life_inshadow: ([neu] name on beach)
life_inshadow ([personal profile] life_inshadow) wrote in [community profile] fandomhighdorms2010-09-29 07:02 am

The Deck, Wednesday After Classes

Tara was in a good mood as the reserves gathered this afternoon, if one tinged with the slightest edge of nervous mania. Kennedy had told her just that morning that Constance was coming for the weekend. Constance the Watcher, who was going to want to meet Tara, and probably judge absolutely everything about her, and was there time for Tara to dye the random blonde streaks in her hair back to her natural color?

... Focus, Tara. She blinked rapidly at the group as she gathered her thoughts. "Hi!" she said. "M-most of you probably know this, but Parents' Weekend starts the day after tomorrow. That means a whole lot of our parents, friends, guardians and siblings are going to just show up and, uh, expect us to show them around."

"Which would all be stressful enough at a normal school," she continued, "But here, we have some special concerns. Like, do your parents even know you use magic, or hang out with people who do?"

"We don't have an activity today," she finished. "Just ... let's have a discussion. Should we tell guests everything and just let them process it, or is there a place for, um, little mostly white lies about what we're doing?"

Raven had felt a pang of loss at the mention of Parent's Weekend, but she kept herself composed. "I do not believe in lying," she said. "I believe they cause imbalance, and you run the risk of causing more trouble if you do not tell the truth. But the world I am from also has many people with magical abilities and super powers, so it would be easier for me to be truthful. If my world were not like that, and I had a visitor on the island, I think I would try to avoid the topic rather than lie."

Karla looked a bit sheepish when she began talking. "Really, I think there's a lot we already have to hide from our visiting relatives. Boyfriends, girlfriends, roommates of the opposite gender, grades, how close we came to dying in the most recent invasion..." Not that Karla had chosen any of these hypotheticals from her own life or anything.

"What's the point of hiding something like magic from our families compared to stuff like that? It's like saying we're ashamed of who we are and what we can do. I know that, back home, there are people who have to hide their abilities or face really serious consequences. I think that we should be proud to live somewhere that we don't have those worries. Hiding then sort of seems disingenuous."

"We should be proud when we can," Dolf announced, vocally. It was a topic he was pretty passionate about. "Even if sometimes people will want to hurt us for it. If we are doing good, then no one gets to insult us for who we are or what we do. Some will have to be careful about it, others not, but remember you have skills and you work hard, and no one here will let them get you." His voice tapered off at the end, as he realised he didn't have the words to rant more about it. His foot kicked at the ground in frustration.

Tara watched Dolf for just a second more to make sure he'd be okay before wrapping things up. "I see their arguments, but ... it kind of depends on who your parents are. My dad's really, really different from my mom, so lying to him sometimes makes sense." To say the least; bitterness crept into her tone. "What do the rest of you think?"

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] swordsandsoccer.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 11:19 am (UTC)(link)
Dolf certainly did, considering the amount of time he'd spent lecturing people (and nearly getting burned at the stake for it) less than a month previous. Which didn't mean he didn't see the point of keeping quiet on some scores, but really-- it didn't seem necessary here. Pointless, even.

Mulling that, he stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking defiant in the face of his own memories of people long gone.

Yes, he had Opinions. God help them all.
furnaceface: (Stalky)

Re: Arrive + Mingle [9/29]

[personal profile] furnaceface 2010-09-29 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Jono was here this week, and perhaps slightly more interested in the mingling thing today than usual. People were getting used to him, he was getting used to people, it all worked out nicely that way.

But he was still steering away from the food.
furnaceface: (Crouch)

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[personal profile] furnaceface 2010-09-29 12:11 pm (UTC)(link)
//What people say to their own families is their own concern,// Jono noted, eyebrows furrowed. //It depends on what people think they can drop onto their parents' shoulders without causing too many problems. What I would be more concerned about would be respecting those who have made the decision not to. Just because my guests might be alright with powers and th'people who use them, doesn't mean that somebody else needs that bomb dropped on their own parents' heads from some 'let yer freak flag fly' plonker who decides to run about showing it all off without warning.//

... Jono was very firmly rooted in the 'I will stay wrapped up and it will take ten people and a tow-truck to drag me out of my room' camp.

Re: Arrive + Mingle [9/29]

[identity profile] daventryprince.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Alexander had that feeling in his stomach that he really should have skipped today's meeting, but, even with that churning pit there, he still nibbled on some veggies and wondered if he could pass it off that he wasn't feeling apprehensive.

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[identity profile] daventryprince.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well," Alexander said thoughtfully, finally, figuring perhaps he'd just be short and simple. "It isn't so much as lying with my family as it just being...cautious. Magic is nothing new in my world; it fills almost every aspect of life. But while we have many good wizards in my world, we have far more evil ones, which is...unfortunate, and makes us naturally quite suspicious of these things."

Re: Arrive + Mingle [9/29]

[identity profile] didntchewgrass.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Elphaba had grabbed an apple, as she always did, and took little bites from it. The subject at hand today wasn't quite a happy one, for her. She'd be quiet, off to the side.

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[identity profile] didntchewgrass.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"And those of us who can't hide what we are, are we supposed to simply hide ourselves?" Elphaba said with a huff, crossing her arms.

She'd actually been planning to read in her room all weekend, just to avoid the whole ordeal. But it was the principle of the matter she had to stand up for.
furnaceface: (Stalky)

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[personal profile] furnaceface 2010-09-29 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Jonothon folded his arms and narrowed his eyes a little at the huff.

//Don't start that, luv,// Jono replied. //I have to play bloody mute all weekend. And people stare enough as it is.//

Not to mention the smell.

//I'm planning on simply hiding myself. Like I do every time a new pack of students gets brought in. At least you could look completely normal with a bit of make-up.//

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[identity profile] didntchewgrass.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"If Kurt didn't have his tik-tok device, I suppose we all could just hole up together," she said with a sigh. "And the make-up thing doesn't work. I know it doesn't."

It was hard to replicate an entire proper skin tone. She'd ended up looking like a freakish doll, and a sickly one at that because of her own skin tone underneath.

"Nice to know the acceptance here only goes so far."

She was being bitter.
furnaceface: (Crouch)

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[personal profile] furnaceface 2010-09-29 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
He wouldn't deny her the bitterness. He had plenty of his own, after all.

//People fear what they don't understand,// Jono replied, shrugging lightly. //While the other residents of the island might be getting used to it, who's to say about their parents? I'm not going to be th'one who gets somebody pulled from th'school because their folks don't think it's safe here, anymore.//

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] daventryprince.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
See, Alexander did have a reason not to skip out on the reserves. He had an impressive (http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Takes-Knight-Sandra-Hill/dp/0061673501/ref=sr_1_12?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285766695&sr=8-12) box (http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Hunter-Jennifer-Ashley/dp/0843952806/ref=pd_sim_b_6) of books (http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Warrior-Donna-Fletcher/dp/0061934712/ref=pd_sim_b_5) to deliver (http://www.amazon.com/Penelope-Charming-Leisure-Historical-Romance/dp/0843956062/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285766790&sr=1-2) to Dolf.

Impressive, that was, until (http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Next-Door-Jennifer-Ashley/dp/0843952776/ref=pd_sim_b_4) you actually (http://www.amazon.com/Stranded-Prince-Harlequin-Intrigue-Marton/dp/0373694733/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285766790&sr=1-1) looked (http://www.amazon.com/Hitched-Harlequin-Intrigue-B-J-Daniels/dp/0373694717/ref=pd_sim_b_3) at them (http://www.amazon.com/Royal-Captive-Harlequin-Intrigue-Marton/dp/0373694792/ref=pd_sim_b_5).

"Quite a selection of them today," he explained. "I had a bit of trouble choosing."

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] swordsandsoccer.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 01:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"...That is a lot of books," Dolf agreed. His brow scrunched up in a frown. A lot of books, a lot of words-- but that was what he needed, right? To keep learning? He stepped closer to the box. "Your favourite?"

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] daventryprince.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Out of these ones?" Alexander asked. "I haven't read all of them quite yet, but I was rather fond of this one (http://www.amazon.com/Stranded-Prince-Harlequin-Intrigue-Marton/dp/0373694733/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285766790&sr=1-1). It is full of a great deal of intrigue, and the title prince's stubbornness against his mother's wishes to marry him off are all to familiar to my own sister's views on the institution."

Which wasn't at all weird, Alexander, thinking of your sister with romance novels, really.

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[identity profile] didntchewgrass.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"And they like to assume things about things they don't understand, as well," Elphaba said. "Probably has to do with the fear. If you fear it, might as well make it something awful. Something hideous and twisted. That way you don't have to worry about hurting their feelings."
furnaceface: (Guiltyface)

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[personal profile] furnaceface 2010-09-29 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
//It's been my experience that people's feelings are th'last thing they worry about, yes,// Jono replied. It was almost a sigh. //Them being afraid doesn't make it any more right, I know. But what else can you do until you can prove to them that they're wrong?//

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] swordsandsoccer.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 01:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Dolf paused and simply looked at the book Alexander was holding for a minute.

He pulled a face. "That... looks like a thing from my mom's closet," he said. Then reached for it any way. "Like a-- a Bouquetreeks." Oh god, what had he gotten himself into?

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[identity profile] didntchewgrass.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"And hiding allows us to prove that so well," Elphaba remarked. "Staying out of sight and out of mind."
furnaceface: (Default)

Re: Discussion [9/29]

[personal profile] furnaceface 2010-09-29 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
//There's th'problem. Yer not out of mind th'moment you find yerself in mind in th'first place.// He shook his head a little, his hand creeping up to his face, pulling just a tiny bit of bandage out of the way. //Some people are more frightening than others. Perhaps you'll have better luck than I might.//

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] daventryprince.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"A what?" asked Alexander. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that word. But..."

Alexander could certainly decipher that face, yes. "They're amazingly deceptive. They do not look like much, I know. In fact, I was tempted to veer far from them myself, but the adage holds true. One must not judge a book by its cover."

By its torrid, shirt-ripping, shining muscled cover...

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] swordsandsoccer.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The face Dolf was pulling at the cover was even less convinced after that one, thank you, Alexander. "They're for girls," he said. "For moms," he corrected, himself. "Are you sure it's good? Because my mom's Bouquetreeks books aren't."

Re: Talk to the Leaders [9/29]

[identity profile] daventryprince.livejournal.com 2010-09-29 02:25 pm (UTC)(link)
There was a slight pause as Alexander considered Dolf's objections.

"So," he asked, "you've read those?"

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