New Beginnings (OPEN)

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

Tori stood off to the side for the people who were coming and going from Domino. She watched the ships, waiting... She sighed, checked her phone again, and then pocketed it with a huff. Didn't seem like he was going to be coming any time soon. She huddled in her turtleneck, not use to the cold as she was from Miami, Florida. She lazily looked over the faces of the people.

"I don't know what to do now..."

She stood with her hands in her pockets, staring at the people, somewhere between thought and action. Every now and again, she'd move as if to leave, but hesitate, silently hoping.

[Amy Morrison]

"Dear, you say that like you're stranded on Alcatraz island with nothing but a couple rain ponchos and some newspaper." Sauntering up behind the young girl was a brunette woman in a light green windbreaker. Having grown up in New England, the temperature was actually quite refreshing for this time of year. Amy Morrison, Doctor of Anthropology and the new Duel Academy History professor, took in the scene of children bustling about, save one who apparently needed some encouragement.

"And you know, they say three guys were able to escape Alcatraz with nothing but raincoats and newspaper. Something like that, anyway. The point is that spending your next three or four years here is far from a prison sentence, unless that's what you want to make of it." Amy wasn't one to pull punches, but her caring attitude made it clear that she wanted the girl to enjoy her stay here. she wanted students to want to be there, otherwise they'd just be trouble later on. There was a time when that was her, and she remembered the grief she gave her teachers. Maybe she deserved a comeuppance, but she could always hope...

"In any case, if you are having trouble with something, feel free to ask someone! we're here to help, you know." The teacher stood next to Tori silently, half-expecting the girl to come back with something. Or maybe just stare out in to the ocean some more...

(OOC: yep, I've still got it. I'm back, people )

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

Tori jumped ever so slightly but turned to look at the speaker. Alcatraz with a newspaper and a raincoat? It's not raining... then she understood what she was talking about. Her cheeks colored slightly in embarrassment.

"I know that ma'am, it's just that..."

She glanced at the people then back to Amy. Her red eyes seemed a little lost.

"My friend is suppose to be coming, and he's the only friend I have. I came here, not really knowing what I was doing. I just had an urge to go--to travel across the world. Then I realized I was... friendless. I don't know how to make friends very well, so I'm not good at social settings."

She puffed a cheek as she looked to the side in thought. Did that... even make sense. She shook her head, the silver locks of hair that stuck out of her bandanna tickled her skin when she did this and she couldn't help but smile.

"I'm Victoria Kyoakuhan--but everyone calls me Tori or Tor-I."

She held out a hand, waiting to shake hands with her.

(OOC: YAY! )

[Amy Morrison]

"Ah...waiting for a friend. I appreciate the sentiment at least." Not having a lot of friends was something Amy could relate to - there are only so many people who're willing to listen to you as you explain how the pyramids of the mayans were connected to stonehenge druids. She made do, though. While the only person you could ultimately count on was yourself, that didn't mean you couldn't have friends and help each other out. Being a lone wolf was not synonymous with being an ass to everyone.

"Well then it's nice to meet you Tori. I'm Professor Morrison, the history teacher here. I hope we'll see more of each other in the weeks to come." The professor looked out towards the sea as well, her eyes alight with a strange sense of wonder.

Something was going to happen here. She didn't know what, but something. She could feel it.

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

"If I'm not that strong in your class, I'm really sorry. My memory isn't the best... That doesn't mean I won't do my best though!"

She gave a small laugh. She was talking to a teacher. At home, her and her teachers had a pretty decent relationship. She'd even go as far as saying that her teachers were more of a friend than her piers. She stood in silence for a moment, the itch for conversation slowly growing. Finally she bubbled out a question.

"What brings you to the pier? Going to town?"

[Amy Morrison]

"I trust you'll do fine, Tori. History isn't just rote memorization anymore - the people who will do the best are the ones who understand how to not repeat the mistakes of our fathers." It was fairly profound words coming from the woman, even if it didn't sound like much at the time. Stuff like that seemed to happen with near alarming frequency.

"As for why I'm here...I just needed some fresh air. My office is a bit stuffy, having moved in so quickly. At least I found someone to talk to." Amy smiled as she turned facing the student that had suddenly piqued her curiosity. "You understand, right?"

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

"I do."

She paused. Did she?

"Maybe. I just got here the other day myself. I don't remember the trip, so I don't even recall whats in the city or on the island. I got lost on my way here--and that was pretty straight forward in retrospect..."

There was a pause as she thought back to the trip. There was a lot of stumbling involved.

"What made you want to come here and teach history?"

[Amy Morrison]

"What made me want to teach history?" It was something no one had really asked her before - something she really hadn't thought about. But after a moment, she had an answer.

"There really isn't that much to history in and of itself. What happened happened, and it's usually been recorded several times from varying points of view...but in the end what happened can't change. That's stuff that anyone who is interested can find out in about ten minutes on the internet." Amy sighs as she continues, looking Tori dead in the eye.

"It's what didn't get recorded that is the most intriguing to me. For all that we know, there's a lot of history that we just simply have no clue what went down. Barring something like time travel we never will definitively find out. But there are clues. Little hints that link the past and the present in ways that are near-impossible to see if you aren't looking in the exact right place. And when things do fit in to place...beneath it lies something that defies everything we thought we know. Something...primal; it's really hard to describe more than that. But under the tangled webs of the so-called universal truths, there are things that you have to see in order to fully comprehend.

"That moment of comprehension, when someone gets it and sees the world for what it truly is...that's why I'm a teacher. How does that sound?" While most of her soliloquy had been made on the fly, it really embodied what the doctor wanted to do. She knew about things that had remained hidden for millennia. Her goal...her purpose here, was to unlock those secrets to the world.

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

Tori blinked at her, her brain processing at a speed that was normal for her.

"History is written by the victors, isn't that the phrase?"

Good job, she told herself, you remembered something from so many classes ago in Miami!

"That's a very interesting and honorable goal. Your passion is almost tangible--if that makes sense."

She frowned slightly. She didn't make sense, she was sure of it. She shrugged then smiled again.

"I hope I'll be able to find something I can be as passionate in. Do you ever travel in your endeavors? To research first hand and get a fresh view instead of internet information?"

[Amy Morrison]

"Travel? sometimes, yeah. To be honest, it's not really as much as you think - most of what's left are nothing but dots from the big picture. I connect those dots for a living, you could say." A soft breeze whips up, tousling the doctor's shoulder-length brown hair a little as she tries to put things in to a form that Tori could easily understand.

"They say that if you love your job that you'll never work a day in your life. I'm sure you'll find something that you're passionate about. Follow your dreams and all that. Worked for me anyway."

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

Tori nodded. That made a bit more sense to her. She smiled at the teacher, feeling a bit more comfortable now that she had a stable conversation and what she felt a decent teacher-student relationship that would keep her from losing herself. Something she was passionate about? She thought about it.

"Well, time will tell and open my eyes, I'm sure."

She smiled at the older woman. She felt an urge to join the crowd of people who moved and milled about. Though the urge was there, she was still a bit scared.

"How do you make friends? Like, you personally, if that's ok for me to ask."

[Amy Morrison]

"Well, usually I just hike up my skirt, unzip my shirt halfway, and make sure that there's enough lateral movement in my step to get anybody's attention." Amy smirks for a split second, taking in Tori's likely appalled reaction before holding her hands up. "Kidding, I'm kidding!" Was it unprofessional? probably. But damn if the look on Tori's face wasn't worth it.

"In all seriousness, just strike up conversation with people. Talk about something that you're interested in, and if they're interested in that as well, you can spend a good hour or two just discussing that. Find someone who looks interesting and open up a little. I can't say it'll work every time...but if you just keep quiet all day then you can be sure that nothing more will happen. It's about effort." Amy smiled again as she playfully tugged Tori's bandanna a little. Hopefully the young Osiris would understand...

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

Unzip her shirt--Her jaw dropped in shock, and her eyes went wise as a bright blush filled her face in record time. Her hands shot up as if to push the idea away. She was about to verbally explain she couldn't do that when she heard Ms. Morrison say she was kidding. Her hands dropped as she let out a sigh of relief but the blush was permanently stuck to her face. She closed her mouth and swallowed. If that was how people made friends, it was a wonder she had been doing it wrong--with her large turtlenecks and blue jeans. She hated skirts. Oh she hated them...

As she listened to the advice / words of wisdom, she nodded when things made sense to her. Speak up. Noted. Maybe this was a good time for change seeing as she didn't know anyone here. The blush left her face finally as she continued to think about what she had said. What was she saying? This was a GREAT time for change. She could be someone completely different from who she was before--who she could have been. Take a different path through life and destiny. Her mental pep-talk by the tugging on her bandanna. She let out a squeak and her cheeks got the slightest pink tinge. Her hands flew to the edge of her bandanna and held it against her head.

"So, kind of like what we did?"

Her hands checked her bandanna to ensure it was still secure on her head out of habit. They use to pull on her bandanna at school, so she started tying it extra tight and in a way that would be hard to pull off.

[Amy Morrison]

"More or less, yes. What matters is that you never forget what you're aiming to accomplish. Making friends isn't something you can do overnight, but if you open up and be friendly to people, you'll make friends really easily." Amy's tug was mostly in jest, it was still quite secure atop Tori's head. Being able to meet people without bias on what she is supposed to be like ought to do her a world of good.


"Well, I really should get back to unpacking. Feel free to drop by my office if you ever need help!"

[Victoria "Tori" Kyoakuhan]

"Alright. Thank you so very much for everything."

She beamed at her, offering a hand for a final hand shake. If she'd shake her hand, Tori would do it with a firm and confident shake. Then, after the parting statements were said, she'd go towards the crowd, debating on going to Domino or not. Leaning more towards the travel.

[FINISHED]