Prof. Adrian Meade
October 19, 2013 1:45 AM
Glub glub [Inter. 3 to 5] by Prof. Adrian Meade
Back at school. Adrian had come to love the beginning of the school year at Sonora Academy and waited anxiously to meet his new students. The former adventurer was happy with his sedentary life…until a few days ago. He couldn’t believe what had happened and the letter that had brought the news was still at his desk. The middle-aged professor had reread so many times that the parchment was beginning to break due to being constantly touched by its owner. It had been years since he had proposed the project to the University of Michigan to no avail and now, after almost 10 years, they had finally approved the budget for it. What was he to do? The project was his baby, his lifelong dream of exploring, but he loved his job at the school. Sadly, he couldn’t do both. Adrian Meade hated doing things half way; if he committed to something he gave it his full attention because it wasn’t fair. He didn’t know what to do. He was at a crossroads confused out of his mind of what road to take, but he had time to decide.The Professor took a deep breath as he looked around his transformed classroom and gave a little smile. The eerie under the sea ambience was enough to calm his nerves a bit before the students came running towards their chosen class. Adrian enjoyed adjusting the classroom to house the creatures he brought for his students to see and learn from. Sometimes he wasn’t lucky enough to procure the animal, but when he did, he usually made his best to give the students the real version of the habitat. Studying magical creatures was better if the animal was in its habitat. They were more normal. The classroom completely dark with the exception of the reflected candle light on the big aquarium in the middle. The aquarium was big enough to give the lobalug a lot of space to swim around without being constricted in a tight space. It was filled with everything one would find in the bottom of a lake like seaweeds and fishes and all that stuff. It looked awesome, if he said so himself.
He smiled at his handy work and waited for the students to come poling in. His intermediate class was smaller to the beginners and he was grateful for that. The bell rang signaling the start of the class and, like always, he gave the students five minutes to come in and take their places before locking the door. He was sure that by now his older students knew he didn’t tolerate tardiness. Once everyone was settled in the desks around the enormous tank, he greeted them with a smile and wave
“Welcome back!” he said cheerfully as he looked around. He was very good with face and names, and Adrian had been at Sonora for so long that it wasn’t hard to remember them. “Hope you had a great holiday, but now it’s time for us to go back into the learning path.” Adrian chuckled at his own lame attempt of a joke before continuing.
“Now, I am sure you are wondering what is inside the tank and the answer is a lobalug.” Adrian cracked his neck, “The lobalug is native of the North Sea, is classified as a beast and has a rating of a triple X.” It was a harmless enough creature for his intermediate class and since it was in its tank nothing would happen unless a stupid child decided he or she wanted to go swimming.
“The Lobalug is an aquatic creature found at the bottom of the North Sea. It is a simple creature, ten inches long comprising a rubbery spout and a venom sac. The Lobalug uses its venom sac as a weapon, contracting it and expelling the venom in the direction of an attacker if threatened.” He chuckled a bit. “Merpeople use the Lobalug as a weapon, and the venom is used byWizards as a potion ingredient, though this practise is strictly controlled”
Adrian looked at his students, “This was a small introduction to the lobalug. It’s a very interesting creature, but now I want you to write an essay on its characteristics and features AND enlist what potions its venom is used for AND why the ministry would control the trade of this potion ingredient.You know you can work in pairs and that I have books to consult if you need to. You may need a potions book to complete this one. You can come near the tank to see the creatures. I was able to procure a dozen of them. Don’t irritate them because they might try to attack you!” He finished with a teasing smile. The students were safe from the venom.
Adrian hated giving homework, but they needed to learn and controlled self-learning was a good method. “I am here if needed.”
OOC: Posting rules apply. If you need Adrian just tag him. Happy posting!
Subthreads: How do you describe something so weird? by Clara Abernathy with Effie Arbon
Is that actually the sound it makes? by Carter Browning with Rupert Princeton, Pecari, Wendy Canterbury - Pecari, Carter
Blurp, Blurp. by Virginia Bellrose, Crotalus with Adam Spencer, Pecari, Ginny
Already off with the work. by Aria Yale, Teppenpaw with Charlie B-F-R, Aria Yale
Logic is good. Dark is not. by Henry Carey, Crotalus with Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Henry Carey
Research questions by Anthony Carey VIII, Aladren
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Prof. Adrian Meade
Glub glub [Inter. 3 to 5]
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Prof. Adrian Meade
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Aria Yale, Teppenpaw
October 22, 2013 9:33 PM
Already off with the work. by Aria Yale, Teppenpaw
Aria thought this year was bound to be her hardest yet. She had her CATS exams as a thankful reminder of that. But, she wasn’t at all bothered by it. Aria did well on tests. She did well in class, even if some of them she wasn’t quite sure about how the Professors perceived her. At least in Potions it wasn’t so terribly difficult to have a recipe for potions that were strictly Vegan ingredients. It was Transfiguration that she was having the most issues with and now that Professor Skies was the Deputy Headmistress, Aria was a little worried that she would not allow her the small stretch of lenience that she had been given this far. She was really trying hard to be more accepting of animal/creature transfiguration, she really was, she had even tried to do it on some bugs, but it was just hard for her to honestly believe that they couldn’t feel any pain. Humans were capable of feeling botched transfigurations, likes splinching, how was it that animals could not? Essentially, every time they did not fully and correctly transform a creature, taking it from one spot to another, they were splinching it in some way. At least, that was how she had interpreted her books.Aria shook her head. She would worry about transfiguration when she had the class. For now, as she walked into the Care of Magical Creatures classroom, she would focus on the creatures. She was a little put off by the fact that the class had reverted back to classroom lessons. She missed the lessons outside. It felt a little bit more like home whenever she had them out in the gardens. Being sour about where they took the lessons wasn’t going to help her adjust to this way of life again, so she closed her eyes and took a breath, leaving any tension she had in her shoulders. Feeling better, she found herself a seat around the big tank.
Things had changed for Aria. She had grown up. It had helped that she found great friends back home who helped her find herself and what was important. Luna did that for her. Aria was fascinated with the older girl, obsessed even in a lot of ways. She was mystical and beautiful and Aria wanted that. For now, she just enjoyed being a part of it all. On top of finding friends and hitting fifteen, Aria had other physical changes that made her feel grown up. Her hair was still chopped short, shorter now, just a couple of inches below her chin, which made her curls look even wilder, and her naturally blonde hair was charmed a shocking white blonde. Luna said that Aria had the skin to wear any color, so she was testing it out. If nothing else, it made her heavy eye makeup and blue eyes pop out. She kind of liked it.
She also had a belly button ring. That made a total of four piercing on her body. Her ears, her nose, and now her stomach. Although, people weren’t likely to see that one unless she wore her bikini again or showed them directly. She did have some midriff tops that she found herself enjoying over the summer, but she only intended to wear them whenever she was meditating and that she often did alone. Well, always did alone here.
Aria felt grown up this year, but she didn’t think it was just physically that had her feeling that way. She just felt, mature. So she was going to take that maturity into her lessons and with every interaction that she came into. She took notes and listened attentively to the lecture that was presented. It wasn’t much, but she could at least start the essay that they were assigned. The problem would be the potions that they needed to list. Aria didn’t use animal extract in her potions, so she had no idea what the venom was in.
Deciding that it was more beneficial to work on the essay than study a creature in a gloomy room, Aria took out her potions book and tried to do her best to read the index and find what potions the venom was found in and then research why it was so regulated.
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Aria Yale, Teppenpaw
Already off with the work.
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Aria Yale, Teppenpaw
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Charlie B-F-R
October 26, 2013 4:37 PM
Yeah, better than a close encounter by Charlie B-F-R
Charlie was curious to see what life as an intermediate brought, class-wise. In most cases, he was sure it meant harder but there was also the potential for cooler, more exciting... Especially, he felt, in Care of Magical Creatures. His favourite lesson in his beginner class had been the Augureys, from whom he'd acquired some beautiful feathers, and he couldn't wait to see what enthralling animals they would get to study now that they were a bit more mature. He had his fingers crossed for unicorns or phoenixes. He was therefore rather disappointed by the gloomy tank in the centre of the room. Things in tanks were rarely sparkling and enticing, in his experience. Tanks equalled things like Chizpurfles and Fire Ants, which were ugly and boring and which it was beyond his ability to fathom why anyone would want to keep alive.He sighed as Professor Meade said they would be spending the lesson writing an essay. At least, he hoped, it meant they'd have a lighter homework assignment. There had been some really nice make-up looks in the latest Witch Weekly and he was dying to try them out on someone. If having to spend class writing an essay meant that he was free to do that later, then all the better. And going and watching the things seemed optional, which was another plus.
Figuring that anything heavily regulated by the government wasn't going to be in your average textbook, he went to see what Professor Meade had supplied. He grabbed a copy of 'Potions for the Experienced Engineer' and a book specifically on the Lobalug, and made his way back to his desk, resuming his seat next to Aria. He hadn't had a lot of interactions with her but he found her... interesting. She had a kind of funky style. It was a bit hit and miss – there were days when he had no idea what was going through her head, where she just looked like a scruffy hippy. But, when she got it right, she was cool, with this wild, edgy kind of element.
“I like your make up,” he complimented her easily, as he took his seat again. She seemed pretty handy with a brush. “I also figure the answer to the mystery is more likely to be in one of these,” he added, holding up the books he'd acquired. “Want one?”
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Charlie B-F-R
Yeah, better than a close encounter
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Charlie B-F-R
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Aria Yale
October 29, 2013 10:28 PM
Of what? A Lobalug? I'd prefer not to have that too. by Aria Yale
Aria’s eye flickered upward and away from her research notes when she heard a voice nearby. Confusion etched her face for a moment when she noticed the young one, the one who held the pool party last year, what was his name? Oh, yes Charles – Charlie – commented on her makeup. She did not understand why he liked the way she made her eyes look. He was a boy and a young one at that. Did he like makeup on girls? Aria recalled that he had a booth during the fair last year. If she remembered correctly, it was a dress up booth. Maybe he just liked pretty things? Aria wasn’t sure and she wasn’t exactly sure how to answer him. She didn’t really do her makeup for anyone else’s pleasure; she just liked how it looked on her. “Thank you.” She said politely, watching him for a moment. Being complimented on her makeup wasn’t a negative thing, so she tried to keep herself open to the compliment.It was hard for her to really make out the books in the gloom of the light. The other student nearby, she thought he was a Carey- there were so many of them that it was sometimes confusing to figure it all out – had the right idea by lighting his wand. Aria decided to do the same and pulled her wand out and lit the end to have a better look at Charlie’s books. He definitely had the right idea to look at the books that were provided. Aria had planned to do that after she exhausted her method with her own books first, but it was nice of him to be offering up the books that he had just selected.
“Thank you.” She said as she took the one on Potions. “I create vegan potions whenever I am in class or at home, so I have no idea what sort of potions would use anything dealing with a creature.” Aria informed him, as though feeling the need to explain her choice of book. “I thought this would be the most difficult part of my research since there are so many potions and various ways in which people use ingredients. It’s nice of you to share.” She added as she flipped through the pages, pleased that it was easier to read now that she had defied the Professor by lighting her wand.
“Do you typically enjoy things more prone to girls?” Aria asked him, thinking back on his compliment. She had no meant any offense to her question, but was merely curious and did not know of a better way of phrasing her words. “Because of the Fair last year, I mean. I do not know many males who like to do that sort of thing. Does it make you happy?” She asked him, her blue eyes looking over at him with curiosity.
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Aria Yale
Of what? A Lobalug? I'd prefer not to have that too.
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Aria Yale
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Charlie B-F-R
November 08, 2013 2:46 PM
Yes, of the Lobalug. Meeting new people is always nice. by Charlie B-F-R
“Ahh,” said Charlie as Aria stated that she made vegan Potions, a little piece of the Sonora jigsaw falling into place, “So it's you.” Realising this might be somewhat cryptic, he added “Professor Fawcett always mentions vegan alternatives, and I figured it had to relate to a real person for him to have started doing that,” he explained.“But I don't think that really puts you at too much of a disadvantage here. I mean, if it's ministry controlled, it's bound to be something seriously nasty, so I don't think many people will know anything about it. I certainly don't.” He had turned to his own book and was scanning the index when she spoke again. Involuntarily, he tensed a little at her question. It was very blunt. But, as he processed her words and her tone of voice, he felt himself relax a little. She was being blunt, yes, but rude... he didn't think so. The two had usually gone hand in hand before, mostly along the lines of name calling, or people telling him his interests were 'for fags and girls' but there was no reason why they had to. Aria... just seemed to want to know.
“I... I guess you could say that,” he said. “I mean, yes. Yes they do make me happy,” he said a little more confidently. “And.... well, you said 'typically' for girls, so I guess I can't fault on that. It's just that my dad always says that things don't have to be for one sex or the other. There's... there's just stuff and the world keeps telling you you're only supposed to like a certain type of thing but really you can like whatever you want to.” His Dad always explained it so much more eloquently. In his own mouth it sounded sort of childish and, he worried, silly. But it made so much sense to him – it was so true of his own life and interests.
“Can I ask why you're a vegan?” he questioned. “I don't mean that rudely. I just... wondered,” he added. He knew Aria had been blunt with him and so he hoped it meant she didn't mind it in return but he preferred to clarify. It was better to say that sort of thing unnecessarily than to risk hurting someone's feelings.
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Charlie B-F-R
Yes, of the Lobalug. Meeting new people is always nice.
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Charlie B-F-R
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Aria
November 18, 2013 9:16 PM
Sometimes it is. by Aria
Aria’s brows furrowed at Charlie’s statement. What was her? Had she left some of her ingredients out in the potions classroom for him to stumble upon and become quite confused as they hadn’t been using those in their lessons? She didn’t think she had done so. Aria was quite meticulous about her potion kit and she made sure she had everything packed away and cleaned up before she left her desk to head to her next destination. There was simply no way that could be the case. Not that she had to wait very long for an explanation. Almost as soon as making any sort of comment, Charlie was explaining himself. “Oh, yes, I suppose it is.” Aria was fairly certain there were others before her who had also used Vegan ingredients because Professor Fawcett had found alternative lists pretty quickly, but he had begun to regularly add those into his lessons when she was a first year. Perhaps she had been the final straw to get him to do it each lesson instead of waiting for a student to request for it?“Perhaps not at our level.” Aria commented. Advanced students had more liberties with their potions and ingredients as they were working on their final projects and theories; they were more likely to have to use this in their potions than they were at the Intermediate level. Charlie was only a Third year, so he wouldn’t really come across something dangerous yet, but that wasn’t to say people in her own year hadn’t used it at some point and she was unaware of it. Two years could really make all the difference.
Charlie’s father had a point, but that wasn’t necessarily how it worked. Her community didn’t have things that were masculine or feminine other than in clothing, but she had never seen a male wear makeup. Most of the girls don’t wear it either and Aria simply discovered makeup on her own, but, even so, the idea of Eades finding happiness in something that was meant to beautiful and soften features was humorous to Aria. Despite her feelings of it, she did not think oddly of Charlie. Some in the community find her odd for wearing her clothes as she did or the amount of eye liner, but it made her happy and comfortable and if it did so for him, who was she to think differently of him?
“My community, my family, we feel that slaughtering animals and creatures for selfish means when alternatives are readily available is unjust and goes against the beauty that Mother Nature so willingly gives to us. What one finds in meat, the nutrients and proteins, they can find in other resources. The death of the living is unnecessary.” Aria explained. “We’re not strict Vegans. We do consume dairy. We have a couple of dairy cows on our lands that we care for. They produce milk so wonderfully and since they must be milked on a regular basis, it seemed wasteful to not use what they have given to us. We make our own butter and cream, pasteurize the milk for consumption, things like that.”
Aria remembered studying about the process and how horrible life for a dairy cow on a farm created for the sole purpose of milking those cows dry. A dairy cow on a farm lasted no more than three to five years before death took them. They were breed to be on a production line and then die when they were no longer producing at the top rate. After which, they were sold for slaughter. At least in her community, their cows have and will continue to live to ripe old ages. They were milked when they needed to be milked and only at that time. “I read books where consuming Dairy makes us not Vegans, but considering cows that produce milk but aren’t milked can become sick, infertile, end up with Mastitis, or Lameness, lower production rate, and ultimately death, milking them was necessarily for their health and longevity.” Aria stated, listing off everything she could remember about what she had studied.
It was the care for the cows that ultimately mattered more than anything and like all animals and creatures that roamed their grounds, the cows were treated as equals and with the utmost care. “We live in our own way that makes sense to us even if it doesn’t make sense to others. I’m learning to accept that difference.” Aria said, looking actually content with this knowledge.
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Aria
Sometimes it is.
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Aria
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Charlie B-F-R
November 30, 2013 3:42 PM
Yeah... I like to be optimistic by Charlie B-F-R
“Fair enough,” Charlie nodded, when Aria explained about being a vegan. You couldn't really say much more than that, as far as he was concerned. Everyone had their own way of doing things. Although he was sort of intrigued as she explained they drank milk and dairy products but that that was, according to some books, wrong or frowned upon.“So, why do you own the cow then?” he asked, “Seeing as you don't want, or aren't supposed to,” he was a little fuzzy on which it was, “eat any of that stuff. If you didn't have the cow in the first place, then you wouldn't have to.” Surely people owned cows because they wanted milk or, eventually, beef. If you didn't want those things, but ended up having to have them because you had a cow, that seemed strange. Especially as owning a cow seemed a pretty intentional thing. Some animals you could get sort of accidentally - a cat, for example, if a stray one came round and you fed it scraps – but a cow? Surely no one accidentally owned a cow.
“Oh hey, look,” Charlie grinned, pointing to the index of the Potions book, where 'Lobalug (venom) – see venom, Lobalug' was written, “I never understand why they don't just put the page number there too,” he muttered, flicking to the V page.
“And if it's how you're happy, do it,” he shrugged, in response to her comment about her ways not making sense to other people. “That's what my dad always says anyway. That so long as what you're doing makes you happy and doesn't hurt anyone else, then it's the right thing to be doing.
“Ew,” he said, having turned to the page named by the index. He marked the page with a finger, closing the cover. “The words 'Eviscerating Essence' appear on this page, accompanied by a picture,” he explained, pulling a face. “Though I didn't really look long enough to see if that was what the Lobalug venom was in. It was pretty gory.”
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Charlie B-F-R
Yeah... I like to be optimistic
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Charlie B-F-R
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