[OPEN] Vanilla Human

[devilsadvocato]

WHO: Foggy and ANYONE
WHERE: At Recolle High, at the grocery store, at the bar
WHEN: March 12-23
WHAT: How does a regular joe help thirty something kids come to peace with their new memories, powers, and weapons? After Yukine's death and Shouto's father's arrest this teacher is struggling to keep his cool.
WARNINGS: Talk about character death and domestic abuse. Depression. Alcohol.

If someone tells him his students are not his kids to worry about the moment they leave campus at the end of the day he's going to deck them. He is a single (?) thirty something year old man who uses self-deprecating humor to cope with his problems and stress eats. None of that changes the fact he is the closest thing most of his students with Retrospec have to a guardian on the network. One huge ass problem. He can't keep up with all the superpowers and magic and YET ANOTHER GODDAMN SWORD.

It's not that he thinks his students are completely irresponsible. Some are better than others but they are good kids even if they roll their eyes when he tells them to crack open another novel. The problem lies with the traumatizing memories, out of control powers, dangerous missions fighting Shrek in a battle to the death. Add armed robbers and abusive relatives. How the hell does he help with these things? How does he get ahead of any of this?

Class

Mr. Nelson broke the news about Yukine to the class days before and offered to be there if anyone needed a person to talk to about their feelings. The class took a moment to say something nice in memory of him and some tears were shed. He would be dearly missed. Today after the classroom clears out at the end of the day Mr. Nelson takes a seat at his desk and buries his face in his hands. He can't remember the last time he felt this exhausted. Thankfully this is not one of the play rehearsal days. Grade today's quiz. He'll get to it in a moment. He just Needs. A. Break.

Public Space

He should have asked his sister to come with him to the store. It's only for groceries but while he stands around in the bread aisle comparing prices a terrible weight hits his emotions. He swears he feels it physically in his chest like a brick and he pulls his heart stone out of his pocket to check for damage just to be safe. He runs a thumb over the smooth stone and grimaces. Great. Getting emotional in public. "Which brand is cheaper?" He can't do math like this.

Drowning Sorrows

Due to the nature of his job Foggy doesn't drink wildly like he did back in college. He waits until a Friday or Saturday night then goes to the bar without inviting any friends. He orders multiple shots and downs them quickly. Some time later he is long past buzzed and turning a shot glass in his hand while he wonders aloud, "How do you keep the equivalent of thirty teenage video game warriors alive and happy if you are an ordinary human?"

Comments

Drowning sorows

[angealwings]

Andrew isn't there to get drunk, but he's wound up at the bar for one glass, after his (bouncer) work. The last few weeks have been interesting, and while plenty of people are understanding of his situation and try to help him get acclimated to it, it's not the same as--

No mind.

Since his thoughts are on Retrospec and what is related to it, Andrew's attention catches on the words. That is a pretty... efficient way to describe a lot of the people after some time with the app.

"Not sure about the happy part, but any chance for the adult video game warriors to help out with the first?"

Better than outright asking what happened, he thinks, going by the number of shot glasses.

[devilsadvocato]

"I guess?" Foggy was not expecting an answer so when Andrew comments he turns to him and smiles. Somebody replied what do you know? "The thing is the adult video game characters are busy with their own special missions. Is it really fair to ask them to help babysit?"

[angealwings]

"Maybe. Or maybe they don't know what's happening to the teenagers, for one reason or another.

"At least the good kind of video game warriors would be concerned, I think. Wouldn't it be fair to let them know and have them decide?"

He raises his glass in a small greeting. "Andrew. Andrew Hughes."

[devilsadvocato]

"Foggy Nelson." Foggy raises his glass too and realizes it's empty. To order another shot or not to order another shot?

"I uh. I'm just gonna ask and I apologize if this confuses you. Are you on Retrospec?" He's too tired to tip toe up to the answer. Please just tell him.

bar!

[odasaku]

[ it's one of those rare times where odasaku isn't the bartender, but just a simple customer.

unlike foggy, though, he takes his shots much more slowly, maybe two in the past thirty minutes. he's not looking for a buzz, not today at least, but a simple escape from the stresses of his current life. still, he can't help but glance at the man next to him every once in a while, growing somewhat concerned-- isn't he drinking a little too much?

so when the question is left hanging in the air, oda decides to use his bartender skills and answer. ]

What do you mean by that?

[devilsadvocato]

[Foggy puffs out a sigh and stares into his empty glass.]

How does an ordinary person take care of an extraordinary one? Or two. Or five. Or twenty.
Like there's a brave knight or a superhero. How can a regular joe contribute to the well being of a person like that? Let alone an entire group of them.

[odasaku]

[ an interesting question indeed... since odasaku doesn’t know of his own abilities, he feels like he can somewhat understand this. and though he doesn’t understand all too well, he still thinks that there’s some advice that can be given here. ]

I don’t think you can always help. There’s some things that just escape your hands.

[ bringing the glass of whiskey to his lips, sakutarou takes a sip, and sets it down. ]

But I think that’s something everyone goes through—even those with powers and stuff.

[devilsadvocato]

You mean like asking the age old question, "How do I make a difference in the world?" Or are you talking more specifically about how to help when a phone app takes over the lives of like two hundred locals?

[He wants to be sure they're on the same page. Foggy isn't against philosophical talk at a bar but if he can get a second opinion on this exact scenario that would be GREAT.]

bar;

[drydrown]

[Cumore does tend to be the sort to get blackout drunk on the weekends, because that's just...kind of the life he's living right now, but tonight isn't one of those nights. At least not yet. He's taking his alcohol like a halfway reasonable person, and he recognizes the person down the bar that seems to be having A Time - it isn't someone he knows well, but someone he remembers, and...well. He likely doesn't have the empathy for this, but...]

It's been a hard month so far, hasn't it.

[It's an invitation to talk about it if he wants to, to shrug it off if he doesn't; either/or, really.]

[devilsadvocato]

Hey! [He points at him and a name he hopes is correct comes to him.] Alexander! Busy month yeah! I hear your office- I mean. The DA's office is busy. Just like the police. I thought I'd spend this month helping kids who went on that mission last month to catch up. Not this! I mean I'm doing the other thing too but. Yeah. Hard month.

[drydrown]

[...I mean. The name is correct; kind of making him on-edge because no one calls him that, but you know what, that's fine? This is fine. It's fine. He's fine.]

I'm sure they appreciate your efforts just the same, you know. The kids.

[Just...saying. It seems a fair place to start.]

[devilsadvocato]

That's nice of you to say. [He smiles for that short moment then troubled takes over.] Appreciated or not I want them to be safe. Thing is I have no clue what to do. I'm not getting any amazing abilities back from my other life. I can't cast a spell to heal them or protect them when they go off to battle monsters. -Which by the way a bunch of them did exactly that last month. How do I help these kids?

public space

[thisloveisjustice]

Tatsuo is just picking up a few things. Cereal, bananas, almond milk, coffee... breakfast, he's picking up breakfast. As he turns down the bread aisle to grab some bagels, he spots Foggy. Standing there, staring at the bread. He almost walks up to joke about how he has a hard time picking from the numerous bread choices as well, but... something feels a little off.

"I usually just go with the store brand myself."

[devilsadvocato]

"Yeah. Smart thinking," he mumbles. Wait hold on he's being talked to. Foggy turns and finds Tatsuo standing nearby. "Oh hey! Sorry I was. Zoning out. It has been a day!"

[thisloveisjustice]

Tatsuo grabs his favor flavor of bagels (blueberry) from the shelf and adds them to his basket.

"Yeah, I can kind of tell. Rough day at school?"

[devilsadvocato]

"Yeah. I mean it's been rough for a lot of us to be fair. Everyone is still processing the- The bad news about one of the students. The teenager who was shot in that convenience store robbery was one of my students. I had to break the news to a bunch of his classmates the other day." Foggy's voice drifts off for a moment.

"I've taught long enough this isn't the first time I've had to deliver bad news but this kind of thing is a first."

Public Space

[blondferret]

[Derek went to the store to get himself another pack of beer and it just so happens that the beer section is right across from the bread section. He see's his cousin and decides to say "Hi" to him once he grabs the back. He is nearing his cousin, pack in hand when he hears his cousin speak. Did Foggy see him? Foggy hadn't made any indication that he noticed Derek.]

Uh, well... I don't like my bread dry, so I usually buy buttermilk. This one is pretty good, only $2.50 a loaf.

[Derek points to his preferred bread. Derek notices the heart stone in Foggy's hand.]

Got something on your mind mate?

[devilsadvocato]

Buttermilk does imply richer and moister. Guess Nat won't mind giving it a try. [He shrugs and it to his basket. He shrugs again at Derek's question and gives him an uncomfortable smile.] Still tired from stressing over my students.

[blondferret]

[Derek frowns. It's hard to see his cousin having a hard time. He probably heard about Yukine and teenagers are teenagers, meaning, they cause a shit load of stress. Derek places a hand on Foggy's shoulder.]

Do you need to talk about it? Do you want to go back to my place, have like one beer and a but load of juice or milk, so you can still stand in front of your student tomorrow, and just talk? I'm pretty sure I have some left over birthday cake in my freezer.

Public Space

[matchbreaker]

[ Huh, someone's still carrying that around other than her? After the got the notice it was resolved by Zee, Elda has been seeing (and definitely feeling) a lot less about the stone since then. But still, to see the man doing that, she frowns before brushing back some hair. Elda's got on the sunglasses as usual, but now also a wide-brim hat and long sleeved clothes. The 41 year old looks even more youthful than usual, and has demonstrably lost a lot of weight through muscle mass from a regain earlier in the month.

Still, she...

Does a typical rich person response??? arguably, ]

Doesn't matter? I can spot you for whatever you want, so just pick our your preferred brand.

[devilsadvocato]

[Foggy turns toward her and blinks in surprise at the summer hat. He sees the sunglasses and glances at her other features.]

Whoa. Uh! Oh Elda! It's been a while. Since when was that? Matt's party. So December? How have you been?

[matchbreaker]

[ That's her. She waves a little as if to show that it's fine. Her voice was gentle to begin with, perhaps a little overly forceful but ... well. He was a teacher, right? Given the recent murder of an undisclosed person (which meant only one thing: minor) and her own inside detail working for one of the dead boy's fathers...

Well.

Anyway, she brushes her bangs a little. ]

Yeah, since then, I'd say! I was out of the city all last month, and now here am I, situating myself.

somewhere between the 17th and Yukine's killer getting arrested

[blessmefather]

Foggy!

[ When Matt recognized his presence as he stepped into the grocery store that afternoon he instantly beamed. He goes about his shopping but takes a detour to the bread isle since he's on that side of the store while Foggy is. He greets him with a smile at first when he rounds the corner but then he picks up on the other man's posture, the way his head is bowed and the scent of stressed sweat and ever so faintly dried tears. Now that he's nearby he realizes how exhausted Foggy's state is, the natural sound of his body breathing and living strained slightly. As he approaches him he gets hit by the heart stone's aura. Sadness, heartbreak, frustration. ]

Hey Foggy, you okay?

[ He greets him a second time in a softer voice. ]

Re: somewhere between the 17th and Yukine's killer getting arrested

[devilsadvocato]

[Foggy is happy to see him of course but he can barely muster his normally spirited greeting. He knows Matt can tell he's upset which makes it harder to pretend he isn't.] Hey Matt. I'm. Uh. [He shoves the heart stone in his pocket and shakes his head. "No I'm not okay!"]

Trying to shop but I have a lot on my mind. [He finds the bread he's looking for and adds it to his basket. Maybe he doesn't have to tell the entire story. Matt IS hyper aware of the events in the city.] Did you hear about the robbery-murder?

[blessmefather]

Yes...

[ The murder of a detective's teenage son, Yukine. The air seems to escape Matt's lungs as he makes the connection. ]

Fog I'm...

[ He reaches towards his friend's shoulder with one arm and stops short, pulling back his hand slightly, hesitating. ]