#this pit member was not enrolled in one and was doing his best to keep it a secret from the band director.

[music-class-quotes]

drumline member: if youd come to percussion ensemble

pit member: shh, someone might hear you

[tiesthatbind-tf]

I accidentally deleted 2000 words of story for poor Soundwave last night and had to rewrite everything but tbh, they’re absolutely worthit.  Their armor definitely makes me want to experiment with Celtic motifs for Hot Rod!

Full story below.

Suraya Widodo was born to parents Wijaya and Ni Made Saraswati on the island of Madura, Indonesia. They noticed that something didn’t quite seem right with their baby, who was fussier than most, threw fits when brought into crowded spaces and seemed mostly lost in their own thoughts, though this did little to dampen their love.

The name ‘Widodo’ (healthy) was given to Suraya (despite the masculine nature of it, which does lend to Suraya’s nonchalance about their gender in later years) in hopes that they would grow up alright despite their quirks.

Wijaya, a fisherman who wanted to give his family a better life in the more industrialized town of Bangkalan west of the island, pushed himself hard at his work, hoping to earn enough to allow them to settle down there comfortably.

He began to risk venturing out into ocean areas which were occasionally used as smuggling routes where more lucrative catches laid, careful to fish there during specific times to the day to avoid crossing paths with pirates and smugglers.

However, his luck ran out one day when a smuggling vessel came across him in broad daylight and silenced him from alerting the coast guards to their existence with five shots.

Suraya was five.

Saraswati, desperate to find a way to care for her child as the new breadwinner thought she had gotten lucky when a job scouter for a factory in Bangkalan came to the village. They were looking to offer work to single mothers as part of their corporate responsibility programme and extended the offer of employment to her and promised a hostel and training so she wasn’t out of her depth in the assembly line.

Seeing it as the best option, she left Suraya with her husband’s family while she worked and lived in a worker’s hostel on weekdays and returned to see Suraya every weekend.

She would give money to the family to care for Suraya in her absence, which was crucial since they weren’t fond of Saraswati (they had not agreed to Wijaya’s marriage) and found Suraya’s odd behavior off-putting and claims of ‘hearing voices’ potentially a sign of mental illness (which was fodder for them to demand even more money from Saraswati with the excuse that Suraya was a handful).

This routine continued until Saraswati was suddenly killed in a factory accident.

Suraya was nine.

The compensation for Saraswati’s death was enough for the family for only a few months and after it dried up, the neglect and abuse began. Though at times it was odd because Suraya seemed to know when they were in a bad mood and when they were looking for an outlet for their anger, and  the child would somehow almost always magically disappear during those times.

Then an agent claiming to be from the government came to see them.

He claimed he had heard about Suraya via their mother and wanted to inspect the child to see if they would qualify for a place in a ‘special school’ for ‘different’ children, and this had sounded tame enough to the family, who allowed him to see the shy, withdrawn little waif.

However Suraya immediately could tell what his true intentions were—-to have them locked up in a testing facility to figure out their ‘mutation’—-and attempted to run, only to be caught by his fellow officers outside the home.

The family was paid compensation for officially relinquishing Suraya’s care to the state, and did so without question, only relieved to be rid of their ‘burden’.

Suraya was taken to facility after facility in the state for the first few years to have a battery of tests, many painful, run on them to figure out their ‘special ability’ as an Outlier and to see if it could be replicated.

When they were in their early teens, they were transported overseas to a different facility as a bargaining chip for intel, tech and the like, coming into the ‘care’ of people who intended to use them as a government asset.

They never saw daylight except during transportation and they began to plan their escape as they studied the facility’s layout.

Their first attempt at escape didn’t go well however; they were caught, dragged back and had their eyes burned and blinded as punishment (at this point they had shown their handlers that their highly-enhanced hearing made them capable of navigating the world in total darkness, so said handlers didn’t not see this as ‘damaging the goods’).

If the handlers thought that the punishment would deter them however, it didn’t; Suraya just became more careful and subtle with the planning of their next attempt.

The second attempt came during a transport session where there were less guards and less access to tech to subdue them, though it came with a problem they did not plan for.

In their first attempt, they had tried escaping into the countryside. In this one, they hurled themselves out completely unprepared into a world louder than any world they had ever known; downtown London on a weekend.

The cacophony completely overwhelmed their senses and they barely managed to crawl-stumble into an alley as bounty hunters were enlisted to track them down.

It was here that they ran into one Ramiro Vasquez (Ravage) who was immediately concerned about their situation and once figuring out the nature of their distress, gave them his headphones to drown out the noise and kept them safe and hidden until the bounty hunters had left.

He then took Suraya back to the rented apartment he shared with Lara Soelberg (Laserbeak) and both agreed to let the waif stay with them for as long as they needed to be alright, and the three formed a little familial unit as Suraya grew deeply fond of the two Beast Men whom they saw as two of the most compassionate people in a horrible world.

Ramiro however understood that Suraya needed tutelage to properly harness and deal with their Outlier ability; having heard whispers of a secret Outlier school run Senator Sharifuddin Waseem (Shockwave) and knowing Sharifuddin as one of the few good men in the Senate, he decided to take the risk and confronted the Senator about the matter, promising to keep the secret a secret in return for helping out Suraya.

As it turned out the threats were not necessary, as Sharifuddin was genuinely  concerned for them and came to see them personally at the apartment. Initially,  Suraya was apprehensive about meeting someone else about their abilities, remembering full well how the first such meeting ended, but to their pleasant surprise, they detected no malice in Sharifuddin’s intentions; only the desire to help.

They agreed to enroll in Sharifuddin’s Outlier institute, coming back home to see Ramiro and Lara every weekend.

They excelled in their classes and soon mastered their ability and knew how to deal with the overstimulation that came from it, to the point where they could walk the streets with no problem.

In the wake of murders of Senators Nikomedes Momus and Gayathri Sharma, Suraya offered to become a spy for Sharifuddin, who was determined to solve the deaths, and Sharifuddin began bringing them to Senate meetings under the guise of them being his new aide.

They caught the eye of Senator Radbourne (RatBat) who seemed to pick up the fact that they were an Outlier, but rather than bring up the matter, requested that they work with him as well on.... matters regarding his constituents with disabilities.

Sharifuddin has his reservations about Radbourne and Suraya knew they were up to no good and both agreed to the arrangement so Suraya could dig up more information about them.

As it turned out, Radbourne was dirty as dirty as politicians came, but he had nothing to do with the murders. Rather, he was mostly preoccupied with an individual named Morgan Trayton (Megatron), the same individual whom Omar Parvez (Orion Pax)  a friend of Sharifuddin’s, had mentioned as a great writer.

Radbourne asked Suraya to track down Morgan with an offer the man hopefully wouldn’t refuse and Suraya, intrigued about this man with what they’d heard about him from Omar, agreed to do so.

They found Morgan in a vast underground fighting ring in Moscow, and after voicing some skepticism about him walking his written talk, he allowed them to peek into his mind to see how genuine and committed he was to his cause, and it took them aback for a bit to meet someone who despite being mired in tragedy, had Sharifuddin’s desire to make a better world and the iron will to back it up.

They pledged themself to be among the first members of Morgan’s rising revolution (which was aided by Omar spreading his writings through an underground press) and told them about Radbourne’s offer to supply weapons and augmentations to increase profits from the pitfighting racket.

Morgan agreed if only to use these exact items against the Senate once he’d acquired an army.

It was during this time with Morgan that they also met Ramsey (Rumble) and Friedel (Frenzy), a pair of dwarf miners who the man had been friends with for years, and almost immediately got along with their boisterous, gregarious natures. 

They continued to be Radbourne’s liaison with Megatron until the start of the Clampdown when they watched Morgan kill the owner of the Pit, free those who wanted their freedom and take those who were loyal to him to meet with Sharifuddin to formally establish a rebellion.

It was about this time that Suraya found out that Radbourne had been conducting illegal experiments on Beast Men, something they took grave offense to, and they kept mining Radbourne for more information about where the experiments were taking place.

Upon finding out, they personally hunted down Radbourne as Stefan Scavarro (Starscream) initiated the Senate massacre to Radbourne’s labs, where he tried to fight them off only to finally find out the true extent of their abilities.

Badly-injured, his attempt at stopping them from freeing the captive Beast Men—-his “property” as he would yell at them—-ended up with him hurled into a genetic splicing pod (commissioned from a ‘Mesothulas’) which he accidentally activated.

The process twisted him into a Rat-Bat-human hybrid, and rather than kill him, Suraya decided to leave the option to the Beast Men he tortured for profit in what they saw as poetic justice.

After those who wanted vengeance were done with Radbourne, Suraya gave the  Beast Men the option of leaving free or coming with them to be a part of Morgan’s revolution which would ensure that they were never mistreated and ostracized by the larger world again.

Two of the Beast Men took up the offer; Bastien Saville (Buzzsaw) and Gan Go-eun (Glit).

When Morgan, confident in Suraya’s abilities asked them  to establish their own division focussed on spying and intel gathering, Suraya chose Ramiro, Lara, Ramsey, Friedel and Bastien to work alongside them.

While Suraya occasionally questions Morgan’s actions, two things they have never questioned are his dedication to his cause and the compassion he shows to those they care for, and it’s enough for them to consider themself a true Decepticon till the day his objectives are achieved.

[liquid-luck-00]

Queen Marinette

Queen Marinette

Here is a ~2000 word song fic that I wrote in place of working on my ongoing fics hope you guys like it.

I saw a post a while ago where Damian would call Mari Queen/Your Majesty as she was a princess, but i cant find the post anymore but the idea stuck so here we are.

~~~~~~~~~~

The League of Assassins also known as the League of Shadows is one of the Earth's best kept secret society second to Themiscyra home of the Amazons and Atlantis of the Atlantans. However there is one that only a handful know and whispers of their existence are mythical in the cosmos. Only known to the head families, or rulers, of Themiscyra, Atlantis, and the League of Assassins.

That would be the Kingdom at Miraculi.

Marinette is anything but a normal girl. She is the crowned princess of Miraculi as well as being the reincarnation of the goddess Tikki. She is creation herself, but on top of that she was blessed by the other gods as well, meaning she is able to wield their gifts as well. She is Princess Marinette Dawntreader of Miraculi.

But right now she wants to be anywhere but the palace. At the age of eight she just met her betrothed and let's just say he did not make a good first impression.

In front of her stood Damian Al Ghul the heir of Demons and next head of the league of shadows. The league is the guard of Miraculi, ensuring that the existence of the Kingdom remains peaceful and in turn the Kingdom of Miraculi supplies the magic of the Lazarus Pit. The concealment of Themiscyra and Atlantans able to survive under water are other blessings provided by Miraculi. But back to the pain on hand, Damian Al Ghul.

"Tt. you really do look the part of a princess" she was in a long flowing dress with long sleeves as she had finished her classes for the day. "Fragile and helpless."

"Yes and you appear as a demon" she shot back. "self-absorbed and arrogant" she turned on her heel "keep up little Prince" she called over her shoulder.

They got to know each other better but he was always so cold and distant. But they grew to love each other. Damian left to be with his father when they were 10, but they still stayed in contact. Then when they were 13 she got news that broke her heart, Damian was dead.

She couldn't stay in the Kingdom without remembering him. She needed distance and new scenery wouldn’t hurt. So she brought it up to her parents, and they were reluctant, but Diana Princess of Themiscyra brought up the solution Marinette would be staying with Sabine Cheng, an Amazon who was granted leave of Themiscyra , and her husband Tom Dupain.

That was how she found herself in Paris as an 8th year introducing herself as Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

That was how she also met Adrien Agreste. He was kind and sweet. He was new to school life just as she was new to life outside of Miraculi.

But not long afterwards did Lila Rossi enroll at Du Ponte.

With a quick search on google revealed most of her tales to be just that, fiction.

Adrien and Mari dated for two years before he ended the relationship. It was because she

wouldn't stop trying to reveal Lila's lies. That it was hurting his image that he was seen with her. That if only they knew the truth it would be enough. Well, fine, goodbye Adrien was her only thought. Her head held high.

Cross my heart and hope to die

I don't need another guy

To fight my battles, to overshadow me

Don't ya know I'm dangerous?

Fire burnin' in my blood

I got this handled, I don't need rescuin'

Unfortunately for him she didn't stop trying to get her class to see the truth.

A side effect of the liar's influence was that she was ostracized from the rest of the class.

But that wasn't a priority. Miraculi was going to become public. So she had a revealing ceremony to prepare for.

But before that she was asked to join as a joint member of the Teen Titians and Young Justice.

She was to meet with the two teams at Mt. Justice so she was looking for Kaldur, Aqualad, as she exited the building.

She was making her way towards him when she heard it.

"Princess" Adrien called and pulled her to look at him.

You can call me a princess all you like

'Cause you love to keep me helpless by your side

But that ain't what I want, I'ma show you

"Can I do something for you Agreste?" she asked as calmly as she could. "Because if not I am meeting a friend I haven't seen in ages."

"Just make up with Lila" he started "she isn't hurting anyone. And when you do everyone will be your friend again."

She smiled and noticed Kaldur closer than before. "Kaldur good to see you again how was your flight?" Adrien turned to see who she was talking to, and Kaldur after a second of shock responded.

"Uneventful, is everything set?" he asked giving her a way out.

"Yes" Mari answered "Sorry Adrien, another time"

"B- 02 Aqualad, B- 34 Omni"

She was in a black formfitting sleeveless top that rose to form a mask covering her face to her nose. Dark red combat boots that were tucked into black motorbike pants. A red belt with a forest green sash that faintly resembled a skirt just under it. Her gloves and arm guards were black and grey, and all over were golden accents. Her hair was cut short and was pitch black and her eyes were a golden color with flecks of green. (Outfit)

After quick introductions she noticed him, Robin of the Teen Titians, was standoffish but was familiar oh so familiar. Then she saw his hand twitch towards his sword and tapped the butt of the hilt twice before dropping his hand.

That was all the confirmation she needed. As everything fell into place.

That little jerk.

Batman asked for her to spar, to assess her combat skills. As she predicted Robin stepped in to be her partner.

She pulled two red batons from the small of her back and they began. Yes they were evenly matched but then she decided to mess with him. She turned back time to feign a right but ducked and swept his legs from under him. With him distracted she created a Mirage of herself and another to make herself invisible. She snuck up behind him used venom to freeze him and flip his cape over his head while her Mirage took his sword.

"Tt. unfreeze me" he practically growled she noticed almost everyone flinch and took a step back.

"You sure that's what you want, while I have your sword?" she taunted. She noticed a few shot her looks of sympathy. Odd. As Robin stayed quiet. "Fine" she dropped venom and he charged "Have it your way little Prince."

She jumped and he seemed to freeze mid charge but she didn't. She created a shell-ter around him.

Which he crashed into. He stood up and was gaping at her.

She dropped shell-ter and was making a few final decisions with Batman, while Robin still hadn't moved 30 minutes later and his mouth still agape. By this time Nightwing had come over.

"I think you broke little wing" he chuckled.

"You think so." she responded with a slight question. "Close your mouth your going to catch flies Al Ghul."

"Yes, Your Majesty" he finally snapped out of his stupor.

She saw Nightwing and Batman share a look and then look between the two of them.

I'ma show you

How to treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

So treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

They explained the role of Miraculi in the world. How they had met and knew one another. Their engagement and finally the reopening of the Kingdom to the world. By now she dropped her transformation, meaning her eyes were back to bluebell and her hair was a midnight blue, and the bats had taken off their masks.

Then an idea hit.

"Your plotting something" Damian snapped her out of her planning.

"Plotting makes it seem malicious" she paused "I'm planning."

"I'll bite, what are you planning?" Nightwing, Dick as he introduced, asked.

"How would you like to come to my coronation and be some of the first outsiders in Miraculi?" she responded.

Eyes on me like I'm a prize

But you better recognize

I'm not your angel 'cause I belong to me

You can call me a princess all you like

'Cause you love to keep me helpless by your side

But that ain't what I want, I'ma show you

As she guessed the news of Miraculi opening up was all the news was covering. The hidden Kingdom known only by the Amazons and Atlantans, officially, was all everyone was talking about.

The fact that the opening was set for the coronation of the princess added to the suspense.

About a month before our teacher had news. "Due to a special invitation our class has been invited to attend the Princess’ coronation in Miraculi" that was when the class erupted.

In a week Lila convinced everyone she personally asked the Princess to invite the class as a favor to her. That she grew up in the castle with her and was made a lady in waiting. Two weeks until the coronation, she asked Damian to tweet that 'he can't wait to see his best friend again in Miraculi.’ Which caused a small discourse with a boy called Jon Kent of how he was Damian's best friend. Where he answered with 'female best friend. Better Kent' That Lila used to say it was her, and that he only used best friend instead of girlfriend.

I'ma show you

How to treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

So treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

The week before they left to Miraculi, in order to show them around. Before landing Mari changed into an emerald green dress with a mandarin collar. A jacket and belt with a duster in a dark silver trimmed with gold and matching gloves. Her hair was in a side braid and a thin golden circlet on her brow. A few of her classmates glared at her but she didn't pay them any attention. (Outfit)

She was the last out of the airport and you could feel the tension in the air. Lila was spouting some nonsense to the guards that were sent to retrieve them. Then they noticed her, every guard formed a straight line to the captain as they dropped onto one knee and bowed their heads. As she passed them they stood up.

"Captain Chase it is good to see you again” she smiled as he also rose.

"The honor is mine Princess" he bowed again.

You can call me a princess all you like

'Cause you love to keep me helpless by your side

But that ain't what I want,

She turned back to face the class. "Welcome to Miraculi, I am Princess Marinette Dawntreader. I hope you enjoy your stay. The guards will escort you in these carriages to the castle for your stay." she mounted Yin (Silver), who Captain Chase brought for her. "I will ride ahead, as they are in capable hands." She smiled and rode off towards home.

The next week was amazing. Between tours of the Kingdom her classmates were part of an honorary court, to glimpse into the Royal life.

Damian almost cut off Lila's head the first time they met. Most of the class realized that if Lila lied about knowing Marinette, well the Princess but Lila hated Mari, and dating Damian, what else had she lied about. Turns out they can use google and Mari received several apologies and offers to be friends. She accepted the apologies but not their offers.

"Why?" was a consensus of the group.

"You realize that you were deceived, but that does not excuse your actions. As I am also assuming you wish to be friends because of my status." That seemed to force them to think, thank Kwami.

I'ma show you

How to treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

So treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

But the best part of this week was after the apologies was hearing them all, Lila included, only address her with 'Your Majesty’.

[salvatoreschool]

Legacies Review (2×06) – Did Aunt Freya Save the Day?

In a town filled with secrets – I mean, who isn’t keeping them in Mystic Falls? – a monster that fed on secrets posed a rather dangerous threat.

On Legacies “That’s Nothing I Had to Remember” Josie found herself in New Orleans to find answers from Aunt Freya, who also forgot all about Hope’s existence.

But when Freya gave her the spell to restore all of her memories, Josie was left with a major decision to make: should she restore everyone’s pre-Malivore memories even if it causes everyone heartbreak?

It’s a tough decision to make considering restoring everyone’s memories of Hope meant that she’d run the risk of losing Landon and stripping herself of her own happiness.

So, Josie turned to the only person she could think of the get some answers: her mom, Caroline.

I know it isn’t Legacies’ fault that original characters aren’t appearing in the series, but it would be nice to have even Caroline’s voice featured as Josie’s guide. The one-way phone call just didn’t do it for me.

But, we’re supposed to believe that Caroline told Josie that everyone deserves to remember the true, no matter how painful, and Josie pulled the trigger and restored everyone’s memories.

And just in time too, because the Croatoan was ready to devour everyone keeping a secret, specifically poor Lizzie.

It was killing Lizzie to keep the truth from Landon, and when she found out that he didn’t have sex with Josie, she almost blurted out the truth before Hope literally stole her lips.

So that’s what it’s like to be friends with a witch!

Lizzie and Landon don’t necessarily get to interact a lot, but their dynamic was hilarious. To prevent herself from telling him the truth, she made him talk about Ewok’s for hours.

This episode, despite being monumental in restoring everyone’s memories, was hilarious.

The jokes were on-point and timed perfectly, which added levity to what would have otherwise been a very serious episode.

It’s that approach of not taking themselves so seriously that had made Legacies such a hit and a stand-out series amongst its predecessors.

Once everyone was hit with the truth spell (quite literally knocked to the ground), the Croatoan was defeated, but the real problems finally set it.

Landon was upset that Hope didn’t tell him the truth or that she could have ever thought he’d be happier without her.

But realistically, Landon’s reaction was complete trash. His girlfriend made the ultimate sacrifice, suffered in the pit of darkness for months, came back to a town that forgot all about her, made the selfless choice to allow him to be happy in his new relationship, and he had the nerve to get mad at her and throw a fit?

Landon, hunny, take a step back. It’s obviously a very emotional moment for him, but what about how it felt for Hope? He didn’t even give her a chance to explain.

He also wasn’t sure how to handle his romantic situation since what transpired between him and Josie was very real.

I think the fact that he went to check in with Josie instead of Hope is very telling. He may have asked for time to figure things out, but the betrayal he feels from Hope will likely push him to continue his romantic ventures with Josie.

Rafael confronted Hope to confess that he’s always been in love with her but because of his relationship with Landon, he needed to stop being around her. It’s an unfortunate decision since Hope seemed to consider the possibility of being with him.

At this point, she has absolutely no control over her relationships anymore and must honor what others decide.

Aunt Freya’s reunion with Hope was a beautiful reminder that Hope still has original family members outside of the Salvatore School. She also mentioned that her wife, Keelin (my heart), was on Nik duty. Yes, she named her son after her brother Niklaus and mentioned that they’re thinking about enrolling him in the magical school.

Look, I know the school is plagued with weird monsters so it isn’t necessarily safe, but it’s also the safest place for a supernatural kid. I don’t know how old Nik would be now, but wouldn’t that be a fun addition to the series?

Alaric tested the waters with Sheriff Mac after she brought him in for questioning about a death at the bar considering he was seen there shortly before chatting up Headmaster Vardemus.

Alaric chalked it up to the usual — an animal attack — but Mac wasn’t buying it since she’s looked through plenty of reports and saw that somehow, Alaric is always involved.

Alaric used his get-out-of-jail-free card when he told Mac to call the Mayor who would vouch for him … Mayor Matt Donovan. You guys, Matt became Mayor. On one hand, good for him, on the other, why didn’t Matt ever leave Mystic Falls if he hated the supernatural aspect of it?

Alaric eventually told Mac the truth that the town was infested with vampires, witches, zombies, and werewolves, oh my, but Mac wasn’t buying it. And she definitely wasn’t going to be the Sheriff who would look the other way on certain cases or worked with him, which truly is a damn shame.

He gave her the chase to really understand the town and make a difference instead of being oblivious to everything that’s happening around her and she refused to give into it. So, Alaric brought in Kaleb who compelled Mac to forget everything.

Except, I think that Mac is on vervain and she’ll remember everything Alaric told her. That’s the only way this scene doesn’t become irrelevant and Mac and Alaric can continue to partner up.

Other Mystic Falls Musings

Sebastian is real and everyone can see him! Lizzie’s not having an episode (although, it was hilarious when she thought it was happening again). Sebastian’s backstory directly related to Roanoke and the Croatoan, and he had the answers to defeat it, but the fact that he’s been living with Cassandra’s death for thousands of years makes me think he’s not stable enough for Lizzie. Then again, I think he’d make a good counterpart for her, sorry MG.

Actually, I’m not sorry because MG and Kaleb’s sister, Kym, have something going on. It’s uncertain how she’ll fit into the storyline going forward, but her vast historical knowledge was impressively helpful this time around. Having a history buff on the Super Squad wouldn’t hurt.

I love that they call themselves the Super Squad.

Where was Professor Vardemus aka Ryan Clarke? Is he the person in the red hood (A? Is that you?!). And what is this red-cloaked figure up to? Why does it have its sights set on MG?

“Happier enough to have sex without me,” was probably the best line of the episode. Nah, scratch that, of the series. She has a point, bro.

Josie seeing that Hope’s family was affected by her sacrifice proves that there is a lot of good within Josie. But I fear all this dark magic is going to take a toll on her.

What choice do you think Landon will make? Which one do you think is right?

Did Raf make the right one of avoiding Hope?

Will Sebastian and Lizzie pursue a relationship?

Legacies will skip a week for the Thanksgiving holiday and will return with a new episode on Dec. 5th!

[newstfionline]

Beirut Blast, Mayhem In A Nation Already On Its Knees

Benjamin Barthe, Le Monde, August 5, 2020

“Lebanon had already been teetering on the edge of an abyss. It’s now fallen in.” That’s how Beirut correspondent Benjamin Barthe begins his piece in today’s Le Monde, in the wake of the massive blast that devastated the Lebanese capital yesterday. The deadly explosion, Barthe writes, couldn't have come at a worse time for the country, which is also struggling with high inflation, the collapse of its currency and a new wave of coronavirus infections:  “The explosion, which killed at least 100 people and was felt kilometers away in all directions, comes in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. The national currency is in free fall, the middle class is disintegrating and state institutions are adrift. And the enormous mushroom cloud of black smoke that appeared at about 6 p.m. yesterday, above the city’s port, is the sad symbol of that systematic implosion. It signals the collapse of a model that was supposed to allow Lebanon to rebuild after its 15-year civil war (1975-1990) but instead took it in the opposite direction. “Several hours before the explosion, dozens of demonstrators tried to force their way into the Ministry of Energy headquarters to protest against the electricity outages that have become a daily occurrence in Lebanon. Three, five, 10 hours per day — there are blackouts constantly. How long they last depends on where a person lives and the effectiveness of the “motor,” as the generators that serve particular buildings or neighborhoods are known. “The generators were supposed to alleviate the power rationing measures imposed by the national electricity company, a money pit and temple of patronage that is a prime example of the spreading decay in the country’s state institutions as a whole. All of the governments that have succeeded each other over the past 30 years promised to reform the electricity sector, which is alone responsible for some 40% of the country’s debt. None of them managed to do so. “Also on Tuesday, at about 5:30 p.m. — only a few minutes, in other words, before the chaos — the Ministry of the Interior announced details about a new coronavirus lockdown phase, to take place between Aug. 6 and 10. “Barely touched by the COVID-19 epidemic this past spring, Lebanon is now facing a second, more violent wave. At the rate things are going now, with approximately 200 new coronavirus cases detected every day, the country’s health care system will soon be overwhelmed. “In the public hospital Rafic-Hariri, of the 23 beds that are specially equipped for COVID-19 patients, 19 are already occupied. And in reality, there are no other establishments in Lebanon really engaged in the fight against the pandemic. Budget cuts have left the country’s other public hospitals without the means, equipment or personnel to cope with the crisis. Private health care facilities are more numerous and offer better services. But most are reluctant to treat COVID-19 patients for fear that they’ll scare off other paying clients. “The confessionalist political model that governs Lebanon has failed to remedy these glaring dysfunctions. Established to ensure fair representation of all the country’s religious communities, the system has instead been perverted by the heads of the different groups, who are often former militia leaders and are unwavering in their positions. “The Taif Agreement that, in 1989, put an end to the war, envisioned a transition toward a civil state. Instead, a kind of “vetocracy” — a dysfunctional government where no one has enough power to really take charge — gradually emerged. The country’s oligarchs keep pushing against each other for fear of losing their share of the power. In the end, the only thing the members of this cartel can agree on is preserving their own interests. “This attitude is also at the root of the economic catastrophe that befell Lebanon this spring. The public financing system is based on deposits in the central bank and on inflated treasury bonds. But because the political class profits from it — most notably through its shareholding in the banks — the government refused to reform the system. “Eventually the Ponzi scheme pyramid collapsed, triggering a cash shortage that caused the national currency — the Lebanese pound — to lose 80% of its value in the span of just a few months. The price of basic consumer goods skyrocketed as a result, with an inflation rate that, as of June, was up 90% on the previous year. The de facto capital controls instituted by the banks ended up destroying the purchasing power of the Lebanese. The poverty rate, estimated at 35% of the population in the fall, is now close to the 50% mark. “The crisis has hit the Lebanese middle class — long considered the Middle East’s wealthiest and best educated — especially hard. A 30-something university professor who earned the equivalent of $4,000 per month last year is now bringing in perhaps $800 a month. Professionals in this income bracket were used to traveling several times a year and driving SUVs. Now they’re having to pull their children out of private schools and enroll them instead in public schools — the ultimate sign of class demotion in Lebanon. “The country earned a reputation abroad for offering a certain carefree, expensive and enjoyable lifestyle. But that way of life is now on hold. Because of the plunging pound and the measures taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus, hundreds of bars, nightclubs and restaurants have been forced to close. Tourism, a pillar of the local economy, is in dire straits, as is the banking sector, which had long been another point of pride. Now, the country’s banking and financial reputation is in tatters. “But along with the deep political and economic problems, what’s also in crisis — and in need of rebuilding — is Lebanon’s raison d'être: its regional role as a service hub linking Europe and the Arab world. And that’s why the cataclysm of Aug. 4 will be so painful, because it rocked an already tottering edifice. It’s a gut punch to a people already burnt out from exhaustion, a knock-out blow to a country that simply can’t take another calamity.”

[shawnsorangeglasses]

The Opposition - Part 1

2.7k words

the law student!shawn au is here and all because i can't keep my mouth shut or my hand down. meet Caroline (she'll get a surname later). today she has turned Shawn's morning on it's head.

warnings: none, bon appetit

Shawn saunters across the northernmost green lawn, deliberately crunching leaves beneath his heels. There's about five other people are heading in the same direction, weighed down by their heavy bags and arms full of folders. He remembers a time when he used to be like them. Green, small, and in a hurry. But he’d been in law school for two semesters now and the worst was behind him. He never had to join some stupid fraternity and even has an internship squared away at a decent firm just within city limits for next year.

His phone buzzes in his coat pocket but he doesn’t need to look at it. It’s only the alarm to remind him that orientation is in an hour. He’s supposed to be greeting incoming students today and participate on a student panel. Just enough time to grab breakfast from the cafeteria.

The dining hall is virtually empty as it is most early mornings. Other than a couple people sat by the window tables, the room was dead. Shawn meanders through vacant chairs while briefly checking his email. His employer for the summer break has yet to get back to him on details of his position at the firm. Any information he could get his hands on to prepare is invaluable to say the least.

Then a person bumps right into him right before he can pass the vending machines, spilling chilled water all the way down his front.

"Shit," she whispers, then turns reaches over to a table for some napkins. "Sorry, sir. I should have been paying attention."

"Sir?"

The woman takes a better look at his face. "Oh, you're a student. Dressed like the dean?" She hands him a bundle of napkins. "Halloween isn't for a couple of months."

Shawn has to stop himself from snatching them out her hand. "I have a panel to do this morning," he says through his teeth.

"The student panel? What time are you-"

"Do me and everyone else a favor and watch where you're going from now on."

She scoffs. "Excuse me, Trench Coat, but you ran into me. Try looking up from your phone for once. I was here first."

"Didn't you just apologize to me for not paying attention?"

"Yeah but that was before I realized you're a prick."

Shawn takes a closer look at her now that she's insulted him. At first glance, it looks like a mess, but he starts to wonder if she purposefully dressed this way. Her jet black hair is big and wild, contained only by a headband. She definitely doesn't look like any other female student he's seen this morning, wearing a faded Eagles t-shirt, black sweats, and untied sneakers. He checks his watch. Forty-five minutes.

"Listen, I’d love to stand here and win this argument, but I have somewhere important to be."

"Hm, hope your attitude improves before then," she says as she slips past him.

Shawn shakes his head as she shoulder checks him on the way out. He looks down at his wet button down and slacks. The best solution for now was to just button his coat and grab something quick for his stomach. He would not allow himself to be messed up by this stranger.

…

It's several minutes before orientation begins. Shawn is bounding across the parking lot, coat still buttoned up in the August heat. A few moments sat in a sunny courtyard table didn't do much to dry his clothes, but he couldn't afford to waste any more time. He ended buying an overpriced iced tea from the campus Starbucks and moved on. Harrison, his fellow SGA member and roommate, is waiting for him outside on the auditorium steps doing a crossword puzzle. He flashes that crooked smile at the sight of Shawn and scrambles to his feet.

"What happened to you? You're usually here before me."

"I just got sidetracked at breakfast by this girl."

Harrison's jaw drops, dramatic as usual. "You finally got a girlfriend?"

Shawn rolls his eyes. "Why is love all you think about? No, in fact this person in particular was actually pretty rude." He opens his coat. "She did this to me."

Harrison's eyebrows hike up. "Oh."

"I just want to do the panel and end this day already."

"Well just a heads up, we have a newbie, uh Caroline, joining the club. She's really cool, I think she'll be a nice addition."

"Good, because the last thing student government needs is another wrench thrown in the middle."

The dimly lit lobby is filled with students waiting to be let in. Shawn and Harrison cross the foyer and enter the vacant auditorium. In the center of the stage is a table and a young woman with her back turned to the seats.

"Caroline," Harrison calls out, "this is Shawn. The guy I was telling you about earlier."

Shawn almost chokes on his drink when she turns around. Of course, it's the young woman from the dining hall, dressed very different from before. She's traded her sweats for a slim red dress and her once wild hair is tied back in a neat bun. A wry smile plays on her lips, which now also wear a dark brown paint.

"Trench Coat," she chirps.

"You?!" Shawn can't control his tone. His voice echoes all the way into the lobby.

"I don't fucking believe it." Caroline places a hand on her backside. "Have you fixed your attitude yet?"

"You two know each other," asked a very confused, but also amused, Harrison.

"Unfortunately," Shawn bites. "She's the reason my clothes are a mess."

Caroline hops down from the stage and jogs up to them. "It's just water. And again, you ran into me."

Shawn blinks in disbelief. "Who the hell let you on SGA? On this panel?"

"I did."

Attie Bartlett emerges from behind the curtain with another chair for the panel. She's fairly easy to mistake for a student with her 5'2" stature and simple clothes. The only thing that gives her away now is the patch of gray on the top of her hairline. Shawn composes himself in her presence. Attie's been the SGA sponsor since long before he enrolled.

"I don't know what's going on with you kids, nor do I care, but you need to get backstage and wait to be called."

Harrison and Caroline run past the curtains. Shawn stays put, frozen at the edge of the orchestra pit. He contemplates diving head first into the music stands. Attie's just about to walk to the entrance and let the new students in when he stops her short.

"Ms. Attie, you can't be serious about Caroline," he whispers.

"I know," she sighs and keeps walking, "she's a tad different from what you're used to. But give her a chance. She might surprise you."

"I hate surprises."

"Go. Backstage." Attie gives him the look and Shawn sulks away. As he's passing the curtain, he tosses what's left of his tea in a nearby trash bin.

Naturally, Harrison is chatting away with Caroline in the girls dressing room. Shawn peeks inside from behind the door. "Harrison, you and I can't be in here."

"It doesn't really matter if there's only one fully clothed girl in here, Shawn," says Caroline. "I grant you passage."

He steps into the cramped room, "I wasn't talking to you."

She's staring back at him, smug and smart in her little red dress. Harrison is sat on the counter in front of the wall mirror. The vanity lights above his head make his usually brown hair glow with a tinge of red orange. Shawn takes the space next to Harrison, leaning back with his arms crossed, eyeing Caroline. She holds his gaze, not at all bothered.

"You guys, this is so great," Harrison beams. He continues to ramble on about how SGA needed more girls since the last few graduated this past spring. Only Shawn's not really listening. He's watching Caroline, taking everything in. Thick, dark eyebrows. A dimple in one cheek. Large, sharp nose. All of it impossibly irritating. Especially how even when she's not smiling, the sides of her mouth still curl upwards like she is.

Harrison's still reeling. "She's like a girl you, but relaxed. I'd say we might be a solid friend group again."

"We're not friends, Harry," Shawn mumbles. This makes her ears perk up and her eyes narrow.

"Well, why can't we be?" Harrison, all the more hopeful, moves next to Caroline. "I mean this feels right."

"Yeah, Shawn," Caroline chimes in. "This feels right."

"Quit saying 'feels' like that." Shawn rises to his feet, so he's just barely towering over Caroline. "I won't go that far, but I suppose a welcome is in order. SGA and the Student Mentors take any and all who qualify and I have to trust Ms. Attie made the right decision, as much as I may disagree."

Caroline extends her hand, beckoning Shawn to shake it. He takes hold of it cautiously. "I look forward to working with you Shawn."

Attie knocks on the door and it swings open. "Hey, come get in place you three."

…

The newcomers had plenty of questions and for whatever reason took a strong liking to Caroline. Every word that fell out of her mouth was charming and funny. No other person in student government had that kind of effect on people. And although he'd never say it out loud, Shawn was impressed.

Then orientation ends and Shawn can't leave fast enough. He and Harrison are halfway down the steps when his friend pulls on his sleeve.

"Oh, there's Caroline."

Sure enough, she is standing a few feet away from them, earbuds in, scrolling through her phone. Her hair is out again. "Let's invite her to lunch with us," Harrison says and starts to walk in her direction.

Shawn yanks on his jacket. "Harrison, she doesn't want to eat with us," he hisses

"How do you know? We haven't even asked her yet. Caroline!"

She takes a second to look away from her phone. "Yeah?"

"We're going to Waffle House right now. You wanna come?"

She glances at Shawn but he immediately averts his gaze to the nearest tree. "Only if it's okay with him."

Harrison glares at Shawn, and he sucks in his cheeks. "Sure," he says, forcing a smile, "the more the merrier."

Caroline skips down the steps to join them at the sidewalk. Harrison links arms with her while Shawn keeps his flush at his sides, hands stuffed deep in his pockets. As walk they off the campus grounds, he starts to relax. Strolling like this always clears his head. He seldom ever walked anywhere without being pressed for time.

"So what're you two studying," Caroline asks.

"I'm majoring in literature and Shawn's in criminal law," Harrison says proudly. "You should see him in the mock trials they put on every other weekend."

"I do okay," says Shawn.

"He does fantastic," Harrison corrects. "Last semester, he owned Jared Price's ass in every single trial."

Shawn suppresses a smile. Harrison enjoys boasting about his friends and he always means every word.

"So that's what you meant when you said you'd 'win this argument' in the dining," Caroline murmurs.

Shawn almost didn't hear her say it, and she's pretending he's not there when he looks her over.

"I may have been a bit coarse when we met this morning. I apologize. You caught me at a bad time."

Her lips twist into a pucker. "I'm sorry for spilling ice water down your pants."

For a brief moment, her eyes meet his. Shawn’s the first to look away when his face feels hot. He clears his throat for no reason.

"See," Harrison squeaks. "We are friends!"

"Don't push it Harry," Shawn warns.

The Waffle House sits on the corner of the school zone's intersection. Despite being a visual sore thumb to the otherwise professional office buildings lining the block, it often stays packed with kids either from the high school or college campus. This Friday however, the crowd was rather thin.

The three students walk into the small diner. Somebody recently put "Mr. Blue Sky" on the jukebox. Harrison makes a beeline for their coveted booth. It was the perfect spot in the corner window and not far from the music.

Caroline takes one side of the booth, and Shawn takes the other. Harrison is sat in the middle. A waitress named Joanne meets their table shortly after they sit down to take the drink orders.

"I'll be right back," she says then dips back into the kitchen. Shawn begins to unpack his laptop. The paper he was revising last night reappears on the screen. He picks up where he left off.

Harrison looks up from his menu, "Shawn, Kate told me she wanted to talk to you."

His nose twitches at the sound of her name. "Tell her I died," he says, not missing a beat.

"Or you could go listen to her?"

"Who's Kate," Caroline asks.

"A good reason to take a shot of cyanide," Shawn sighs.

"Shawn, be nice," Harrison insists. He turns to Caroline. "She's his ex. And probably first real girlfriend. And he needs to talk to her before my data runs out from her texting me about you."

Shawn types faster. "We were hardly anything for two weeks before she completely ghosted me and now she wants to talk? Hard fucking pass."

"First girlfriend," Caroline repeats. "In college?"

Shawn stops typing, "I didn't make time for relationships before now. Besides, I was trying to get into law school."

Harrison leans in Caroline's ear, "Which is insane with his face and body. I had three boyfriends total in high school and I'm a barely a seven."

"Not everybody can be a man whore like you Harrison," Shawn mumbles.

"I am not a man whore," he huffs. "I'm just charismatic. Something you could try a little harder to be."

Joanne comes back with an orange juice for Harrison, two mugs for Shawn and Caroline, and a pot of coffee. She takes their orders again and pours the coffee before leaving. Shawn takes a handful of sugar packets and tears them open one by one over his mug. He's on the fourth packet when he notices Caroline and Harrison staring fondly at him.

"What," he asks, now suddenly very anxious.

"I've just never seen someone load their coffee with so much sugar," Caroline says. Harrison stifles a laugh.

"Well it tastes like hot dirt plain," he claims, nodding to her mug. "So enjoy your cup of hell."

"And I here thought you'd be the mom of the group when it's actually Harry."

"Aw," Harrison coos.

Shawn's eyebrows furrow. "What the hell does that make me?"

"Probably the moody teenager."

Harrison covers his mouth. "Oop."

"Or the old man," she adds. Harrison snorts.

"Alright alright, I get it," he shuts his laptop. “You two are a barrel of laughs.”

A different waiter arrives shortly thereafter with three plates of waffles. The lunch goes well into the afternoon. Caroline made origami frogs out of napkins. At one point, Harrison recited his lines for a Shakespeare project perfectly. Shawn just sat back watched as he entertained Caroline with soliloquies and monologues. He has no choice but to admit this really does feel right.

They end up slightly  overstaying their welcome in the Waffle House and Harrison has to leave for a rehearsal at 3:00 PM. Shawn offers to walk Caroline back to the dorms. To his surprise, she gladly accepts.

“Does this mean we’re friends now,” she asks a few minutes in.

Shawn examines her before. She’s crunching leaves under her toes. “I guess I can make an exception.”

“Well thank you, your honor,” she says, bowing deeply.

Shawn rolls his eyes, “I’m studying to be a lawyer, not a judge.”

Caroline shakes her head. “Always so serious.”

“What’s wrong with serious?”

She shrugs “Nothing. But what’s the harm in loosening up?”

Shawn stops and looks at the enigma before him. She’s looking back at him, waiting for something to happen. He looks around and spots a cluster of dandelions in the grass. He picks one up and sticks it behind his ear. “How’s this for loose,” he asks, holding his arms out.

A cheeky grin spreads across Caroline’s face. She snags a few more flowers from the ground and carefully threads them into his hair. What’s stranger is Shawn lets her. She takes a step back to view her work. Her lashes flutter happily. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

taglist

@spider-mendes @sebsdreamboat @innositer @sauveteen @sinplisticshawn @sohani02 @yourkidsfavbabysitter @imaginesofdreams @matchamendes @gxccicoffee @daisychains4 @tnhmblive @nervousaroundmendes 

[foolgobi65]

Ah do Krishna and Bhishma in Hogwarts

this is so late i cant even say anything im so sorry but still i hope u like it!! i really enjoyed writing for it and surprisingly enjoy writing these two together more than i expected – i always make bhishma nicer and better than he is in canon but i also truly think that krishna brings out the best in him. thank you for the prompt!! please send more since i def have more time now that it is summer

1.

Bhishma does not watch the trial – like most of the Wizarding World, he listens to it broadcast on the radio, barred from the Wizengamot by his vow to pass the family seat through the blood of Satyavati. Bhishma does not watch when the boy Krishna is brought into court in chains and at the wandpoint of five aurors, does not watch when Kamsa stands from his seat at the head and accuses a child of treason, of exposing magic to muggles, of genocide secondhand – for that of course is what the Magical World apparently has to fear from their muggle counterparts.

“I disagree, Uncle.”

As one, the Wizarding World gasps. It is Him, then, this boy Krishna. The Chosen One, the fulfillment of a 20 year old prophecy that keeps Kamsa’s sister Devaki and her husband Vasudev falsely imprisoned to this day. It is Krishna who, 15 years ago, had the audacity to be born even inside the pit of human despair, whose disappearance from inside Azkaban had hastened the death of Wizarding democracy in the guise of Kamsa’s Emergency.

“You admit that you are their son?” Kamsa for once speaks for the entirety of Wizarding Britain. It is the question every person wants to ask, after years of Kamsa’s iron fist slowly strangling Magical Britain’s throat in pursuit of his predestined killer. “You admit that you want to kill me, the Minister for Magic.” Bhishma scoffs at the way Kamsa, claims democratic legitimacy even as a dictator.

There is a sigh that travels through the radio, deep and long, one that seems more suited for a man of Bhishma’s years and experience than Krishna’s sixteen. The whole of Magical Britain pauses for breath.

“I do,” Krishna says, voice calm at what every listener knows clearly to be a death sentence. “I am.”

Kamsa’s voice shifts to a register of glee. “This is treason!” No assembly could be complete without Kamsa’s favorite word. The punishment for actions against the Minister have grown more and more stringent in the last decade in wait for this moment, where Kamsa has set enough precedent to order an immediate execution. Neither Bhishma’s power nor his vows allow him to breach the doors of the Wizengamot. After all this time the Emergency will end like this, he thinks in sudden, overwhelming despair: the body of Devaki’s son cold on the ground, his death broadcast throughout Kamsa’s new kingdom.

But then, incredibly, over the radio Krishna begin to laugh – the sound grates against the tautness of Bhishma’s nerves for all that it is full of joy, of reckless abandon. It is only later that Bhishma will realize that the discomfort he felt at that moment was not discomfort at all – hope had been lost so long that he had forgotten what it felt like, swelling inside his chest, burning inside of his veins.

“You are untrained,” Bhishma hears Kamsa sneer, the last of Krishna’s laughter still echoing against the Wizengamot stone, “you are untrained, and with magic so low that you were not deemed worthy of a Hogwarts education. You cannot kill me.”

A gasp. “The chains,” someone shouts, “they’re gone!”

Members of the Wizengamot are not allowed their wands in session, and while Kamsa and his aurors are almost certainly armed, there is none amongst them that would banish the boy’s chains. Krishna has no wand, and what Kamsa said was true – a boy untrained, with so little magic that Hogwarts records did not deem him worthy of an invitation, could not have banished his chains.

And yet.

“You’re right,” Bhishma hears amidst the uproar, and then in the silence that follows he hears a slight rustle, the sound gentle enough that it could only be clothing shifting against skin.

“I am untrained,” Krishna says, tone as easy with this fact as if he were listing the color of his hair.

There is a click, and then Bhishma hears an explosion.

“And yet, Uncle,” Krishna says before the shock fades and the screams begin, “you are dead all the same.”

2.

There is a great furor in the aftermath of Kamsa’s assassination: the Wizarding World is unprepared for the death of its benign dictator, only more so when faced with its cause.

“I will take him,” Bhishma announces, blowing open the doors and standing carefully outside the Chamber. “The boy Krishna.” He blinks as members of the Wizengamot move so that Bhishma can have a clear view of the proceedings inside. Krishna, who he assumed would have been hurried out of the room instead sits cooly on the ground, hands busy with some sort of contraption. Bhishma does not speak of his brief childhood amongst Muggles, but he remembers something much larger, something that could not have been concealed under clothes.

“It is a gun,” the boy confirms, face blank as he refuses to meet the Wizengamot’s gaze. Kamsa’s bloody body cools on the ground only a few meters away. “Father purchased it after my uncle sent the Grindylows four years ago.”

Bhishma clenches his jaw. Kamsa’s obsession was renowned, but every new example of its consequences is cause for disgust– under the Emergency all dissent has been quelled as Kamsa combed both Magical and apparently Muggle Britain for those who stepped out of line, in seeming solidarity with Devaki’s mythic son.

Today’s trial had been triggered by a dementor attack on a Muggle hamlet, repelled, Kamsa claimed, without his official sanction by a sixteen-year-old boy without enough magic for a Hogwarts invitation. Or at least, that is what they had assumed.

“How did you repel them?” Bhishma hears from a member somewhere in the gaggle ahead. Whether they mean the grindylows or the dementors he does not know.

Krishna stands, neatly slipping the gun into his waistband. A moment passes where he gazes at the crowd in front of him, the most powerful of the British Wizarding population, people who together decide the present, who bend the arc of the future. Each person, later, will claim that in that moment Krishna was looking only at them, was laying bare their personal ambition, their excess, their very essence.  

Bhishma standing tall behind the Wizengamot threshold feels small as he has not in more than a hundred years, suddenly a child once more clutching at his mother’s fingers inside the halls of the Kuru family home, waiting to be claimed by a father he had never known.

“He is one of you,” Ganga had told Shantanu, “so you must keep him safe.”

Bhishma locks eyes with Krishna and nods – he is not Shantanu, has no ties of blood, but the boy will be safe all the same. Krishna exhales, closes his eyes, brings his hands forward, and pulls.

The room gasps together as swirling spikes rise from the stone. Everyone is frozen at the sight, eyes glued to the floor Krishna mutates in perfectly deadly concentric circles. He has no wand.

“By Merlin,” someone whispers, the tones are familiar enough that Bhishma’s believes it to be Vyasa, court witness and the first son of Bhishma’s venerable stepmother, Lady Satyavati herself. The muttered oath is more accurate than he thinks he means. Bhishma swallows at a display of raw talent the types of which he had assumed no longer existed.

Krishna opens his eyes. As one, the Wizengamot steps back – only Bhishma tries to step forward, catching himself only at the end when his toes threaten to cross his self imposed boundary. A small, wry smile graces Krishna’s lips.

“Hogwarts it is, I suppose.”

3.

The decision to release Vasudev and Devaki are released even before Kamsa’s body is taken away – that is an easy decision after all, taken by people racked with guilt at the plight of two individuals without even a magical core to sustain them locked in Azkaban for almost half their lifetimes. Vasudev, only son of the late Surasena whose family sat on the Wizengamot for generations, is a squib. Even worse is Devaki, half sister of the half-blood Kamsa, the first Muggle to know the eternal chill of the dementors outside her cell. That they even live should be considered extraordinary. That they managed to produce a child, that said child could grow despite it’s magicless mother’s physical malnourishment and mental torment, that the child was born and lived and left: this is what even the Magical World can only consider a miracle.

And yet, there is not a wizard alive who would consider the pair after such an ordeal fit guardians for any magical child, much less one of Krishna’s apparent abilities. Bhishma is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, and so any child of school-attending age comes under his jurisdiction. Bhishma also remains the Grand-sire of the Kurus, who now count Surasena’s daughter Pritha one of their own. His great-grand nephews may lawfully call Krishna Vaasudev “cousin,” and when Bhishma looks to the other families who might claim the same connection, Damagosha and Vridhasharman avert their eyes.

“A vow,” Vyasa calls out, shedding the guise of humble stenographer at this time of crisis. “I want you all to swear an Unbreakable Vow that you will never reveal what you just saw.” He glances at Bhishma, still standing outside of the room, and looks away, biting her lip in an now uncharacteristic show of emotion. He turns to Krishna.

Krishna shrugs, closing his eyes once more and pushes at the air above the floor. The spikes smooth, leaving the ground as it was before.

“It is May,” Bhishma says into the silence, as they all try to envision the shape of this new world. “I will take Krishna until September, when he will be enrolled as a fifth year at Hogwarts.”

The Wizengamot, unruly and contentious even at the best of times, assents.

The Kuru family home was once the pride of Wizarding Britain, teeming constantly with life and activity and culture. When Krishna, having been instructed in Floo usage, tumbles out of the Great Fireplace, it is almost like that again. The entire family, from Dhritarashtra to Kunti’s Sahadeva is gathered, voices echoing off of the famed ceiling Hogwarts’ Great Hall is said to have been based on. Bhishma clears his throat, and as one, they turn.

It has been years since Bhishma has been able to command the room like this, at least outside family feasts – but even those slowly dwindled as the children came and left Hogwarts. He would not claim enjoyment in this moment, but perhaps deep down there is something of satisfaction.

“This is Krishna,” he calls out, though from the looks on his family’s faces this is something they already know. “He will be staying with us for the summer from now on.”

“Actually,” Krishna says from behind Bhishma, “I have to go home.”

Bhishma turns on his heel. “What do you mean you need to go home?” It is a tone of voice that has quelled even Duryodhana at his most irascible, and yet Krishna only raises a brow. Bhishma presses on, ever aware of the studied stillness of his family behind, all trying to pretend that they are not in the room. “Do you even know what you have done? Kamsa had the backing of powerful men, crafted an auror force almost slavishly devoted to his every word. Do you think they won’t try to kill you if you set foot outside our door?”

Again, in the face of danger, Krishna only laughs. “My parents, Nanda and Yashoda, are Muggle. My entire village is. If I am in danger, then what are they, who have no knowledge of this world, no power to protect them from retribution.” Krishna purses his lips. “If you mean for me to live in this world can you guarantee me their safety, their well being, and their happiness until the day they die of natural causes?”

Bhishma cannot. “What will you do?”

Krishna swallows, looking uncertain, even lost for what Bhishma believes to be the first time since he set was dragged into his trial. “Mother does not understand, she never has. Everytime Kamsa sent another monster, she demanded we move, as if every place we lived in was cursed instead of it being me. I tried to tell her when they came, but she only cried and begged for me to leave it all and come home. The memories will haunt her, when I don’t.”

Bhishma, whose mother left him on Shantanu’s doorstep and told him to never look back, who still remembers her every day since, feels a wash of sympathy for what Krishna must do.

“Only them?” Bhishma does not question if Krishna knows how to erase his parents’ past – for one, memory erasure outside of Ministry authority is one of the High Crimes even in times of peace. Yet, to work with the Ministry in this case would only put those poor Muggles at risk. It is the nature of the Wizarding World, he knows, to forget inconvenient parts of people’s past: Bhishma who was once the half-blooded Devavrata now stands the venerable head of the Kuru clan. With his birth parents still alive, no one will question who raised Krishna Vaasudev. Bhishma will go to the Ministry himself and make sure the relevant documents are destroyed.

“And a girl as well,” Krishna says, lips turning of their own accord into something of a wistful, longing smile. “I asked her to come with me, but she refused.” Bhishma, whose easiest pledge was the one in which he forswore a wife, in that moment can only feel a voyeur.  

His voice, when he speaks, is gruff. “You will be back in September?”

“Before that, even, if I can,” Krishna says, nodding at the silent Kauravas still gathered motionless in the Kuru Great Hall. “I look forward to meeting you all in the future.” His smile slips into something just slightly sad. “It will be nice to still have a family when I return.”

4.

For a single moment, Bhishma feels fear when Krishna is sorted into Slytherin. It is the house Kamsa had been sorted into, a half-blood almost dripping with charisma and eager to climb as high as the ladders would take him – and then to construct further rungs where they stopped. Is this to be the fate of the Wizarding World, to only exchange one tyrant for another?

It is a moment that shames him, he who is supposed to look at the four houses with only benign indifference. Yet he is not the only one who seems wary, a strained type of silence seeming to follow the boy whenever he enters the Great Hall at mealtimes, which is all Bhishma sees of his students at school. For weeks, everyone waits for the knut to drop, for Krishna to bend rooms to his will and gather supporters at his feet.

A month passes, and Krishna Vaasudev continues to eat alone. Every once in a while one of Drona’s Hufflepuffs tries to catch his eye when he enters, her face falling when she is ignored time and time again.

“Subhadra,” Drona mumbles, “Second year Muggle-born.” He frowns “No,” he says, seemingly in anticipation of Bhishma’s next question. “I don’t know why.”

Another fortnight, and Bhishma has almost convinced himself that what he saw before was an illusion, or perhaps a stroke of fate that overtook the young Krishna’s body. Perhaps the Chosen, when their prophecies are fulfilled, become one with the rest – what Bhishma recalls of Krishna’s smile, his triumphant laughter, has faded with Kamsa’s influence over Magical Britain. He thinks this, and then he stumbles upon Krishna laughing like Bhishma remembered with someone in an abandoned classroom.

“Grandsire!” Krishna’s companion rises and Bhishma is shocked to his core to recognized Arjuna, famously private, and almost notoriously sullen bounding to Bhishma with a smile Bhishma has not seen in years. Each of his great-grandchildren have made their peace with knowing that Bhishma at Hogwarts cannot be the Grandsire from their homes, but Arjuna, in particular, has always been scrupulous about maintaining the distance between student and teacher, Great-grandfather and favorite son. Bhishma in his surprise, and in something of a slight longing for affection from his favorite, allows himself an embrace.

“Arjuna,” Bhishma smiles, helpless at the sight of Arjuna’s grin, no matter the cause. “What are you doing here?” It is not a warning, or even truly a complaint – the pair is not out of bounds or our after hours, but it is curious to find Arjuna outside of his room when not in class, stranger still to see him in the company of someone not his brothers. It is almost extraordinary to know that Arjuna has been laughing.

Arjuna’s face smoothes into something that Bhishma struggles to name, until he realizes it is something like contentment, so alien to the character of his Arjuna, always taut with one anxiety or another.

“Krishna is teaching me how to cast a patronus.”

Bhishma raises an eyebrow, looking past Arjuna to the other boy who has risen but stands, ankles crossed, leaning against the wall in what must be carefully constructed insolence.

“A patronus is complex magic,” he hears himself say, and it is. But Krishna Vaasudev was brought to the Wizengamot for warding off the dementors, and he had never answered the Wizengamot’s question that first day. Krishna smiles, bypassing the question implied.

“Ask the Headmaster, I’m sure his answer will be the same as mine.”

Bhishma raises another eyebrow. “I can’t cast a corporeal patronus,” Arjuna says, his wry smile so different from his carefully controlled frustration when faced with an obstacle he cannot overcome through single-minded practice. “Krishna thinks it’s because my memory is too weak.”

Bhishma frowns. Normally, especially with children so young, he would attribute this to a lack of control over one’s magical core. But Arjuna has trained so long that he remains in school as a matter of formality, his control over his power already a thing approaching legend.

“I would agree,” Bhishma admits, “if only because I have seen you accomplish more complex spells with less training.”

Arjuna snorts, turning towards Krishna so that Bhishma, his headmaster, his beloved Grandsire can only see his back. “Like you said, I am an utterly miserable individual.”

Bhishma stiffens in anticipation: when Arjuna was only a child of prodigious talent and surprising will, his anger would fill the room. It is something that takes time and talent to decipher, but his magical aura so used to the weight of Arjuna’s iron control seems to seep into the air around him, swelling until the rooms feel like they are made of rainclouds, each on the verge of bursting. Arjuna, who is always so careful with his anger and measured with his words, has not spoken like this since he received his Hogwarts letter.

Krishna only rolls his eyes. “Is this what you’re like with all your friends? Besides, you seemed quite happy a few moments ago.”

When Bhishma concentrates, Arjuna’s aura is the same as it was before. His mind strays to Krishna’s words – does Arjuna have friends? Arjuna has brothers, cousins, and perhaps he even has Drona’s son Ashwathama. But Bhishma would call none of these a friend, and when he looks to his great-grand nephew, who looks faint at the thought, he feels a pang of regret for the training regiment he demanded of so young a child. Forced to outstrip his peers, and in the company of men so much older for so many years it is easy to see the boy’s self imposed isolation as fear, or awkwardness. Arjuna’s shoulders are newly stiff, and Bhishma can only thing that he must have been very lonely all these years, even if he never showed it.

“Oh,” Arjuna says, poleaxed. “Is that what we are?”

Bhishma slowly begins to step backward, but he is still in the room when Krishna’s face melts into something brimming with empathy. For that, Bhishma thinks, he could forgive almost anything. At the very least, he can begin to trust. “I’m certainly yours,” Krishna says, eyes locked with Arjuna, “but whether you want to be mine is up to you.”

“Yes,” Arjuna says, soft, disbelief warring desperately with hope. “I am.” It echoes to Bhishma like a vow. I am. I am. I am.

5.

Krishna Vaasudev, as told to Bhishma by his instructors, is a bright student. Eager to learn, with near perfect recall and an apparent childhood history of reading a Muggle-born neighbor’s old textbooks. The mystery of young Subhadra is thus solved: the Muggle-born sister of a Muggle-born Gryffindor graduate, Balarama, both of whom lived, until this May, in the village named on the records Bhishma destroyed. Bhishma thinks, and recalls Balarama towering at 17 followed by the sniping shadows of Bhima and Duryodhana, each desperate to learn Beating from the greatest talent Hogwarts has seen in generations.

“Krishna knows the theory,” every teacher repeats, “but it is the execution where he struggles.”

That’s only to be expected, they add, “considering the poor boy’s circumstances.”

Bhishma nods politely, and asks for an interview.

“Is there a reason,” he asks when the pleasantries have been disposed of, “that your teachers believe you to be only slightly more capable than a squib?”

Krishna, sipping at the tea he has been offered, puts down his cup to laugh. “Many, but I assume you have at least one theory that concerns you more than others.”

Bhishma grunts, taking a sip from his own cup. “I watched you transfigure the stone that makes up the foundation of one of the cores of Magical Britain with your bare hands. You should be able to change a teapot.”  

Krishna hums, and it is as if somehow it is he, the sixteen-year-old, is in control of the conversation instead of Bhishma. “It is different, with a wand. I never had one before.”

It is a lie, but a very good one. There is just enough truth that it might even have worked if Bhishma himself was not one of the few capable of wandless casting.

“No,” he corrects, “the wand inherently acts as a focus. If it was difficult, your teachers would report that you were struggling with too much power, not too little.”

Krishna smiles: wide, and golden, and knowing. A test, then, instead of a mistake. “I had wondered if the rumors were true. I’m glad not to be as rare as the Wizengamot reactions made it seem.”

“I did not bring you to lie,” Bhishma says, but when he leans back in his chair he finds himself pressing his lips together to keep them from twisting up in response. Curious he thinks, that where he might have been enraged he is instead amused. He thinks of Arjuna, of how small he had sounded when he asked if he and Krishna were friends.

The patronus. “How does Arjuna know that you can cast a patronus?”

Finally, Krishna seems caught off guard. “Because it is Arjuna,” he says, voice slightly snappish, as if that were all the answer needed. And in a way, to Bhishma of all people, perhaps even to Bhishma alone, it is. “He needed my help.”

Krishna sighs, standing up. “I am not a threat, Headmaster, and if you need me to prove it I shall.” His gaze for once is hard, shoulders straight and eyes blazing. “Expecto Patronum.”

Krishna Vaasudev calls forth his guardian with the same tone someone might order a meal, and when Bhishma looks to Krishna’s hands neither is gripping a wand. His hands are slightly in front of his body, molded as if they caress the edges of something, as if they seek to shape life from an invisible lump of clay.

Where there was nothing, suddenly there is. Krishna Vaasudev’s patronus spreads its wings, taking one lap around Bhishma’s study before flying to perch on Krishna’s shoulder. Extraordinary.

“That is a phoenix,’ Bhishma says, staring at the bird with trepidation. With exultation. “Which means you lied – you are in fact the greatest threat I have ever seen.”

[mobscene-london]

BASIC INFORMATION:

NAME: William Robathan. AGE: 35. PLACE OF BIRTH: London, United Kingdom. AFFILIATION: The Rutherford Family. Government. OCCUPATION: MP for Chelsea & Fulham. FACE CLAIM: Ben Barnes. AVAILABILITY: TAKEN.

  BIOGRAPHY:

[Thank you to Liz for writing this gem! All credit to her.]

Empathy. A concept William had struggled with since he was a kid. That doesn’t mean he’s not good at faking it, though.

Perhaps it was missing from his DNA altogether, but the fact that he had no one to teach him right from wrong had vastly contributed to the cause. Coming from a long line of army generals, the Robathan family held a respected place amongst London’s high society. His father, Richard Robathan, now a retired Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy, was barely home and whenever he came back, he could hardly spare his time for William. The man’s idea of bonding with his son mainly meant teaching him how to shoot a gun, or make him carry weights and do push-ups at five in the morning.

His mother, meanwhile, had always been too numbed by antidepressants to instil morals in her only son. The army of tutors and nannies catered to his every need; taught him history, foreign languages, geometry, and geography. But what they couldn’t teach young William, however, was empathy and compassion. As a result, he grew up to be a self-centred narcissist with a little to no regard for other people.

Enrolling in the military at the age of seventeen had been a path laid out by his father, and the one William wouldn’t have dared to stray from. The fact that he didn’t, had little to do with the fear of disappointing Richard, but rather because William had no idea what else he wanted to do with his life. Thus, began his days at the Army Foundation College and later, the Royal Academy Sandhurst, where he excelled, simply due to the fact that his father had trained him in almost everything the college and the academy would teach William.

He was recruited by the elite Parachute Regiment shortly after, where he’d meet Harrison Menzies. They had served two tours in Afghanistan together, fought side by side and saved each other’s lives on more than one occasion. William had struggled with the discipline; a man a little too trigger-happy to deserve an honourable spot in the midst of the Paras, but impressed by his skills, Harrison took it upon himself to help the brother out. The man had become a moral compass for William, his North Star, an antidote to his disturbing, slightly psychotic tendencies.

Harrison was the one who led a rescue mission when William had been captured by the Taliban for two months. They had tortured him relentlessly, but William refused to give in. Not thanks to a sense of patriotism or loyalty to his country, but because he was too damn proud to give the fuckers the satisfaction, and for the sake of self-preservation, too. He was no use to them after he’d give up the information and William loved himself a little too much to die at the hands of scum. Seeing Harrison’s hand dragging him out of the sandy pit of Afghan desert felt like divine intervention. As much as William was grateful of the man, however, he’d only go back to wearing his uniform when the hell would freeze over. Honourably discharged, William returned home, without a single clue what to do with his life. Once again, somebody else would approach him with a plan.

This time, it had been none other than Andrew Rutherford. William had met the legendary man through Gideon, a childhood friend of his, but that had been years ago, when they were teenagers. Andrew had wanted to spread his influence in the Parliament and with the 2015 General Elections upcoming, the man was recruiting actively. William would make a perfect candidate - a war hero, a legacy of respected military generals, and a man who had a way with the words. Andrew had arranged introductions with the Conservative party and it didn’t take much persuasion to have him run in Chelsea and Fulham. The press would eat up his story, and so would the voters.

Initially, William had set out to actually make some difference for his constituents if he won, and not just do Andrew’s bidding. Unaware of exactly who had orchestrated his involvement with the party, Harrison had been nothing but supportive of his campaign, and so had Spencer and Cassie.

But Harrison’s death flipped the switch back off. What was the point of being a good man, if the universe rewarded you with being blown to pieces? In a terrorist attack on home soil, no less? It was almost unbelievable how quickly William reverted back to his old self after that. His and Cassie’s friendship deteriorated. His and Gideon’s suffered the same fate, after he found out that William had teamed up with Andrew, of all people. Heartlessly breaking up with Elene Dadiani, his girlfriend at the time, was a prime example of his new attitude. He had even shamelessly urged Spencer to “dip in that pool” such was the extent of his lack of emotions towards the woman.

It has been four years as an MP, and William, frankly, is growing quite bored. Yes, he is keeping up the appearances of a concerned Member of Parliament looking out for the wellbeing of his constituents, but in reality, he couldn’t care less. Lobbying Rutherford interests in Parliament is something William does with no remorse. He has heard the whispers of an upcoming war between St. Clairs and Rutherfords, but he hardly cares. Should Andrew’s empire fall, William is sure he can prove himself useful to the St. Clairs, as an MP for an area of the city they enjoy residing in.

There isn’t much that ignites passion in William these days, except perhaps the fight ring that Lara Rutherford had introduced him to during his visit to Porto Velho. Whilst he misses the adrenaline of getting his hands bloody, he’s not reckless enough to risk jumping in the ring. A British MP beating the shit out of someone in an illegal fight would be a scandal of epic proportions and his party would fucking crucify him. However, Lara’s upcoming London “venue” offers enough discretion for William to simply enjoy watching the show. Where’s the harm in that, right?   

  SOCIAL CONNECTIONS:

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single. Elene Dadiani (ex-girlfriend) FAMILY: None playable. CONNECTIONS:

Cassandra Acton and Gideon Rutherford: Former Friends. There was no big fight or falling out with either one of them, but after Harrison’s death, William turned back into a person neither Cassie nor Gideon could consider a friend. Cassie and William are usually civil to one another whenever they cross paths in the Westminster (though even that is not always the case.) Not only is he a Grade A asshole now, but he broke the heart of her close friend. Needless to say, Cassie isn’t his biggest fan.

Spencer Berkeley: Friend. If they hadn’t known each other as long as they have, maybe their friendship wouldn’t have survived, either. They’ve been friends since primary school and Spencer has seen him at his absolute worst, and at his best. Besides, William usually makes Spencer’s job as a whip easier; whatever way he needs him to vote, William hardly disappoints.

Lara Rutherford: Friend. His friendship with Gideon hadn’t translated into one with Lara and Damon back then, but after he visited Andrew Rutherford in Porto Velho, he saw a different side to Rutherford daughter. When she took him to her underground ring, hosting a bloody violent fight, spectated by influential politicians, businessman and other high profile figures, William saw her in a whole new light. Turned out, he had much more in common with Lara than he ever did with Gideon.

[galren]

Scholarship

More of Aruk’s backstory, involving a dream-crushing moment that he hasn’t let go of, even 15 years later. 

   It was the first time in weeks that Aruk had made it to rehearsal early enough to warm up for more than a few minutes before starting. He stepped into the orchestra recital hall for big band rehearsal and set his bag down next to the piano, looking frazzled and unkempt, but cheerful, and was greeted by Norgren, who was the only other early arrival.

   “Mornin’, Norgren. How’re you?”

   Norgren looked up at Aruk, but wouldn’t make eye contact. “Hey. I’m okay. I, uh, take it you haven’t seen the email yet?”

   Aruk peered down at him, confused. “Er, no. I just woke up a bit ago, was asleep in the practice room upstairs. What’s happened?”

   “Oh, man,” Norgren sighed, looking away from Aruk completely. “I really don’t like having to be the one to break news to people. Aruk, uh...let me just pull the email up. I don’t wanna say anything that’s not worded the way they meant it.”

   “What? What news? What’s going on?”

   Norgren pulled out his tablet and tapped on it a few times, scanning over the text he pulled up quietly before finally handing the tablet over to Aruk, who took the tablet and held it close to his face so he could read it, brows furrowing the further along he read.

   “I don’t understand. The department was just asking for volunteers to help out at the scholarship auditions a few days ago. Why would they suddenly cancel the scholarship program after doing all this planning for it?” he asked, scratching at the back of his head with his free hand. “Doesn’t really make sense, does it?”

   “You’re right, but...you should probably read the rest,” Norgren replied quietly.

   Aruk looked back at the tablet. For a long, tense moment, Aruk stared at it, silent.

   “No…”

   “I’m really sorry, Aruk.”

   “It’s gotta be a mistake. There’s no way...I’ll just have to go to the registrar before practice with Edgar, this can’t be right. They can’t...they wouldn’t...it’s just got to be a mistake.”

   Aruk said it more to keep his spirit up than he did out of conviction.

   He spent the entire rehearsal trying to focus, his fingers not meeting the piano the way he wanted them to at the speed he wanted them to, his mind not connecting to anything outside of it the way he knew it needed to. He could barely focus his eyes on the sheet music long enough to read it, and was playing more from muscle memory than anything else. All he could see in his mind was the email text, scrolling down that tablet screen.

   Due to a shift in funding needs with regard to renovation efforts around campus, we regret to announce that the Sternfeld Scholarship Program is to be discontinued at the end of this academic year.

   “Galren! What’s going on? You’re playing like garbage today, this isn’t like you.”

   Safety upgrades have to be made to meet recently updated government-mandated requirements, and funding for several programs are being cut to facilitate that.

   The band director was yelling at him for a particularly rough few measures of Minuano, but Aruk couldn’t bring himself to look up.

   Regretfully, we must also announce that this program cancellation is retroactive, and will impact current scholarship recipients at the start of the upcoming school year.

   Aruk’s eyes were fixed on his dartmouth hands, but they were staring past them, past the white keys beneath them, past the floor beneath that.

   All students currently attending Anfor Conservatory on a Sternfeld Scholarship will be expected to pay full tuition and board for enrollment in future academic calendar years.

   “I...I’m sorry. I’m having an off day. I’m just not feeling well, is all. I’ll practice more to make up for it, I just...I don’t know. It doesn’t feel right under my hands right now. I’m really sorry.”

   If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your program advisor, or speak to an employee at the Registrar.

   “If you’re sick then you shoulda just told someone you weren’t gonna be here and stayed home. If you get anyone else sick then it’s worse than just one person being absent, even if you are the pianist, Galren. Maybe if you bathed more and took better care of yourself, you wouldn’t be sick.”

   “Hey, that’s not fair, he just—” Norgren began, but Aruk spoke before he could say anything else.

   “I’ll go. Sorry.”

   Aruk could feel the eyes of the rest of the big band on his back as he grabbed his music and stuffed it into his bag, could feel them stare him down as he left the hall, could feel the weight of the stares as he headed not for his dorm, but directly to the Office of the Registrar.

   The Office of the Registrar was bustling when Aruk arrived. It was still early enough in the semester that a number of students were still trying to get their schedules sorted, and others were still trying to get financial aid taken care of. Aruk quietly took his place in line, staring down at the floor as he waited for an advisor to free up. His heart raced as he waited, but as the line moved forward, he could feel his breath hitch in his throat a bit more, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.

   By the time it was his turn, Aruk felt ready to explode.

   “Hello, how can I help you today?”

   It took Aruk a moment to process that he’d sat down in the chair in front of the counter, only barely catching the name “Marian Sherborne” on the placard in front of him before he started to speak.

   “Uh...hi. M-My name’s Aruk Galren, I’m on a Sternfeld Scholarship, and I—”

   “Ah, are you here to ask about this year? If so, you don’t need to worry, this academic year is still covered, you don’t owe anything,” she replied brightly.

   “N-No, it’s not that, it’s just...is there any way that it’s possible that it’s a mistake? I mean, the only reason I’m even able to attend is because of my scholarship—”

   “I’m afraid it’s not a mistake, no. The budget for the facility work was approved and finalized yesterday, which is why the conservatory was prompted to send out the email,” she said.

   “But, but surely it can’t have saved the school that much money, there are only two people on the scholarship each year,” Aruk said, mouth moving faster than he could process the thoughts leaving it. “Couldn’t they cut the funding from something else?”

   “I’m sorry, Mister Galren, but like I said, the budget and reallocation of the funds was already approved and finalized. There’s no undoing it now,” Marian said. Her face was sympathetic, but her voice did not match. “As one of the members of the budget committee, it was partly my job to do things in the most efficient way possible, and I’m afraid that all of the funding programs that could have been impacted were. We just don’t have a say in the matter, given that it’s a government requirement at all.”

   “Well...Well…,” Aruk mumbled, trying to grasp at anything he could, some kind of solution to the problem that wasn’t manifesting in his mind. “Are...are there any other scholarships or grants I could apply for to take its place? I just...well, I’m sure you can tell just by looking at me, but I can’t afford to go here without the scholarship.”

   “Well, maybe, but it’s pretty circumstantial. What’s your major?”

   “Piano performance!” Aruk replied, more eagerly than he’d meant to. “I, uh, won the scholarship competition last year to get into Anfor.”

   Upon hearing Aruk mention piano performance, Marian’s demeanor changed, face completely impassive. “Oh, no, I’m afraid we don’t have any additional funding that can be put toward piano performance. We have limited funding that can go toward the piano program as it is, given other programs in the music conservatory require funding as well.”

   “But is there anything—”

   “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid not.” The words were professional. Cold. “If there’s anything else I can help you with, please feel free to come back, but I’m afraid there are others waiting in line that I need to help. Have a good rest of your day.”

   Aruk stared down at her for longer than either of them would have liked before he finally stood up, numb and defeated.

   The floodgates burst when the door to Aruk’s dorm clicked shut behind him, and the weight of losing his scholarship washed over him—three months of the school year were left, but after that, it would be over. He didn’t have any real-world skills, he couldn’t credit a year of schooling as enough to get him a job as a professional pianist anywhere, and returning to Yosem to live with his parents meant giving up his dream for good.

   He remembered he was supposed to be at rehearsal with Edgar a moment later.

   “Why are you so late?!” Edgar said angrily as a puffy-eyed Aruk stumbled into the large practice room. “We were supposed to start almost fifteen minutes ago! How unprofessional can you get?! You’re supposed to be the best pianist at the conservatory now, aren’t you? What happened to being professional?! This is such a waste of time, and I already don’t have time I can afford to be wasting on—”

   “I had to go to the registrar, I’m sorry!” Aruk finally blurted out before Edgar could finish. “It was the scholarship, I had to talk to them about the scholarship, I’m sorry.”

   “...Oh.” Edgar looked up at Aruk, suddenly impassive. “Yes, I got the email this morning as well. My parents have assured me that my last year will be covered. What did you find out at the registrar?”

   Aruk’s hands fidgeted at his sides. “They said they couldn’t help me. I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I...don’t think I’ll be able to go here after this year is over, Edgar. What should I do?”

   “Well, at least you’ll be able to perform with the orchestra before you go,” Edgar replied. “I don’t know what you should do either, but for the time being we need to get to work on the Lutoslawski, we’re nearly twenty minutes behind. Can we talk about this after practice?”

   “Y-Yeah. Yeah, that’s fine. Thank you, Edgar,” Aruk mumbled, sitting down at his piano.

   The duo worked through two of the Paganini variations, Edgar stopping routinely to tell Aruk how he wanted the piece to go, Aruk nodding mutely and following Edgar’s lead. Normally, Aruk would give his input on how he thought segments ought to be played, building the piece together as a duo, but he couldn’t stop his mind from drifting back to the reality of not being able to play for much longer.

   “Okay, well, we’ve made some good headway today, I think,” Edgar finally said, after they locked a particularly tricky few measures into place to his liking. “Unfortunately I do need to get going, as I’ve got my lesson with Branford shortly. I hope you don’t mind ending here for today.”

   “N-No, that’s fine,” Aruk replied quietly. He sat there, silent, as Edgar packed his music and stood up to leave, but finally found his voice as Edgar reached the door. “Hey, um...sorry again that I was late. I...I really like playing piano with you, and I hope that we can keep playing together after this semester.”

   Edgar turned to look at him, that familiar impassive expression on his face, but he nodded before saying, “I’ll see you next week. Don’t be late next time, okay?”

   “O-Okay. I won’t.”

   Aruk moved to a practice room to pass the time until jazz quartet, at which point he went downstairs to the classroom they shared for practice. As soon as he entered, Norgren pushed the door shut behind him. Barrett and Alric weren’t there yet.

   “Uh...what’s going on, Norgren?” Aruk asked, perplexed. “Don’t tell me you have more bad news? This is the second time today you’ve acted weird around me.”

   Norgren hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, actually. I don’t want this to get around the conservatory because I know it’ll come back to bite me in the ass if I say it too loud, but I know I can tell you without it being a problem. Plus, it involves you, so it’s probably better for you to find out from me than anyone else.”

   “What does that mean? What involves me?”

   “The scholarship,” Norgren replied. “Why it got canceled, and all that.”

   “I went to the registrar and talked to a lady there about it,” Aruk said. “It was canceled to use that money for building renovations, like the email said.”

   “No, that’s what they’re telling people, Aruk,” Norgren said, short. “I asked a few friends who have different scholarships that were supposedly cut too, but they said theirs are fine.”

   “...What?” Aruk shook his head. “I don’t understand, what do you mean?”

   “It was only the performance scholarships that were given the axe,” Norgren said. “The only scholarships that got cut were the ones earned from the scholarship auditions. Everybody else’s scholarships are fine.”

   “I...don’t get it. What reason would they have to lie about it? Why not just say it was the performance ones that were cut, if that’s the case?” Aruk asked. He could feel his heart rate beginning to pick up, and he took a deep breath to steady himself.

   “Probably to throw suspicion off.”

   “Suspicion about what…?”

   Norgren rubbed his face with his hands, then tilted his head back so he was making eye contact with Aruk as he spoke. “Aruk, I’m pretty sure Edgar got your scholarship canceled because you took his spot with the orchestra. His aunt works in the registrar and is part of the budget committee, he probably asked her for help.”

   “What…?” Aruk was so caught off guard that he let out an awkward laugh. “Norgren, Edgar has the same scholarship I do, why would he want it to be canceled? That doesn’t make any sense—”

   “The difference is it’s probably free for Edgar to go here anyway, Aruk,” Norgren said. “His parents both work here. For him that scholarship is probably more like a fellowship, where he gets paid to be here. Everyone else who has the scholarship will probably figure out a way to make it work. But for you, it’s a necessity. You can’t go here without it.”

   “But...why?” Aruk said, crestfallen. “Why would Edgar want me to lose my scholarship? If it’s just about the orchestra performance, I don’t mind giving it up, I’m already in jazz band—”

   “It’s not about the spot itself, Aruk. It’s the fact you beat him.” Norgren glanced toward the door, then started setting up his drum kit as he spoke. “No one’s ever beaten him before. This is probably the first time in his life that he’s been told that someone else was chosen over him, if his constant arrogance isn’t a dead giveaway.”

   “Can’t I just…” Aruk started, then drifted off, unsure of what to say.

   “I don’t think so. Even if you offered him the spot, he’d see it as you pitying him. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he’s been making a lot of offhand comments about how he’s not the number one pianist here lately—”

   Norgren stopped abruptly as the classroom door swung open and Barrett walked in, bass hoisted over his shoulder. “Hey, sorry I’m late, Sherborne held us over. You’d think this early in the semester he’d take it easy on us, but I guess not. Alric’s seriously not here yet?”

   “Hey, sorry, my private lesson is right before this, I just got out a second ago,” Alric said, walking in and setting his saxophone cases down. “So, did we decide what music we want to do this semester, or were you guys waiting for me?”

   Aruk looked at Barrett and Alric, then reluctantly sat down at the piano. “N-No, we haven’t decided anything yet. I really liked that arrangement of Gloria’s Step that we sight-read last week, though.”

   “Oh, yeah! Please, there’s so much fun bass stuff there, we have to do that one,” Barrett said, eyes alight.

   “How about we run each one once to see how we feel about it now and then decide after?” Alric asked.

   “Sure, that’s fine,” Norgren said, sitting down at his set. “Let’s get to it.”

   The rehearsal flew by. Aruk spent most of it focused on the music, and for a while he was almost able to tune out the growing fear, sadness, and doubt inside him. But the longer the rehearsal went on, the more Norgren’s words sunk in, and the more Aruk began to shoulder a feeling of regret and sadness that lingered long after he left the room.

   Though the reality of his situation had begun to sunk in, Aruk found his mind returning to Edgar no matter how much he tried to redirect it to other things, and his heart sank every time his mind looped back in on itself, wanting nothing more than to reach out to him and hold him close while also wanting nothing more than to push him away and never look back.

   That night, in the silence of the upstairs practice room, Aruk cried for the first time since he was a child, the sound muffled by the uneven plunks of notes on the piano.

[kiatastic]

Fall

The deep exhales of breath released from my nostrils became visible in the crisp, cold air around me. Tree branches hovered over my head as the sun filtered its beaming rays through hues of green, red and yellow leaves. Each step I took was followed by a crunch – the sound of fallen leaves under my feet. As beautiful as fall is, there is also a harsh reality:

When leaves fall, they die.

Similar to the pruning process autumn brings, there were leaves in my own life that had to fall while transitioning from the dorm room to the boardroom – habits, tendencies and character flaws that had to die if I ever wanted to grow. Moving away from Atlanta to start my career began as the loneliest season of my life. At the same time, it brought new opportunity to experience the Lord for myself, allow Him to change me and experience Him in new ways. Andy Mineo said it best in one of my favorite songs: 

“I was so far from home – and everything that I’ve known. But I got grown in that time alone and that faith became my own.”

I was an anxious college-graduate. Ready to leave those awfully flavored 5-hour energy shots behind me in the KSU Sturgis Library. Eager to box my work within the parameters of 8am – 5pm. Prepared for the ultimate corporate office slay! I was also entirely wrong to believe my most challenging years were behind me. In the words of my late grandfather Charles W. Little, "All your life you are a freshman". I was at the top of my game as a college graduate and at the bottom of the largest learning curve of my life – all at the same time.

Before starting my job I was required to make a pit stop at Indiana University for 3 weeks of training sponsored by the Company known as Immersion I. Think of it as an intense boot camp for rookies in Corporate America. I met all 150 of my colleagues in the Digital Technology Leadership Program from around the world including Brazil, France, India and Egypt – and they were truly the brightest minds I’ve ever met. Each morning began with a quiz on previously reviewed material. The remaining hours were spent in C# building our capstone applications – a language I did not learn in school. I seemed to be the only one starting from ground zero. While many of my colleagues could afford to go out at night after class, I expended several hours in my hotel room learning the very basics. 11:00 pm turned into 2:00 am. 2:00 am turned into 4:00 am. 4:00 am turned into resurfaced doubts as I reflected on all I accomplished in college. From being named a top 5 IS student to winning Miss Alpha South – I started wishing I were back at KSU.

Thoughts and feelings from the previous night lingered in my head the following morning as I talked myself into finally putting my feet on the floor… so much for ditching those artificially grape-flavored 5-hour energy shots. While eating breakfast, an email notification appeared on my phone titled “Short Daily Devotion” – a daily email I receive with a short scripture and word of encouragement. The Lord put my thoughts in check with Isaiah 43:18-19:

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.”

After all the Lord brought me through in college, I had not really learned to trust Him. It was obvious through my desire to retreat back to a season that presented more comfort – but the only place to fully blossom is in the soil the Lord chooses to plant us. That is where His grace and perfect will reside.

I walked back to my hotel room stiff as a board – the Lord had just snatched my entire life with one scripture. I approached my room and heard a voice singing, “You are the Living Word” by Fred Hammond. It was Rachel – another colleague from my Company. I said to myself “she MUST be a believer!” We ended up going out for Endless Wing Monday at a bar that evening. From that moment to this one Rachel has been one of my closest, dearest friends. I never expected to meet a colleague at work who was also a strong Christian. The Lord orchestrated our friendship in the time I needed it most.

Three weeks passed as boot camp came to a close. Aside from earning an A in my first graduate course, my group was awarded for having the best capstone project out of all 150 colleagues in the class. I reflected back on day 1 and remembered how intimidated I was by everyone around me. Since high school, I have always had an unhealthy habit of comparing myself to others. I habitually convinced myself that I was not smart enough, experienced enough or good enough to be among the best. The problem is – there is no win in comparison. When I compare myself to others and come out on top, it breeds pride. When I compare and come out underneath, it produces false humility. Both are wrong. There is absolutely no competition for your seat at God’s table. Only you are eligible for the plans the Lord has for you.

After leaving Indiana, I flew home to get my car and drove to my new home in Jackson, TN. The commute to work was about an hour. I spent my rotation delivering software solutions to bridge gaps in the manufacturing processes on the shop floor. Fresh out of college, I knew absolutely nothing about engineering or manufacturing IT. I had Google pulled up on every phone call to look up all the terms and acronyms I did not understand. I quickly got up to speed by enrolling in free SAP classes and setting up 1x1 meetings with electrical engineers. A typical day included walking the factory floor in goggles, steel-toed boots and earplugs – so much for that ultimate corporate office slay.

Outside of work, I spent most of my weekends alone. Jackson, TN wasn’t exactly overpopulated with young professionals. Solo movie dates and online shopping became regular weekend pleasantries. I needed to get involved with a church ASAP and find some less expensive hobbies. Upon my first visit to a nearby church the pastor told me Jesus Christ was not my savior because I had not been baptized specifically in their congregation. I left in tears – devastated by the twisted approach they taught on the Word of God. I learned that day how important is to know the Word for myself. That evening I went for a walk around my apartment complex saying “Lord, if you don’t lead me directly to a new church home… I think I’d rather attend Bedside Baptist! I cannot risk experiencing that again and I need your help. Show me what to do.”

The next week I was leaving the factory floor when a man named Andre noticed me. He introduced himself and said, “Hey, I’ve seen you around and heard you’re new in Tennessee.” I looked down and noticed a brochure he was holding in his hand. “I would like to invite you to my church, Historic First Baptist”, he continued. Immediately, I remembered my prayer to the Lord. Overwhelming joy took over my countenance as I replied, “You have no idea how crazy this is. I JUST prayed for a church recommendation on Sunday!” I met Andre and his wife at HFBC that Sunday. It was more traditional than I was used to – but Pastor Watson taught on the foundation of the Bible and that was most important to me. There was no time to waste. I joined THAT Sunday. Throughout my time in Tennessee Andre and his wife, Liakita were my God-sent blessings. They encouraged me to take the New Member’s class and introduced me to so many people there. My circle of friends outside of work was birthed at HFBC. They even encouraged me to grow in my relationship with the Lord. Although I wasn’t perfect with daily quiet time, I did my best to set aside Saturday mornings to pray and read my Bible.

One Saturday in particular, I spent my morning watching a sermon on YouTube recommended by my friend Gabby called “Five Keys to Finding Your Soul Mate.” I had my pen and notepad ready – finding bae was a priority on my to-do list. The pastor, Toure Roberts made an altar call for loneliness at the end of the sermon. To my own frustration and disappointment, what I took away from that sermon had nothing to do with finding bae. Instead, the Lord brought an ugly truth in me to light – a void of loneliness.

I never knew I was lonely because I often “talked” to guys I never had any business considering. To fix that the Lord moved me to a place where I had no choice but to “talk” to Him. There were no longer casual movie dates or “good-morning, beautiful” text messages to fill my void. I began to realize that “trying to fill an infinite hole with a finite thing or person only leaves an insatiable appetite that can never be fully and finally satisfied.” Any attempt to fill a God-sized void with selfish pleasures (no matter how harmless they seem) will fail every time. The Holy Spirit showed me that the part of my life I wanted to control was the part He wanted most. I paused the YouTube video while going into one of the most unorthodox cries I have ever had. For the first time I became aware of God’s relentless pursuit of me – and my half-hearted acknowledgement of His love in return.

“… Every man’s emptiness is nothing more than a hunger for God, masked by temporary pleasures. We always want more and more of it, because it will satisfy us less and less – until soon it does not satisfy us at all.”

I had tried several times to surrender my love life (or lack thereof) to the Lord – but never sincerely meant it. I regretfully acknowledge that He had to strip me of all options to win my undivided attention. “For the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a Jealous God (Exodus 34:14).” In complete vulnerability and transparency with Him, His love ushered me into His perfect peace – a need for no one else but Him.

That same evening I received a FaceTime call from my close friend, Drew. Andrew became my go-to Alpha during my time serving as Miss Black & Gold at KSU. However, we became friends through a Bible study group the Lord led me to start during my junior year of college.  After expressing how much he valued our friendship, he shared that night that he had feelings for me he could not quite put his finger on. Immediately, I said in my head “Lord, you’ve got a serious sense of humor. I know I just cried my eyes out about being single – but this is not what I wanted. Drew is my friend! I can’t date him.” Still, I was pleasantly shocked to be pursued (for the first time) by a God-fearing man. I knew Drew personally as a friend for years. I have even tried to hook him up with a friend in the past! I told him I did not know how to feel about it. He assured me that if I did not feel the same way, he would still love me as a friend. Surely this man was from another planet. Never in my life had a man with such humility and Godly love approached me the way he did.

When it was time to wrap up my first rotation in Tennessee, Drew surprised me by driving to Jackson to help pack up my apartment. I told him my company was paying all the expenses for movers to come pack – but he insisted on coming anyway. He stayed in the hotel across the street and never insinuated wanting anything out of me. I became drawn to the sincerity and Godliness of his heart. Although I thought about him often, I knew the Lord was still working on me. I read a book called “Your Knight and Shining Armor” by P.B. Wilson. At the end of it I concluded I was not ready to date anyone – there were parts of me that needed work first. Drew and I remained friends for the next several months.

Two days before my rotation ended, I pitched out my final results from my rotation to several executives and business leaders. I made friends with so many people in the factory – they even brought in home-cooked dishes on my last day! I was thanked personally by the CIO of the business for going to work alone in a factory without any IT colleagues or mentors. It was an a-typical situation for someone new to the Company, but the Lord was my Source through it all.

In Tennessee, I learned that my weaknesses are the best platforms for God to teach me about His power. In Judges 7, the Lord commanded Gideon to slash his army down to 300 men before going into battle. It wasn’t about terrifying Gideon – it was about stripping away anything that could suggest that God was not the reason for his victory. These are win-win scenarios - the Lord is glorified and our faith is strengthened in the process.

As soon as I started to build my network, understand supply chain IT and become comfortable in my new city… it was time to do it all over again. One rotation down - three left to go. I packed the few remaining valuables from my apartment in my Honda accord and headed to my second rotation in Houston, TX. The autumn leaves had fallen, but a new season was on the way. Bundle up – winter is coming.

[canvaswolfdoll]

CanvasWatches: The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan

In the fine tradition of the Franchise and also my viewing of it, we’re skipping Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya[1] and moving straight to The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, which inexplicably maintains the name order for the title.

I am often confused by Japanese names in media that’s been localized. Character names are often obvious, because speech and grammar and context makes it clear whether its the given name or family name being used by the speaker, but I’m not always clear with credits. Do publishers switch the author’s name on the book, or do they maintain it?[2]

I’m not actually sure how I want names ordered in dubs, while we’re going through this tangent. I view both arguments (Accuracy to the original text vs. Approachability to new audiences) as largely equal, so as long as the text maintains consistency, I’m satisfied.[4]

However, the actual show switches the names, making it inconsistent with the title. Poor showing, Funimation.

As for the subject of today's review, the conclusion is: I liked it! Maybe one should view it as a continuation on the rest of Haruhi Suzumiya to better catch the jokes and nods, but it’s not necessary.

Onto the analysis! (Spoilers for all of Haruhi Suzumiya, though I will try and avoid major plot points not in Yuki-chan itself.)

Right off the bat, Yuki-Chan fixes the greatest sin committed by the original source material: Yuki gets to keep her glasses!

Let there be rejoicing! Yay! Woo!

In fact, glasses are used as a subtle narrative device, making them a required prop.

The anime is adapted by a comic written by Puyo, who also created the Haruhi-chan comics that were adapted into animation themselves. Haruhi-chan was an extensively goofy version of the Haruhi canon, and includes its own ongoing interpretation of the plot and characters.

Yuki-chan sits in a comfortable midpoint between realistic and cartoonish, with a good balancing of tone, and brings elements from both Haruhi-chan and Nagaru Tanigawa’s source novels. The comedy’s good, the drama’s good, and it flows well between them.

The setting itself comes from one of my favorite ways to find inspiration: looking at the throw-away details of other narratives, and exploring the logical extreme.

In this case, what is it like in the other world created for The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya?[5] What stories can be told when you grab Haruhi, strip her of god powers, and set her over there, and settle everyone else into normal human forms?

This is an exercise I think writers should take more often. It’s a common trope in fanfiction for a reason.[6] Stories are often built from extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, but good characterization should prevail even if you take away the magic and monsters, and set everyone in a coffee shop. How do Yuki and Kyon get along when they aren’t saving the world?

And, more interestingly, who is Yuki when she’s no longer a Humanoid Interface for the Data Overmind?[7] Because it’s equally valuable to consider what changes when you remove elements from characters.

What does change is Yuki becomes the shy, bookish (well, video game playing) girl that would be her common trope. But she’s also oddly voracious in regards to food, and has her share of quirky behaviors to match those of, say, Tsuruya.

This version of Yuki is also notably the first Moe character to actually appeal to me. I am invested in Yuki, and want her to succeed!

Because one of the opening conceits is a lack of Haruhi, (at least initially. Ms. Suzumiya does, of course, always find a way) Yuki’s literary club doesn’t get forcibly hijacked into the SOS Brigade, though it is at risk of closure due to lack of members. Also, as a nice meta gag, the production team’s name has been switch from ‘SOS Brigade’ in the closing credits to ‘North High Literary Club’.[7]

When we open the series, only Yuki and Kyon from the original cast are immediately present, along with Ryoko Asakura, who originally only existed long enough to attack Kyon with a knife and be deleted by Yuki, so as to show off what sort of power and danger Yuki and her contingent presents.

Since there is no Data Mind, Ryoko gets to be a main character, and thus act as a major change to the dynamics we’re used to. She’s a lower energy member of the ‘enactors’ end of the cast. Motivated by her friendship by Yuki, and a caring individual, she is still one of the few characters able to stand toe to toe with Haruhi without risk of being swept up into something against her will.

Her element of wackiness, however, is gleefully displayed during the first episode when, while shopping for the Literary Club’s Christmas Party, the trio encounters Mikuru and Tsuruya, to continue making the most of characters that didn’t get to fully shine during Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and someone needs to be pushing Mikuru into situations.

Tsuruya and Ryoko begin pitting Yuki and Mikuru against one another for Kyon’s affections, before competing against one another directly, forming a friendship, and pretty much enlisting Tsuruya and Mikuru into the literary club.

Luckily, Mikuru is allowed out of the love triangle for this story. She’s still the soft spoken eye candy, but even that element’s toned down. Honestly, Mikuru could’ve been cut without making much difference, but we do need the full brigade eventually.

No, this time the love triangle (still pointing into Kyon) is a fight between Yuki and Haruhi!

Haruhi rejoins the dynamic by leaping out of snow-covered bushes in a post-credits scene of episode two, then collapsing on the ground. In this reality, a lot of the big events remain, but the details are shifted so that fantastic elements are no longer required. Kyon was still present when Haruhi drew her message on school grounds, but he was present as his middle schooler self, it doesn’t lead to Haruhi’s god powers, and the lack of Future!Kyon means Haruhi isn’t inspired to go to North High, and instead enrolling at a Prep School stationed at the base of the hill.

It’s also notable that Haruhi attempted to recreate the event during the series, but this time it’s a ploy to capture Santa Claus[8], and drafted a passing Yuki into it. It takes both of them a while to realize this, as Yuki forgot her glasses, and it was dark at the time.

Obviously, Haruhi immediately sets about taking over the literary club, dragging in Itsumi (also at the Prep School, and hopelessly in love with Haruhi), closes the deal with recruiting Mikuru, and hits the other notes of the original canon.

However, this time Ryoko is there to prevent Haruhi totally running rampant. Which is likely for the best, since it’s supposed to be Yuki’s story. Which even Haruhi seems to realize at some level.

Because Haruhi’s clearly got a crush on Kyon, but he doesn’t remember the night in the courtyard. And, at the same time, Yuki’s very clearly interested (not that Kyon notices that either) and Ryoko makes it very clear that Yuki deserves her shot. After some Valentine's Day confusion, Haruhi pretty much silently concedes the competition to even the playing field with consideration of Yuki’s social anxiety.

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-Chan could be divided into three arcs, following the interpersonal issues of three characters: Yuki, Other Yuki, and finally Kyon.

Yuki’s arc is more or less what I described above, as it also needs to introduce the cast. Yuki loves Kyon,[9] who is oblivious, because of course he is. Yuki has pretty severe Social Anxiety, however, and thus can not spit out her feelings, even while sharing a coat during a Christmas Party, or during Valentine's day, or during a club trip, even while being cheered on by the other club members.

Poor girl.

There’s the usual misunderstandings, fear of ruining a perfectly functional friendship, distractions by Ryoko and Haruhi, and plenty of ship teases.

Still, the stretch of episodes is filled with plenty of Haruhi-Chan style humor and chibified moments. I also found myself, in a rare instance, noticing the background music, which was all lovely.[10] It’s standard romance material, which isn’t a genre I usually seek out, so the first nine episodes were both fresh enough to me, and with well executed comedy.

Then, after the credits of episode Nine, Nagato is involved in a car accident. We don’t see the impact, so there’s just enough ambiguity not to make the audience question the results.

We do know Yuki’s glasses are knocked off and bent. Oh no!

But don’t worry, Yuki has a back up pair of glasses.

Also, she’s got some level of brain damage now, altering her personality to be very similar to the Yuki we know from past material. Thus enters Other Yuki. Marked by the slightly different glasses she wears.

Told you they’d be significant.

Thus we enter a more psychological and ponderous arc. Starting with an episode entitled ‘Someday in the Rain’.[11]

This Other Yuki has the memories of Yuki Nagato, of course, but feels a disconnect from them and her life from before the car accident. With that disconnect, her emotions are also gone, leaving a monotone and subdued character in. Her interests also turn from video games to books.

Or, in other terms, the Data Overmind Yuki. Though not really. I’ll come back to this.

She attempts to go undetected, living Yuki’s life, trying to leave it in the same shape as she found it.

Though it doesn’t work on her closest friend, as Ryoko asks ‘Who are you, and where is Yuki Nagato?’

Which is a very dramatic way to phrase that, Ryoko!

So, for a short spell, I theorised that maybe this is the Humanoid Interface Yuki stepping in for the period covered by Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. However, they didn’t put in any other clues to that interpretation, and the healing process that gradually brings back Yuki makes it essentially untenable as a theory. This series is severed totally from the Prime Timeline.

Yuki explains her situation to Ryoko, who drags her to see a dang doctor, like, come on girl, that’s step one. The doctor confirms there’s no apparent damage, and that Yuki merely needs time to recover, including plenty of sleep.

Yuki continues to live the life of a High Schooler through exams, as Ryoko and Kyon worry over her out of earshot. They’re unsure how to feel about this Other Yuki, but resolve to do their best.

So, as Other Yuki narrates, we hear the story of a robot developing emotions and attachments, brought in by her healing, told over of the course of four episodes. This includes fearing what is essentially her death, as once she finishes healing, Other Yuki will be gone, replaced by her body’s original owner. Emotions are mixed for all involved, as of course they want their Yuki back, but they also grow attached to Other Yuki and don’t wish to see her go fully.

On what Other Yuki knows will be her last day, with only one sleep remaining, she spends time at a used book fair, then as much time with Ryoko as possible, before heading to the library to finish reading a book she checked out before she’s gone.

Once that’s done, one final task remains as sleep begins to come for her, she phones Kyon to confess her love. Also to ask him to return the book for her.

She’ll be dead in a minute, so why not?

Kyon races to meet with her before she’s gone, but finds a napping Yuki once he reaches the bench outside the library. Other Yuki is gone.

Which leaves the remaining episodes of the series to deal with the fallout of the situation. Ryoko, sad to see Other Yuki go, collects herself quickly and resumes her life. Yuki seems to have lost her memories from the period, and I don’t think anyone tells her what happened in the interim.

Kyon is unsure what to do, as he realizes he’d fallen in love with Other Yuki.

Further, Haruhi has to deduce the events, as exams had kept her and Koizumi away. She encourages Kyon to work through his confusion.

I hand the final arc to Kyon because the roles switch places from the first arc, with Yuki blissfully unaware of Kyon’s feelings as Kyon is overthinking everything. It’s an interesting turn around.

Eventually, during a festival, Kyon uses the sound of fireworks to cover up his own love confession, as a symbolic message to the Other Yuki, so that he can finally let go and move on.

Which leaves us in the stalemate we began with: Yuki loves Kyon, and Kyon is blissfully unaware, even though Other Yuki’s confession should be a hint.

And maybe it is, as we don’t get to see much more.

Honestly, I’d be satisfied if this is where the Anime Adaption remains. I know of the Manga, of course, but short of a second head injury, Other Yuki is not likely to return, and it’s her segment that gives weight and purpose to the series. We’ve told the story of both Yukis disappearing, so it’s complete in my mind.

I’d much rather the resources be put instead into continuing adapting the Haruhi Suzumiya books.

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan works best as a companion to Melancholy, but I believe it’s strong enough on it’s own legs if you prefer. Yuki is an endearing character, the titular arc is a strong tale of melancholy (ha!), and it’s an enjoyable ride. So give it a go.

If you have comments, questions, or loose thoughts, feel free to contact me and I’ll attempt to meet them with due diligence. If you want to support me, my projects, and/or fund me getting a dog, please check out my Patreon. If it ever gains traction, I’ll modify it to reward people with things they like. I aim to amuse.

Kataal kataal.

[1] Funimation has secured the license, I’ve preordered it, it’ll come. [2] I’m mostly wondering about Isuna Hasekura’s[3] name, as I intend to use it for fun reference times. [3] Author of Spice & Wolf. [4] Nevertheless, Haruhi Suzumiya sounds better to my ear than Suzumiya Haruhi. That may be habit, though. [5] I am using the english title because that’s what I know it as. [6] Does Yuki-chan count as fanfiction? The lines blur! [7] Sneaking Yuki’s name into the credits would have cinched it, but, alas… [8] Possibly a nice nod to Kyon’s famous opening monologue. [9] Whose real name we still do not know, though this series explains how the nickname passed from his sister to others. [10] There’s a particular Jazz number that first crops up during the mall sequence in the first episode that recurs. I should probably search out that track… [11] Trying to use nostalgia of my favorite Haruhi episode to evoke an emotional response, eh? It worked.

[garbagebabygirl]

Under the cut: reflections on andrea zuckerman, wealth inequality, and being lower middle class at liberal arts college. 

Call it Marxist-idealism, but here's to hoping that the next 90210 reboot is radically different not only for Andrea, but for all of us.

Beverly Hills, 90210's Andrea Zuckerman, the plucky, headstrong editor-in-chief of the West Beverly Blaze, represents a unique socioeconomic demographic in need of further reflection. She is the archetypal "poor kid," the girl-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks. Though she lives out of district, she is able to use her grandmother's address to attend the lucrative West Beverly Hills High and access the same educational spoils as some of the wealthiest youths in the country. Andrea finds her niche in the school paper as well as with her group of friends (the show's main characters: Brenda, Brandon, Kelly, Dylan, Steve, Donna, and David). Her main narrative on the show is that she is less wealthy than her peers, facing unique challenges, like the long bus ride she takes to school, in order to maintain the appearance of West Beverly wealth. Andrea's positionality both as a character and as a person in society are representative of cultural conceptions of wealth, even today. Her interactions with other characters portray wealth inequality as individual rather than systemic. Her position as an "outsider with access to the inside" in a closed community is also comparable to the position of lower middle class students at expensive liberal arts colleges, a relationship to be explored later.

           A common portrayal of Andrea's socioeconomic status on the show is that it's a trait that she has, rather than a system she is subjected to. This tendency towards archetypes is, of course, not uncommon for Young Adult melodramas. All of the Classic archetypes are present still in 90210: the troubled bad boy (Dylan), the shallow popular girl (Kelly), the hard-working All-American (Brandon). However, making wealth a personal attribute in the same that being a musician (David) is a personal attribute is problematic. One step further, on 90210 each character has both their personality traits and their cross-to-bear traits, and each character has an "equal" mix of each. For instance, Kelly is beautiful and popular, but her mom is addicted to cocaine. Andrea is really smart, but she's poor. In this way, the struggles of each character are depicted as comparable: it's rough all over. Everybody has their cross to bear. In fact a common event on the show is the down-to-earth Walsh family (we'll unpack them later) reflecting on these "equitable inequalities." They say things like: "sure, Dylan may have money but he has no relationship with his father. And I wouldn't trade our family for anything in the world." Framing wealth this way is risky. Portraying wealth inequality as a personal cross-to-bear fails to account for its systematic roots. There is no room for conversation on the wealth inequality in Beverly Hills (not to MENTION the intersection of wealth inequality and racial inequality in the region, a topic well-covered by 90210 critics). Andrea's personal cross to bear of being poor is solely her own. Her wealthy friends are therefore not accountable in the same way that they are not accountable for Donna's dyslexia. It's rough all over, right? Nothing we can do about it. In this way, the more affluent members of the group never need to reflect on their own socioeconomic statuses: Andrea is the only one. And so once again she is the outsider.

           Although Andrea is internally the Other, on the surface she is an insider. She goes to the same elite school as her friends, hangs out at the Peach Pit with all of her friends, goes to the same parties as her friends. She's financially struggling but her friends don't see her that way, since she appears to have access to the same spoils as they do. What they don't realize is the tremendous amount of physical and emotional labor that go into maintaining this appearance of wealth. She mentions in an episode that she must wake up at five a.m. in order to get to school on time via city bus. She throws herself into the Blaze, into volunteering and planning dances in order to earn her Yale scholarship. To her wealthy friends, there is this threshold of wealth that, once crossed, entitles one to the full advantages of the upper class. To Andrea, this threshold is West Beverly: it's assumed that once she's enrolled in the school she has all of the same privileges as her peers. Her friends are frequently surprised when she's unable to accompany them on their trips to Rodeo Drive. "You're one of us, right? Then why can't you do xyz with us?" Her peers fail to recognize the nuance within their situations, imposing additional expectations onto Andrea. She is the outsider on the inside, and even though her friends know she's "poor," they fail/are unwilling to recognize what this actually means. Chalk it up to rich-kid-cluelessness, to the nature of wealth inequality, to selfishness or liberal guilt. Either way, the result is the same: increased pressure and emotional burden for Andrea.

           Part of maintaining this identity includes not burdening her wealthy friends with her financial problems for fear of being cast out. However, I would argue that Andrea doesn't want to assimilate completely, so she establishes her difference from her peers through her activism and her un-California dressing style. It may be more comfortable to differentiate herself in this way, by her own choice, rather than by her uncontrollable socioeconomic status. When she does occasionally express frustration/worry about wealth inequality, such as when the school board became suspicious of her residency, her friends are clueless at best and patronizing at worst. One would think that Steve or Dylan, the group's wealthiest members, would be the most out of touch with her situation, but I would argue that in reality it's Brandon. Brandon Walsh, hard-working All-American fellow journalist, is one of Andrea's closest friends/near-love interest. A common 90210 narrative is that the Walsh family isn't As-Wealthy-As their West Beverly peers... but with their corporate accountant father and driveway full of cars, they're doing more than okay. However, Brandon and Brenda love to tout how much they struggle to financially fit in when the reality is that they are able to keep up just fine. They struggle financially until it gets inconvenient, at which point their father steps in and bails them out. They have the privilege of a struggle that builds character with no real consequences, whereas Andrea's struggle is her unchanging reality. Brandon in particular often mistakes his possessions and success to be the direct result of his hard work. He often is self-righteous in discussing his own wealth, making statements like "I'm broke too and you don't see me complaining. I work for a living." This pseudo-working-class approach is very ingrained into Brandon and, because of their relationship, also ingrained into Andrea. I would argue that Brandon's personal narrative is more detrimental to Andrea than someone like Dylan, who makes no attempt to downplay his personal wealth. As we reflect on Andrea's positionality compared to that of the lower middle class students of expensive liberal arts colleges, the burden of the Brandon Walsh Mindset  will become more apparent.

           Before we do so, it's important to distinguish that Andrea is not living below the poverty line. She's not on welfare; she never goes hungry. This isn't an argument that the challenges of Andrea/lower middle class individuals are As-Bad-As those living in poverty. Instead, this argument calls to recognize the unique challenges and emotional burdens experienced by Andrea/lower middle class individuals when they have prolonged access to wealthy spaces. When they are expected to maintain the appearance of a higher socioeconomic status in order to retain access to resources. When they are the outsider on the inside. In this way, Andrea's positionality at West Beverly is comparable to the positionality of lower middle class students at expensive liberal arts colleges. Both West Beverly and these liberal arts colleges are closed communities of education and social events dominated by wealthy individuals. Lower middle class students in these spaces internalize similar expectations to maintain the appearance of wealth. Enrollment in these colleges is the same "threshold" as enrollment in West Beverly: once they're in, they're expected to have access to the entire array of lifestyle spoils as their more affluent peers. Their peers cannot understand why they "refuse" to opt for the same amenities that they do, failing to recognize that they are literally unable to. "Why won't you go to dinner with us? Why won't you fill your car with gas? Why aren't you willing to raise your rent budget so you can live with us? We can!" Additionally, in these spaces there's an overwhelming presence of the cross-to-bear narrative (except in this case, I would argue that liberal guilt plays more of a role than it does in the universe of 90210). Wealthy peers are uncomfortable recognizing wealth inequality within their own community (despite the fact that this is the focus of many of their studies), so they downplay its significance and compare their own struggles. "I don't understand that your parents can't pay their mortgage, but my parents are divorced so I know how you feel." Again, this is not to garner sympathy for the lower middle class (who have their own privileges in comparison to impoverished communities) or downplay the personal/family problems of affluent students. But it's crucial to distinguish how the characterization of wealth inequality as a personal attribute comparable to a personal challenge and NOT as a systematic problem is harmful to both individuals in these spaces and larger conceptualizations of wealth inequality.

           A unique aspect of the liberal arts environment is the disproportionate presence of the Brandon Walsh Mindset. Whereas Andrea only knows one Brandon Walsh, I would argue that liberal arts colleges are filled with literally hundreds of Brandon Walshes-- students that tout the "struggling college student" identity until it's inconvenient, at which point they phone in cash from their parents. Because of the 'threshold' nature of these communities, it is assumed that the lower middle class students have this same luxury. When these students express discontent with their socioeconomic status, they are patronized with "I know, I'm broke too." Knowing that this statement has different implications, the student, once again, is confronted with their own difference. The outsider on this inside.

           So what is the solution for the Andreas of the world? Should they stay out of these spaces, sticking to their own socioeconomic circles for social comfort? Should they not try for a West Beverly education, even though their grandmother lives in-district? Should they not study in liberal arts colleges, even though they received scholarships that make it possible? I guess the first step is reflection, changing narratives, changing dialogue. We need to become less uncomfortable discussing wealthy inequality--especially within groups where everyone is perceived to be of the same socioeconomic status, Those who are more affluent should reflect on their wealth so the burden of need not fall entirely on the outsiders. And, ultimately, these discussions need to be expanded outside the borders of their elite, closed communities. The Andreas of the world are not the greatest victims of wealth inequality: they are only a microcosm within one institution. Change needs to come with larger, sweeping changes for the more extreme ends of the wealth equality spectrum. Call it Marxist-idealism, but here's to hoping that the next 90210 reboot is radically different not only for Andrea, but for all of us. And maybe some non-white main characters.

[zipgrowth]

A Continuing Education: What Comes After a College Transformation

This is the final part of a three-part series looking at how one college in Texas staged a turnaround. Read part one and two for background.

TEXARKANA, Texas — The road to success is often winding.

In the case of one community college in east Texas, achieving its goals required more than just a shiny new education technology tool.

For this two-year school, Texarkana College, it also involved a local billionaire benefactor, community members rallying to support the college as it faced bankruptcy, and an overhaul of curriculum and advising from within.

For all of the progress that Texarkana College has seen, however, major issues persist. In 2012, the graduation rate for men and women was 7 and 16 percent, respectively, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. In 2016, men’s graduation rates spiked to 38 percent, while women’s graduation rates increased much more slowly, to 26 percent that same year.

Students taking time off of school or switching to part-time schedules to take care of young children are two reasons why.

That’s been the case for students like Tiffany Wills, a full-time student studying to be a dental hygienist, and a single parent. “I'm able to take classes, but the workload of homework can be overwhelming sometimes,” she says. What gets her through it, she adds, is “a lot of help from my parents, and a lot of prayer and faith.”

Some of Wills’s friends have taken time off from their studies when they have kids. She took a whole semester off herself. “I felt like I was taking away too much time with my child, so I took a semester off and focused on her, and got myself back together and got refocused.”

Wills is a local, but she didn’t always see Texarkana College as the place she would end up. She knew about Texas A&M—Texarkana, but the university was too expensive. But she’s found support on campus, through tutors, and through an unlikely bond with other students she’s met who are in similar situations.

“It's a lot different than what I thought because everybody here has different challenges and different backgrounds, different upbringings, but you almost know that each student is almost struggling, in a sense,” says Wills. “You meet people who you don't think you would click with, but because you had something in common, it brings different backgrounds together.”

Tiffany Wills (left) and Shelby Albury (right). (Photo credit: Sydney Johnson)

Shelby Albury often frequents the college cafeteria to study and get work done before heading home to her husband and two kids. Settled in the cafeteria with notes spread across the table, she says she’s also had friends who dropped out of their program at the college when bills and family responsibilities became too much to bear on top of studies. “Sometimes you have to make a choice between bills and school,” she says. “Electric companies don’t understand, ‘I need to go to class.’”

Officials at Texarkana say the college has made progress changing the internal culture on campus. But changing the school’s reputation in the city is slower going.

Sometimes you have to make a choice between bills and school. Electric companies don’t understand, “I need to go to class.”

Shelby Albury, student at Texarkana College

Texarkana’s other major anchor institutions are prisons. A federal prison and privately-operated county jail are located within six miles of the college. A juvenile detention center sits at the town’s center, just across the state line in Arkansas.

Albury says she’s concerned about her kids growing up and seeing jail as a normal, or even likely, option for their future. And she’s trying to show them something different. “A lot of people in my family didn’t go to college and had dead-end jobs,” she says. “I want to show my kids that no matter what age you are, you can succeed in life.”

Both students say what they do like is that the school has a tight-knit feel. On campus, Wills says what’s helped her is the ability to find support when she needs it from faculty advisors or tutors on campus. “Everybody's so helpful here,” says Wills. “I just met with a tutor, and I met with her on Sunday. I'm probably going to go with her before I take the test today. She has helped me a lot.”

Robert Jones has witnessed these struggles in his 28 years at Texarkana College, where he teaches math in the morning before stepping into his office as Dean of Students.

“Our students bring a whole lot of issues with them,” he says. “Not only do they not have any money, they don't even have anybody they can go to and get some money.” Those problems include student grievances, disciplinary issues and bigger life challenges that he often finds students coming to him with.

Jones says he's particularly proud that the college has increased graduation rates among black students, going from from 5 to 22 percent from 2008 to 2016. But an achievement gap still persists when compared to white students at the college, whose graduation rates went from 9 to 38 percent during the same time period.

Jones also says he sees many black male graduates concentrated in technical fields, more so than their white peers. “They come in, learn how to do air conditioning, learn how to do welding. You go in those classes and they’re something like 70 to 80 percent black men,” says Jones. “I'm sitting up here and saying, ‘I don't even hardly see that many African-American males on my side of the campus.’”

Moving Forward

These days, students at Texarkana College can be seen coming in and out of the library. There’s a new media facility for the college radio station, and a revamped academic commons space. Instead of a tone of resignation, administrators gush with pride about where the college is headed.

Donna McDaniel, vice president of instruction at Texarkana College, knows there’s still much work to be done, though. “We need to improve in every area,” she says. “We need to improve with our academic support. I feel like our enrollment services could still be better. We keep tweaking it and fine tuning it.”

But who will be leading those future initiatives remains to be seen. In September, Texarkana College President James Henry Russell announced that he is leaving the college in January 2019 to re-enter the private sector as chief financial officer for agricultural supply distributor BWI Companies. After joining the college in 2011, Russell helped lead a campaign to pass a local ballot measure that prevented Texarkana College from bankruptcy and closure.

“It is hard to beat the feeling of a [Texarkana College] graduation when you see our amazing students graduate after conquering and pushing through so many life issues and struggles to get to a better place in life,” Russell said in the school’s announcement of his departure.

“The TC staff continually takes on more roles and responsibilities than ever in the history of the college, and they do it with smiles on their faces and the best customer service of any organization around.”

Financial struggles aren’t wiped away yet, either. In 2017, there was a proposal to increase the tax for Texarkana College from approximately 11 to 12 cents per $100 of assessed property value, the Texarkana Gazette reported. The increase passed, but not without grumbling from community members.

“I am for higher education, but not at the expense of Bowie County citizens. We have a public school system, kindergarten through 12 that we have to support. It seems that TC is like a money pit,” one resident said at a public hearing about the tax.

The fact that uncertainties lie ahead at Texarkana College is something Jones has come to terms with. But he’s comforted by the fact that he’s seen the college start over again.

With this next transition, he has hope: “For us to survive, we're going to have to be turning out a good product. We're going to have to make sure that a large number of these folks come in, they get out, and no one department or one program can do that. We've all got to get out here and talk to these students and work together to make this happen.”

A Continuing Education: What Comes After a College Transformation published first on https://medium.com/@GetNewDLBusiness

[fancycollectionfury-blog1]

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I give my dad my whole paycheck but he hasn't been paying my car insurance?

I am 22 yrs old and live at home with crazy, controlling parents. I work part time and go to school full time. I have no credit, etc etc so they make me live at home and go to school nearby. My job (which is with my mother) recently cut my hours down to part time, but I was lucky because they laid off many people. I get paid around $450 every 2 weeks. My parents are constantly crying about money and I closed out my bank account so as to give them my full check with the understanding that they would help pay my student loans and car insurance. I got into a car crash where I was rear ended and I was the driver, so I received no fault. One month later, I was rear ended AGAIN and again, no fault because I was not at fault for either accident. It came out that I HAVE NO CAR INSURANCE and that my dad was not paying for any insurance because I am not even listed as a driver! I also have no health or dental insurance! (He is a psychiatrist, a doctor, and makes decent money. My mother is a social worker) So now since I have been in 2 accidents and no insurance, my dad won't let me drive and either he or my mother drives me to both work and school. However, they pay for my brother to go away to college and his health insurance, phone bill, and car insurance without question. When I ask why they won't put the car in my name and give me insurance, they say it would be $4,000 a month, which I know is very far from the truth. They also say they are working on getting me car insurance, but the accident occurred over a month ago. How long does it take to get car insurance so I can drive myself places?? What is my best course of action in this psychotic situation?""

""In Florida, How much (if any) will my auto insurance rate increase with 3 points on my license?

I got a ticket for improperly changing lanes and I'm electing not to go to traffic school (since I only have one more chance for traffic school based on two times/year) for such a minor offense. Would it make sense to skip 8hr school ($70.00) or would I end up paying more in the long run because of my 3 points?

What is the best individual health insurance?

im looking for an affordable good health insurance, i currently have a family plan with my employer but its expensive are there any individual plans out there that are affordable what are they? thank you?""

What is the cheapest moped insurance?

I need help finding cheap insurance for my moped its a KYMCO Agility 50. I have checked all of the most well known comparison sites but the cheapest quotes are 190 for a full year. Any suggestions would be of help.

Where Can I get Cheap Car Insurance?

I am currently a full time student and I am trying to find Car insurance that won't cost me an arm and a leg. The cheapest quote i have gotten is 2052 (full license) yet im certain i could get it cheaper... I am looking to get a Citroen Saxo, 3 door, as they are meant to be a good first car and cheaper insurance, yet i don't call that cheap! Direct line has put their prices for young drivers up to a minimum of 3000 and the car is only worth 850! I will be the main driver of the car, if not the only driver and as my parents have polices with companies that won't put me on as a named driver I'm screwed. Im 17 year old boy and can't really afford to pay that much.... Anyone know where i can get a reasonable quote from. I expect it to be high but that much - wow Best quote came from Quinn direct""

Pregnant with no insurance in houston?

Im married so i dont know if i can even get medicare and i also know that is a process that takes time and if my calculations are right i should be close or in the 3rd month already. it might be a complicated pregnancy because of the fact that four months before this i had a miscarriage at 4 mnths so i need to see a doctor soon. any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks.

Will my car insurance rate go up because of this freak accident?

I was backing out of a parking lot and I hit a van coming up. Considering the fact that the parking lot was nearly empty neither one of us saw each other coming. I did pull off pretty fast but not too fast. Their was no damage to my car, but he had a small dent on the side of his nothing major. We called the police cause he was older and felt safer doing that. The police said nothing will go on our records, but didn't say whose at fault. So we just exchanged insurance info. Does this mean nothing will happen, or will my mom go crazy when she finds out? How much of an increase would this cause her insurance to go up? What are the circumstances that this might cause an extreme insurance hike for a 19 year old?""

Is there some affordable health insurance plan in the U.S. that doesnt have a huge deductible?

Is there some affordable health insurance plan in the U.S. that doesnt have a huge deductible?

What would be the approximate cost of insurance on an 2004 Acura TL for a 17 year old boy?

What would be the approximate cost of insurance on an 2004 Acura TL for a 17 year old boy?

Is it best to cancel your car insurance or have the company cancel you out?

i paid for car insurance for 6 months and now i fould cheaper insurance. should i cancel my insurance or have them cancel it for me. which will cost me more money

Is there a big differents in the price of car insurance?

hi is there a big differents in the price of car insurance between a mini copper and a mini one for a first car for a 17 year old

washington dental insurance

washington dental insurance

What do can i do? Car Iincident! but no insurance!?

Ok i live in Orange County in California. Yesterday on my way to school i got t-boned by a 1998 Ford F150. I drive a 1998 Honda Prelude. I was driving down a street and the light turned yellow so i ran it and the guy was waiting to make a left turn at a yielding section, he saw me coming when the light turned yellow and he just stepped on the gas and T-boned me on the driver side. He didn't take blame for it, and he states that I ran a red light when his light was green. Police wasn't involved. We are all okay, nothing happened to his vehicle, he just has a light scratch on his plastic bumper, buy my car got wrecked from the passenger side. Now the main problem is i don't have insurance on my vehicle but he did. Now i don't know what to do.""

Where can I get the best Health or medical coverage in New York or online?

I working and my health care insurance is expired I want to get a new one or a partial payment insurance where can i sign up for it. I need it to pick up my medicaid.

Help finding an orthodontist that accepts my insurance?

Hi everybody well ive been wanting to get braces but i cant afford them and i cant seem to find one anyways i live in California my insurance plan is Healthy Kids its a program part of Healthy Plans of San Mateo County i live in South San Francisco and i really desperately need help finding an orthodontist in or around this area i want my braces really bad like asap so yeah please if anyone can help me out it will be gladly appreciated! thanks

Should I wait until I am 25 or 26 to start driving a car again? Is it true about Insurance costs? Please read?

Hello, I am 21 and in college. I am in Northeast Illinois. I have not driven a car since I was 17. This is because I did miserably in driver education. I passed the classroom, so technically I passed driver ed, but the driving I failed miserably. My parents won't let me be behind the wheel of their cars again. I talked with a friend of mine recently and she said that the cost of driving insurance in Illinois is dramatically less when a driver turns 25 or 26. I am thinking that maybe I should start driving again at age 25 or 26 so I can keep costs down (especially in a nasty economy like this country has right now). Now, here's the other thing, my dad has cancer (leukemia), he's the one who gives me rides to places, my mom doesn't want to give me rides because she is still angry at me for what I did when I was 17. She said to me You're not driving again, ever. You lied to me. You disobeyed our orders and was arrogant. You're done. I don't care about your behaviors anymore Yeah, she hasn't changed since what I did at age 17. My dad has a had time walking, sitting, standing, etc. He has mentioned a couple of times Its not a bad idea that maybe you should think about driving again, you will have to drive some time, son Then I think about the insurance cost and how much of a hassel it would be. So, should I do it? Should I wait until I am 25 or 26 to start driving again? Should I wait longer? It seems like my mom won't forgive me and my dad has this cancer making it hard on him. I don't know what to do. Thanks""

Insurance fraud or what?

i have a question in I believe early 07 someone was driving my car, crashed it, took off n threated me if i said i wasnt driving, so ehh 4000 in damages.. the insuranced paid for it, n i said it was my fault. how long till its off my record and insurance is cheaper?? (sucks there isnt a way to wipe it off.. errrr)""

Insurance company offers online business insurance?

hi, ive been trying to set up this business for the longest time now and my only problem is insurance. i need general liability insurance just incase i ship something out and a customer tries to blame my packaging and sues me. im selling coral and LED lighting. the insurance companies i tried were hiscox, nationwide, state farm, bolt, and so many more i dont even know the names anymore. they all say they dont offer any type of insurance for businesses that sell products or they dont offer insurance for online selling, does anyone know an insurance company that will be able to give me insurance for online selling? i only need $300,000 coverage i dont want a million dollars because then its to expensive and i know no one will sue me anyway the way this industry is ive never heard of someone sueing EVER my dad just wont let me start the company without insurence""

Do you need auto insurance when your car is under Planned NON Operation ?

I have a old car that i am not going to use for the next 4 months till my wife comes back (she's out of country now). My Question is if i file for a planned non operation of the car with DMV, can i take this car out of my insurance. Currently i just have the liability on this old car. Is insurance mandatory even if your car is not driven / in public roads?. Please help.""

How much do insurance csr's make in california?

I'm working as a receptionist at an insurance company and am thinking about staying in insurance long-term. How much do customer service reps generally make in CA? I've tried googling and the numbers I'm coming up with are very close to what I'm making as a receptionist, which cannot be correct. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!""

How much does it cost to visit ER without health insurance ?

Just wondering since I visited a hospital's ER couple weeks ago . Have not received any bills yet , I'm 26 yrs old , have a health insurance from blue shield california but the plan has almost $2000 copayment that I have to pay before I can take any benefit ... I visited the ER , did a X-ray , talked to a ER physician ... and that's about it . anyone knows how much I might have to pay for the visit ?""

My car insurance got cancel?

I have to pay 2,700 to get my car insurance back is their any car insurance companies that can let me have car insurance now? And I still can pay off the 2.700?""

What is a good estimate of the cost of insurance for a Mustang V6?

I am 16 and I have been looking at a manual transmission V6 Mustang for the past couple of years. I have looked around and I am aware of the typical prices that are being sold. I'm trying to focus on the 2007-2010 versions. The 2010 V6 Mustang is the version that has really caught my eye. I need to know how much I should expect to spend/save. Thank You.

Does anyone know the penalty for a motorist not having auto insurance in Texas?

The auto is insured, and the driver is authorized to drive it. Got speeding ticket and showed proof of insurance for auto. Went to get deferred adjudication and included copy of insurance card where authorized user but now being asked for insurance on driver.""

How much would my car insurance go up if I got a mustang?

I'm 24 years old, have a good driving record, and I am currently on with my dad's insurance. I have a 2005 chevy aveo right now, with almost 75,000miles; and I pay $110 a month for insurance. Unfortunately, my car may be reaching it's end, and I may have to get a new car. I've found a used 2002 ford mustang, 2 door and 14,633 miles on it. How much do you think my insurance would go up? My dad says it would sky rocket... But I figure I'd ask anyway! Thanks!""

Why is it that so many people have to die due to lack of health insurance?

Why is it that so many people have to die due to lack of health insurance?

Does a parking ticket effect my insurance?

I received a ticket today for not cramping my wheels to the curb while parking uphill. Will that effect my insurance? And will my parking violation appear anywhere on my insurance statement or any car paperwork? Thank you :)

Nationwide car insurance....?

So yea it was a snowy day in mississippi..... something that don't usually happen... I slided on ice and hit the guard rail... it was only 1 or maybe 2 bump... the car wasn't messed up that bad.... I mean there was a dent from the inital bump but what do you expect? The officer said when I asked them could they fix it he said probably... its not really bad at all.... and that the same thing I said... so I find out days later after they inspected it, they was gonna jump it and not fix it... so my question is why do we pay all these hundreds of dollars every month that when it comes to the company to their job, they don't do it? I think I was paying 240 every month for my 98 ford explorer... also do they suppose to pay me for the value of my car since they not fixing it? The reality of it that if I known this would have happen could I just save that money I was paying them these years and put the money in my pocket so when I crash I could take that money and buy me my own car instead of being carless when I was giving the money to the insurance company? I mean wuts the point of even paying them honestly?""

Cheap insurance?

i am looking to buy a chevy camaro RS and i know the insurance will be high does anyone know how much it will be? if there is a way to get less then i will buy the Z28 which would be more because of the V8 right?

How auto insurance works in california?

i backed up into a car today and there is no damage to my car but a dent in the others hood, and i said lets call the police and they said lets just exchange information, i said no i'd rather have them come...they said they called when i was getting something in my car and said the police said they would take a while so we decided to exchange info...i got her license but they said they didnt have the insurance info with them....but in the mean time i gave them my info...now i have a feeling that maybe they didnt have insurance and there is no police report so what can happen now?""

When does insurance comapanies stop charging outrageous rate for male sports car drivers?

I just turned 24 and am thinking about getting a sports car. I heard the insurance comapany charge outrageous rate for male drivers until certain age. I was wondering what that age is.

Affordable Health Insuance that includes maternity coverage?

My husband just started a new job that offers NO benefits until he moves up in the company which could take over a year to happen or even longer, and I only work part time. I am ...show more""

Does this sound like a Fair price for Obamacare insurance in California?

Monthly Premium $321 Deductible $2000 Co-pay $45 Specialty care Copay $65 Generic Med $25 Max out of Pocket $6400 FYI my brother has his own general practice, he said on average he charges people without insurance abot $60-70 for an office visit (cash,check,credit card or invoice)""

""What the best, and cheapest car insurance to get full coverage on??""

I moved to another state, need to change insurance companies, and have a 2000 pontiac sunfire.. its still in good shape and would like full coverage. What the BEST, and cheapest insurance to get full coverage on??""

What is a cheap auto insurance for a 20yr old male student?

What is a cheap auto insurance company for a college student 20yr old male, good grades""

Why do people buy insurance?

is it for saving or protection of life? What are the reasons that motivate people to buy insurance?

Car Insurance - Accident (Please Advise)?

Today an OAP came driving down a one-way carpark (trying to get my car parking space). In the process, she attempted to drive along the side of my car to get to the space, and scraped the side of my car and bumper. She said she would give me 20. But i said that i haven't got a clue how much the cost would be and im sure 20 wouldn't cover me. So she decided for us to drive to the local police station. The LSTO took both our details, and said for us to go through the insurance company, as the OAP was in the wrong and liable. When we left the police station she said she has previously written off a car earlier this year, and doesn't want to go through the insurance company! She gave me her home telephone number and said for me to get a quote and she'll pay for it. I got the quote - its 450. after she offered 20, i don't know if she will pay this amount! If we go through the insurance will i have to pay my excess. and what exactly happens!? I'm clueless!! I am fully comp...""

washington dental insurance

washington dental insurance

Is it possible to buy life insurance to insure the life of someone on death row?

Chances are, like in California, they'll just die of old age, so it's not that bad of a risk.""

""Im a 21 yea old female, what would cost more; insurance on a 2010 camaro, or a 2007 mustang?""

also how much do you think would cost? no tickets, no wrecks, nothing on my record. thanks!""

Insurance for a first Motorcycle?

When I turn 17, I'm thinking of buying a Kawasaki KDX125. What would the insurance costs be like for a 17 year old? (In the UK) and can you recommend a similar bike?""

80's Monte Carlo Insurance cost?

Considering buying a Chevy Monte Carlo from the mid 80's, I know that early muscle cars have very high insurance cost, while an average cheap 80's car has a cheap insurance cost. The Monte Carlo is somewhere in between these two depending on how you view it, so should I expect 69 Camaro insurance prices or 88 Civic prices?""

Becoming an insurance agent in Texas?

How does one become an insurance agent in Texas?

Good car insurance price for teens?

Im 16 and I just got my license. My dad told me the insurance agent said its going to cost $130. I dont think that is including drivers education discount and good grades discount. How much discount a month you think Ill get and is that a good price? (Im getting a Nissan Xterra)

Will making two collision claims (one major/ one minor ) within a 6 month period raise my auto insurance rates

I've never made a claim before this first one, a deer ran in front of my car and caused severe damage. Now five months later someone hit my car in parking lot (I think) nothing major just a 6 black mark that pushed the body in a bit. Will they raise my rates? If so then I would just go a get it fixed and pay for it all out of pocket.""

I need affordable insurance on my car any suggestions?

well i've been driving around for 9 months now w/out insurance. my car's a 2001 dodge neon standard model and i paid cash for it (no car note). im afraid that if im pulled over by the chp my car will get towed. im on a budget and i really need an affordable monthly premium. im 28 yrs old i got my driving license at 26 yrs old then got 2 tickets like 2 months later. one ticket was a failure to yield on a right turn w/ a red light and as a result i caused an accident but there was no bodily harm or property damage to the other driver only to my car it was totaled and i wasn't harmed. i recently was pulled over and given a speeding ticket too. what is the difference in full vs. liability insurance? i do know that liability is cheaper. which should i consider? also does anyone know of any insurance co. that don't require a huge down payment to start?and would insure my car w/out a huge monthly premium?

Do car insurance policies follow the car or the driver?

I have a car insurance policy for my honda civic with both liability and collision. I am going to buy a motorcycle soon, and want to know if I need to get extra insurance. The value of the motorcycle won't be a lot, so I'm not crazy about getting collision on the bike. But will my liability insurance from my car policy follow me when I drive the motorcycle (or anyone else's car for that matter)? I guess the real question is: do I need to inform my insurance company that I'm getting a motorcycle?""

How much is insurance on a motorcycle?

tell me your sex, age, location and cost per month. i live in baltimore, md""

Cant get contents home insurance because of council windows?

We live in a council flat and because we have metal framed windows without the key locking system like the new ones, insurance companies wont insure us for our contents. I complained to this to the council also but they are not going to replace windows either, even though one is stuck, yet they put all new windows in around the corner to us and gave them new doors, and left our block out. Suggestions?""

Best car insurance company for me 10 points!!!!!!?

what is the cheapest+best auto insurance for me?!!!?!!?!!?!? we are a family of 4 and we all drive. we have a toyota 4x4, colorado, 1985 nissan truck, mustang v6. my youngest son has had 1 accident i'm 46 my wife is 46 and my sons are 18,19 i cant find a good car insurance they are all expensive!!!!!!!!!!""

Question regarding auto insurance claim?

Recently, our car got pummeled by a hailstorm. We went to a bodyshop prior to the meeting with the damage adjuster (which is today), and was told by the tech that our car would require both conventional and PDR repair. However, the estimate report was written up today for PDR repair only. Does that mean I'm limiting to PDR repair only? Or can the bodyshop challenges the insurance company's estimate and go for the conventional & PDR repair?""

""I would like to buy a VW bus, but i am a student and i was wondering how much maintenance would cost monthly?""

I am dying to get this car, it is my dream car, or bus, but i don't have very much money. So, i am trying to better understand the circumstances that i am getting myself into before i make this big step. I already know about insurance prices and gas prices, but i am pretty much clueless at maintenance prices, i am really looking for a ballpark figure.""

How do I know if my auto insurance settlement offer is fair?

How do I know if my auto insurance settlement offer is fair?

When looking for car insurance..do I need a car to find car insurance?

I am planning on buying a cheap used car. I dont have it yet so I dont know the make and model yet. Also..is it better to say I got my license at 16? or at 22? Why do they ask all this? What is a good price for car insurance for a 22 yr old full time college student with a 2.98 gpa, im also a part time worker. i only make around 400 bucks a month. Can even afford it?""

Does car insurance typically cover the car being totaled due to flooding?

I live in the Midwest, where everything is flooding. My husband just called and said that his car was flooded, and is now not running. Does car insurance typically cover this? I know I'll need to check with our insurance company in the morning, but I'm just curious if that is considered an act of God, therefore covered under a comp. claim. We have full coverage.""

Health Insurance for adults!?

My mother is 62 and has no insurance. Im being told she needs tests run and needs to be seen immediately. Is there any type of insurance that can help her?

16 year old looking for car insurance?

Hi, I am a 16 year old male living in California and I just got my license. What are some good, cheap car insurance agencies? Thanks.""

I bought a stolen car and the insurance company offered me to buy again at a high price?

I bought a Audi 05 reg for 13k privatley that turned out to be stolen. The insurance company have now offered me 15k a ridiculous amount of money to buy it again, that they say is non negotiable. Does anyone know if I can get it cheaper maybe the insurance company is trying it on as they know I want it, or shall i let it go to auction and try and buy it back then.""

Auto Insurance Rates?

So, I got into an accident a year ago in June when I was 17 so I have 2 points on my record, I was declared at fault, which was bullsh*t btw, but I haven't driven since and I'll be 19 soon in June. I'm looking for a car now because I really need it to get to school. I will be under my parents account and will get liability coverage, generally how much higher will insurance rates be (by %) in CA for me? Intelligent answers only thanks.""

Car Insurance Help?

Hi, I already confirmed that insurance for me and my Mum and Bro on a BMW (E36) 316 Coupe (Group 11) is do-able However, due to the lack of decent 316 coupes on the market im now looking at a 318 (1.9) Saloon which is also Insurance Group 11. Will my insurance quote stay very similiar because they are both group 11 or will it go up because its now a 1.9 litre as opposed to a 1.6? Im looking at a 318 (1.9) E46 Saloon 1999. Many thanks!!!""

Can someone please help me find the best insurance for me?

I need something that covers dental, vision and as much Health as possible. (Routine check ups, lab work, specialist, etc) Something with an affordable deductible and Affordable Copay..I'm not very familiar in this area but I'm 99% sure that I have progressed type 2 Diabetes as well as other various health problems and desperately need to visit the doctor. Thank you.""

I'm pregnant with no insurance and don't qualify for medicaid.?

I just found out I am pregnant. I'm 18, and I want to be realistic about how I can do this. I do NOT have insurance, and I know for a fact that my mother makes too much money (that all goes to bills) for me to qualify for medicaid. We literally have nothing left over, and still struggle. So I would have to pay out of pocket.. but I have nothing to my name. I just had a job interview but even that isn't guaranteed & I'm not even sure if I can work because I am already getting morning sickness. The father has no money or insurance whatsoever. & I am not stupid enough to rely on him. Is there any way that I can get help? *Please no lectures on how I should of thought of that before. No ****. We all make mistakes. Thank you.""

Does the colour of your car affect how much your insurance will cost?

cos someone said that apparently darker coloured cars like black or darker shade blue green etc are more expensive on insurance than lighter ones like white, yellow etc Is this true or am i just being told myths?""

washington dental insurance

washington dental insurance

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-car-insurance-shooting-uplooking-changecan-you-help-mia-ogden/"

[deniscollins]

School’s Closed. Forever.

Rural Arena, Wisconsin, population 834, has an aging population and farm consolidations. The elementary school declined to 94 students, and future demographic trends showed further declines. If you were on the Board of Education would you: (1) continue to cut costs and eliminate staff and programs, or (2) close the school and send the students to another school 9 miles away, which will make living in Arena even less desirable for families and businesses? Why? What are the ethics underlying your decision?

Ten-year-old Lola Roske grabbed her backpack and headed to elementary school for the last day of class, the final check on her to-do list before the unstructured bliss of summer.

At drop-off, her mother, Kellie Roske, was determined not to linger. All around her, parents were hugging their children. Teachers were brushing away tears.

“I surprisingly held it together,” said Ms. Roske, who for weeks had steeled herself for an “ugly-cry day.”

Lola was among the last students to attend Arena Community Elementary. After classes let out last Monday, the school was shuttered permanently by the River Valley School District, whose administrators say that unforgiving budgets, a dearth of students and an aging population have made it impossible to keep the school open. For the first time since the 1800s, the village of Arena has no school.

Arena Elementary is the second small rural elementary school in two years to close in the district, nearly 300 square miles of rolling pastures and dairy farms in southwestern Wisconsin. The one in the neighboring village of Lone Rock closed last spring. The district now has just one open public elementary school, in Spring Green, nine miles away.

The same scene is playing out across rural America. Officials in aging communities with stretched budgets are closing small schools and busing children to larger towns. People worry about losing not just their schools but their town’s future — that the closing will prompt the remaining residents and businesses to drift away and leave the place a ghost town.

Rural schools have been closing in waves for decades, but the debate has taken on sharp urgency this year, particularly in communities in the Midwest and New England that have grown smaller and older since the recession. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker, who is under pressure as he campaigns for a third term, signed a bill in March increasing aid to nearly 150 sparsely populated school districts. A legislative committee in Madison, noting the major shifts in population from rural areas to cities and suburbs in the last decade, has convened public sessions across the state to search for solutions and hear from frustrated parents and administrators.

Arena’s last day capped a long, bitter and personal debate that has divided the rural community far more than any political debate or presidential election has.

Friendships soured. Co-workers took sides. Elected officials held long and emotional hearings. Residents voted on a referendum attempting to raise money and save the school. School board officials faced a recall election, and after the vote last year, one member was told by friends that it might be best if he didn’t show up at the Fourth of July celebration in Lone Rock. He stayed away.

Ms. Roske, a multitasking force of energy who runs both the school’s parent-teacher organization and a nearby horse farm, said she had fought the closure of the Arena school, where both of her daughters were educated.

Administrators say they hardly had any choice.

The numbers are there for anyone to see: The River Valley School District graduated 105 seniors this year, and expects only 66 kindergartners to start school in the fall.

But the fight over Arena Community Elementary is bigger than the school, a small building where moody sconces line the hallways, a nod to Frank Lloyd Wright, whose landmark studio Taliesin is carved into a bluff a 10-minute drive down the road.

Residents worry about what will happen to Arena, population 834, without the school. There isn’t much else on this two-lane stretch of Highway 14: a gas station, a cheese outlet, a cafe called Grandma Mary’s, beloved for its Friday fish fry and beef stroganoff.

But the reality of rural life in the Midwest, school officials say, is that younger people are fleeing. They want Starbucks and Thai restaurants, plentiful jobs and high-speed internet, and when they start families, they want schools with amenities and big, thriving athletic programs.

“In any small community, anywhere in this country, our kids grow up and move away,” said Mark Strozinsky, a River Valley school board member. “They go to college and get a job, but it’s not here, because the opportunity is not here. So who’s left here? Grandma and Grandpa.”

‘It was hell’

Across rural Wisconsin, school administrators facing the same painful trend are having to choose which schools to shutter. Elementary schools in remote areas tend to be the most vulnerable, while those in slightly larger towns or villages survive longer, said Kim Kaukl, the executive director of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, an advocacy group that represents 145 districts.

“At times it can pit the so-called country folks against the village or city folks,” Mr. Kaukl said. “Over the last 10 years, it’s unfortunately become a way of life.”

Two schools in the Portage school district in central Wisconsin closed several years ago after enrollment declined sharply, the district administrator, Charles Poches, said.

“You can’t have four teachers for 40 kids,” he said.

As the public face of the district, Mr. Poches said that he bore the brunt of residents’ fury at public hearings.

“It was hell,” he said. “We’d have 50 people, some who didn’t even have kids there but had gone to school there. They felt it was part of their community. It was very traumatic.”

Mr. Poches submitted his resignation and plans to depart this month after 11 years.

Over five school years, ending with the spring of 2016, 71 percent of rural districts in the state saw a drop in enrollment, said Sarah Kemp, a school demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In Potosi, a town in western Wisconsin, Ronald S. Saari, the district administrator, said his district was down to 320 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, all housed in one building. Nothing is left to cut, he said.

“We’re an agricultural area,” Mr. Saari said. “At one point, they tell me, back in the ’80s there were 600-some kids in this district. But the smaller farms have consolidated into bigger company farms. Sometimes you sit back at the end of the day and reflect on how touch-and-go things are from year to year. When is that going to end?”

‘Their schools were their life’

About 15 years ago, the graduating classes in the River Valley School District, then a relatively robust 160 students, began to shrink.

Administrators were faced with several choices, none appealing: Get more money from taxpayers through a referendum; reduce costs by closing elementary schools and eliminating staff positions; or cut more programs, like electives at the middle school and Advanced Placement classes in the high school.

The Arena school, which had 94 students in its final months, tried remaking itself into a public charter school with a STEM focus in 2014, receiving grants of more than $350,000 for new iPads and laptops, teacher training and consultants. But it was not nearly enough. Thomas R. Wermuth, the district administrator, studied enrollment projections and saw that the student shortage was not going to turn around. The state doles out aid partly based on head count; the new law to aid thinly populated districts wouldn’t help River Valley, which has too many students overall to qualify.

“For us, it was a no-win situation,” Mr. Wermuth said. “We didn’t want to start eliminating or reducing the music experiences that our children receive, our art experiences. We’re a pretty bare-bones operation already.”

In November 2016, the district asked residents to vote for an additional $9.3 million in taxes to keep the schools open, at least for several more years.

“We all knew it was going to be close,” said Lisa Kjos, an Arena resident who works for the school district. “For the parents in the village, their school was their life. The elementary school was what kept them going.”

The ballot measure failed by 207 votes.

The referendum opened wounds throughout River Valley, pitting the district’s four villages — Arena, Lone Rock, Plain and Spring Green — against one another. Spring Green, with its largest population and the most central location, stood to gain the most, while Lone Rock and Arena appeared most at risk.

“There were friendships that were split over one opinion or the other,” said Karen Wilkinson, a longtime substitute teacher at Arena. “Some of those have healed. But for some people, I don’t think there’s any going back.”

Jean Alt, a resident of Spring Green for more than 40 years, said her neighbors seemed unmoved by the possibility that a smaller village would lose its school. “They’re of the opinion: ‘If it’s going to save us money, great,’” said Ms. Alt, who taught at the Arena school. “But they’re not seeing the big picture of what’s happening in the other three towns. I got to the point where I didn’t even talk about it with other people. It just wasn’t worth the argument.”

In December 2016, the school board voted to close the elementary schools in Arena and Lone Rock. The village of Plain would keep a school serving preschool and kindergarten.

“I remember thinking, I will pay for this vote,” a board member, Frederic Iausly, said.

“A lot of this was based on feelings that we were picking on one community over another,” Mr. Iausly said. “That had nothing to do with it. It was based on numbers. How do we provide the highest possible education for our kids?”

‘Nobody’s moving here’

At Arena Community Elementary School, teachers were determined to put on a brave face in the final weeks.

Students were cheered by a roller skating party, a field trip to the Wisconsin Dells, and on the last day, an end-of-the-year celebration and potluck.

Melissa Schmid, whose 10-year-old stepson, Evan, completed fourth grade this year, said she wished she had fought harder to keep the Arena school open. When the time comes for her 1-year-old daughter, she and her husband have decided to send her to school in a different district to spare her a long bus ride.

She worries about the value of their house. New people aren’t moving to Arena much anyway. But they definitely won’t now.

“We basically have a bank and a cheese factory,” Ms. Schmid said. “It’s not going to be a growing community.”

Mr. Wermuth, the district administrator, walked through the halls of the Arena school on a recent morning, pointing out the library, the gym, the classrooms where children in Packers sweatshirts huddled over books and puzzles. He is unsure what will become of the building.

There has been talk of turning it into a day care, a food pantry, maybe some sort of town hall. In the meantime, Mr. Wermuth is hopeful it will be used for basketball games and other community activities, just so it won’t be left to stand empty.

[thefoxintheflowercrown]

Friends for Safekeeping

Believe it or not, I was never good at making friends. When I grew to the height of an average four-year-old, I was still hiding behind my mother, clenching to her knees as her work colleagues bent to my level and introduced themselves so politely. Though introductions were difficult and I found myself fearful of friendships, I soon learnt their value and the joys of conversing, laughing and playing with others. My parents and their friends often described me as shy, but I believe as a child, I was simply distant though nonetheless, very content. Absent minded and unfazed by babbling mothers and their screaming toddlers in the park sand pit, I could amuse myself for hours alone without any need to converse or befriend.  As far as I was concerned, my mother was my best friend and my father, my hero. When my sister was brought into the world, she was unwelcomed by my evident display of jealousy, but soon she became the very one friend I cherished above all others. I had everything a girl could want, so I naively believed there to be no need for any other companions. As the first few vital years of my life passed, I excitedly entered school. First grade was notably a nightmare, until I met Suné. From day one, her jet black piggy tails and freckled smile gave me a reason to cheer and chant. Every day with her was pure bliss. She taught me how to master hopscotch, jump rope without losing my front teeth, and play chess. Although I was always bested by her in the clever game of chess, she never once boasted of her victory. She was a humble, kind and intelligent girl whom gifted me with so many life lessons. Now, she reaps the fruit of her goodness, an international chess champion from South Africa and a beautiful, grown woman – such wonders our world has instore for those who are kind and deserving. She was my first real and true friend, certainly one I will treasure forever. Though she is living her life across the seas and a great distance from me, I will always remember her. After all, it is trying to forget the first person you shared such an intimate friendship with. 

When I came to Australia, I was awfully displeased. It was a foreign place, a place I had never heard of until that fateful night my parents sat us down and announced our family’s new adventure. It was the fifth grade and the year 2008. I was mortified at the thought of exposure to Australian children. I believed they would surely make a snack out of me, and I was convinced I would never again see the light of day, or witness the pleasantries of a friend. It was bizarre to me, how my parents could deny me my basic human rights by dragging me to such an alien place with such foreign people. Note, I was young and overdramatic – Australia is now my home and what I believe to be the world’s greatest paradise, and land of the free. Unbeknownst to me, I was not the only new girl losing my marbles in my fifth grade classroom.

Nikita Mathur, a shy but earthly girl of identical qualities and interests was enrolled that very same week. It is not very often you share the title of ‘new girl’ with another. Of course, our boisterous and bubbly teacher, Mrs. Reader believed this to be the perfect opportunity for middle school matchmaking and instantly paired us together. From that day forth, we not only became eternally indebted to our glitter crazed teacher, we also became completely and undoubtedly inseparable. We experienced all things together, from High School Musical marathons, to pillow fights, embarrassing stunts, uncontrollable laughter and truth or dare ketchup shots. She became the ying to my yang, my best friend. Till this day, she is the one friend that has stood by me through thick and thin. I certainly have envisioned our forever friendship, to grow old side by side, knitting matching sweaters and sporting the same pair of outrageous slippers, whilst drinking Tequila infused tea. She keeps me well in line when I stray from the right path, inspires me to do my very best in all I pursue, and encourages me to be kind and accepting of others. Nikita is the best this world has to offer, and she chose me as her closest companion. Quite simply, this life is sweeter with her in it and therefore, I am perhaps the most privileged woman to know a friendship as gracious and inviolable. To my readers, find a single soul, a friend like Niki to stroll through both life’s lousiest and loveliest ventures – it is well worth your while. Today, I’ve made several other wonderful friends, like the health crazed, inspiring and beautiful Anna Patch, and the cool, confident and stunning India Lawrence. Both these two girls have contributed greatly to my happiness and provided me with such a positive and powerful perspective on life. You could say they are two angels – though independent, they have always embraced me with undying love and support.

Now, as for the present. I have been undoubtedly blessed with what I can only describe as a united company of brothers that does everything in their power to love and protect their plump and poise, meals on wheels of a sister – that’s me. Jack Nolan, Isaiah Dunrobin, Chris Whitehead and Aaron Luckman are the men of legends, the dreamboat gang of geeks you know and love, or learn to after several drinks (I joke, I joke). Though the squad of six, including myself and Jamie King, formed a year before my return to the Gold Coast in senior year, I was welcomed with open arms. Jamie introduced me and by the end of senior year, I knew I would never quite suit any other mould. Fast forward to 2017, and we are still together despite all odds, come political debates or poorly scheduled Maccas runs.  Indeed, we are an outrageous bunch, a recipe for chaotic adventure, an unlikely group of diverse individuals, a family. To aid you in your understanding, we are much like the Losers Club from the hilarious horror movie IT, a squad of distinct characters, devoted not to the town of Derry, but to one another. In my eyes, each and every one of them are so vital to the longevity of our family.

Isaiah, said to be the one with a heated temper is, in actuality, the one with the greatest patience. He has tolerated all the crude humour and bad banter, adoring us just the same as the day prior. He is a strong and lenient man with a faithful heart, filled solely with good intention, nobility, and a passion for big guns and fried chicken. Though he may be the loudest, I love him for that very reason – oh, and the Elmo hello he insists on projecting every time he sees me. Jack, though quiet and awkward at first, is the most kind, honest and hilarious member of the pack. Though he jokes about his forehead being his biggest feature, I believe it to be his heart – which is why he is very dear to mine. Though my weird remarks and outright affection cripples him in cringe, he has always been there for me, and I am certain he will be in future. He is an intelligent, true and daring man with an unpredictable sense of spontaneity and compassion. Chris, otherwise known as the leader of the crew, is a charismatic, caring and competitive individual with a heart of gold. He certainly gives the best hugs and never ceases to surprise me with his wisdom. He’s made me laugh uncontrollably, stood by me when times were tough, and always considered me when I felt belittled or excluded. Much like Isaiah, he is the big brother I never had. His willingness and goodness is beyond admirable – and his love for chicken dinners, even more so. Aaron – wow, what a guy. The pink power ranger, whom rallies at every gig in town, fearlessly chugs alcohol, pulls all-nighter shifts at the Krusty Krab, and curses his squad with terrible puns. He is a kind-hearted, aflame legend, the dungeon master of our D&D sessions and a heck of a friend. He brings immense soul and sound to the group, with the Veronicas on repeat and a whacky catch phrase on standby. Finally, Jamie, the peacemaking prodigy, the sweet-hearted and open-minded individual that stole my heart at only fourteen. I could carry on forever about him. He inspires me daily to be the best I can be, to be a light in the world, and to pursue my passions. His down to earth nature, selfless ways and humble heart never ceases to amaze me – how lucky we all are to know and love him. Jamie is courageous and wonderful, patient and persistent, and just like all the others, he demonstrates a passion for life, for adventure and for his friends.

These five men are the mighty musketeers whom brings joy to my life, along with my dearest Nikita, sweet Anna and spirited India. They have undoubtedly changed me for the better, as their friendship has invested into my becoming. I certainly cannot claim to be the young girl I once was, shy and fearful of friendships. I am however, still as absent minded and a handful, so thank the heavens they are all patient with me. To my friends, I am grateful for each and every one of you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being yourselves, and for contributing to my life in the most beautiful, exceptional way. I can only hope that I have done the same for you, and that our journey together will never cease. You are all outstanding. To my readers, I cannot stress enough how important it is to seek out the right friends whom will lift you up, support you, and guide you through your life expedition. Furthermore, do not shy away from friendships. Of course, it is okay to be afraid, it is understandable that you might prefer to be on your own – but as I have come to learn, life is meant to be shared and thereby, embraced.  Do not deny yourself the pleasures of company, of companionship. Friends are made to be cherished, to be loved, and to hold near and dear. If you are reading this now and can relate to these words, your heart filled with warmth as you identify the key individuals that have enriched your life the way these people have mine, then I want to encourage you to let them know. Our time is limited on this earth, so be it through song or poem, spoken word, a letter or message, a text or phone call, a hug or a kiss, announce your appreciation. Make your love known and share it with the world, for you are valued, and those you value should know of your gratitude.

All my love,

Jean-Mari Vos

Illustration by: Grace Helmer, So Super Awesome. Find her at: http://sosuperawesome.com/post/121234395440/grace-helmer-on-tumblr