Office of the Headmistress
Japanese | EnglishOffice Inspiration PicturesReducio
Explanation: The first image is Aiko’s desk and main area. The second picture is her sitting area. Please see below for a written description of Aiko’s office.
The office is OPENAiko’s office was open, modern and yet still reflected the Japanese tradition. Or at least she tried to do so while still maintaining a sense of privacy for students who entered. When students first entered the space, they would be greeted with a view of a small wall of bamboo, blocking their view of the seating area hidden behind it. Aiko’s desk was several steps behind the seating area, and could be viewed over the bamboo wall because it was on a platform reached by a couple of stairs. Her door was always left open unless she was talking with colleagues or students. There was a thick bushy plant in the corner to your left when you first entered the office. Behind the bamboo screen was a small table, close to the ground, with a tea set that was plain and undecorated. On shelves against the wall to the left, she had some fancier sets, but the plain was good for day to day visits. There were cushions stacked nearby, a variety of colors and patterns adding color to the neutral room. There was a light green mat with dark green accents underneath the floor. The walls were an off white color, kept that way because Aiko hadn’t yet decided if she was going to change the color, or would instead just hang some interesting pictures, or tapestries,
Past the seating area, there was a couple of stairs that led up to the area where Aiko’s desk sat, bookshelves against one wall, her desk against the opposite wall. She had wanted to leave the balcony area clear to reach from the seating area and it was much easier to see both the door to her office and outside with the desk positioned that way. On her desk was a drawer where her letter writing tools were kept, an oil lamp nearby. Papers were spread haphazardly across the desk, but Aiko knew what each one was and where it should sit. The shelves were in no obvious organization, and some books were piled on top of or in front of others. Plants of different heights and with different style leaves were scattered about as if a person had just gotten tired of carrying them and placed them in those random spots. A lap desk sat between the wall and the bookcase, perfect for when the weather cooperated and Aiko felt like sitting outside to work.
Out on the balcony, Aiko kept a few comfy lounges, with cushions that were just as bright as the ones inside. She had included a few flowering plants, but for the most part the area was kept simple. Sometimes if the weather cooperated and whoever she was meeting was amenable, Aiko would hold meetings outside. The extra cushions for the seating area could be used outside as well.OOC - Please read before posting in this thread1. Only one person in this general office thread at a time. If the post is marked closed, you will have to wait until the other person leaves or does not post for one month.
2. All posts must be 200 words, and follow the RPG rules. Light Godmodding (IE. Saying Aiko is in her office, at her desk, or in her sitting area) is acceptable. Anything else must be owled and approved by me.
3. If you wish to have a longer thread, please owl or DM me. These interactions are meant to be kept to two to three posts maximum.
4. Please ensure you are following the lore of Mahoutokoro, and the forum rules.
5. Don’t forget to have fun!5b. With the caveat that if you IC break rules in Aiko’s office, or break into her office, I will roll a d100. Anything 51 or above means you are caught, and I will owl or DM you to see if you would like to have a longer thread about getting caught. Anything 50 or below means you escaped Aiko’s wrath (and her mini dragons)….for the moment.
Student Account: Emma Wynn | iNPC Account: Louca Dufort
Office of the Headmistress
Japanese ~ EnglishReducio
She had always enjoyed Professor - well, now, Headmistress - Mori's transfiguration lessons. Transfiguration had never been her specialty in class, but she did well enough to get by, and having an engaging teacher was helpful for that. She also admired how openly Headmistress Mori stood in defiance with traditional Japanese values. The school had always been known for it's more traditional and conservative approaches, but with her brightly coloured hair and strong-willed spirit, the new headmistress didn't seem to conform with those same values. Chiaki had hope that this would mean a new era that would push Mahoutokoro to consider more progressive perspectives.
She wasn't sure if Headmistress Mori would accept any congratulations or welcome gifts, but she thought it was worth a try regardless. Without magic, she'd spent the time to create a few chains of colourful origami butterflies that could be hung from the ceiling, which she hoped the Headmistress would like. She'd also taken the time and done some research to choose a potted himawari (sunflower) to bring her as well. In Japanese culture, the himawari was a symbol of longevity and loyalty, often gifted to show appreciation and in celebration for personal achievements, and whilst Chiaki wasn't sure if Headmistress Mori would know all this meaning behind it, she hoped the gift would be appreciated regardless.
With the boxed origami butterflies in one hand, and the plant in the other, Chiaki wandered over to the Headmistress' office. Seeing the door open, she coughed gently. "Pro- Headmistress Mori? May I enter? I'm Chiaki Hiroi, one of your fourth year students."Chiaki's Calming Presence is in effect.
PC: Pax Zhang || iNPC: Chiaki Hiroi
Office of the Headmistress
Japanese | English | Date:December 5th, 2024 | Word Count: 374/200Paperwork. No one had truly conveyed the headache that was paperwork. For a magical school, it seemed like there was an awful lot of it, including numerous letters from concerned families who had been informed about what had happened at Hogwarts and were determined to share those concerns with the new headmistress. Some of which included disapproval of her appointment. In the past month or so, Aiko had debated multiple times just taking all the paper from her office out to the balcony and burning it. She was looking forward to the winter holidays if only to hopefully get a break from it. Which was saying something considering that meant she would be visiting her parents, and her mother would likely be harping on about her hair color and lack of a husband and children. Which now that she thought of it, she should change up her hair color to match the season.
Closing her eyes, she debated whether hitting her head off the desk would relieve the slight headache or just cause it to grow, Aiko blew out a breath, the characters in front of her starting to blur. That was when she heard a slight cough, and then words. It took a moment for her tired brain to comprehend the words, but with glee that it was taking her away from the dreadful task at hand, Aiko sprung up.
Moving towards the door, she said “Please come in, take a seat. I could use a bit of a break.” Smiling, she waved her hand at the seating area behind the bamboo before she descended the few stairs that would lead her directly to the area. Grabbing a couple of cushions, Aiko placed one on each side of the table before sinking down onto the one closest to her.
She was pleased Chiaki had introduced herself. Aiko was usually pretty good about keeping most of her students straight, but paperwork could be blamed for yet another thing, knocking names right out of her head, or at least not being able to match them as well with the faces that went along with them. “Would you like tea, coffee or water? I don’t have any treats on hand, or I’d offer that as well.”
Reducio@Pax Zhang Chiaki Hiroi
Student Account: Emma Wynn | iNPC Account: Louca Dufort
Office of the Headmistress
Japanese ~ EnglishReducio
Following the Headmistress to her desk, Chiaki sank into the cushion the opposite side from her, placing her gifts on the floor. It felt rude to just place them on the table right away. "If you do not mind, Headmistress, some water would be much appreciated, thank you."
Waiting until the drink had been poured, she took the time to take a closer look around. Not being nosey, she would never, but just out of curiosity. It seemed a little simplistic for the time being, though there were several colourful pops from the different cushions and tea sets.
"I just wanted to welcome and congratulate you on your new position as Headmistress of Mahoutokoro. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in these circumstances, but you must be the right fit for the job to have been selected to take on such a big responsibility. As a small gift, I wanted to give you these."
It was at this moment that Chiaki would reveal the box and himawari, bowing slightly as she handed them to her. "The himawari represents longevity and loyalty, so it seemed fitting for this occasion. And in this box, I thought that you might like some more decorations for your office."Chiaki's Calming Presence is in effect.
PC: Pax Zhang || iNPC: Chiaki Hiroi
Office of the Headmistress
Japanese | English | Date:December 5th, 2024 | Word Count: 374/200“Of course.” Aiko summoned two glasses and the pitcher of water from where she had stored them on the top of the bookshelves, watching carefully as they floated to the table before she gently set them down. Pouring the water gracefully was second nature, her mother's lessons sticking. At least that was one thing her mother could be proud of her about. She had become graceful in most of her motions.
“Here you go.” Aiko carefully took one of the glasses in her hand, placing one hand around the cup, and one on the bottom before handing it to Chiaki. Taking a sip from her own water, she added “I just wanted to thank you again for your visit, it's lovely to have visitors.”
“Thank you for your kind words. I agree, I had not hoped to receive this position in this manner but I hope that I am able to do it justice for you and your fellow students. And thank you for your very kind gifts. As you may have noticed, it's not as colorful as I usually am.” Aiko paused to twirl her hair around one finger before smiling gently at Chiaki. “And your kind gifts will certainly bring color, and joy to my office.” Aiko gratefully took the himawari, placing it gently to the side on the table before taking the box. Her eyes lit at the chains of colorful butterflies, gasping as she took them in. “Oh! This must have taken some time, and they're beautiful. Do you have some time? I'd like your opinion on where to place these lovely chains and the himawari though I am tempted to place the himawari on my desk, just to ensure that I always am able to see a sunny, friendly plant, even if the sun may be hidden.”
Reducio@Pax Zhang Chiaki Hiroi
Student Account: Emma Wynn | iNPC Account: Louca Dufort
Office of the Headmistress
Japanese ~ EnglishReducio
Thankfully, that didn't seem to be the case, and Chiaki smiled alongside her as she revealed the butterfly chains. She was pleased to see her gifts so well-received, especially since so many seemed to overlook the simplistic beauty of a handmade craft.
"It was no trouble at all," she smiled with relief. "It was a fun afternoon of making them, and making crafts is a nice break from my studies. I'm glad you like them."
Pretending she hadn't jut surveyed the room upon entry, she took her time to consider the question. She primarily directed her attention to areas with less pops of colour - that was the purpose of the gift after all, to add more colour.
"The himawari needs a fair amount of light, so I would think your desk would be a great place for it. With the butterflies, perhaps in areas where there is currently less colour? You could hang the butterflies over the screen maybe, or on one of the walls? Though you may already plan to hang something there? You can also try this, if you wanted."
Carefully, she reached into the box and removed one of the butterflies not attached to string, before taking out her wand. With a deft swish and flick of her wand, she chanted "Wingardium Leviosa!" and the butterfly lifted into the air, like it was flying.
"It's a simple effect, but I think it's quite cute. You might have more options for where to place them then."Chiaki's Calming Presence is in effect.
PC: Pax Zhang || iNPC: Chiaki Hiroi
Office of the Headmistress
Japanese | English | Date:December 5th, 2024 | Word Count: 394/200Aiko grinned, glad to see that while the gift had brought her joy, it also seemed to have brought Chiaki joy to have made them. “Well you are certainly a master I can tell. We may have to see if maybe some other students wish to learn or teach skills like these. I’m sure there must be an interest and it would be a nice break from studies as you mentioned.” Aiko kept the thought to herself that it may bring more color to the school, and while the focus on academic achievement was important, it may be good for the students to find a balance. She remembered her own school days when sometimes the pressure to be the best and have those gold robes. It had taken her quite a while to realize she did not have to be the absolute best, and step back a bit. Surprising when she had bucked most of her mother’s lessons earlier.
“Both excellent ideas. I think I’ll do a mix, that way I don’t have to choose. Perhaps one or two of the chains on the screen and the rest free to be placed in the air. It will make it seem like a butterfly garden I believe. And I hope you’ll come check on their placement when you have the time.” Aiko’s main goal was to make the headmistress’ office welcoming and a place where students would not be intimidated. Yes, it may be a bit separated from the rest of the school given that it was the only space on this floor, but that should not mean that students only visited when they were in trouble or there was something wrong.
“In fact, I insist. Perhaps we could invite some other students to join us and we could have some tea and treats. Would you be willing to attend, or even help me plan something like that? As long as you can find the time with your studies and other responsibilities of course.” Aiko added the last sentence somewhat reluctantly, but it was the appropriate response. She wanted to be more open to students, but had to keep in mind that while the pressures to perform at the top level were a bit unrealistic all the time, it was still something to be valued and school was a bit more important than fun sometimes.
Reducio@Pax Zhang Chiaki Hiroi
Student Account: Emma Wynn | iNPC Account: Louca Dufort
Office of the Headmistress
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Office of the Headmistress
Japanese | English | Date:December 5th, 2024 | Word Count: 247/200Pausing to take a sip of her tea, Aiko’s pause grew slightly longer as she heard a knock on her door. Smiling at Pax, Aiko said “One moment please.”. Rising gracefully, she moved around the barrier and opened the door carefully. “Hello Tone. Please come in. Chiaki, do you mind if Tone joins us?” Aiko raised her voice for the second part of the sentence, not wishing to make either student uncomfortable but wanting to let them know there was someone else in case they’d prefer to talk in private.
Heading back towards the seating area, Aiko swept a hand towards the cushions. “Please take a seat, and would you like water, coffee or teas? I unfortunately do not have any treats handy.” Settling back down, she smiled peacefully at the two. “Tone, how are you today? I’m glad you stopped by and I would say perfect timing as well. ” Aiko didn’t explain the last comment, not wanting to force Chiaki into her excited plans if they’d prefer not to talk about it until things were settled.
“As I mentioned to Chiaki, this is a lovely break from all the paperwork that seems to be part of being headmistress. I knew there was some but not quite this volume. ” Aiko kept her words light, not letting on how frustrating it could be, especially with some demanding answers that she had no answers for. She hated not answering someone or not knowing something. It frustrated her.
Reducio@Pax Zhang Chiaki Hiroi, @Kim Sato Tone Bakugo
Student Account: Emma Wynn | iNPC Account: Louca Dufort
Office of the Headmistress
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| kim sato tone bakugo | sta • 10 | eva • 18 | str • 2 | wis • 10 | arc • 7 | acc • 20 sta • 10 | eva • 15 | str • 12 | wis • 7 | arc • 4 | acc • 17 |
PC ENCY iNPC ENCY |