure of the century on that, but it was one of the few tomes of poetry she could name off the top of her head, and she was pretty sure that one had been Japanese, hadn't it?

[koukai_kirai]

"That was written earlier. Heian Era -- around the late 9th century, in all likelihood."

His tone isn't as critical as it might otherwise be, just because most people don't know enough about Japanese poetry to venture much of a guess.

"It's an anthology. '十八世紀の詞宗.'" Master Poets of the 18th Century.

[aquawayfinder]

"I have never read that one, maybe once you find it, after you finish with it, if you would be so kind, perhaps you could loan it to me."

She stopped in her search, considered, then asked, "That... was too many words for a single sentence in English, was it not?"

Was it possible those movies were killing brain cells?

[koukai_kirai]

He glanced up at her, setting down the couch cushion he'd been looking under.

"十八 is 18. 世紀 is century or era. 詞宗 isn't in everyday use, but it's used to refer to great poets. I can write the kanji for you, if it helps."

A slight pause, and then: "You can borrow it if you're careful with it. It's from my personal collection."

[aquawayfinder]

"It might, thank you. And I would appreciate it. I am careful with all books in my care, mine or otherwise."

[koukai_kirai]

He casts a long, pointed glance at the romance novels on the table.

"Those, too?"

After their talk about poetry, frankly, they seem even more out of place.

[aquawayfinder]

"They are library books, and yes, those too. The Librarian thought that they would aid in my assignment. I am not certain that I will have time before the dance, however, to make it through all of this."

Not that she is terribly upset by limiting it. However, she was trying to treat the assignment fairly. She would still be happier when it was over, however.

[koukai_kirai]

"Your 'assignment?'"

Somehow, the whole situation made even less sense with that explanation. She was a teacher, after all, and for all that Xavier could throw you for a loop, he couldn't quite see the man demanding that of his employees.

"Dare I ask?"

[aquawayfinder]

"Miss Frost wanted me to understand her point about why I should take a date to the prom. As of now... I have not yet uncovered her reasoning. She assigned me these movies to understand her."

[koukai_kirai]

Ah. That explained a lot.

"I'd recommend taking that sort of advice from Emma as... a suggestion."

[aquawayfinder]

"This is an area where she is the more knowledgeable, so should I not try to learn from her wisdom?"

[koukai_kirai]

Hijikata gave a shrug of his massive shoulders.

"A good idea in principle."

In practice, though... "...How many of those have you watched already?"

[aquawayfinder]

"Two and a half," she said, trying not to sigh too heavily. She really was not looking forward to watching the rest of them.

[koukai_kirai]

Somehow, he almost pitied her. She sounded like an exhausted, entrenched soldier with no way out.

"...And what have you learned from them so far?"

[aquawayfinder]

She had been taught the value of honesty, and to value honesty. It was a treasure to be shared, not horded. But somehow 'that I hate these movies', while perfectly honest, seemed counterproductive.

She tried to give the question some more serious thought. "The person you meet in any random given day is the person you should be with, over the person you have promised to marry, but it will all work out despite the fact that you are breaking a vow you should not have made if your feelings were so easily broken," she said finally.

[koukai_kirai]

"Probably not quite what she was hoping for you to take away from it."

Though, Hell, what did he know about terrible love stories?

[aquawayfinder]

"I had a feeling that might be the case," she said dryly.

[koukai_kirai]

"Even in the name of cultural immersion... Seems a bit cruel and unusual to make you watch all of them." Not to mention unproductive.

[aquawayfinder]

"I rather doubt I have time enough before prom to watch all of them..." Thank the keyblade. "Especially if I keep standing here talking," she said, a bit wistfully.

[koukai_kirai]

That managed to get a slight smile out of him. It was a handsome enough smile, but there was always something a bit dangerous-looking about it.

"So you're using me to play hooky?"

[aquawayfinder]

"If I officially acknowledge it, I'm obligated to return to work, am I not?" she asked a bit wryly. She sighed and looked back to the pile of things she still had yet to watch.

"Would you want to watch with me?" she asked softly, a bit hopefully.

[koukai_kirai]

"Honestly," he answered, casting a glance at the pile of DVD cases, "I think that might be above and beyond the call of duty."

They did say never to leave a man behind, but surely there had to be some exceptions for mitigating circumstances.