[Open Class] The Art of Seeing, and Being Seen (Lusine)

[Elda-Kun]

NAME OF CLASS: The Art of Seeing, and Being Seen (Socio-Cultural Anthropology)
PROFESSOR NAME: Mr. Darcy

General Information: After spending many months away from Amity travelling abroad and taking care of what he's termed 'family affairs', Mr. Darcy has returned to instruct students on the importance of being earnest- and observant. The whys and whims of cultural norms - from the lowliest minotaur to the wealthiest demon - will all be examined with his typical scrutiny and decorum. Professor William is prepared to look down his exceedingly handsome and classical nose at everyone with impunity. He will not shirk at any topic, and as seen previously is still a firm believer that participation is paramount to understanding. After their glimpse of alien culture during their time on the clan isles, he feels it is high past time they open their admittedly small and probably weak minds to the societies of peoples who, while a little closer to home, are no less wild.

The Course: Rumors have been flying that the elusive Mr. Darcy has returned from a mysterious leave of absence, and students brave enough to venture toward his long-abandoned classroom know why. Taped to the door is what appears to be a reading list - as if anyone needed more work to do during the busy prom and festival season. While some might pretend they didn't see anything and keep walking, a few may notice bats lingering near the hall's ceiling, and decide completing their homework might be in their best interest after all...

Below the book list is a very strange questionnaire. Is this a book report or a biography?

Mechanics:
You can repeat this class up to 4 times! Each time you must select a different book. It might behoove you to do them in order, as they scale in difficulty! Simply roll 1 10 sided die to see what information you've gleaned! . Use the chart below to determine what you've learned! You need to discover at least 3 Unique Clues to consider this a success, but you can try for more if you want, you over achiever you!

Quote:

BONUS MECHANIC:
Complete all four reading assignments and answer the questionnaire to get a special minipet! (Simply PM your question answers &class link(s) to Ravvlet)

 

[Elda-Kun]

[Book 1]

My First Scaring

My First Scaring
Fiction; Children's

'My First Scaring' is a book written by reknown Weregoose author known simply as 'Mother'. While the many early editions of this short story feature art of young weres, recent releases have seen a wider audience boasting baby Undead, Demons, and various monsters (although only the races with a natural affinity for thumbs). Miss Mother Goose is also unveiling a underwater cave painting version of the work that is a co-operative piece between herself and famous each uisge artist William McAdams. The edition available for his class contains prints from the aforementioned work, and for the first time features children of both undead and monster lineage.

DICE

1 - Ugh, who assigns a children's book? You leaf through the pages, but learn nothing new.
2-3 - Look at you, rediscovering your childhood! You find it hard to read as you keep glancing to all the pictures...They're very well done actually, but sometimes they seem to follow their own script. Goodness, that little patchwork girl is so mean to that little...bear? Werewolf? Gorilla? You've found a clue!
4 - You're so bored you actually bother to read the About the Author section. Apparently Miss Mother Goose has an adopted were-ape daughter who's engaged to the artist of this book. You've found a clue!
5-7 - On the last page, it appears that the horse-boil child and the gorrilla looking kid are holding hands. Storybook romance? The patchwork girl is glaring at them in the distance. A little creepy... You've found a clue!
8-9 - The dedication page reads, "To my daughter, Francine." Isn't that the name of one of the other authors? You've found a clue!
10 - Mr. William sure is putting an emphasis on how kind and pretty that ape-girl is. You've found a clue!

 

[Elda-Kun]

Lou had lived on her own for a very long time. As such, she was not completely up to code on proper creeple behavior, but she was eager to learn. She stumbled on Mr. Darcy’s classroom quite by accident while exploring the school. The reading list intrigued Luo, who had already discovered the library and a vast love for reading. Books had been scarce in the woods, but Lou had eagerly devoured every one she could get her hands on.

She was not, however, familiar with the My First Scaring collection, nor with Mother Weregoose. Lou felt as though she was missing something vital; it must be an important book for Mr. Darcy to include it on his mandatory reading list.

She eagerly retrieved the book from the library and lugged it back to her dorm. A quick inspection confirmed that the illustrated tome was intended for little monsters, but this didn’t deter Lou who was determined to make up for a lost childhood of stories.  

[Elda-Kun]

Thumbing eagerly through the introductory pages, which always seemed full of extra useless information where, in Lou’s opnion, they should be filled with story, something caught her eye. She’s landed on the dedications page, which was very brief, with only one dedication centered on the page in an elegant script.

To my daughter, Francine.

The name Francine lept out at Lou. She knew she’d seen it written somewhere else, and recently, but she couldn’t say where. She pondered for a moment then shrugged merrily to herself, it would come to her in time, she was sure.

She continued flipping pages, admiring the illustrations, and hoping to learn something new.  

[Elda-Kun]

While going through the book, Lou admired Mr. William’s pictures very much. The prints were a little watery-looking, but still filled with life and detail. One illustration in particular really caught her eye.

It was an ape-girl, some sort of monster, dressed in a horrifying frilly pink dress with large bows. While her outfit was very scary the ghoul herself looked lovely. Her fur was dark brown and contrasted nicely with the pink. In the illustration she was grinning broadly, showing off a row of bright white, but uneven, teeth. She looked like a very nice ghoul, someone you’d want to be friends with.

Lou felt out of all the illustrations, Mr. William seemed to have taken special care with this one. It seemed to call attention to her beauty and how nice she was. Lou wondered why that was, even as she wished she could be friends with this fictional ghoul.  

[Elda-Kun]

Finally Lou made it to the end of the story; the final page held another elegant illustration. This time the ape-girl was joined by a horse boil who had also been in the book. The two were smiling at each other in that way that suggested they were more than just friends. The ape-girl was in normal clothing now, and to Lou she looked even prettier than before. The horse boy was cute too, she supposed.

However, in the background of the illustration Lou noticed the patchwork girl standing all by herself, glaring meanly at the happy couple. Lou frowned, that was an odd thing to include in such a happy illustration. She thought the patchwork ghoul looked angry, and kinda mean. It was creepy.  

[Elda-Kun]

Lou flipped back through the pages of the storybook, still enjoying the illustrations and the written words, but not picking up any new information. She sighed happily. It had been a good story, and she did love a good story.

She wondered if Mother Weregoose had written any more books about the pretty ape-girl and if they would be in the school library, she made a mental note to check and see. Overall the book had been very good, if a little childish, and she did enjoy the pictures.

But what was Mr. Darcy planning on her learning about how to behave from a children’s book about a first scaring? Picking up the book, she thumbed through the pages one last time.  

[Elda-Kun]

She stopped again on the picture of the ape in the frightening pink dress. It really looked like Mr. William had spent a lot of time on that picture in particular. She wondered if he’s had a model there.

Still, she didn't really learn anything new looking at the picture. Sighing, she closed the book and set it on her desk, she would have to return it to the library in the morning, or face the wrath of the librarian.

As she flopped into her hammock Lou let her mind wander over what she’s learned about the picture book. How it was dedicated to Francine, whoever that was, how Mr. William had done the illustrations and put a lot of work into them, and how that last illustration of the ape ghoul and horse boil had the very odd addition of the patchwork girl glaring out from between the pages.

Lou rolled over, she’d have to try to unravel the mysteries as the read the rest of the assigned books.  

[Elda-Kun]

[End Book 1]
Word count: 840

 

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