Tea and inquiry...sounds like a mystery novel. on Cascade Hall

Saul Pierce

November 24, 2008 3:44 PM

Polling 5th & 6th years by Saul Pierce

Saul was dressed up. Appearance was critical during an election. Impressions were made and judgments rendered based on nothing more substantial than the cut of one's clothes. As the old adage goes, Clothes make a man. Saul wasn't going to let his cost him any votes.

So he wore robes that were neat and clean, his tie was straight, his collared shirt was white and buttoned, his shoes were black and shone (quite the contrast from his usual converse that stuck out below his school robes), and the bottoms of his pants showed he was wearing grey slacks instead of blue jeans beneath the robes. Even his hair was styled with gel (actually, not an uncommon occurrence, but this time he'd managed it in a way that was not meant to deliberately convey 'windswept' - a style that took far more effort than one might have expected) and his fingernails were clean and trimmed. He stood straighter, and his usual manic exuberance was visibly reined in.

In the crook of his arm, he held a clipboard with a list of every student in the fifth and sixth years. Beside each name were three boxes labeled 'Yes,' 'No,' and 'Undecided.' So far, only the one beside his own name had a check, inside the box for 'Yes'. Below the list of students, he had five questions with empty space below them for responses and tallies.

Whenever he spotted someone on his list, he approached them and asked as professionally as sixteen years as part of a politically involved family could teach him about pollsters and campaigning, "Would you vote for Saul Pierce for Head Boy if he was on the ballot?" The answer to this question was marked into the appropriate check box beside that student's name.

If they answered yes, he thanked them for their vote and time, and let them go on their way. If they said no or that they weren't sure, he had a few follow-up questions for them.

"Which candidate do you feel would make the best Head Boy?"

"What qualities are you looking for in a Head boy?"

"Do you feel Mr. Pierce is organized and experienced enough to be a good Head Boy?"

"Do you believe his academic record would impair his ability to perform the duties of a Head Boy?"

"Do you have any other reservations about voting for Saul Pierce?"

He was hoping that by speaking about himself in the third person, the subjects of his poll would not feel bad about answering honestly. He was about 75% sure he could handle the truth without taking it personally.

OOC: If I could get responses from most fifth and sixth years, that would be fabulous, especially if you're a no or an undecided. Your answers will affect how Saul's campaign proceeds. Thanks muchly.

Also: If your character is uncomfortable answering these questions to Saul's face, and is obvious about it, he will volunteer to accept 'declines to answer' as a response for any and all of them, but he will go through the whole list because he's trying to prove that he's aware of and trying to address his shortcomings.\r\n\r\n

Subthreads:

Yea verily yea by Caedence

You've got to be kidding me. by Adam Brockert with Paul Tarwater, Saul Pierce, Afton Stokes

Being polled by Matt and Josh Santoro

Tea and inquiry...sounds like a mystery novel. by Geoffrey Layne with Saul Pierce

I'm not a very good subject, am I? by Allie St. Martin

Answering your poll by Helena Layne with Saul Pierce

1 Saul Pierce Polling 5th & 6th years 82 Saul Pierce 1 5

Caedence

December 07, 2008 4:03 AM

Yea verily yea by Caedence

Caedence had come down to the Cascade Hall as a way to break up the general boredom of the day. Scrap was almost three years old, so he didn’t case around the cat toys anymore really except in extremely playful moods, so Caedence couldn’t play with her cat to entertain herself. Elly was off who knows where doing who knows what. All of the homework that she was going to do was done. That just left hanging out in Cascade and listening up on the latest gossip.

So it was with great surprise, but not unwelcome, that she was attacked by Saul attached to a clipboard. “You look fancy,” was the first thing out of the blonde girl’s mouth. Saul was uncommonly neat today. He was all dressy and everything, which was a huge contrast to his laidback and messy style. She laughed a bit, and then Caedence responded, “Of course I’d vote for you! You were my prefect, my captain, and you’re in the general group of Pecaris. Why wouldn’t I?”

After finding out that he had no more questions for her, Caedence wished him luck on his campaign. She hoped Saul was able to be head boy. It would be the most super thing ever if he was. Saul is an all around neat guy, really. He deserves it.

0 Caedence Yea verily yea 94 Caedence 0 5

Adam Brockert

December 12, 2008 5:49 PM

You've got to be kidding me. by Adam Brockert

Adam was going to the Hall for the usual reason, hunger. He didn't like to spend much time there because of the groups of people that usually congregated. Being around others just emphasized exactly how unwanted Adam was and he never could shake the feeling that others were laughing at him and making fun of him. Still, he had to eat sometime.

However, the moment he entered the room he was accosted by Saul Pierce and nearly lost his appetite. Why would Saul lower himself to talk to Adam ? The Pecari was the top of the Sonora food chain, and he was at the bottom. What on earth would Saul have to say to him unless he was going to harass Adam about something?

"Would you vote for Saul Pierce for Head Boy if he was on the ballot?"

Oh yes, that would be it. Saul wanted to be Head Boy and Adam was would rather eat flobberworms than see him get it. It was bad enough that that boy had gotten it this year. Granted Adam's dislike of the current Head Boy was for entirely different reasons. He'd hurt Kaylie, whereas Saul was just...well Adam hated seeing the In Crowd get everything. He was sick and tired of it all. He fixed Saul with an ice cold glare and replied,"No."

But Saul persisted with questions.

"I don't know who would be the best" Adam replied in a frosty tone to match the look he'd given the other boy. "Possibly Guenther or one of the Geoffs, but I know it's not you. Quite frankly, no, I don't feel you're organized enough." He was sure he was going to be hated for chewing out Mr. Popular, but really, what did he have to lose at this point? Everyone already disliked him, the damage had been done. Adam went on. "And I certainly do not think you represent the majority of the school. You only represent a certain population. Guenther is much nicer to everyone not just those who are like him and the two Geoffs are far more intelligent and responsible."

Adam stopped, shocked at what he'd just done. He turned and walked out of the Cascade Hall abruptly, eating forgotten completely.

11 Adam Brockert You've got to be kidding me. 78 Adam Brockert 0 5

Paul Tarwater

December 12, 2008 6:29 PM

Hm... by Paul Tarwater

If one was to come up and ask Paul in the middle of the Hall, while he was eating, and ask him if had looked in a mirror that morning, he may have had a fit. Which, while it would have been quite funny to the general population watching the quiet (and creepy?) boy flip out over something so small, would not have been good for his health. Insomnia persisted the boy, and it looked like it. Yes, he had seen his face in a mirror, the dark circles that stained his eyes, his face pale, and his hair lumping from drying on the pillow. His mother used to call him her "handsome young man", did he look so nice now? Nope, Paul had to agree with the mirror that said he looked like the world was ending. Which it was.

Quiet and alone, Paul stayed isolated in the Hall. This was the way he liked it, his inability to actually deal with people apparent. Hah! Some Prefect he looked, that badge was definately hidden from view so not to induce more stares while he satisfied his hunger (it was one thing he had control over).

No wait, on second thought Paul Tarwater didn't have control over that either. Despite the lack of nutrition he got back home, and the surplus he'd get at Sonora, Paul was unable to choke it all down, leaving half of his small portion of food uneaten. Thrown straight into the trash with guilt over how he should have been able to make a feast with that food. Instead, he'd wasted it. Pull away, pull away, Paul wrapped his arms around himself. Chilly despite the room being at natural temperature.

But what was this going on, the whole table, and that Pecari Prefect playing outside asking people to stop or whatever. Paul's dead, tired face stayed blank despite his aversion to talking to another "typical Pecari" that Saul was, one of Elly's crowd who would probably dislike him on sight, which he did deserve, and worked very hard to get but still (Echo had been descent to him, but that was the exception Paul didn't understand, not that he was trying to). Rubbing his upper arms to make false warmth, Paul tried to skip around, wishing to not make a spectacle of himself right now when he looked so... uncredible, dead and scary in comparison to the neat boy.

It seemed he didn't have to. There was another boy, the Crotalus that Paul had found very quiet, very anxious. This wasn't a bad thing, in Paul's eyes, in fact it was a very good thing, it seemed so little people in the world today actually saw good in such a thing though. He overheard the boy though (being only about three feet away) actually do something similar to telling Saul off, and Paul's eyebrows raised slightly, impressed. Lookie here, he wasn't the only one telling people off despite what others thought.

Granted, Adam didn't seem the type to make girls cry... but that was besides the point. He wasn't alone. So when Saul approached him with the same questions, Paul waved the boy away. "Heard what you wanted, just mark me down the same as that kid," he pointed to Adam's retreating form, a small smile touched Paul's features and he shrugged. "You just seem very immature to me, and really if I was to come to you for help I doubt I'd get... anything," besides "don't worry, be happy". Truthfully, Paul found himself immature as well but he wouldn't be campaigning for Head Boy... ever. Tightening his hold around himself, Paul began to walk away.

Stopping, he turned back for just a second. "Oh, but don't worry about my opinion, you'll probably win anyway. That's the way things work, if I'm right about people." Another shrug, Paul was done with everything he needed to get done in here, as well as some extra. He exited the Hall.

0 Paul Tarwater Hm... 0 Paul Tarwater 0 5

Saul Pierce

December 13, 2008 12:45 AM

Okay, this is going well... by Saul Pierce

Saul had grinned as Caedence complimented his attire and the rest of his appearance, proving that the hard work he'd put into it had evidently paid off. He cheerfully marked off a yes next to her name, and would have normally chatted with her for a little while, but he was on the clock so he just told her that he was done pestering her for the time being, but he was sure to see her around and thanks for your vote!

The next poll victim didn't go nearly as well. In fact, Saul wasn't entirely sure which of them should be called the victim. And this was from Adam Brockert, whom Saul had always considered a quiet, unassuming, and probably pretty easy going guy, aside from a couple of nervous habits and phobias, but that assumption clearly proved exactly how little he knew some of his classmates.

Saul nodded along and tried not the hurt show on his face. Politics was a nasty business, he knew that. He even knew not everyone would like to see him as Head Boy. That was why he was campaigning in the first place. If it had been a sure thing, he could have just let things take their course.

But the fact of the matter was that Saul liked to be liked. If he had his way, he'd please all of the people all of the time, and when this didn't work out, he was left feeling incomplete and confused. And he took it personally. Which Harvey had told him to never ever do, but Saul couldn't help it. His puppy had been kicked and he just wasn't a good enough actor to keep that off his face, try as he might otherwise.

But he carefully took down the criticisms, because that was the whole point of this exercise.

Not orgenized, he wrote down in his chicken scratch handwriting under the appropriate question. Saul had a few ideas on how to prove that was wrong, but he wasn't sure how people like Adam would get to see it, since Crotali wouldn't be involved in the Pecari concert acts.

Duz not repprazent hole skool. Biast. As he considered himself friends with everyone, this came as a surprise to him, though now that it was pointed out to him, he supposed it was true that all of his close friends were either Pecaris or Red-headed Teppenpaws. He'd have to work on being friendlier and more inclusive of other Houses. That was constructive advice, at least, and almost worth the curtness of the firm 'no' he'd been given at the beginning of the poll.

Geoffs smarter and moor responcibal, Saul put up under the question about which candidate was best. Gunther moor yuniversul. When Saul looked up from his note-taking, to try to make himself remain cheerful and upbeat despite the harsh review of his character, he was surprised to find Adam was gone.

He took a deep breath. Okay. Touch critic and a bit unexpected, especially from Adam who Saul had pegged as an undecided rather than an adamant no, but he could take it. The next person was a whole new slate.

The next person was Paul Tarwater.

Paul was clearly not having a good day.

Saul still flinched a little as Adam's answers were almost as firmly revisited. But either Paul wasn't as sharply personal in his attack, or Saul was still numb from Adam, so he was able to take it slightly more professionally this time. He marked Paul down as a 'no', too, and put 'Immichure' down as an 'other issue'. He wasn't sure that 'too optimistic' was a bad thing, though, so he left that comment off his paper.

As Paul left, too, Saul thanked him for his time and then took a deep centering breath.

"Okay," he told himself under his breath. "Don't worry. Be happy!" Entertained by the advice Paul had given him to give himself, Saul was happier. It was good advice, after all. He wouldn't be worried. He'd be happy. That was just two votes, and he still had most of the fifth and sixth years to interview. Plus, he'd gotten some insight into how people saw him that he could possibly use to improve his image.

His grin was warm and genuine as he approached the next person, more sure than ever that he could handle rejection, but hopeful that he wouldn't have to.

1 Saul Pierce Okay, this is going well... 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Matt and Josh Santoro

December 14, 2008 2:43 AM

Being polled by Matt and Josh Santoro

Matt and Josh had gone to Cascade Hall with the intentions of grabbing some food to eat. But, they were met with an obstacle that look strangely like Saul Pierce. Except, it couldn't be Saul because the obstacle in front of them was dressed nicely, hair done properly, very neat, and very Un-Saul.

At first, both Santoro boys merely gazed at Saul when he approached them, asking if they would vote for him for Head Boy. Matt, who enjoyed having Saul as a roommate despite the fact that it still left him out of just about everything the rest of his Pecari year-mates did, couldn’t quite understand why Saul was talking in the third person or why he was even asking at all. Wouldn’t it have been obvious that Saul was getting the position? He was voted for everything and since Head Boy/Girl were usually selected based on popularity rather than anything else, Matt just assumed it meant that Saul was a shoe-in for the spot.

Still, when asked, Matt shrugged, “Yeah, probably.” He answered. It wasn’t a definitely yes, but Matt didn’t know the other candidates and Saul was his roommate. Truth be told, Matt wasn’t even thinking about that vote yet. It was way too far in the future for him.

When the question was directed at Josh, a frown formed at the corner of his mouth. He liked Saul well enough. At least, he had always been nice and Matt was fine with him. But Josh wasn’t really friends with any of Saul’s crowd, whether they were aware of that or not. Half the time, Josh didn’t think they thought Matt as a friend either, but accepted him more simply because he was a Pecari. But, from the few times he had ever hung around the other Pecaris, he could only guess that they weren’t aware with how they presented themselves around others. He didn’t think they realized they excluded everyone else from, well, everything.

But, the only thing that Josh said was that he didn’t feel comfortable saying. Nor did he feel comfortable answering Saul’s second question to him. “Leadership skills, intelligence, personable...” Josh shrugged and trailed off. He couldn’t really explain what he expected from the Head Boy. When he thought of them, he thought of Zack Dill, who just seemed like the type of person who took a role like that seriously. And had. Josh didn’t see Saul as a serious person. Nice, sure. Personable, sure. Leader… Josh didn’t know. Intelligent… Josh was almost certain that Saul wasn’t the top of his class. But Josh definitely did not think Saul was capable of being serious.

The other questions Josh refused to answer. He wasn’t going to voice the things that Josh disliked about Saul. Besides that, Josh had no idea if Saul was organized or how experienced he was with such a role. Josh was only just beginning to understand the role of a Prefect, Head Boy may very well be only a different title but all the same jobs as a Prefect. And, if that were the case, Saul would have been considered experienced.

“Good luck with your campaign.” Josh said as he left Saul to join his brother in Cascade Hall. If anything, Josh felt Saul was only doing himself more good by showing everyone how much he really wanted the position.

0 Matt and Josh Santoro Being polled 0 Matt and Josh Santoro 0 5

Afton Stokes

December 14, 2008 5:43 PM

Another issue entirely by Afton Stokes

Afton hadn't been at Sonora that long but she had known right away that it was very different from Salem. For one thing, there was no food fight at the opening feast and she didn't think Salem had prefects. She missed her friends especially Wyatt, but it wasn't like she was moping either. She was merely getting used to it all.

"Would you vote for Saul Pierce for Head Boy if he was on the ballot?"

"Not sure" Afton replied "Who's he? I'm a transfer here." She'd overheard the last two boys and that kind of made her wonder. It seemed like this Saul was one of the Popular Kids. It was an issue that never seemed to come up at Salem. Most people got on okay, nobody was really excluded. Certainly there were some groups like muggleborns and pureblood supremacists or WAIL and DISCUSS that didn't get along but it never really seemed like there were popular and unpopular kids. Afton wasn't naive enough to think this was always the case though. Her brother had and her sister did go to regular muggle schools and she knew what they were like. She'd always felt glad to escape that. Not because Afton thought she would be one of the picked on but she didn't like seeing people being treated that way.

"Well, I don't know who would be best and I don't know if Saul is organized and responsible enough because I don't know anyone but the other Salem transfers." Afton went on. "But I would say that a good Head Boy would be someone who looks out for the little guy, by which I mean the disenfranchised masses, not just firsties or transfers who need help. That's important but it's important to have all people be equal and have a say. Not just the popular kids or your own house" She mentioned this because it was what she believed and because of what the previous two had mentioned. Catering to the popular kids seemed like Republicans catering to big business and the oil companies.

That's when Afton caught sight of his list..and realized that not everyone did have a say. "That's not the whole school." She said, frowning. "No way the whole school is that few people, there were more people than that at the feast. If this is going to be something voted on, everyone should vote." Afton knew that not everyone got to vote in national elections either, but she sort of believed that to be stupid too. Some younger people were way more political than some old enough to vote.

11 Afton Stokes Another issue entirely 77 Afton Stokes 0 5

Saul

December 14, 2008 9:46 PM

Addresssing other issues by Saul

Saul was slightly surprised Afton didn't know who he was. Sure, she was a new transfer and all, and they were barely a week into school, and she'd probably met dozens of new people already, but he thought he stood out a little better than that. Maybe she just didn't recognize him all dressed up. "I'm Saul," he explained at her question. "You're Afton Stokes, right?" He'd seen the list of new transfers and she was the only new sixth year aside from Rosie who'd joined Sonora last year. Her being in some of his classes cinched her identity. But it wouldn't hurt to double check.

"Well, Afton," he continued once she had confirmed her name, "These," he tilted the clipboard toward her so she could see the list better, "are the fifth and sixth years in the school. They're who get to vote, I guess because they know the candidates best. They've had classes with the people on the ballot and supposedly have some idea what they're like. Last year, nobody even campaigned, you just had to pick based on what you knew of the people. I didn't even know most of the girls, so I just picked Matt's sister because Matt's cool. This year, I want people to vote for me because I'm the most qualified, not because I'm the most popular." Though, in all honesty, his popularity wasn't going to hurt, especially among the large contingent of fifth year Pecaris.

He grinned at her, enthused at the opportunity to induct a new person into the ways of Sonora. Any lingering bad feelings caused by Paul and Adam vanished in the face of this new diversion. "So you don't feel out of the loop, I'll give you the run down on the candidates."

"Geoffrey Spindler is the hometown hero. There was some bad business a few years ago with his family and he pretty much ended up saving another student's life. He's also a Quidditch Captain, and a pretty cool dude all around. He's a great guy and I wouldn't say anything bad about him except he's got a shrew for a mom. I heard she started the whole WAIL thing, but Geoff is totally against it, and I think he got disowned or something, too, so he's cool. If I'm not on the ballot, I'd probably pick Geoff Spindler."

"Geoffrey Layne is an Assistant Captain for Quidditch, and probably the smartest guy in our year. He's an Aladren. Totally responsible, totally organized, and he was complaining about Transfiguration being his worst class and he still expected to get at least an A even though he wasn't even going to continue with it. He's very dedicated, but not especially personable. It wouldn't be the worst thing ever if he got Head Boy."

"Guenther Heindrich is the Aladren Prefect. Both Head Boys in the last two years were Aladren Prefects. He's quiet though, I don't think he really has leadership qualities. He's pretty nice though. Friendly, I guess, in a quiet unassuming sort of way. The one thing I do have against him isn't even his fault really. See, he's just hugely tall and I think he's a little scary looking to first years."

"Adam Brockert," Saul waved in the direction Adam had gone not that long ago. "You might have seen him a minute ago. He's . . ." Saul searched for something to say about Adam. Given what happened a few minutes ago, he wasn't sure he was qualified to say anything about Adam at all. "He doesn't like ghost stories." This bit of trivia was the one thing Saul could say with any degree of certainty. "He usually keeps to himself. That, just now, was the first time he said more than two words to me." Saul shrugged, looking a little baffled and even a little hurt. "I always just figured he didn't want me to talk to him. He gets this deer in the headlights look . . ." Saul shook his head. "I'd be really surprised if he was on the ballot."

"Devian Dupree is another Aladren. Good student, solid marks. He's a Dupree, so he knows something about leadership, I guess. If he wants the Head Boy position, though, he really needs to be campaigning to get his name out there because he doesn't really stand out. Either of the Geoffs are far more well known through Quidditch or various other reasons."

"And then there's me. Saul Pierce," he said his name again, in case she'd forgotten it. He hesitated a moment, trying to decide how to pitch himself. "Well, obviously, Prefect," he pointed at the Prefect badge on the one side of his robes, "and Quidditch Captain," that badge was on the other side. "I'm a Pecari, and I've been voted Class Clown and Most Talkative every year for the yearbook." Those were the two he was most proud of and the two he thought were most relevant to what he was like, but he added his other yearbook awards as something of an afterthought for the sake of completeness, "Most Creative, Most Popular, and Class Flirt, too. Oh! And I got Best Looking last year, too. That was cool. But not really something that'll get me elected Head Boy."

Saul shrugged in a what-can-you-do? sort of way and tapped his clipboard, indicating the questions he'd asked her earlier. "What I didn't get and won't ever get, is anything for intelligence or responsible behavior. Not that I'm stupid or a troublemaker or anything, but I did fail three classes last year." He figured it would be less damaging if she heard that bit of information from him rather than someone else. His academic (in)ability wasn't exactly a closely kept secret. "Some people might think that disqualifies me as a good Head Boy. Hence, my campaign." He grinned again, as suddenly upbeat as he gone momentarily serious.

"I suggest to you that someone who's not obsessed with acing their RATS would make a better Head Boy, not worse one, since he'll be able to focus on the position's responsibilities rather than his individual studies. And unlike my grades, which don't really mean much to me either way since I'm just going to go into show business with my family, I will take the Head Boy duties seriously, just like I do with my Prefect position and my Quidditch Captain position. This year, House Prefects are responsible for organizing everything to do with their Houses Concert Acts and since, of the three of us in Pecari, I'm the one who has actually been a stage manager before, I'm volunteering to take the lead on that project. Plus, the other two will probably want to study for their CATS and RATS at the end of the year."

"Hey, are you going to be in the Concert? It's going to be wicked fun. You should totally sign up. I bet it's a great way to meet people. You're in Teppenpaw, right? Pepper's awesome. So's Eavan. Lexi . . . is a little scary on the Quidditch Pitch, but she's a Tepp, so I'm sure she's really nice otherwise. Except maybe to Earl. But that's another story." Which Saul wasn't exactly up on the details of, as it pertained to the year above his, and a different House besides.

Maybe there was something to Adam's claim that Saul was cliquish. He'd have to fix that.

1 Saul Addresssing other issues 82 Saul 0 5

Afton

December 15, 2008 3:45 AM

Giving you more questions by Afton

"Yup, that's me." Afton figured he knew who she was pretty much because she was new and the only transfer in their year. Well, Rosalind had transferred here last year but she was the new new girl in their class.

"So what does that matter if they know the candidates best?" She questioned. "I mean, people vote in national, state and even local elections never ever meeting the candidates face to face. If only people who knew the candidates got to vote it wouldn't be fair at all." Afton knew about the electoral college and whatnot but it was usually the candidate with the most votes that got a state's electoral votes.

"And you yourself just said you didn't know the candidates for Head Girl last year very well. What does it matter if you're a year younger or five years younger? You still didn't know her and only voted for her because you think her brother is cool. So why shouldn't the younger years be able to vote?"

Saul told her about the other candidates and to his credit,seemed at least positive about the two Geoffs, though Afton couldn't see why not holding Geoff Spindler's mom against him-which she wasn't going to-was different than voting for the current Head Girl because he liked her brother. The point was to vote for the candidate, not their relative. For all he seemed to know, she could have been very much like Geoff Spindler's mom.

Afton frowned however as Saul talked about Guenther "Why is him being quiet a bad thing? Just because he's quiet doesn't mean he won't be approachable or care about others. In fact, sometimes people are more intimidated by the popular kids because they feel disillusioned." That certainly sounded like an issue the last two boys had. She went on. "And appearance shouldn't matter. I mean not voting for him because he's tall is like not voting for someone because they have big ears or are fat. If you've ever looked at pictures of U.S. muggle presidents, they aren't a bunch of handsome guys." This Guenther sounded like the gentle giant type and not bad at all. "I mean he must have had something going for him if they chose him as prefect."

"Why wouldn't Adam be on the ballot?" Actually Adam sounded a bit like someone Afton would support. If he was as disillusioned as he seemed, he was probably a major underdog. That meant he could relate to the little guy. He was the little guy, if her suspicions were correct.

On the other hand, he could have the potential to be the magical equivalent of the Columbine kids for all she knew, but then Afton was convinced school shootings wouldn't happen if people weren't bullied so much. That was why it was important for everyone to have a voice.

As Saul began to list his own qualifications, Afton's heart sank. It wasn't that he didn't seem like a nice enough guy, but he also seemed to be the exact type of person Afton did not want to give more power to. He claimed to have gotten Most Popular. He was Quidditch Captain and prefect. Prefect was a fair enough argument for the position but it seemed like Saul already ran the school. He and his crowd did not need more of a voice. Afton also didn't see how Class Clown qualified him to be Head Boy. Not that there was anything wrong with being Class Clown but the two things didn't really go together for her.

It also did not seem like he did know much about all his fellow students. She'd give him a break on not knowing the younger ones and the transfers but the current Head Girl was only a year above him and he didn't know a thing about her other than he liked her brother. Saul also didn't seem to know a thing about his own yearmate, whom Afton knew full well wasn't a transfer because he hadn't been at Salem with her. If he knew little about her or even Rosalind, it was different but as far as she knew Adam had been here the whole time.

She did get what he was saying about not having a Head Boy worried about RATS though. Her mom always said she didn't know why extra curriculars were a big deal when applying for a job because she would think that not being involved in things would mean one had more time to dedicate to such a job. That said, Afton didn't understand why Saul wanted Head Boy when he had Quidditch to manage.

"Yeah, Teppenpaw.I don't know about being in the concert," Afton replied. "I'm not exactly musically inclined. I mean I'm not a horrible singer. I was thinking more about the paper though" She looked confused when he began to talk about Pepper, Eavan and Lexi. Her roommates were Pepper, Briony and Allie...oh wait, the prefects. That was it. "Why would Lexi be nasty to Earl?" Afton asked. "Who is Earl?"

11 Afton Giving you more questions 77 Afton 0 5

Saul Pierce

December 15, 2008 5:32 PM

Giving you more answers by Saul Pierce

OOC: Lacking recent posts on Guenther's appearance, I am basing Saul's description on the yearbook photo. BIC:

Saul shrugged, not knowing exactly why only fifth and sixth years were allowed to vote, nor could he really explain his own guess though it had made sense at the time he'd made it. "Well, there's campaigns in national, state, and local elections," he pointed out. "So you don't have to know the candidates personally. Here, whoever made up the rule assumes people will use what they know of them from class. But class doesn't really tell you anything about what people are like unless you actually work with them. Or if they speak up to join class discussions, but a lot of people don't. A lot of times, I have to answer questions cuz it gets too quiet waiting for someone who actually knows something about the subject to volunteer."

"Anyway, I knew more about Bella than the other girls because I share a room with Matt, and he talks about her sometimes, so I kinda knew second hand what she was like. It was more than I knew about the other girls anyway." He shrugged. "I hang out with younger kids most of the time. Fifth and fourth years, mostly. I even room with the fifth year boys cuz all the other Pecari boys in our year left."

Now safely several years removed from that traumatic experience, it didn't even occur to Saul that he could have stayed in the empty room by himself or that some people might have liked things better that way.

When she asked about Guenther, Saul shook his head. "There's nothing wrong, exactly, with being quiet," he admitted. Aside, of course, from the fact that quiet freaked him out. "And I'm sure he is nice," Saul tended to assume that about everyone, "And it's not him being tall that's scary. At least, not by itself. It's his beard." Saul rubbed at his own clean shaven chin, one of the few aspects of his own particularly neat appearance that was not any different from an average day. "And the hair."

Saul pulled a face and shook his head. "I know a guy who could show him the right way to do long and shaggy, but Big G's not there. I'm not saying he's not smart and responsible, because he is, that's why he's prefect - that and his best friend was last year's Head Boy, so he was already spending half his time at the Prefect Station in the library, so some of that probably rubbed off. I'd even go so far as to say he'd do just as good a job as Chris is this year. He's not a bad candidate. And since he is the Aladren Prefect, I do count him as one of my top competitors, right up there with the Geoffs. Evil looking beard or not."

"And you're talking to me, right? I'm not intimidating, am I? I mean, aside from," he rolled his eyes and plucked as his unusually formal robes. "I'm usually in jeans and a t-shirt. I'm just in my pollster persona today and showing I can serious-up if I have to. Like Guenther should do with his hair if he wants more votes than he'll get for being the non-Pecari Prefect on the ballot."

At the question about Adam, Saul shrugged again. "The Headmaster, or maybe a committee of teachers, I'm not sure, pick who's on the ballot. Last year, we got to pick from three boys and four or five girls - there were more girls in the class last year. Our year is almost evenly split between girls and guys, but I figure only three of us will make the the short list for Head Boy this year, too. And frankly, nobody would go to Adam for help. He's shown no leadership ability and often skips school activities altogether. I'm not even sure if I'll make the top three teacher picks, what with my grades and the whole hyperactive class clown thing. There is no way Adam's making it."

But then Saul shrugged. "He could probably start campaigning now. I'm banking on that effort to give me bonus points that'll bump me into the top three. He could probably do the same if he wanted. But I always got the impression he didn't like to be noticed. I doubt he'd put himself out there like that. It's gonna be really embarrassing if I'm not on the ballot come this spring. But it's a risk you gotta take to be a public servant."

At her question about Earl, Saul grimaced a little self-deprecatingly and shook his head. "Earl's a seventh year. He plays Keeper on the Crotalus Quidditch Team. He and Lexi get Worst Enemies in the Yearbook. That's all I know."

"You don't need to be a musical genius to be in the group act. I am musically cursed but I'm still going to be on stage. In a non-signing role. The Prefects are supposed to find an act to cater to everyone's skills. I'm going to have a gymnast in my group. But yeah, the paper's cool. Echo likes it. And Brett is avoiding it - and Flatt - like the plague, so the Editor in Chief position is open. That would be a good way to show your own leadership."

An idea occurred to him. "You seem pretty into the whole political scene. You could go for Head Girl. It would be totally awesome if I wasn't the only one campaigning. Maybe it'll get some of the other guys involved too. I mean, if it's just me, it's just Saul being Saul, but if you're doing it too, it'll be legit. We could maybe even have debates. That would be awesome!"

His eyes were bright and encouraging as he nodded eagerly, and his grin was wide and excited. The controlled professionalism that he had begun the day with was completely gone. He bounced on the balls of his feet, proving his earlier claim to hyperactivity, and made large dramatic gestures. "I can get you buttons! And I've got sixteen years worth of campaign experience - my uncle has been running for the Green, Communist, and Integration with Muggles parties in our part of California for the last twenty years or so - so I can help you find a slogan and campaign strategy!" Never mind that Harvey never won an election in his life. That wasn't the point.

"Dude! You totally have a chance. Pepper and Lila are prefects, so they'll be tough to beat, and Rosie's an Aladren, so that's a stereotype in her favor right off the bat, and Briony's Dad is a professor and even a Head of House now, so she might get some votes based on that, plus, she's in with my crowd more than any other girl in our year, but a good campaign could trump all that.

"Even just knowing someone wants the position might be enough to tip the balance. The whole effort of a campaign shows dedication and a willingness to go after your goals. You worked for the honor, so the theory is you're a little more deserving of it than the people who didn't. Plus, as a transfer, you don't have all your stupid eleven year old antics like trying to use Tinkerbell as a serious example of a Dark Creature hanging over your head." Though, in all honesty, he'd probably give the same answer even in Advanced DADA if the same question came up and all the obvious answers were already taken. He just wouldn't mean it to be taken seriously this time.

\r\n\r\n

1 Saul Pierce Giving you more answers 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Afton

December 20, 2008 5:19 PM

It could be worse, I could be Quentin by Afton

"Exactly my point." Afton replied " You're campaigning because you said you didn't know much about the candidates last year. Their assumption that you would know the people because you had class with them is faulty, by your own admission right now. My brother is in college and he doesn't know a thing about the majority of his classmates. So if people are campaigning the younger years could get to know about the candidates just as well as the older students do. I mean you even said you hang out more with fourth years, who wouldn't be voting."

"And," she went on. "I'm not usually that intimidated by others. But that doesn't mean everyone is like that. Some kids think the popular kids will spit on them or something." Afton, of course, did not mean this literally.

"How do you know Adam isn't organized and responsible? How do you know he doesn't get good grades?" Afton inquired. "Quite frankly, it doesn't sound like you know much about him and I would certainly hope that grades are not publicized among students. If he's as fearful of people as you say, he's probably not that intimidating. Plus, you said Geoff Layne was brainy and what not but not personable either. Why would someone go to him for help but not Adam?" "

But you're right," she continued, "Adam might not want the attention. Of course, on the other hand, he might be desperate for some that's positive." Afton didn't know really. She didn't know Adam better than Saul did, quite frankly. The only time she'd seen him was right now, and she only had that and Saul's words-which were not very helpful about this particular person, because Afton certainly wasn't going to base her opinion of someone on whether or not they like ghost stories-to go on.

"Hm," Afton mused. She had talents, she wasn't going to argue that. It was just they weren't the performing arts type. She was good at debating, and persistant when she felt passionate about a cause. She wasn't musically or even theatrically inclined. "Unless Teppenpaw wants to work in a protest or a food fight into their act, I'm not sure how much my skills would help." She grinned. "Or I could represent the younger or less popular students so they can get a fair say in the planning."

She considered what he said about the paper. Afton had only been hoping to do exposes, looking for injustice and corruption and exposing it. Or perhaps write editorials. But being Editor In Chief could be really cool. That way she could make sure everyone's voice was heard.

Saul's next suggestion surprised Afton. Her be Head Girl? She was new, a transfer. She knew less about the students at Sonora than Saul did. She only knew him, her roommates, the other Salem transfers, and had seen Adam and some other disgruntled guy, the potential Columbine kids. On the other hand, she would be willing to get to know them and she'd look out for the disenfranchised. It had never occurred to her to help them that way. "I'll do it!" Afton exclaimed. In a perfect world, there would be no Head Boy and Girl. Everyone would be equal but this was the next best thing.

"Your uncle is really a communist? How cool!" She'd always admired communism and socialism and their theories of equality. It was just that Afton never known the former to work very well. Then again capitalism and democracy didn't really either.

Afton frowned. "That...sounds like the majority of girls in our year have just as good a chance,if not better. That's like everyone but Allie." She wondered something else. "Why isn't Allie a threat?" Afton hadn't really spoken to her much but she seemed perfectly nice. "And there are a lot of transfers from Salem here too,wouldn't they know my antics?." Granted only the Hollister twins had been at Salem
when Afton was a first year and she doubted Samantha paid attention to anyone but herself. There was still Annabelle, Gabrielle and Steven though, who would definitely be able to vote. "I will agree, though, people shouldn't really be on the ballot if they don't want it. I mean, if someone didn't even want it and they got elected, how is that fair to those who may have wanted it badly? Or someone who wanted it that didn't even get on the ballot?"

11 Afton It could be worse, I could be Quentin 77 Afton 0 5

Geoffrey Layne

December 21, 2008 6:10 PM

Tea and inquiry...sounds like a mystery novel. by Geoffrey Layne

Geoffrey was not dressed up. Anne had finally shut up about the prospect of playing their first game of the season with the team the way it was now, and he had nothing on his mind but tea. If tea couldn't return his brain to a normal level of function from the near-coma the dreary, predictable rise and fall of Anne's voice had put it into, nothing could.

He was contemplating how much sugar this one would require when Saul Pierce came over, looking less like himself than Geoff did. Geoff almost asked if Morgaine had taken him on as a social reclamation project, but the likelihood of the other sixth-year Pecari doing anything for anyone was just too low for the line to be funny. Asking was also out, and that left hoping Saul would explain on his own.

As it turned out, there was not a ball taking place that no one had bothered to tell him about. If he hadn’t been tired and dreading having to make his way to practice and behave with a semblance of decorum later, the situation might have been funny. Who had ever heard of working to find out how he’d done in the Head Boy election before the ballot was even released for voting?

“Depends on who’s on the ballot,” he said honestly. “If I’m on it, you’re up the creek. If I’m not – “ he shrugged. “Depends. You’d do better than some.”

Geoff had no idea if this was true or not, but there were definitely people he would vote for after Saul. Adam Brockert was an idiot, and Devian Dupree just rubbed him the wrong way.

Apparently, flattery wasn’t enough to escape further questioning. The second query almost made him laugh. “Me,” he said.

He knew making that statement was politically incorrect, but he couldn’t make himself care much. He also knew he probably wasn't the best candidate, but that was irrelevant. He wanted it anyway. The position gave too much of an advantage to those who held it in getting into good schools and jobs for him not to. Fortunately, Saul seemed to be working from a script that made no provision for odd answers, and he was required to explain none of this.

Geoff had no idea what qualities he was looking for in a Head Boy. That left stock answers. “Capability,” he said. “Correct public image. Rule-abiding. Credentials don’t hurt.” He didn’t feel like being specific there.

“No idea,” Geoff said, spooning sugar into his tea as he did, when asked what he thought of Saul’s organization skills and responsibility. “I’ve never done a project with you."

Not that I would, he added silently. Saul might have been all right, but the boy's academic record simply didn't make him look like good project-partner material. Geoff did not remember a time when his work - be it on a violin, with a cauldron, or in some Little Learners book - hadn't seemed serious. From the remarks he'd heard Saul make and the idea of himself Saul had cultivated in the school, Geoff doubted his ability to take anything seriously.

As if Saul was following his thought, the next question touched on grades and book smarts. Part of him wanted to launch into a passionate speech about just how important grades were, the culture of anti-intellectualism, and the lack, among other terms, of enthusiasm for academics that was rapidly becoming some sort of epidemic among the stupid schoolkids of America, but he wasn’t really interested enough at the moment. Besides, it was Anne’s gospel, and he didn’t make a practice of reciting things she said, however valid her point might or might not be. “It’s definitely a point against you,” he said dispassionately.

He sensed the interview drawing to a close with the broader question. Geoff was glad; the way Saul kept referring to himself as ‘Saul Pierce’ was about to start grating on his nerves. He knew who Saul was, for Merlin’s sake, if he was dressed up like a rich kid at a garden party – or rather, what Geoff imagined a rich kid at a garden party would look like, as he had never been rich or attended any kind of party not prefaced by an equally middle-class-person’s name and the word ‘birthday’. “Maybe House loyalty,” he offered. A prudent streak, narrower than his sister’s but still in existence, told him not to mention that House loyalty was only a factor if his roommates didn’t annoy him the week or morning of the election. “Can’t think of much else.”

16 Geoffrey Layne Tea and inquiry...sounds like a mystery novel. 72 Geoffrey Layne 0 5

Allie St. Martin

December 21, 2008 7:42 PM

I'm not a very good subject, am I? by Allie St. Martin

Allie was eating asparagus - one of the few vegetables she genuinely liked - and studying her latest set of notes for Care of Magical Creatures when her turn to hear Saul's set of questions came. She looked up from a page of her loopy, slanting handwriting, surprised, upon realizing that she'd been spoken to and blinked in confusion after she got past the clothes to realize who was speaking to her.

Saul Pierce was, or was supposed to be, friends or a little more than friends with her - her original roommates, she supposed she'd have to say now. Her twin sister, forced as a prefect to have something to do with him, spoke of him in the same withering tone she usually reserved for talking about Gwen, whose failure to get disowned had enraged Lila. He was the most popular person in the year. Allie knew very little about him except for those things, but they were all proof that he really had no reason to come over and talk to her.

"What?" she said, and immediately felt her cheeks turn dark pink. "Never mind. I - I don't know."

Until that very second, she had never considered who would be the next Head Boy. Allie had never known many boys, and she seldom thought about the ones she did know; not one of them was likely to marry her, and any relationship besides an honest betrothal was flirting with scandal. She thought about Head Girl, sometimes, because Lila would probably be a candidate, but who would share rank with her twin hadn't occurred to her.

Either Saul didn't pick up on her embarrassment, or it did not concern him. "I don't know," she repeated when asked a second question, knowing she sounded stupid and dull. "I'm sorry."

The third question brought an answer to mind - a person who does not make me feel like an idiot, asking me a bunch of questions when it's obvious I don't know and don't want to answer - but she didn't say it. "I don't know," she said again, miserably. "I really don't. The election isn't until next semester, and I haven't even thought about it."

After that, though he kept reading questions off to her as if she hadn't made her thoughts - or, as the case was, her lack thereof - on the matter clear, Saul agreed to let her decline to answer. Allie gratefully took that option for a question about Saul's experience, Saul's academic success, and her further reservations. Once he moved on to corner a new potential voter, Allie grabbed her things. The library was a better place to study, and her greens were now cold, anyway.

16 Allie St. Martin I'm not a very good subject, am I? 76 Allie St. Martin 0 5

Helena Layne

December 22, 2008 5:18 PM

Answering your poll by Helena Layne

Mealtimes, like everything else during Helena's fifth year, had become carefully timed. Between her father and brother, she had a healthy fear of the exams she wasn't too sure she would have otherwise felt before midterms, and her response to it was a determination not to do one thing wrong. All of her activities, from her classes to hours of sleep, were on a schedule following the guidelines of Geoffrey's CATS prep books, which she had inherited. She doubted anyone born had a life predictable enough to never break that schedule, but Helena thought she'd done an all right job so far.

She was balancing the meal on her plate, a handwritten copy of a book page about portioning in front of her as a guide, when her attention was taken away from it by Saul Pierce, a prefect in her brother's year and the center of the group a majority of her year seemed to belong to. Helena was not in that majority, and had a bemused moment of wondering if the group really was a sort of club and she had somehow managed to get nominated for membership. Since that was ridiculous, though, she laid down her utensils politely and listened to the question he had for her.

"He certainly looks like one today," Helena said, amused by the way he referred to himself. Maybe he thought she didn't know who he was? That didn't make much sense - if anything, he should have been the one confused over her identity - but it was the only thing she could think of. "I can't really say, though, until I know for sure who all the candidates are."

From what she'd heard about the time they had to vote, she thought it was a pity they wouldn't know until the morning of the election. It seemed like an awfully important thing to decide in fifteen minutes. Head Boys and Girls were the representatives of their year, and if they were both voted in by an uninformed group that hadn't really considered it beforehand...

She was about to get back to her meal when another question came. Helena put her knife back down on her plate to answer him. "Geoff Spindler would do a good job," she said. "But I might be biased; he's my Quidditch captain." She still felt a little unsure about how aware Saul was of who she was.

"Management experience is a definite plus," she said, then smiled. "Though I'm guessing most of the guys who make the ballot will have some. I'd want to feel like I could trust him, you know, to run something like this concert. If that gets mishandled, it'll make the entire school look bad." A problem that had also occurred to her was what Crotalus, a House with the worst sort of Crotalus girl filling both of the senior prefect positions, would look like, but nothing Saul could do would help that. "A good disciplinary record is really important, too, but I don't think the staff will nominate anyone with a bad one."

She bit her lip, trying to think of what to say, when Saul asked if she thought he was organized and responsible. "It helps that you're a prefect," she said, deciding she could put the nice part first. "The past two Head Boys were both prefects. It makes you look more competent than a boy with no leadership experience." Now came the...not mean, really, but less encouraging bit. "I don't really know you well enough to say anything about you being organized." No need to add that, up to now, he had never struck her as an organized person as she understood it.

The next question also caused her a moment's hesitation. "I don't think it would necessarily impair your ability to - er - carry out the duties of the Head Boy," she slowly said. "Unless your...record is because you're not organized or something, because I don't think there's really that big of a magical component to the job. If you have a bad one, I do think it makes you look less competent." And that had to be one of the least-organized answers ever.

The next question, thankfully, was easy. "Nope," she said easily. "Not that I can think of." It seemed that was the end of the interview. "Have a good day," she said.

16 Helena Layne Answering your poll 88 Helena Layne 0 5

Saul

December 23, 2008 1:55 PM

I figure it's Karma. I did this to Bulla. by Saul

Saul nodded in agreement as Afton pointed out that if campaigns were involved, younger students should be allowed to vote. "I never said they shouldn't vote," Saul pointed out. "I just said they weren't allowed to." In all honesty, he thought he'd have a much higher chance of winning if the younger kids were allowed to vote given that most of his classmates only interacted with the younger years for Quidditch or class, if at all. "And I'm kinda the exception for hanging out with fourth years."

"You'd really have to talk to the Headmaster about getting suffrage for the younger kids cuz deciding who votes for Head Boy and Head Girl is outside a prefect's responsibility. I'm just working within the system and it doesn't really make sense to cultivate votes among people who can't vote, y'know? I've never heard of anyone targeting a political campaign at under seventeen year olds or convicted felons." He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe its cuz the founders just didn't think fourth years and younger weren't mature enough to give the decision of Head Boy and Girl enough importance to not just vote for their favorite Quidditch player."

Saul frowned in bafflement at the suggestion that anyone would think he'd spit on them. "I'm a performer," he told her, sounding utterly confused. "I want everyone to like me. Why would I - I don't understand - I'm friendly. I like everyone. I help anybody who asks for anything, and drop everything else to do it. I'd never be mean to anyone. Not on purpose." This last was added a little helplessly because after Adam and Paul's reactions, he obviously must have done something to make them not like him. "I don't know why anyone would think that about me. What did I do wrong? I know I'm bad at essays and classwork and stuff, but I thought I was good with people."

Saul took a deep breath and shook his head. "Sorry. I'm taking it too personally. Harvey warned me about that."

"Anyway, I don't know that Adam isn't organized and responsible. He probably is. And I know he gets better grades than I do because everybody does. He probably even gets excellent grades because he doesn't do anything else but schoolwork, so far as I know. He's not in Quidditch, he's not in clubs, he's not involved in anything. And that's why I don't know him. He doesn't make it possible for most people to know him. That's as intimidating as anything. People are afraid to approach him because he obviously doesn't want to be approached. I know that's why I don't. Geoff Layne might not be friendly, but at least he doesn't cower if you look at him the wrong way and Geoff's involved with Quidditch so that lets people think they know something about him, even if it's an entirely wrong stereotype. And he's the Assistant Captain for Aladren now, so he's even got some leadership experience. People would be more confident he could actually do something to help. That's why someone would go to Geoff L but not Adam. Adam doesn't come across as the type who would stand up for himself never mind someone else."

Saul's eyes lit up at the mention of a food fight. It had been a long time since his last one. Good times. "That would be awesome," he told her, at the suggestion that Teppenpaw's act be a giant staged food fight.

He grinned even brighter as she threw down the gauntlet to join the Head Girl race.

"Yeah," he confirmed when she asked if his uncle was really a communist. "Whole family is, really. No personal property for us. We have to hide our toothbrushes if we don't want someone else using them." He grinned and rolled his eyes in self-deprecation. "My first roommates had it worse than Matt and Echo. I'm mostly used to the idea of yours and mine, now." Which wasn't to say he didn't frequently ignore the concept.

Saul shrugged at her question about Allie. "Allie's sort of like Devian - but a girl and nicer. But what I mean is that there's nothing wrong with her as a candidate. The year just has other people who stand out more. Again, something that could be overcome with a campaign, but I doubt she'd do something like that. I think Lila's much more likely to even want to be Head Girl. I guess the teachers only put people on the ballot who they think either want the position or would do the work anyway. I'm not convinced Bella actually wanted to be Head Girl, but she's still doing a good job at it."

"But that's part of why I think campaigning is a good thing. It lets everyone know who's genuinely interested and who's just resting on their laurels. Obviously, I can't make it mandatory that everyone eligible who wants to be Head Girl or Boy has to campaign, but I figure leading by example might get more people to join the bandwagon, if only to up their own chances. And if they don't, obviously they don't care as much, right?"\r\n\r\n

1 Saul I figure it's Karma. I did this to Bulla. 82 Saul 0 5

Saul Pierce

December 23, 2008 2:29 PM

Don't you need a dead body for one of those? by Saul Pierce

Saul cheerfully marked off Matt as a 'yes' (which hadn't come as any real surprise, and Saul would have been kind of upset with any other answer given that they were roommates now) and Josh as a 'maybe' (a little disappointing, but Josh didn't know him as well as Matt did) and taken down all of Matt's comments (leedership, ~~inteliji~~ smart, persunnabel - of which Saul felt confident he fit two of the three, and given that Josh hadn't provided answers to any of the other questions and wished him luck, Saul though he had a good chance of winning him over).

The next person Saul caught for his poll was Geoff Layne. It came as no surprise at all that Geoff said he'd vote for himself if he was on the ballot. Saul did take encouragement from the fact that he didn't outright dismiss Saul as a viable candidate. Though he didn't think it likely that either Geoff wouldn't be on the ballot, Saul thought Layne's opinion would probably be fairly representative of the rest of their class.

The Head Boy qualities Geoff listed were less encouraging. Kaypabillity he thought he could manage. Rual Abyeding was less certain, depending on how many people suspected him of culpability in Elly's pranks. Korekt publik imeg was definitely a mark against him. Whatever else his public image was, Saul doubted it was correct. On the other hand, while Saul wasn't entirely sure what Geoff meant by kredenchulls, he did think being a prefect and a Quidditch Captain would help there.

He made another 'Yes' tally beneath the question about whether his grades would affect his Head Boy ability, but that didn't come as a huge surprise either. He'd known that would be one of his biggest challenges to overcome. The only additional issue Geoff could come up with that Saul hadn't already brought up was the issue of howse loylty, but unless he meant Saul was too caught up in Pecari, as some people had already suggested, there wasn't much he could do to directly combat that except overcome all his other obstacles.

As he finished sounding out the words for his notes and capped his pen and was about to go find his next victim, Saul paused for a moment, and asked, curious, "Oh, and Geoff, good luck yourself. Think you'll campaign at all?"

1 Saul Pierce Don't you need a dead body for one of those? 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Saul Pierce

December 23, 2008 3:44 PM

Responding to your answers to my poll by Saul Pierce

After Allie had left, he marked her down as a 'maybe' though he felt oddly like maybe he should make that a 'no'. She hadn't answered any of his questions which meant she didn't have anything constructive to suggest, or she thought her answers would sound mean - and being a Teppenpaw, she was unlikely to do anything that would come across as mean. A trait Adam and Paul (his other two 'no's who were not also likely candidates) obviously did not share.

Saul decided he should maybe try to talk to her again when he wasn't dressed up in his scarily formal clothes. It was possible that was causing some of the intimidation Afton had mentioned.

Spotting his next victim, Helena Layne, who he figured would probably go for Geoff Layne seeing as they were siblings, he headed over to get her answer formally. As he'd made an effort to learn the names of everyone in the school once he'd been named Prefect, plus knowing most of the fifth years by name through class anyway, it did not occur to him that she might wonder if he even knew who she was.

He just marked off 'maybe' next to her name on his clipboard (which he thought was remarkably generous of Geoff Layne's sister), and his eyes widened a little in surprise when the Geoff she named as a probable candidate of choice was Spindler, not Layne. "Really?" he asked, breaking from his role as pollster momentarily. "I'd pegged you for a Geoff Layne voter, being his sister and all."

Getting back into his role, Saul took down her answers about management and grinned a little when she mentioned the concert. Dude, if she was basing her decision on the ability to run a concert, he had a way better chance with her than he would have suspected.

Of course, she was a Crotalus and therefore unlikely to know how the Pecari act was turning out before the voting day. Well, it wasn't like he or Elly were likely to stay completely mum on the subject, so something about the Pecari production would probably leak by then.

He'd already let slip to Afton that they were showcasing a gymnast.

And then the issue of rule abiding and a good disciplinary record came up again. Saul hadn't ever actually gotten a detention for anything, so his record was fine. Though, he and Elly had joked during the Welcoming Feast that they should both probably put themselves on permanent detention.

Like most people so far, she opted out of claiming to know whether he was organized or not, and he figured some kind of organizational demonstration was probably necessary sometime this year. Whether it be through the organization of this campaign, or the concert, or something else, he did need to prove he didn't run completely off the seat of his pants all the time.

"No," he disagreed when she implied his academic record might be because he wasn't organized. "Well," he took it back almost immediately, because he was more honest than not and lack of organization did have a little to do with it. "I forget to do some homework assignments. But that's mostly because I don't really put a lot of effort into classwork. My grades just don't really matter, you know? I'm not going to college and I'm not going to have to find a job. I'm just going to be an actor and stage manager with my family, and I've been trained since birth on how to do that. I wouldn't have even gone to school if the State of California hadn't made me. It's the knowing how to do charms and transfiguration that matters for me, not the letter grades. Though," he added perking up excitedly, "Did you hear? I got Es on my Charms and Transfiguration CATS. Dude, I have never gotten an E before in my life. Who knew endless practicing would help that much? I was just hoping for the practicals to pull me up to As."

1 Saul Pierce Responding to your answers to my poll 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Geoff Layne

December 28, 2008 7:31 PM

Kidnapped ones also work. by Geoff Layne

"Thanks," Geoff said, only a small beat after being wished luck in the election. His guess was that Saul was covering all bases, with the idea that a show of good sportsmanship would make Geoff more likely to vote for him if Saul got a place on the ballot and Geoff didn't. Not a bad idea, even if it wasn't likely to work; Geoff doubted he and Saul had a shot between them. "Campaigning...hadn't occurred to me, to tell the truth."

In this instance, it was actually the truth. The election was a cloak-and-dagger, hushed-up affair the lowest years barely knew about to him, and messing with the system had never crossed his mind. Saul, however, had already messed with the system, so that excuse was out the window. There might be advantages to it.

Of course, his sister might also kill him for it. There was always that.

"I might, though," he said. "Thanks for the idea." Lena had only so much room to yell at him because he embarrassed her before it landed her in detention, and she had never had so much as a severe reprimand in her life. Neither had he, but he didn't care about it the way Helena did. More proof that too much time in Crotalus could turn anyone a little funny; she'd just been prissy before she was Sorted. "Good luck to you, too."

16 Geoff Layne Kidnapped ones also work. 72 Geoff Layne 0 5

Helena

December 28, 2008 11:05 PM

Responding to your response to my answers to your poll by Helena

"Really?" wasn't really a reaction Helena would have expected to get after saying she thought Geoff Spindler was a good candidate for Head Boy. Saul wasn't supposed to know much about his ability to run the Quidditch team, but there was the small matter of Geoff being semi-famous. That was a huge advantage, and since Quidditch captains usually got on the ballot unless they had horrible reputations and/or some preexisting pet obsession...

Fortunately for her opinion of his sanity, Saul immediately added something onto his 'really'. He thought brother-Geoff was going to be on the ballot with him and Quidditch-Geoff? For a second, she couldn't think of a thing to do except to sit there looking startled.

"I hadn't thought that he might be on the ballot," Helena said. "I guess I don't think of him the same way y'all do because he's my brother." She shrugged slightly, feeling, for no logical reason, slightly guilty. "If he is, and he convinces me he's the best candidate, of course I'll vote for him. If I don't learn to think of him as the best one for the job, I won't." Geoff wouldn't like that, but that was too bad. This was not - or was not supposed to be - a sentimental business.

Later in the interview, she found herself smiling, half in amusement and half-indulgently, as he rattled on about his life after Sonora and his grades. "Practice always helps," she said lightly. "It's the only way I learn anything." It had never been clear to her if everyone thought she was as smart as Geoff by association, but she didn't think so. It was ridiculous to assume having the same parents meant she and Geoff would share the same gifts. "Congratulations for your Es."

16 Helena Responding to your response to my answers to your poll 88 Helena 0 5

Saul Pierce

December 29, 2008 3:00 PM

Good point by Saul Pierce

"No problem," Saul returned with an enthusiastic grin when Geoff thanked him for the idea of campaigning. "Then I'll plan for debates after mid-term!" he called as he walked away backwards, throwing two thumbs up in front of him. "I'll let you know if the other Geoff, Gunther, Devian, or Adam want to join in, too!"

He turned around and bounded away with a happy bounce in his step as he located the next person on his list that he still needed to poll.

Afton and Geoff L were now spurred on to campaign for themselves. While Geoff's involvement made him an even stronger candidate in the race for Head Boy, Saul never for a moment considered it anything other than a good thing. The more people campaigning, the better the chance that the best candidate would get the position and that was the whole point of an election.

While Saul thought he would make a great Head Boy, he didn't want to win by default or because he was more popular. He wanted to win because more of his classmates thought he was a better choice for the job than the other guys on the ballot. And if they didn't, then he shouldn't be Head Boy.

That was how Democracy worked.

1 Saul Pierce Good point 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Afton

December 29, 2008 7:09 PM

You don't seem to mind by Afton

"Oh, no, I'm not saying you are doing anything wrong regarding younger students. I just think they should have a say. Not seventh years really, since they wouldn't be here next year anyway. It's apparently an administrative policy that I don't happen to agree with." Afton responded.

She went on. "I was thinking more of sending around petitions or something. Much like you campaigning would show people including the faculty that you want it, having younger students sign a petition that they want to vote would show the administration."

Afton also really didn't see why convicted felons shouldn't vote, so long as they were not in prison currently. They were still American citizens, just not law abiding ones. "I mean, at one time, in regular elections, women couldn't even vote. Nor could minorities, but both groups fought for sufferage and got it, so why shouldn't the younger students here? And some convicted felons should be able to vote. Why should someone who got away with murder because let's face it, it happens, get to vote while someone who served their time for a non-violent offense and possibly turned their life around isn't able to? I mean, I don't think the ones currently incarcerated should vote and violent criminals should never be let out. Convicted felons would be a group that would be voting for some good things, like humane prison conditions."

She continued. "I didn't mean they would think you would literally spit on them. I just meant they think you wouldn't care what they had to say and would be nasty to them because some popular kids think they're better than others. They're so disillusioned and hurt by people rejecting them, that the popular kids come to represent to them the group that's ostracized them. They think nobody cares about their opinions especially the popular crowd who has all the power."

"Personally," Afton stated,"In some cases, I would go to someone who is likely to be kind and sympathetic than someone who is a jerk. Someone who I thought cared about what I had to say. Just because Geoff isn't afraid of people doesn't mean he would stand up for someone if he really didn't care about them." Which was all basically theoretical, as Afton never met Geoff Layne and couldn't say for sure. "For all you know, Adam could be a great listener and genuninely care what someone had to say. Whereas someone else who isn't personable might just tell them to get over it."

"And a school doesn't always have extracurriculars that someone would be interested in. Salem had basically none. Also, he might not think he's wanted at them even if he was. Who wants to go to some place where they feel everyone hates them if they don't absolutely have to?"

Her eyes grew big as Saul talked about his family. "Wow, that's pretty hard core. I mean, its one thing for people to not have better stuff or more stuff but not even their own toothbrush?"

Another thing occurred to Afton then, "Why would I be debating you? We aren't even running for the same position. There's a Head Boy and a Head Girl. Also you'll need to find a moderator. And you should take questions from everyone."

"And if Bella didn't want it, she shouldn't have been on the ballot. You're right, campaigning is an excellent way to let it be known that one wants the postition."

She considered what he said about Allie as well. "So maybe Allie doesn't want it and in that case she shouldn't be on the ballot either. What can you tell me about the other girls in our class? You mentioned the boys, but I need to know about the girls if I am either going to compete with them or vote for them."

11 Afton You don't seem to mind 77 Afton 0 5

Saul Pierce

January 03, 2009 1:28 PM

Nah. In case you haven't noticed, I like to talk. by Saul Pierce

Saul was relieved that she didn't think he was being unfair and biased by not polling the younger years. He'd thought his family had taught him about equality and political voice and civil liberties and all that and it had been kind of weird being accused of not being egalitarian enough. He was a California Pierce. Sure, he was conservative for the family, a little too mainstream to go completely along with all their ideas, but he was still a California Pierce. Didn't that disqualify him from that kind of suspicion? Shouldn't he be the one asking why the fourth years couldn't vote?

He'd just went along with the established order. That, more than Afton's questions, was what was making him defensive. His family wasn't into going along with the established order. He felt inadequate, unworthy of his name.

Of course, he had introduced campaigning into the normally hush-hush processes of choosing a Head Boy and Girl, so maybe that would make up for the lapse.

"Petitions are good," he agreed with her. He knew about petitions. He wasn't entirely convinced they had ever accomplished anything, but that wasn't really the point. The point was to raise awareness, to get people involved and invested. Like his campaign, it was to express interest and let the people who were responsible for making the decision know about a possible option that they might otherwise overlook or dismiss without considering all the relevant information. "If you want, I can help you draft one and collect signatures. But that might be seen as partisan on my part, since I think I have more friends in the younger years than any of the other Head Boy candidates do combined."

As Afton explained about a stereotype that some people cast upon popular people, Saul frowned in confused denial. He didn't understand. He couldn't understand it. "Why wouldn't I care? Why wouldn't popular people in general care? I don't understand. We're popular because we have a lot of friends. We have a lot of friends because we're friendly. We're nice. I mean, I've never gone to any school besides Sonora, but here, it's me and Elly and Irene and Stephen and Echo and, well, Pecari pretty well dominated that yearbook page. And while Pecari does have its share of unfriendly people, they weren't the ones on the popular page. They don't have friends. They're unfriendly. How can you not be nice and still be popular?"

Maybe he misunderstood the word. His vocabulary wasn't the best in the school. Maybe the context clues he'd originally defined the word by had been misleading. "Doesn't popular mean you have a lot of friends? Why would lots of people be friends with someone who wasn't nice? It doesn't make sense to me."

Once they returned to the topic of going to Geoff Layne versus Adam Brockert, Saul shook his head. "I never said Geoff Layne was a jerk. He's not. He was nice enough the few times I talked to him in class. He's not super personable, but Adam's even less personable. I mean," Saul pointed a thumb back the way Adam had gone. "Okay, yeah, I asked for his opinion, and he gave it, but wow. I'd at least try to soften the blow, you know?" It wasn't even so much what Adam had said as how he said it that had stung so badly.

"But you're right, I don't know how good a listener either of them are. I'd still go to Geoff first, though."

He did have to concede that she had a point about the extracurriculars though. He really couldn't see Adam getting involved in Quidditch or soccer, he could have been a noveller, but Saul usually just stuck with his friends and didn't pay much attention to who else was there. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more sure he was that Adam had been a noveller at least one year. But then, he had good friends who remembered him being at Irene's summer thing when he hadn't been, so it was possible he was making that up.

On the subject of debates, Saul shook his head. "Well, we wouldn't necessarily be debating each other, unless if no other candidates for Head Boy or Head Girl show up, but if it is just me and you campaigning, we could probably just talk the issues, so people know where we stand. I mean, just from talking to you today, we're obviously not going to agree about everything, so we could get some good discussions going even if we're not actually running against each other. It'll let people get an idea of whether or not they think we're someone they want holding the positions."

"And a moderator and questions from everyone would be awesome. Good idea. We'd need someone pretty neutral. Maybe a seventh year who isn't going to be voting anyway. Hey! We could get Bella and Chris to moderate it! Maybe. I can ask them." He didn't know them that well, but he'd been to prefect meetings with them both now. "How awesome would it be to have the current Head Boy and Girl run the Head Boy and Girl debates? They could maybe ask us some questions based on their experience in the positions."

\r\n"As for the girls, well, Pepper is awesome. She's the girl equivalent of me. We both do first year tours on the first day of class. She's really nice, and I gave myself the biggest crush on her the first time I filled out a yearbook survey because she was the person I paired with myself on ever category I put myself in. Plus, y'know, she's pretty. Of course, this made me so tongue-tied that the first time I tried to talk to her, I couldn't even get out a whole sentence. And I sounded like an idiot. But we got over it and we're friends now. It was really tough deciding who to ask to the Ball a few years back. See, I have a thing for red headed Teppenpaws, so I was crushing on both them at the time.

\r\n"Which brings us to Briony. She's awesome, too. And the one I eventually asked to the Ball. She's pretty quiet at first, not nearly as outwardly friendly as Pepper, but she's really nice and funny and creative once you get her going. Plus, she's a professor's daughter, so she's really smart and well behaved and all that stuff because Professor O'Leary would hear about it and prolly ground her if she wasn't. I'm lucky. My relative on staff is just the groundskeeper, and he's a cousin, not a parent. Way less pressure.

\r\n"And then there's Allie, who I assume is nice, since she's in Teppenpaw, but I don't know her hardly at all. I couldn't even tell you if she likes ghost stories. Her twin sister is Lila St. Martin, who is a prefect for Crotalus. I'd say she's probably one of the less friendly sixth years, and she's outspoken enough that you notice it. She's a pureblood and likes to make sure everyone knows it. If she wins, the voting demographic is way more traditional than I think it is, and I'm in trouble.

\r\n"Rosie is a Salem transfer, so you probably know her better than I do, but she's an Aladren, and that carries weight. Aladrens are seen as the smartest, most responsible people in the school. I think that helped Bella win, even if she doesn't entirely fit the Aladren stereotypes. Letsee, who else is there?"

\r\nHe looked down at his list. "You. You're a new transfer. Nobody knows you from Eve. You're Teppenpaw, which means you'll be seen as nice. If you want a chance at winning, you'll need to campaign so people know more about you." He checked his list again. "And then there's Morgaine. She won't be on the ballot. She's one of the unfriendly Pecaris I mentioned. I'm the prefect for my year because she was my only competition. There was a rumor in second year that she got a detention for dueling. I'm about ninety-eight percent sure she'll vote for Lila, and about ninety-nine point nine nine nine nine nine nine sure she won't vote for me."\r\n\r\n

1 Saul Pierce Nah. In case you haven't noticed, I like to talk. 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Afton

January 03, 2009 6:23 PM

I noticed, but have you noticed that I like to talk back? by Afton

Afton smiled. "That would be excellent. I'd appreciate that, thanks" She went on. "People also tend to group with those who are similar to them and have common interests. You might have lots of friends because there are lots of people like you. Have you ever taken notice of anyone outside your inner circle? You reached out to the first years in your own house, which is good, I'll give you that, but have you ever reached out to those in another house? Or those considered less popular? Have you ever bothered to reach out to Adam or that other guy that seemed to agree with him?" If had been just Adam who'd had an issue, maybe he could have been seen as just paranoid but the other guy had seconded him almost immediately and Afton had been talking to Saul for good long time now and it was fairly clear to her that she probably had not needed to ask that last question, since it was pretty obvious that he hadn't. "Has you or any of your friends ever been nice to him or done anything to show him you are nice? Granted, you've been nice enough towards me, but I'm not him."

"And in some places people are also popular because they're wealthy or good in sports, shallow as it is. Haven't you ever seen a movie about the In Crowd making someone's life a living hell because they see themselves as better?" It was entirely possible that Saul was indeed a pureblood and had never seen a movie in his life.

"Then, how isn't Geoff personable? Furthermore, yes, okay, what Adam said to you wasn't particularily nice, but no offense, there seems to be a grain of truth to it. And have you ever considered that just because someone isn't super-outgoing doesn't mean they aren't nice people? He could possibly be very nice but nobody-including you-has ever given him a chance.Oh, and if you and your friends are all so nice, why aren't you in Teppenpaw?"

"A seventh year would be good, or even a faculty member. They have no stake in the voting whatsoever." Afton responded, liking the idea. "Actually, though, a faculty member might be better since with any of the older students, they possibly would favor the people in their own house. Of course, that eliminates the Head of Houses too possibly." It was going to be really hard to find someone non-partisan.

She wasn't entirely sure Pepper being the "girl equivalent" of Saul was a good thing from her standpoint. Saul seemed nice enough...towards her and Pepper hadn't been nasty to her either. On the other hand, if she was exactly like Saul, only female, that probably meant she also didn't care about people outside her circle.

What he said about Allie was pretty much proved the point made by Adam and Angry Guy Number 2 all the more and she was pretty certain that she did know Rosie better than him and possibly the fact that they both went to Salem didn't make too much difference given how little Saul knew about Adam or Allie, who from what Afton gathered were the quieter, shyer people about. The odds were Saul wouldn't have talked to Rosie much even if she had been here since she was a firstie.

"Well, I certainly won't be voting for Lila, even if I'm not on the ballot." Afton replied. "She doesn't represent me at all." That was of course, if what Saul said was accurate. She was beginning to take whatever he said about his classmates with a grain of salt. "And it certainly doesn't sound like she represents everyone else either."

"Are you saying Morgaine is unfriendly because of the dueling thing or is she merely not outgoing or a Teppenpaw so you assume she is? Have you ever given her a chance? Though granted,if she's likely to vote for Lila, she probably isn't that nice."

11 Afton I noticed, but have you noticed that I like to talk back? 77 Afton 0 5

Saul

January 04, 2009 12:00 AM

I did, in fact, and I'm not known for being observant. by Saul

Okay. He guessed he could see how groups with similar interests might become friends, even if they weren't all the nicest of people. They could probably get along with each other, if not with the general populace. Take that group of third year girls, for example. There was a good sized crowd of them, but they were hardly the nicest group to people who weren't as well off or purebred as they were. He'd caught Holly Greer looking down her nose at him on more than one occasion. And she was nearly a foot shorter than him.

And his group did, largely have one thing in common. They were all Pecaris. Well, Briony and Pepper weren't, but they weren't part of the group. Saul was friends with them separately. And the Warren Twins were Crotali, but they were Irene's cousins, so that was their in. And Josh sometimes joined in, but he was Matt's brother. And none of those were inner circle, anyway.

"I guess," he conceded reluctantly. "I haven't seen a lot of movies. We're sort of on the muggle-magical boundary and Aunt Regina's a tight-fisted old lady. But we'll occasionally stay somewhere with electricity, a public television and a VCR. I think I've seen the type. We're not like that. Okay, yeah, Adam wasn't completely off base. He did have a point. But we don't mean to leave people out, it just happened that way."

"I mean, honestly? Once you already have twenty close friends - okay, um," Saul counted silently on his fingers as he named his best friends: Elly, Echo, Mere, Matt, Caed, Brett, and Irene, "seven. Seven close friends, do you really need to go out of your way to find more who are harder to get to and probably have less in common with you? Houses are sorted by personality. We're just not as likely to get along with Aladrens and Crotali as we are with each other. Pecari's not the only House that does that, either. We just happened to have a fourth and fifth year class that was pretty big and really cohesive. And I jumped ship from my own grade to join them, not because I don't like my yearmates, but because they were really awesome people and they were right there."

"I mean, Pecari's Commons are way," Saul made a gesture like he was signaling a football player to go long, "out by - well, I shouldn't say where exactly, but you have to go outside to get there from here." Which meant they were either off the Pitch or the Gardens, but those two places covered a lot more area than inside the school did. He didn't think he was saying anything too confidential. "Sometimes," he admitted, leaning forward as if confiding a giant secret, "I think the founders were trying to keep us away from everyone else."

And if he was brutally honest about his House, he could almost understand why. Pecari did tend to collect all of the school's real trouble-makers. With Crotalus being the rule driven House, and Aladren getting the bookworms, and Teppenpaw getting the nice kids, Pecari got what was left. It was why Pecari had the greatest diversity of all the Houses. Adaptability. And Adventure.

Not exactly defining qualities of 'good students.'

"I mean, yeah, in an ideal world, Houses wouldn't matter and everyone would get along with everyone. But it's not, and when you're making your circle of friends in first or second year, you're hanging out with the people in closest proximity to you. And then you keep hanging out with those people, because they're the ones you know, they're the ones you have shared experiences with.

"You're not thinking, Dude, in four, five, six years, I'm going to be running for Head Boy, maybe I should make more friends in other Houses. And if you are, you're really scary. Head Boy is a public service position, not something to plan your whole life around. The Head Boy is there to help people, not for his own fame and advancement.

"I mean, as cool as it would be to be Head Boy, I'm running because I think I'm the best candidate. Because I don't care about the other stuff. RATS, grades, graduation, college, a job, none of that applies to me. I already know what I'm doing with my life, and I don't need any of that. I can focus on being the Head Boy. I can put all of my energy - and I've got a lot of energy - into that. Okay, I'll save some for Quidditch, because I'm the Captain, but I'm not a Quidditch fanatic, like the Cravens, or Anne. Quidditch is fun, but it's not much more important than the RATS in the grand scheme of things. Which is, I know, heresy." He glanced around as if looking for a Spanish Inquisitor ready to haul him away.

"I mean, I saw Zack Dill towards the end of the year last year. He looked like Anne Wright does this year, and she's not even the Head Girl. He was like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, always rushing to get to the next thing on his schedule and always harried and too busy to fit in anything not planned out in advance. If you wanted to talk to him, it had to be on his schedule, during his office hours. I think I even saw him check his watch during an Aladren Quidditch game, like he was annoyed the Snitch was running late."

It occurred to him that he had veered way off topic. "What were we talking about again?" It came to him less than a second later. "Oh yeah. Pecaris and popularity. Yeah, so. Most of us hang out together because its convenient and most of us are all in the same clubs together: Quidditch, soccer, the novelling thing. We even started the soccer and novelling things. They didn't exist before Echo and Brett decided the school needed them. See, the difference between us and Teppenpaws are that Teppenpaws are primarily nice, that's your thing, you're nice. But we're outgoing and go-getters and we just, I don't know, we stand out more, get noticed, get involved. Nice is secondary. Nice describes most of us, but it doesn't define any of us.

"So when you ask: what's this guy, Saul, like? You probably won't get anyone saying, 'Oh, he's nice.' You'll get 'Oh, he talks a lot.' Or 'He's very enthusiastic.' Or 'He's funny.' Or 'Don't partner him in potions, he'll mess you up. And whatever you do, don't ever ever ever ask him what the homework or class assignment is.' Or 'He's completely nuts.' Or 'He's the Guide.' Or 'He's a Pecari.' Or 'He's awesome.' Or 'He keeps calling me Dude, do I look like a dude to you?!' Or any of a billion other things that come to mind first."

Saul frowned thoughtfully when Afton brought up the issue of House bias in the debate moderator. He hadn't thought about that. "I don't know if there's anyone in the school without some kind of leaning one way or another. Most of the staff and professors went here as students. The only one I know who didn't was the groundskeeper, but he's totally for Pecari, being my cousin and all.

"Well, there are no boys in Teppenpaw, so we could have a Teppenpaw supporter moderate the Head Boy debate. Head Girl is tougher, since there is one girl in every House except Teppenpaw, which has four. I'd be really surprised if Morgaine got on the ballot, but I don't want to discount her if she wants to be a part of the debate. But maybe a Pecari friendly moderator wouldn't be the worst choice, since Morgaine is hardly a typical Pecari. Of course, that might make them biased against her, which wouldn't be good either. And the two Pecari-friendly staff I can think of would both be pro-Briony, because one is her dad and the other is biased because of me." He thought about the professors for a moment, then added, "But I bet Professor Huntley was a Pecari. He might work if he can stop himself from pulling any practical jokes on the debaters."

At Afton's question about Morgaine, Saul took a deep breath. "Well, I volunteered to ask her if she wanted to be involved in the concert, so I'll be talking to her then. I'm really hoping I come out of that with my head still attached. I'll know then if her reputation is earned or completely wrong. I don't have a lot of self-preservation instinct, but she is a Carey. And her parents did name her Morgaine. And know one knows what she does locked up alone in her room all the time. She was the only girl Pecari left in our year longer than I was the only boy Pecari, so she's had a room to herself since second or third year. I don't remember when exactly Ginger left. It was after Eduard, but before Michael. She was the seeker before Elly, and Elly was a reserve her first year, so she must have been around through second. So, it must have been third that she left." Saul thought about that, was satisfied by his logic, and nodded. "Yeah. So pretty much the only time anyone has even seen Morgaine since third year is during class. She's very mysterious like that, and a little scary."

1 Saul I did, in fact, and I'm not known for being observant. 82 Saul 0 5

Afton

January 04, 2009 7:01 AM

I noticed <i> that </i> too! by Afton

"Then if you don't reach out to people like Adam or the other guy, how can you expect them to think you're nice and want to vote for you?" Afton responded. "I mean yes, it's reasonable to make friends with others who are like you, fine. But if you give the impression that you're cliquey, then you can't expect people who aren't part of your clique to see you as representing them when you do want to campaign. Or even necessarily as being nice."

Afton continued. "Maybe they don't think you can help people like them because you don't understand a bit where they're coming from. You can't empathize." She wasn't sure she knew exactly how it felt to be like them either, but she cared and could at least see the viewpoint. "I mean supposedly, lots of people like you. You probably have no idea how if feels to be rejected and disliked. My guess is what they said is the first negative thing that anyone has said to you, beyond that they don't want to depend on you for a grade. Some people aren't so outgoing and have a tougher time."

She took a breath. "Furthermore, it actually did sound a bit like Adam stuck up for himself, just now, albeit in an awkward way. He told you exactly what he thought and how he felt.I mean, maybe he was echoing that other kid-I'm new so I don't which one he was-but he still said it."

From what he said about the Pecari common room, it also seemed like he couldn't be trusted not to at least nearly give away things that he shouldn't. That could be taken badly, that maybe others couldn't trust him to confide in either. On the other hand, Afton did like something else he said "I agree with you on the Quidditch thing. It is very superficial." She honestly didn't care if others thought it was heresy. Afton had long been taught that others placed way too much importance on sports.

"So you started clubs or your friends did? And you all are in them? Has it occurred to you that well, that might be another reason Adam hasn't ever joined one? Because he doesn't feel he belongs? That the lot of you wouldn't welcome him?" Afton was vaguely aware that she may have asked this before but she didn't think Saul had even answered it. "Also, you might have all joined them because it was started by a friend, whether or not you're interested in the actual activity. Do you talk to the people who show up that aren't part of your group?"

"What would Adam say if I asked about you? Or the other guy? Or Allie? Or some younger student not in Pecari?"

"Would you have talked to me if you weren't campaigning? I am not in your house so you wouldn't know whether or not we had anything in common. Would you have reached out to any new transfer not in your house if you didn't want to be Head Boy? Would you have come up and introduced yourself? Did you do that with Rosalind last term?"

She thought. "It is going to be awfully difficult to find someone non-biased. You could ask Professor Huntley, I guess. Though what if you don't find anyone else who wants to debate and it is just you and me? Granted, its unlikely that anyone is going to be biased against or towards me, but I wouldn't ask Adam or that other guy if I were you."

"How do you know Morgaine isn't just shy and that's why she hangs out in her room by herself? Maybe she doesn't fit in and doesn't feel welcomed by the other Pecaris either." Actually, if that was the case, she felt possibly sorrier for Morgaine than she did Adam, being rejected by even her own housemates.

The fact that she was a Carey meant diddly-squat to Afton since she was muggleborn and unlikely to recognize a pureblood name or have any association with it, so she asked "What's does her being a Carey have to do with anything? And just because someone is named something doesn't mean they are going to be a certain way."

11 Afton I noticed <i> that </i> too! 77 Afton 0 5

Saul

January 06, 2009 3:57 PM

You are good. by Saul

Saul nodded doubtfully as Afton pointed out that Adam and Paul had no reason save hearsay to believe that he was nice and worth voting for. But after today's encounters, he honestly wasn't sure if he'd be welcome if he did try to reach out. Afton had guessed correctly when she said today was the first time anyone had ever said anything really negative to him. He didn't like it and wasn't eager to go back for more.

But he didn't like that they didn't like him even more. If talking to them, seeking them out, and trying to get to know them better might fix that, he should at least try. For his own sense of self-worth, more so than for the election. Yeah, not going into politics. This whole thing of finding out that people actively disliked him messed with his belief that he was a likeable guy. It was depressing. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to be less outgoing and have trouble making friends. He needed friends like Aladrens needed good grades. And when someone didn't like him, it was as disconcerting as an Aladren getting a Troll on a test.

But Saul was an optimistic sort of person and he didn't let it keep him down for more than a moment. He had a planned course of action for trying to sort out the misunderstanding, so he moved on.

"Yeah," he agreed quickly, not wanting to be misunderstood here, too. "I'm not saying Adam and Paul were wrong to say what they said, or even how they said it. I obviously needed to hear it. I know my grades are bad and my organization usually sucks and people don't think I'm very smart. I know that nobody thinks I'm responsible and they all think I can't take anything seriously. This whole poll thing's ulterior motive was to get people to be aware that I know about my failings and am making efforts to overcome them.

"But Adam and Paul - Adam was the first one - pointed out ones that I wasn't even aware of. Total blind spot. It's the most useful information I could have possibly gotten out of this. This is a way bigger problem than the stuff I thought I had counting against me. Luckily, I think I've still got time to fix it, and I think, if I win, it'll probably be because of their honesty today. I'm glad they said what they said. It was just hard to take, hard to realize that I am a Pecari elitist. Dude, I'm a California Pierce. I thought I was genetically incapable of that."

Saul shrugged when she asked about the clubs. "Yeah, Echo and Brett started two of them, and I prolly wouldn't have joined if someone else had." He shrugged, "I mean, I'm not in the Charms club, even though Elly and Irene and some other Pecaris are." He shrugged. "Josiah was a first year when he started it, though, and I was a third. I figured they'd be doing charms I already knew. And I just never got around to joining in later, when they might have been doing more interesting stuff. 'Sides, it's extracurricular learning." He let his self professed bad grades explain his aversion to that.

"Totally wouldn't have done the noveling thing either, though, if Echo hadn't tricked me into it. That's work and I hate writing. Aside from the kickoff and the final results, though, there aren't many meetings for that, and mostly you work on it by yourself. Adam could be in that, and, actually, I'm not sure he wasn't. Last year, Pepper joined and I didn't pay much attention to who else was there.

"And I guess I can see not joining something if you don't think you're welcome, but most clubs are begging people to join - Brett goes running around here," Saul waved around the Cascade Hall to indicate the room they were in, "trying to get enough people to fill full teams for his soccer games. And Echo said almost everyone who showed up to the paper last year got promoted to an editor position just because they had only one or two more people than there were editor spots. I don't know how anyone could feel unwelcome to a club. They want more people involved.

"Even if you don't like, say, Elly, or think she doesn't like you, and she's in every club, in most clubs, you can still avoid her. Well, except for the soccer one, but there it doesn't matter what you think of anyone or what they think of you, cuz you're just playing soccer. And none of us are very good at it except Brett and Echo."

Saul thought about her next question. "If you asked Adam what he thought about me . . . um, I'd have to say he'd say I was," Saul bit his lip as he looked over his notes on what he'd written about Adam's comments, "an irresponsible Pecari-centric idiot." He wasn't sure if that was too harsh or not harsh enough. He'd already realized he didn't know Adam at all.

"Paul would say I'm," Saul didn't know him much better and looked over those notes, too, "an immature, idealistic fool." He thought about that for a moment and shrugged, "He'd say idealistic like it was a bad thing, but I think it's a compliment. Immature would also sound negative, but that's just a fact. Even when there were more Pecaris in our year, I still hung out with the kids in the year below. I'm only two months older than Elly, you know."

The shock of that was still fresh after her sixteenth birthday party the previous Saturday. He still considered himself a newly minted sixteen year old himself. While he'd known Elly's birthday was in early September, it hadn't quite registered with him that they were nearly the same age rather than the full year apart their grade classification suggested. If her party invitation hadn't blatantly advertised it was her sixteenth, he would have assumed it was her fifteenth.

"Allie," he continued, moving onto the next person on Afton's survey, "probably wouldn't have a lot to say about me. She's probably pretty neutral toward me. The one thing I can think of is that she might hold it against me that I took so long to decide between Briony and Pepper and strung them both along, or she might give me the benefit of the doubt because they both are friends with me. I really couldn't say." He looked at his notes, even though he knew her checkboxes were all still blank. "I haven't talked to her today yet, so I can't cheat on that one."

"And a non-Pecari firstie, especially this early in the year, would probably say - and this is much much worse than anything anyone else could say - 'Who's Saul Pierce?' Or maybe, which would be a little better, 'He's the dude with the Head Boy posters.'"

"I honestly don't know if I would have talked to you if I weren't campaigning. I'm glad I am campaigning, because that would've been a real loss if I didn't." He shook his head. "Never talked to Rosie, either." It was really disconcerting. "I'm an awful person."

When she commented on his suggestions for debate moderators, he agreed with slow reluctance, "Yeah, not Adam or Paul, but because Adam is a candidate, however unlikely of one, and Paul because he represents Aladren as a Prefect. Also, I'd get a chance to show more conflict management than the rest if the moderator was actively biased, and that wouldn't be fair. They should definitely be there to ask questions, though. I can't win over my opposition if they don't oppose."

At the questions about Morgaine, Saul shook his head. "I dunno. If you see her angry, you'll probably steer clear of her. And there's all these rumours about her and her family. The Careys are one of those traditional pureblood lots. Her branch is from Savannah, Georgia and they, um, are not known as nice people. I get the impression that Connor - the 7th year Pecari Prefect - no relation, despite also being a Pierce - was more than a little relieved when I volunteered to talk to Morgaine about the concert, and he voluntarily spends some of his time with her sister. And the person she may or may not have dueled - I never got the whole story - was Caedence, and she's on my Quidditch team. Though, to be fair, Caed had almost the same reputation as Morgaine back then, before Elly drew her out, and she turned out to be, well, maybe not nice - fierce and loyal are better words - but I like Caedence. I don't think she'd make a very good Head Girl, though."

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