| A Dolphin Wants to Attend Cherryton?! | ||
|---|---|---|
"Well, this is it. No need to worry about how your Sea Speak lessons are coming along. You wouldn't be starting today or anything," says the buck as he peers over at her. "Are you ready? We're fashionably late. Our appointment was to begin five minutes ago." Louis is really dressed up. His fur is groomed and he looks like he's ready for some serious press, just like the CEO of the richest company in the country would usually dress while on a business excursion. There are no press visibly present were one to look outside, however. "Still, this is one hell of a bomb we're about to drop on the most prestigious Academy in the nation. I think the Headmaster will overlook it." Nina tries to stay calm as she looks out the window as they approach Cherryton, but it's not hard to see that she is both nervous and excited as the grounds and building itself come into view. She stares in awe for a long few moments before Louis' voice brings her back to reality and she notices the students checking out the car, and takes a deep breath. "Ready as I'll ever be I think, just making a big step towards the future of my life here, no biggie..." She says with a smile and a nervous laugh. She has dressed up some too, gone and purchased a more formal looking pleated turquoise dress along with a protective sock of sorts to go over her flippers as she walks around on land. She closes her eyes a moment and takes a deep breath, then looks back to Louis again and nods. "This is something you want. Something you have decided. Not me. It's up to you to take it when the opportunity presents itself. I'm going to help, of course. I may have a bit of sway," Louis comments with a faint smugness present. This is a deer that doesn't believe in holding back when it comes to tackling a problem and he does so with socially strategic force. He's hiding something. The car pulls to a stop. The Carnivore and Herbivore dormitories each sit on either side of the grounds while the main schooling buildings sit in the middle and reach up into an iconic skyline that can be seen from other parts of Denko. Looking the other direction, one can see far over the build of the downtown area and the sprawling sea beyond. The view may not be the reason that the school is so upstanding and expensive to attend, but it sure as hell is one of the perks. This is where Louis went to school, that much Nina knows from their talks, but the deer was never really forthcoming with other details regarding his...social popularity. When the driver, Hino, steps out and walks around to open up Louis' door and the buck steps out and into view of the curious animals watching, it only takes one in a group to notice who it is and call out, "Oh, OH! That's Louis!" There's an immediate stir even as Louis steps aside and waits for Hino to offer a hand to Nina, as may be needed. There may not be press, but there WILL be gossip. Nina is arriving with the most sought after deer in the nation's modern media. This is already a great start. "Of course, I really do appreciate your help Louis, as I don't think any of this would be happening without you, but you're right, I do want this." It wouldn't be just like being back home, but it would be a big step toward returning to a more normal life for a young girl like herself, even if needing to stay in her beast form nearly all the time will take some getting used to. Nina reaches out towards Hino and takes his hand, the end of her flippers still having opposable thumbs, working kind of like hands in mittens. She grips his hand as she pulls while she stands and gets out. Many eyes are likely on Louis due to his reputation, but as she gets glances of her own she smiles and waves, wanting to make a good first impression as these students might soon be her classmates. The reaction that Louis gets is not the same reaction that Nina gets. Whereas Louis is a celebrity, Nina is representative of curiosity and wonder. There's a mix of quiet murmurs, ecstatic waving, and modest greeting. There aren't exactly a ton of students present to get the best sampling, but the introduction of a Sea Animal at Cherryton with Louis is a magical combination that will have the children and young adults talking. Hino closes the door behind the pair, leans in to whisper something to Louis of which the deer nods in reply, before returning to the driver's seat so that he can pull away to the nearby parking lot. Nina and Louis are left to enter the building together to head to the Headmaster's office. It's not very far to go. Even if they are late, there's no hurry. The deer adjusts a coat sleeve with a confident stride, but not one that would outpace the potential student at his side. "Cherryton has quite a rich history and I'm sure some of the students would be happy to tell you all about it later. I'd otherwise offer more of a tour, but I'd rather you the chance to talk out any jitters you might have. I imagine this is all really quite intimidating?" Nina did go to a public school back home, her dad probably would have sent her to a private one if it was an option on the island but unfortunately, there wasn't enough demand for that in Anima City. Thus the idea of going to such a prestigious school was indeed a bit intimidating. She feels a little embarrassed as some of the students stare at her for being a sea creature, but she also feels a bit of pride in potentially being the first to attend. She follows Louis while adjusting and smoothing down her dress as they go, wanting to look her best when she meets the headmaster. She nods at the question from Louis. "Yeah, this place is amazing, certainly a lot nicer than the school I went to back home... The idea that I'm going to be the first sea animal here also makes me a mix of proud and nervous. I know I'm not a native sea animal, but I still feel like I'm representing them, and I don't want to mess this up." "No animal here will ever ask you to be anybody but yourself. Especially the Headmaster. As I've said before, the old tiger and I have history. I know what he's interested in." While Nina may take the time to reciprocate any looks or greetings from the students that happen by, Louis seems to pretend that nobody is there. Somehow his ignoring the demands for his attention only makes the girls go crazier. It doesn't matter that he's married. He's a celebrity. Depending on the path taken, Nina might be a bit of one herself. Many would find that thought to be a little mortifying. Soon enough, the Headmaster's office door looms. A touch of knuckles against the glass is enough to elicit a response. "Come on in." Louis opens the door, but he allows Nina to go first. The office is cozy and not as large as one might imagine it to be. A number of bookshelves line two walls while a media center seems established on the third. A desk holds an ordered amount of office clutter, stationery, a computer, and utensils. A nameplate at the front states that the tiger sitting in the chair at the desk is named Headmaster Gon. That lines up with what Louis has mentioned before. The tiger stands. He looks old. Probably not as old as he looks, but it's one heck of a job he has as Headmaster of Cherryton and Spokestiger at the All-Organism Council. Nina wouldn't know about that latter fact, however. "Glad you could make it, Louis. And you- You must be..." Nina nods as Louis more or less tells her to relax and be herself. She takes another deep breath to calm her nerves as they make their way towards the headmaster's office. "Of course, just be myself..." She says as Louis knocks on the door and a moment later opens it for her to enter first. She makes her way into the office and her gaze dances across the desk before rising to meet the tiger's gaze as he looks toward her and she greets him with a smile and a respectful bow. "Good afternoon. I'm Nina, Nina Flip, honored to be here." "Of course. Honored to have you." Gon doesn't even look toward Louis as the deer enters last while closing the door. "Would you care to have a seat? Or are you fine as you are?" The chairs are a few different sizes, probably so that's it's easier for certain animals of differing sizes to comfortably have a place without dragging out something from another room. In addition to the three choices before the desk, Nina might also notice that there are two far smaller chairs sitting on the desk itself. Some of the animals can be really small! Gon seems to be using this to learn more about the dolphin. "I've been made aware that you have an interest in enrollment here at Cherryton, but why don't you tell me a little about yourself first. If you don't mind." Louis approaches and parries the question with a greeting. "Glad you could have us during your busy day, Headmaster. Nina is youthful and fascinating, but it's a bit rude to not address one of your most successful alumni of late. A simple hello would do." It's a biting remark delivered with utter coldness wearing only a smug smile. Gon laughs and talks to Nina, "That's the Louis I know so well. You keep interesting company, Miss Nina Flip. I apologize for getting ahead of myself." Louis passes a glance to Nina as if to say 'you're welcome'. After all, Nina's past isn't very Sea Animal-like. She doesn't have to say anything she doesn't want. Nina may take a seat of her choosing. Louis takes a seat himself after unbuttoning his dress jacket. Nina nods at the mention of her company. "Yes, we met at a cafe, well I think I met some of his uh... 'associates' first, but it was over some taiyaki as I recall. He's been helping me adjust to life in the city, and suggested that attending Cherryton would be a good step along that path. I admit I've always had a curious interest about 'land animals'." She bends the truth a bit by swapping out her curiosity of humans where she came from, for the animals of Denko. "Ah, yes. It's very rare to see any Sea Animals on land, but it's been notably more common here on the coast than in other cities." Or 'Districts'. The tiger leans forward after retaking his seat after allowing everyone else the chance. He clasps his hands together. She has his full attention. This is a tiger that has seen so many faces come and go. There's something about his eyes that his glasses might distract from for most, but he's a very perceptive guy. It's like a sense of just 'knowing' or 'understanding'. "And a recommendation from Louis isn't something to take lightly. Mmm. Sea Animals do hold jobs for some businesses, but it's a very gray area still. There's much about Sea Animal life and needs -- especially needs that don't arise until they spend time on land -- that we Land Animals don't fully understand." Louis pulls out his phone to check something while Gon talks with Nina. "Some of those needs might be really expensive...or even dangerous." The tiger closes his eyes and scrunches his face. This is something that's been weighing on him since he was made known of the meeting. "We would be irresponsible to take on a burden that we may not be able to financially meet were unexpected health situations to arise. Normally this would be offset by a student's parents paying tuition fees or providing medical insurance. Do you..." Gon looks a little unsure of how to say what he wants to ask. "Do you have family on land that are able to provide those things, at least as a bare minimum?" Nina nods once more as she takes a seat one a rather average sized chair, aware from her interactions with Louis and Tama that sea animals were a rare sight on land, relatively so even here, and it didn't take a genius to surmise that they would be less commonly seen holding jobs on land and that some would require some accommodations. The worry about dangers wasn't exactly lost on Nina, back home it wasn't the norm for beastmen to remain in their animal form for extended periods, many only shifted when angered, she was a rarity that often shifted when she was happy, but this would still be her first time remaining a dolphin indefinitely, and so is as unaware of what complications may arise as Gon is. The question of if she has parents to help cover tuition and insurance brings a frown to her face and she shakes her head, averting her gaze towards Gon's desk. "I... lost my parents." "Oh..." Gon's face softens before he, too, lowers his gaze. "I had heard that life in the ocean was difficult, although I suppose not all Seas can be comforted in the natural process of death that some claim. Mm. My condolences." There's a pause as the aging tiger respects the moment of silence before pressing on at his unchanging point. "That does complicate matters. We rely on tuition, fees, and donations in order to provide a high quality of life and atmosphere for learning. As thrilled as we would be to host such a culturally iconic event, I do fear that your needs and care might even be more expensive than that of most of our students." Louis speaks up without looking from his phone. ...still on his phone?! "Aren't there measures in place that can allow a drawing of funds from the government to cover these costs? I distinctly recall the Burbur & Bear Act that ordered a dividend of funds to be routed toward those of great cultural importance and I'd say that this qualifies pretty distinctly." Gon finally looks to the deer, but not without straightening his glasses. "That Act was specifically put into place regarding Carnivores and Herbivores. In fact, it's been the base funding for each Beastar of the past twenty years -- a position and opportunity that might have been an option available to you had you not turned it down." "Are we really going to do this here and now, Headmaster? Besides, such limitation on that Act outright eliminates any Hybrid from becoming Beastar. Now you're admitting that a Sea Animal is less than that?" "I am not. I don't make the laws, Louis. Burbur & Bear simply isn't going to be an option here." Louis says nothing else yet which leaves Gon in the awkward position of looking back to Nina apologetically. "I am sorry, but the simplest complications are often the most difficult to overcome. We don't have facilities or expenses to cover Sea Animal integration into Cherryton even were you to have somebody to pay your tuition for you. Beyond those expenses, I'm sure we could figure things out. As you no doubt eat a lot of fish, I would be inclined to lean toward the Carnivore dormitory. Normally we would sort species by family, so you would likely wind up in a room of your own until such a time as other Seas might follow your footst-" Awkward mistake in wording. "We don't serve fish here, though. We use naturally-provided alternates. Would that be a dietary concern? What are your preferred meals?" Louis stands up and slowly wanders the side of the room in thought...while looking at his phone. Nina looks hopeful as talk of this act of law is posed as a potential way around the cost of any special accommodations the school would have to make for her, but she doesn't know anything about this act and it seems it wouldn't apply for her, so that idea is struck down. She frowns as this brings Gon to apologize to her and talk about how they would not be able to cover the cost to integrate her into the school. However, just as she's thinking this means she's being outright denied a chance to attend, Gon goes on to talk about her diet and that she'd likely have her own dorm as there wouldn't be any other seas at the moment. Confusion shows in her eyes as she looks back at him, but she nods. "Uh yes, I do like fish, I love sushi for one... But I do eat other things too. I like pasta for one, ramen... stir-fried vegetables also..." She adds to try and add some food group variety. "Sushi...with fish? Peculiar. Well, we try to provide the highest quality of meals here at Cherryton as we're able. Some natural dairy products are sold containing animal proteins that some Carnivores require that are either offered by the daily chosen selection at the cafeteria or available for purchase by your own funds from the on-school commissary. Naturally, many students that have time to visit the city bring back their own food items for cooking in the dormitory kitchens." Headmaster Gon briefly looks over at Louis who seems to have stopped in front of the media center which includes a large television. Is the deer turning it on? He's still fiddling with his phone. The tiger does a double take at this before looking back to Nina. This is all very unorthodox. "What about your water requirements? How long are you able to go without being in it? We do have public showers available in the dorms, but some classes may not present enough time in-between if that's a constant need." Gon is clearly flustered. Curious, but flustered. And frustrated. He's trying to think of something that could help clear this whole thing up. Not because it's Louis. Not because there'd be prestige for a Sea Animal student. He simply wants to help a young inquisitive mind enter into the scholastic field to learn, but nearly every other school he can think of will have the exact same complications. He briefly removes his glasses to wipe his face with a handkerchief. Nina blinks as Gon seems surprised at the concept of sushi with fish. "Oh, it's really good, you should try it sometime!" She says with a smile, nodding at the further discussion of food. She follows his gaze to Louis for a moment before looking back at Gon as he asks about her water requirements. Truthfully she hasn't really tried staying in her dolphin form for the length of a school day, but she had heard her dad complaining about being itchy sometimes. "Well, I think as long as I drink plenty of water and get an occasional shower I should be okay... mostly. Maybe can supplement with a damp towel or a water bottle I can spritz myself with?" "That's certainly promising, but, again, the 'thinks' and 'maybes' worry me. That said, we don't have a swim team or pool here on campus, although there is a public pool open in the Summer a short drive away. Many students enjoy taking trips to the beach on days off when it's warm out." The tiger meshes his fingers together with a deep sigh. "All in all, Miss Nina Flip, we come back to the heart of the matter. However workable it seems to be and for as much as I enjoy providing opportunity for young minds to grow, to open doors for animals to blossom into who they are to live their best lives... Quite simply..." It's hard for the Headmaster to say the words. He's just as disappointed in himself as the situation. "...we need financial backing to support your educational career and-" "Quitter," says Louis in no way made to be hard to hear. Gon sits up straight and his hands, resting on the desk, ball up into shaking fists. When he speaks, though, it's not a loud voice at all. "What would you have me do, Louis? I can't pay out of pocket for one student. It would be unfair to all the rest. I have obligations and duties to-" Louis turns around and frowns. "That's enough excuses, Headmaster. This isn't about one student. Yes, she's important as an individual, but we are setting precedent for a change in society and no change that is worthwhile comes without sacrifice." "What then would you have me do? What would I have to give that wouldn't indebt me to the next or to the next? I can't maintain my position here to help students if I lose my job," Gon maintains throughout this mortifying embarrassment in front of a potential student. Louis is being very forward to the point of pushing beyond rude. "I refuse to make that kind of sacrifice." "I figured as much," says the deer. "While you were in your office trying to think of the kindest way to turn Nina down, while Nina was waiting on me to pick her up to bring her here with hopes she had a fair shot at this, MY sacrifices made us late getting here." Louis taps his phone and the television shows what's playing before turning to walk out of the way. It's a news broadcast. Featuring Louis. It's dated today. The following plays: (( http://charis.servegame.com/triwiki/index.php/2022-08-21_-_Oh_Deer,_A_Surprise_Announcement )) Nina was starting to get hopeful again, but then Gon finally, feeling out of options, goes back to speaking of the lack of financial support needed for her to attend the school, and her heart sinks. She looks to Louis as he and the headmaster speak, and she is surprised by how forward, even rude, he is. She hasn't really seen this side of him before, but she is happy he continues to be on her side in this. Then he flips on the television, and there it is, the financial backing needed to allow her to enroll at Cherryton, she need only apply apparently. After this emotional roller coaster, she erupts into tears as she moves to hug Louis. "Thank you..." She says to him quietly, but loud enough that Gon would still hear. Louis really isn't a hugger. He has a problem being touched, even. All the same, he manages to 'suffer' through it with a sense of pride, even if Nina doesn't get much in the way of reciprocation. Louis isn't cold, he's just really introverted about his feelings which can lend to inaction. "You're welcome. It's not just for you, but you had a part to play in its definition." Gon physically seems to reel at the news. "Wait. Wait wait wait. Louis, when the discussion of scholarships was pushed through and you said you'd endorse the notion of low-income children getting better education, you-" "Yes. Evaluations and testing for scholastic scoring still matters for eligibility for prestige schools like Cherryton, but they won't be turned away due to money as long as they can keep their grades above a certain level. Sea Animals are no exception, although testing them will be difficult. You can't compare the skin of an apple by the traits of an orange. But, Nina here, she's going to be the tip of the spear, so pull your chin up off the floor and pull an application form out of your desk already." "I, well, yes, of course we can, but...but thank you, Louis. I knew you really cared." The buck's eyes narrow. "And I didn't even need the Council's 'free money and power' to do it." For as much thanks and gratitude fills the room, Louis sure is treating Gon like some kind of enemy. He said they had history, but he never hinted that any of it was bad. Something happened. Nina suddenly realizes that she kind of forced herself on Louis with this hug and takes his lack of reaction as 'he's tolerating it'. She blushes a bit and backs away, taking her seat again. She considers the rest of the conversation thoughtfully, this meant that other kids that don't have money, like her, could have the same opportunity, but the comment about Seas is what really makes her think. She guesses she is a little unique since she's from a world where she went to a school with a curriculum likely not terribly unlike what is taught here, but a Sea animal born and raised in the sea, maybe would be quite different. She blinks and looks up, gaze wavering between the two as she picks up on the way Louis is continuing to treat Gon. "Did you two have some sort of fight you never really forgave each other about?" "No. Never mind. Just a bunch of old people promised that limitless power and money to the one that solved a very important mystery, only they reneged on the promise -- a very important promise -- when it no longer suited their perfect image." Louis explains enough. Gon just sits there looking conflicted over the situation, the news, and generally looks tired. "Are you ever going to let that go?" Louis simply shrugs and turns his phone off. The television goes dark, too. "Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not bitter. Quite the opposite. Your reliable ability to turn people away that need the help somehow lead to me helping him help everybody. I won't say anything else, though. You shouldn't think ill of your soon-to-be Headmaster, Nina. He means well, really. He just lets status symbols and false ideals belonging to others hold him back." The deer turns away to walk toward the door. "Miss Nina Flip, perhaps we can start over again," offers the tiger as he takes a moment to gather himself. "If you'd share, I would like to take down some more information so that we can better facilitate this application process and, while we do that, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about the school." Gon pauses, looks over at the deer walking away, and offers, "Thank you, Louis. On behalf of everybody that will benefit from those scholarships." "Don't thank me yet. If you think a Sea Animal stepping into your office wanting enrollment is a shock, just wait until you see what else gets sent your way. ...I'll be wandering the campus, Nina. Call me when you're done here." Louis thinks a moment about apologizing for his own behavior, but ultimately he's had enough stealing the show. This is Nina's scene in a grand act; it's her time to shine on stage now. The door opens and closes. Gon reaches across the desk to offer a hand. | ||
