Just doing my job (Cecil/Isabella)

The short heels of her shoes gave off sharp clicks against the floor as the woman pushed through her way past the door. Water droplets streamed off the light brown trench coat that her form was wrapped in. Her hands reached up to her head, gently twisting some of the excess water from her blonde hair. The blonde woman, far too old to be student would pull a handkerchief from one pocket and dried her hands off on it.

Pocketing the kerchief, she would undo the topmost button of her coat, reaching into the inside pocket from which she proceeded to produce a small notebook and a pen. Tools in hand, a small smile crept onto Isabella's face as she began to scan the room. She would approach of pair of female students. "Excuse me, can I... oh, nevermind." she began speaking as he approached, but didn't even finish her question as the two younger girls expressed disinterest.

Not to be defeated by the first minuscule setback, the blonde absentmindedly spun the pen in her left hand, as her attention drew to another student, a male. "Excuse me, I'm a reporter for SMILE News, and I'm doing something of a survey regarding Seven Stars students. Could I bother you with some questions for a few moments?"

Cecil's feet dragged a little as he made his way through the school to get started on his routines once more. He felt a lot less tired than he would have unusually today, but...


Well, he had other things to weigh on him today.

He wasn't sure how he'd missed it - Don't kid yourself. You know the reason, and it's exactly why this happened. - but his family had noticed how haggard he was and that it was taking longer than normal to get home, and they were concerned. And somehow, it'd gotten to the point that his dad saw it necessary to confront him over it.
And after the subsequent conversation, well...he'd been forced into some R&R, a joint effort by the rest of the family. He was glad for it, and their efforts helped chase away some of the crushing feeling Ankou would bring from such 'unproductive' behaviour, but...he knew they'd pay more attention to him now. What he'd been doing to them.

...he wondered if the rest of his small friend group was the same way...

The blond perked up as an unfamiliar face drew his attention, and he felt another small pang of guilt as recalled what had happened with SMILE ever since their visit there. Hopefully, people hadn't been...too, affected. "Ah...yeah, that's fine...I didn't know that there was still too much going on there, since...you know."

"Please don't remind me. I'm still trying to process all that. I remember I had a really good article written up for the head editor I wanted to hand off personally the next day. I thought I'd just been dreaming. Turns out I wasn't." The woman spoke in reply, the tone unintentionally almost a little accusatory, her gaze drifting away from him for a moment. The reminder brought doubt. Doubt in what she was doing. Remembering that she was in company, Isabella shook her head, before clearing her throat.

"Please excuse me, that was uncalled for of me. I've yet to form my own opinion of the incident. But that doesn't matter right now." She would then say, apologetic, before flipping through the notebook to an empty page. She would wirte something down in it. "I've still my job to do, and my editor certainly won't let me forget that." The blonde resumed, capping her words of with a chuckle in an attempt to lighten the mood she herself dampened.

Would you prefer to sit down before I begin with my questions? I won't take up much of your time."

Cecil winced at the tone the woman took, looking altogether somewhat uncomfortable at the way he was being talked to. Worse, since even if she had no idea, he was responsible.
It eases as she apologises, but he still looks concernedly at Isabella as she continues on, a little worried for how the reporter was faring in the aftermath of it all. "Well...if you say so. It's not like I work there to be able to say otherwise."

A little bit of a confused look develops at the last question. "Uh...in the halls...? I can't imagine the school would be too happy about someone unrelated to it roaming around inside either..."

She gave him something of a smile. "Life marches on, with no regard for if you get knocked off the ride. It's a matter of getting back on, and going forward even when circumstances change. That's something an old friend of mine used to say." The blond explained with a nod, even if there was a hint of longing in her voice.

As the youth then questioned doing the interview where they stood, she cleared her throat again. "You've a fair point. Usually I'd ask my interviewees to step outside, but given the rain, I'd rather not drag either of us out there. I'm sure the staff would be somewhat understanding." Isabella then spoke in reply, pausing briefly, before adding. "That said, if you're not comfortable being interviewed here, or with the interview in general, then please do just let me know, and I will be on my way."

Cecil just gave an awkward, nervous chuckle at the saying, all too uncomfortable things flashing through his mind at the very succinct summation of the world that reminded him he was clinging on for dear life. "...sounds...like they had a good idea of things."

He shakes his head as if to ward off the idea. "No, no no, it's fine, I just...thought it was a strange thing to suggest considering where we were. I'll be fine."

She gave a nod, to both his responses, though no immediate verbal response. Instead she clicked her pen to make sure the writing bit was out, before bringing it to her notebook. "Alright then. Before I begin I'll just preface by saying two things. First, if there's a question you'd rather not answer, just say so. And second, the results will be anonymous." She would scribble a bit with the pen, it was giving out ink. Good.

"So, first questions, your age? And is this your first, second, or third semester at Seven Stars?"

"Right, right...that's good to know." Not that he exactly knew if there were any particularly bad or compromising questions that would be asked, but being able to not answer and having everything not have his name on it was still comforting.

"Uh...17. I'm in my third semester."

She struck a few tally marks down to not his answers.

Thank you. Next questions. On a scale of of one to ten, how positive would you consider your learning experience this year? One Being extremely negative, ten being extremely positive. And how do you think the overall learning experience compares to when you began your studies? One being much worse and ten being much better?" She asked, pausing for a moment, before adding. And if you wish, feel free to elaborate on any answers."

"Ummm..." He took a moment to think, scratching at the back of his head. "6, I guess...? Mostly alright, decent, though not the most special...can't stand the history teacher, though. Too much focus on...'recent history'." He resists the urge to groan at the thought of 'Isla Class'. "And for the other question, and 8, though...I guess that has more to do with a change in circumstances than the school itself."

Focus on recent history? Interesting. She would write down a few more details. "An improvement from the start, but only a 6 now? I'd be curious to hear these circumstances if you would be willing to share. But of course, no pressure."

Isabella eyed the boy for a moment, before clicking her pen twice. But, to continue. Using the scale of one to ten I explained before, what are your experiences with the meals offered in the cafeteria? And how do they compare to when you began studying?"

"It's nothing big, just..." He shrugs. "More friends than I used to have, I guess. Makes things better, but doesn't make the teaching anything special."

"I...don't actually use the cafeteria? Or, well, I don't have the food there." Cecil clears his throat, letting hand drop from his head into the pocket with his player. "I bring in stuff."

Hmmm... I see. It's good to have more friends. But if you'll allow me to ask further about the food situation, do you bring in your own food as a cost saving measure, or because of previous experiences with school meals?" Isabella asked, shifting her right foot so her weight was merely on her toes. As she did, she wrote down some details.

"Onto the next questions though, I've only two more after these. On a scale of one to five, would you say the school offers suitably sized and equipped spaces for both curricular and extracurricular activities? One being very much disagree, five being very much agree." She'd again eye the boy, curious as to what he may reply.

He thinks back to past meals, and grimaces. "I mean...some of the food from my last school felt like it would build up in your throat to form a dam if you didn't wash it down...but mainly, even when the food was decent, stuff from home is just better most of the time."

Cecil nods. "Right, right, ah..." He pauses, but it doesn't take long to think on this one. "Five. They have a lot here, and none of it exactly seems cheap...they've got buildings and equipment for most of what you can think of, though that's kind of not surprising considering what else the school is for."

A grimace? The explanation of the young man would soon explain the expression. "I see, I never actually considered it from that perspective. Do you mind if I use what you just said word-for-word in my piece?" She jotted down more notes as he spoke. She continued to give him a smile. This young man was being very helpful.

"Alright, last questions. With the same scale of one to five, how would you rate the following statements: The school rules are applied equally to all students regardless of factors like privileged background or position. And, The school offers special consideration for the learning experience of students with special needs." Isabella then asked, her pen tapping gently against the corner of her notebook.