bakerstreet | notice me, senpai!

Entry tags:

notice me, senpai!

The Mentorship Meme

The relationship between a mentor and a mentee is a special one. In many circumstances, seeking out the guidance of the more experienced is the best (perhaps only) way to achieve mastery over a skill or integrate into a social scene. Often this partnership is one between a younger person and an elder, but not always! Even old dogs can learn new tricks, after all. What skills do you have to share, and would you be willing to help someone in search of your expertise? Or are you the type to take advantage of the inherent imbalance of power in such a relationship?

And of course, most importantly: won't anyone notice you?

Prompts

1. teacher and student
Could be mundane, or something as fantastical as a school for magic or superheroes.

2. tutor and tutee
Similar to a teacher and student relationship, but more individual. Tutors often mentor one-on-one, at a tutoring school or at the student's home.

3. senpai and kouhai
Less experienced "kouhai" are expected to defer to their more experienced "senpai" and look to them as an example. Often, but not always, this refers to upperclassmen and underclassmen at a school.

4. hero and sidekick
The best way to learn how to vanquish evil is on the job!

5. master and protege
Martial arts, arcane magics, board games - sometimes the only way to learn is from the best.

6. crime boss and underling
It's a rough, complex world in the underground and this work is not something you can just look up in a textbook. Following your boss's example may be imperative to your survival.

7. elder and younger
Not only practical skills, but also knowledge must be passed on to the next generation - and this is something that elders often have in abundance.

8. wildcard
Anything goes!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ooc | playing from the book, but movie-familiar and willing to do mash-up with castmates. open to both cross-canon and original characters as well. player hasn't yet read Find Me! permissions, no smut. partial to 2, 5 and 7. he's a music student, playing the piano and the guitar, so someone with skills in those areas most welcome. otherwise, more general school stuff or life knowledge/experience could work, too. ]

((canonically fits as a senpai or kouhai (either depending on canon point), team captain, or college student/possibly medical resident training under a fully-fledged doctor?

AUs are love and life too so really anything goes!))

[ the mentor in magic. what could go wrong? ]

[definitely the mentor. likeliest to be teaching some sort of game or acting as a boss with an employee, but i'm open to all kinds of scenarios! let's stay away from 6.]

[ Canonically the one in power, but would love to explore learning from someone older or more mature. Discipline, self-control, proper swordsmanship, etc. Compatible fantasy settings are great, but I'm flexible. ]

Edited 2021-07-07 16:34 (UTC)

(ooc | Information, permissions, and warnings can be found here.

Ayase's biggest weakness is his inability to speak his mind and say what he really wants to say. He's aware of it and wants to change. Having someone help him would be cute. )

[ The mentee, though she can also be the mentor for 2 (as a student helping another) or 3 (as President of the Literature Club). ]

( mentee, and big fan of age difference ship. interested in 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7, happy to mix any of them. Xingqiu is a prime student, an apprentice in a martial arts clan, and pursues adventure and heroism passionately. the latter two of which he has to keep as masked as possible from people at large, causing a large amount of secrecy, which can be a significant bonding point if another character is allowed to know about these aspects of his life. castmates and cross-canon welcome; if you would like a starter written, just ask. )

[ well this wont go terribly at all. ]

[Any use for a unique Sith Lord?]

(he has a mentor-y sort of aura about him, don't ya think? which isn't to say mobius is up for learning new things because he's down for that too, especially if the thing you're planning on teaching him is in any way death-defying or just rad as hell.)

Edited 2021-07-07 19:42 (UTC)

[senpai or hero (from 3 and 4) probably]

[ up for any castmate for this, from the kids or adults; also happy with cross-canon. Zhongli is (spoilers!) an ancient being with earth powers that sculpted and watched over a city for the past uhhh 3700 years til he just recently 'retired', and is now living as a mortal. looking for him to be the mentor, and we've got a lot of possible angles to explore: can be back when he was still acting as a god (and taking other smaller gods/beings under his wing, maybe literally; did i mention one of his prior forms was a dragon?) or while he's a human masquerading as Rich Dude Who Just For Some Reason Knows A Ton Of History.

canonically a bit of a jack of all trades as far as knowledge goes, he's handy for lots of interests for this meme; come learn about horticulture, ancient funereal rites, damning archeological evidence of old wars, fighting styles, even cooking or fashion or other more useless tidbits (he definitely loves sharing those). works well as the older/mentoring party for 1/2/5/7.

mostly looking for either cute or dramatic threads (both???). especially love clashing personalities or misaligned expectations (mentee is expecting someone cruel but zhongli is surprisingly patient, things of that nature) being played out and eventually resolved. gimme ur trouble making students. feel free to pm to plan anything out or just go for it! ]

[Mentor for villainy here, or one could try to mentor him in being a good person?]

( definitely in need of a mentor )

(mentor in physical sciences, mathematics, surviving impossible situations, time travel, hypnotism, genocide, et cetera

mentee in ethics/morality

needs a companion, preferably one who is difficult to accidentally kill.)

Edited 2021-07-08 05:49 (UTC)

[ What could possibly go wrong? ]

[Wanna learn how to handle a six barrel revolver?]

[He spent all day making a glittery 'Mentor for Hire' sign and sat down in a lawn chair to enjoy a caramel frappe while patiently waiting for takers.

Please, at least LOOK at it!]

“Having fun?”

Well, it is a nice day out.

[Gently fanning himself, Kisuke reached out to gently tap the ostentatious sign post he set up.]

Are you looking for a mentor, Hirako-san? I may be your junior but I'm very insightful.

“Heh. I don’t really fancy being your newest guinea pig. Didn’t you adopt some kids for that? Go teach them how to rob a bank or something.”

He pauses, looks Kisuke up and down. “You’re glittering, by the way.”

Why would I need to rob a bank? The summer seasons are wonderful for the shop! And... Well, I've had to send them to take summer classes. I had thought Ururu was a better study but--

[Kisuke gave Shinji a little waggle of his fingers. They sparkled.]

Oh, this? I'm afraid it's the usual cost of being so eager to do arts and crafts!

Shinji shrugs. “Whatever floats your boat.” At least with Kisuke out here Shinji doesn’t have to worry about unexpected experiment-induced explosions. Probably.

“I’m gonna come out and assume you haven’t had any takers with the whole -” he waves a hand at Kisuke and his sign “- mentor thing. You might wanna ditch the hat. It makes you look shady.”

[Shinji would be devastated to know that Kisuke let most experiment trials run automatically in the basement all day. He could laze around the shop all day while his computer went through a thousand variables on a single control--]

Well, I'm not quite old enough to be the 'rugged old mentor with a heart of gold', so I've got to settle for 'the mysterious and quirky but somewhat handsome middle aged mentor'. I think you've done well with your 'older brother who likes to make quips and chide his student' look! You still look fresh and young!

[He laughed and tapped his chin with his fan, happy that someone actually wanted to talk to him about his utter nonsense of a pastime.]

I think the hat sells my look, right? If I'm not 'weird', then what else could I hope for?

“Somewhat handsome? Who you comparing yourself to, Kurotsuchi?” He’s gonna ignore the fact that Kurotsuchi has great bone structure without the ridiculous makeup.

He sits down next to Kisuke, wondering if it would be worth it to fight him for the lawn chair. The ground isn’t exactly comfortable.

“And I’m old enough to be your father.” He snorts. “Fresh and young my ass.”

With a grin, he turns to Kisuke. “It’s not the hat selling the ‘I’m a weird old man’ look, by the way.”

[Kisuke did his utmost to not laugh too hard at that and limited himself to a modest chuckle. He knew to ignore it, too. Kurotsuchi might have been the most demented looking man in Soul Society but Kisuke knew a regular outfit and hairstyle on him would have him giving little Byakuya a run for his money.]

You, old? Why, I doubt the validity of that claim!

[Even so, he was downright ready for Shinji to make the mistake of sitting with him on a pleasant summer day. With a flourish, he pulled a remote from his clothes and held up a remote with a single red button. Upon pressing it, a whole patio grill set came out of a sliding panel on the side of the shop beside Shinji with an electric skillet and a little platform for a tea kettle.]

Is it the stubble or is it my wise, perceptive eyes, then?

“Your what?”

He fights a grin. For all that Kisuke is too smart for his own good, Shinji’s never thought of him as wise before. ‘Wise eyes’ his ass.

“It’s probably combination of the stubble, your voice, and your reiatsu. Look, you just ooze distrustfulness.” It’s mostly the reiatsu, though - the Hollow in Shinji snarls at the feeling of Benehime’s power curling against him. When he’s not smothering his spiritual energy behind layers of Onmi training, Kisuke’s reiatsu is all but overwhelming in a way Shinji can’t mimic. All teeth and blood and unsettling power.

But he’s not about to show Kisuke of all people that he’s on edge. So Shinji reaches for the tea kettle, giving it an appraising look. He hopes Tessai made it; Shinji wouldn’t touch tea Kisuke made with a ten-foot pole.

[Kisuke had been slipping a little tea set out from under the grill, setting it up on a fold-out table in front of Shinji. He lifted a brow, wondering if Shinji had been thinking anything along the lines of 'Is it poisoned?'

It hadn't been but who would believe him? Certainly, not someone who had over a century of experience with him.]

I ooze distrustfulness? That's a rather hurtful thing to say, Hirako-senpai!

[He added--]

That said, you're fully on the mark, though I'm not exactly in the market for poisoning Captains--so, a cup of tea won't hurt you.

[He'd still pretend to be offended, at least.]

Oh and I'll have you know--the ladies love my five o'clock shadow and when I put the 'deep' voice on! I can be a masterful charmer.

Shinji pours the tea into a little teacup with - he snorts. “Do all of your teacups have your name embossed on ‘em, or is it just this one?”

He raises the teacup in a toast. “Well, there are some that like the rugged and mysterious type, I’ll give you that. Not my,” and he takes a sip to prove his point, “cup of tea though. Heh.”

The tea is...not great, not like Aizen’s - the guy was good at making tea, Shinji’ll give him that - but it’s not bad either. Shinji takes another sip, gives an appreciative hum.

Not at all!

[Kisuke offered a wry grin in response and returned Shinji's toast in good humor.]

The rest of them are a complete 'Substitute Soul' tea set, complete with matching coasters and plates!

[Then, he did the most polite thing a host could possibly do. He laughed at a pun that clearly hadn't been uttered to be laughed at. He had no regard for proper protocol.]

'Cup of tea'? Ah--clever! [Intentionally laughing at a pun instead of ignoring it ahd to have been the same as shining a spotlight on it. Kisuke grinned and strolled right past that intentional slight without a hint of grace--]

Oh, is the tea any good? I'm not the best when it comes to brewing but I do enjoy cheating by buying overpriced goods~!

He makes a face at Kisuke, sticking his tongue out. “It’s alright,” he says, a little grudgingly. “A little strong, but that’s okay.” It’s really not bad, though Shinji’s not surprised to hear that Kisuke cheats. He’d always been the work smart, not hard type.

(In contrast, more often than not, Shinji’d been the don’t work at all when you can procrastinate type.)

Narrowing his eyes, he gives Kisuke a Look. “But that’s not the point. Where’s the teacup with my name on it? You’re hurting my feelings, Urahara!”

[Shinji made an excellent point. The smile bled off of Kisuke and he reached into his robe for his phone. He very quickly drummed up a few notes and a bright light shined from under the brim of his hat in Shinji's direction.]

I suppose I'll simply have to rectify that lapse in my judgment, won't I?

My, oh my--I've been such a terrible host up to this point... Oh, but...

[Initially, he sounded flustered. Worried, even--]

Is that the kettle? I think I might have left something on in the kitchen, Hirako-san.

[He shuffled back into the shop, disappearing.]

[Shinji sticks his tongue out at Kisuke’s departing back, takes another sip of tea. He sorta wants to follow Kisuke in, but that’d be pretty rude. And Shinji isn’t usually the type to worry about being rude, but Tessai always had a sixth sense for troublemakers.]

Nice talk, I guess.

[He leans back onto the grass, balancing his teacup on his stomach.]

[Less than three minutes later, Kisuke stepped out of the shop, disheveled and a little sweaty. He reached over to set a wrapped-up cardboard box on Shinji's lap, assuming he already finished his tea. If not, there would probably be a mess--]

There we are! All finished!

[Inside, Shinji would find a whole set of tea cups and plates with his face on them. The photos? Not flattering. A few of them were before and after him sneezing.

When the hell were they taken?]

[Shinji looks at the box rather suspiciously.]

This is what all the fuss was ‘bout?

[Setting his (luckily empty) teacup to the side, Shinji pulls the wrapping paper off the box and throws it in Kisuke’s direction. Before he opens the box, he looks up.]

This ain’t gonna explode, is it?

Mmmmmmm-- [There was a bit more contemplating on Kisuke's end than there should have been for a question like that.]

No, no. It should be perfectly safe. [He added, quickly as Shinji was moments from opening the box.]

And they're all all microwave safe!

[ I mean... hello. 2, 3, 5 and 7 make the most sense. All good with cross canon, aus, etc. Obviously can mentor in sorcery (in the jjk way unless au) and some weaponry/physical combat, but other reasonable topics include: self-control (see that motto ino literally repeats word for word), baking/cooking, mixology... just don't go in expecting him to take advantage of any power imbalance or for it to go anywhere like that. ]

[ I guess this would be 8. A vampire sire mentors her fledgling in all things vampire. Don't be squeamish about drinking blood like Seras, she'll yell at you. ]

Edited 2021-07-08 19:18 (UTC)

[Surprisingly good teacher.* Need tutoring in the Force? A sharp lesson in ethics and the dangers of the Sith and Jedi philosophies? She's definitely it.]

[*For a given value of the words 'surprisingly', 'good', and 'teacher.' At any point reserves the right to utilize you in a master plan and/or sacrifice you as a piece in said grand design. Theoretically may keep you alive if a connection develops. Do not mention daughters if you wish to live. Sarcasm will result in annihilation. Prolonged exposure may be deleterious to your light-side persona.]

[Mentor - combat veteran, greatest fighter pilot of two generations. Has served in the role of mentor before in several ways. Survival, war trauma - he's been there. Complex discussions possible on the role of loyalty to the state, honor, revenge.]

[Her approach to things is, as ever, more direct. She sets down the large box she was carrying, lifting the lid to remove a chair, a smaller box with a slot in it, and a decently sized sign. One box goes on top of the other, the chair behind, and the sign in front.]

[And she sits behind the sign, putting her booted feet up.]

[It reads: 'How to Be a Proper Adventurer - £1']

( either role is fine by me. any sort of game based! )

[Technically a student after all.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

notice me, senpai!

Elio | Call Me By Your Name | OTA

shirabu kenjiro | hq!!

zelena | ouat | ota

seto kaiba | yugioh

Dilandau Albatou | Escaflowne

Ayase Yukiya | Okane ga Nai | OTA

Monika || Doki Doki Literature Club || OTA

Xingqiu ☙ Genshin Impact ☙ ota

Sylvie Laufeydottir || MCU: Loki || OTA

no subject

Mobius M. Mobius | Loki | OTA

Hawks | BNHA | OTA

Zhongli | Genshin Impact

Crow - Nefarious - OTA

sable | oc

missy | doctor who

Eda Clawthorne | The Owl House

Mon Mothma | Star Wars

Teddy Flood | Westworld

Urahara Kisuke | Bleach

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

I saw that icon and spat soda all over myself oh my god

the face of a man who touched yoruichi's butt without permission and didn't die

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

nanami kento | jujutsu kaisen | ota

Remilia Scarlet (adult or smol) | Touhou Project | OTA

Darth Traya | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II | OTA

Hans Von Hammer | DC Comics | OTA

Delilah Dirk | Delilah Dirk Graphic Novels | OTA

yugi mutou ⛛ yu☆gi☆oh! ⛛ ota

Bobby Drake/Iceman | X-Men