Coach Pierce
January 11, 2013 11:28 PM
Flying Lessons by Coach Pierce
Coach Amelia Pierce had given basically the same first lesson for the nine years she had been employed as Sonora's Quidditch Coach. There had been a few students who had never fully (or partially) mastered broom riding but, for the most part, the class was considered one of the easier ones taught at the school. Second years who had gotten less than an O were permitted to take it again to improve their performance, but most didn't need to. In a handful of cases, some students who had earned Os took the course again anyway, just for the extra flying time. She had no age limit for how long a student could retake their flying lessons, but she had yet to have anyone older than third year join the first years. It was, after all, a beginner class.She saw little need to change the curriculum; flying basics were fairly, well, basic and there was not a lot of variation possible. She also saw no reason to subject students who already knew how to fly to the tedium of those basics. So today's class started very much the same as every first flying lesson had for the last nine years.
"Hello, and welcome to flying lessons. I am Coach Pierce. Flying lessons are required for all first year students, so everyone will be participating. If you already know how to fly, you do not have go through the basics with the beginners, but you do need to arrive promptly and spend the period on a broom. Every class will begin with a roll call, and then the experienced players may break off for Pitch laps or various broom games. We have Quidditch balls and other equipment for your use." Muggleborn students would recognize several varieties of other sports balls. She had a few Quods in her shed that were available upon request outside of classtime, but the explosive nature of Quodpot was not conducive for the lessons going on with the less experienced fliers. "As long as you are not disruptive to the beginner class, you may play whatever you like in the air."
"So, I will take the roll now, then we can split into those two groups. "Ambrose, Rajid," she began. None of the names were particularly notable to her, though she recognized several surnames from possible older relatives. 'Boxton-Fox-Reynolds,' she expected, was not a particularly common one and must surely be Henny's younger brother. There was a Hernandez that she tried not to pause over, though she felt sure someone would have told her if a California Pierce was starting this term, so she was probably not Jose's sister. Perhaps a cousin on his paternal side? Squib families did sometimes produce magical heirs.
"We have brooms, here," she indicated the collection of brooms she had arranged before class began. "If you already know how to use one, go ahead and take one if you don't have your own. If I have to interrupt my lesson for any reason, the responsible parties will serve detention and spend the rest of the month down here hovering. So nothing dangerous or disruptive. Otherwise, go have fun. Everyone else, line up."
Once the experience fliers had launched and moved away, she turned her attention to the remaining group. "As I said, this is a required course. You need to complete it to graduate. With any luck, you will leave it knowing how to use a broom to transport yourself. With better luck and some interest on your part, you may be able to get a spot on your House Quidditch Team. Particularly this year, I encourage anyone interested in playing Quidditch to sign up when you get back to your common rooms. Due to the challenges taking place this year, there are no formal games, so your captains will be training you in how to play for a full year before you have to go up in a real match." As she spoke, she handed out brooms, one to each student.
"We begin simply. Place the broom on the ground beside you. If you are right-handed, put it to your right. If you are left-handed, put it to your left. Hold your hand over the broom and command it, Up! Be firm and confident or it won't work. If any of you have dogs or elves, use the same tone of voice as you would use with them."
She held her hand out over her own broom and demonstrated, "Up!" The broom leapt easily into her hand. "It may take a few tries so do not get discouraged. Keep trying. Once you have your broom in the air, please try a low hover. Either put one leg over to straddle the broom, or sit side-saddle. Please let me know if you plan to side saddle your broom. I'll have to adjust the cushion charm."
"Please begin."
OOC: Welcome to Sonora and to Flying lessons. You earn house points for your character by attending classes such as this one. The better your posts are (in both quality and quantity), the more points you will earn. Please be wary of writing for other characters (god-modding) without permission. For example, if you toss another player a ball, it is up to them to decide if they caught it or not, though you can qualify that it was a good throw or entirely off-mark so they know how difficult it should be. That said, you do have my permission to have Amelia change your charm to side-saddle if you raise your hand and ask her for it. Now go forth and write long detailed creative posts and have fun with it!
Subthreads: A pre-emptive strike by Francesca Wolseithcrafte with Malcolm Carey, Pecari, Mal Carey, Mal Carey, Pecari
Quaffle Toss Anyone? by Adam Spencer with Percival Everett Waterford II, Adam, William Casey
Flying around by Keme RunningBear, Aladren with Charlie B-F-R, Jeweliah Dyste, Keme, Omara Hernandez, Omara Hernandez, Pecari
Side-Saddle is uncomfortable. by Virginia Bellrose, Crotalus with Gemma Bennett, Teppenpaw, Ginny
Riding solo by Rajid Ambrose
I'm not really off to a stellar start. by Julian Umland, Teppenpaw with Jude Butler
I have to be confident? by Analea Thornton
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Coach Pierce
Flying Lessons
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Coach Pierce
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Keme RunningBear, Aladren
January 13, 2013 1:31 PM
Flying around by Keme RunningBear, Aladren
Keme did not understand the necessity for making flying a mandatory lesson for everyone. He had been flying since a small child. Their lands back in Montana were vast and would take far too long to travel by foot. They did not like to keep their floo network open and only had it open for certain people who were important and needed to be in contact with people at all times. Adults could apparate if they wanted too, but the kids always rode brooms. To him, he didn’t see an absolute need to learn it as it was just a means for transportation. He had no plans on playing Quidditch, so flying for fun didn’t happen for him either.Keme’s tribe still held its values and traditions from long ago. They learned to track when they were small children. Keme had been at the top of his class. His Grandfather, the Chief, believed as did their ancestors, that the only way to be true to their magic, was by learning the ways without it first. So, for years they learned to track by uses all of their senses. Once they were able to master this and they reached Of Age, they were to go on a spiritual journey and use their magical skills as well as their tracking skills for a three day span and discover themselves. Once you were able to complete this journey and find their spiritual guide, you were considered and adult and able to lead.
These were the things that Keme found important. Learning to walk with both feet and understanding the greatness of that. Not playing games and forgetting the small things. Brooms were just a necessity. People began too engrossed in the sports and competition and forgot everything else.
But, he did not have a choice in taking flying lessons. Thankfully, it seemed that anyone who knew how to fly could do so at their leisure while Coach Pierce taught everyone else. Keme called here when he heard his name and ignored any strange glances shot his way based on it. Their names held meaning. His father’s family was granted their name by the chief centuries ago (later in their tribe, the chief’s daughter married a RunningBear, which has since put Keme’s family in the lineage). They earned it when they saved the tribe from a rampaging bear. It was an honor to have the name.
When they were dismissed to go into their respective groups, Keme took a school broom and found himself easily enough into the air. He stayed away from the girl who snapped at someone because they looked at her and chose not to pass any balls around since that just wasn’t his thing. Instead, he just flew lazily around waiting for the lesson to end for the day.
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Keme RunningBear, Aladren
Flying around
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Keme RunningBear, Aladren
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Charlie B-F-R
January 14, 2013 12:47 PM
Room for company? by Charlie B-F-R
Charlie did not have particularly strong feelings about his flying lessons. Henny had passed the class with a decent-ish grade and she didn’t really like going fast. She had fully briefed him on what to expect and the fact that, as he knew how to fly, he would be able to do whatever he wanted for the lesson, within reason. Essentially, it was a free period for him, except that he had to spend it on a broom, which would probably not have been his first choice. He stayed near to the beginners when they split up, although not close enough to really be in the group, as he could ride but wasn’t exactly confident.“Up!” he commanded. He’d brought his own broom to school although he doubted anyone would get the impression he’d be playing Quidditch. It wasn’t a particularly sporty broom, just a basic, every day kids’ one for messing about on in the yard. That was about as far as his skills extended too. He’d learnt to ride when he was little as most kids did and he occasionally played in their yard or went for rides in the park as they lived in a magical neighbourhood. He mounted his broom and hovered, pushing along the ground with his feet to make himself drift before remembering that his Dad usually told him off for being childish when he did that. Technically, he hadn’t broken the Coach’s rules; he was on a broom and not disturbing anyone but he thought she probably wouldn’t be very impressed. He picked his feet up and hovered between the groups, looking for anyone else who seemed to know how to sit on a broom but not much more.
“No thanks,” he called back to the boy organising a game of catch, seeing as he could be considered in calling distance for that. He wasn’t sure his level of comfort with the broom extended to diving around and taking his hands off the handle. There was another boy just sort of drifting around. Charlie wasn’t really sure that he wanted company but it didn’t hurt to try asking. It was sort of awkward being in the fliers group but not the “into sports” group, which was why he’d hung around in between, so maybe the other guy felt the same way and just needed someone else to make the first move and be friendly.
“Hey, do you mind if I join you?” he asked, “I’m kind of used to riding around but sports aren’t really my thing,” he added, hoping that this meant they had something in common.
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Charlie B-F-R
Room for company?
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Charlie B-F-R
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Jeweliah Dyste
January 17, 2013 10:43 PM
Three's company by Jeweliah Dyste
Jeweliah wasn’t terribly excited about flying lessons. Having two magical parents, she knew how to fly, she just preferred not to. She wasn’t this lithe thing that sat easily astride a broomstick, in fact she felt awkward and uncomfortable flying. Even with cushioning charms, sitting on a broom didn’t feel great; nor did Jewels appreciate the fact that it mostly disappeared beneath her thighs. Even sitting sidesaddle was uncomfortable for her—she felt like she needed something with more girth to support her if she had any hope of getting off the ground.Back on the ranch, they rode horses when they needed to round up cattle, and they seemed to work just fine. If the cows went too far out into the pastures, brooms were used, but that was a rare occasion. Horses didn’t make your thighs feel too big, and while they were fast, they never went too high. Falling off of one could still do some damage, but the prospect of falling off of a broom and plummeting to your death was even more horrifying.
Flying lessons, however, weren’t really an option. They were part of her grade, and she wasn’t about to let her classmates see her sweat at the start of their first term together. Jeweliah had given herself a lengthy pep talk before getting herself down to the pitch. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a high pony tail, and she opted for black yoga pants (as they were slimming) and a yellow t-shirt. Not exactly the most stylish apparel, but it didn’t clash terribly with her school robes and seemed appropriate for the lesson.
Jewels managed to give a bright and bubbly “Here!” when Coach Pierce called her name and was surprised by the sheer diversity of this year’s group. This was really the first time she got to see everyone since they were put into their houses, and some she wasn’t terribly surprised by. Once attendance was taken, and they were given their assignments, Jeweliah made her way to the brooms and picked the hardiest looking one she could find. Everyone seemed to pair off into groups, and she contemplated which one to join as she mounted her broom a bit shakily.
Malcom and Adam she knew from her house, if only by name and brief conversation, and they both seemed preoccupied. There was, however, a pair of boys she hadn’t met yet, so Jeweliah decided to go say hello. Flying a bit low and slow, the Pecari made her way over to them, hiding her discomfort behind a very well-rehearsed smile.
“Hey y’all!” She said cheerfully upon her arrival. “What d’ya think about this lesson? Easy as pie, huh?” Jewels commented in her slow southern drawl, and not a moment too soon. She wobbled a little on her broom and had to grab the handle with both hands as she steadied herself. She laughed nervously and cast her gaze toward the professor to see if she’d been watching. Jeweliah just had to fake through this a little longer, and mandatory flying lessons would be but a rather amusing memory.
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Jeweliah Dyste
Three's company
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Jeweliah Dyste
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Keme
January 18, 2013 11:43 PM
Or a crowd. by Keme
Keme had planned on spending the entire lesson flying on his own. He didn’t see anything wrong with this wish and didn’t think the Coach would mind so much just as long as he did it while on a broom. He did not find joy in this lesson like some of the other students seemed to and thus, did not see a point in interacting with them. But, he must have been alone in this thought since it wasn’t long into his solo ride when he was joined by another, presumably, first year. Keme’s dark eyes looked him over for a long moment as though deciding on whether or not to allow the other male to ride alongside him. Keme had no issue with the boy or anything, but he couldn’t figure out why he wanted to fly with him.“I don’t mind.” Keme finally said. “I do not play Quidditch. I do not enjoy this.” He stated, indicating flying. Keme wasn’t against playing games per se. The children of his tribe often played traditional games whenever they had free time. He was one of the best archers of the tribe in his age group, although he still needed some practice with spear throwing. Him and his friends had gotten pretty good with Double ball and sticks. “We have less dramatic sports at home for us to play. Like hide and seek or ring toss.” Keme commented, looking back at the boys now playing catch.
Keme was about to introduce himself when a sudden arrival of a girl took him off guard, “Tsi ma kii to moh to toh pa!” He exclaimed mainly under his breath, slipping into his native tongue with ease. He had not been paying attention enough to notice she was coming their way. Her accent made it hard for him for a moment to figure out what she had said. “It’ll be an easy class.” Keme agreed, relaxing a little. At least they weren’t trying to make him play catch.
“I am Keme RunningBear of the Blackfoot tribe in Montana.” He introduced before looking to the two of them. He didn’t know them from the next person and really didn’t know much about his roommate. Eventually, he figured, things would be revealed to him and he would learn of his classmates, he just wished he wouldn’t have to social too much in order to get to that part.
OOC:’ Tsi ma kii to moh to toh pa’ means ‘where did you come from?’ in Blackfoot
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Keme
Or a crowd.
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Keme
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Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
January 19, 2013 7:13 AM
Nah, that's four. We're definitely company. by Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
“Yeah, it wouldn't be my first choice of ways to spend my time but I don't hate it either,” he explained, when the boy said he wasn't really into flying at all. Charlie wondered whether that was why he seemed so grumpy, or whether he was trying to really concentrate on what he was doing or something. Charlie had trouble understanding that being quiet and solitary was some people's default state and the way they felt most comfortable. To him, they were signs that someone was feeling blue. “Those sound like fun games. At home, we sometimes play tag.”
Charlie grinned as they were joined by a girl. He'd made the effort cos he thought this boy looked lonely but he generally found girls much easier to get along with. Plus he'd noticed she was really well dressed at the feast. She wasn't so much now so he didn't know whether she'd dressed up for the feast or dressed down for flying. Not that was crucial – he wasn't so shallow as to like someone just because of how they dressed – but it would be neat if he had someone who cared about that stuff to talk with. His companion seemed less enthusiastic, given that he was muttering under his breath (Charlie didn't catch what he said and wasn't entirely sure it had been English). For a second Charlie was worried that the guy was going to tell the girl that he didn't approve of her flying, but he seemed to get over it, so maybe she'd just made him jump.
“Yeah, not a bad way to start off the term,” he agreed with her assessment of the lesson's difficulty.
“Cool,” he grinned, when the other boy introduced himself. He had a really interesting name. “Hey, my last name has an animal in too,” he added, “I'm Charlie,” he said, not bothering to give the aforementioned last name as life was just too short to introduce himself with it. “What's your name?” he added to the girl.
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Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
Nah, that's four. We're definitely company.
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Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
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Omara Hernandez
January 20, 2013 1:10 PM
I hope you don't mind another joining you. by Omara Hernandez
Omara hadn't been sure whether to stay with the beginners or join the increasing numbers of students who were separating themselves from the group to fly without instruction. It wasn't that Omara couldn't fly - in fact, she adored to fly; nothing made her feel more free - but she had an inkling she would be judged about this at school.Her father had always taken her out into a secluded spot to play and he had taught her how to fly. She'd always stayed within his boundaries but had longed to disappear up into the clouds. She would have been able to as well, because it had always come so naturally to her. Even using one of her dad's battered old brooms, she felt at one with the object and it had always seemed to obey her every whim without question.
She decided to be bold. "Up!" she commanded and the broom did shoot straight up into her hand. If she were honest with herself, she hadn't expected anything less - it was how it always had been - but was relieved, and also surprised to see several of her classmates who she assumed would excel at this lesson, struggling. She assumed everyone could do it. She assumed everyone would be better than her. She edged away from the beginner class and surveyed the situation. Her room mate, Jewels, looked perfectly steady on her broom to Omara but her face told a different story. Jewels always came across as extremely confident but to Omara it seemed, though she could be wrong, that she was way out of her comfort zone.
A dilemma presented itself before she mounted the school broom. Her father had said to her that some at school might expect her to ride sideways, legs together. On questioning him why, he had just replied that some considered it 'proper'. But the twinkle in her father's eye as he said this gave away that he didn't agree. He'd silently - and perhaps unknowingly - given Omara permission to ignore the convention and with a slightly mischievous thought, she mounted the broom and sat boldly astride it.
Omara kicked the ground firmly and took off. Her instinct was to fly up, up; people were always saying she had her head in the clouds. Without her dad here, this could be her first opportunity to see if it's true. She'd always wondered whether she'd feel at home there, up in the clouds... Reason kicked in, however. She doubted it would go down well if she were to disappear beyond sight in her first lesson, so she glided gracefully, taking a horizontal twirl with her broom; the rhythm of the air against her body flooded through her and it felt as though she and her broom were dancing...
And she landed, one foot slightly before the other, close to where Jewels was, chatting to a friendly-looking boy Omara had seen around school. "Hi Jewels, sorry, I don't really know anyone else, I hope you don't mind me joining you..." and, she swallowed her nerves to say to the boy, "Hi, my name's Omara. I've seen your face, I'm sorry to interrupt, I haven't really spoken to many people here yet...do you mind...?"
There was another boy standing in the group too but Omara had an odd feeling she shouldn't speak to him. She didn't know what it was about him and hoped it wouldn't be perceived as rude but his demeanor did not seem to invite informal introductions. So she didn't play along for the sake of propriety, just gave him a small nod of acknowledgement.
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Omara Hernandez
I hope you don't mind another joining you.
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Omara Hernandez
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Jeweliah Dyste
January 20, 2013 5:48 PM
I don't mind at all! by Jeweliah Dyste
“Huh?” Jeweliah must have interrupted something. She’d been taught not to, but some of those finer details seemed to blur a little around kids her age. She had no idea what the Aladren boy had said, as it was clearly a different language. She’d heard a bit of Spanish; being as close to Mexico as they were, it was nearly impossible not to—but though his skin was an appropriate color, he was definitely not speaking Spanish.She didn’t have to wonder where he was from for long as he introduced himself as being of the Blackfoot Tribe, making him a Native American. She also thought he had a fun last name. She couldn’t help but wonder what Charlie’s was, since his had an animal in it as well apparently. She couldn’t remember from the sorting.
“Oooh, I like your name.” She said, smiling at Keme. She didn’t know much about Native Americans, in general, let alone is tribe, but she assumed his name meant something more than what was on the surface. She knew Native’s had a belief that everything had a spirit, or at least that’s what she’d heard in stories. Either way, she decided to ask.
“Your last name, is there a story behind it?” She asked, before turning her attention briefly to Charlie. He was definitely shinier than Keme, but she was also under the impression that most Aladren students were kind of reserved, and maybe that was the case here.
“Which animal, Charlie?” Jewels asked, before realizing she’d been too wrapped up in her own questions to actually answer. “Oh crumb, sorry, I’m Jeweliah, Jeweliah Dyste. You can call me Jewels though.” As soon as her name left her mouth, she heard it from someone behind her, and clumsily turned to see her roommate joining them as well. She recovered, and even steadied herself well enough to wave slightly to Omara.
“No worries at all! The more the merrier.” Jewels said brightly, smiling as Omara joined them. “This is Keme, and Charlie. Omara is my roommate.”
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Jeweliah Dyste
I don't mind at all!
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Jeweliah Dyste
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Keme
January 21, 2013 1:38 AM
...I apparently don't matter. by Keme
Keme nodded at Charlie’s statement but didn’t say anything to add to the conversation. They played tag sometimes too, but he was now a little too old for it. It was usually played between the younger children of the tribe.He realized that he slipped into Blackfoot only when the girl seemed to be confused. “Pardon me, you startled me.” He said, tipping his head to her in an apology. The children grew up speaking both languages that they often slipped from one to the other without much thought. In moments where he wasn’t paying attention, Keme would likely do that. It was something he would have to work on going forward.
Keme wasn’t sure about this boy. He felt if he was going to make a connection between their names that he should at least offer to them him what animal it was in his name. The girl distracted him from this train of thought by asking about his name. Keme, who loved his tribe, perked up and even smiled. “Oh yes. My ancestors were given this name because the tribe had once been threatened by a rampaging bear. My ancestors saved the villagers by chasing it off. The chief honored them by giving them this surname.” He didn’t know if she actually cared, but since she was the first to ask about it, he wanted to tell her.
Apparently, the girl also wanted to know what sort of animal was in Charlie’s name and asked, but just as suddenly, she was introducing herself. But their small conversation was, yet again, interrupted. Keme didn’t know why this was his sudden luck.
There was suddenly yet another girl who joined them and Keme had to wonder how it was that all he wanted to do was fly alone that he ended up with three people trailing him? Plus, this newest girl didn’t even direct any of her communication his way. She was either blind or extremely rude. And, since she could see Charlie and Jeweliah just fine, he could only assume she was not blind. The fact of the matter was that Keme was the one everyone was intruding upon and he did mind, especially when they aren’t even considering his feelings. He saw Rajid flying solo and shot him a glare. While he glared after his roommate, Jeweliah introduced them to the new arrival. Keme, already feel affronted by the girl, said nothing.
He still couldn’t understand how it was that he had ended up with all these people. And they were social people. He didn’t know how to do social. This was going to be a long lesson.
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Keme
...I apparently don't matter.
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Keme
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Charlie B-F-R
January 21, 2013 7:23 AM
Of course you do! You have a following! by Charlie B-F-R
“That's pretty, like precious Jewels,” Charlie grinned. It was a fairly obvious word association and one she'd probably heard before but he thought it suited her. She was all blonde bombshelly (albeit a bombshell currently in yoga pants) and bubbly.“Hi,” he smiled, as they were joined by another girl, Jewels' roommate. “That's a nice name too,” he smiled, hoping she didn't think he was just saying it cos he'd said it to Jewels. Omara was a pretty name. He liked the way it rolled around inside his head.
“My surname has 'Fox' in it – it's Boxton-Fox-Reynolds,” he explained to Jewels. “But it's not got a cool reason, like Keme's – that's really neat by the way,” he added to the other boy. He'd seen that Keme had perked up a bit when talking about home. He was pleased to see the change for the better in the other boy's expression, and wondered whether he was maybe feeling a bit homesick. “I just have more than the average number of names cos I have more than the average number of parents and that part's my Dad's name.” Well, technically his Dad's name was Fox-Reynolds but the Fox part came from him and had been his name before he'd married Father, so what he said, whilst not literally true any more, was the best way of explaining things in short hand. He guessed his name did have something of a story behind it after all.
Noticing that Keme seemed to have slipped back into being sullen, Charlie wondered what he could do to cheer him back up. He had seemed to get a little bit brighter when talking about home, so perhaps – even if he was feeling homesick – he'd feel better if he got to tell them more.
“So, where are you from?” he asked the girls, “You said Montana, right?” he added to Keme, “Your tribe sounds like it has really neat traditions,” he smiled, “I guess it's pretty different from things here, huh?” he invited.
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Charlie B-F-R
Of course you do! You have a following!
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Charlie B-F-R
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Omara Hernandez, Pecari
January 25, 2013 1:50 PM
Regret by Omara Hernandez, Pecari
Omara immediately regretted not speaking to the quiet boy. It seemed to make him even more unapproachable - understandable really given the circumstances - but still. There was something about him that was so different, or so it seemed to her. It seemed like he was both there, and not there, at the same time.Charlie however, seemed open and perky and Jewels of course, who Omara already knew, always seemed happy to talk. Perhaps Omara shouldn't have worried too much about going over to talk. But then, she knew she always worried too much about everything.
"Thank you," she said to Charlie when he commented on her name, "it's Cuban, but I love Jewels' name," she said to both Charlie and Jewels, kinking her head towards the latter, "it's so, so, spingly and sparkly."
Her attention again was drawn to the quiet boy. She had heard his name was Keme, which sounded to Omara so wild and free. "I'm sorry I didn't say hi, Keme, I'm just so hopeless in social situations; just ask Jewels, I'm sure she's noticed it already..."
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Omara Hernandez, Pecari
Regret
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Omara Hernandez, Pecari
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Jeweliah Dyste
January 30, 2013 8:14 PM
Y'all need to cheer up! by Jeweliah Dyste
“Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, just figured I’d come say hi as I hadn’t had the chance to meet you too yet.” Jewels said with an apologetic smile when Keme revealed that she’d startled him. She was, however, glad that he decided to indulge her and explain his last name. She probably should have been able to guess what the highlight of the story was considering his last name, but it was interesting none the less.“I get it, Runningbear, since they ran a bear off. Very cool.” There weren’t a lot of bears in Texas, and there definitely weren’t any near the ranch, but Jeweliah couldn’t imagine her dad chasing one off. In all likelihood, he’d charm it or something. Her maternal grandma, her Nana, likely would have wanted to shoot it on sight. Even though fur was a fashion staple, Jeweliah wasn’t sure she could condone the murder of animals just to look good.
“That’s a long last name…It makes you sound really fancy.” Jewels said with a grin when Charlie presented his last name to them. “Foxes are cute. Horrible about getting’ in to hen houses, but cute.” The Pecari girl thought back to the ranch for a moment and felt the first pang of homesickness. She did miss the ranch, and mama and daddy; but Sonora was a big new experience and she was meeting new people every day--people very different from herself. It was all one learning opportunity, and soon she’d be home for Christmas; she just needed to buck it up until then.
Jeweliah smiled as Omara and Charlie commented on her name. She was sure that’s what her parents had in mind with the spelling, even though the traditional ‘Julia’ wasn’t very sparkly. It helped her stand out in pageants when her name was on big signs for props and on shirts worn by her mom and Nana.
“Thanks! I like my name, I like to think it’s fittin’. I didn’t realize Omara was a Cuban name, though. Are you Cuban?” She asked her roommate. She knew a little of the girl from the feast, but they definitely had some to learn about each other. They had plenty of time for that though. She tried not to laugh when Omara apologized to Keme for not introducing herself right away. Not because she thought the act was funny, but she was amused by the second half of Omara’s statement.
“I don’t think you’re hopeless, we’re just in a new situation. Everythin’ is a little new and awkward. Some of us just adjust a little better than others, that’s all.” She shrugged, trying to cool the tensions a little bit. She didn’t think Omara meant any harm, but she could also see how Keme may have felt slighted. She was glad when Charlie asked where they were from, more than happy to change the topic to something happier.
“I’m from Texas, Lufkin Texas. We have a ranch there. What about you Charlie?”
Jewels was secretly pleased that Charlie was trying to get Keme more involved in the conversation, and looked to the Aladren for his reply, eager to learn more about his home.
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Jeweliah Dyste
Y'all need to cheer up!
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Jeweliah Dyste
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Keme
January 31, 2013 9:49 PM
I'm content. by Keme
“Yes.” Keme said to Jeweliah. “Most surnames are based off a story of some kind or our given to the family by the chief.” Keme commented. Although, now days that tradition had sort of fallen by the way side. Keme’s name and a few others had remained because the families had remained within the tribes and continued to boar sons to carry it on. As much as the tribe tried to keep up with traditions, some lost out over others. Keme gave a slight nod to Charlie when he made a comment on the meaning behind Keme’s name. ‘Fox’ usually held positive meaning to his tribe. They were clever and intelligent, so anyone who was referenced to them, it was usually in a good way. He didn’t quite understand though, what Charlie meant when he said that he had more than the average number of parents. Were they divorced? Although divorce was rare and not something Keme had dealt with personally as his parents were still happily married, but it did happen from time to time within the tribe. But divorce wouldn’t make sense for three last names… maybe one died? That wasn’t a polite thing to ask though, so Keme remained quiet. He did agree with Jeweliah though with regards to foxes. They did like to cause trouble. People back home were always shooing them off the property and away from their fields.Keme didn’t really see what was special about Jeweliah’s name. There were a lot of ‘Julias’ in the world for it to be unique. Not that it was a terrible name or anything. He just didn’t see what they saw. Unless they were referring to her nickname of ‘Jewels’ in which, then he could understand why they found it ‘sparkly’. He did find that Omara’s name was different though, so that was nice, even if he wasn’t so fond of her.
The girl spoke to him for the first time since she intruded only to apologize for not saying anything before and used social situations as an excuse. For someone who claimed to be hopeless, she was quick to join a group of three and had no problem greeting Charlie, with whom she had never met. She had purposefully ignored Keme, which Keme felt was discourteous. Jeweliah made her own remark though and prevented Keme from having to say anything. Probably for the best. If the girl didn’t want to talk to him for whatever reason, he wasn’t going to force it upon her simply because she felt bad.
The conversation turned on him again and Keme blinked for a moment. He wasn’t expecting to be asked about his home. “Er, yes, Montana.” He said. “We have many traditions that we try to continue through the generations. Blackfoot is our language that remains one of our more important traditions to continue, but we grow up being taught English right along with it.” Keme explained. “It is different but it’s the same too. My people work hard to maintain a steady relationship with those outside of the tribe. This year they decided to reach out to other communities and allow our knowledge to grow by having us go to schools outside of our tribe. So, I’m one of the first to leave.”
Keme was still adjusting and he knew that it would take a long time to fully feel comfortable here. It was hard for him to talk with people about things. What was normal to him probably wasn’t normal to them and so, it would be an adjustment period. To Jeweliah, he said, “Your ranch is probably similar to our lands. We have many farm lands with cattle and crops. We have horses too. Although, I don’t know if Texas has the mountains like we do.” He sure did miss his home.
“Is it a different for you?” He asked Charlie, since he asked him first, although it was a general question that anyone could answer.
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Keme
I'm content.
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Keme
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Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
February 03, 2013 4:17 PM
Yay! I knew you'd warm to us! by Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
Charlie grinned as Omara showed a little more enthusiasm, albeit quite quietly. Spingly was a good word and he was already a fan of anything spangly, and anyone who used such adjectives appreciatively.He was pleased as his plan seemed to work and Keme opened up a bit, both talking about his home and trying to find some common ground with Jewels. It confirmed his theory – possibly slightly unfortunabtely for Keme - that the guy wasn't really grumpy or unsociable but just homesick, and would lighten up so long as they kept being friendly and finding things to talk about which showed him he could fit in with them. It sounded like there was quite a lot of expectation from his folks for him to do that, which Charlie guessed was kind of scary.
“Wow. That's a pretty big deal – them sending you off to do that,” he said, hoping that didn't make Keme feel under any additional pressure. He'd meant it to sound positive as, in spite of it being a big responsibility, he thought it was a good thing. “I mean, they obviously really trust you, which is nice.
“It's different cos it's school, and the lessons are different and it's weird not being around my parents all the time. But my sister's here, and she's been here the last three years and I miss her when she's away, so it's nice that I get to see her more, even though she's not in my house – she's in Aladren, a forth year,” he added, mainly to Keme seeing as he robes indicated that was also his house. “So far it's kind of what I expect school to be like though, so it doesn't seem different that way. I'm from San Francisco originally and I really like it there. I love that there's always something fun to do and I really really love being by the sea. It'll be weird not having that but my sister said there's a water room here that'll be whatever kind of water you want, and I'm sure I'll find loads of fun things to do with other people,” he grinned, never one to miss a positive way of looking at things. He'd already met two Julians and now there were his three flying companions. He couldn't imagine that he'd really be lonely or bored here.
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Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
Yay! I knew you'd warm to us!
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Charlie B-F-R, Teppenpaw
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