Headmaster Brockert
September 14, 2019 4:13 PM
Returning Feast by Headmaster Brockert
Midterm had passed as it usually did for Mortimer, parties with annoying, boring people who wasted a lot of words on things that were not worth talking about. He hated small talk so much and that was all anyone brought up. The weather. Quidditch. Work at dull jobs. Even Mortimer hadn't had a good work story since Joe Umland almost punched him while aiming for his brother as he didn't really interact with the students much other than his own granddaughters. If someone was coming to see him, that probably meant they were in big trouble.Bottom line was that if you weren't related to him-or, Mortimer supposed, friends with his grandchildren-you did not want to be on his radar.
Family get togethers were slightly better. Slightly . There were still an awful lot of small children about but none of his daughters-in-law were pregnant. Maybe Miles would be his last grandchild. Ben was done and he hoped Zeke was. He wasn't sure about Gene or Elmer and Eustace had yet to procreate at all-which Mortimer wasn't convinced was a bad thing- even though he still badly wanted a son. The headmaster wasn't holding his breath on this happening. Helena had had many miscarriages over the years.
Anyway, he looked forward to the day that Miles passed that loud little kid stage. The child wasn't quite four months old yet so it would be awhile.
Now it was time for the Returning Feast. The students filed in and took their seats. Mortimer stood up and said. "Welcome back to Sonora. I hope you all had a nice holiday. Before we begin, one small reminder. Uniform robes are to be worn during all classes." He had heard about one of the first years who never wore hers. Some people just didn't seem to get that rules applied to them too. Especially Pecaris. With that, he sat down and began to eat.
Subthreads: <b><font color="#804000">Pecari Table Threads </font></b> by System
<b><font color="red">Crotalus Table Threads </font></b> by System
<b><font color="#e6ac00">Teppenpaw Table Threads</font></b> by System
<b><font color="#1a75ff">Aladren Table Threads</font></b> by System
<b><font color="#006600">Staff Table Threads</font></b> by System
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Headmaster Brockert
Returning Feast
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Headmaster Brockert
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Jessica Hayles
September 16, 2019 1:24 PM
Here I go again. by Jessica Hayles
Sitting down in the Cascade Hall, Jessica was surprised to feel a flash of relief. Whatever else was wrong with the place, at least here, she didn't have to remember, at every public moment, that she was supposed to be sick. At least here, she didn't have to constantly worry over how it might affect the company if the watchers saw her lose control of It again - a condition which seemed to make It become more unpredictable and difficult to control.Freaks of a feather flock together/Perhaps it's necessary, even better/Cowering beneath artificial weather...
No, she wasn't going to write that down. It went nowhere. She had, with some effort, finally prevailed upon Mara to give her some feedback other than 'it's good,' and Mara had said that there were a lot of images, but that sometimes they didn't seem to go anywhere. Of course, it was relevant that Jessica hadn't shown Mara all of her work, but she thought the point was fair. Plus, she just didn't want to follow that line of thought too far.
After the Headmaster finished reminding them to wear their uniforms (Jessica glanced toward the Pecari table and had to suppress a flash of a smile), the food appeared. Jessica had almost gotten used to food just appearing from thin air, and could eat it, so long as she didn't think too much about whether contact with magic somehow contaminated the food like radiation and could make her more magical. Finding herself next to Felipe, she smiled at him.
"Buenas noches," she said. "Tuviste un viaje agradable?" Did you have a good trip?
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Jessica Hayles
Here I go again.
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Jessica Hayles
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Felipe De Matteo
September 16, 2019 2:11 PM
Here WE go again. by Felipe De Matteo
Felipe's break had been ordinary, which wasn't very ordinary apparently. He'd learned a lot about how other families did the holidays when he'd talked to Zara about it the year previously, and of course his tutors made sure he was well versed on international holiday traditions. This made him more valuable, and it helped him fit in better at a school abroad. This was also his last break at home with Leonor before she was a student herself. Summer was coming, but she'd be preparing for the transition to school which would make it different than other summers.Felipe felt bittersweet about his sister's pending attendance at Sonora. On one hand, he was eager to have his sister - the brighter, cleverer, more interesting of the De Matteo siblings if he was to make that judgement - immersed in her education. It might become clearer sooner whether she was apt to take over the family line in Felipe's place, and he'd get to see her more often. At the same time, he knew it was unlikely for the inheritance to shift, and having her present, outdoing Felipe by virute of her existence, would be painful. He'd get to see her doing all the things he just couldn't do as the heir to the De Matteo legacy.
He put those thoughts aside as he took his seate at the Crotalus table and listened to the Headmaster's speech. What a droll man. He was glad when he found that he and Jessica had managed to sit next to each other, but waited until the speeches were done to speak, so as not to interrupt. As it turned out, she spoke to him first, which was a nice way to validate that their friendship was mutual. He smiled at her.
"It was very good," he replied in English. "My family sends their regards." His family had also sent a card - a non-magical one so as not to panic Jessica's family with the way the cards moved; Zara's family had gotten a much more exciting magical one, per the conversation their parents had had in the Spring - and a box of Mexican chocolates, cigars, and a hand-painted tea set for the children of the family, but that didn't need to be brought up as to do so would be terribly impolite. "How was your break?"
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Felipe De Matteo
Here WE go again.
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Jessica
September 16, 2019 7:07 PM
Where are we going, again? by Jessica
"Fine," said Jessica, also switching back to English, when asked about her holidays. "My cousins all think I'm dying, so nobody fought me for the last helping of chocolate delight on New Year's," she said, her tone clearly facetious, though she didn't know herself exactly who it was she wanted to mock.Dropping back into sincerity, she added, "I appreciated what you and your family send us - I hope you got our cards okay, and our thank-you notes."
The extra gesture of a thank-you note had been necessary, as the De Matteos had sent more than just a Christmas card. Her father had been endlessly amused by the cigars - he had, of course, never smoked in his life. It would not do for the head of Arvale to have skin like a sheet of leather even if he was a man. Her father's skincare routine was as extensive and tailored to his individual face as her mother's. Everyone had enjoyed the chocolates, however, and she had played tea party at length with Lola with the tea set. It was, she thought, serendipitous that they had sent a gift which was perfect for using with her little sister when Felipe naturally had no way of knowing that she wasn't an only child, or that she would still be willing to play with the help's children after all these absences.
She assumed her father had sent something nice for Felipe's parents as well - he seemed to think there was something to cultivate in this relationship they had established with the Mexican family - but she had packed up some scented glosses and a pretty little charm pendant for Leonor and for Felipe, she had obtained a book about Atlanta and, thinking of his affection for snacking while working, a tin of pecan pralines and a packet of caramel-covered popcorn. She decided not to mention them now, though, to preserve the surprise for when she could actually produce the items in question.
"How was your holiday?"
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Jessica
Where are we going, again?
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Felipe De Matteo
September 16, 2019 8:44 PM
Up and out, I should think. by Felipe De Matteo
Felipe considered Jessica for a moment, not sure whether to sympathise or support. On one hand, it didn't sound like home was a very accepting place right now. At the same time, she got more chocolate. Chocolate delight at that."Honestly though," he said, scratching the back of his head and smiling sheepishly, his formal countenance dropped in favor of one more casual. "That might be worth it. I'll have to give it a shot next time I'm with Leonor." He thought for a moment. "She probably wouldn't care."
"We did, yes," Felipe smiled, adopting his airs again. "It was nice of you to send those. I'm sure it's been difficult acclimating to owl mail. I assure you that we would accept parcels by your regular post if they ever tended to arrive."
The holiday was, as usual, about everybody else. That that was unusual did not cross Felipe's mind, and so he did not mention it. They hosted events for the community, they gave to those in need, and they offered whatever they could to their people. That Felipe and Leonor were the faces of the De Matteo family's position only served to remind Felipe that his life was never really going to be about him, whatever he wanted it to be. Or at least, whatever he might have wanted it to be if he'd had any way to know that there might be anything else it could be. As it was, he had little reason to complain. Besides, he was trying to be a better human, and this seemed suited to that end.
"It was very fulfilling," Felipe decided after mulling the question over for a moment. "It is always nice to spend time among our people, and to enjoy Los Jardines de Platas. I was able to catch up on some reading over the break, which was good." He'd read almost everything there was to read about agriculture and economics already, but there was a new strain of infection that was taking root in some of the plants at home and he'd been able to review what he knew about it and dive into some new titles on the cultural impacts of changes to agriculture as well. Many were sourced in the United States, which made them doubly or triply beneficial to his education. "Other than being sick" - he raised his eyebrows in a sarcastic smirk - "how was yours? Your family celebrates Christmas if I remember correctly?"
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Felipe De Matteo
Up and out, I should think.
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Felipe De Matteo
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Jessica
September 16, 2019 10:20 PM
Shall we walk on air, then? by Jessica
"It was a really good chocolate delight," admitted Jessica. "I'm not sure that you can play the energy processing disorder excuse, though, since she knows why you're away from home."She smiled at the acknowledgment that it was really weird to get used to getting mail from owls. "It's...been interesting," she admitted. "But it is a little more reliable than trying to send mail to the remote corners of Mexico."
Felipe's holiday sounded fairly normal to her, or something akin to her old normal. Holidays were often spent at a flurry of events, with much of her downtime being spent quietly reading to recuperate from them. She nodded when asked about Christmas.
"Yeah," she said. "We're Methodists. Mommy said I shouldn't go to the candle service because I'm supposed to be sick and it doesn't start until nine o'clock, but I got to see some nice services anyway. Plus, they let me go to the company Christmas party again! For a few minutes, anyway. Mommy didn't want me to do that, either, but Daddy started this scholarship for the employees' kids after I was born, and he decided I'm old enough that I should be on stage when they presented it, so I got to go for like ten minutes for that." She sighed. "I think I miss museums the most, after just...being at home," she said, fiddling with the watch-locket she had gotten at the Met shortly before she found out what she was, "but I miss being part of the company and events and things, too. Though I guess I do get to work on my poems more than I used to during Christmas."
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Jessica
Shall we walk on air, then?
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Jessica
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Felipe De Matteo
September 17, 2019 2:51 AM
Or sunshine? by Felipe De Matteo
Felipe was surprised to hear Jessica talk so directly about what her pretend illness was at home because she rarely opened up so directly. It seemed that humor was maybe a good way to speak to her. That or Felipe's formalities were just familiar enough that she could speak more openly. Either way, Felipe was glad he could be someone she could talk to. He didn't know whether she had anybody else, but it was always nice to have someone.He chuckled at her comment, as was polite, and then cocked his head to show he'd thought about it. "You know, energy processing disorder is pretty spot on. There are theories that magical ability is just a genetic mutation that allows some people to control the energy in their body and in the environment differently than others." It had been a tough concept for him, as twelve years old was a bit young to learn about genetics, but that was a De Matteo education for you. "It's not a disorder and you're not sick, but that might actually be a good way to help wrap your head around it." He ended with a noncommittal shrug, hoping to assure Jessica that she was under no obligation to talk about this further if she didn't prefer to.
He nodded understandingly as she spoke about Christmas and the company parties. While businesses weren't really a part of his life, he did understand the pressure to appear appropriately for groups that were important to his father and his family as a whole. There was a legacy to uphold.
"I've never been to a museum," he said with a frown as he realized the oversight in his education. In fact, he was learning a lot about life from Jessica, as he also had very little knack for poetry, despite having been tutored in the classics, and Methodism was something he'd only studied, never experienced.
He wondered how his parents would feel knowing that sending their son and heir to a school in the United States was hardly more exposure to real life experiences than was keeping him home at rural Los Jardines de Plata. Perhaps there was a summer abroad in his future. He stifled a sight at the thought, despite knowing full well that it would be implemented were he to suggest it. He made a mental note to write to his parents on the matter as soon as possible; his duties were crucial whether he liked them or not.
"I'd love to read your poetry if you'd like to share it."
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Felipe De Matteo
Or sunshine?
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Jessica
September 17, 2019 5:40 PM
We'd have to worry about incineration. by Jessica
Jessica nodded casually to the description of genetic mutations. "Yeah, that's - pretty much how we've dealt with that - Mommy and Daddy and I," she clarified.'Pretty much' was the important bit. At the beginning, she thought she and her parents had all thought of it very much as a disorder, a disability, a hindrance. The liaisons had convinced them that her abilities were extremely dangerous and needed treatment to keep them from killing her - a thing echoed by Professor Skies when she had gotten here. The random bursts of - whatever - when she was stressed - things she did to the environment around her without knowing how she did them, or how to undo them, or even that she had intended to do them - also made it feel rather like a curse, so on those grounds, it was a disorder.
However, with a disorder, one sought to minimize the symptoms. That was what Jessica had assumed she was at Sonora to do, but nobody else seemed to see that as a goal. Instead, they wanted her to use It, just a bit more...deliberately. She also couldn't help but notice herself that almost everything she did was something to defend herself against perceived threats - opening doors or sealing them shut, lashing out at threatening creatures in the gardens. Being able to defend herself was a good thing; there was power in that, of a kind that she thought was generally unavailable to women....
All of this was, however, something she thought it would be foolish to talk about, so she kept it to herself.
She raised an eyebrow at the notion of having never been to a museum. "Oh, we have got to fix that," she said, slipping a bit more into the cadence of Southern English. "I always go to the museums anywhere I travel with Daddy, and we've got some good ones in Atlanta, too - there's the High, of course, and Emory has this fantastic little museum, and...well, we've got plenty of culture. My family helps make sure of it," she added proudly. "Half my family sponsor free admissions days to museums and botanical gardens and things around the city. It's important to support access to education and things, don't you agree?"
She was a little surprised to hear a boy express an interest in reading her poems. "I can pull some of the good ones for you," she agreed. She had rarely been shy about sharing her work; some of her poems were private, especially the upset ones she had written when she had first been sent here, but as a rule she wrote on the assumption that she would eventually have an audience.
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Jessica
We'd have to worry about incineration.
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Felipe De Matteo
September 18, 2019 11:11 PM
Someone should have told Icarus. by Felipe De Matteo
Freddie smiled as Jessica seemed to perk up about museums. He wasn't exactly sure what it meant to have "plenty of culture" but he wasn't going to tell her that. At least she did seem to have some more world knowledge than some of the people at Sonora. It seemed most of the school would have considered Jessica's two languages a novelty and he thought that was rather odd and a bit disappointing. For people with no access to education, sure, one language made sense. These people all had at least some education . . . why did they insist on only learning enough of one language to get by? Who were they going to talk to if they traveled? It didn't cross his mind to think that they just might not travel. Or care."I have been to a cultural center. Is that the same thing?" he asked, thinking of Zara's family's center. It was probably a bit different than an art museum or history museum or something like that, but he wasn't entirely sure. Besides, when he'd gone then, he'd been with Zara and her family and his family and just too many people to be paying as much attention to their surroundings as to his comportment.
"Education is very important," he agreed, pleased that Jessica echoed his own thoughts so eloquently. "Money should never be a barrier."
Jessica was always acting exactly as she should, except when she really really wasn't, and that interested Felipe. Zara was always acting perfectly good, but Jessica was always acting perfectly proper. It was an important difference and one that he knew could be dangerous. He saw more of himself in Jessica, and very little of Zara in himself. It was a flaw he hoped to change, although he wasn't sure whether someone could be both things. He wondered whether the world would implode or just suddenly be very efficient and kind if Zara and Jessica were to run it together.
"Thank you," he smiled. He was generally better with math and figures than with the written word but he'd been trained on it so he didn't doubt that he'd at least be able to tell whether it was any good or not. However, the mind was only half of the point of poetry. In that particular art, only the soul would do. "Do you paint or play music as well?"
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Felipe De Matteo
Someone should have told Icarus.
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Jessica
September 19, 2019 1:03 PM
Poor fellow. by Jessica
Jessica tilted her head slightly to the side as she considered whether a cultural center was the same thing as a museum. "I think it might depend on what's in it, exactly," she said slowly. "Like, cultural centers could have museums, or just be where people do living culture - music and food and theater and stuff. But they're definitely part of the same family," she concluded approvingly, with a warm smile. "What kind of cultural center was it?" she asked curiously.She nodded automatically at the idea that money should pose no barrier to education. "Exactly," she said. "My uncle Jason ran for state House last year, and part of his platform was about trying to lower tuition at the universities, and stuff about relief for student loans." Uncle Jason had had to particularly play down that last part - even with the Groves name behind him, in part of the family stronghold, there was only so far he could go in Georgia - but it had been in there, especially in speeches at universities. "He probably won't get anywhere with it, not at home, with the rest of the Assembly being the way it is, but he'll try his best," she added casually. Everyone knew it was impossible to achieve anything right now, with their family on the wrong side of the aisle; aside from attack ads about Uncle Jason's connection to Arvale, there had also been plenty calling him a Communist, and the election had been close.
"I took the classes in school - art and music - but I've never done much with them outside of school, unless you count singing at church and children's programs and things. I usually just enjoy those things, though. What about you? Or Leonor?"
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Jessica
Poor fellow.
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Felipe De Matteo
September 22, 2019 3:15 PM
'tis the price of hubris, I'm afraid. by Felipe De Matteo
"It's Zara's family's cultural center," he explained, taking a moment to describe the place to her. "They have muggle items and information on display so that magical folk can have a better understanding of non-magical people and the two communities can be better united. So maybe some parts of it are like a museum because there are exhibits and things, but other parts are not much like a museum?"Felipe listened to Jessica's information about her family with some interest, although he didn't follow most of it. He had, of course, studied the governmental systems of the United States before coming here for school, but that wasn't to say he'd necessarily retained all of it, particularly at the state level. He knew more about political ideology than political systems, as only the former had a real impact on his remote corner of the world.
"Your family is very important to a great many people," Felipe observed, his tone even and neutral. He thought that that was a good thing in some ways and a bad thing in some ways, and probably a hard thing in many ways. Whatever the case, it was difficult not to make an observation, however rude it would have been to say anything more of it than that.
"I think those things count," he comments on her explanation about the arts. "We only had private lessons, so we were taught about music and art, but mostly we learned about other people's. We read and viewed and listened more than we wrote or made or produced." Deciding that wasn't really a very satisfying - or entirely truthful answer - he continued despite feeling as if he were taking up too much space. "Leonor sings, and we both dance quite a lot. I play violin, piano, and cello very well. Leonor plays the harp. Neither of us write poetry; I think that is a beautiful skill to have."
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Felipe De Matteo
'tis the price of hubris, I'm afraid.
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Jessica
September 22, 2019 7:43 PM
Take what you want and pay for it. by Jessica
Zara. That was the Black girl in their year. Jessica filed the information about the organization that the other girl's family was apparently associated with. This was interesting, possibly something to investigate later."That's cool," she said. "I might have to ask her about that sometime."
She nodded, not noticing the careful neutrality of his tone, to the assessment of her family. "Mommy's family are mostly in politics," she explained. "My great-grandpa used to be the governor, so that got everything started. My grandfather is a state Senator and now Uncle Jason is in the House. Of course, Arvale supports different causes, too, but luckily they usually line up with whatever Grandpa and Uncle Jason are into," she added with a chuckle.
"Yours are as well," she said when he said poetry was a beautiful skill. She felt distinctly less than accomplished now, beside someone who could play three instruments. She was not naturally musical, and while she imagined she could have developed at least a level of technical proficiency, neither of her parents had apparently ever felt it was necessary to squeeze lessons into the schedule, so that was that. "We should collaborate sometime," she half-joked - she didn't think any of those instruments usually had lyrics to go with their music, but it wasn't like there was a law or anything.
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Jessica
Take what you want and pay for it.
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