Professor Olivers
August 25, 2014 12:46 AM
Let's Slow Things Down [III, IV, V years] by Professor Olivers
A new school year meant new faces, new names to memorize, and, as per usual at Sonora, a new professor to welcome into their midst. It kept things interesting. The summer had been well-spent in Chicago with her nephews, niece, and their children. She and her brother were getting old, but neither of them let age stop them from doing what they wanted. Florence had been given an opportunity to act in a friend's play and she had made her relationship with Nicholas official. She never could have imagined having a boyfriend at fifty-one, not to mention a romance with anyone after her husband’s death, but she had come to realize that the death of a loved one did not mean life stopped indefinitely. No, life went on and Florence was obliged to continue with it. And since she had made the decision to move on, to become a professor and to once again pursue theatre, her life had become substantially happier.Several weeks had passed since the beginning of the term and Florence had fallen into a comfortable schedule. She and Nick kept up a regular correspondence, and a letter from him had arrived just that morning; it was unthinkable to leave the letter unopened on her desk while she taught her classes. She had read it over twice before her first class. Florence didn’t want Nick to distract her from her work, but during the passing periods she imagined what she would write back to him. Something romantic? Simple? Funny? Dramatic? These were the thoughts that mulled around in her mind as the intermediate class began trickling in.
It was three minutes over, and while Florence was normally a very punctual woman, she was feeling merciful. She let two more minutes past, but at the five shut the door. Five minutes extra was more than enough for those who dared to come late to her class knowing the consequences—that is, detention. Today her ensemble consisted of comfortable forest green robes and a feathered cap on top of her short dark hair to match. It was conservative for her, but she tended to dress a little more conservatively these days. Maybe it had to do with her age.
“Good morning, class,” she said, the words rolling out of her mouth like silk. “I’m sure you’re wondering what those things are.” As a half-blood, Florence had come into contact with tools and contraptions from both the wizarding and muggle worlds. Half of the room looked like a batting cage would. There were three different stations with machines that spit out three different types of balls at chest level. It would be a fun lesson so long as no one got hurt.
“Yesterday we learned a spell that slowed down or stopped the movement of an object. Today we will put that knowledge to the test. You all will be using that spell to slow down or stop the movement of the balls that are thrown at you.” During the last class she had given a lecture on Aresto Momentum, the spell that slowed or stopped the movement of an object. Today they would be using that spell to defend themselves. The balls wouldn’t be coming too hard at them. At the worst, the softball might leave a bruise if the fifth-years weren’t fast enough, but Florence was confident in their abilities; they should be, after all, competent and comfortable enough with their wand and spellwork as the oldest group of the class.
Florence gestured to the netted side of the room. “There are three separate stations. Third years, please step in front of the net with the larger machine. Fourth years, in front of this netted area, and fifth years, please stand in front of this one. In a straight line, please.” Once everyone had lined themselves up behind their respective stations, Florence walked over to stand next to the line of fifth-years. “One by one, please take your turn in the cage. Once you are inside, a ball will be shot at you. A beach ball will be thrown at the third-years, a Quaffle for the fourth-years, and a softball for the fifth-years. Your job is to use the spell to slow down or stop the movement of the ball. I will demonstrate.” Florence stepped into the fifth-years’ cage and faced the machine; it sat about one hundred feet away. She had to wait three seconds before a ball spit out at her. “Aresto Momentum!” The force of the spell caused the ball to stop in midair and drop to the ground; Florence’s reflexes weren’t as quick as they once had been, but the softball still had only made it halfway.
She picked up the softball and tossed it into the basket on top of the machine. “When you finish with the ball, put it into the basket that sits on top of the machine. It automatically takes the balls from there.” Florence stepped out of the cage. Her practical lessons were always pushing on the extreme to test her students: she had once made the advanced class walk through fire for the Flame-Freezing Charm. A machine spitting balls at the students was really only indicative of Florence’s way of teaching. It was a side that showed only in her intermediate and advanced classes. “If you feel confident to take on a smaller ball, move to the next line. Please don’t overestimate your ability. I’d hate for anyone to get hurt.” With that, Florence clapped her hands. “The first person, please step into the cage and begin.” She would keep an eye on them, correcting their form or encouraging them.
OOC: As per usual, 200 words minimum. Creative, realistic posts are worth more points. No one should break a bone if a Quaffle or softball hits them as the balls are not going that fast to begin with, but bruises are okay if they miss. If Florence is needed, tag Professor Olivers in the tagline. Remember to please include your house with your name!
Subthreads: That sounds like a great idea. by Julian Umland, Teppenpaw with Charlie B-F-R
Works for me. by Isaac Douglas, Crotalus
Is this what they call an anxiety attack? by Charlotte Spencer with Serena Brockert, Teppenpaw
Go on. by Leo Princeton, Crotalus with Emrys Lucan, Aladren, Leo Princeton
Bruise #1 for the day. by Virginia Bellrose, Crotalus with Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Aladren, Ginny
Ugh. by Portia Dobson, Teppenpaw with Theodore Wolseithcrafte, Aladren
If I don't mind, it doesn't matter? by Ji-Eun Park, Pecari
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Professor Olivers
Let's Slow Things Down [III, IV, V years]
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Professor Olivers
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Leo Princeton, Crotalus
September 01, 2014 3:51 PM
Go on. by Leo Princeton, Crotalus
She had to be joking. Professor Olivers had always been one of the stricter professors at Sonora in Leo’s experience. He had learnt quickly to arrive on time to all of his classes in order to avoid detention and, as a result, a lecture from his parents, but Olivers had some sort of mad obsession with time and wore the strangest outfits. Leo personally thought she had gone legitimately mad during her time as an actress. Perhaps performing as one of the witches in Macbeth had gone to her head and she’d never gotten past it.Yes, Leo had seen Macbeth. It had been one of the more interesting plays his mother had forced him to attend over the summer as a cultural lesson, a lesson that Leo didn’t mind nearly as much as he’d thought he would. Overall his summer had been more than pleasant. A good part had been spent in Italy where he’d met his future sister-in-law’s family and attended a wedding. Not her wedding, of course. Weddings were normally a ridiculously dull affair, but he had actually enjoyed it. The key was to place Leo in a setting where the dominant language was not English and he would thrive. The Renaldis had pleasantly surprised him. He almost envied his oldest brother for the witch he was betrothed to marry. Leo’s goal was to marry a very wealthy heiress and live off of her wealth for the rest of his, or her, life. There was no question he would inherit a substantial fortune from his own family, but attracting a wealthier witch who didn't mind paying all of his expenses would secure him. Leo certainly had the looks to attract such a woman.
That is, if he could keep from getting maimed at Sonora. The last time Leo had been faced with a Quaffle his mouth had been the most unwilling recipient of its disgusting leather exterior. It was a bloody experience he would never forget, the experience that had chased Leo off the Quidditch pitch for the time being if not for good. And now here Professor Olivers was trying to re-enact that traumatising event. As if it hadn’t scarred him enough. Though it wasn’t visible, Leo imagined he could feel the scar that Quaffle and idiot Browning had left. He’d gotten his revenge on Browning last year and he was glad that was over with. Holding a grudge could be quite a burden to carry.
Leo listened to Professor Olivers drone on. The charm Professor Olivers had taught them last class was one he had decided to practise for his own benefit. It would be helpful in case he was falling or if someone threw an object at his face again. When Leo actually wanted to learn something, he picked it up rather quickly. It was lucky he had decided to practise this particular spell beforehand. Mad Olivers was certainly going to be the death of them all if she kept this up.
Once she had dismissed them, Leo took his place in line, trying to stay towards the end of it. "This seems a bit over-the-top, don't you think?" he whispered to his neighbour.
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Leo Princeton, Crotalus
Go on.
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Leo Princeton, Crotalus
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Emrys Lucan, Aladren
September 06, 2014 6:46 PM
What will your verse be? by Emrys Lucan, Aladren
"This seems a bit over-the-top, don't you think?" the boy next to him in line whispered.Emrys hadn’t really been paying attention to who was around him or really what was going on at all. His mother had written to him earlier that day, saying that Grandfather was really ill and that this winter would probably be the last time Emrys would be able to see him. It was discomforting to the newly turned fifteen year-old, the idea of the family patriarch weak and bed-ridden. Myrddin Lucan had always been a ferocious man, his domineering personality making it so that it seemed as though he had no weaknesses and while Emrys hadn’t always been partial to the man who would one day choose his future wife he also had consistently wished for his approval and the idea that he would soon no longer be around (making his father the new head of the family) was rather disconcerting.
“Hmm?” Emrys asked as he looked around, realizing that he had unconsciously formed a line with the rest of the students. “What exactly is it that we’re doing?”
There were strange machines- three of them to be exact, one in front of each line that was formed. Lines that seemed to have formed according to year. By luck it seemed he had ended up with the rest of his fellow fourth years in the middle line and he craned his neck to see what was going on just in time to notice that it was Charlotte’s turn. A Quaffle shot forward, causing her to duck rather than cast a spell like the front-runners of the other two lines seemed to be doing and he winced, worried for his friend. He wanted to go forward and leave his place in the line to make sure she’d be okay, but a third year student, the Brockert girl, got there first and besides it would have been rude to leave the conversation he was having at present. He’d just ask after her later after class.
Emrys turned his attention back to Leo. While they had been in class together for three years and a bit he still didn’t remember having a substantial conversation with his classmate.
“Perhaps,” he said in reply to Leo’s first question. “It seems like we should have at least reviewed the charm a few times before without the things flying towards us.”
To be honest, Emrys didn’t really care either way as they had already learned the charm in the previous class but he didn’t really have the energy to have a debate and so it seemed best to just agree with whatever it was Leo was getting at and get the lesson over with, check in on Charlotte, and then practice his violin. Music always helped him to calm down when he was stressed or angry and this business with his grandfather was worrying him to no end.
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Emrys Lucan, Aladren
What will your verse be?
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Emrys Lucan, Aladren
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Leo Princeton
September 08, 2014 4:20 PM
Something forthright, I think. by Leo Princeton
Over-the-top was an understatement. Leo watched his cousin take her turn, wondering how she'd managed to get herself to stand in front of everyone without fainting. He didn't know much about Charlotte, but the few times he had tried to talk with her and from observing her at family gatherings, he'd quickly realised how socially inept she was. It wasn't that she didn't know how to converse with others, she just seemed afraid of people. It was a little ridiculous, she being from such a large family. The Quaffle charged at her and his cousin failed to perform any sort of spell. In fact, she did quite the opposite of what any proper witch or wizard ought to do. She ducked."Merlin," said Leo, slightly amazed. "I hope Charlotte's all right." Leo might be a selfish child, but he certainly had some compassion when it came to injustice and an activity he disliked immensely. Despite the blow to his cousin's pride, the queue moved forward and Leo was forced to move forward with it. He turned to look at what others were doing and watched as another witch was hit with what Professor Olivers had called a softball. This lesson was going to end with someone going to the Hospital Wing, Leo was sure of it, and it would not be him.
"Yes, exactly," he replied to Lucan's comment. "Even so, anyone's reflexes might be slower when faced with a ball." He remembered the ugly Quidditch incident and how he had attempted to race out of the way only to inadvertently defend the hoops with his mouth. It was an image he was not going to easily forget.
The Midsummer ball came to mind then for no particular reason and Leo wondered whether or not Lucan had already asked his cousin. He had seen them together often and for Charlotte to be speaking to any wizard as a friend had to mean something more. Leo looked over at his cousin again, making sure she was too engulfed in her own emotions to hear them before turning to look at Lucan. "You're close with Charlotte, aren't you?" he asked. "Have you asked her to the ball?" It was true that he and Lucan had hardly exchanged two words to each other before this, but their mutual acquaintance in Charlotte made the question less awkward. After all, Charlotte was still his cousin even if they weren't particularly close.
It was Leo's turn before he could wait for Lucan's answer and the lad begrudgingly went into the net. "Here goes," he muttered before the Quaffle shot out towards him. Leo's arm moved quicker than his brain and he uttered the spell a little louder than he'd meant to. The ball slowed considerably, but didn't stop completely. It did, however, give Leo ample time to pluck it out of the air and throw it back to where it belonged. His heart was racing from the scare, and Leo made his way to the back of the queue. He was proud of himself for not asking Lucan to go on ahead of him and equally as proud for not embarrassing himself or showing too much skill in front of his peers.
When he was standing next to Lucan again, Leo raised his eyebrows at him. "So, have you asked her?" He hated sounding as though they were close mates, but Leo was genuinely curious. If Lucan turned out to be leading his cousin on, Leo would have a few words with Adam about what to do about him. So far, however, from what Leo could surmise from their interaction, Lucan had something more on his mind than Charlotte and he didn't seem like a duplicitous character. Then again, neither did Leo. Appearances, so Leo believed, could never fully be trusted.
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Leo Princeton
Something forthright, I think.
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Leo Princeton
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Emrys Lucan
September 09, 2014 2:40 AM
Perhaps a little too forthright... by Emrys Lucan
Ducking, as Charlotte had done, was a perfectly acceptable reaction to something hurdling at you and one he thought many would do should such an occasion happen outside of Sonora, but he was sure it was embarrassing to do so in front of a classroom of peers when the assignment was decidedly not to duck but to rather use the spell taught in the previous class. Emrys nodded in agreement and then, after answering Leo’s question about the activity being over the top found himself still nodding along.“There certainly is a reason why not everyone is on their house Quidditch teams,” he found himself saying after Leo’s bit about varying reflexes. It was really more something for him to say until they got to the front of the line- he would have felt awkward to leave the conversation hanging until something else stopped it such as Leo’s turn or the end of the period. He had practiced the charm in the common room the previous night with Ava and did not think that it was a huge deal as the whole thing was a practical demonstration but he could see the other boy’s point. As they were just learning the spell and in a classroom, it did make sense to build up to things. However, he also realized that when in Real Life, things could come flying at you with different speeds and of different sizes and shapes so getting practical lessons (at least in this case where there was a Hospital Wing and a teacher to monitor the activities) seemed a good idea.
In the next few moments, though, Emrys came to regret his continuation of the conversation.
"You're close with Charlotte, aren't you?" Leo looked at him. "Have you asked her to the ball?"
Emrys blinked twice. The question came out of the blue, and while he knew that Leo was Charlotte’s cousin- a fact he would have had to be oblivious to the life of his best friend to not know, he still felt weird answering such a personal question from such a complete stranger. “Um,” he replied, unsure of how to answer the question. He liked Charlotte immensely- he definitely counted her as one of his close friends, if not closest friend, but he had never really fully entertained the idea of being with her as anything more than friends. More due to his unwillingness to explore any feeling that hinted towards anything more. Luckily, Leo reached the front of the lline before Emrys could muster up a coherent sentence and his classmate turned to perform the spell.
Leo was able to slow the Quaffle down, grabbed it out of the air and tossed it back to the spitting machine and the next thing Emrys knew it was his turn again. Having practiced the spell the night before with Ava (they had taken turns throwing one of Ava’s balled up sweaters at each other) he felt fully confident in his abilities to stop the Quaffle. The Quaffle ended up stoping closer to him than he would have liked, however, due to the flustered state Leo’s question had left him in and so he made the decision to back into the Quaffle line though it meant standing next to Leo again and most likely finishing their conversation about Charlotte. He picked up the ball and took his time depositing it in the bin on the other side of the room, but to his luck he was still next to Leo by the time he got back to the line. Perhaps Leo forgot what they were talking about. It was all he could do to hope.
"So, have you asked her?” Leo raised his eyebrows and Emrys internally groaned- any hope of his classmate having forgotten the topic of their discussion as now gone.
"Not yet," he replied, trying to best reply without offending the other boy. He probably should have left it at that but there was too much on his mind to enter into any sort of discussion regarding Charlotte's honor (which, as far as he knew, was still intact) and so despite his best efforts to avoid digging himself into a hole the words just kept pouring out of his mouth. "Not without Adam's permission, of course. Or yours. Not that I think Charlotte needs permission to go. Nor that she doesn't. That is to say, she is her own person capable of making her own decision so if she so desired to go with me then I would be happy to ask her. But I would ask her because I wanted to, not because she did. Er- I mean... If she didn't want to go me then I wouldn't force her, but if she did then great? Not that I'm saying I'm her only option because I'm sure she has many, probably a lot of boys want to ask her. Not that she's a flirt, which she isn't, but..."
He was certain his cheeks were on fire by now. "I'm just going to stop talking," he finally ended. His grandfather would have been ashamed with the way he was acting in front of another student, especially a fellow Pureblood. This thought alone made him rather downcast. The idea that soon Grandfather wouldn't be around to disapprove of his social mannerisms was weird. It was oddly freeing yet at the same time quite unnerving seeing as he knew his father lacked the charisma needed to keep their family in line. It would probably fall on the shoulders of his mother to keep them prominent and the succession within the immediate family. He knew that Grandfather absolutely did not want it going towards Wesley's line (as far as he was concerned though Wesley knew how to handle society better than Emrys, he was the child of divorced parents and therefore not eligible to be in line) nor to any second or third cousins. Emrys frowned- he would miss his grandfather's odd ways.
Something though about the way Leo had glanced at Charlotte before turning back to Emrys to ask the foreboding question of whether or not he was planning on asking her to the ball made him curious. He didn't think Charlotte put Leo up to the task, but he wasn't sure if perhaps she had been dropping hints or if someone else had implied that he had already asked her. Emery and Ava both had thought he and Charlotte would be going together and it was beginning to seem like a common theme. He sneaked a glance towards Charlotte hoping to high heaven that she hadn't heard his shameful ramble- it seemed they were both making fools of themselves in class that day (not that he thought Charlotte had behaved in a silly manner, it was just that- and there he went, rambling again). "Why do you ask?" He replied, desperate to get Leo to start answering some questions.
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Emrys Lucan
Perhaps a little too forthright...
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Emrys Lucan
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Leo Princeton
September 10, 2014 3:15 PM
I find it refreshing. by Leo Princeton
Leo found Emrys to be quite vague and uninteresting. There was clearly something else on his mind, but Leo wasn't going to bother asking him what was wrong. He wasn't very good at consolation speeches nor did he think Lucan would want one from him. But the topic of Charlotte seemed the quicker route to discovering more of Lucan's character. It was unfortunate that the Charms activity momentarily delayed his companion's answer. Leo's face went blank as he turned to face the Quaffle. His facial features always went blank when he was suppressing a smirk or a laugh. It was clear his question had flustered Mr Lucan."Not yet," was the only response Lucan had for him when he came back and Leo nodded. And then he kept talking, and talking, and Leo stared at him as the wizard's mouth continued to move. Emrys was flustered like a chicken in the presence of a fox and Leo decided he quite enjoyed seeing him like this. He was generally uninterested in the romantic affairs of his family members, but this was intriguing, not to mention entertaining to watch. Leo's eyes slid over to glance at Charlotte for a split second, wondering briefly what she would think seeing Emrys Lucan so ruffled. Lucan losing his composure so easily at such a question made him look silly, but it showed him to be the honest sort. Charlotte would like that, but what did Leo care?
It was a little unbelievable how quickly shy Charlotte had found herself someone. Leo was not interested in the dating scene, at least right now, but if he were, the only witch who seemed even remotely interested in him was Eleanor. He had expected to at least befriend one or two witches like his brothers had, but as of now Leo could only count Nellie as his friend and they'd known each other since they were children. It was not his fault people weren't interested in approaching him. He was perfectly civil to everyone, save Carter Browning as a result of that incident, but even that grudge had passed. Leo just couldn't understand Americans sometimes. Nevertheless, the success his cousin had in almost securing a date to the ball motivated Leo to secure one of his own. Nellie would be the most logical choice as she seemed to be the only one here interested in his friendship. But he would save that thought for later when he really had nothing else to think about.
Lucan ended his soliloquy rather abruptly and Leo took a moment to think of what to say in response. Good for you? Ask her quickly? No one else was going to ask Charlotte unless she had been conducting clandestine meetings with another lad. From what Rupert had told him, Adam as betting on Emrys to ask her as well. Otherwise the nice older brother would have the responsibility of asking his shy helpless sister to the ball and forgo his own harem. It made Leo very glad that he was the youngest and that he didn't have any sisters of his own.
At Lucan's question, Leo's lips curled slightly into a non-menacing smirk. "The little I know of Charlotte's character, she doesn't talk much with other wizards other than her brothers. Even at family gatherings she hardly says two sentences to me or anyone else. For her to be spending so much time with you must really mean something." Leo shrugged, playing coy. "I don't know what, really, but I suppose that's none of my business." Leo smiled. "Best of luck to you, mate. I don't know if you've talked much with Adam yet, but he's a nice lad."
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Leo Princeton
I find it refreshing.
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Leo Princeton
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