oops, I pressed the wrong button on Cascade Hall

Zack Dill, Alderaanian Prefect

November 28, 2006 11:24 AM

Aladren First Years, this way by Zack Dill, Alderaanian Prefect

As the feast began to wind down, Zack Dill began to fidget. Normally, he would have gone back up to the Common Room when he and Guenther finished eating, but today there was shiny new adornment on his school robes that kept him in place. He kept an eye on the Staff Table, watching Professor Kijewski's progress with her meal.

When it looked like she was done, Zack stood up abruptly and looked up and down the table traditionally known to belong to Alderaan (or Aladren as everyone else seemed to like to call his House). He said good night to all the students older than eleven that he happened passed as he walked down the length of the table.

For those who were eleven, he said, "Aladren First Years, this way. Gather together. Alderaan? Follow me, Professor Kijewski will be leading you all to the common room shortly. Aladren First Years, this way." He was about half and half for calling the House by its tradional name.

He was pleased to see that this year, a fair number of the new kids were shorter than him. However, with Zack standing only at 4'10", it seemed just as many were still bigger than he was, which was really starting to get annoying.

Spotting the Head of House when she arrived, he grinned up her and put aside his height inferiority complex as he reported, "Alderaanian First Years, present and accounted for." Which, technically, was a lie because he didn't have a list to check a role call against, but he'd found all the ones that he could.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Subthreads:

oops, I pressed the wrong button by Hyana Kamiya with Ebony, Hyana, Mika

Away We Go by DH Kijewski with Zack Dill, Mika

1 Zack Dill, Alderaanian Prefect Aladren First Years, this way 40 Zack Dill, Alderaanian Prefect 1 5

Hyana Kamiya

November 28, 2006 5:41 PM

oops, I pressed the wrong button by Hyana Kamiya

OOC: Sorry, my finger hit the wrong key! I feel so stupid!

IC: Hyana looked up quickly at the call for Aladren first years. The Prefect for her house, Zack Dill, was being surrounded by first years. Hyana followed suit. He was pretty short, she realized, but that didn't seem to bother him. Much. She gave a small smile. Zack kept saying Aldraan. It had a nice ring to it. At least not all of the people in Sonora seemed to hate her the moment she breathed. Maybe this place wouldn't be that bad.

Then she bumped into someone.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to." She said, making sure she didn't stutter. She was bumping into people continuously today. 'Idiot! You are such a klutz.' She mentally scolded herself. Hyana just hoped that the person wouldn't notice or was nicer than that girl with the braid.\n\n

0 Hyana Kamiya oops, I pressed the wrong button 0 Hyana Kamiya 0 5

DH Kijewski

November 28, 2006 9:59 PM

Away We Go by DH Kijewski

Kiva was starting to grew tired of being with the crowd. Sitting beside the Headmaster was strain enough for her as it was. They had only a few conversation since becoming a Professor and all of them under special circumstances. Making small talk with him...impossible.

The newest professors were interesting to say the least. One with a pink bubble hat and another with a somewhat scary smile. And the two professors with whom Kiva could have felt relatively comfortable talking with, she couldn't. One had been too far down the table to actually hold a conversation while the other one Kiva hadn't been able to locate. Not even his cat.

When she was finished with her salad, Kiva stood. Surprise registered when she heard someone calling out for the Aladrens. For a moment, she thought she had been replaced as the Aladren Head of House. But, as her eyes gazed around, she discovered that the voice belonged to Zack. A smile spread easily across her face at the sight of him taking the lead. He always seemed so reserved to her, but at least he was taking his duties seriously. Zack was always one Kiva could count one, which was probably why his actions last year had disappointed her so much.

Walking up to Zack and the group of first years, Kiva smiled warmly, first at Zack and then at the others. "Thank you Zack." Kiva said, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Hello everyone, I'm Professor Kijewski, if you'll follow me, I'll get you to our commonroom." She anounced to them before leaning towards Zack to whisper quietly, "Good job, Zack, mind walking with me?"

OOC: This post is to lead all Aladren First years to the Aladren Commonrooms. There will be a post up anouncing when they've arrived to the commons, so do not post there just yet. I want to point out that you do NOT have to end your threads at the feast. Continue with those for however long you like.\n\n

0 DH Kijewski Away We Go 0 DH Kijewski 0 5

Zack Dill

November 28, 2006 10:47 PM

Off off and away by Zack Dill

Zack beamed proudly at the praise and friendly squeeze Professor Kijewski gave him, feeling that he had finally, finally made up for disappointing her last year. He'd definitely been wrong to just passively not do anything in that class. He should have brought his concerns to her and worked out what to do from there. He wouldn't make that mistake again.

Hopefully there wouldn't be any more gnome lessons, though.

And there better not be any halfling ones either or he was in serious trouble. Or, for that matter, dragons, because he'd probably pass out if he saw one in real life and wouldn't that be embarrassing?

"Sure," he agreed readily to the request to walk with her. He just wished he stood out a bit more from the first years. While it was a strange feeling, being average height for any group of people, they were four years younger than him.

At least his voice was done changing which was more than any of them could say. So there. Granted, it wasn't very low or anything, but it wasn't squeaky or childish.

Plus, he had a shiny Prefect badge and they didn't. And Professor Kijewski was pleased with him once more. Maybe he didn't have to keep looking for a new favorite teacher.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1 Zack Dill Off off and away 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Ebony

November 29, 2006 12:08 PM

Leaving the Hall by Ebony

By the time Ebony had finished eating she had noticed out of the corner of her eye, the rest of her new year mates gathering around thier house Prefect.

Nervous, Ebony walked over and stood at the back. After she had had a quick lookaround she noticed that everybody around her was actually taller then she was. She had thought she was of average height, but it seemed she wasn't.

Whilst Ebony was trying to listen to what the prefect was saying somebody bumped into her back, that sent her forward. Only a quick grab at the table had kept her upright.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to." Called her attention to another girl. One who had actually been the first person to speak to her all day.

"It's okay. The table saved me." Ebony replied.\n\n

0 Ebony Leaving the Hall 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

November 29, 2006 6:58 PM

That's good by Hyana

Hyana gave a small smile, knowing that the girl was okay. She seemed nicer than the other girl too.

"That's good. I just keep running into people today. So, what's your name? I'm Hyana Kamiya." She whispered loud enough for the girl to hear her. Being the shy girl Hyana was, it was difficult for her to say anything at all. Hyana twirled some of her black hair around her finger, a nervous habit of hers, and hoped that maybe, just maybe, she and this girl could be friends. Her first friend in her life.\n\n

0 Hyana That's good 0 Hyana 0 5

Ebony

November 30, 2006 4:17 AM

My name's Ebony by Ebony

Ebony watched as the girl in front of her played with her black hair. The girl seemed really nice and didn't exude pureblood arrogance. Thank Merlin. Ebony had enough of that when she visited her Grandparents.

A shudder ran through Ebony as she remembered her last visit before she payed attention back to Hyana.

"No worries. I'm Ebony Green, but you can call me Ebony." She replied. "I like your name, is it Japanese?"\n\n

0 Ebony My name's Ebony 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

November 30, 2006 5:54 PM

Why, yes it is by Hyana

Hyana saw the girl named Ebony shudder slightly before she gave her name but didn't ask. She seemed nice, and maybe she could be a friend. Her first.

"Yeah, my name is japanese. My mother-" Hyana's voice broke. Her mother, the person who caused the most pain in her life...Hyana shook her head. She couldn't be depressed here! This was a new start, with new people! "My mother is part japanese. My father and sister are dead though. My dad was american. They were both nice people...Sorry!" She laughed.

"So what about you? Are you pureblood, half and half or muggle born? I'm muggle born if you really want to know." Hyana said in a rush. Why not ask. After all, it was a new start. Why not try to start a friendship off truthfully?\n\n

0 Hyana Why, yes it is 0 Hyana 0 5

Mika

December 01, 2006 12:05 AM

Let Us Away by Mika

When the first years were summoned, Mika rolled his wheelchair away from the table and over to the professor and older student. He watched the other students around him quietly, hands folded in his lap as he waited. He was pale and a bit frail-looking. After a moment, he nervously pushed his glasses up on his nose, then folded his hands again. He was more than ready to retreat to what small amount of private space he had. Mika was sure he would have to share a room, probably with several other boys. That was okay, not great, but okay. He would find himself a quiet place somewhere, maybe in the library.

Mika watched and waited. He was tall, when he stood, but in his wheelchair he was far shorter then those around him. He wished he could blend in just a bit more, and inched his wheelchair back a bit.\n\n

0 Mika Let Us Away 0 Mika 0 5

Ebony

December 01, 2006 6:19 AM

Pureblood by Ebony

Ebony had never particulary been bothered to ever find out if her friends were purebloods or halfbloods. Her mother had made sure she had been sent to a muggle primary school when she had been old enough to undestand not to use accidental magic when there. Of course, not without huge objections from her Grandmother.

Dear old battleaxe.

"I'm a pureblood. Although my mother was a muggleborn witch. My dad comes from a long line of purebloods. Not that i see them very often." Thank Merlin, Ebony finished to herself.

"Looks like the prefect is leading us up to our new home for the year." Ebony said noticing that a teacher had obviously been talking and she had missed what had been said. "Come on."

Ebony took the girls hand and pulled gently to see if she would follow.

I can't wait to tell mum and dad about making a new friend, Ebony thought, and it's not a new book!\n\n

0 Ebony Pureblood 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

December 01, 2006 11:19 AM

Okay by Hyana

Hyana looked at her hand, the one Ebony had. She looked right back up at Ebony's smiling face with curiosity, but soon smiled back. They headed to the common room, with Hyana thinking, 'I have a friend! I have a friend!'\n\n

0 Hyana Okay 0 Hyana 0 5

Ebony

December 01, 2006 1:42 PM

Lessons by Ebony

The hand in hers felt comforting to Ebony, it made hre feel not so alone since she had left her parents to come to school.

Ebony decided that silence was all well and good but if she wanted to keep this friend she had better talk.

"So which lessons do you plan on going to? I love Potions and can't wait to see what we will be learning. I wanted to bring all of my potion books from home, but mum caught me trying to stuff them into my trunk and told me to only take three instead! Did you buy any extra books to help in your lessons?"\n\n

0 Ebony Lessons 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

December 01, 2006 5:17 PM

Well... by Hyana

It was nice to be with a friend, Hyana realized as she and Ebony followed the Professor and Zack. She thought for a minute about Ebony's question and answered, "Well, I can't wait for all of them! I've read every textbook I have already and I can do some simple spells. What about you?"

Hyana smiled brightly, something not many people would ever see. It felt good to use her voice.\n\n

0 Hyana Well... 0 Hyana 0 5

Mika

December 02, 2006 8:05 PM

An Addition to Previous Post by Mika

As he wheeled back just a bit, he felt his chair bump into something, just a little. Animate or inanimate, he wasn't sure, and turned around to see if there was someone he had to apologize to, or if it had been just a piece of furniture\n\n

0 Mika An Addition to Previous Post 0 Mika 0 5

Ebony

December 03, 2006 7:43 AM

Well... by Ebony

"Well my dad was teaching me a few spells before i came to school. I got most of them. But i much prefer the theory." Ebony responded. "I've read my textbooks too, though. I wouldn't want to be the only one not too!'

Ebony smiled back at Hyana. She could tell she was going to get along well with Hyana. They had both read thier textbooks, Hyana could help her with the spells she messed up and she could help her with the theory. Quite a nice pair really. \n\n

0 Ebony Well... 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

December 04, 2006 5:50 PM

That's cool by Hyana

"That's so cool, that your dad helped you, I mean. My mom didn't bother to help me with anything..." Hyana lowered her eyes and stared at her feet. Mentally slapping herself for the upteenth time that day, she looked back up smiling. "The theory? Hmmm...I might need help with that. I thought I was going to be the only one that read my textbooks!"

Hyana's mind raced, trying to think of something else to say. "Are you going to try out for quidditch?"\n\n

0 Hyana That's cool 0 Hyana 0 5

Ebony

December 05, 2006 4:16 AM

Quidditch? by Ebony

At the word Quidditch, Ebony shuddered.

"No!" Ebony almost shouted. "I mean, i'm not very good on a broom. I'm scared of heights."

It didn't help that her Grandmothers favourite weapon to disapline her with when she was a child had been a broomstick, Ebony thought.

"Are you going to try out?" Ebony asked interested. It would be different cheering for the house team if Hyana was on it.

'I'd actually go to the matches instead of staying in the library' Ebony thought.
\n\n

0 Ebony Quidditch? 0 Ebony 0 5

Mika

December 05, 2006 1:08 PM

Joining In by Mika

Mika was having to work a bit at keeping up with the rest of the class, it wasn't an issues of speed, he could wheel his chair faster than most people could walk, when he put his mind to it. This school wasn't wheelchair accessible by a long shot though. Tight corners, raised door jambs, and stairs. His wheelchair had been magicked by his mother, and levitated up stairs, but it was slow.

He found himself near two girls his own age, and heard them talking about text books, than quiddich, he couldn't help but try and participate in conversation. He loved both text books and quiddich. Besides, no one had spoken to him yet. He hadn't expected a warm reception. There were almost no disabled wizards. In fact, Mika had never met another one. People were scared of what was different. He hadn't expected to be flat out ignored at the feast though.

"You could learn," Mika spoke over his shoulder to the girls, "to not be afraid of heights. It would take some practice. But maybe it would be worth it, da?" His voice was accented a bit heavily, but he enunciated clearly. The accent was maybe Eastern European, soviet block.\n\n

0 Mika Joining In 0 Mika 0 5

Ebony

December 05, 2006 2:16 PM

Oh.... by Ebony

Ebony jumped when she heard a voice from near by. When she turned around she could see a boy in a wheelchair looking at them.

"Um, hello."

What had he asked? Ebony thought. She had been caught up talking to Hyana. Oh yeah, that waas it, Ebony thought to her self before responding.

"I hate brooms mainly and can you imagine what would happen if you dropped from that height?" Ebony could alrady imagine the broken bones she could get. She wasn't to proud to admit she was scared. "I'd prefer to keep my feet on the ground." The boy seemed friendly. After Ebony had glanced at Hyana she spoke again.

"Do you play quidditch... i mean like quidditch as..." Ebonyn tailed off. Stupid, stupid girl! He's in a wheelchair! "Sorry." Ebony turned and looked pleadingly at Hyana to help with the conversation. She liked the boy on first sight he didn't seemed snobbish like some other students, but she had already made a disaster of the conversation, she wouldn't be surpirsed if was insulted and went away. \n\n

0 Ebony Oh.... 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

December 05, 2006 6:35 PM

Hi by Hyana

Hyana turned around quickly at the sound of the boy's voice. She came into eye contact with a boy in a wheelchair. Her shy nature taking over, she backed up behind Ebony, her face burning with embarrassment. He had gone out of his way to talk to them, and she was hiding like a coward. He probably thought that she was a snob. She listened to Ebony's reply, followed by a question. Then Ebony turned around and look at Hyana, a pleading look in her eyes.

"D-don't worry, she didn't mean to offend you. I-I'm Hyana Kamiya and this is Ebony. What's your name?" She finally stuttered, and extended a hand out to the boy. He seemed pretty lonely, and nobody should be lonely like Hyana was. Until today.\n\n

0 Hyana Hi 0 Hyana 0 5

Mika

December 05, 2006 10:46 PM

I'm Mika by Mika

"It is okay." He said with a small smile, inclining his head a bit. Hyana wasn't the only one who was a bit on the shy side. Mika wasn't so much shy, just very reserved and generally self possessed. "I am not offended. I would rather to have people ask about these things, then just think that they know." He smiled again, still a small smile.

"My name is Mika'el Romanova, it is okay to call me Mika though. That is what most people call me." English was clearly not his first language, though he was fluent, he did have to think a bit as he spoke. He shook the Japanese girl's hand. His hand was long fingered and rather fragile looking, but would feel stronger than it looked from working the wheels of his chair. "I am pleased to meet you."

He looked at Ebony, "Actually, I do play quiddich. I am hoping to be on the school team maybe, but I have not had much practice. My mother does not want me to play." He paused, then smiled again. "If there was ever a sport that was made for someone who could not walk, it would be quiddich, da?" He smiled a little wider at this. He was determined he would play.\n\n

0 Mika I'm Mika 0 Mika 0 5

Hyana

December 05, 2006 10:55 PM

Really? by Hyana

Hyana shook Mika's hand and was surprised by his strong grip. He looked so frail, but was so strong. "Actually, I do play quidditch." She heard him say, and she cocked her head slightly to the side. It would be hard for him to play, wouldn't it? Hyana had read about quidditch. It sounded like a lot of fun, especially chaser.

"I-i'm trying out too. I probably won't make it, seeing that I'm muggleborn and have never ridden a broom in my life." She said with a quiet laugh. Mika was really nice. Maybe she was going to have more friends here than she thought. "So where are you from?" She asked, trying to keep a conversation going. Who would want to be friends with a quiet girl? That's all she was to her mother.\n\n

0 Hyana Really? 0 Hyana 0 5

Mika

December 07, 2006 8:09 AM

If You Can Ride a Bike... by Mika

"Ah," he said with a nod when Hyana said she was muggleborn. He didn't care about blood. As far as he was concerned people who made an issue of blood were just Nazi's in different clothes. "Do not worry, if you can ride a bike, you will probably be able to ride a broom." Of course, he couldn't ride a bike, but that's what he had been told. He looked at Ebony. "Broken bones are not too bad, and very easy to fix with magic. It only hurts for a little time." He was trying to be reassuring, but he wasn't one to smile much, which probably changed the tone of what he was saying a bit.

"I am from Roosia originally, but more recently from Israel. My mother and I moved to the United States not much long ago." He pushed his glasses up on his nose. "You are from where?" he directed the question at the both of them.\n\n

0 Mika If You Can Ride a Bike... 0 Mika 0 5

Ebony

December 07, 2006 10:24 AM

Scotland by Ebony

"You are from where?" Mika asked.

Ebony decided the shortest answer was probably the best. He was a new friend after all.

"Well my dads family came from Scotland, and my mum from London, but as my dads family never liked my mum we moved to London to be closer to my mums family."

"Where's Roosia? I've never heard of it before?" Ebony asked interested. \n\n

0 Ebony Scotland 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

December 07, 2006 5:29 PM

Thanks and America by Hyana

Hyana felt good about this boy, Mika. He was very nice. She wished he would smile though. She never allowed anyone but herself be miserable. "You are from where?" he asked her and Ebony. She waited for Ebony to finish, because it would be rude to interrupt. When Ebony finished, Hyana said:

"My father was from America, and my mother..." Hyana took a breath and silently cursed herself. She was letting her stupid mother take control of her mind, and she wasn't even there! It didn't matter what she said, her mother couldn't here it, right?

"My mother is from Japan. So sometimes I speak in Japanese, don't mind it. It's just a habit." Hyana caught herself rambling and stopped, a blush coming across her face. That was stupid of her. She looked down at her feet, and let Ebony ask her question.\n\n

0 Hyana Thanks and America 0 Hyana 0 5

Mika

December 07, 2006 7:26 PM

Soviet Union by Mika

"Ah, I am sorry, I am not speaking clearly." At least he assumed that was the problem, Russia was huge, and very hard to miss on a map. "Rooshia, ah, former Soviet Union? USSR?"

"Ah, the UK, so you are not American either." Mika smiled, glad he had found some comrades

He smiled widely when the girl said she spoke Japanese. "You speak Japanese? That is most excellent! I speak some Japanese, but not much. I am wanting to learn more, will you teach me?" He asked, he smiled now, and rather widely, for him.

He very much wanted to study in Japan someday, during world war II a Japanese diplomat stationed in Lithuania had signed thousands of exit visas for Lithuanian and Polish refugee Jews, getting them out of the Nazi's reach and into Japan, just ahead of the German army. He had done it at great risk to himself and his family, as the Nazi's would have surely killed him for what he did, and his own government later demoted him, as it had told him he was not to issue those visas. The Japanese Government had protected the Jews that had escaped to Japan though, and relations between the Japanese and the Jews went back to even before that. Mika wanted nothing more than to study there someday.\n\n

0 Mika Soviet Union 0 Mika 0 5

Hyana

December 07, 2006 8:16 PM

Oh, you mean Russia by Hyana

Hyana watched Mika smile, and smiled herself. 'Now that's better! He's happy.' She thought, and then listened to him speak. Then she turned and spoke to Ebony quickly, "He means Russia Ebony." She turned back to Mika. "I could try. I really didn't learn much from my mother...she never did anything to help me. But enough about my baka mother. What's your family like?"

She bit her lip. She had never said anything bad about her mother, or anyone for that matter. But she didn't care. She was...how many miles away from her mom? She couldn't hurt her until the summer. Shifting from one foot to another, she looked at him curiously. He seemed to speak many different languages. And Ebony was from the UK! Who knew? She was glad she had friends, and couldn't wait for the school year to get started.

OOC: Baka: stupid.\n\n

0 Hyana Oh, you mean Russia 0 Hyana 0 5

Ebony

December 10, 2006 7:28 AM

Kicking oneself by Ebony

Ebony wanted to kick herself. Or at least go and bash her head against a wall. Russia, Russia, how could she have not figured that out. Stupid, stupid girl!

Once Ebony had finished berating herself, she realised the conversation between Hyana and Mika had stopped. Or it could have been that the last question about his family was a bit intimidating. Ebony decided to step in.

"My family is mainly purebloods on my dads side. They're... not very nice. Mum was muggleborn so they don't particulary like her. There's just me, mum and dad. Not much fun being an only kid though, can't blame things on a sibling if i do something wrong. Do you have any brothers and sisters?" Ebony hoped this would get Mika talking. \n\n

0 Ebony Kicking oneself 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

December 10, 2006 4:31 PM

Don't worry by Hyana

Hyana gave a sigh of relief when Ebony stepped in. She probably just said something really stupid to Mika, and that's why he didn't say anything back. 'Baka Hyana, baka!' She mentally scolded herself.

She hoped that maybe he would answer Ebony, that would make her feel a bit better. All she knew is that she must have said something stupid.

OOC Translation:
Baka: Idiot, stupid, those things.\n\n

0 Hyana Don't worry 0 Hyana 0 5

Mika

December 10, 2006 11:38 PM

Mother and I by Mika

"Ah, I am sorry that your family is not nice to your mother. I think it is very stupid and bigoted for people to think that things like blood matter." He cocked his head slightly, thinking about how to answer about his own family. The question wasn't all that upsetting or anything.

"My parents are pojshyenyeno..." there was another pause, "um, no longer together?" He couldn't think of the English word, wondering if he had ever heard it before even. "I have a brother, he is older than me. He lives with my father in Roosia. I live with my mother. She is in New York now. She is a Healer, but she is attending a very good school for Healers." he nodded and pushed up his glasses, very proud of his mother. He knew how hard it was to be a single mother. Especially a single mother from two cultures that strongly disapproved of being a single mother, and being a single mother to a 'special needs' child.

"My brother attends Durmstrang." Mika added as a bit of an afterthought.

((OOC: Mika wasn't not responding, his player wasn't responding. I was waiting for Ebony to post, since Hyana and I had made a couple posts in a row. I didn't want to leave her behind.))\n\n

0 Mika Mother and I 0 Mika 0 5

Ebony

December 11, 2006 11:45 AM

Separated by Ebony

"Oh, so your parents are separated." Ebony jumped in. That made sense.

"It's a shame you don't go to the same school as your brother, as i doubt you see him much." It must be quite sad, Ebony thought, having a brother and then rarely seeing them.

"My mum doesn't have a job, she's a housewife and sometimes helps out in a muggle nursery a few times a week. My dad doesn't have to work but he does. He works creating spells, or improving on ones already invented. He comes home with some really wierd results sometimes." Ebony laughed remembering past moments. "He's turned his hair some interesting colours, not to mention the extra limbs he's come home with." Ebony shook her head.

"Hyana, what does your mother do?" Ebony wondered if Hyana would answer, she seemed unsure when talking about her mother.\n\n

0 Ebony Separated 0 Ebony 0 5

Hyana

December 12, 2006 7:04 PM

That's too bad. by Hyana

Hyana felt so sorry for Mika. It must be hard to have both parents alive, but divorced. It would hurt her alot. She listened to Ebony's story, and found herself laughing when she spoke about her dad. But her laughing stopped abruptly when Ebony asked, "Hyana, what does your mother do?" Hyana bit her lip; her mood totally changed. She thought in her head, 'She beats me for a living.' That's what she wanted to say, but she didn't, of course.

"My mom? Well..." Hyana unconsiously twirled her black hair around her finger. "She...she's a muggle, so she doesn't do jobs that the magical community does." Hyana was avoiding the question, and hated herself for it. "My mother works as a waitress. At this place called Hooters. I do the work at home, and I have to have it done before she comes home." Hyana's hand automatically went to her left shoulder, remembering her mother's reaction when she got the letter from Sonora. She stayed quiet for a while, unable to say anymore.\n\n

0 Hyana That's too bad. 0 Hyana 0 5

Mika

December 12, 2006 11:15 PM

Didn't See That Coming by Mika

Mika listened to the girls, and shrugged a little, when Ebony mentioned his brother. His relationship with Tomaz was very complicated. That was largely his father's fault. Though, Mika supposed that even with out his father's 'wonderful' influence, Tomaz may not have been a warm and loving brother. As it was now, when they were together... Sometimes Tomaz was a very good big brother... other times, it was terrible. When he had been younger, Mika wanted nothing more than for Tomaz to like him... He still had that longing, but, Mika understood now that as long as Tomaz was with their father, he would never be consistent in his affection.

"It is better that we go to different schools. He and I do not always get on very well." Mika said simply. That was normal enough, lots of kids fought with their siblings.

Mika cocked his head as Hyana tensed up, started to fidget. When she said where her mother worked, Mika couldn't help it, his eyes went huge and both eyebrows shot up. He knew what 'Hooters' was. He was honestly completely shocked, and maybe a touch scandalized, in a way that most American boys probably wouldn't have been. His mother wore long sleeves, long skirts, and a scarf over her hair, even in the summer, even in the summer in the desert. Most of the women he knew in his young life dressed similarly, if not even more conservatively. Of course, he had seen women dress in short skirts and low cut shirts, in both Russia and Israel, but he knew at least some of those women had been prostitutes. He had seen that most women in New York seemed to dress like that, or at least, 'short skirt' and 'low cut' by Mika's conservative standards. Never, though, had he known anyone whose mother dressed in such a way. It was immodest and undignified.

Mika tried very hard to school his expression. He didn't want Hyana to think that he thought poorly of her. He didn't. Hyana seemed perfectly nice. There was no reason to think poorly of her because her mother displayed her body to make money. It sounded like Hyana's mom wasn't married either. Maybe that was why she had to work at such a place. Mika was lucky that his mother was a Healer. They weren't wealthy, but they were well off enough Mika never had to worry about going wanting. He knew that wasn't true for many single women with children though. But, he thought, that in the US, there wasn't much of a social taboo... He shook his head slightly to clear it. Regardless of why, he didn't think any less of Hyana... assuming Hyana didn't want to go 'into the family business' so to speak.

He watched Hyana as she continued to speak, she seemed very nervous, the way she was touching herself, 'self comforting', Mika's mother called it. Maybe her mother was mean to her? Maybe Hyana's mother hit her? Mika's mother never hit him. His father and brother though... He reached up and patted her shoulder gently, not the one she had touched, that one might be sore.

"It is okay, Hyana."

Mika was a very reserved boy, some of his teachers from his yeshiva even considered him cold and aloof. Other kids had thought him stuck up, because he was quiet, because he was stoic. It wasn't true. Mika was a very caring and compassionate boy, with a extremely sharp intellect and ability to piece together details into a logical sequence. In Russia, lots of kids were beaten by their parents. Russia was not a nice place to live, really, though Mika missed it sometimes. To him, it wasn't all that abnormal of a thought, that Hyana's mother might beat her. It wasn't very nice, parents shouldn't do that. Mika knew full well, both from personal experience, and observation, that it happened all the time though.\n\n

0 Mika Didn't See That Coming 0 Mika 0 5

Hyana

December 14, 2006 8:26 PM

Not many people do by Hyana

Hyana looked up at Mika as she spoke, and Ebony too. She knew they must be thinking horrible things about her, because her mom was a...well, her mother didn't have the most appropriate career. She knew that they must think she was following her mother's footsteps. But it was quiet the opposite. She would never do anything like that. It was one of the stupidest careers anyone could think of! Even though she could see the shock on Mika's face, he reached out and told her it was okay.

"A-arigato Mika..." She managed to say. It was pretty strange, she still wasn't used to kindness from others. She didn't really know how to react to it. 'I wonder if they would let me use honorifics...' Hyana thought, then laughed. She never had a chance to use -kun or -chan, and it was a stupid thought.

She looked at Mika, and saw the kind smile on his face. She looked at Ebony and saw the same look. They both were so kind, she knew she was ready for whatever faced her in the school. She knew she had to tell them about her father and sister though, but wanted to wait for the right time.\n\n

0 Hyana Not many people do 0 Hyana 0 5