smashacademy | 1st Report // Video

[ In one of the student activities rooms, the video feed opens to a very pleasant smile. The young lady carefully places the device down and steadies it just right before clasping her hands behind her back and taking a few steps backwards so that she's seen properly from waist up. There's a very feminine and harmless look to her. ]

Hello students and staff of Smash Academy. My name is Miss Caroline and I come to your lovely school as a representative of Aperture Science Innovators. I am honored to announce that I will be joining the faculty as your new choir teacher.

[ Formal intro over, she relaxes a little and clasps her hands in front of her with a loud clap. ]

Now, you may be wondering how choir could possibly aid you as a combatant. Besides a new appreciation for music and the human instrument, you will leave my class with a better understanding of breathing and breath control. Proper breathing in combination with core muscle control should help you stretch the length of and make the most of every breath you take in the arena. Singing can also be very relaxing and may help you relieve stress and aid your concentration in other areas of your academics.

[ That said, Caroline slips from the frame and soon comes back in with a vinyl record and a small shy grin. ]

Of course, I would love to demonstrate for all of you my own ability. I present to you 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga.' Please, enjoy.

[ She's gone from the frame for just long enough to place the record and start the player. When the song begins, Caroline takes a deep breath before filling the room with a sweet and gentle voice. It's a simple and short song, yet still shows great skill. Once the song ends, she offers the camera a smile and takes a few steps forward. ]

An official class time hasn't been decided on just yet, but I hope you will consider it. Oh, and I would like to offer myself as a math and science tutor as well, if you find you need a little help. I look forward to meeting all of you and thank you for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hmph. Another one. Well, this woman just seemed all too average. Not worth his time-...

... Did she really just start singing?

...

Um, wow, she definitely did start singing, and it sounds... beautiful. Soothing. Sweet. Invoking. Breath-taking.

This woman has excellent talent.

He listens and watches, ears twitching and eyelids growing a little heavy. He is being put at clear ease, his heart drumming softly to the tune, breathing soft and steady. Once her melody comes to a flawless close, he gives a large exhalation that may or may not have been laced with a small, hardly audible purr.]

... Stunning.

[ Caroline had to stop and remind herself that this was a new dimension with a variety of new and unusual peoples. Despite her surprise, it's best not to offend so she only offers him a smile. ]

Thank you. I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Would you be interested in joining the class?

[Shadow turns his gaze away from the camera, lips pursed in obvious conflict. That song... was lovely, sure, but should he really bother taking his time sitting in her class? For one, he's not a student. Secondly, this isn't productive in the slightest.

...

If it is going to include such relaxing sounds as this, however...]

I am not a student.

... Regardless, I may observe.

[Mainly for the music that brought his cold and frigid being into a land of warmth, a sanctuary enveloped by that lovely voice.]

[ Her shoulders hunch and a hand reaches for her mouth for just a second when she realizes her mistake. ]

Oh! I'm sorry. That was rude of me to assume you to be a student. I didn't mean to offend. [ Her shoulders relax a little. ] You're welcome to observe any time you'd like.

Tch, I am ageless. I am made to always hold a young body.

[A veiled way of saying, "It's a simple mistake," but he wouldn't quite be so blatant.]

... Expect me there. I will ensure that your class makes it on time.

[As, well, that is his duty. Not like he has a choice.]

A gift and a curse. [ Caroline offers a nod of understanding. ]

I appreciate it, very much and I look forward to seeing you there. Um. I don't think I caught your name.

Because I never offered it.

[He pauses, eyes dropping down a little, the words she spoke embedding themselves into his head. 'A gift and a curse.'

Lately, he most regarded it as the latter.]

... Shadow.

I am Shadow.

[ She takes the first line without hardly a blink where some others may have thought it a harsh reply. ]

I'm honored to meet you, Shadow.

[ It's spoken with true sincerity and warmth. ]

[... Yeah, he actually expects some sort of retaliation, like always, but he doesn't get it instead.

Hm.

... He is not sure how to feel about that.]

Hmph...

Likewise.

Besides unending youth, what other talents do you have?

Power.

[He lifts a hand, glowing faintly of a small amount of Chaos Energy, radiating a yellow - or is it green? - light.]

Unending power. I am the Ultimate Lifeform crafted by a scientist's fine hands. The perfect being.

[... Mostly.]

[ And now you've made a friend for life. Instead of fear, Caroline looks at the feed with a mix of awe and joy and so much interest. ]

Amazing! I-I'm stunned. Do you think well of science, or is it something you try to avoid?

[... That is a good question. Gerald had many an intention, many a GOOD one, namely the yearning to heal his precious Maria. GUN, however, and the sciences they utilized...

He furrows his brows. Not something he likes to think about here.]

... It depends on the intent behind it.

Only the best intentions. I work for the best up and coming applied science company when I'm not here, and I had to ask, so I could be considerate of your feelings. It's hard for me not to speak about science, so I wanted to be sure. I personally think you're amazing, Shadow. Meeting you makes me all the more sure I'm doing the right thing both being here in this school and in my work back home.

[This is all just...

He is not sure what to think. She is being considerate of his feelings, and yet what GUN did to him, to Maria, was for the 'best intentions', and yet it was still so... despicable.

He isn't about to trust this sugary sweet woman just yet.]

Hn. And why is that...?

[He isn't about to just let her experiment on him or anything, if that's what she's thinking...]

Ah, well, life is a precious thing. It's encouraging to see that someone as great as you could come from the work of science. There's so much to learn here and so many interesting people to meet. All of this I know can help myself and my company do more for the good of everyone back home.

Please don't misunderstand me, though. I don't mean to give science all the credit for who you are. I'm sure you've put a lot of effort into your strengths. I was already interested in getting to know more about you before this. I don't mean for my excitement for science to seem like my only motive when it's not.

[...

Well, he can attest to that being a little more reassuring, at worst. At the same time, trust is not easy to win over from him, so she still didn't have it, obviously.

Maybe in time, Caroline. Maybe in time.]

... I see.

If you speak the truth, then and only then will you be able to learn more.

[How much more remained to be seen.]

I look forward to it.

[ Because really, she was speaking the truth...even if learning more from here and implementing it in Aperture meant giving the company an unfair advantage in its field and guaranteeing it a bright, successful and lucrative future. She equated those things with the benefit of science and therefore mankind, so her words and attitude remained sincere. All of her words remained truthful, even if there were shades of gray in them. ]

1st Report // Video

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GODDD I LOVE YOUR CAROLINE ALREADY

Thank you ;_;

<3 <3

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