Killian Row
December 24, 2020 9:42 PM
Showing our best selves [All Ages] by Killian Row
Autumn term had gone, winter break had gone (which was really much more of a shame than autumn's passing as Killian had found winter break vastly more personally fun of course), and now it was back to work. It was rare that Killian would rather have been off work, as he had found that being off work led to thinking and/or rash decisions, and he was trying to avoid both of those most of the time. Plus, of course, Killian was exactly the sort of nerdy workaholic that sincerely enjoyed his job and wanted to do it basically all the time (and did exactly that; it was one of the dangers of living and working in the same place). Now, however, he had a task that he could work on that helped him set his mind forward a bit.With only a few students having yet signed up for concert participation, Killian had volunteered to host a workshop of sorts. Same as the previous meeting in Cascade Hall, attendance was required (and indeed, the event took place during what would normally be class time for most students), even if students did not intend to perform. Performance was not mandated, after all, only collaboration was, and this was to be a collaborative effort. Storytelling, brainstorming, painting, magicking... it all required the brilliant minds of the students and staff at Sonora to make a concert possible and this year's concert was particularly interesting to Killian.
As students arrived and took their seats at round tables, square tables, on the floor, on top of desks, wherever suited their fancy, Killian greeted them with a scruffy grin and some kind words to welcome them back from break. He knew that he was not the only one who was feeling bittersweet about the return to Sonora, and some students had downright strong feelings about such things; he wanted to honor all of the minds in the room as best he could, as he always tried to do.
When everyone was seated or standed or whatever they chose to do - so long as it wasn't disruptive of course - Killian made his way to the front of the classroom and stood smiling at them. "Hello, students, and welcome back. As you know, today's workshop will be focused on collaborative preparation for the end-of-year concert. As Deputy Headmistress Skies has already told you all, the theme this year is folk tales, and we're looking at that as a pretty broad concept. Some students have already put forth ideas, but we need more of them! We also need more volunteers to help with stage design, and more performers. Basically, we need more of you!"
He waved his wand and sheets of paper flew to each group of students inasmuch as he could tell where the groups were divvying themselves up; extra papers were available at the ends of table should anyone need them. "Working in pairs or small groups, I want you to put your names at the top of the page and talk about your ideas with each other. Really just get it out there. Write down any stories you can think of that you'd like to see and put down what you'd like to do as far as volunteering. When you're done, go ahead and give those to me."
Killian gestured at a basket on the desk to show where they could do that if he was otherwise occupied at the time. Then, he gestured to the other side of the front of the room, where baskets of costumes and fabric were available. "If you have ideas or if you'd like to start working on one of the ideas that's already been given, you can come up here and start thinking of costumes, characters, etc., and maybe start working on that. Students who have already submitted ideas are encouraged to do that as well, and you can also use paper to write out some ideas about skits, songs, or other performances based on the folk tales you suggested.
Finally, if you are especially interested in performing, please get together with folks in this area," Killian said, pointing to the opposite side of the desk from the costumes, "so that we can get you paired up with a story, a song, a character, a costume, etc. You can work together to discuss those ideas, you don't need to wait for me."
Clapping his hands together, Killian beamed at the gathered students again. "I'm excited for this and I know that all of us on staff are looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. This is a collaborative process that we are happy to help with, but this is your show. Please let me know if you have any questions or need help, but otherwise, get creative and go for it!" Stepping away from the front of the room as the students began grouping up, moving about, and talking with each other, Killian did his best to be out of the way whilst also being as available as possible to as many people as possible.
OOC: Story ideas that have already been submitted can be found in the post linked above and new ideas are definitely encouraged. Feel free to take the reigns and make up groups as you see fit! I'm not going to make separate thread groups since this may become pretty organic and fluid anyway. Have fun!
Subthreads: Experimenting by Zara Jackson with Augustine Reed-Fischer
Costuming by Hilda Hexenmeister with Quincy Wright, Jessica Hayles
Fey Tales Collection by Mab with Alexander Pierce-Beales
Oh the drama! [Ness] by Valentine Duell with Ness McLeod
I think we probably have different definitions of what that entails (Tag-A pureblood) by Caitlin Pierce with Katerina Vorontsov
You have gotta be kidding! by Beau Tate
Good luck with that by Allegra Brockert
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Killian Row
Showing our best selves [All Ages]
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Caitlin Pierce
January 05, 2021 9:32 PM
I think we probably have different definitions of what that entails (Tag-A pureblood) by Caitlin Pierce
Caitlin was unsure about this whole concert thing. Not that the idea of being onstage made her anxious or anything like that but she didn't necessarily like getting involved in school-wide activities where she might have to associate with the wrong people. However, she was Head Girl and prefect and her family was probably coming to see it. She knew that Winston had this friendship with Kira Davison, some distant cousin of Emerald's, based on folklore things that they'd done together for some Midsummer thing when they'd been in school and Kira, not having a child or sibling currently at Sonora, would not be able to attend, so she'd probably want Winston to tell her about it. Still, Caitlin was worried her friends would not approve of her joining in with inappropriate types. On the plus side, at least nobody truly offensive was signed up at this point.Regardless, despite the insistence that the concert itself was not mandatory, they kept doing these....related activities that were. Allegedly, the staff seemed to be promoting the idea that they wanted everyone's input. However, Caitlin didn't believe that for a second. Usually when they said they wanted "everyone's" input, they didn't actually mean it. What they meant was that they wanted everyone's opinion except for that of the uppercrust purebloods. The Crotalus was certain that if there were too many stories-which, as it stood, the issue seemed to be that there weren't enough-it would be the more traditional ones cut or if there were two versions of the same tale they'd go with the more "progressive" one. Or they'd even take a lovely traditional fairy tale and change it because people like Nessa McLeod would raise a stink about it. In that last case, Caitlin couldn't blame them for not wanting to deal with the sixth year's whining, but still, the Crotalus and people like her deserved to be heard as well. What the entire school did should not have to revolve around one student. After all, even the Headmaster's own grandchildren did not get that privilege.
And there were a number of issues with what Caitlin was sure was going to happen besides the fact that people like her were inevitably not going to be heard. First off, the point was classic folklore, not modern variations. That meant the original tales in all their glory. It was fine if they included, like stories from other cultures, but even that also meant the classic versions of fairy tales like Snow White and Cinderella-and the wizarding versions at that, as those were the original tales. Although she supposed they could edit out the more gruesome parts. There would, after all, be small children in the audience. Not to mention the inappropriateness of such things.
The second issue was that "progressive" stories meant making the heroines more...active, unladylike and Pecari-ish and cutting out the beautiful romantic love story. Progressive tended to mean women getting jobs-often very masculine ones like being an Auror or worse, a professional Quidditch player-and being childless spinsters. That life worked for some, such as the Anns, but they were a special case because they were weird and codependent and their mother had treated them like a single entity rather than as individuals. It wasn't their fault and even though the Crotalus generally felt sorry for her, Bettina was reaping what she'd sewn in this. Besides, in their case, fashion was a feminine enough pursuit and besides,Caitlin couldn't complain too much when she got custom dresses-and at least they weren't marrying and reproducing with someone of an inferior bloodline.
And while the seventh year legitimately did not care what some people did with their lives-and indeed, it was better if those sorts did not reproduce-such types also scorned those like her. Plus, such ideals put tremendous pressure on people like Allegra who was so not cut out for a career, especially a high pressure one and "invalidated them as human beings", to put it in terms that side would understand. As for Caitlin herself, she felt that she was personally strong enough emotionally for some types of work, but just did not want that lifestyle. She wanted love and marriage and children, thank you very much. She would not feel satisfied in life without love and while Caitlin did not especially care what some people did, she could not understand how anyone could feel differently.
It wasn't even as if she didn't think women could be strong and capable as the Crotalus could think of many examples, such as Sylvia or Topaz, it was just that some weren't and she didn't want them to feel like they were being pressured to be something they weren't or that they weren't okay as they were. While a large part of why Caitlin felt how she did was because she thought marriage and children and traditional femininity were better choices personally, she did also care a great deal about Allegra as well as the rest of Emerald's close relatives and knew that the lifestyles promoted by those people would not be at all right for some of them.
And yes, Caitlin was aware that there were women less fortunate than herself who had to work to make ends meet and she honestly felt sorry for them. Some of these women surely were of similar temperaments to her friend or wanted to stay home with their children. Or wanted to get married and have children but were too busy working to have time for these things. Caitlin felt herself very lucky to have the circumstances that she did.
Another thing she took issue with was the focus on physical strength and athleticism, things she found to be traditionally associated with masculinity in the first place. Some girls might be good at those things, but placing such value on that was both inherently sexist-as it suggested masculine things were superior to feminine ones-and even more unfair to people who didn't fit that mold.
Bottom line was that those people didn't want it to be simply acceptable to break out of the traditional mold, they wanted to change "the mold" to be what they wanted and fit and force those like Caitlin who didn't want to fit their way or like Allegra who likely couldn't into it and scorn them when they stuck with their more traditional choices.
The thing was, the seventh year didn't even want for the Concert to be political. She wanted this to be a simple, enjoyable activity like when Winston had looked up folklore for his Midsummer activity. To be honest, Caitlin didn't want politics or any sort of controversial issues-especially ones that shouldn't be- to be part of things at all . However, some people just couldn't seem to stop . It was like they were addicted to it. So then, Caitlin had to stick up for things she felt she shouldn't have to stick up for.
.
Also, if she didn't like it, she couldn't imagine how uncomfortable people like Allegra and Sapphire felt! After all, clearly neither of them seemed to have the stomach for such matters.
Caitlin sighed, resigned to her fate as Mr. Row gave them their instructions. The requirement to work with pairs or small did not thrill her given the relatively small selection of acceptable students available. This was more of an issue than usual given how she didn't want to end up arguing with someone about which tales were deemed acceptable so she looked around for someone appropriate. Spotting such a person, she approached. "Would you like to work together." Honestly, this was something that Caitlin was perfectly capable of doing on her own, especially given that she already knew what stories she'd prefer.
11
Caitlin Pierce
I think we probably have different definitions of what that entails (Tag-A pureblood)
1415
0
5
Katerina Vorontsov
January 08, 2021 7:25 PM
You and I might come close to agreement. by Katerina Vorontsov
Katya couldn’t decide where to turn first.Partially, of course, this was due to the sheer amount of information, filled with fairly specialized terms, which had just been rattled off in her general direction in Monsieur Row’s heavily accented English. She could process it, make a modicum of sense out of it, but it took her a moment or two longer to do so than she regarded as ideal. More importantly, though, there were multiple things she could do to help with multiple projects, and to her dismay, she did not know any spells that could split her into four girls, so she could be everywhere at once. This left her with a choice, and it was hard to choose, without a single clear best option, and she felt close to fluttery – not a mood she relished – with indecision.
This made it something of a relief to be approached before she could make up her mind who she ought to approach. She smiled brightly at Caitlin Pierce, grateful for the rescue from her sped-up thoughts.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “Do you have ideas? Many ideas? I did think, art club, it can help make the…places for people to be in, while they show. Make the room pretty. And – “ she was a tad unsure about the wisdom of drawing more attention to the ways in which she was different from her classmates, but she had gathered from the speech that they did need more ideas, and anyway, any attempt she made to blend in was shattered the moment she opened her mouth. It would have been a futile effort even had she not suspected her parents were going to politely turn up despite their English being nothing like up to a full-scale English social event. “I know stories, too. Russia stories. You think maybe anyone would like to see these?” she asked.
16
Katerina Vorontsov
You and I might come close to agreement.
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0
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Caitlin Pierce
January 24, 2021 1:36 PM
That's what I was hoping for by Caitlin Pierce
OOC: CW-A little bit of white privilege BIC:
"Not exactly, I mean, I know what sorts of tales I want to have told," Caitlin replied, "but I'm not really thinking about costumes or sets or special effects." She was pretty sure she wasn't signing up at all at this point. "I really like the classic fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White, basically the ones about princesses." As someone from an important family in pureblood society, she felt was sort of like a princess herself. Arguably, she even somewhat identified with Snow White, with the Other Alicia being the Evil Queen even though she wasn't Caitlin's stepmother. The seventh year could totally see that awful woman feeding her a poisoned apple, though truthfully she'd probably give it to Emerald instead. Or Winston and Emerald's future children.
And anyway, what little girl didn't want to be a princess? Oh wait, Nessa McLeod most likely handn't . But she was definitely not normal and most girls either wanted to be or identified with being one. For example, Amethyst, Emerald's youngest sister very much seemed to think of herself that way, even more than Caitlin herself. And poor girls probably identified with Cinderella. She knew Aunt Harmony had, because her aunt had literally grown up poor before finding out who her biological father was and later marrying Clifford Brockert's great-grandson.
So, her aunt literally lived basically a Cinderella-esque story. At least in terms of rags to riches though the allegory basically cast Caitlin's mother and grandmother in terrible light since for all Cora Anders' flaws-the biggest of which being her marrying and procreating with a Muggle-she'd never got the impression she'd abused Aunt Harmony and the evil stepsister and step-mother would be Mother and Grandmother Culhane whom Caitlin didn't blame a bit for being resentful even though it wasn't really Aunt Harmony's fault, it was Grandfather Culhane's. Her grandfather had always been good to her and her brother, as well as Bridget but the situation was still his fault.
Too bad Aunt Harmony's Prince Charming had turned out to be an alcoholic.
There was also the fact that for children who were abused, Cinderella put the message out that rescue was possible. That life could get better. Considering how many child abuse victims were out there, that was important.
"I think having Art Club make the set or design the costumes is a great idea." Caitlin told the sixth year. Even though she might not be all that warm and fuzzy towards improper people, she did care about her friends and try to encourage them. "And I'm sure they'd want to hear Russian tales too. I mean, I think the point is to do tales from around the world." Okay, Zara Jackson would probably whine that any European or American folktale was "too white" but whatever. While Caitlin was all for including tales from any culture-except perhaps explicitly Muggle ones, especially ones that portrayed magic in bad light-the Teppenpaw seemed to want it all her way, much like everyone on her end of the political spectrum.
11
Caitlin Pierce
That's what I was hoping for
1415
0
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Katerina Vorontsov
January 26, 2021 8:53 PM
It's always nice to be on the same page. by Katerina Vorontsov
Sindella That…sounded vaguely Italian? Or what Katya imagined Italian sounded like. She knew little about the language, beyond that it was related to French. She had heard a handful of Italian words in music and dancing lessons, though, and read a bit about Italy in translation, though; if asked to guess, she would guess sindella might be an instrument, but though there were many stories of enchanted instruments, somehow she still suspected a wild guess was not going to be right. Snow White, though – she knew those words! Perhaps it was like a western version of Snegurochka?“I know about stories with princesses also,” she said warmly, smiling at Caitlin again. “There are many stories of Tsarevna Vasilisa. We also have one with the snow princess – and princess who dance – the princess who does not smile – many, many,” she said, pleased to think that some things weren’t so different after all.
She beamed again when Caitlin agreed with her about the Art Club idea being a sound one. “I think we can do a good job,” she said. “I will…tell Monsieur Row,” she added, deciding that was the most logical course. He might not be in charge of the project overall, but he was certainly the person in charge of this meeting…another thought occurred to her, though, as her mind rushed through logistics faster than she could have done in any of her spoken languages, even Russian. “But I must ask the others first – see who will help – I cannot do all work alone, even with no Russian story,” she added, more to herself than to Caitlin for a moment. “I must have meeting, have votes. Do you think I am best to tell Monsieur I will do this now, and then tell him what they say after?” she asked. “And you will help me, yes?” she added hopefully. Even if she only had one project, it would be enough work to do; if she did both of the projects she had proposed, she’d have more than enough work for two pairs of hands, or probably six, for that matter….
16
Katerina Vorontsov
It's always nice to be on the same page.
1418
0
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Caitlin Pierce
February 02, 2021 5:13 PM
And so rare too by Caitlin Pierce
"Great!" Caitlin replied. It was so nice to be on the same wavelength with somebody.There were so many people here that would just...dismiss that sort of story completely. Like there was something wrong with the desire to find true love. Wasn't love a basic human need? Then again, some of the people who were so critical of this idea were themselves completely unlovable so that might be why they told themselves that it was the lesser choice. Not to mention some of these people weren't as well off as Caitlin was and probably had to convince themselves a career was desirable because they had to work. Some people could make anything acceptable if they had to. Others were less able.And, well, they had to do what they had to do, but there had to be a way that they could do it without putting down people like her or Allegra. Not everyone had the capability to be the one to slay the dragon themselves, to go with a fairy tale type metaphor. Or the desire to do so either.
"Do you mean the Twelve Dancing Princesses? And there's Snow White, which is the one with the seven dwarfs but there's also the one with the Snow Queen whose more the villain of the story." Caitlin wasn't trying to be condescending towards Katerina, she just wasn't sure which one the other girl meant. "And I'm not familiar with Tsarevna Vasilisa or the one with the princess that doesn't smile. Can you tell me more about them?"
"Of course I will." The Crotalus assured her friend. She really hadn't been sure that she'd wanted to do anything with the concert but Katerina really seemed to want to and seemed to need help. And it wasn't as if the Teppenpaw was asking her to work with people whom she'd find completely unacceptable to spend time with, just to do things in Art Club which Caitlin already participated in for the sake of helping her friend. Besides, she was prefect and Head Girl, so she probably should be involved. "Were you thinking of costumes and stuff too?"
In all honesty, while that was probably an overall more interesting area to the seventh year, she didn't especially want to go over to the costume area right now given the undesirables that were over there at the moment. Even though Caitlin and Katerina almost certainly had better taste regarding fashion than Hilda Hexenmeister. After all the fifth year hadn't exactly dressed to impress at the last ball. Although she wasn't the worst offender.
11
Caitlin Pierce
And so rare too
1415
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Katerina Vorontsov
February 18, 2021 8:55 PM
It can feel that way sometimes. by Katerina Vorontsov
"Twelve princesses, yes," said Katya, excitedly, nodding. "I think we have the same story there." It was always possible that westerners had somehow made up another story with just enough similarities to be something completely different, but it seemed unlikely somehow. "I think Snegurochka, she may be a different story - do you know who Grandfather Frost is?" she asked. "Snegurochka - Snow Maiden, in English - she is his granddaughter."She nodded when asked for more details. "The princess who does not smile - she lives in...a tall house, and she says she will only marry him who makes her laugh. But she does not laugh, until one prince falls off the horse. Then she laughs, so she must marry him." Somehow, Katya thought she was not really doing the story much justice, even though she thought her grammar was reasonably good this time. "It is better in a book," she excused herself. "I think I have a book about Tsarevna Vasilisa which has Russian on this page - " she held up her left hand - "and English on this one - " she held up her left hand. "I had it when I learned to read English. I will see if I have it, and show it to you," she promised.
Katya smiled brightly with relief when Caitlin assured her she'd help out. "Thank you," she said. "Costumes - I do not know," she admitted. "I sew, you know, but only small things - I know few spells for making the whole dress. And one thing is already very much work. Maybe, if it is needed. Do you think that if Papa will help it, that they would let my guvernantka come help? I do not know the English - she takes care of me and the sisters at home, can make our clothes better when they need to be better. Nadezhda would be much help, if we must help with costumes too."
16
Katerina Vorontsov
It can feel that way sometimes.
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Caitlin Pierce
February 19, 2021 4:14 PM
It really does by Caitlin Pierce
"Oh that's a good one." Caitlin replied. "It has lots of parts, though I'm not sure we'd have enough people to go around for them." After all, lots of people didn't want to be on stage or be involved in the concert at all and they shouldn't be forced to just because someone wanted to tell a particular story. She herself was only now going to do anything to help her friend and only in an Art Club context."I don't think we have Grandfather Frost? " That didn't sound familiar to the seventh year, but it could have been something that Americans had that they called something else. "Is that like Old Man Winter?" Which she'd never thought of as an actual personification who had grandchildren rather than just a thing that people...called winter sometimes.Like a metaphor for how plants and stuff died in the winter and it being at the end of the year the way that elderly people were at the end of their life and died.
Caitlin nodded. "That's a pretty good story too, and it seems to need fewer people than the Twelve Dancing Princesses would." Okay, physical comedy wasn't really her thing although it would probably appeal to a more low-brow audience that included Pecaris and Muggleborns but it also had princesses which would appeal to little pureblood girls-and possibly even some non-purebloods girls as well. "All right." She agreed when Katerina offered to let her read the book she had about Tsarevna Vasilisa .
"No problem"." The Crotalus replied. "Governess is the word you're looking for. My cousins could help too and Allegra and Topaz have a cousin whose a writer and could do the scripts but I'm not sure that we're allowed to get people outside the school to help. I would not be surprised at all if Professor Skies wanted it to be all student labor, even if we have people willing to donate services which would make the production better."
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Caitlin Pierce
It really does
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0
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Katerina Vorontsov
February 20, 2021 8:19 PM
Maybe rarity makes it nicer when it happens? by Katerina Vorontsov
"Yes," agreed Katya about the difficulties of staging the Twelve Dancing Princesses. "Many girls - all not too tall, not too short, all the same - and so much practice, for twelve girls to have a dance. This would be hard to do. It is too bad," she added as a reflective afterthought. "It would be easier to make the dresses like this."Old Man Winter...that sounded like it might be something similar to Ded Moroz. She wasn't sure, though, and thought hard, finding the right words to describe the figure from her culture to her friend. "Maybe? I am not sure," she admitted. "Ded Moroz - that is his name in Russian - he comes to your house in December," she explained. "In secret, under the tree on thirty-first, he and Snegurochka leave gifts for you, if you are a good child." She smiled a little self-consciously. "It is only a story, but when we are small, sometimes we think Ded Moroz is real," she confessed. "Parents will tell you to be a good child so you can have gifts. Is this Old Man Winter?"
She smiled brightly, pleased and impressed, when Caitlin noted that the Princess Who Never Laughed would be an easier story to stage than the Twelve Dancing Princesses because it would require fewer people acting on stage. "I did not think of that!" she exclaimed. "It is a good thought. Even if only one boy plays - princes only come one at a time, one boy can be all princes, if he change clothes fast enough. Maybe two boys. It is something to think about."
Governess. Well, that would either be very easy to remember or very hard to remember, since it was very close - well, close enough - to the Russian word she already knew. Usually words like that were easier, since they came closer to what would come out of her mouth in her mother tongue, but sometimes she would still freeze up in uncertainty, thinking that because the word came readily to her, that it must necessarily be the wrong one.
"This is most likely true," she said, nodding, acknowledging the point about Professor Skies wanting them to do the work themselves. "Ah, well. It is good to use what we know how to do well, and we can practice our spells very much, that will help us for our exams," she added sensibly.
16
Katerina Vorontsov
Maybe rarity makes it nicer when it happens?
1418
0
5