Raising a Monster

[X] Read The Contract

Good. God.

You have never felt more drained than you did when you finished reading that beast of a legal document. You consider yourself an avid reader. Sure you haven't done much of it in the past few days because of...well, everything! But you still enjoy reading long-winded books now and then. You never would've gotten through those five hundred page textbooks you needed to read to get your certificate otherwise.

But THIS!

This makes those long-winded Terms Of Service Agreements look short and simple! You would've taken ten of those in comparison to this!

Thankfully you have a little, three-hundred-year-old bundle of joy to help you out. Anna is a golden ray of sunshine upon the dark task laid before you. Her knowledge of magical contracts (because of course, the contract has magic binding placed on it) severely cut down how long it took you to finish it. Not to mention she pointed out the parts of the text that you would've missed.

The contract itself is mostly normal. It's more open than many modern corporate agreements, with little "Corporate Speak" and no fine print to speak of. A lot of it is the standard things you would've expected. You're not allowed to speak of your employment or involvement with the Association to anyone who isn't a client or employed by the Association, not allowed to use any of their resources for clearly malevolent or needlessly violent purposes, no hostile action towards the other employees, etc.

For the first half, it's what you expected.

It's the second half that gets your attention.

Mainly the sections titled "Workplace Relationships", "Employee Resources", and "Employee Protections."

In contrast to many corporate environments you know of (by proxy from listening to your co-workers talk about previous jobs), the way they handle Workplace Relations is...surprisingly open. The short of it is that any agent may pursue any type of bond with their co-workers, as long as they do it off the clock. While you're on the job, all relations must cease. "Public displays of affections" are particularly singled out, as well as how this includes both mortals and mythics. You're here to work. While you may grow more intimate with each other in the process of performing your task, you are to keep it all to yourselves.

All bets are off once your shift is over.

Kind of surprising, but it might explain why that place was so...serious when you walked in. It makes you wonder what those people are like off the clock.

The second section mainly caught your eye due to the details it provided. They didn't exactly explain what you had access to now that you were an Agent. There's a lot of basic stuff (there's a cafeteria you can buy food from, which is nice), but substantial stuff too. Mainly how you can go to the "Records Room" and request basic information on other mythic, the Association, and general history. Considering your lack of knowledge in that subject and you're natural enthusiasm to learn, this will be a place that'll see plenty of use.

Then there's the last section. Specifically the second word there.

"Protections."

You've never known any type of business to outline exactly what protections their employees have while working for them. Usually, that stuff is either implied or left out "by accident". But here...it openly lays it out. Most of the section is filled with instructions on what you can do in case the Association ever does anything to harm you and yours specifically. All the way ups to terminating the contract which will result in in...immediate punishment of all staff members involved?!

And you can choose the punishment?!

....

You're not sure if you should happy about this or not.

(Contract Read! You won't be sidelined by surprise rules and regulations!)

---

[X] Search For Students: 38 - 25 (Golden) + 15 (Those Who Can't) = 28 Failure

You wanted to get this outta the way before you headed off to your new job. Even if they weren't your students, you couldn't afford to simply leave things as they are. Not simply as their teacher, but as a responsible adult.

What surprised you was that the News hadn't made any mention of it. A couple of kids missing is something that should make headlines everywhere. So, why wasn't it? Why wasn't it on everybody's lips? It's not like the kids just up and vanished...right?

....

You give Mr. Weston a call on his cell phone. You might need his help with this. He answers and, after exchanging pleasantries, you explain how you're worried about the two kids who haven't answered their phones. You're about to ask him for help...but then he says something that deepens your worry.

"I already know, Craft. I've been looking too, and haven't found a thing."

This makes your skin crawl. Ever since the Crossroads Assault, you had seen your old boss in a different light. He had gone from the happy go lucky, slightly eccentric principal, to a seemingly unstoppable force of nature with the span of a night.

If he couldn't find two little kids, then something was wrong.

He told you he still had some leads to follow up on. And to be careful. Then he hung up.

You put your house phone down with a sigh.

Why has everything in your life become so complicated?

(Hannah and ??? are still missing! Devon is on the Case! +20 to next Search Roll)

---

[X] Read A Book: 27 +15 (Prodigy) + 15 (Potential) = 57 Success

With her progress in her Psychology book stalled, Ana moved to her Government Systems book. She blazed through the first five chapters (300 pages total out of a 600-page book!), then went back and reread them to better absorb the information. You couldn't help beaming at her, pride welling up in your chest. You hadn't even taught her to reread what she had already read to better understand the material. The thought of asking Mr. Weston to let her skip a few grades comes to mind as she closes the book.

Knowing what she wants, you walk over to the sofa and sit down next to her. Blue comes by a bit later, the sound of a toilet flushing following as he sits down on the other cushion. With her audience now in place, Anastasia explained exactly what she learned to both you. While you did space out here and there when she started detailing concepts that went way over your head, you never once took your eyes off your daughter as she spoke.

After all, what parent wouldn't do that for their child?

(Ana Gains A New Perk! Government 101: All governments start as small ideas... (+10 to Governing Small Organizations, and a +5 to Speaking to People)

---

Here's the first part everyone. I wanted to get these three out of the way, as I had ideas for them.

Your first day on the job, and Ana visiting your work will take a bit longer as I need to figure out exactly what I'm gonna write for it.

Hopefully this tides you all over in the mean time.

[X] Come In For Training: 72 - 25 (Golden) = 47 Success

"Craft...you don't have to take notes over this."

Your pencil stops as you glance up at your current Mentor's face. You shrug and say, "I know, but how else am I gonna remember everything that you're saying?"

Helga pushes a strand of curly orange hair out of her face, the freckles on her cheeks scrunching up as she sighs, "By committing it to memory?"

"While also trying to remember every other thing that's going on in my life?"

She goes quiet, her lips tight as she realizes, you've got a point. You hide your smug smile by turning your attention back to the journal on the table in front of you, shifting your attention from it to the guidebook on your right.

A chorus of voices sings through the air of the small room, "Oh, we like him already! You'll fit right in with the rest of us, Howard Craft."

Helga scoffs while you keep your eyes glued to the journal below you. That is until you feel multiple small things climbing up your arm, purposely touching your small hairs to get your attention. You manage to hold out until they pluck one of your hairs out and instinctively smack your arm. They fly away at the last moment, floating up into a cloud of small, humanoid bug creatures that paces around the room. You sneer after them as they laugh the entire time.

You look back at Helga, her gloved hand pinching the bridge of her nose, "That's it. Everyone, Oberon. Now."

There's a collective sigh of disappointment, "Come on, Helgy!"

"No," Helga pushes her round-rimmed glasses up on her nose, "you all obviously can't be trusted not to bother Howard while we're doing this."

"Can we at least do Titania instead?" the voice gains five octaves as it asks this, "We wanted to make a good impression on the new kid!"

You wince at the sound while Helga merely powers through it while crossing her arms, "Oberon, now."

Those two words have enough authority in them to corral the floating cloud of...fairies you're guessing. They fly towards Helga's right. They start gathering together into one large brown cloud. The buzzing gets louder and louder as they spin in place, gibberish leaking from their lips in high pitched squeals. The sounds get deeper and deeper as the cloud of beings coalesces into a singular being.

Where was once a swarm of tiny creatures now floats a tall, thin man with long black hair flowing down to the small of his back. He wears a black, studded coat with matching pants and suede shoes he scuffs against the floor. He runs a hand through his hair, stopping to rub at the main thing that would clue anyone into his supernatural nature; the stag horns that grow out of his head, forming a makeshift crown.

He turns his iridescent eyes on you, his smile both predatory and welcoming. He leans against the back of Helga's seat before saying, "Hello there, Crafty. I finally get to put a face to the name of the man who's been on everybody's lips these past weeks."

"Uh-huh," you place your pencil down and look up at the...fairy? You're not sure what he is, "The pleasure's all mine...Oberon, was it?"

"Yes, at least for now," he steps around his partner's seat and gives you an exaggerated bow, "Oberon, King of the Fae, at your service."

He visibly winks at you, making Helga roll her eyes as she explains, "Oberon is the first of my fairies forms. He rules the Morning Courts and is the one I call on when I need a more delicate touch."

"Cause I tend to be less...forceful than my other half," he continues as he floats up into the air, leaning back on nothing, "I am much more interested in what I can do for others than what they can do for me."

"Sure you are," Helga shakes her head and turns back to you, "Pay him no mind, Howard. We won't be dealing with anything involving mythics today. Just some simple ground rules and instructions. Ok?"

She gives a small smile that you return while tapping your pencil against...wait, where did your journal go?

"Hmmm, such neat handwriting," you and Helga look up at Oberon as he skims through your journal in midair. He stops at a particular page and starts chuckling, "You wrote that down? So diligent."

Helga snaps her fingers before you can move. A spark lights up in Oberon's hands, making him drop your journal back onto the table. You grab it before he can make a move, watching as he floats over to a corner, a smug smile on his face.

...You don't think you're going to get along with that guy.

Helga And Oberon/Titania SLs Unlocked! Training Is 25% Finished!

---

[X] Go To The Association: 67 + 5 (Trust in Me) + 10 (Psychology) = 82 High Success

It was a simple matter to find the Library within the Association. All it took was obtaining an Ever-changing Map from one of the various employees wandering around. Granted you were concerned they would be hesitant to do so, considering what you are. Thankfully, they did not have any qualms about it.

The part that proved to be difficult, was finding the information you were seeking. Specifically, anything relating to the previous times an Eldritch such as you came to earth. Not because it wasn't there.

But because of the size of the Library itself.

The first thing you tried to do when you entered the room was look up at the ceiling. What you ended up seeing was a long, spiraling staircase, that went far beyond even your enhanced eyesight. You ended up having to ask for assistance from the librarian. He was a young man named Clifford, who's partner was a pegasus of all things. When you asked him for assistance, he offered to fly you up to the section you were looking for.

You accepted, of course.

One does not get a chance to ride a winged equine every day, after all.

A swift ride to the fifth floor and you had the three books you were looking for. You thanked Clifford for his help and found a table to start your reading.

The things you read were disturbing but expected. Much of the contents were either writing from sources who were alive at the time, recreations done by the mages or standard theories made based on the gathered evidence. However, much of it did match up with memories you have of your old lives. The events and actions within struck cords that you had thought long lost after your most recent incarnation.

Constant movement from one home to another as your mere presence warped the world around you.

Humans and mythics alike either wanting your head or falling to their knees to worship you in return for protection.

Rituals conducted in your name that you had no say in, nor any want to be apart of it.

It was all so...hold a moment.

You bring up two of the documents and set them side by side. The frown on your face gets deeper as you read over them multiple times.

According to one of these documents, dated during the Hundred Years' War in 1340, you were last spotted living with an Englishman who was trying to outpace the war. The two of you ended up in the care of a church where you stayed for twelve years before being forced to move on when numerous misfortunes befell the local community. While you can't recall any specifics, the report does strike multiple cords in your memory.

The issue is the second document.

According to it, you were spotted living with a French family working as serfs under a Lord. You also lived there for twelve years, before being forced to flee when your "mother" was run out by a mob of serfs.

In the same year as the previous document.

In the same time frame.

And with the same misfortunes that befell the church being the cause for the mob to chase you away.

And, perhaps the most distressing part, was that you felt the same sense of familiarity.

Which means not only that these two events somehow happened at the same time, in the same way, in entirely different areas, but that you were only responsible for both of them.

That is...not a comforting thought.

New Information Acquired! Ana has uncovered a new Mystery! 15% Done on Mystery!

---

Olly comes over while you're getting ready to head to your job. She's been released from the hospital due to her injuries healing almost as fast as Volkar's. She can get right back to living her life as long as she doesn't do anything too strenuous.

So with little else to do considering she's out of a job, she decided to come over to say hi and stay over for a bit. Even help you out if you need it.

You're not gonna complain about that.

Olly is at your house for 1 Day! Will add +15 to all Howard Rolls, save for any Mage Association related ones!

Your Actions: 2










Ana Actions: 2 (Out of School):

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