Something a little different on Cascade Hall

Mortimer Brockert

December 10, 2022 1:25 PM

Opening Feast by Mortimer Brockert

The year had started off with one of Mortimer’s least favorite things-change-brought to him one of his least favorite ways-parental complaint. Now, the change itself might not have been an issue had it been suggested by someone with a different position. Mortimer did not want the students doing inappropriate things, but the thing was, he took exception to a parent-any of them, even ones he was closely related to such as his sons or his nephews or their wives-telling him how to run the school.

And he took a seriously hard line on this too. Because if he listened to what one parent wanted he had to listen to them all, and sometimes they wanted things that were completely unreasonable. Like, say someone wanted them to make flying lessons required for all seven years or at least until CATS-fortunately,this was unlikely to happen given that there was no CATS flying test, but that did not mean that Eustace wasn’t in favor of this exact thing-or that some animal rights extremist wanted them to ban meat, eggs and cheese-not bloody likely given that meat was one of the few things that Miles could eat with all his allergies and Mortimer would pretty much rather attempt to make small talk for an hour than give up his steaks-and then because they gave in to one whiny parent, they had to give in to all of them or at least listen to them and discuss their requests amongst the staff.

Mortimer felt that parents like that came across as especially entitled-being a wealthy pureblood with Eustace as a son, he knew entitlement when he saw it-overprotective control freaks, and the best possible thing that could happen to the children of a parent like that was to cut the blasted umbilical cord, and let them grow up and develop some independence.

Anyway, the results of that conversation would be announced by the Heads of House. Mortimer had decided against announcing it himself because he didn’t want backlash. He had considered pointing out that it was a parent who made a big stink about it, not that he would have said who and embarrassed the already unfortunate offspring, but was afraid that if he did, students might tell their parents who in turn felt it was okay to air their most likely unreasonable grievances.

And Merlin, did he ever not want that .

Once the older students were assembled at their tables and the first years entered the room. Mortimer cast Sonorous on himself and rose." Welcome to Sonora for the new first years and welcome back for all older students. First years, you should have received a blank badge at the end of Orientation. You will dunk the badge in the Sorting Potion and it will turn the color representing your house which are blue for Aladren, yellow for Teppenpaw, red for Crotalus, and brown for Pecari. Afterwards, you may join your house table."

After the first years had been settled, Mortimer continued. “Would Lavender Brockert and Phillipe Delachenne please come up and get your Head Student badges." He continued. "In addition, I'd like to call up Constance Melcher, Hansel Hexenmeister, Iris Cobb and Alexei Vorontsov to receive their prefect badges. Congratulations.” Amethyst should have won, she really should have. He would never understand why his grandchildren never won, other than annoying political correctness. At least,Mr. Vorontsov had won. He was obviously the most reasonable choice among his house, especially given that in Pecari it was often down to the best of a bad lot. To find one among them that actually did not make Mortimer feel this way was something of a miracle. Well, he was exactly that but also actually not terrible.

He was also a tad surprised at the results of the Head Student, he was sure that Miss Duell was a shoe-in. Of course, he was disappointed in the fact that Jasper had not gotten it, but more in the students for not electing him than in the Teppenpaw. Nothing personal against those who’d won, really, but they never seemed to see the best option.

Once the prefects and Head Students were back in their seats, Mortimer continued. “ Our midsummer event will be the Bonfire, details to be forthcoming.”

“Now for the singing of the school song.”Lyric sheets were passed around and the song began.

Every day we strive
Learning to survive
Life’s hardships and to solve its mystery.
Learning to defend
Our honour and our friends,
Flying high to meet our destiny
We will stand and face those who want to harm us.
We won’t let the world transfigure, jinx or charm us
I won’t fight alone, as long as you are with me.
Sonora be my home, my tutor and my spirit
Vasita quoque floeat; Even the desert blooms.

That done, he dug into his steak and bourbon.

Subthreads:

Aladren

Here we go again! by Lorena Abernathy with Rosalynn Tellerman

I have received a shiny! by Constance Melcher with Phil Carson

More awkward by the day. by Lazarus Jareau-Fletcher with Eben Sosna

It's all gone wrong. by Nicholas Pierce with Nausicaa Scapetello

Teppenpaw

Oh.. okay. by Valentine Duell with Tommy Jamison

Feeling pink-ish by Lenny Pierce with Leviosa Scurlock

Intermediates Away! by Cole Pierce

Well that's sorted. by Leo Lyons with Robyn Lundstrom

Ooh! That's me! by Hansel Hexenmeister

Crotalus

Disappointed, yet again. by Wally O'Malley with Graham Osbrook

What just happened? by Alexander Pierce with Lyla Holland

It's time to get to work by Iris Cobb with Claire Osbrook

Reporting for duty by Ida Stanford

Happy New Year! (tag Christopher) by Verdillia Scurlock

Pecari

Something a little different by Billy Cobb with Oz Spellman

My very first day! :D by Misty Brockert with Xarryn Bavol

Here we go! by Donovan Peters with Fortune Ardovini

Big bro mode - activate! by Stanley O'Malley with Xavier Lundstrom

Staff

Here's to a new year. by Grayson Wright with Katey Willow

Time marches on. by Isis Carter-Xavier with Osvaldo Alamilla

11 Mortimer Brockert Opening Feast 6 1 5

System

December 10, 2022 1:25 PM

Aladren by System

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System

December 10, 2022 1:25 PM

Teppenpaw by System

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System

December 10, 2022 1:25 PM

Crotalus by System

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System

December 10, 2022 1:25 PM

Pecari by System

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System

December 10, 2022 1:25 PM

Staff by System

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Wally O'Malley

December 10, 2022 2:17 PM

Disappointed, yet again. by Wally O'Malley

The ride to Sonora had been great. Wally and Stanley teamed up to guarantee that their little sister’s first wagon ride - their only school year they would have together - was perfect. The boys had watched her join the other first years for Orientation and thought briefly about how special this moment was.

From there, he’d separated from his brother and taken his luggage to his dorm room in Crotalus. He could have easily let the elves handle it, but Wally had a particular way he liked his things to be organized, and he figured it was most convenient for everyone if he put his things away himself. Plus, it gave him some time mostly to himself: he loved his family, but it took a lot of mental energy to actively sustain focus and conversation on someone like they had, so he was grateful for the chance to recharge before the Feast. He was eager to see Valentine, but they would have plenty of time to catch up.

He set off for the Cascade Hall with the intention to find her, although there was not much time before the festivities officially began. Wally was excited to see Charlotte get Sorted, but there was also a knot in his stomach, which, after the first years sat down, plummeted as the Headmaster rather unceremoniously dashed all of his dreams. He… didn’t get Head Boy, either?

It had taken a lot of personal work on himself to recover from not getting Prefect, and a lot of that energy threatened to be dredged up again. On one hand, Wally wasn’t especially popular or involved, and this was a peer-selected title, but he thought he had to get something. What was he doing wrong here? He was a good kid. He did good work and turned in all his homework. Maybe not the star of the class, but he always got good marks.

Wally made a commitment there to not look as completely crushed as he had before. He shot a look to the Teppenpaw table to catch Val’s eye again, with a look for her only that said “I’m not okay, but I’ll be fine.” He had to keep it together. For Charlotte.

12 Wally O'Malley Disappointed, yet again. 1492 0 5

Valentine Duell

December 10, 2022 6:20 PM

Oh.. okay. by Valentine Duell

This was it. This was the start of her final year at Sonora. Valentine Duell vowed she was going to make this the best year yet. She had a wonderful time with Lavender over the summer and she was ready to tackle this last year. Once the wagon arrived, she climbed down and did what she could to help any of the tiny new first years as usual, before heading off to her room.

She smiled, waved and greeted everyone around her. Sadly she didn't see Bonabelle or Wally on her way. That was fine though, they might get some time in before the feast and if not there was always tomorrow. The first day back breakfast with Bonabelle was a solid tradition by this point and it wasn't going to stop this year. Wally she would see at lunch then and if the he showed up at breakfast or Bonabelle joined them for lunch, all the better. Her room was just as she had left it, and the fact that this was her last year hit her once again. She'd have to clean out the room completely once she left... next year's Teppenpaw girl or girls would live here and the cycle would continue here without her. It felt a little weird, but that cycle had been going before she had arrived as well so it shouldn't. But it did.

Ordinarily she unpacked rather quickly so that she would have more time in the hall with everyone before the feast. This year however, she found herself taking her time. Even once that was done, she spent some time checking in on the other Teppenpaws that were about. She was the seventh year prefect after all, it was her job to make sure everything and everyone was doing okay. There was something holding her back from the hall, but she wasn't sure what it was. She wanted to go down there and see who else she could find, and yet... something in her didn't want to go.

Finally Valentine stopped lollygagging about and headed down to the hall. It was getting pretty close to feast time so she didn't have much more time to smile and wave at Bonabelle and Wally. She sat at the Teppenpaw table, in a seat with some open places around her. She liked to do that to meet the new first years and welcome them to the house. That feeling of uncertainty still gnawed away inside her. Then the Headmaster began, the new first years were sorted and Val helped welcome the new Teppenpaws to the table. Then it struck, and it hit hard.

Valentine had been absolutely sure that she would be fine if someone else was head student. She had plenty on her plate already, she'd be happy for whoever, it wouldn't bother her. But, she had been wrong. As the Headmaster called Lavender and Philippe up front, a horrible weight seemed to settle in her chest and it was a little difficult to breathe. She didn't want to be wrong. She wanted to be happy for them both, they were some of her best friends. She had voted for Lavender, she wanted Lavender to win. Hadn't she? Val did her best to try and take an honest assessment of things. She had tried to be friendly, nice, helpful and involved. She had tried so hard... but in the end, nobody voted for her? Maybe nobody actually liked her, did they just tolerate her? To be fair, she hadn't even voted for herself... what did that say? Another terrible pang shot through her, had it meant that she assumed she would win and that nobody was going to vote for Lavender? So she'd done it so her friend got at least one person rooting for her? If that was true, she was a terrible person. She'd voted for Wally and he hadn't....

In an instant she turned to look at the Crotalus table and locked eyes with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend who had been so very understanding and wonderful at the end of last year. His face was steady, but the pain in his eyes resonated with the agony she was feeling in her soul. Lunch tomorrow would not be soon enough for meeting up. She tried to return his look with one that said, "I understand, you are not alone." Val suspected he had a much better 'poker face' than she did.

Still, she did her best to keep it all together. She wanted to be a good person, to be someone to put the needs of her friends above her own. She was happy for Lavender and Philippe, she really was. It was just a school thing, it didn't really matter to her. Her apprenticeship didn't hinge on getting Head Student, it was fine. It was okay. Maybe if she repeated it enough, it would be. She'd let Mama down. No, she knew better than that. Mama would have been excited and proud if she had gotten it, but she wouldn't think less of her for not getting it. Mama was a good person. Mama had been Head Girl.

Valentine had missed the calling of the prefects, but she did see them moving back to their seats. Had she not applauded for any of them? Had she been so wrapped up in her own selfishness? The final announcement about the bonfire passed over her without reaction. The song sheets came out and she stared at it blankly for the first three lines, then pulled herself together again to join in, perhaps a bit quietly, for the rest of it. She was still a prefect and needed to set a good example.

When the food appeared, she didn't quite feel like eating, but she knew she should. Again, she tried to push all of that down to deal with later. Sometime. Val scooped some mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and whatever other 'comfort food' she could see onto her plate. Everything was just fine. She smiled her best at the person sitting next to her. "Hi, how are you doing?"

2 Valentine Duell Oh.. okay. 1490 0 5

Alexander Pierce

December 10, 2022 6:48 PM

What just happened? by Alexander Pierce

The tour had been interesting and Alexander hoped he could remember all of the information they'd been given, and all of the turns they had taken, to find his way around the school in the future. He and Nicholas would, of course, explore it until it became truly familiar, but he didn't want to get lost before they reached that point. The tour culminated at the Cascade Hall, and it was everything Mom and Dad had said it would be like, but more because words could never truly capture the magic of the place.

He grabbed Nicholas' hand and squeezed it, more in excitement than nerves this time. "We're here, Nicholas! We're really here!" he whispered, still not entirely believing it despite having been here for more than an hour already. The Hall was the site of so many of the stories their parents told and it felt so much more real now that they were surrounded by the silent waterfalls. This was Sonora. They were at Sonora!

And they were about to get sorted.

Alexander became more and more anxious as the first students dunked their badges into the potion and got themselves sorted. It felt like both forever and no time at all before it was his turn. He stepped up, shooting Nicholas a nervous look, and then dunked it.

"Oh no," was his verbal response to pulling it out and seeing that it had turned red. Crotalus. He really was in Crotalus. He wasn't with Nicholas. Still, he knew he shouldn't have said that, not with Deputy Headmistress Skies, the Head of Crotalus right there. It was impolite.

He stepped back, but didn't approach the table for his new House yet. "I need to see where Nicholas goes," he explained when someone tried to direct him toward it. And then Nicholas was dunking his and . . . blue. Nicholas was in Aladren but Alexander wasn't. Alexander had been the one to mess it up!

He shared a look with his brother, a look of worry and tightly reigned terror and Dear Merlin what are we going to do? and then he let himself be ushered finally to the Crotalus table. He sat down, feeling a bit in shock. They were in different Houses and it was his fault. If they'd both gotten put somewhere else, that would be easier to swallow, but Nicholas was in Aladren like their parents before them and it was Alexander who had gotten sorted into Winston's House.

What was he doing here? How mad were his parents going to be?

The last couple sortings happened without Alexander processing them, and then the Headmaster was talking and he tried very hard to focus in and pay attention because it was important to know what was going on, especially when it seemed like the world was already not making sense. Older students were being called up. Head Students and Prefects. Yes. Good. Alexander clapped politely because these were honors he aspired to, and he would not like his achievements to be demeaned by personal sorting tragedies.

The good news, he realized, was that he and Nicholas would not be in competition. They could both become prefect, and in fact they could both become Head Students now that it wasn't gendered. It was a silver lining on an otherwise dark cloud.

Very few details were offered about the Bonfire, but he'd heard stories about that, too, so he knew basically what to expect. It was fairly self-explanatory anyway. There would be a big fire, and a camp-out.

Alexander did not sing, but read along on the lyric sheet. Finally, the song was over, and there was food, and Nicholas was still on the far side of the room and they'd be living in different parts of the mansion. He looked at the person sitting closest to him and said, "Nicholas is in Aladren."

Wait. That wasn't right. That was not how people introduced themselves to new Housemates! He blinked a few times, shook his head, pasted on a polite smile, and tried again. "I mean. Hello. I'm Alexander Pierce, of the New Hampshire Pierces." It was important to specify branch. There was another Alexander Pierce in the Boston lot.

1 Alexander Pierce What just happened? 1566 0 5

Billy Cobb

December 10, 2022 7:14 PM

Something a little different by Billy Cobb

It was hardly unusual for Billy to jump of the wagons upon their arrival with his robe open in the front, flying all about him, showing off the rather tattered overalls he normally wore under it. Then he'd swagger off in the direction of the common room ready to find his friends and roommates. This year was much the same, with one slight difference. The clothing under Billy's robes were not of his normal threadbare variety. Now he wore some rather well made, and higher class looking attire, even if it was a few centuries out of date fashion wise. They also clearly hadn't been put together on him properly. Extra bits that should have been there were missing, and if one looked close enough, one might notice that it may have been a fusion of multiple different outfits.

Billy had chuckled when he saw his sister's reaction. She was just mad 'cause she couldn't have swell duds like this. It hadn't been his fault that she hadn't gotten her stuff done for Ulrich. In just a few days, he'd be seventeen and have access to everything as well! That'd be really awesome! He knew he'd be stuck inside for a good long time soon, so he spent what time he could in the gardens, avoiding the new first years, and seeing if he could find Ray. Then made his way into the Hall as close to the last minute as was usual.

When he arrived for the feast, his swagger continued unabated... if not a little rushed. Billy slid into a seat at the Pecari table just before the Headmaster began his speech. He watched with only mild interest as the first years got sorted, Gus was prefect so they were his problem. The head students got announced and he was mildly surprised, but one of the people he voted for got it, so that was good. Probably, he wasn't really sure what all they were actually supposed to do. Hopefully he wouldn't have to deal with that next year.

Then the new prefect got called up and he groaned probably a bit more loudly than he should have. How did his sister get prefect? Now she was going to make his life a nightmare. Why him? He did perk back up at the mention of the bonfire, that would be awesome! The song music showed up and he belted it out like usual. No one had ever told him that he was a good singer, and they couldn't tell him to stop singing this, so that made it fun!

Finally the food showed up and Billy began scooping things onto his plate. He dug in for a moment before not being able to contain himself. "Can you believe that?" He asked his neighbor, "Iris got prefect, why does everything bad have to happen to me?"

2 Billy Cobb Something a little different 1519 0 5

Tommy Jamison

December 10, 2022 8:04 PM

Indeed. by Tommy Jamison

It was weird, coming back to a school without Theo. Tommy knew last year that it was Theo’s last, but it had never really felt real. He was sure Stanley and Wally would be sad about it too, when the excitement of their little sister had at least slightly worn off, but Tommy didn’t have that luxury. He was happy for Charlotte, of course, but it wasn’t really the same thing. Their little gang felt incomplete now, with a smiley, feely, important gap over at the Pecari table.

And speaking of, Tommy’s eyes flashed now between that table at Crotalus when the Head Students announcement rang out. It was obvious how much Wally wanted this, and it was sure to be an issue later (which, like most of the O’Malley boys’ issues, would be something their dear uncle Tommy would have to deal with), but he supposed it was good at least that Stanley hadn’t won either. Actually, Stanley hadn’t even made the ballot, so in that way, Wally had won? But he didn’t think that answer would help the Crotalus accept his defeat any more easily. And that was fair.

He thought Phillipe seemed nice enough, although the two Teppenpaw boys had never been especially close, and he was definitely glad for Lavender. Tommy had voted for her - she was a mutual relative to the boys and someone he had sorta grown up with too.

It was only then that it really occurred to him that next year, his class’s names would be on the ballot. Tommy hoped he would win - he didn’t get Prefect, sure, but if nothing else, he was pretty dang good at peer mediation. It seemed doable, too, since Rosalynn could probably get her friends to vote for him too. That was a while off yet, though, and he didn’t want to spend too much thought or energy on next year, since after Stanley and Wally left this year, he’d be pretty low in the friends department.

Headmaster Brockert then mentioned a bonfire, which sounded interesting, and the song came and went uneventfully thereafter. As usual, Tommy only took a few small items for his plate - he wasn’t especially hungry, with his internal rhythms needing a bit longer to adjust to the American time schedule. But he heard a voice beside him inquire as to how he was, and he realized it was ~~Stanley’s~~ Wally’s girlfriend, Valentine. Another person who hadn’t won Head Student, which was a bit of a surprise really. “I’m good,” he answered honestly. Tommy was pretty good at reading people, and though he had a feeling that he already knew the answer, he asked anyway, “How about you?”

12 Tommy Jamison Indeed. 1518 0 5

Lorena Abernathy

December 10, 2022 8:17 PM

Here we go again! by Lorena Abernathy

So in the magical world, the big age was seventeen. That was when you were officially an adult. In the muggle world, it was eighteen, but there were still some cool milestones you got to do when you hit sixteen, too. Like driving a car. Lorena had been super excited to get to do that. It was a nice muggle thing she could bond with her mother over. As she had gotten older, she found more things she could talk to Mom about. Mom still had some reservations about magic, but they could practice driving in the high school parking lot and talk about boys, and it was nice to feel like Mom was her mom again. There was, of course, still a special, preferential place in her heart for her dad, but she had room in there for both of her parents.

She tucked her recently acquired driver’s license in the top drawer of her dresser and was grateful for the opportunity, however brief it may have ended up, to start catching up with her roommates. Isla and Rosalynn were always the best part of coming back to Sonora, aside from of course the magic. She couldn’t wait for one more birthday to be able to do magic at home, even if it had to be not around her mom. For now, her worlds felt so separate, but it was always easy to melt back into this one, an unexpected and pleasant change from her earlier childhood experiences that still caught her off guard every year.

She didn’t have much reaction to most of the Opening Feast this year - she didn’t know any first years, and while the people she voted for had not been awarded the Head Student badges, she hadn’t felt strongly enough about her choices to be too deeply upset by it. Then Headmaster Brockert mentioned a bonfire, and they sang the song in relative disarray. That was part of the charm, Lorena felt. It was organized, cozy chaos.

The food began to appear on the tables, and Lorena started filling her plate with all the goodies near her. “Hey, can you pass me that when you’re done?” she asked a neighbor, indicating the main dish in their hand.

12 Lorena Abernathy Here we go again! 1510 0 5

Oz Spellman

December 10, 2022 9:20 PM

Same as ever by Oz Spellman

Mom knew. Mom had always known. Since their conversation "about Henry" a year and a half ago. But, Oz consoled himself, she was his mom. It was her job to notice stuff, and she knew him better than anyone except Henry. It didn't mean that other people knew.

Even if he had disappeared into the gardens with Xavier as soon as they both arrived - that was just a normal friend thing to do. And even if they were squeaking into the hall together, with seconds to spare - that was just a normal Pecari thing to do. And even if Xavier had a quite visible hickey that was only mostly hidden by his robes - that was... that was not visible to everyone, and he could have got it over the summer, and half the little kids and some of the more prudish kids their own age probably didn't know what it was anyway.

Given that they were late, he couldn't take the seat next to Xavier, thus hiding his hickey side from an onlooker. There was space next to where Billy was sliding into his seat, so Oz went to join him, taking comfort in the fact that Billy was amongst the most oblivious people he knew.

The announcements washed over Oz as he let his pounding adrenaline from the run to the hall cool off. The one thing that caught his attention was the prefect being Not Xavier. He threw a quick glance his way, and was surprised to see that he looked disappointed, although he quickly hid it under a thin smile and applause for Alexei. Oz tried to throw him a sympathetic 'probably for the best' look, wondering why he was so surprised or caught up on it. Being a prefect wasn't exactly compatible with a life of lifting potions ingredients (not that the staff knew about that) but it was a shackle that tied you to being on your best behaviour. And the side that Oz saw of Xavier most often suggested he had a limited interest in being on best behaviour.

After that, the food appeared, and Oz made a grab for some ribs and a lamb chop, still unable to believe he had access to foods like that in general, let alone in the same meal.

"If she makes your life hell as a prefect, can't you get back at her during the holidays? You don't have that kind of leverage with anyone else," Oz pointed out, when Billy complained about Iris getting prefect. He got that it could go either way - with all the baggage of being a sibling, it could make it worse, but there had to be a way for Billy to play it as an advantage instead. Not that Oz knew from personal experience. His whole life goal was to not drag Henry down, and the last thing he wanted was to put him in a position where he had to choose between brotherly loyalty and perfectly integrity. The nights that Henry was on duty, Oz tried to be on his absolute best behaviour, or confine himself to Pecari (which wasn't hard, seeing as Henry was the only person he hung out with outside of his house anyway). "It's hard to believe it'll be us getting head student next year. Well not us," he gestured at himself and Billy, "but like, us." He gestured more broadly at the hall. "You'll vote for Henry, yeah?" he checked. Henry might not have seemed like he would want the attention side of the job, but Oz knew he'd want the recognition of being thought a good responsible human. And of his peers. And he was a good, responsible human, so it made total sense for everyone to vote for him.

13 Oz Spellman Same as ever 1514 0 5

Lyla Holland

December 10, 2022 11:36 PM

Is there anything I can do to help? by Lyla Holland

It hadn't taken Lyla long to settle in; she had been on a mission to reach her dormitory before Samara. She speed-walked as fast as she could without technically running up the stairs to the Crotalus Commons. She quickly arranged the packages on Samara's bed, a secret that Lyla had been bursting at the seams to tell.

She'd finally convinced her mom to teach her how to bake the chocolate-peanut-butter swirl cookies! In doing so, she'd learned the reason why they were a twice-a-year special treat. They were a pain! The mixing and the refrigerating and the rolling of the two flavors together...the first batch she had made crumbled in her hands. The second batch had been burnt when Lyla got distracted by the book she was reading- Inkheart, the first in a trilogy about a girl and her father saving the world. Around the time the villain was burning it down, Lyla smelled her cookies, also burning it down.

It had been a frustrating road to say the least, but it was a labor of love, and Lyla's determination won out in the end. Laying on Samara's bedspread, wrapped in pretty Crotalus colors, were the first batch of absolutely perfect chocolate peanut butter swirls. Lyla just hoped that they had survived the trip alright. She could hardly wait for the feast to end so she and Samara could crack into them!

As per usual, Lyla arrived to Cascade Hall early, as one of the first students to walk in. While she waited, she watched the other students filter in, trying to remember everyone's names. Most of the younger students she already knew from classes, but the older students, with the exception of the ones that had been on her team for the Challenges last year, were less familiar.

Once everyone had been seated, the Sorting of the first years commenced, with Lyla noting two new Crotali, although one of them seemed pretty unwilling to come down to the table. She tried her best to tuck their names into her brain along with all the others.

As the reluctant Crotalus finally made his way down, Lyla noticed him aiming for the seat next to her. Remembering how scared and anxious she had been last year, she gave him a warm smile. In return, the first year blurted out about Nicholas being sorted somewhere else. Before Lyla could respond, he introduced himself, in a very formal way.

"Um. I'm Lyla Holland, of the..." she actually didn't know where she was from, technically speaking. They'd moved cross country multiple times since she was born. Was she supposed to specify where she had started, or where she was now? "...everywhere, I guess, Hollands. We move a lot," she tacked on as an explanation, hoping it wouldn't inspire too many questions. Explaining the Muggle military was a job in itself, and hardly light dinner conversation.

"Is Nicholas your brother, then?" she asked, changing the subject, "You'll still see him loads; all the Houses have classes together."

64 Lyla Holland Is there anything I can do to help? 1559 0 5

Constance Melcher

December 11, 2022 6:08 AM

I have received a shiny! by Constance Melcher

It was only logical that Constance had gotten Prefect. She was a good student even by already elevated Aladren standards, considered herself to be viewed favorably by the staff, and had never once gotten in trouble. Plus, she was really the only option - nothing against Bobby, but she just hadn’t made much of an impression around here, even on Connie, and they had lived together for four years now.

Still, Connie felt her chest swell up with pride, and she absolutely beamed from the moment she stood, through the pinning ceremony, and back to her seat. Just because it was anticipated and well-deserved did not mean it was any less of an honor or accomplishment, and she knew her parents were going to be proud of her. As she returned to her seat, she sent a happy grin in the direction of the staff table, hoping specifically to catch the eye of her Head of House, Professor Wright, whom she considered chief among her favorite people here. He always had such good answers to her many, many questions.

The newly-awarded Prefect was feeling so jovial that she even sang along to the song, which she almost never did, both because it felt foolish and because she wasn’t a very talented singer. As a gifted child, it made her incredibly self-conscious to be bad at something. But in this moment, she was too excited to care.

She was also, to an extent, letting her lean into this excitement to avoid a confrontation with more troubling sentimentality. Her blue eyes felt the urge to dart toward the Pecari table, but she knew that Theo would no longer be present. After the time she had spent with him at the ball and sporadically over time since, Constance had begun to develop… an attachment of sorts. His company was more than adequate. Above average. She had meant to tell him such at the concert, but when she saw him with another girl, she had (perhaps intentionally, as a defense mechanism) formed an interpretation that convinced her she need not continue. So that had been… suboptimal. All of those feelings, however, were for another day, because right now, she had a shiny new badge, and the prospect of another year of academic stimulation before her.

Relatedly, she was hoping to get ahead on her schoolwork this year, so she had brought along the required Charms textbook to read ahead. She scooted back in her seat to maximize the distance between herself and the table, opened her textbook in her lap, and began reading. She had already acquired food that she thought would be most convenient to eat while reading and placed her plate on the edge of the table so she could reach out and facilitate that required process as automatically as possible, without interrupting her reading.

12 Constance Melcher I have received a shiny! 1523 0 5

Lazarus Jareau-Fletcher

December 11, 2022 6:24 AM

More awkward by the day. by Lazarus Jareau-Fletcher

Despite Mom’s constant coos about it, Lazarus hadn’t realized quite how much he had grown over the summer until it was time to pack. Thankfully, he’d done it a few days in advanced, and thankfully, Mom had made him try things on again before putting them away, but there was an unexpected gap between his pants and his ankle that he had not been anticipating, and while capris were a style in themselves (although mostly for women), that was not his intention. He liked to dress as inconspicuously as possible: presentable and erring on business casual.

He was again reminded of his added inches as he arrived and took his place among the Aladren table. The perspective felt all wrong, and everything looked so much lower. Indeed, his eye level must have raised considerably, or so it felt. His limbs felt long and awkward, too, and with a sigh, he realized this was just the latest symptom of puberty, and he was in for a long, Awkward year. And Awkward for the silent kid who communicated through a book was already a level of its own. Hence the capitalization.

Though already fourteen, this was only the beginning of this third year, but he still couldn’t help but look ahead and wonder about the Prefect selection two years from now. He thought it would be something for his parents to be proud of, and something cool to show to his little brother, who would be a first year at that time. But he wasn’t sure how likely it really was - he hadn’t made much of an impression around here and kept mostly to himself. Plus, Gwendolyn seemed like a pretty deserving candidate as far as he could tell, and she had a last name that seemed to pop up a lot around here, so his odds were probably not stellar.

Lazlo felt both glad and a bit excluded by the annual school song: glad to not have to sing in public, but excluded because he really couldn’t have even if he did want to. It occurred to him that he could try to take up some kind of portable instrument and play the notes along, but that seemed like a lot of work for a tradition that lasted for thirty seconds, once a year.

He gave his full attention to the meal ahead after that, not realizing quite how hungry he was until the food appeared and his stomach gave an audible growl in response. He began loading up his plate and caught the eye of a neighbor who seemed to be looking at the main dish he was holding. Lazarus raised his eyebrow and gave a slight forward gesture, indicating that he would pass it to them if they wanted it.

12 Lazarus Jareau-Fletcher More awkward by the day. 1548 0 5

Misty Brockert

December 11, 2022 6:41 AM

My very first day! :D by Misty Brockert

Misty took point for the first year group mass, hot on the Professor’s heels as they were led to the Cascade Hall. Between stories she had heard from her dad, Gwendolyn, and so many other family members who had walked these halls, plus the combined knowledge acquired through Orientation, she felt positively… oriented!

She was among the very first to dunk her badge, and she closed her eyes tight in eager expectation as the color change process began. After a moment, she finally opened her eyes and… oh, huh. It was brown. So she was a Pecari? That was unexpected. Her dad had been a Crotalus, and Gwendolyn was in Aladren. She wasn’t sure that she really thought she’d go to either of those, although both were pretty good places to be. Somehow, though, she didn’t really see this coming. Misty wasn’t sure what she expected, though, so she guessed any result might have elicited this response. She shrugged to herself and skipped off to the Pecari table.

She didn’t know any of the older kids yet, so the Head Student and Prefect announcement didn’t make much impression on her, although she did notice that the Head Girl was also a Brockert, so they were probably related somehow. Dad had a lot of siblings, and their extended family was also pretty darn huge, so she lost track pretty easily about who her cousins were and how. Mama’s family wasn’t exactly simple either, but it was at least smaller, and since most of them were all the way in China, they didn’t see them as much.

Misty tried her best to sing along, but she wasn’t very good at sight-reading music. Maybe by next year she’d have a better grip on it - or she could ask Gwendolyn for help, yay! - but for now, it was a bit of a mess. An enthusiastic mess, but a mess all the same. The first year still enjoyed herself, though, and as it finished, she giggled to a neighbor, “Gee, this is fun!”

12 Misty Brockert My very first day! :D 1567 0 5

Iris Cobb

December 11, 2022 12:16 PM

It's time to get to work by Iris Cobb

Iris spent the entirety of the wagon ride to the school doing her best to read her book and ignore her brother. Neither was particularly easy, but she prevailed for the most part. Reading was not something she did regularly or for fun. This had to be done though, and she was on a severe time limit. The book however would not get her where she needed to be, she would need more, and she was going to need help. Iris had never liked asking for help, she liked to be able to do things on her own. Favors and debts needed to be paid back, and she was already deep in the hole with Amethyst already. But if she didn't get this done, she would never be able to pay back her friend.

Once they arrived at the school, she made her way to her room to make sure everything had arrived alright. There wasn't anything there that she didn't normally bring save for two other books, which she wasn't looking forward to trying to read either. History and genealogy could be fun and interesting, but under these conditions it was way more like work. Plus the books were old, disorganized and written in a terrible script that was nearly impossible to decipher. Still, she killed the time between arrival and the feast attempting to make progress. She did not say anything yet to her roommate, as she wanted to get as far along as she could before dragging Amethyst into the it. It was her task, and she wasn't going to pawn off any more of it on someone else than she had to.

The time for the feast rolled around and Iris prepped herself for the event. Thankfully, as always school robes were required so that she didn't have to worry about her clothing. She did try to make her hair look nice, although it was as uncooperative as usual. She arrived in the hall at the appropriate time, just a few minutes early and found a seat at the Crotalus table facing away from the Pecari table. It did not escape her that her year group was the one for prefect selections this year. She wasn't counting on getting it when Amethyst and Winston were options. Mostly Amethyst.

She watched the new first years get sorted, and here seemed to be a mild disruption during the process as one of her new housemates waited to see where his brother would go. He looked a bit distraught when his brother went to Aladren. She couldn't blame him entirely, Aladren was a strange house, at least he'd been fortunate enough to get into Crotalus. He should be glad at least it wasn't Pecari. Having a brother in Pecari was a terrible fate for anyone.

Then the headmaster called her name along with some others to come forward? But this was when he normally announced... Oh. Iris stood and went to the front with the others. They handed her a prefect badge and she stared at it confused for a moment. How? Still she smiled and returned to her seat feeling just a little bit giddy. For some reason the staff thought she was doing well enough to appoint her prefect.

The song sheets arrived and she sang along because she was supposed to and set a good example as a prefect. Then the food appeared and she put some green beans, potatoes and chicken on her plate. The food smelled wonderful and she really hoped this year would go well, so far it was off to a pretty good start. All she had to do now was to get her assignment from Ulrich done, and find some time to pry Liesl away from Hansel. Oh, and pass her CATS.

2 Iris Cobb It's time to get to work 1526 0 5

Valentine Duell

December 11, 2022 1:34 PM

Such is life? by Valentine Duell

Tommy was good. That was good. Then of course he asked how she was. She honestly didn't know. "I'm..." fine? That was a lie. Okay? Conflicted? A terrible person? She couldn't say any of that. "I've had better days. But, I've also had far worse ones." This really wasn't that big of a deal, her brain kept trying to convince her heart, but it wasn't in the mood to listen. She poked at the food on her plate without eating any of it. Tommy was nice, he'd probably get head student next year. She gave him a slightly forced smile.

"Half of the people I voted for won." She shot a quick glance over at the Crotalus table. Both of the people she voted for were sitting there. Val really, really wanted to be more sad over the fact that Wally hadn't won than she hadn't. If her heart didn't want to be happy right now, maybe she could at least convince it not to be so terribly self-centered. It wasn't ideal, because that meant if Wally had won, than either Philippe or Lavender wouldn't have and she'd have to be sad for them. They at least had gotten prefect though, as had she. Wally hadn't. Her heart seemed to relent on that front at least and her forced smile took on a more genuine if sad look.

There was a reason she had talked to Tommy after all. "What can we do for him?" She asked, knowing full well that Tommy would know who she was talking about. "I thought I might try and catch him outside the hall after the feast." Ordinarily she was good at maintaining eye contact during a conversation, now her eyes darted off to nowhere in particular as she wasn't sure what Tommy might make of her next bit of the plan. "Try to be a good, supportive girlfriend and all." She wasn't herself what all that might actually entail, but she assumed it would mostly be some good hugging and snuggling of comfort, and talking.

"Do you have any other ideas of how we could help him?" She turned her pleading eyes back towards Tommy now. At the end of last year Wally told her that despite what she wanted in her life, he would stick with her. She wasn't about to do less for him.

2 Valentine Duell Such is life? 1490 0 5

Nicholas Pierce

December 11, 2022 3:32 PM

It's all gone wrong. by Nicholas Pierce

Later, Nicholas would recall how sudden the change had been. One moment, he and Alexander had both been, if not giddy with excitement over really, finally, being at the site of a thousand stories, at least as close to giddy with excitement as their dignity allowed and Alexander was therefore capable of being. The next moment, though….

“Oh, no,” Nicholas said, at the exact same moment as his brother and with a similar failure to think of how undiplomatic this remark was when the Head of Crotalus happened to be within easy earshot of them. The encouraging half-smile he’d used to reply to Alexander’s nervous look froze on his face at an odd, no longer very smile-like, angle. He blinked at the object in Alexander’s hand, hoping it would look different when he opened his eyes again, but it didn’t. It just stayed the wrong color.

Alexander was in Crotalus.

Nicholas attempted to think about the problem (because this was definitely a Problem, and a Problem of the first order; this was worse than that time he’d gotten stuck hiding behind a curtain, unable to escape listening to a really dull meeting without being seen, and had stayed stuck that way so long that his absence from where he was supposed to have been had been noticed) rationally. Maybe it wasn’t the end of the world. Okay, so their parents had never seemed to have a terribly high opinion of the two Crotali already on the mountain, but…hadn’t Uncle Isaac and Aunt Rachel both been in Crotalus, too? And, all right, their mother didn’t actually seem to like her brother very much, and they hardly ever saw her sister, but…she didn’t even bother to pretend that she liked Uncle Isaac, which surely meant she probably came closer to actually slightly liking, or at least respecting, him than she did with most people who weren’t Dad, Nicholas, Alexander, Grandmother, or Grandfather? She’d even turned Uncle Isaac into a newt once, you had to be more or less comfortable with someone to turn him into a newt and not expect any repercussions….

Somehow, all these thoughts failed to make him feel any better. He scrambled for better ones. Mr. Princeton! Yeah! Their parents were okay with him. There was a precedent. And - they were still themselves, after all. Their parents had loved them this morning. Something they had no control over should do nothing to change that. That would be irrational. He certainly didn’t suddenly regard his parents as outcaste just because they were Aladrens, and he’d smack Alexander upside the head to get his brain back in the correct position if he did think so, so there was no reason for their parents to be anything other than maybe mildly disappointed about them being Crotali…

If, of course, Nicholas could also get into Crotalus. Which was another problem. Nicholas didn’t think he was the exact, total opposite of everything Crotalus stood for, but he also wasn’t exactly an exemplar of any of those traits. For instance: realizing he’d have to do the next bit on his own made him really wish Alexander would break with proper behavior and not go sit down. This was not a very Crotalus-like thought, because Alexander was supposed to go sit down now -

And yet, Alexander didn’t.

“That’s - um, that’s me,” said Nicholas, pointing to himself to indicate that he was who Alexander was talking about. Rattled, he grabbed Alexander’s hand again, this time for mutual support and in the vague, superstitious hope it would somehow make a difference, and used his free hand to immerse the badge.

Come on, come on, he urged the stuff in the cauldron. I’m a perfectly respectable member of society. I’m a New Hampshire Pierce, that’s a very respectable thing to be. I usually make…some kind of plan before I do things - or at least make an outline of one in my head. I…try to think of what could go wrong and try to avoid it, that’s cautious behavior, right? Come on…

There was a slight throat clearing. His attempt to silently will the potion into doing what he wanted was taking too long. Looking paler than normal as he did, he lifted up the badge again, only to see the result which, sixty seconds earlier, would have been the optimal outcome.

They’d been…separated.

But - how? This couldn’t be right. He and Alexander were twins. They’d been brought up pretty much identically. How could they really be different enough to have ended up in different Houses? Them not being that much different had, he assumed, been the whole point of bringing them up like that!

It felt all wrong, walking alone while someone ushered Alexander in a different direction…and he knew it was only going to get worse from here. When was the last time he’d eaten without Alexander? Snacks didn’t count, and he therefore didn’t remember. The prospect appealed as much as looking down to find that everything required both a fork and a knife and that one of his hands had just disappeared. Alexander was just…there, usually even when they weren’t doing the same thing, the way left and right hands were. It made it worse, too, that today had been going so well right up until now, too - it just emphasized how this was…was…it was all wrong!

Okay. Think. Problem-solving, right? Apparently, I really am the one who’s good at that…except for when I’m not, like that thing when I got stuck behind the drapes and…. Don’t think about that. Not helpful. Neither is thinking about how I’m already failing the ‘independence’ test. There’s a problem. How am I going to solve it?

Usually he could think of something, no matter how stupid that first idea might be…but right now, as he failed to hear a word of the Headmaster’s speech or the school song, nothing was coming to him. He was supposed to be independent and good at solving problems, and an hour ago, he would have agreed with that description. Now, he was failing on both of those fronts. What did that mean? Was Alexander going to start a food fight or something else totally inappropriate any moment now? Were the Teppenpaws going to start hexing each other while the Pecaris hid under their table whenever the staff looked at any point even vaguely close to their table? Did knowing you were supposed to be something make you automatically act as though you were the opposite, or was it just him?

16 Nicholas Pierce It's all gone wrong. 1565 0 5

Nausicaa Scapetello

December 11, 2022 6:58 PM

That's unfortunate, perhaps I can be of assistance. by Nausicaa Scapetello

Nausicaa had quite a bit to think about over the summer after Mother went back home. They had talked at length before she left about plans and tactics and such. In the end, this looked like it was going to be a long and drawn out endeavor if it was going to be successful. The other unfortunate part was that next year she would need to sign up for the ridiculously foolish class, Divinations. It was the only way she would have normal and regular access to Professor Duell. Which meant there wasn't actually much she could actively do to move her plan forward this year. There was preparations to make, and much to learn. That was fine though, she needed information and she wouldn't see this task botched up because she cut corners and didn't prepare well enough while she had the time.

Sadly, going back to school was a little bit of a relief. While the school was downright terrible, it did give her more of a measure of freedom. Plus, she was fairly certain that Uncle Franklin was starting to like Emilia and she wanted no part in that. She also made sure that Emilia knew her thoughts on the topic.

Now that she was back at the school, she was once again trapped inside the horrid school robes. Thankfully Mother had remembered her complaint from the last time she had made the trip and brought her a very nice hair clip. Upon landing, she tapped the hair clip and it rearranged her hair back to the condition it had been in before she had taken off in these infernal wagons. She stayed a moment by the wagons to watch the first years tumble off and follow Professor Wright into the garden. Thankfully she did not need to go along this year. She just needed to listen to the man drone on and on in class.

Nausicaa entered the school with the rest of the students and made her way to the Crotalus commons. She found her things waiting in her room, but not unpacked for her. Again. What was wrong with the elves they had around here? They could bring her things to her room, but not put them away exactly where she wanted them? What use were they? She spent the next forever unpacking her things like a common person. There was another thing to write home about. Why could she not bring Emilia along with her, she just didn't understand it. If the elves weren't going to be any help, she should be able to bring her own. Once that was finally done, she barely had any time to prepare for the opening feast. All of that work had made her absolutely entirely disheveled again. Thankfully Mother's hairclip fixed her hair enough, once she had finished with everything else. Unfortunately it could only hold one hairstyle so she couldn't use it very often. But for tonight it did it's job well.

The second year Aladren then graced the Cascade Hall with her presence. She took a seat at the Aladren table and watched those around her while she patiently waited for the ceremony to begin. Her particular interest was in the first years once they entered the hall. The headmaster began and she watched the sorting ceremony closely. A smile crossed her lips as the new Aladren came over to her table. It widened when one of them sat in one of the empty seats she had made sure stayed open on either side of her. All was going according to plan.

Nausicaa listened as the Headmaster announced the new head students and prefects. She clapped politely, but disapproved that the head students were not Aladrens. Constance Melcher, as the newest prefect, might need to be fit into her plans as well. One step at a time though. There was some mention of a fire and then the song sheets appeared. This was yet another painful aspect of the school, thankfully it didn't last long. Nobody at this school could sing properly and it was painful to listen to the cacophony. She did her best to fix it with her own melodic voice, but it just wasn't enough. Thankfully it was soon over.

The food appeared and Nausicaa ignored it. Instead she turned to the new first year who was next to her. He looked unhappy, she also deduced that from the scene that had happened during the sorting. He was apparently attached to that other kid whom she could only assume he was related to, perhaps brothers, and now he was here without a friend in the world. Well, she could fix that, and get a new minion in the process. She would need minions. Younger kids would be easier to train into that role, and according to Mother, boys were much more easy to train than girls. Especially as they got older.

"Hello," Nausicaa began with a smile she certainly thought was a friendly one, "Congratulations and welcome to Aladren." She toyed with disparaging the other houses, but if he was to closely attached to his associate in one of those houses, it may not go over well. Instead she just jumped straight to introductions, "I'm Nausicaa Scapetello of the Ravenna Scapetellos in Italy." There weren't really other Scapetellos around, but that was the American format and something they would be more used to. She made sure to accentuate her Italian accent as much as she could without compromising understandably. "Let me know if I can be of any assistance, I would be glad to help." She did her best to keep any sort of predatory look from her expression.

2 Nausicaa Scapetello That's unfortunate, perhaps I can be of assistance. 1561 0 5

Xarryn Bavol

December 11, 2022 7:06 PM

It's exciting, isn't it? by Xarryn Bavol

Xarryn was excited for his second year at Sonora. His first had been quite interesting with the team challenges offering a chance at fame and fortune. His team sadly hadn't found any, having taken second to last place, so no trophies and no eternal recognition in the Sonora awards room, but it had been fun anyway. He understood that was a once in a school cycle occurrence so it would not be repeating this year, or any other year he attended, but he was hopeful something else interesting would happen.

He'd found an adventure group who, while they didn't actually sword fight, they at least rolled dice to pretend to sword fight? It was a little weird, but he enjoyed it. And Leviosa would actually sword fight with him, so that was cool. And the classes were usually tons more interesting than the reading and writing and math Dad kept trying to get him to work on, though there was an annoying amount of that required as well. It was just mitigated with casting spells and brewing potions and meeting real life creatures (besides the rats and parrot he did get to see on his dad's ship - the parrot was there on purpose, the rats less so but they were historically accurate so Dad didn't try too hard to eradicate them, just minimize their harm).

He did miss sailing and the crew and especially Dad while he was here, but it was nice being around other kids, and being allowed to use the magic he was learning how to harness. (Not that he had completely followed those rules, but there were no muggles so the statute of secrecy wasn't an issue and it was the middle of the Pacific in international waters so who even had the authority to enforce underage magic laws out there?)

Not having any roommates, he headed down for the feast early to seek some company, and took a tour around the Cascade Hall to see if he could find any of his teammates to say hi and catch up with to before setting down at the Pecari table shortly before the first years arrived with Professor Wright. A few new ones sorted into Pecari and he smiled in a well practiced welcoming manner at the one who sat down nearest to him (he'd worked in tourism since birth, he was very good at welcoming manners).

None of the people from his team earned the badges the Headmaster handed out, which meant he didn't really know any of the ones who did, though Philippe was at least in gaming club with him. He applauded for Alexei anyway out of House Solidarity.

The other announcements were short and raised more questions than they answered, but Xarryn had come to expect this from Headmaster Brockert. He'd emulated it a few times this summer with the passengers: mention something of obvious import so briefly that it causes confusion rather than clarification, and the listeners do get more invested in it than if you explained it clearly from the start. It was a clever bit of psychology and Xarryn was impressed. You had to be careful about the implementation though, or it could cause annoyance rather than curiosity. It was a balance not even Headmaster Brockert always seemed to hit exactly right, but Xarryn was in a good mood this evening and was willing to wait for some details at a later date and just wonder what a magical bonfire would entail in the meantime.

The school song page appeared in front of him, and Xarryn cheerfully sang along, and he grinned at the new girl who was giving it a solid go as well.

"It is fun!" he agreed positively. "I'm Xarryn. Welcome to Pecari! We're the fun House!"

1 Xarryn Bavol It's exciting, isn't it? 1560 0 5

Grayson Wright

December 11, 2022 8:44 PM

Here's to a new year. by Grayson Wright

Another year, another Welcoming Feast…reached, at least. There was no reason to think that anything would go wrong during it, though, and so it was with a certain sense of accomplishment that Gray handed the first years off to Selina and took his seat at the high table. It was as good as done and done successfully, and so he could make a mark in the column against the idea that he simply wasn’t up to doing his job(s) anymore.

Naturally, during the Sorting, there was an incident, and half of the incident was Sorted into Aladren. Even more naturally, the other half of the incident had gone to Selina only moments earlier – that kid, in fact, was why it was obvious there was an incident, since he didn’t move on after his Sorting. Those Pierce twins, he thought; that was always a potential source of trouble, family members being Sorted either together or apart, depending on how they felt about each other….

Still, it might be nothing, or at least rapidly become nothing. If it was not, then it was also likely enough that the majority of the problem would be Selina’s; one of the arguments he’d made when the Healers had insisted he’d kept getting sick last year because he was over-stressed was that being Head of Aladren was hardly a burdensome assignment. His charges had their general reluctance to make use of the support staff written into the official school literature, after all, or came close enough. And even if it was a mutual problem, well, he and Selina were accustomed to working together on special cases by now.

The Head Students and prefects were issued their badges of office (he smiled and nodded approvingly when he saw Constance looking toward him, seeking approval or attention as she so often did) and then the Feast began. With only moderate reluctance, he took care to assemble a particularly nutritionally correct plate. The food would be good, of course – the elves were always good cooks, and they seemed to pull out all the stops for Feasts – and it was all dishes he actually liked; he supposed that he just didn’t like the thought of thinking about the health value of food at a feast, and while his boss was copiously indulging in steak and bourbon a few seats down. But health food was supposed to somehow reduce his stress level, and that, supposedly, was why he hadn’t been able to shake a cough for most of the spring. He was willing to try much of anything, short of tossing all dignity to the wind and jogging in public, that might fix that situation, even if he rather suspected it had a lot less to do with how much he worked and what he ate than with…things back home.

“Happy new year,” he remarked to his neighbor as the students all started talking to each other. It was, of course, September, but from their point of view...well, it was certainly more of a beginnings-and-endings day than January 1st was, when one ran one's entire life along the schedule of a school. And it was good to think of a clean slate - perhaps he could adjust the 'Professor Wright' persona in ways that would make it easier to work with, or nobody would blow anything up all term, or...the possibilities were endless! Best to concentrate on the positive ones while he could.

16 Grayson Wright Here's to a new year. 113 0 5

Nicholas Pierce

December 12, 2022 11:49 AM

Unfortunately, I doubt it. by Nicholas Pierce

Nicholas shook his head a little to dispel the images of everyone behaving backward to their House traits. This line of thinking was not yielding any useful results. In his mood right now, at least, the thoughts produced weren’t even entertaining, so they really were just…useless, from first to last. He needed to refocus - find another angle. If he could just loosen up his mind a little, then he’d….

…notice some girl in the next chair, who seemed to be talking to him?

He noted the name, which didn’t seem familiar to him. They were supposed to tell their parents all about who they met and what they were like, something that Nicholas (despite having heard often enough that their parents had both met and gotten engaged at Sonora Feasts, thus starting and finishing their time here on significant notes) attributed only to them being concerned about him and his brother settling in well; adding a second name to his list made him suppose those letters were going to be more interesting than anticipated, or at least longer than expected. He’d met Ida Stanford and a second year, and was going, it seemed, to meet that guy Alexander had been talking to…his new roommate. Just his, though -

No, not thinking about that. Not thinking about how I am pretty sure I have never slept in a different room than Alexander, or how on Earth we’re ever supposed to have any time to ourselves, with this House thing and these other people. Not thinking about that…But Merlin’s beard, what are we going to do? It would have been bad enough just having a new person with us both!

At home, someone always seemed to be watching…except in their room. In theory, of course, those same watchers could waltz into their room with impunity - but as a rule, they didn’t, except when they were expected ahead of time. Even Mother - maybe because sometimes, rarely, she appeared to need the same thing, and even if she didn’t, she’d surely noticed sometime that Father did - seemed to realize they needed somewhere that they could be alone (since the other being there didn’t count as observation), where they didn’t have to be excellent in every area at every time, where they could say things they wouldn’t around their parents. Now, though…they wouldn’t have had very many opportunities for that necessary propriety-dropping time even if they’d been together. Since they were apart, though - !

No! Not thinking about that!

“Thank you,” he said politely. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Nicholas Pierce, New Hampshire Pierces. So - you’ve been here a while? What’s it like in Aladren? Or at school, just, in general, even?”

16 Nicholas Pierce Unfortunately, I doubt it. 1565 0 5

Tommy Jamison

December 12, 2022 5:22 PM

Sometimes, yeah. by Tommy Jamison

Teppenpaw students are known to be kind and caring. They are interested in the personal development of themselves and others and they believe in friendly cooperation.

That was Val. She was sad, and though she said half the people she voted for had won - and the other half was pretty obvious - Tommy had an intuitive feeling that there was more sadness there still. The plain fact was, everybody wanted to be Head Student, whether they realized it or not. It was work, sure, but it was a really cool honor to receive, to know the staff and students alike trusted and relied on you. Valentine had voted for her friend, but there was another part there. The sadness would never win out over her kindness, though, so she focused her energy instead on Wally.

The Teppenpaws are the diplomats of Sonora Academy.

And that was Tommy: a diplomat. The peacekeeper, voice of reason, and guiding positive force of the boys for essentially their entire lives. He was the leader. Stanley fancied himself to be in charge, but the boys did what Tommy said, whether they agreed or not. Maybe it was an unspoken result of their relationship. Stanley and Wally were older, but Tommy was still technically their uncle, and there came some authority with permission to first-name your peers’ mom. But Tommy did well with this power, and everyone knew it. Tommy was a good kid.

“I think he’ll be okay, eventually,” Tommy said knowingly but slowly. “At least Stanley didn’t win.” He laughed a little, hoping the joke was well-met. Stanley hadn’t even made the ballot. He did well enough as Prefect, but Tommy didn’t really think anyone had been surprised by his absence. “All you two have to do… is take care of each other,” he added, a little brighter tone to his voice. Despite all of the whatever else, Valentine and Wally really did seem good together. Tommy knew that Wally cared so deeply about her, and had for so long. After his now five-year relationship with Rosalynn, Tommy fancied himself something of a guru in that respect as well.

12 Tommy Jamison Sometimes, yeah. 1518 0 5

Misty Brockert

December 12, 2022 5:39 PM

The best! by Misty Brockert

Oooooooh, Xarryn. That was a cool name, and the boy it went too seemed pretty nice, and cute too! She paused briefly at his welcome, though; “fun” wasn’t really the way most of her immediate family would have described it. Her family tended more toward Crotalus types, like her dad, or Aladren types, like her sister. There were definitely relatives who had been in that House - because really, where hadn’t her relatives been around this place? - but seemingly something of a minority.

Still, she did feel reassured by his enthusiasm, and she matched his energy cheerfully. “Thanks!” she beamed back. “I’m Misty!” The first year knew she was supposed to give her formal introduction to new people - Misty Brockert, of the yada yada - but Xarryn hadn’t said all that, so she didn’t want to make him feel under-prepared. Plus, they were the fun house! This was supposed to be fun, not formal!

“Are you a second year?” she asked with genuine interest. He seemed close to her age, but she didn’t remember him at Orientation earlier. “What is your absolute favorite thing about Sonora?” She had already heard lots about it pretty much all her life, but she was always very curious for a brand new perspective! It was like a good twirl on her skates: always new and exciting, wherever you ended up!

12 Misty Brockert The best! 1567 0 5

Billy Cobb

December 12, 2022 5:58 PM

Feel like some change? by Billy Cobb

Billy almost laughed at Oz's solution. "Naw, well sure I guess I could..." he stretched that word out quite a bit. "But, if she's gunna be a pain about it, it's because I already did." He grinned at his roommate. He figured he was relatively safe from Iris for the time being to big of a pain at the moment. She had other things to worry about, as long as he didn't do anything to stupid. He just had to see how long he could go without attracting her ire.

"What?" He asked Oz in mock surprise, "You don't think we'd make for good head students?" He did his best to look offended while trying not to smile to much. "Sure. Henry'd probably be good at it. Can't really think of anyone better in our year anyway." He grinned, "Should I vote fer you as well?" Unless he could think of someone better by then, he probably would anyway. He didn't want the job after all.

"Anyway," Billy continued, lowering his voice. "I brought that stuff you'll need if you think you still want to go through with it?" He raised a questioning, eyebrow as if he was daring Oz to back down. "We may have some time tonight while Gus is still stuck doing prefecting things to get you started." He paused then as if a thought had occurred to him. Which they did on occasion. "I was wondering if you, me, Henry and Iris all wanted to discuss things, but with her as a prefect now. Maybe we'd better not."

2 Billy Cobb Feel like some change? 1519 0 5

Katey Willow

December 12, 2022 5:59 PM

Sounds like a holiday to me. by Katey Willow

Katey had worked very hard over the last few years. Her inclination was to credit Killian or Mary or Selina or Isis or her therapist or anyone else other than herself, but at the end of the day, she was the one who had to put in the work. That was something she reminded herself often. You work hard, and you deserve good things.

So she was doing better.

Perhaps being a little older helped as well. She was surprised by how different she felt now compared to when she first came to Sonora. There was something intrinsically isolating about being a prodigy - sure, she had her degree and medical licensing completed early, but emotionally, she was still so young. But now, having crossed into her thirties, she felt more… complete.

Patient stable.

Katey never really left Sonora when she could help it, so the emptiness of summers was always a bit startling. She was glad to see the influx of student arrivals, for what time she spent around to watch it. Mostly, she kept to the infirmary at times like these, just in case someone takes a wrong step off a wagon or otherwise wants to start the year off with some excitement, but when it seemed dullest, she would occasionally take a brief stroll to watch the reunions take place.

Still, she did always arrive just before the Opening Feast began, dressed as usual with an open lab coat over a colorful dress. This one was pastel colors and went nicely with the beige flats she wore, in her opinion. Katelyn seated herself in the open chair next to Professor Wright, and she was pleased when he started conversation with her as the Headmaster finished his introductions. She had always liked him, and sensed a sort of underrated warmth within him. “Happy new year,” she returned with a bit of a laugh. “Any resolutions for the year?”

12 Katey Willow Sounds like a holiday to me. 1505 0 5

Alexander Pierce

December 12, 2022 6:21 PM

Unlikely. by Alexander Pierce

The girl introduced herself as Lyla Holland of the everywhere Hollands, which he took, along with the untamed wildness of her hair, to mean she wasn't a society pureblood. That was fine. She probably wouldn't be able to help him take over the world or anything, but his parents didn't have anything against conversing in a friendly manner with the less fortunate, so he smiled politely at the mild humor in her answer.

The smile fell away quickly though when she addressed his initial faux pas. Nicholas was still in Aladren. He was still in Crotalus. Alexander looked across the room to see his brother, too, was talking to a very slightly older girl in his House. At least they were still mirroring each other. First they'd picked people to talk to at Orientation who would end up being the other's housemates, and now they were both getting consoled, sort of, by older girls.

He nodded in answer to Lyla's question. "Nicholas is my twin. We've never been apart before. We shared a room even in the womb. It's going to be so strange having him live in a whole other House." He looked at his empty plate and decided he should put something on it. He looked around and spotted a dish that reminded him of home and took a little bit. He wasn't particularly hungry right now, but he was sure not eating would only make things worse.

"I'm glad to know we're all in the same classes though." By the schedule, it looked like those took up most of the day, so there would be plenty of time to be with Nicholas doing lessons, just like at home. "Outside of Feasts, seating for meals is pretty loose, too, right?" It was common for people to continue sitting at their own House tables, he knew, because a fair number of Dad's stories took place specifically at the Aladren table, but some of those had occasionally included people from other Houses, most often Crotalus.

1 Alexander Pierce Unlikely. 1566 0 5

Isis Carter-Xavier

December 12, 2022 6:21 PM

Time marches on. by Isis Carter-Xavier

Somehow, the Xaviers were now in close enough proximity to begin counting down. How many more years until their own children were among those led in by their coworkers (or even by Nathan, since there were some years where he had done the Orientation instead of Grayson) to be Sorted and placed fully among the student body, integrated and whole and too darn grown? The answer was a startling “two”. Isis could hardly believe it. Otto was now five years old, Dora was nine, and Nevaeh… well, Isis tried to avoid thinking about how close her firstborn was to entering her thirties. It just all seemed impossible.

And yet here they were. Isis had never pictured herself as the motherly type - she certainly hadn’t been to Nevaeh, and she struggled so hard when Dora was born - but the years of students had not gone without their effect on her. Truly, she had softened. Some students more than others (and one in particular) had melted her down to a gentler woman. Still not going to take any lip, mind you, but gentler all the same.

At least she got to do it all with her husband. That was a marked improvement from prior experience with children. Nathan really was an amazing dad, and he put up with Isis’s mother like an absolute champ, so Isis knew she was pretty lucky.

She even got to go to the Feast with him. How convenient it was to marry a coworker. There was always a bit of pride she felt, sitting there at the staff table before the students, a mismatched pair as they looked to be, to then conclude the Feast by separating to round up their respective first years. Half of the students here got to say they had a Professor Xavier as their Head of House. That was always fun.

“So it’s a bonfire year again, huh?” Isis commented idly to the nearest member of their table after the song had concluded. She never sang, but she did about the best lip sync one as likely to see. “Wonder what sort of twist they’ll throw on it this year.”

12 Isis Carter-Xavier Time marches on. 31 0 5

Osvaldo Alamilla

December 12, 2022 6:34 PM

It does indeed, when will the madness stop? by Osvaldo Alamilla

Osvaldo had been working at the school long enough now to know how the patterns went. He knew what was coming and he was already unhappy. Unsurprisingly, the Headmaster announced the bonfire at the end of the school year again. He had the utmost respect for Headmaster Brockert, the man was sensible and practical. So he could not understand why the man kept allowing the perfectly groomed Quidditch pitch get set on fire every four years.

It wasn't just the fire though. The whole pitch was also covered in tents, which meant holes all over the place to be found and patched up. It usually took him most of the summer just to get the pitch back to normal again. Plus there was also the 'fraternization' problem the came up every time as well. In his opinion the bonfire was the worst of the events.

The others had their flaws naturally. The concert needed everything spotless from top to bottom for the visiting families. The fair was hit or miss, it was fine when it was offsite at Tumbleweed, but when it was on school grounds it was nearly as big of a mess as the bonfire. The ball was the best in his opinion. It was at least the least amount of work for him to clean up afterwards.

Osvaldo was about to dig into his meal when his eyes drifted over the students all out there eating, talking and being children. He recalculated the math in his head again. It didn't take long, but he came to the same realization again. Next year Edu would be among those children. That couldn't be right, but it was.

Then Professor Carter-Xavier made a comment next to him. One of those inane 'let's make conversation' comments. Not one he really wanted to talk about either. "It is," he responded a bit dryly. "Perhaps this year as a twist, we could have the students clean up the mess it makes." Osvaldo was not one for social niceties, but even he realized it sounded rather harsh as he said it. Manola would just slap him lightly on the arm and tell him to 'lighten up'. But they had a relationship. So he attempted his very best 'ha ha I'm being funny' smile. It did not get practiced often.

Perhaps he could distract her with a different topic of conversation. "I just realized that next year Edu will be among the students out there. Yours is close to that age as well?"

2 Osvaldo Alamilla It does indeed, when will the madness stop? 1503 0 5

Isis Carter-Xavier

December 12, 2022 6:47 PM

I don't think it does. by Isis Carter-Xavier

It had not occurred to Isis that the person she engaged would be the person most unhappy to think about the bonfire. Osvaldo wasn’t entirely unpleasant, but he was particular. He took pride in his work, which was respectable. Nathan was particular about that sort of thing too, albeit in a less grumpy way. Nathan was a big teddy bear, where Osvaldo was… probably a teddy bear too, if she were to really get to know him, but maybe one filled with rocks instead of fluff.

Still, she offered a smile, which, while not seeming altogether the most natural, did at least transition into an out. The new topic was one she had already given painstaking thought to, but at least it was an easy thing for parents to talk about. “Wow, Edu’s that big already?” she said with surprise. “Dora’s got two years yet, but it’s definitely closer than I’d like to think.”

“We’re fortunate that we get to be a lot closer than any of the other students’ parents,” she admitted, “but it’s still so hard to think about. And I wonder which House they’ll end up in. My guess for Dora is that she’s coming with me. She has a habit of wandering off or getting into things.” Isis laughed. “What about Edu? Any Sorting predictions?”

12 Isis Carter-Xavier I don't think it does. 31 0 5

Donovan Peters

December 12, 2022 7:29 PM

Here we go! by Donovan Peters

As the professor led the first-years through the school, Donovan could sense the magic seeping from every stone; it made the hairs on his arms stand up. He wondered if it was something he would get used to over time, or if it would always feel this...special.

Once the Sorting had commenced, Donovan realized that he may not be sharing a dorm with Leo, after all. They were like two sides of a coin, although Leo was definitely heads, and Donovan was definitely tails. He hadn't been paying attention when they'd explained about the different houses, though, so he wasn't sure what the fault lines were for splitting the kids up. Shrugging it off, he dipped his badge. Brown, that was...Piccadilly? Pecking...Woodpecker. No, that wasn't it. Donovan pressed his lips together and allowed himself to be led to his table. He'd figure out the rest later.

As soon as everyone had settled, and Leo had indeed ended up in a different House, food began to appear on the table in droves. All of it looked much better than any of his mom's "Casserole Surprise" dinners, and he worked to fill his plate, careful to not let the different foods touch.

"Could you pass the chicken?" he asked the student next to him, "That looks awesome!"

64 Donovan Peters Here we go! 1569 0 5

Lenny Pierce

December 12, 2022 7:38 PM

Feeling pink-ish by Lenny Pierce

Lenny looked a little different than normal, though not because he was now officially 'non-binary: gender non-conforming' and on medical treatment. His hair was still down to his shoulders, brushed out nice with glittery clips keeping it out of his face, though now it had reddish highlights it hadn't had before, thanks to Red Hair Potion Formula #4 (mom's vegan recipe), and he thought it looked cute and brought out his resemblance to his mother a little more.

He wore the green school robes because that was the rule for feasts, but underneath he had a cute pink blouse which he'd paired with a flowy flowery skirt. His nails were painted a pale shimmery pink that was not significantly different than the clear shimmer polish he usually wore. He had put on pink lip gloss, which wasn't new either, but the light brush of blush on his cheeks was.

As he walked into the Cascade Hall and found a seat at the Teppenpaw table, he looked around at the other boys, trying to determine if he was already falling behind after only two months of puberty blockers. He was on the older end of their year group, turning fourteen in just over a week, so he doubted anything would be noticeable yet, and there was naturally a range of development where some kids just developed sooner or later than others, so nothing about him should be deemed unusual at least this year - other than what was always deemed so. Nothing would change.

And that was exactly the point. He didn't want to change until he was ready to and knew with much more certainty than he currently had that 'male' really was what he wanted to be when he grew up.

Still, he was maybe just a little bit anxious that he'd be left behind as his friends all hit their puberty milestones and he was just . . . a kid. But that was why he was getting the six month shots and not the two year implant. He could always change his mind and catch right back up. He was almost hoping that seeing Cole go through it would convince him he did want to be a guy after all - a pretty guy, who still wore cute things, of course, he wasn't going to become a whole different person - but right now . . . he really didn't think he would.

He took a seat somewhere in the middle of the Teppenpaw table. He'd already caught up with Cole during the first years' orientation, as they'd put their room back to rights after being away all summer, so he was hoping to catch up with Levi or Piper tonight, or maybe even make a brand new friend.

He knew none of the first years as they arrived, though he was distantly related to two Pierces from the New Hampshire branch. He was glad when they were sorted elsewhere. New Hampshire and California Pierces as a rule did not tend to get along well.

Lenny cheered loudly for Lavender and Philippe as they both earned Head Student. Lavender had been on his team last year, and Philippe was in his House!

The rest of the announcements were short and not very informative, but he had fun enthusiastically singing the school song very badly, which obviously sounded terrible because he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, but at least there were no weird and terrifying dips or squeaks. Then he grinned at the person sitting across from him. "Hello! Happy opening feast!"

1 Lenny Pierce Feeling pink-ish 1547 0 5

Lyla Holland

December 12, 2022 7:44 PM

That's unfortunate by Lyla Holland

Alexander seemed pretty upset at the mention of his brother, and Lyla wondered if she'd overstepped in addressing the boy's first comment. It sounded like the pair were joined at the hip, the way Alexander was talking about it, and it crossed Lyla's mind that it might do them some good to be apart. She didn't say that part aloud though, because it seemed horrendously insensitive. Instead, she focused on the positives.

"Yeah, seating is fairly flexible, and even in classes, we don't usually have assigned partners or anything. In between, there's always the library or garden or MARS room to hang out in, as well."

Lyla picked out a meal comprised of mostly side dishes- mashed potatoes, tossed salad, devilled eggs, and a dinner roll. Something she liked about Sonora was that she could pretty much eat whatever she wanted, without having to work around her mom nagging her to clean her plate.

"So," she said, noticing that Alexander wasn't eating much at all, "Do you think you'll join any clubs while you're here? I'm in Gardening, but that's mainly because it's so relaxing. A lot of people are in the Dueling Club, as well. Or there's always Quidditch, but I'm not too keen on flying, so I just watch."

64 Lyla Holland That's unfortunate 1559 0 5

Claire Osbrook

December 13, 2022 9:40 AM

What's the project? by Claire Osbrook

Claire had spent much of her summer the way she always did – reading, working with her grandmother in the greenhouse or in the stationery shop with her father and brother, tolerating her mother’s attempts to…whatever it was Lillian wanted the two of them to do. She had also, however, done something she very, very rarely did, and had taken the initiative to start doing something on her own. Two somethings, even: a yoga class and a dance class.

Her reasons for that were simple. She had gotten a lot taller far too quickly toward the end of the previous school year, and she detested the idea of being uncoordinated in public. Therefore, lessons that helped her gain a greater degree of control over her limbs had been in order. That was supposed to have been the beginning and the end of it. Naturally, of course, it hadn’t been….

In retrospect, she guessed she shouldn’t have been as surprised as she had been when she’d realized the problem. Her own thoughts should have at least dropped her a hint, even as far back as first year. That stupid Ball – why hadn’t it bothered her more? She’d just chalked it up to how dull she found…most things, and then, at the Ball itself, she’d been so busy making Graham want to die that she hadn’t really noticed much else – something which made her half-hope that she was wrong now, even though she didn’t think she was. The dream had been pretty coherent, and the more she thought about it, the more facts she seemed to find to support it. She had always been a great believer in empirical evidence, and she had some, to the extent that recollections of her own thoughts and feelings counted. Normally, of course, they didn’t count at all, but in this case, she wasn’t really sure there was anything else anyone could possibly go on.

She’d spent the time before the Feast in MARS, doing a yoga routine which was supposed to help her focus. She didn’t know if it worked or not, but she did at least get the wagon-stiffness out before she had to change into her school robes – her blessedly baggy, shapeless school robes – and go to the Feast, where she was very careful about where she chose to sit at the Crotalus table.

The Sorting went as usual, with only a minor incident when one of the first years didn’t seem to want to leave another one when they were Sorted into different Houses, and then Brockert’s speech was quite predictable. As the new students of limited power went to the front, she made a point of making a faux-swooning expression in her brother’s direction because of Lavender, which he replied to with a gesture which translated into words which would not look nice at all in print, which reduced Claire to laughing as everyone began to clap, which fortunately kept her from getting too many strange looks. And then –

“Congratulations!” she said warmly to Iris when the other girl sat down in easy and obvious talking range. They talked sometimes, since they were next-door neighbors in Crotalus and they both were good with plants. Claire guessed that was as close to friendly as she got, as a rule, though Iris stuck so much with Amethyst Brockert that she and Claire probably didn’t have a proper friendship as such – not that Claire had anything against Amethyst except maybe her eyebrows, but she somehow couldn’t see herself having much in common with someone whose wardrobe included that many ruffles and sparkles, or that much lace. That made it odd to her that Iris was so close with Amethyst, so that she’d wondered, actually, if they were really friends or…something else. That, however, wasn’t a topic for the dinner table, if it was a topic for any discussion at all. “Any plans for what you’re going to do with your new power?”

There. She’d initiated conversation with another girl – had even made a joke, sort of – without it being weird. She didn’t even feel weird. Maybe she had been wrong over the summer, had just read way too much into her memories and maybe been infected a little by her mother’s psychologist talk, and it really meant nothing that she’d had a couple of weird dreams about kissing one of the Muggle girls in her ballet class after all.

16 Claire Osbrook What's the project? 1540 0 5

Fortune Ardovini

December 13, 2022 3:21 PM

Adventure awaits us! by Fortune Ardovini

Fortune had had a remarkably uninteresting summer. He'd seen his friends again, which was always great. But other than that, not much happened. There had been some talk of travel, but Dad's work got busy and it hadn't happened. He'd been a bit disappointed, but he got over it. So, he was looking forward to getting back to school again.

He was a third year now, which meant he was an intermediate, which meant he got to pick elective classes if he wanted to. That had been a topic of discussion over the summer. Dad thought he should take arithmancy, just in case he wanted to go into accounting. Fortune hadn't completely discounted that as a career option, but it also wasn't super high on the list.

He arrived at the school and settled in with the rest of the returning students and showed up to the feast on time. The first years got sorted and the student positions got filled. He cheered for them all. Philippe he knew from gaming club, Alexei was in his house and Iris was Billy's sister.

He sang the song, and watched in delight as the table filled with food. This was one of the best parts of school. He began to pick a bit of everything near him to put on his plate. It wasn't long before his table neighbor asked for something. He passed it to the boy. He was one of the first years.

"Here you go. I'm Fortune by the way. Welcome to Sonora and Pecai. Are you planning on joining the Quidditch team?" To the best of his knowledge, they always needed more players.

2 Fortune Ardovini Adventure awaits us! 1549 0 5

Nausicaa Scapetello

December 13, 2022 6:00 PM

Well, the offer still stands by Nausicaa Scapetello

Nausicaa wondered if she had just hit a gold mine. Nicholas Pierce of the New Hampshire Pierces no less. She may as well have caught a Brockert. Her research had revealed that the Pierce family was one of the other important families in the U.S.. It was fragmented and some branches were much less reputable than others. The New Hampshire branch, as she understood it, was the proper one. Still a far cry from the proper European families, but Mr. Pierce here had potential to make a very valuable minion. As always though, she would need to be cautious.

"This will be my second year here, so I am sure we will see plenty of each other in classes." Combined classes were rather ridiculous when one was used to having a private and highly educated tutor all to ones self. Mr. Pierce was sure to understand that. "The school divides its students into three levels. First and second years are considered beginners." She was certainly no 'beginner'. "Third thru fifth are intermediate, and sixth and seventh years are advanced." She gave home something along the lines of a smile. "It was quite the adjustment for me from having a private tutor. Did you have one?"

Nausicaa continued answering his request for information. He was an Aladren after all. "Aladren is undoubtedly the best house." She had noticed where his associate had gone, "But Crotalus isn't bad either." It sure was better than the other options. "Here we prize knowledge and learning. I think you will do just fine. You seem to have a healthy thirst for knowledge. Do you have a particular field of study that you enjoy?"

"There are quite a few clubs and activities, as I'm sure you've heard. Do you think you will join the Quidditch team?" Qudditch was fine for boys, no one was going to catch her doing anything of the sort. As far as she was concerned, one of the best things about being a second year is no longer needing to stoop to the indignity of riding a broom anymore.

While she talked, Nausicaa delicately selected some of the better looking dishes for her dinner. There were clearly some set out for the more common folk. She ignored those. "I haven't seen much of this country, what is New Hamphire like?"

2 Nausicaa Scapetello Well, the offer still stands 1561 0 5

Graham Osbrook

December 13, 2022 6:09 PM

I suggest comfort food. by Graham Osbrook

Graham had voted for himself just for the heck of it, and to underline how weird it was that he was even on the ballot, but he had never thought there was the slightest chance that he’d win. He’d also voted for Lavender, but he was pretty sure he hadn’t expected her to win, either – Val Duell had practically been born to be a Head Girl, after all. If it hadn’t been for the whole ‘having both a girlfriend and a boyfriend’ thing, Graham would have expected to hear that she was in some kind of important government role before they were thirty, even considering that her background was as not-illustrious-at-all as his own and that even old pureblood guys stood good chances of still being alive and powerful back then. She was a…leader-ish sort of person, he supposed, one who compounded the insult by never getting caught mask off, ulterior motives in especially plain sight.

And yet, the name the Headmaster called out for Head Girl wasn’t Val’s.

Resisting the urge to start looking around his academic cohort and re-evaluating every person in it, trying to figure out who had done what and why they had done it, Graham focused for the moment on applauding Lavender. Or at least, he did that until he saw his sister making faces at him, at which he tried to roll his eyes. He was so going to get her back for being like this whenever she got a boyfriend eventually….

The song went forth in its usual not-quite-harmonious fashion and then the food appeared. His roommate, however, didn’t seem too interested in it. Had he really wanted Head Boy, then, or was he just upset about his girl not getting Head Girl when everyone had expected her to win easily?

“Surprising night, huh?” he said. “I’m not sure I’d have seen either of the ones in our class coming.” Not that he’d had any strong impression of who would be Head Boy, or even if there would be a Head Boy; if he’d had to guess, he might have thought Bertie Jackson, just because he was an Aladren, but there was every chance there could have just been two Head Girls instead.

16 Graham Osbrook I suggest comfort food. 1498 0 5

Oz Spellman

December 13, 2022 6:38 PM

Sure by Oz Spellman

“Oh, we’d be excellent, obviously. But the school has never been great at recongising my many, unique talents,” Oz sighed, though he couldn’t keep the poker face up for long and it soon cracked into a grin.

“Yeah, why not,” Oz laughed, when Billy said he’d vote for him too. He’d be the only one who did, so there was no danger of Oz actually getting it. Henry though… Oz could probably persuade Gus too. He might want to vote for himself, which was fair enough, but given that they didn’t have to vote for a boy and a girl, it wouldn’t stop him voting for Henry too. And if Henry was smart enough to vote for himself, that was like… four votes. Which didn’t sound like many, but was basically half their year group. It was probably also the limit of what Oz could do. Tommy and Rosalynn would vote for themselves/each other. He didn’t think Lorena would want to hear his opinion on anything, and nor would Ian Malone or Isla Brockert. But like… maybe it was enough. “Or we could both vote for Gus. He’d actually have a shot.” Oz felt like their roommate got left out a little bit, and especially since he’d become prefect. The least they could do was repay that by using their votes for him.

“Henry’s a prefect too,” Oz pointed out, when Billy mentioned that as a barrier to including Iris. Which made him realise, this rather went against his policy of not doing foolish stuff that would land Henry in awkward situations… “Maybe they’re both better off out of it… What all did she do last time anyway?” he asked. Okay, organisation was neither his nor Billy’s strong suit, but if he’d done it all once already, that made it easier. It was just copying. “I’m still in,” he added, pushing down his mounting uncertainty.

13 Oz Spellman Sure 1514 0 5

Wally O'Malley

December 13, 2022 6:51 PM

That's a good suggestion. by Wally O'Malley

Wally was not one to openly tell people what he wanted, so it was by that logic that, while what Graham said may have seemed insensitive to someone inside Wally’s own head, were fairly understandable from an outside perspective. As it were in reality, Graham had no means of knowing just how much this election had meant to Wally, so the comments were justifiable in their casualness. A part of Wally wanted to be more upset about it, but he couldn’t help but talk Graham’s way out of it to himself.

“Yeah. I’m happy,” Wally replied flatly. Realizing his tone definitely did not match the words he said, he attempted a recalibration. “I mean, I’m happy for them. I’m sure Philippe will do fine, but Lavender really does deserve it.” Wally knew that Graham was also friends with Lavender, so on that one, they could probably find common territory. Wally had voted for Valentine, obviously, but she hadn’t won - he would check in with Valentine on her feelings there later, as he realized she was probably similarly disappointed - and Lavender was his next best female choice, as his cousin.

“Been an interesting ride these last few years,” he commented idly, hoping to divert the subject away from this somewhat sore topic. “Can’t believe we’re finally seventh years, can you?” The two had shared a dormitory for a long time now. Wally was pretty used to sharing things with Stanley and this wasn’t nearly as long as that, but still valid and noteworthy. It would be strange to see it come to an end. “Are you excited?”

12 Wally O'Malley That's a good suggestion. 1492 0 5

Grayson Wright

December 13, 2022 7:05 PM

How so? by Grayson Wright

Resolutions. Did he have specific resolutions? Or anything even vaguely similar that he could mention without sounding, well, insane?

“More like vague hopes,” he admitted after a short pause for reflection. “I was just thinking about the possibility that no-one will blow anything up in my class all year – which isn’t likely, but I’m guessing it is mathematically possible.” Just very unlikely. “That’s not really…well, it’s not completely under my control, though, so I suppose that doesn’t really count as a resolution, does it? Though of course I’ll do my best not to send too much extra work your way during my classes.”

He thought another moment and added, “Maybe…to do less, but do what’s left better. I’ve been told I should investigate the concept of leisure, but it seems wise to take it a step at a time,” he joked. The issue of what the correct amount of work was…it vexed him greatly. He often felt like he didn’t have enough time for anything, but once he finished a set of tasks, it instantly felt like it really hadn’t been much work at all, and like he should do more. It probably, of course, didn’t help that at least one of his tasks was something it was all but impossible to do too much work for – that was to say, the special cases. Even if he’d truly worked at optimal efficiency all day, every day…there would have been things he’d missed that might have helped them even if he hadn’t had his other duties to attend to. Since he did….

Well, he did what he did, and hoped it was enough, and then felt guilty for not being more efficient, which made it a good thing that his made-up-as-he'd-gone-along skills weren't quite as necessary as they had once been. At the very least, he couldn't do much harm if he didn't do so much at all.

“How about you?” he asked. “Any plans for this term?”

16 Grayson Wright How so? 113 0 5

Leviosa Scurlock

December 13, 2022 8:17 PM

Feeling a little blue by Leviosa Scurlock

Levi was unsure how to feel about going into third year. It sounded and felt vaguely grown up, as did some of the gross out conversations and uncomfortable shopping trips she’d endured over break. Still, it was hard to feel that mature coming off a summer of veiled criticisms for being in a pretend sword fight… Mother hadn’t been openly critical of it, something which Levi attributed to Christopher Brockert’s compliments, but there had been more comments than usual about ‘being mature’ and ‘not letting ideas run away with you.’

On the one hand, Levi could see that playing pirates was perhaps a little childish. On the other, growing up was supposed to be synonymous with freedom, not yet more restrictions, yet all it seemed to mean to mother was behaving more and more like a copy of her or Verdillia. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to involve sword fights, but if growing up didn’t involve any fun at all, then Levi wasn’t sure she wanted any part of it. Not that there was a choice on that front…

Luckily, school brought with it some distance from mother, and reunions with her friends, all of which lifted her spirits and made the problem of how to be herself seem so much smaller - after all, it had always been easy and accepted around her fellow Teppenpaws.

“You too. Greetings fellow intermediate student!” she smiled at Lenny, puffing her chest out and trying to look ever so Tall and Grown Up, though only for a second before reconsidering whether sticking her chest out at boys was no longer appropriate. “Though that means classes with Verdillia again,” she said, as she deflated.

13 Leviosa Scurlock Feeling a little blue 1545 0 5

Nicholas Pierce

December 14, 2022 8:35 AM

Good to know, thank you. by Nicholas Pierce

Nicholas nodded without surprise at the mention of the way the classes were divided here – that had been one of the things he’d known about, though with the caveat that it was possible things had changed in the past twenty years. Things changed slowly in magical estates, though, so it was also not surprising that it had stayed the same way it had been when his parents were here. He would have imagined this would lead to a wider circle of connections, except that his parents seemed to have stuck most closely to their own group. However, his parents were not exactly ordinary people, were they?

“We did,” he agreed. More or less – Mom and May had been the major instructors, but they didn’t know everything (though of course, he thought loyally, it was a close thing) and Mom especially didn’t have time to do everything. It was probably going to be an adjustment, though, being in a room with a bunch of people instead of just Alexander, and from what his parents said, there was a lot they were going to have to figure out for themselves if they wanted to Meet Expectations. If they had been girls, Nicholas wouldn’t have been surprised if one of them had gotten stuck with Arete for a name…. “Education…is very important to our parents.” He glanced toward Alexander for confirmation, automatically, but there was no-one there where Alexander was supposed to be. “Um – I’m a twin,” he added, explaining that which should have been obvious, and had almost always been obvious before. “They just put my brother in Crotalus.”

He tried to keep his voice level as he said that, but even he could tell he still sounded crushed. It had been a long day, with a lot of new things happening, and it had been emotionally draining even before his brother had suddenly been taken away. He’d been sad about leaving home and excited about finally being at Sonora and nervous about the Sorting and…it was just a lot for one day, and it had all taken place in the biggest crowds he’d probably ever been in in his life. He still thought the world would be a nice place once he got used to it – but it wouldn’t be as nice as he had anticipated, not with his brother somewhere else so much of the time…he needed to change the subject.

Nicholas looked down at the table when she said Aladren was the best House. That was a statement he expected he would have happily agreed with a few hours ago – but now Alexander wasn’t here. That meant Crotalus was just as good by default – even if it did happen to have been where Winston and Caitlin had been. Or…would they be sub-par Crotali, or was Alexander an above average one? Either way, though – it wasn’t right, someone even implying that Nicholas was somehow superior to Alexander. Of course they each had their particular skills, but being a little better at one thing or another wasn’t the same thing as just being categorically better.

He was distracted from these gloomy ruminations by the assertion that he had a ‘healthy thirst for knowledge,’ though – that was something he would have expected someone to say about Alexander, not him. Alexander was more diligent, and more interested in things worth knowing, like history. Nicholas just asked a lot of questions. Here, he hadn’t even really done that, so instead of flattering him, the assertion just confused him a little.

“I – not really, not yet,” he admitted. He liked most of his lessons, but he didn’t think he had real favorite things, not the way Alexander did. He sort of flitted from topic to topic as the wind blew. “Though people always say I’ll probably be good at Defense Against the Dark Arts, and that means I might be good at Charms, too, like my father. Do you?”

Quidditch earned a nod. “Oh, of course. My father played here, back when Aladren had its own team – the best team, of course.” That one was just an objective fact, based on numbers. He also saw no real reason to explain his response beyond that statement about his father. Exceeding their parents’ accomplishments at school seemed unlikely, but they had to try. “Alexander wants to be Seeker, too, and I…haven’t decided what I’ll try yet.”

Seeing Nausicaa getting food, he remembered that, oh yes – it was suppertime. Or something close to it, anyway. He took the moment it took him to gather up some food thinking about how to describe New Hampshire.

“It’s not much like here,” he said, since that seemed like a logical place to start. “It’s going to be strange not seeing trees all the time, and not living on a mountain. I suppose the weather….” He frowned, thinking. “Ireland is sort of directly across the ocean from New Hampshire, or close to it, and it’s cold across the whole top of the world, so…maybe the weather won’t be too much different in here, even if it’s completely different from the rest of Arizona. Is it a lot different from Italy?” he asked, trying to remember where on the map Ravenna fell.

16 Nicholas Pierce Good to know, thank you. 1565 0 5

Valentine Duell

December 14, 2022 3:58 PM

That is just how it works I guess by Valentine Duell

Internally Valentine felt downright terrible for it. But, she couldn't help the slightest of giggles that slipped out when Tommy commented about Stanley not winning. Wally would be okay, she was sure about that as well. It was the 'eventually' that she didn't like so much. They would just have to make that as short as possible.

"Take care of each other?" Well, if Tommy could joke around a bit, maybe she could too. She raised an eyebrow in his direction. "I do hope, Mr. Jamison, that you aren't suggesting anything… improper?" There was an attempt at her traditional mischievous smile, but her eyes still showed a hint of the sadness under the slightly forced mirth.

Val poked at the food on her plate for a moment. The normal opening feast questions sounded a bit hollow in her head. 'How was your summer?' Or 'Have any fun plans for this year?' They were past that. So instead, "How are things with Rosalyn? Did you see her over the summer at all?"

She hadn't gotten to see Bonabelle or Wally over the summer. That might well be a lot different next summer. So very many things would be different next summer. She wondered if Tommy had any plans yet for his future. "Do you know what you are planning on doing once you graduate?"

2 Valentine Duell That is just how it works I guess 1490 0 5

Cole Pierce

December 14, 2022 4:37 PM

Intermediates Away! by Cole Pierce

Cole was excited about the new year even with the arrival of New Hampshire Pierces in the school. He'd heard some stories about those from Ben, but they seemed content to keep their distance, even in the confines of a wagon, so he was optimistic that there wouldn't be any unpleasantness. Third year marked the start of Intermediates and the recognition that he was no longer a Beginner at using magic. It also meant he could pick some electives, if he wanted to, and he was still deciding on those.

He was pretty sure he was going to take Astronomy, because he thought that would be interesting. Lenny was taking Divination, and Cole was considering that as well, but he thought he might like the free period more. There was also muggle studies, which he didn't need because he felt he was quite adequately informed about muggles given that he had gone to a muggle primary school and was still technically registered as a boy scout (unfortunately, there weren't any troops at Sonora, so he had to earn his merit badges on his own), but he kind of wanted to take, just to get the CATS and RATS scores in case he decided to pursue a career that needed that as a prerequisite. He thought he might like working with muggles and muggleborns in some kind of official capacity, though he still had no real idea what he wanted to do with his life once he graduated. He was only thirteen, though, so he still had time to figure that out.

Upon arrival at the school, he made his way up to Teppenpaw and found Lenny in their room. They unpacked, caught up on their respective summers, and redecorated, and then it was time to head down for the Feast. He arrived with his 'brother' but they split apart when Cole went to say 'hi' and 'welcome back' to Christopher and Yarielis before the Feast officially began, and by then Lenny didn't have any seats around him anymore, so Cole settled in a little farther down the table. Maybe he'd get to be the welcoming committee for one of the new Teppenpaw first years! That would be exciting.

He cheered for Alexei when he got named as one of the new prefects, as he knew the Pecari from their Challenge team last year, and also for Philippe and Hansel as they collected their own badges because they were Teppenpaws and it was important to support your Housemates.

The announcement about the bonfire was unsurprising but exciting, and Cole enjoyed singing the school song, but it was the food appearing that really made him smile. He was starving. He piled up his plate, conscientiously offering the platter of roast beef to his neighbor who probably wouldn't be able to reach it from where they were sitting, "Want any of this before I put it back?"

1 Cole Pierce Intermediates Away! 1546 0 5

Leo Lyons

December 14, 2022 10:20 PM

Well that's sorted. by Leo Lyons

Cascade Hall was almost full by the time the first years were ushered in. Leo listened attentively to the Headmaster's speech-if you could call the handful of sentences a speech. Leo had been sent to the principal's office a time or two, but sweet old Mrs. Pike wasn't anything like Headmaster Brockert. The austere man oozed authority, and he seemed to want to get business over and done with so he could eat his dinner. Mrs. Pike could normally be won over with a few pieces of butterscotch candy, or an offer to clean the blackboards. Leo didn't think he'd have any luck trying that with the Headmaster.

The Sorting began promptly, and Leo stepped up and dipped his badge, careful to keep his fingers out. It turned yellow, signaling Teppenpaw. Not bad, although there wasn't truly a bad House. Donovan had gone to Pecari, and although Leo knew that he'd still see his friend in class, he was slightly disappointed that they wouldn't be sharing a dorm.

Leo stepped down to his table, choosing a seat beside another student. He waited through the rest of the sortings, followed by the announcements for Prefects and Head Students. He didn't know any of the people that had won, but clapped for them, all the same. He could see Donovan at the Pecari table, sitting next to another boy with brown hair.

Once the headmaster had seated himself, the feast appeared on the table. Leo's eyes grew wide at the array of platters before him. He selected some curry-like thing he'd never tried before, and some plain bread, in case it was too spicy.

"So," he addressed his neighbor, "Do you know when Quidditch tryouts are?"

64 Leo Lyons Well that's sorted. 1568 0 5

Donovan Peters

December 14, 2022 11:14 PM

Explain it to me like I'm five by Donovan Peters

Pecari! That was the name of his House! Donovan repeated it in his mind so he could try to remember it. It was lucky that he'd picked a friendly person to sit next to. His neighbor's name was Fortune, which was weird, but not weirder than Leo Lyons, and Donovan had once punched a bully in the nose for making fun of Leo.

Although Donovan had only gotten a quickly whispered explanation of Quidditch from Leo as they'd toured the pitch, it sounded like something he'd enjoy. A bit like soccer in the air, but not really, he'd said. And you got to ride on broomsticks, like proper Halloween witches. Donovan had been thinking about how to convince his mom that he was totally responsible enough for an ATV, but a broom that he could actually fly through the air on was infinitely more appealing. He wondered how long he'd have to save up his allowance to buy a really good one.

"I don't know a whole lot about Quidditch," he admitted, "But it sounds like fun. What sort of tryouts do you have to do? I'm new to the whole magic thing, so I've never actually ridden a broom before, but you have lessons for that sort of thing, right?"

Donovan wondered if you had to have a broom license, like driving a car. You had to be fourteen to drive a car in Iowa, which was a few years off for him; was the age limit on brooms like ten? Or was it more like a bicycle, where you learned when you were a little kid, and everyone was just fine with a bunch of kids whizzing through the air? He hoped he wouldn't be too far behind his peers. He considered himself athletic, but he acknowledged that he might be coming in at a disadvantage. Hopefully he'd find it intuitive enough that he'd catch on quickly.

"I think Leo's planning on trying out, so I probably will, too, even if I suck," he said with a shrug. It didn't particularly bother him to be bad at something, and he didn't seem to have an 'embarrassment' setting in his emotional roster, so even if he made a total fool of himself, it would still be fun. Even if he had to wait until next year, when he had some flying practice under his belt, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

64 Donovan Peters Explain it to me like I'm five 1569 0 5

Graham Osbrook

December 15, 2022 10:05 AM

What's your poison? by Graham Osbrook

Wally said he was happy, but there was a small impediment to Graham believing him. This was that Wally was, apparently, a really, really, incredibly terrible liar.

In a way, that was interesting in and of itself. He would have assumed, if he’d really thought about it before, that a teacher’s kid (even a former teacher’s kid) would have learned to lie in the cradle, just as much as a psychologist’s kid did. Certainly he had only the foggiest of memories of how uncomfortable it had sometimes been before he’d learned to never show emotions his parents wouldn’t like, and he wasn’t sure Claire had ever even gone through an honest phase. But then, Claire was always better at everything than him, and always had been; this was one of the reasons he’d learned to mask his thoughts as early as he had, because he wasn’t sure what was worse, times when one of his parents had tried to make him feel better or times when they clearly disapproved of him being jealous of the downright insulting ease with which his sister picked things up. Lying was a skill like any other, so he supposed Claire would have been born knowing the basics and have perfected them by the time she could toddle, or something like that.

Regardless of when or why Graham and Claire had learned to always show people whatever those people wanted to see, though – Wally obviously had not. He tried to recover the situation, but it was a little late for that. Mom already would have started being Entirely Too Reasonable at the guy, just over the delivery of that first sentence.

Graham, though, wasn’t a psychologist, and so he decided to show mercy. “Yeah, I’m sure she’ll do great,” he agreed about Lavender. “But I’m sure Valentine would have, too,” he added, considering his audience. “Hope she’s okay.” He had trouble imagining that anyone would be as…driven…as Valentine without serious parental and internal pressure. Those seemed like the kinds of things that might recoil onto her hard now, since she and Wally had probably also expected her to win.

Seventh year. Graham had been doing his best to not think about how it was seventh year. He’d known, in an academic sort of way, that it was seventh year (why else were his classmates now Head students?) but it was a little different, thinking about it. “I’m…trying to think that way instead of already starting to obsess about RATS,” he said honestly. “Since I went kind of postal about CATS.” This was hard to deny. He’d been jumpy when they’d had a field trip, because it was time away from his study guides, which he’d developed what even he (as much as he hated using terms his mom might use) could only call an unhealthy relationship with by the end. He’d hated the things, but also had become physically uncomfortable if they were out of eyeshot for too long. After the exams were over, he’d felt like he’d been subjected to Shocking Spells. It had just sucked all around, really.

“Definitely going to try not to repeat that performance,” he concluded. “What about you? Any plans for whenever it sinks in we’ve made it this far?”

16 Graham Osbrook What's your poison? 1498 0 5

Iris Cobb

December 15, 2022 10:15 AM

Figuring out life by Iris Cobb

"Thank-you," Iris responded to Claire's congratulations. She didn't need to think very long before having an answer to the other girl's question. "Naturally I'm going to do my best to make my brother's life a living nightmare." She ended her declaration with a super, over-the-top, sickeningly sweet smile. She remembered some of the idle conversations she had had that involved their brothers. "I'm sure you understand."

Her fingers played across and with the new badge pinned to the breast of her robe. It felt strange to have it. She really hoped she didn't let anyone down. In addition to everything else, she now had 'prefect duties' to add to her task list. She would need to go on patrols… her train of thought derailed just a moment. Hansel was a prefect as well. She would need to walk around the school at night with him… all to herself. She liked that thought.

"You might get it next year," Iris gave Clair a conspiratorial look, "Do you have any plans yet, if you do?" If someone had asked her that question last year, she wouldn't have had a response. Maybe Claire thought ahead better than she did.

Oh! She suddenly remembered something she had wanted to ask Claire. "Do you have any big plans for this year? I'm in charge of the gardening club now, and we could use a few more members so I'm recruiting." She tried to give Claire the friendliest smile possible. "Do you have any interest in joining?"

2 Iris Cobb Figuring out life 1526 0 5

Osvaldo Alamilla

December 15, 2022 5:56 PM

That is most unfortunate by Osvaldo Alamilla

"He is indeed." Osvaldo replied without much hesitation. He wasn't really sure what had happened to the time. When had first arrived here, things were quite uncertain and he had had some plans for continuing his work. However, he had never really made much progress. There were always things to do around the school, and limitations on what he could do in order to maintain a low profile, but still. Some part of him wondered if he just wasn't becoming complacent, settling for this life that had somehow fallen in front of him. A few years ago he would have thought this all preposterous, now... now he wasn't quite sure.

He ate while Professor Carter-Xavier kept up her chatter. He raised an eyebrow at her prediction for her daughter. If there was one group of kids in the place that he wouldn't mind seeing educated elsewhere, it was the Pecari group, Professor Carter-Xavier's house. He had nothing against her, but those kids made a bigger mess of things than any other group in the school. He'd often wondered what sort of parents were responsible for such children, and apparently he now had at least one answer. He nodded politely.

As for her question, that took him some time to think about. There were many facets to that question, and Edu's personality was only a small one to take into account. Osvaldo was a master alchemist after all, his first thought on the subject was the sorting potion that the school used. To be frank, he didn't like it much. The potion they had used in the old days had been much better. The one they used now, in his opinion, was a watered-down, poor shadow of the original. As for Edu's part in the formula, "Well, if he takes after his mother he will be in Crotalus I suspect. If he takes after me, Aladren." He paused a moment, "Though I suspect he will most likely fall into your husband's house."

2 Osvaldo Alamilla That is most unfortunate 1503 0 5

Stanley O'Malley

December 15, 2022 7:21 PM

Big bro mode - activate! by Stanley O'Malley

Given how different the boys were, it was pretty rare that Wally and Stanley had a real “twin moment”. However, today’s wagon ride was an excellent example of their inbred ability to synchronize. Stanley was glad to see it was still there somewhere.

This year at Sonora was going to be different, not only because it was their seventh year, but because they were no longer the only borders from their household. Stanley kept a close eye as Charlotte stepped onto the wagon behind him, making sure his little sister didn’t stumble or hesitate. And when the three O’Malley siblings had all boarded, it was then that the twin powers activated.

Without discussing it, the boys came to the same conclusion: it was absolutely imperative that Charlotte spent this wagon ride absolutely sure she was the most important person in the whole entire world. Stanley and Wally did their best to make it so. They introduced her to all of their friends on the wagon and then sat on either side of her, absolutely showering her in attention.

When they parted ways with her upon arrival, Stanley made sure to show her which way to go for Orientation, and he felt a pang in his chest as she disappeared into the distance. He couldn’t believe how she had grown up - how was his baby sister old enough for school?! It absolutely broke his heart - Stanley loved being a big brother - but it did remind him that at least it wasn’t over. He was still in shock about the new baby, honestly, and a bit upset now that he was old enough to know where babies came from this time. But the excitement outweighed the horror, mostly.

He was eager to see his sister’s Sorting - and may or may not have told some neighbors at his table to shut up - and his grin grew so wide when the first years began stepping up to the cauldron with their badges. Stanley didn’t really expect Charlotte to be a Pecari like him, but he was running through his list of friends depending on what House she got to. If she was Crotalus, Wally and Lavender were there. If Charlotte went to Teppenpaw, Tommy and Val. Aladren, Bonabelle, or maybe even Tommy’s girlfriend. No matter what, she was safe, but Stanley wanted to know who to talk to after this about keeping an eye on her.

Aaaand…. Teppenpaw! Nice! He made sure to shoot Charlotte some thumbs up as she made her way to her new House table.

But that was where the day’s excitement died, though. The next announcement gutted Stanley in a way he had never felt before. Or maybe, a way he felt once before, two years ago when the Prefects for their class were announced.

He wanted to boo, but he was happy for Lavender. And Philippe was fine ~~and also kind of cute~~. But neither of them were Wally, and Wally was supposed to be Head Boy! Stanley tried to look to his brother, but Wally was looking toward Val instead, which honestly also kind of stung because Stanley thought maybe they were having the day’s second twin moment.

So instead, Stanley just… got through it. He sang the song with average, acceptable gusto, and then he sat very quietly, and very still.

OOC: Mentions of Charlotte approved by her author.

12 Stanley O'Malley Big bro mode - activate! 1491 0 5

Phil Carson

December 15, 2022 7:32 PM

Too true by Phil Carson

Phil had known Gabriel would be graduating and leaving the school. That's what happened to seventh years. They'd said their see-you-laters (because good-bye felt too final and they did intend to keep in touch). Gabriel had waxed nostalgic and offered trivia that probably meant something. Even Phil had gotten a bit sentimental and given the older boy a hug before they left the school after the concert.

Still, it was gut-wrenching to look first around Aladren, and now around the Cascade Hall, and not see Gabriel, or Morgan, or even Mara around. He was a fourth year, so people had graduated from his House before, but they'd never been people he knew so well as Gabriel. And this year even more of the Gaming Club would graduate. Val. Bertie. Philippe.

Fortune and Xarryn had joined last year, so at least there were still some other younger students left who would still be around next year, but it felt like the closing of an era.

New first years joined the table, three students joining the beginners to replace the three that just left. It wasn't a perfect succession. None of them were girls. None of them were Gabriel.

Prefects and Head Students were awarded, more successions that were filling Gabriel's roles. Phil applauded, and even smiled and waved at Philippe as Head Student again went to a gamer, but again, none of them were Gabriel, and it was disheartening that a person could just . . . be replaced like that. It made sense, it was necessary, of course, students didn't stay at Sonora forever, they grew up and moved on, but it still felt so . . . impersonal.

He smiled at the new fifth year Aladren prefect as she returned to the table, as they happened to be sitting next to each other, and gave her a thumbs up. Connie, he believed her name was. Only one year older than him. Next year, that would be him or Eben.

He sang along with the school song, filled his plate with food, and was about to make conversation with Connie when she pulled out a book. Clearly, she didn't want to be disturbed. Phil debated just leaving her alone. But she did have a shiny new badge, and she had looked quite happy about it. So he ventured a, "Congratulations on getting prefect," and decided he would leave it at that if she didn't seem to want to talk.

1 Phil Carson Too true 1536 0 5

Fortune Ardovini

December 15, 2022 7:35 PM

No problem. by Fortune Ardovini

"You don't?" Fortune was a bit astonished at his new house mate's admission. But the rest of the boy's explanation clarified things. It was still weird though to think there was a whole society of people out there that didn't know about Quidditch. He grinned widely as he realized he got the good fortune to reveal the wonders of Quidditch to… well, the boy hadn't actually told him his name yet. Oh well, no big deal.

First things first though, "Yeah, don't worry about the broom flying. You'll have a whole class for flying lessons your first year. The coach will get you up to speed in no time!" He pointed across the hall to a bulletin board. "In a few days they'll post a sign up sheet for tryouts with information, just keep your eyes open for it."

"Leo is a friend of yours?" Another person signing up was great news! "Did you know before coming? All of my friends back home went to Illvermorny or other schools."

He paused just long enough to take a bite if food. "Anyway, as for the game itself, there are seven positions on the field; three chasers trying to score by putting the Quaffle through the opponents goals, two beaters protecting the team from the Bludgers while aiming them at the other team, a Seeker who is watching to catch the snitch, and a keeper who protects the team's goal. Each goal is worth ten points and catching the snitch is worth 100. That also ends the game. Simple." He smiled at the other boy."Any questions?"

2 Fortune Ardovini No problem. 1549 0 5

Xavier Lundstrom

December 15, 2022 11:58 PM

Your big bro mode seems to involve being a jerk by Xavier Lundstrom

There wasn’t time for Xavier and Oz to split up and make separate entrances to the hall. There wasn’t time to go via the dorms to get bruise balm for the hickey Oz had left on his neck. There was just about time to pull most of the leaves out of his hair, though he might have missed a few. Those details bothered Oz far more than they bothered Xavier. If Xavier had had any choice in the matter, he would absolutely be shouting from the rooftops about having a super cute boyfriend. But Oz wasn’t there yet, and he got that he owed him some patience or whatever.

He slid into a spare seat next to Stanley, not quite suppressing the guilty grin of the cat who’d got the cream as his mind wandered back over what he’d just been doing. He offered a few cheerful ‘hi’s to those around him until Stanley told him to shut up. Which… wow, rude.

Xavier swallowed it down, determined not to let that set the tone. He was actually hyped for the year ahead. It was so strange to feel that, coming back to a place that had made him feel like crap for so many years in a row. But last year things had turned a corner. He had divination now. Understanding his powers, understanding the real cause for the migraines, and all the problems he’d had channelling has magic… It was all the answers he’d needed. Sure, the actual art of divination was still slippery and confusing. The Fates were really frustratingly vague with a lot of their hints, but there was something grounded and right about using his powers in his special sessions with Professor Duell. It made an intuitive sense, the way other people always talked about feeling their magic in regular classes. Even wilder, the government didn’t count it as doing magic at home, so he’d been able to take his tarot deck and crystal ball home over the holidays for practise. His dad had got kinda naggy about it, saying Xavier spent too much time crystal gazing, and pushing him to go out and get more fresh air, the way he’d nagged about screen time in the past. Which was kind of ridiculous, because Xavier was studying and who’d ever heard of studying too much? He slid his hand into his pocket, closing it around the velvet pouch. Not that he was going to start crystal gazing at the table but it was just… reassuring, Like other wizards liked knowing where their wand was, or something.

The headmaster stood to announce the badges, and Xavier held his breath. None of his tarot pulls on the subject had given him reason to be optimistic—and indeed, he let his breath out in a sigh as Alexei was called up. He tried to arrange his features into a supportive roommate expression. It made sense. Alexei was the golden magical boy who had always been perfect. Xavier had thought that maybe hardwork and determination to overcome difficulties or whatever would be counted in his favour, but apparently it just couldn’t outweigh being naturally good at everything. Whatever. At least Xavier had beaten him in the challenges.

The feast started, which brought with it the tempting smell of food, and a further cold shoulder fro, Stanley. What the heck? Oz had always said Stanley was cool. And it wasn’t like noise bothered most Pecaris. It was very, very tempting to get his crystal ball out (given that he’d had the wagon journey and then been with Oz, he hadn’t actually used it all day… He’d done a couple of tarot pulls on the wagon, because that was easier to do unobtrusively, and without going into a full on trance, but it wasn’t the same…). However, it would be very Unharmonic Flows or whatever to use it at the dinner table, and Professor Duell would probably tell him off for bad form. Plus, he was starving.

He scooped mashed potatoes and peas onto his plate, trying to decide whether he wanted the chicken pot pie on Stanley’s left badly enough to deal with him. Actually, given that his other neighbours were talking about Quidditch, Stanley was also his only potential source of interesting conversation right now.

“Hey. What exactly did I do to you in the thirty seconds that you’ve been in my company?” he asked, more baffled than hostile.

13 Xavier Lundstrom Your big bro mode seems to involve being a jerk 1529 0 5

Stanley O'Malley

December 16, 2022 4:55 PM

That's apparently every mode for me. by Stanley O'Malley

Man, Stanley really had crummy luck. Every time he tried to do anything, he was wrong and hurt somebody’s feelings. It was apparent even to a thick-head like him that he had offended Xavier - a kid he didn’t know super well but only had a few years on - when he told him to shut up. “Hey, man,” Stanley began with genuine self-reflection. “Sorry about that. It wasn’t you in particular. It was just really noisy over here, and I was trying to focus. My little sister was getting Sorted”

He glanced over at the Teppenpaw table to see how she was doing, and also to give some indication to Xavier regarding who she was. It seemed like it was going okay for her over there, as far as Stanley could tell. She was pretty far off, but then again, it was Teppenpaw, so it wasn’t like anyone was going to be mean to her or anything like that.

“How was your summer?” Stanley glanced at Xavier and noticed some interesting bruises on the younger boy’s neck and felt (but suppressed) the urge to answer his own question with because it looks like it, as well as a bit of jealousy for the experience that would’ve brought them about. Damn, Stanley needed to get more action.

12 Stanley O'Malley That's apparently every mode for me. 1491 0 5

Tommy Jamison

December 16, 2022 5:12 PM

We'll get through it. by Tommy Jamison

Had Tommy been in that moment partaking in his meal or beverage, there was a more than sizable chance some portion of it might have shot out of his nose. Not that Tommy was particularly sensitive to it - he was a sixteen-year-old boy after all - but Valentine had never struck him as the kind of girl to make that kind of joke. He didn’t say anything, but he did grin widely as he restrained the urge to laugh, and held his hands up beside him in silent protest of his innocence.

“Things are good,” said the sixth year, letting her move the conversation along to more typical conversation. “I didn’t get to see Rosalynn too much. Magic or no magic, the travel can be a bit much.” Tommy tried to spend as much of his summers with his parents as he could, since he didn’t get to see them all year, but that was a lame answer for a teenage boy, so he instead just blamed the distance. He did a lot of bouncing between the US and England, so adding more into the picture would be a legitimate and valid concern for his adults.

She asked next about his plans after school, which was a bit surprising since he still had a full year after she and the boys graduated, but Tommy supposed she was thinking more about her own, more immediately looming future. “Yeah, I do,” he said. It was a bit of tragic irony, really, that he had some pretty concrete plans while to his knowledge, Stanley and Wally did not. “I want to be a potioneer. So I really just have to decide what route I want to go with that, either school or an apprenticeship.” Ideally, he’d just apprentice under Sophie - she had taught him most of what he knew - but he wasn’t sure if that would really count or look good on his future resume.

“What about you?” he asked with good-natured curiosity.

12 Tommy Jamison We'll get through it. 1518 0 5

Xavier Lundstrom

December 16, 2022 5:12 PM

Sounds unlikely by Xavier Lundstrom

“Oh. No worries,” Xavier said, when Stanley explained the ‘shut up’ part. It didn’t entirely explain why he’d then gone on to straight up blank Xavier out, but as that didn’t seem to be A Thing either… Maybe he’d just misread? Much like his fights with Oz, the annoyance was quick to flare, quick to subside. People said crumby things. People apologised. The end. Being told to ‘shut up’ was way lesser on the list of crimes than being asked if he used chapstick because he was gay (and yes, that had been like three years ago but it was still pretty much the number one stupidest thing Oz had ever said to him).

“She’s in Teppenpaw?” he asked, following Stanley’s gaze. “Mine too. She came last year,” he added, fairly sure Stanley would have no reason to know either Teppenpaw second years or who was in Xavier’s family. “I would say I’ll tell her to keep an eye out for yours, but then she’ll probably refuse just cos she doesn’t like me telling her what to do. Best leave them to Tepp it up by themselves. I’m sure they’ll cross paths.

“Summer was good,” he answered, his tone light and easy - the reply was honest, but didn’t hint at any big, dramatic secrets to be revealed. “I skated with my brother, watched movies.” Called Oz a lot, missed him like crazy… “My brother’s got his driver’s licence now,” he added, aware he was throwing a lot of non-magical things in but deciding it was on Stanley to ask if he wasn’t keeping up, “so we could go places together. Though dad made us take Robyn sometimes too.” He made a face. “We went camping for a couple of weeks too, and my family does a lot of hiking. So, usual summer stuff, but it was nice.” He wasn’t going to mention all the time he’d spent on divination. That was basically studying for fun, even if it didn’t feel like it, and he wasn’t about to say that out loud. “How about you?”

13 Xavier Lundstrom Sounds unlikely 1529 0 5

Billy Cobb

December 16, 2022 7:02 PM

That's the spirit by Billy Cobb

"True, true," Billy responded casually. "But perhaps we can help them see your greatness." He cracked a grin as well. Oz's suggestion about Gus made him think. "Yeah, I could see that. But…" he hesitated just a second, "If becoming a prefect kinda pushed him apart from us, would making him Head boy do it even more?" He put his thinking face on for a few minutes. "I've got nothin' against votin' for him if he wants it. But we should try an' find something we could all do together as well." If he could just think of something.

Billy blinked in incomprehension for a moment as Oz's statement about Henry processed for a moment. He'd known that… he thought. It wasn't something that he'd thought about much. Oh shucks! Ray hadn't gotten prefect! He was kinda glad for that though, but she might be disappointed. That was something he'd need to check in on.

Things had been a little weird between them last year, what with his project and such. He hadn't told her what he'd been working on. Well, he'd have a surprise for her now!

Oz was still talking. Right. Oops. He was still in, that was good, but what did she all do? Billy just sorta shrugged, "She didn't do much of anything. I'm not even sure she knew much about it." At least he was pretty sure Ray didn't know much. It would be a very good surprise if she did.

2 Billy Cobb That's the spirit 1519 0 5

Ida Stanford

December 16, 2022 7:55 PM

Reporting for duty by Ida Stanford

Ida had found the tour of the school fascinating. While she didn't quite have the layout perfectly memorized just yet, she was sure that she would in the next day or two. Having left all of her things behind as instructed, she didn't have anything with which to take notes on the tour. That was okay though, she would just need to remember the important parts for her journal entry tonight. She thought today's entry would be more interesting than most.

The Cascade hall was pretty amazing. The Headmaster began his speech with their sorting process. She held her badge tight and watched as the other first years dunked their badges into the potion. She felt bad for Mr. Nicholas Pierce and his brother getting separated. But then it was her turn. She dunked her badge into the potion and withdrew a shining red badge. She was in Crotalus. That was fine, as far as she had been able to tell, there wasn't a bad house at this school.

Ida followed Mr. Nicholas Pierce's brother, Mr. Alexander Pierce to the Crotalus table. She thought she might sit with him, since she'd already gotten to know his brother. But, he found a seat that didn't have an empty one next to it. So she found a vacant seat elsewhere at the table.

The headmaster then announced the new prefects and head students. She didn't know any of them, but she made mental notes of their names. They helped make sure the school ran smoothly and by the rules. Ida figured if she could help them at all, it would be a good thing. There was the mention of a bonfire and a song and then the speech was over? She had been expecting a bit more, but that meant that the food appeared sooner. Her stomach couldn't complain about that.

She surveyed the selection of dishes that had appeared on the table. There were a lot of them. She looked at the person she had sat next to, "Hi, I'm Ida Stanford, do you have any recommendations?"

2 Ida Stanford Reporting for duty 1571 0 5

Eben Sosna

December 16, 2022 10:05 PM

Relatable. by Eben Sosna

Timekeeping. Who needed it?

Aside from…everybody, that was, but at the moment (among other times), Eben found it annoying, and so he was prepared to dismiss its usefulness, at least inside his own head and in this exact moment. Saying that kind of thing out loud sounded kind of stupid anywhere and would sound doubly stupid in Aladren, and he’d be grateful for the practice of timekeeping right about the end of his first dull class session tomorrow, but surely allowing himself a moment of frustrated hyperbole inside his own head right now was okay. He had been separated from the library here for like two months. It was only natural that he had gotten a little carried away in reuniting with it and had been reluctant to leave it.

Summer hadn’t been a total bust. He’d become pretty good friends, he thought, with those ghosts who haunted the old taco place, and his brother had still stuck with him when it came to the local jerks. It was less and less often that they had anything to really talk about anymore, but they at least still wished there was. On the whole, though, a trip back home had mostly just reminded him how much better things were here. It was still a little bizarre, how nobody here had so much as stolen his glasses in class and played keep-away with them, and it added to the kind of culty vibe that the whole wizarding world and the rich people in it especially all gave off, but since the alternative would have been starting at the county high school today as the same scrawny, bespectacled, weird-named nerd he’d always been….

Yeah, as much as he disliked the suppression of knowledge on principle, and firmly believed that they could have probably done stuff like fix global warming and cure cancer by now if magic scientists and normal scientists had worked together…he had to admit, there were benefits of being secluded from the rest of the world in their own little culty world here. The only problem was how he was supposed to learn calculus in a few years if they didn’t even have algebra and trigonometry as official classes here, and when he was…a diplomat, which he wasn’t, might have said he needed improvement in some of the skills necessary for successful autodidacting. He could certainly focus, but he had little control over when he did so, or what he did so on, and once his concentration broke, that was usually it. This did not lend itself to official self-study courses, and he knew perfectly well that he would flounder eventually without someone holding his feet to the fire. He liked math, but doing anything as general as ‘go through the algebra book this semester’ without a teacher…he doubted it would go well.

That, however, was a problem for another day. Now there was trying to get into his seat before the Sortings started and without dropping his pocket notebook and fistful of pens all over everywhere.

He managed it – narrowly, but he managed it. He applauded for Constance along with everyone else, despite having never quite figured out what to think of her (why would someone so obviously be a suck-up for no obvious gain?), and mumbled his way through the school song before he began to look at the food, where his eyes promptly fell on a dish currently in the keeping of his neighbor. His twice-over neighbor, in fact; the guy was a year below him and also currently sitting there.

“Yeah, thanks,” he said when silently offered the dish. “And, uh, welcome to Intermediates, man. Glad about getting out of Beginner’s?” It felt rude to just ignore the guy’s existence while he was serving himself, and technically, that was a yes-or-no question, which meant it could be answered non-verbally. He got the food on his plate and came up with another one while offering it back in Lazarus’ direction. “Do you want this back?”

16 Eben Sosna Relatable. 1538 0 5

Constance Melcher

December 17, 2022 11:02 AM

Your excitement for me is palpable. by Constance Melcher

In normal circumstances, Constance might have been a bit cross to be interrupted, but given the current environment, she should not have been surprised. She had learned over the years that these Feasts were not always the most conducive to reading. Too many people, too much noise, some of which ended up addressed in her direction - she had learned to accept this reality.

That said, she was especially alright with being spoken to given the content of her neighbor’s speech. “Thank you!” she beamed, snapping her book shut - don’t worry, she knew exactly what page she was on - and looking up at them. Connie discovered the voice belonged to Phil Carson, a boy in the year below hers whom she did not know particularly well. Really, Constance did not know many people well, so this was not a major point of delineation, though. Her only real friend had graduated, and among those currently in the Cascade Hall, she supposed the next facsimile she had to a friend was Professor Wright.

“I take this responsibility very seriously,” she said, her tone reflective of the fact, although she could not suppress a grin. “So if there is, at any time, any feedback or ideas you or the other Aladrens have, please do not hesitate to bring it to my attention. I exist to provide service to the people.”

12 Constance Melcher Your excitement for me is palpable. 1523 0 5

Lazarus Jareau-Fletcher

December 17, 2022 11:14 AM

No one's ever said that about me before. by Lazarus Jareau-Fletcher

Lazarus was by nature a pretty dedicated observer. Since he avoided weighing in on the conversation out of convenience, he did his fair share of listening, and what he heard, he remembered. Like names. This particular student was named Eben Sosna. Bit of an odd name, Laz thought, but given his own somewhat ridiculous name, he supposed he wasn’t one to judge. Eben was one grade ahead of him, which actually meant that the boys were probably the same age, given that he had started a year late as a twelve-year-old first year.

He passed the dish to Eben and took in the welcome. Laz opened his book. “Thank you ,” he tapped first, and the sound of the word became audible. “Yes,” he tapped quickly, then turned a page. “I’m excited.” His face was anything but excited, but the sentiment was nonetheless true. It would be good to be in the Intermediates, although he did hope none of the work jumped too much in difficulty. Lazarus was smart, but he did have a lazy streak in him.

Eben asked him if he wanted the dish back, but Lazlo had already gotten his fill. He shook his hate and gestured down to his plate to show it was full, then indicated for Eben to continue passing it down the table for the rest of their Housemates.

The third year turned a few more pages to find some presets he had arranged for this specific event. It was the only time he would get usage out of “How was your summer?” but it made for easy conversation at the Opening Feast.

12 Lazarus Jareau-Fletcher No one's ever said that about me before. 1548 0 5

Katey Willow

December 17, 2022 11:25 AM

It's always a good time. by Katey Willow

Katey thought that Gray’s hopes for the year were altogether sensible. She too hoped no one blew anything up in his class, not only in part because she would be the one whose lap it landed in if or when there were any injuries. In her medical skills, she was confident (one of few things where she was), but she always said that if she was bored, it was a good year. An empty infirmary was a good infirmary.

“You do seem like you keep busy,” she added. She had spent time here and there with their other coworkers like Mary and Killian, but Gray was either considerably less sociable or just otherwise busy. “I suppose for me, it’s the opposite,” Katey commented. “A good year means I have extra time on my hands. Maybe I should try to get a bit more research done, or attend more conferences.” She had spent a weekend over the summer at a delightful seminar on the combination effects of mental health on physical health - a topic which she had an unfortunate amount of personal experience - and that had stimulated some new and interesting hypotheses. Namely, if it would be possible to regulate brain chemistry via potions instead of Muggle medications, in the hopes it could be more predictably sustained. She thought she might see what Mary’s thoughts would be on the topic.

“It’s been a bit now since I’ve had a student assistant,” Katey observed, “so we’ll see if any of this year’s older groups are interested. Usually they just find me, but maybe this year I’ll try to advertise the option a bit more. You’re welcome to send any of your Aladrens my way,” she tacked on at the end. Gray happened to be the Head of House for one of the more academically inclined groups in the school, so it was more likely that one of them might be interested in medicine. Although it was not unheard of for others, such as Teppenpaws, who might want to heal out of compassion. Sometimes she wondered where she would have been had she attended Sonora as a student, and those were the two between which she always found herself split.

12 Katey Willow It's always a good time. 1505 0 5

Grayson Wright

December 17, 2022 5:10 PM

Y'know, that's a good way to look at things. by Grayson Wright

“Mm, well, I suspect I’d be ritually expelled from my House if I discouraged research,” Gray said, only half-joking, “but at the risk of that, or of sounding like the, the kind of fussy old man who lectures perfectly competent people about business they know better than he does – I wouldn’t push yourself too hard, taking on too many projects at once. Apparently, that’s why I couldn’t get rid of that accursed cough last spring or…something like that. Something to do with stress, anyway.”

He’d asked Katey for a remedy more than once last spring, though whether or not she remembered that, he had no idea. He tended to assume that people – well, other adults, anyway, with the possible exceptions of Selina and Tarquin – forgot he existed the moment he was out of line of sight. He’d only moved Selina to the exceptions list since he’d lost his temper over Xavier’s treatment at the hands of the government – that had been a most uncharacteristic display of emotion, and thus he had ended up, technically, Conspiring Against The Government for a while. With everyone else, though, he imagined he blended in with the walls.

“Shouldn’t be a problem going forward, though, so I shouldn’t take up much of your time,” he assured her. “The…special cases seem to be in relatively stable places now, and I’ve only got one manuscript left to finish to satisfy a contract – “ he had finally given up on keeping his ‘other’ career quiet; when a student could casually ask him how the book was going, the word was officially out, even if it had later turned out that said student was a Seer. “And…then I might actually have time on my hands, in all, all seriousness.” He shook his head a little wonderingly. “I’m sure I knew what to do with that, once, but I can’t really remember. Any suggestions?” It did feel a little strange, admitting he might do - well - anything other than work, but Katey had mentioned having free time herself, so perhaps she wouldn't judge too harshly.

16 Grayson Wright Y'know, that's a good way to look at things. 113 0 5

Claire Osbrook

December 17, 2022 6:59 PM

You'll need all the time you can get for that one. by Claire Osbrook

Claire laughed politely when Iris said she’d use her newfound power to persecute her brother, though she did…wonder…sometimes about the Cobbs. Making sarcastic remarks about one’s brother was practically part of the Little Sister Code, but sometimes it seemed like Iris genuinely just did not have the first lick of use for her brother at all. That was sad, if so; Claire couldn’t imagine genuinely being on bad terms with Graham. Who else was there, after all, who was especially likely to be the same kind of crazy as her?

“Oh, you know, nothing too dramatic,” she said when her question was returned to her in a ‘what if’ scenario. “I’d just do my best to catch people doing something illicit and see about setting myself up a Head Girl voting base out of people who’d owe me favors for not reporting them. Or if I was a prefect and had to dance with a boy at the next Ball, that might be a favor I’d call in.” Just being with a guy like that by some chance, so she didn’t need to blackmail one to fulfill the Duty…she might go to the effort of latching onto some guy ahead of time and trying to make him think she wanted to be asked, but the picture just didn’t fit in her head. Never had. She’d never pictured herself in the future with a boyfriend or a husband. She’d always thought it was all down to ambition and how boring most people were….

“Just kidding,” she added, cracking a smile. “I honestly don’t know – I don’t even know what you can do with one of those, to tell you the truth.” She gestured toward Iris’ badge. “I don’t really know any of the older prefects that well.”

“Oh, congratulations on that, too,” said Claire when Iris mentioned she’d taken over Gardening. “And yeah, sure. Now that I could help figure out big plans for.” Probably, anyway; she doubted the staff would let them have a flower show, but maybe they could make centerpieces for the tables each week, sell flowers at Christmas and Valentine's and around the Ball...assuming Iris was able to find enough other recruits to make any of that kind of thing practical.

16 Claire Osbrook You'll need all the time you can get for that one. 1540 0 5

Eben Sosna

December 17, 2022 7:34 PM

Guess there's a first time for everything? by Eben Sosna

Eben expected a reply that involved the guy – Lazarus; they’d only been in classes together one year, but his name stood out maybe even more than Eben’s did, even if he might not have been able to attach a face to it – nodding or shaking his head to get the point across. Instead, out came a book and it spoke for the other guy.

“That’s, uh, that’s good,” he said when Lazarus said he was excited to be in the Intermediate class. “They’re pretty interesting – third year might not get to do as much, but w – you’ll still get to see the fifth years doing some pretty cool stuff, and me…trying to learn how to do some pretty cool stuff.”

His grasp of the finer points of etiquette even from the world he’d grown up in was…tenuous, and he knew even less of the wizarding system. Somehow, though, he suspected that asking a bunch of questions about the book would be considered rude in both worlds. This was unfortunate, because that was kind of neat. Talking writing. It made sense, he supposed, now that he thought about it – if talking pictures, why not talking books? – but this one was almost like those kids’ books where you pressed a symbol to add sound effects to the story instead of being something that could really, at least a little, think for itself. Could a book be made to think for itself the way a painting could, though? If you could get someone to write and write and write in a journal, and then the person died…if the book could think the way the pictures did, then it might be a more portable way to keep someone with you when they were dead. With or without voices, maybe, even…though a talking book would probably complain a lot about the view inside of his backpack, and maybe get depressed about not being able to do things like a person anymore, and stuff.

This mental tangent was also completely irrelevant to the topic at hand. In his own defense, Eben hadn’t expected there to be much more conversation. Lazarus, however, seemed content to continue talking together despite the increased effort it took Lazarus to do so. Eben chewed on the inside of his mouth for a moment, thinking of how to put an answer to that.

“Not too bad, I guess. I got to hang out with my brother again, and some ghosts that haunt this place near where I live. And there were some UFO reports to catch up on and stuff.” It had all sounded like nonsense to him, not like the old stuff, but a few crazy people or hoaxes weren’t, to his mind, enough to rule something out on. Plus, if magic was real, then why not aliens?” “How was yours?”

16 Eben Sosna Guess there's a first time for everything? 1538 0 5

Donovan Peters

December 17, 2022 11:31 PM

Sounds fun! by Donovan Peters

Donovan was glad to hear that he would definitely get flying lessons before they just left him on a broom to his own devices. As much fun as that would be, he needed to learn the mechanics of starting and- more importantly- stopping, if he didn't want to break his neck in the first five minutes.

"Yeah," he said, "Leo ended up over...there!" He pointed Leo out at the other table. "We were friends before I found out about magic, but he never told me he was a wizard. I didn't find out until I showed up to the platform and he was standing there like he takes a flying wagon every day. Anyway, I'm Donovan. Donovan Peters. Leo's my neighbor- well, as much of a neighbor as I've got. He lives about a mile and a half down the road from me."

Donovan still felt a small pang of disappointment that Leo had kept such a secret from him, but he was beginning to see how difficult it must have been for his friend. To know about an entire amazing world hidden underneath the threads of normal society, and not spill the beans? Donovan had been bursting at the seams in just the few weeks since he'd found out. To tell the truth, he was relieved that Leo did know about the magical world, so he had someone to talk to about it.

"How many magic schools are there, then?" If the Sonora representative had mentioned other schools, Donovan hadn't been paying attention. Ilvermorny sounded almost like a tongue twister, and Donovan decided he'd ask Leo to say it five times fast the next time he got a chance.

Fortune went on to explain about Quidditch. It sounded fairly straightforward, but Donovan did have a few questions.

"What are Bludgers, and why do players need protecting from them?" It was a good thing this place had a Hospital Wing, it was sounding more risky by the minute. Not that Donovan minded a little risk, or even minor injuries, but knowing they could patch you up after was important.

64 Donovan Peters Sounds fun! 1569 0 5

Robyn Lundstrom

December 18, 2022 12:52 AM

Here to help! by Robyn Lundstrom

Robyn was not the youngest. It was an exciting new feeling. Admittedly, it was one that she had had in school before, but as the baby of the family, and having been a first year last year, it was easy to find novelty in moving up the ranks. Especially as Xavier had kept trying to leave her out over the summer. Admittedly, that seemed to be less because she was too young and more because he just didn’t want her there/wanted to do ‘bro things’ with Joel, like going for frigging milkshakes had a gender. Wasn’t he meant to be all progressive about that stuff anyway, given that he was gay? Apparently, being annoying was a bigger personality trait with him though.

She took a seat at her house table, another thing that she took pride in because she didn’t have to share it with her brother. In honour of her house, her long dark hair had a large yellow and maroon bow perched on top of her ponytail, and her fingers had sparkly gold nail polish on. The right hand was a bit messy, even though she’d gotten mom to do it like usual, but her either her hands or her focus hadn’t been as steady as they’d once been.

She waited for the feast to get started. There was even a space next to her, which meant she could let a lost little first year come and sit with her and could look after them, and wisely answer their many Sonora questions. She hoped she got someone who didn’t have any family at all here, and really would benefit from her sagely second year ways. She half got this wish, as a first year boy did come and take the space next to her, though he didn’t exactly seem to be quaking in his boots at this overwhelming new situation.

Still! She was ready to answer any and all questions he might have!

Except that.

“No,” she stated, not quite managing to not stare as if he’d sprouted a second head when he suggested she might know when Quidditch tryouts were. How would she know that? Why would she know that? “Uh… They’ll put a notice up?” she added, trying to remember how it had worked last year.

13 Robyn Lundstrom Here to help! 1558 0 5

Wally O'Malley

December 20, 2022 1:12 PM

Kindness. I think I've been killing myself with it. by Wally O'Malley

“But I’m sure Valentine would have too. Hope she’s okay.”

It was meant to be a kind gesture of sympathy, but somehow, that little statement just made Wally more upset. Graham obviously could tell that Wally wasn’t happy with the results, but was it so far-fetched that he might be mostly upset for himself? Was it so insane to think that for once, maybe Wally might get a little recognition for his hard work, for how he always held everything together for everybody else? Or was it just so uncharacteristically selfish that it seemed impossible he would want something for himself? Good boy Wally, always so selfless and giving and concerned for others. Yes, he was upset for Val too, but he was primarily upset for his own defeat. Somehow, he’d lost so badly that it wasn’t even thought to be a contender!

And maybe Graham was just doing that thing that guys do, allowing Wally the masculine and noble out from his own personal feelings and making it about a woman. That didn’t seem much like Graham’s style, but if it was, then Wally didn’t even know who to be mad at anymore: Graham, or society and its expectations. Because yes, he was angry now.

But Wally didn’t say any of that. His anger, he hid more effectively. So he let it roll off him with the continued conversation. He did remember Graham’s jumpiness around CATS, and hoped that this year’s exams would be a different story. “At least it’s the last round of tests,” Wally offered, not sure why he was trying to be helpful when he was already pretty miffed about being seen as too helpful. Damn his gentle nature.

“I’m looking at schools. I think I’ll do the college thing after graduating.” The magical world seemed pretty split between internships/apprenticeships and formal education. Wally was good at school, so he figured he’d continue down that path. “But it’s early in the year, so I’m trying not to worry too much about it yet.”

12 Wally O'Malley Kindness. I think I've been killing myself with it. 1492 0 5

Hansel Hexenmeister

December 22, 2022 5:36 PM

Ooh! That's me! by Hansel Hexenmeister

Hansel was going into his fifth year. His fourth had been marked by the challenges, and his first place trophy sat proudly in his room. He felt like he'd been an active participant and helpful to each challenge. He'd even gotten to play improvised bagpipes in the school concert, which went about as badly as one would imagine improvised bagpipes played by a beginner player would go, but it had been fun, and everyone on the team had a sense of humor about it, which made it great. He was ninety percent sure his team had tied for first in that challenge because they looked like they were having a great time, rather than because their music was any good (which it wasn't).

As such, he felt he'd made a decently good impression on the professors choosing prefect, and wasn't entirely surprise when his name was called out to collect a badge, making that a full Hexenmeister trifecta with all three of the siblings getting it. (Not that Heinrich had had any competition.) Hansel gave Lydia a slightly apologetic shrug as he caught her eye as he headed up and hoped she hadn't wanted it too badly.

Returning to the Teppenpaw table with his shiny new badge pinned to his robes, he smiled at the nearest young first year because it was his job now to be friendly and helpful and make them feel welcome. Not too difficult a task for him, or far from his normal behavior, but now he was being intentional about it.

After the song, Hansel filled up his plate and smiled cheerfully at his neighbor. "Hi. Welcome back!"

OOC: If you're a first year, pretend the last line of dialog just reads, "Welcome!"

1 Hansel Hexenmeister Ooh! That's me! 1524 0 5

Oz Spellman

December 26, 2022 6:41 PM

Definitely a good idea... by Oz Spellman

’Okay then, so Henry doesn’t need to be involved…’ The words were almost out of his mouth, but for once he heard them in his own head first and paused. A secret from Henry. Again? He had promised back in second year, after he’d screwed up so much with pushing Henry out ‘for his own good’ that he wouldn’t keep major secrets from him. And since he’d promised that, the universe kept conspiring to throw things at him that he found it hard to tell his brother… Except, he’d stuck to it. He’d told him about Xavier when it had started. And now… Now he could tell Henry this, and implicate him, or he could go back to keeping a secret… Again, the alarm bells started ringing. Wasn’t that a clear indicator that he just shouldn’t do it? But Billy would hate him if he backed out now. And it sounded so frigging bad ass…

“Maybe Henry doesn’t need to help out then,” he shrugged. “I mean, I’ll probably still tell him, and he can decide, but he doesn’t have to be involved if it will compromise his prefectliness or whatever, he suggested, hoping that maybe the middle ground would solve things. He could tell Henry the truth without involving him… Maybe.

“What’s step one again?” he asked.

13 Oz Spellman Definitely a good idea... 1514 0 5

Rosalynn Tellerman

December 30, 2022 5:56 PM

Onto Advanced Classes! by Rosalynn Tellerman

Rosalynn was excited about the new year. Her team had done well in the challenges last year (or at least, they had done well on the performance challenge that earned them a shared first place finish and the right to perform in the concert, which was the one Rosalynn cared about the most given how performance based her family was) so that was a bit of bragging rights over Sullivan, and she'd beaten her brother on their CATS scores, too, so she was feeling pretty good about herself going into Advanced classes.

Plus, she still had two great roommates who she was very good friends with, and a boyfriend who was the best. She gave Tommy a smile and a wave from across the room as she made her way over to the Aladren table for the feast, but he seemed a bit distracted and morose so she decided she'd try to catch up with him either after the feast or tomorrow to try to cheer him up. Right now, though, she was supposed to be sitting with her own House, and she was a prefect, so she had an example to set, so she settled in next to Lorena and smiled at her friend.

The Head Student results were a bit surprising. She'd gone with House loyalty and voted for Bertie and Bonabelle, and she honestly wasn't terribly surprised neither of them got it, but she was surprised Valentine hadn't been elected either. Philippe and Lavender seemed like decent choices though, so she clapped for them politely. Of more personal interest to her was who became the next Aladren Prefect, and she smiled and clapped as Constance got called up. She didn't know the new fifth year prefect very well, but she recognized the girl as an avid reader and someone who was good at class participation, both solid traits in an Aladren. She'd try to remember to check in with the younger girl and make sure she got answers to any questions she might have about her new responsibilities.

She wasn't sure what kind of details might yet be forthcoming about the bonfire. It had seemed pretty straightforward last time, and she didn't think it was one that changed much from year to year. Dad said they'd done the tent thing every time he'd been on staff for it, and Sully said he'd done that for his as well, so she assumed it was a safe bet that they'd be camping out again.

Rosalynn sang the school song with strong lungs and a well carried tune - she was a prefect, so she considered it one of her duties to provide a strong lead for others to follow in the song that got played exactly once a year - and then grabbed the platter of pasta to fill up her plate.

"Sure," she responded to Lorena when she asked to have it next. She set it down between them when she was done, and held out the serving utensil. "All yours. Looking forward to Advanced classes?" she asked cheerfully. "I'm glad to be done with everyone talking about CATS all the time, and the harder material should be interesting. Did you drop anything?"

1 Rosalynn Tellerman Onto Advanced Classes! 1520 0 5

Verdillia Scurlock

January 01, 2023 2:16 AM

Happy New Year! (tag Christopher) by Verdillia Scurlock

Verdillia made her way into the hall, pleased to be able to peel away from Leviosa and go and sit with some proper people. She had been surprised at the concert last year to hear Christopher speak well of Leviosa’s on-stage shenanigans, but hadn’t had the opportunity to bring it up privately with him and ask what was going on. Although she found herself sitting next to her friend, she certainly wasn’t going to do so now. Hopefully the summer holidays had provided enough distance that people had forgotten about the concert, and Leviosa wouldn’t be the subject of gossip about inappropriate behaviour—though Verdillia suspected at this point it was one of many small things that were contributing to an overall unfavourable picture. People might not gossip exactly about the concert, but they would sooner or later start having reservations about Leviosa herself, if they didn’t already.

Once again the two of them would be in the same classes. Verdillia had mixed feelings about that. Being Leviosa’s keeper was a thankless job, and the more she was around her sister the more Leviosa could get on her nerves, or tarnish her own reputation by association. Sometimes, it was just easier when they had some space between them. Happily, the Opening Feast mandated that, so the issue of forced proximity was one for another day.

Verdillia noted the prefect appointments with interest. She had been sure that Amethyst, as both a Brockert and the headmaster’s granddaughter (as well as being better dressed and better mannered than Iris) was a shoe in. Did that mean her own chances against Christopher weren’t so infinitesimal as she had thought? He had the advantage of being a boy, of course, and boys were natural leaders. But if Amethyst’s status hadn’t put her ahead of Iris, that meant Verdillia had a shot. She would have to do her best to be kind and helpful—hopefully Crotali would actually appreciate it, unlike her own sister.

She sang the song dutifully and tunefully(ish). As the feast appeared, she helped herself to quiche and potatoes.

“It’s good to see you,” she smiled at Christopher. “Thank you for your letters over break. How was the rest of it?” She had been a faithful correspondent to all her friends over the summer, mostly sending news of magical outings, such as trips to concerts and historical houses. She’d also sent postcards to everyone from Italy, although given the limited space, there was a lot more to say about that, and had presents for them in her trunk upstairs.

OOC: I'm assuming that, as friends, they correspond over the summer. Correct me if I'm wrong.

13 Verdillia Scurlock Happy New Year! (tag Christopher) 1541 0 5