Examiner Raúl Barba
November 11, 2022 10:35 PM
CATS/RATS by Examiner Raúl Barba
OOC: CW-Talks a little about bullying BIC:
Raúl had finally found why his bosses had subjected him to the terror that was public speaking in front of a bunch of teenagers. It wasn’t merely to torture him, as he’d initially thought, it was because he was the least threatening person available.
He was not sure whether or not this was meant as a compliment. After all, his co-workers had definitely had a good laugh over it to Raúl’s utter humiliation. That was indeed how he’d found out that was the reason. How they had found that out was still a mystery that he was less than inclined to figure out. He generally tended to be the type not to make waves of any sort and do what he was told regardless of whether or not he liked it.
Hence not ever actually mentioning how completely terrified he was to get up in front of a crowd. Raúl preferred very much to disappear into the background, something he was quite good at. His co-workers largely didn’t notice him unless it was allergy season and he was sneezing and coughing constantly, and apparently in rare instances such as this one where his name somehow came up in office gossip, something he preferred to not participate in and especially not be the subject of.
Of course, given the behavior of his co-workers, Raúl could clearly see why he was thought to be the least threatening test examiner.
His friends, however, seemed to think being non-threatening was a positive thing in general. Cory, with his typical emotional intelligence, pointed out that people generally didn’t want to be around those who made them nervous, such as Cory’s cousin Eustace or even Cory’s brother Toby.Raúl found that to be an absolutely valid point given how Eustace had at one point bullied him largely for his mother’s half-blood status-Raúl was technically a pureblood, as in he had four magical grandparents but his maternal grandmother was a Muggleborn, and he absolutely did not see himself as a pureblood- as well as his abysmal flying skills. Raúl had, of course, been the absolute worst flier in his entire year. Some of his classmates, who had eventually gone on to become Eustace’s henchmen, had spent the better part of their Flying Lessons during their first year pushing him off his broom until the Coach had told them to cut it out because he didn’t need their help to do that. Just one more in a series of humiliating moments in his life.
Still, Raúl did think being the antithesis of Cory’s vile cousin was definitely a positive. He thought of all the people he found intimidating in life, which was the vast majority of them, beyond his friends, Cory’s parents Ichabod-after all these years, he still could not bring himself to think of the man as Icky, he even had to be reminded to not call the man Mr. Brockert-and Imogen, who treated him like a son, and to an extent, his own parents and grandparents and was kind of glad he wasn’t like them.
And Adam, Cory’s cousin/boss, who Raúl knew from guys’ nights that Cory came up with so the examiner wouldn’t feel like a perpetual seventh wheel due to his perpetual singleness-his friends all being married and having children, him not being so and having them-insisted that if Raúl was at all threatening, he wouldn’t be at all comfortable being around him. So, Raúl supposed that was nice. Adam was generally of a similar temperament to him, minus the occasional bluntness or sarcasm that Raúl so obviously lacked.
So now, here he was, about to do something that he found utterly terrifying and to make matters worse, it was that wretched time of year that was known as allergy season. Clearly, Sonora’s founders had not suffered from hay fever. Raúl was pretty sure he was getting a reputation as being ‘that examiner with the severe allergies’ since allergy season was also exam season. Although Cory and Neal had both mentioned that their relatives had said that students seemed to think that he was one of the nicest ones. Which, considering some of his co-workers,Raúl actually absolutely believed but considering those same co-workers, it was an exceedingly low bar. He supposed he could give them a few points for actually remembering his name though.
He arrived in the Elective Hall where Sonora now held their CATS and RATS exams with his allergies attacking in full force as was to be expected. Raúl wondered if that was the reason he appeared so non-threatening, but he honestly was sure that it was just one factor.
After wiping his nose-again-he stood in front of the fifth and seventh year Sonora students, trying his very best to ignore the sick to his stomach feeling that came with public speaking as well as the fact that his eyes were watering and his throat was scratchy–another wonderful feeling when you had to speak in front of people-and the horrible pressure in his sinuses. Raúl sincerely hoped he was not getting another sinus infection.
He was just about to begin, when he felt a sneeze coming on. Afterwards, he was finally able to begin. “Welcome students. Today, you will begin taking your exams. Fifth years, you will be in the classroom to the right taking your CATS and seventh years, you will be in the classroom on the left, taking your RATS. You will be given anti-cheating ink, paper and quills. You may scratch out and rewrite answers if necessary as well as ask for extra paper if you run out of space. Anyone caught trying to cheat will be immediately escorted from the premises and their tests will be submitted as is, which means they will receive zeros on the tests they haven't taken."
Raúl paused to blow his nose and ended up sneezing a couple more times. Inwardly, he cursed the existence of pollen and his body’s aversion to it. Every single year it made him lose any dignity he had in front of a bunch of teenagers ."There will be breaks between the exams for each subject and between the written and practical exams. At those times, you may use the bathrooms and snacks and drinks will be provided. All us examiners are here to answer your questions but we cannot explain test questions to you.” Raúl paused to sneeze once more before going on again. “If you need testing accommodations, you should have a slip that explains them and you will be accommodated in that way.”
He sat down, giving the students his best reassuring smile, and waited for the written portion of the exam to be finished, periodically coughing and sneezing and feeling bad that he was probably disturbing the students while they tried to take an important test.
Subthreads:CATS
This will be CAT-astrophic by Ian Malone
What a year. by Isla Brockert
RATS
11
Examiner Raúl Barba
CATS/RATS
0
Examiner Raúl Barba
1
5
System
November 11, 2022 10:35 PM
System
November 11, 2022 10:35 PM
Ian Malone
November 12, 2022 9:10 PM
This will be CAT-astrophic by Ian Malone
Ian felt like he was going to vomit. His hands were shaking and he felt dizzy. However, he wasn’t sick, it was time for the terror that was CATS. The thing that he’d been dreading for what felt like forever, since he could not remember a time when he’d not been terrified of the exams. It was just that this year, as they grew closer, that the Teppenpaw’s level of panic had significantly increased.He had to pass these tests, well except for COMC since Ian had zero intentions of continuing that class when he had to continue all the others, but he really didn’t want to fail that one either. If he didn’t, not only would it ruin his own life but potentially end that of others.
Of course, the fifth year had spent every spare moment studying this year, but the problem was, due to the Challenges, he was worried he’d not quite had enough spare moments to do an adequate job at it. Ian was terrified that his goal in life was going to be completely spoiled by the mandatory event. It didn’t matter how they had done or if he’d liked his teammates,being a Healer was something that he needed to do. He needed to help sick people, especially ones with immune deficiencies like his mom.
So, the Teppenpaw had ended up studying until late into the night. He had not had even close to what anyone would consider a decent night's sleep even though of course, he knew full well of the importance of one for good health. However, it was not as if he would have been able to sleep anyway, given the abundance of worry that the CATS were causing Ian so he might as well put that time to good use rather than lying there desperately trying to fall asleep. Ian had ended up passing out on a couch down in the Teppenpaw Common Room, where he’d gone to avoid waking up Tommy, and waking up in a panic, knowing what today was and feeling the impending doom even more acutely than he previously had.
And a good breakfast had been out of the question too, since Ian’s stomach was all tied up in knots.
Which meant he was off to a terrible start, quite frankly, and he knew that of course. He was overtired and despite what he thought about the Challenges taking up his valuable studying time, overstudied, and underfed. And he was in absolute panic mode, wound up tight even for him, and that was really saying something considering that it was Ian .
He walked into the Elective Hall as if he was on the way to meet his executioner. Which to him, right now, was pretty much what a CATS examiner was. The Teppenpaw had to wonder what in Merlin’s name would possess someone to want to be such a thing and could only imagine it was some horrible sadistic streak.
Ian wanted to run, he wanted to scream, he wanted to curl up in the fetal position and cry like a baby. He wanted to grab a Time Turner and go back and get all the study time he’d missed during the Challenges. He wasn’t ready, he would never be ready.
However, then the CATS examiner stood up in front of the fifth and seventh year students and sneezed . A sound that made something shift in Ian. Suddenly, while he was obviously still nervous, he felt nothing but pity for the man-and a desire to make him feel better. Of course, he hoped it wasn’t something contagious that he would end up taking home to his mom, but given the time of year, it was most likely that the man was suffering from hay fever.
The examiner gave out the instructions for the tests, sounding extremely miserable to Ian’s Healer-oriented ears. He was clearly extremely stuffed up, and should probably be in bed, not proctoring a test. Granted, if he wasn’t, one of his scarier co-workers might be. There were a few others standing up there, and while the lead examiner’s allergies had made him seem more pitiful and less intimidating, that did not mean that was the case with the others.
As the head examiner collapsed in a chair, the written portion appeared in front of the students. Ian focused on the test, pushing his desire to heal someone who was very clearly suffering away for the moment. Most of the questions were things that the Teppenpaw was pretty sure that he knew the answers to, but of course he worried over every single one. Like had he left out some crucial detail somewhere that would make the difference between passing and failing?
These questions plagued him all through the break, as well as his attention periodically being diverted by the sounds of coughing and sneezing which instinctively roused Ian’s concern briefly-as it had during the entire written portion of the test- before he returned to worrying about whether or not his responses to questions were good enough.
Then it was time for his first practical exam.The Teppenpaw heard a stuffed up voice call his name and a mixture of relief and concern filled him. He was oddly relieved because the examiner who’d given them instructions was definitely not that intimidating when he’d been coughing and sneezing. It was impossible for Ian to be terrified of someone when they were ill, beyond fearing that their germs would transfer to him from them and then to his mom from him. Nothing was worse than the idea that he would get his mom sick!
Still,the odds were that this examiner was suffering from allergies, and those didn’t work that way. Ian followed the man into the exam room, his concern triggered once more when the examine introduced himself “I’m Mr. Barba.” and then began to sneeze. Repeatedly.
“Are you all right?” The Teppenpaw asked.”You don’t sound so well.”
Raúl sniffled. “It’s just my allergies.” He replied. “But thank you for asking.” In all honesty, he felt as terrible as he sounded but he had to do what he had to do. If he took off work every single time that his allergies acted up, he wouldn’t be able to do his job at all. Although sometimes he was sent home because of them, but not on an exam day.
He looked at the student in front of him. “Do you prefer Ian or Mr. Malone?” He asked the boy. He had learned long ago to ask what a student preferred to be called. And was somewhat surprised that he had the wherewithal to remember to do so.
“Ian's fine.” The fifth year replied. He was also a bit surprised that Mr. Barba thought to ask that, all things considered
Raúl sneezed again, then nodded. “All right, let’s get started then. Just remember,it won’t be as bad as you probably think it’s going to be.” He tried to reassure Ian.
Of course, Ian had his doubts about that.
11
Ian Malone
This will be CAT-astrophic
1522
0
5
Isla Brockert
November 26, 2022 1:41 PM
What a year. by Isla Brockert
This year had been absolutely amazing for Isla. She could not believe that her team had actually won the Challenges. It was a wonderful experience for her. Not to be insensitive to others who’d had a terribly traumatic time like Allegra, but for her it had been amazing.Admittedly, the fact that they’d won, and had been leading the whole time was probably a huge factor in that but really just the whole thing was awesome for her and she’d really had a great time. Isla had liked her teammates a lot. They had worked together well and she wished they would be able to hang out together next year, but that was unlikely.
Which honestly made the Aladren a little sad. Of course, she was looking forward to hanging out more with her roommates again next year, but at the same time, she was wondering if next year was going to be a bit of a let down. Isla was really happy right now, she was proud of her accomplishments in the Challenges and the Concert was going to be great too, although, while she was thrilled to be performing with her Challenge team, sort of a goodbye to each other, she was obviously looking forward to the Performing Arts Club’s act even more because she was getting to do puppetry and there was nothing that Isla liked better. Whether or not she ever got to hang out with her teammates again or had a difficult time fitting in at high society parties, at least she would still have her puppets. And, of course, Rosalynn and Lorena.
She also felt just a tiny bit bad because of the experiences that her sisters had. Esme had wanted this so bad for so long and had only gotten fifth. Yes, Isla thought it was great that the Crotalus had led her team to a come back, after being tied for last in the first Challenge and the older girl said she was proud of this but the truth was, Isla was sure that her sister was a lot more disappointed than she wanted to let on.
And then it was Isla’s team that had been unbeatable. So she felt just a little guilty.
Then there was Allegra. Who’d had a miserable time when she’d done the Challenges. Was it insensitive to act all happy and proud of herself and mention that she’d had a great time? Olaf had seemed to think it was last summer to be excited about the event, but she was pretty sure he was just annoyed about having to do them himself.
Today, however, she needed to push everything about the Challenges and the Concert aside, because it was time for CATS. Isla was admittedly not that worried about them because well, she was an Aladren and doing well academically was their thing and also, if she was just going to get married, have kids and be a socialite-and pursue her puppetry-she probably did not have to worry about say, getting into some program for a specific career. So, despite the amount of time the Challenges had taken up, Isla was probably better off than some of her classmates.
Mr. Barba-she knew his name because her relatives had told her and also, she thought that he was friends with Dad’s cousin Cory- began to speak, sounding extremely stuffed-up and miserable. Her sisters and cousins had not been kidding about that. Fortunately, thanks to Miles being just as bad, if not worse, Isla understood fluent allergy-ese and could make out precisely what the poor man was saying.
The tests appeared in front of them and the Aladren began the written portion.
11
Isla Brockert
What a year.
1521
0
5
Gabriel Wilson
November 30, 2022 3:30 PM
Rats have a good memory by Gabriel Wilson
Gabriel was not all that worried about his RATS. After all, his predilection for facts and trivia made the written portion considerably easier for him and he was pretty decent in terms of magical ability. He had nothing on Kira, of course, but he absolutely had no issues in that area either.He was much more worried about what would come after graduation. Not the summer, although the thought of attending parties did not thrill him. They tended to be extremely boring . Gabriel had zero interest in dancing-he could do it fine, but it wasn’t exactly something he enjoyed-and the kinds of conversations that people had at parties tended to be terribly uninteresting. Furthermore, when he tried to bring up things that were-usually trivia, given that going on trivia spiels and throwing interesting and educational facts at people was sort of just his thing and nobody would know what he was talking about with Gaming-people tended to…make excuses to leave the conversation.
The Aladren did not understand this. All he was trying to do was talk about things that were interesting when they brought up boring small talk. Gabriel had no idea why people insisted on talking about things that can’t possibly have interested anyone. The worst was when they wanted to talk about Quidditch, which he understood that some people, such as Tristan, were interested in but he absolutely wasn’t.
He wasn’t suggesting talking about deeply personal things, with people he hardly knew, because that would also make no sense either. However, there had to be a nice medium and he believed that mentioning interesting facts was there.
So it was pretty obvious why Gabriel was not especially looking forward to graduation. Hopefully, college would be a little bit better than parties but here he had people who liked him, and a group of friends. For someone like him, it was not that easy, as evidenced by how people tended to exit conversations with him at parties.
Also, to an extent, the Aladren was a bit worried about the Concert and having to perform their junk music instrument act, in front of everyone. Of all the events for his team to do well in. Maybe, he should look at it differently. Like it was sort of…a comedy act rather than a serious performance. Maybe he should also suggest that to both his relatives that were coming and to his team. Gabriel suspected that he wouldn’t have much luck with Olaf though.
Still, today was RATS and while he had…eight of them to do, the seventh year felt pretty confident in all of them. So, for now, he would focus on that instead of what was coming up in the future. Well, except during his Divination exam, of course.
Mr. Barba began to give out their instructions. Gabriel could see that the man’s allergies hadn’t improved any in the past two years. He sounded as if he was completely miserable, much more so than the Aladren was, and Gabriel was about to take eight RATS exams. The test appeared in front of him and he was pleased to see that he understood most of it.
11
Gabriel Wilson
Rats have a good memory
1481
0
5