Real name: Unknown Known As: The Janitor, The Jan, Jan. Former titles: Guardian, Gatekeeper, Groundskeeper, Warden. Real Age: Unknown. Numbering in hundreds, perhaps thousands? Age in appearance: late 20's, early 30's. Race: Demon (humanoid). Appearance:
- He is about 6-6'1 ft tall, regular built, with broad-ish shoulders. - His Eye colour is a dull grey-ish red/pink. Otherwise human-looking. - His Hair is a messy, short, dull black. The pastel pink-blue-and-rainbow-ish streak is a work-related incident (read below). - He has visible, black horns and tail. The horns are mainly for show, as they symbolize some form of authority. The tail is solid and powerful. One strike could easily break a desk in two. He can use it to grab, lift and carry stuff (and persons) around, but it does not work well for more delicate actions (he can't use it for dusting, etc.). - Usual clothes involve a jumpsuit or training jacket & pants. Loose fit, easy to work in, and not a problem if they get dirty. - He likes accessories, especially his safety-goggles, badge and janitor keys. - He is usually seen carrying around tools or equipment, like a broom, mop & bucket, plunger, lost body parts.
Personality: Quiet, only speaks in one-one conversations, or commandeers large groups (of students). Very diligent, hard-working. Shows little emotion, his expression is usually deadpan, with the occasional smile or stern look. He does not dislike people, but does not usually concerns himself with social ties. Almost everything he does is out of his sense of duty. His spiritual essence (mind, soul, consciousness, or whatever you call it) was summoned to possess the body of a dying man, which may have died during the process. Arguably that makes him a zombie, but his spiritual energy prevents the vessel from decaying or aging, and keeps it functional. He has near-unlimited stamina and his body is practically indestructible (it does take superficial damage, but the internal structure is stronger than that of an average human body).
So this guy, as you might have guessed, is a highschool janitor. More specifically, the janitor of a very special highschool; one that harbours gifted youngsters, like the ones from the Chance Item Champion Halls', but also with more traditional magical powers. (Imagine a Gaia/X-men/Harry Potter cross-over, and you get the gist of it.) So basically, he has to deal with any mess magical, super powered, super smart teenagers can potentially make.
This guy is probably in his late 20's, going on 30. Or.. looks like it. No one really knows when he was hired, or by who, but he does his job, he does it well and he does it without complaining, if he talks at all. The truth is, he was never hired, but came with the building. As a demon bound to the grounds on which the campus is built, he doesn't have much of a choice but to adapt.
He has been known in the past, before the school was built, as a guardian, gatekeeper, and groundskeeper. These were titles he proudly lived up to, in every era. When the school was built, he took up the title/name Janitor. He thinks it sounds nice.
He gets along well with most of the staff members (especially with the school nurse). With the few that do not like him, they usually come to a mutual agreement of staying out of each other's way. He is quick to earn the respect of new students at the start of the year, with helping them find their way, solving problems and cleaning accidents (they do not always control their powers as well as they would want). Or, if someone has a bad attitude, the Janitor will be the bigger man, or the bigger bully, to establish a food chain hierarchy. Though, he does feel responsible for the campus, as well as all people on it, and will help, protect and occasionally educate whoever he happens to cross while doing his routines. Breaking up fights, disciplining/punishing students, and occasionally looking after the class of an absent teacher is all part of the job, after all.
Since he has been around longer than anyone else, he usually picks up on rumours, gossip and dirt on others. And since he is a permanent employee, he never forgets anything. He does not abuse his information/position, but sometimes it comes in handy. His demonic nature shines through when he bargains with people, students and teachers alike. He trades favours back and forth, from food and candy to homework, chores (never straight-up cash or illegal substances), and teaching certain people certain lessons. He does not actively blackmail anyone, but he can usually tell when someone is in need of something, and has enough leverage everywhere to get things done and sorted. His reputation does make it so that people are more quickly to approach him, rather than the other way round. People don't always get what they want in the way they would want it, but he doesn't concern himself with that. He is not violent unless provoked, and has a very persuasive manner of talking to people, making offers few people can refuse. Just for the record, he is well aware of human laws, and has no interest for personal/sexual favours from under-aged students. Teachers, however...
There are plenty of hallfs to sweep. Blood, guts and teeth are all part of the daily routine, the numerous buildings on campus all have plenty of windows to clean, and of all the toilets available, there's always one clogged, somewhere.
More info, ideas and references
When the Janitor is not working, he can usually be found in the basement of one of the main campus buildings. The large, underground floor was otherwise not in use, so he decided to take up residence there (especially since he lacks the means and desire for a regular house or apartment). It consists of a single hallway with several rooms of various sizes, including necessary facilities. Few people, students and staff alike, know or care for its existence, and the main access point/doorway is marked with a 'Janitor' label. Only the school nurse is allowed access, but she too knows which door she should or shouldn't open.
The Biology classroom needs special attention, with the numerous jars lined and piled on the shelves. It's a time-consuming chore, so he enjoys listening to music while dusting. This and this are samples of what he would listen to. He loves his classics, but doesn't dislike modern music. He doesn't dance, but shows the occasional head-bob and foot-tap when he's enjoying himself.
The Copier, though usually a reliable machine, acts up every now and then. Whether a student pulled a prank, or the machine itself gets possessed by a hungry ghost, the Janitor knows how to deal with it.
Next to keeping the halls clean and the students in line, the Janitor supervises several other potential dangers, such as magical books, and magical monsters.
If a strong hand doesn't work, maybe a nice story will calm the savage beast?
Some kids...
Though untrained, he can fix most technical problems fairly well. The many buildings around the campus need plenty of maintenance.
The story behind his rainbow-coloured streak of hair.
In the first few years after the school’s foundation, the Janitor did his job as agreed, but had little interest to interact with the students at all. It had been too long since he had worked with minors, and the social dynamics had changed so much, he made little effort to try and work with them, just as long as they stayed out of his way.
Unfortunately, it became apparent that some kids just don’t mix, and for students with special gifts this was no exception. The Janitor had little choice but to step up whenever a fight broke out, in the attempt to limit the damages, and hopefully make sure nobody lost an eye, or a limb. It was not because he enjoyed showing off his strength by comparison, but he realized that some young people need the guidance. It’s something he remembered from long ago, and decided that he could at least protect the students from each other, and themselves.
But he underestimated what it meant to deal with such students. Even though he is rarely fazed or caught off guard, some things cannot be anticipated.
One of the school’s early students, a girl named Aurora, had the gift of changing the colours of objects, material, and even people’s features. Though not necessarily a dangerous gift, it got her into trouble every so often. Though she managed to control it quite well, any emotional instability or provocation could cause an outburst, sometimes to the point where her otherwise gently rays would bundle into powerful beams, causing a surge of colours through the entire space (like a classroom). The beams would also cause visual distortion, motion-sickness, nausea and temporary blindness to people within range. She was usually able to fix the damage (getting rid of the pastel- and rainbow splashes on the walls), but occasionally the Janitor had to re-paint a wall, or a desk.
During a small school party, Aurora was caught in a fight with one of her fellow students. The Janitor was attending the event as an overseer, and it didn’t take long for him to notice the noise caused by several students shouting, and gathering in one corner of the large hall. Making his way through the crowd, he could already tell that Aurora was about to burst, and with so many students around, things could turn ugly. He made it just in time, broke up the fight, and pulled the girl away from the crowd. Paying little attention to his own safety, however, he was caught in the blast, and was hit square in the face. Though physically sturdy, the beam almost fried his eyes and knocked him unconscious. She had floored him. The visible damage was limited to the rainbow-coloured streak of hair.
It took him a few days to recover. Aurora felt guilty for causing him so much trouble, and it somehow inhibited her to change his hair back to normal. Though trying to dye his hair at first, over time he got used to it, and left his hair as it is now.
And after that event, he never underestimated a student’s ability ever again. And he always wears his safety-goggles.
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Sophie the Nurse (Inspired by and co-created with The Hot Box)
Sophie and the Janitor have a good working-relationship, as they work under different circumstances from most of the teachers and other staff. As the school nurse, Sophie has the responsibility to treat injuries, take care of sick students, and generally handle emergencies when they arise (as they do frequently). In most cases, she is the one making the calls of what has to be done, and makes sure a situation is taken care of in the most effective way. The Janitor, though usually not one to take specific orders, knows she is good at her job, and usually assists her when needed. The nurse's office needs extensive cleaning on a near-daily basis, so the two tend to run into each other often. And though he is not particularly bothered, the Janitor often suffers minor injuries as a result of his many hazardous chores, and Sophie insists on treating him every time, despite his protests.
On school grounds she's seen most often in her red and white uniform, never having it off in the presence of a student. Her ears and tail are often hidden at work to avoid giving students a reason to take her less seriously, though when dressed casually or around those that are close to her shes willing to show them more openly. She prefers to wear heels when she isn't working. Like the janitor, she has her own set of tools that is usually kept close at hand in a first aid kit. She's dedicated to healing others and has even studied magic to aid her in her work.
She is probably about 5ft 4in, average height. Age 25 (or at least she appears that way). Petite body, light fair skin. Her cheeks always seem to have a light blush to them. Her hair a light cream, almost white (ears and tail slightly darker). The eye that's visible is dark brown, but she always has a bandage over the other.
She hides her ears and tail for most people, except the few she trusts. Normally she'd have men ogling over her, and too many people assume she's a sweet, innocent, harmless little bunny, which she is by nature, but doesn't appreciate people treating her little better than a pet. She is generally calm, a little frisky, but not one to trust easily. The Janitor is unfazed by pretty much anything, and was not surprised when he accidentally found out about her secret. He treats her the same as anyone, with respect as long as its deserved. Because of this, Sophie has taken a particular liking to him.
Just between the two of them, Sophie and the Janitor have a much more elaborate relationship, which is best described as 'good friends with benefits'. They enjoy each other's company without the need to talk too much, and spend a lot of time (if available) together, but because of their personal circumstances they won't commit to a serious, emotional relationship. So they have settled for a friendship that includes a physical relationship, but they know when to keep things professional and respect each others boundaries. Considering their general demeanor, it's almost a pet-master relation in the literal sense, but only in strict privacy. Around the school she's generally the one ordering him around when work is involved.
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Old Man Vee
In the prisons in hell, they work you hard You mop up the halls and you mop up the yard If you're good at your job, you're a little less scarred But I guess it's all in the the hoping.
There's blood over here, there's blood over there You mop up the cells and you mop up the stair You mop up the blood that is matted in your hair But I guess it's all in the coping.
No one knows exactly where this particular piece of poetry/song comes from. The Janitor is heard to occasionally mumble or whisper the lines, or hums a tune that carries a similar feeling to it. Some people consider the possibility that, well before the school itself was built, a jail of sorts stood on the very same location. The Janitor is not the type to come up with a text as this, so he may have picked it up from someone residing in that jail at the time. Presumably the Janitor himself was a jailer or janitor at that time as well, supervising and disciplining the convicts. The exact details remain unknown.