2025-10-17: A Helping Handful of Homework
- Log: A Helping Handful of Homework
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Julian Marlowe
- Where: Kasugayama High School
- OOC Date: 2025-10-17
- IC Date: July 27, 2012
- Summary: Tsubasa heads into school to pick up their makeup homework from Julian... and they tell the school counsellor all the shit that's befallen them in the process. This time, they even manage to not run away from him well enough that they ask him for help revising said homework! Look at them not go!!!
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa went into hiding, following the arson at Aoba Park, only to be dragged out of their safehouse early on Friday morning. They spent the next four days in containment -- though they spent much of it in hospital under guard -- and were released on Tuesday afternoon... though they only managed to get back into Kasugayama midway through Thursday. Thanks to some yelling by Dr. Kawase (and a threat of his lawyers), Kasugayama consented to allow Tsubasa to make up their exams the next week... which, of course, presents them with a small problem.
They haven't gotten access to much of the revision they did in the week leading up to it.
That's why Tsubasa's reported to school again, today, wearing the boys' uniform wrong as always, with a magenta, cyan and yellow wig. (And several dressings covering burn wounds... though none of them seem to be under their binder.) Most of the school is busy with exams... and Tsubasa's been directed to go to Julian's office to get the materials they need, presumably because he drew the short straw.
"Uh," Tsubasa says, as they wedge themself into Julian's sardine box.
"Hey, sensei. I ain't dead."
Well, that's a positive way to start the conversation. Gruff and gravelly as always, Tsubasa explains: "They said you got homework for me, or whatever...?"
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Had it been up to Julian, there would have been absolutely no fuss on the Kasugayama side. Even without knowing all of the details, the circumstances should be obvious to anybody. A student needs support and understanding in an exceptionally trying time for them. It only stands to reason that their school would provide them with anything they require in that regard, readily making exceptions to the highest extent possible, doesn't it?
That's how things would work in Julian's ideal world, anyway. Of course, if it would work like that in any school, it certainly wouldn't be this one. That's a big part of the reason why this is the school he chose to be employed at. With that employment having only begun this school year, there's no way he could in any way influence Kasugayama's poor excuse for School Policy... but there is one thing he could do. The thing he would be expected to do anyway, to take on jobs no one else wanted.
To him, it's absolutely no bother to attend to Tsubasa's revision materials. It can serve as a convenient excuse even, to get them into his office for a little chat. ...Truth be told, it's a welcome break from the regular tasks involved with exam time, which he may have underestimated a little. As much as he likes to present himself as knowing exactly what he's doing, he is still the rookie here.
And so, as Tsubasa enters his excuse for an office, Julian projects the same kind of calm he always does, welcoming them with a gentle smile. "Ah, Tsubasa-san," he greets in the way unusual for him, always emphasizing the first name in their case. "Indeed, I had understood that the reports of your demise were greatly exaggerated, to my relief." He just takes that one in stride too.
Any hopes Tsubasa may have had about the distressingly high pile of print-outs at the front of the desk being unrelated are soon dashed as Julian indicates them. "I took the liberty of supplying some additional materials to that which I was instructed to hand to you. A bit of an edge could prove useful under the circumstances, wouldn't you say?" He genuinely thinks this is a kindness. Whether this makes it better or worse could be the subject of debate.
Even so, he starts his next words with "More importantly," as while education may be important, other matters weigh heavier still. "Are you quite alright? That was quite the ordeal you've had to endure."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Heh," Tsubasa says, and their chuckle is dry enough that it can be described with said but it's at least nominally present. Julian's icebreaker joke landed!
Most students would roll their eyes or groan on seeing such a high stack of papers, but the weird thing is that Tsubasa actually looks interested in the five seconds before they realise that's not cool and they play it off with a shrug instead. "Aight. Bit of a drag, but whatever." (This is a lie; they're a huge nerd and they love learning shit.) "Thanks, Marlowe-sensei."
They shrug, again, rubbing at the shoulder which isn't marred by a dressing as they glance away. "Not really," they admit, with a touch of a frown. "Like... guess you can't officially buy this or whatever," because of course they remember the dance Julian had to do last time, "but... my mom put a hit out for me through the fuckin' Joker Killer, man. Then the cops beat my ass draggin' me outta the hole I was hidin' in... if it weren't for Sergeant Suou an' Akechi-san, they prolly wouldna even put me in hospital. Uh," they add, glancing to those dressings, "'pparently if you get locked in a burnin' buildin' an' then folks do their best when you go hide out, you prolly still get infected or whatever. It's cool now, tho'."
Tsubasa takes a breath. "It's... cool, tho'," they insist, with a touch of a pause which suggests it might not really be cool. "Since the safehouse got sniffed out, they offered to let me jus' stay there permanent-like... so I'm movin' outta the shitbox my father rented out for me. Prolly better for my health. An', uh... the Boss's folks offered to put me up over summer vacation, so... ain't like I'll got nothin' to do."
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Dry wit is Julian's favorite kind of wit, always nice when it's appreciated. An appreciation for education though, that's far rarer still. Even if he didn't catch the interested look, that's far less of a protest than he's used to where it comes to extra homework. This is exactly what he keeps saying, students here can be willing to strive towards bright futures just as well as any other school. Well, he says that in his head, at least. Perhaps the day will come where he'll be able to say it out loud without feeling like it would backfire. "Not a problem," is all he says aloud, when thanked.
Naturally, Julian's done some digging on his own, learning of the Joker Killer's involvement... though he'd come to the conclusion that this had been related to the previous incident here at Kasugayama. Perhaps due to Tsubasa having seen something they shouldn't have. He latches onto "Your mother did...?" as the most notable detail he hadn't been aware of as of yet. And a grave detail it is, one of which even his experience couldn't predict what that sort of a betrayal would do to a person. Nothing good, that's for certain. As much as Tsubasa is making it appear as if everything is 'cool', he doesn't buy it for a second.
"That is..." Julian shakes his head, leaning back in his chair. "...quite the tale," he settles on. "Honestly I'm surprised to see you back here already, all things considered. I can only encourage keeping your mind focused towards constructive matters, but I can't even imagine how challenging that must be. You are truly fortunate to have good friends, Tsubasa-san." And not stubbornly push them away, he doesn't add out loud.
What can one even say about a situation like this? Julian struggles with it for a moment, before adding, "Above all, your well-being should be your primary concern. I understand the need to return to some semblance of normalcy as soon as possible, but should things become difficult... do speak to me, I will do what I can. Whether that's reducing school pressure, or simply offer a listening ear." A faint smile returns. "You seem to have no shortage of those, thankfully, but at times, it can help to speak to someone not personally involved." He's been trying to at least appear unbiased and unflappable, as gravely upsetting as Tsubasa's personal circumstances are.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"I don't reckon it was her call," Tsubasa hastens to add in defence of their mother. "Like -- my father musta pushed her into it somehow. He's the one what told me to hurry up and die, 'course he'd get sick of waitin' for me to do it. An' she... actually wanted me... y'know." Every detail they add to explain things just makes it more dire, though: that their own father was goading them to die, that he didn't want her, that the parent who actually did express even that level of affection has now gone on to call the Joker Killer on them...
They fold their arms, in the style of someone who is more protecting themself than projecting strength, though surely they're trying for the latter. "I mean, I skipped school on Wednesday," they say, "so ain't like I got right back into it..." ... as if taking one day to goof off makes something like this right!
"But I ain't, like, stuck on my own or nothin'. Uh, dunno how talkin' to my folks after that'll go, tho'... but my case manager or whatever said she'd help me if I had to see him." Which at least means Tsubasa isn't going to be confronting them alone.
They rub at an arm, as they say, "... sure. It's, uh..." Tsubasa bites at their blue-painted lip. "I been on a hair trigger. I mean, reckon I'm right to be, but... when somethin' goes wrong, or I get spooked, like... dunno. Just... jumpy." They scowl. "Cops told me not to step outta line again when they cut me loose... even though I was the one he was tryin' to kill. How fucked up is that?"
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Yes, because it makes things so much better when it's your other parent who wishes death upon you. While Julian couldn't say it's surprising to hear dismissiveness over something that's just part of Tsubasa's Normal, that's not something that should be part of anybody's Normal. Imagine having to live in fear of your own guardians plotting to do away with you, having to keep convincing yourself things aren't as bad as they would sound to anyone else. That's... ...a line of thought Julian is going to stop right there.
As Tsubasa responds to his thoughts on the matter, Julian... doesn't visibly struggle to keep up the stiff upper lip routine, but boy, is he mentally chuckling at the 'I skipped one day' defense. This is Kasugayama, after all. He's only been here for a few months and he's already fully used to students taking the occasional 'day off', just like everyone else here. It seems that in general, Tsubasa has a real problem in listening to themselves.
No, it's far more important to stay calm right now, treat the matter as seriously as it deserves to be. He lets Tsubasa finish without interjections, folding his hands together in front of him and shaking his head after they do. "To think that you'd be falsely accused of causing the very incident that targetted you..." The news made that much easy to put together. "Anyone in your shoes would feel agitated."
Meeting Tsubasa's eyes, he seeks to impress what he considers the most important piece of advice, in such a situation. "In that regard, I can only give you the same advice that I gave your Boss. To not speak a word to the police. It's clear that they have made up their mind already, in which case any words spoken can only make things worse."
He wavers a moment, but, he might as well add what he's already admitted to Ichika. "...As a teacher in defense of a student, I might be able to be of some assistance in dealing with the police, should it come to that. I have some experience, in the way they operate. Let's keep it at that, shall we?" His smile there isn't any less casual than usual, though it may appear a little more mysterious now.
"Of course, it's my hope that, with the help of your friends, things will begin to improve from here. You already seem to have realized that there are many who will 'have your back', regardless of the situation." He brings a hand to his monocle, running a finger across its bronze frame. "If I may say so... from my point of view, you are holding up surprisingly well, given the circumstances. 'What does not kill you makes you stronger', so they say... and you appear to have become quite a bit stronger, Tsubasa-san."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Man, ain't it normal? Sometimes your parents just get sick of you. It's whatever, man! Right?
RIGHT?!
(Luckily -- or unluckily? -- Tsubasa is no stranger to skipping school. They just... didn't do it now, for some reason. The reason might start with 'B' and end with 'oss', it's fine.)
"Mighta been my father put pressure on 'em to blame me," Tsubasa shrugs. "Teach me a lesson. Or... coulda been the pigs hate my vibe, an' they were pissed themselves. I dunno. But I ain't said shit, man... tho' when they barged in, they did find all my notes 'bout jus' how deep the rabbit hole went."
Tsubasa pauses.
"I ain't paranoid," they insist, to the health professional, despite those professionals historically insisting they were. "They really are out to get me, man."
Still... Julian's got in trouble with the cops before too, huh. "Guess you gotta be a bit fucked up to wanna work here," they suppose, but despite the content of their words, the tone is appreciative. "Sure. I'll keep it in mind."
(They don't even consider the alternate possibility that perhaps Julian used to be a cop. He just doesn't have cop-nature to him, as far as they're concerned.)
"Yeah, like... shit sucks?" Tsubasa guesses, with rising tone. "But it ain't like -- it don't suck. It was kinda weird, honestly... everyone was so upset when they thought I died... uh, 'least that's what the folks what told me I was safe said," they add, because of course if anyone else were to describe the situation to Julian, Tsubasa wasn't there to see everyone's reactions. "But it ain't like -- bad weird, 'cept how I feel kinda bad they didn't know I got out. More -- like -- there are people what give a fuck? An' I been doin' it kinda tough 'bout that a while, now, so... guess I'm surprised by that. But... I reckon I can rely on 'em, y'know?"
They take a breath, and shake their head. "'Sides, I... realised it musta felt just like that the first time I got burned, when the Joker Killer locked me in the exhibit while it was goin' up." And the news did mention that someone was trapped in that structure as it burned, though they neglected to mention it was the same youth they were accusing. "Woulda been easy to just give up, but... I decided I wasn't gonna die. I wanted to survive. Y'know? Uh, not to be a downer or nothin', but I did kinda debate that a bit before... after what my father said? But then I was there, an' I couldn't breathe, an' I was just -- so fuckin' mad, man, like, shit, gettin' killed just so he can get his promotion or whatever? What the fuck, man. I was sick of it! So, like, I'm -- I'm over dyin'. Like, fuck 'em, I'm gonna live forever."
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
Everyone's sense of 'normal' is different, that much is true. Julian won't judge. But he will call it out when things are objectively incorrect! He's a teacher, that's his job! And as a teacher, obviously he knows what kind of lessons are and are not okay to teach.
At the same time, it's too bad he is only a teacher. While he can try to guide children onto a better path in life, he isn't someone who has the power to stand up to the injustices of the world. Certainly he would have no reason to even be thinking about trying to solve these issues in some sort of supernatural fashion, should he discover the means...
Paranoia, though... that's a hard one to entirely let slide. It's a tough one to handle, the best he can think of is to try and redirect the thought process. And the least he can do is to speak plainly and give his honest opinion on the matter. "...It might not be as complicated as all that. With all due respect, I see little reason why you would be considered a target of particular significance... so much as a target of convenience."
He clears his throat, on the matter of being 'a bit fucked up'. Not how he would have phrased things, but... he's not actually saying anything in his defense. Perhaps silence speaks volumes here.
He is far more pleased with the rest of what he hears, though it doesn't show in his expression. Not many get to find out how much they would be missed in such a profound manner, it's easy to believe that could turn someone's point of view on its head in this way. He can't exactly say it aloud because that would be super insensitive, but he can't help but think... perhaps someone good did come out of this whole ordeal.
He also can't help but let out a modest laugh at Tsubasa's eventual conclusion. All in all, it seems as if he can keep his own conclusion brief, in the face of all that.
"It sounds to me as if you've found a much more positive line of thinking, in the end. Hold onto that spirit, Tsubasa-san. It will serve you well." He's not going to discourage that kind of defiant attitude. There's no way he could. Not without being a massive hypocrite.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"My father sure fuckin' thinks I'm significant," Tsubasa grouses, grouchily, which -- alongside their thoughts that he made the police blame them for the fire -- paints an alarming picture of just how much power Hanzou Seki really has.
They don't get into it, though. And neither does Julian get into his police troubles!! Suspicious...
(Tsubasa won't press on it, though. Like, he's cool.)
"Cool," Tsubasa nods, sternly. "I mean, I was gonna."
They pause, though, looking up at their Mountain of Homework, and something else about living on seems to strike them.
"Uh... hey," they venture, looking up to Julian again. "Dunno if ya busy with the exams or whatever, but... it cool if you go over some a this shit with me? Head ain't been in the game a while..." The game of academics, presumably.
And Tsubasa must be experiencing some measure of post-traumatic growth, because look at them asking a teacher for scholastic aid.
Clearly this is a much better use of Julian's time than paperwork!!