Gooseberry High

[Warded to Levi, Diego, Jesse, Ryan, & Quinn]

Once you're all back tonight, we need to talk about this afternoon.

Have you guys ever made a really poor decision? I'm not talking about the poor decision that a great number of us made yesterday to go down Azurecrest Hill (worth it), but something that has larger consequences and can even be habit-forming? I have made such a poor decision. Over the summer, I allowed myself to get pulled into the dark world of gambling. It started off so innocently - a dragot here, a dragot there, and I was even making money, at one point. But the next few times the 60-sided dice rolled, they did not do so in my favor.

One thing that is important to note about bad people: they do not always act like bad people. They're not all grumpy and projecting this air that they are going to beat you to a pulp. They can smile. They can joke around. They can seem approachable. And it's those bad people that you should really be on the lookout for, because when they start to resemble the bad person you're used to avoiding, you're in deeper shit with them than you ever would have been with the others.

Long story short, I am now taking commissions.
Sketches: 5 dragots.
Ink drawings: 8 dragots.
Colored drawings: 12 dragots.
Non-portrait paintings: 20 dragots.
Portraits: 25 dragots.

I'm not trying to question authority or anything, but I don't really understand what all the fuss is about the sledding. I mean, maybe I just don't understand something because I'm muggleborn, but quidditch seems just as dangerous? I mean, you're way up high on brooms jostling each other, and there are two iron balls enchanted to attack you and try to knock you off your broom. People get hurt plenty at that, right? And there were broken bones and concussions from hockey the other day, too.

And I get that there was underage drinking, and people were hurt and there was no healer on hand, but if people do this every year anyway, why don't they just turn it into a school sanctioned event? Staff being there would keep people from drinking, and Mufferaw could be there to fix any injuries.

Or is it just that we're only allowed to endanger ourselves for sports? You're allowed to get a concussion as long as it's something you can win at?

But really the important question is have we in the bear cave actually started hibernating. I didn't know about any of that til after and now feel like a caricature of my own house/life.

[Rafael.]
Fun day to be a prefect. Jesus.
If you want a break, I'm in the library til I'm dead, so.

During lunch comes the moment everyone's been waiting for, although Headmistress Bloom seems exasperated with having to deliver schoolwide lectures, and keeps this one short. She reminds everyone that sledding down the hill to Azurcrest is against the rules and has been for years, and that's not changing any time soon. Everyone who was present yesterday afternoon knew that and have received a blanket punishment: loss of twenty-five house points each, one week's detention, and two weeks banned from the sauna (if applicable). The Heads of House have contacted your parents about engaging in dangerous activities and underage drinking (if applicable).

"Come on, everyone," Bloom finishes. "Stop doing such stupid things."

( The following characters have been punished... )

Mr. Merrill asks Quinn Cunningham and Jesse McBride to see him in his office at 12:45 PM, after they've finished eating. (Cecil Honeychurch can attend this meeting too, if he wishes.) He also keeps it short. "Listen... I know we're the 'fun house', but I still look to you guys to stop these things. You're both smart, and you know when it crosses a line. I want Azurcrest to be the place where kids are free to have fun and make mistakes, but it's becoming a problem when we've also got the reputation for not caring about being responsible or keeping each other safe. Guys, I know that's not true. I'm relying on you as the senior prefects to make sure that's not true." He sighs. "That's all. I mailed your parents this morning, and you can help Cecil decide how everyone in Azurcrest should serve their detentions."

Uh public service announcement-don't leave snacks in your room if you don't spell them sealed.

Don't forget to do that.

Bad things happen.


Bad news bears.

Sophomore Coppertale Girls

I'm really, really, really sorry.

...at least we have Hightower to tell stories to us?

Vee

I feel like an idiot and possibly everyone hates me.

Also, I have some questions about Christmas.

who: Nate Bird & Tabitha Ogletree
what: Being stupid cute, stop it, it’s gross.
where: In the Bear Cave. Which is also their corner of the library.
when: Wednesday, December 7.
warnings: Just don’t read it if you already have cavities.

( She bit her lip, though, wondering how best to broach the subject. This was not going to be awkward. Nope. Not at all. )

I'm so glad Divination is over.
I'm all about being outdoors, but I'm finding snow and I don't get along well enough.
Everyone who went sledding and survived should try surfing. It's more challenging and less cold.

{Added a few minutes later}
And I'm baking brownies for anyone who wants some.

I get why moms drink now

Honestly, this all just seems like an argument in favor of instituting even more quarantines.

[Sy]

I need a break from Ribbonfin’s fucking emotions right now. What’re you doing?

It’s kinda sad when you have to skip something that sounded amazing fun cause you’re too paranoid about fucking up your hands. But hope you all had fun sledding and no major injuries happened. Or nothing permanent at least.

Already counting down to the talent show though! Who's signing up? The broom is a work of beauty and my ego needs more of an audience. Not that my cat isn't appreciative but still.

All I gotta say is: worth it!

Y'all just mad cause you weren't invited.

This may put a damper on convincing Mama that going to Vegas for Christmas would be more fun than hanging out with extended family in Hooker's Holler, but I can probably still convince her in the long run.

If Bloom has a heart attack before we graduate, I'm probably gonna feel bad.


[warded to Avery]

I vaguely remember you saying you had a question to ask me last night

[warded to Wes]

Dude, I'm done fighting with you

[warded to Ryan]

So now that I'm actually sober. What do you think your dads actually gonna do with this letter home and do you think they have my dads address on record?

And what the fuck is wrong with your friend. Why is she being nice to be me.

[GIRL TALK: all sophomore boys except Calvin basically]

OK MEN!!!! After recent events I think we can ALL AGREE that romance is terrifying and confusing???? HOWEVER as we are saps* susceptible to peer pressure and ALSO no longer germy immature freshmen, we must finally BUCK UP and talk about the dragon in the room.

WINTER FORMAL

Sooooo the person I usually ask to dances is this HUGE COMPLICATED THING now and Micah St. Clair does not do COMPLICATED, my friends, and therefore I'm casting my eye elsewhere. But WHICH FINE LADY should I ask????? We gotta do some pre-gaming on who everyone's asking to Winter Formal because A TRUE BRO doesn't ask out his bro's prospective date or anything. So let's talk.

WHO ARE YOU ASKING TO WINTER FORMAL?

Oh yeah I mean we can talk about asking out boys here too???? NBD GUYS THE HETERONORMATIVE TITLING OF THIS WARD IS JUST BC IT'S CATCHY and not bc I want to block you from your heart's desires or whatever.

*Blah blah blah don't lump us all together BLAH BLAH not all of us are huge losers like you Micah BLAH BLAH. Yeah yeah yeah I know some of you are super smooth dudes but that just means you can HELP THE REST OF US with some sage suave advice!!!! And by the rest of us I mean Will because man does Will need help.

[Added after this conversation:]

[Warded to Calvin Evercreech]

HEEEEEEY CALVIN. Sup gi dude.

Ae you staying for Winter Break again?

More Advice Column Shenanigans

Below are the questions I received, as promised (a little late). I was impressed at the lack of troll comments… so I’m giving you the gift of question #1. It’s not going to be published except in this form – feel free to answer publicly.

I've set up separate sections to respond for each question to keep the replies warded to me so I can select what should be published. Remember that responses will, ultimately, NOT be anonymous. I was planning on having a smaller column but I was also anticipating less serious questions so – let’s just go with everything I received.

On a side note... I hope everyone is recovering alright from yesterday.

So I GUESS having blue spots is BAD now too because Mr. Calderon-Boot was all CRANKY that they weren't going away which is dumb because they were really FUNNY. So I guess SORRY but no one is allowed to have blue spots anymore and if you try to catch them again you're in TROUBLE.

¯\(◉‿◉)/¯

[Warded to Sophomore Girls + Calvin]

Okay, but there is way more important stuff to talk about anyway??? Have you seen all those fliers about the DANCE and DATES???

I was trying to think of who I wanted to go with but there are SO MANY cute boys at this school that it's REALLY HARD.

So I tried to make a list with only FIVE boys on it. But maybe my list needs to be REVISED?? Last time I made a list, I had to change it.

Okay, okay, here's my list SO FAR. But it needs HELP.

WILDE. He skateboards and has a hedgehog and he seems VERY DEEP.
WES. He has the best ACCENT.
CASEY. He takes his shirt off A LOT.
JESSE JEREMIAH. He gave me a pair of SUNGLASSES once.
ISAIAH. He has a very nice FACE to look at.

Did I miss someone really OBVIOUS?? Who do YOU want to go with???

Who should I ask?? Should I ask someone???? I don't want to be LAME and go to the dance with Diego and Mina again.

[Warded to Diego]

Mina said you MADE her come to sledding because you didn't want me to go sledding.

But you were sledding. You STARTED it. That's not fair AT ALL.

Blood, don't ask questions. I need a bear cub.

You spend ONE day in the library ploughing through homework...

Frankie

So, hey. I wanted to ask you something.

Maggie & Cricket, Sun-mi/Ivy/Zoey, Levi - separate wards

HEY.

Party Ward (feel free to tag yourself in on the plot post if you know Tabs and she likes you!)

I sent you guys notes with dates. You're totally free to hang out longer if your travel plans need it.

So, I worked out the issue I was having with my project and now I don't want to completely change it.

That said, I still need to tweak my audition composition piece and now I'm having serious doubts about THAT.

Argh!

( Delivered to Vee by way of Ras's favorite Freshman who by now has been paid for all of his work...most likely in sunglasses )

The stars are amazing tonight. With a sliver of a moon there just seems to be millions to take it's place.
I'm thinking about a little night riding, who wants to join me?

{added later}
Spots full. Actually over full, so someone is going to have to ride with me.

( Sent via Kiki, who waits for a reply patiently while grooming himself )

I regret nothing.





(Except maybe losing access to the sauna.)

Does anyone know the spell to reverse vanishing spells? Some Freshman girl thought it would be hilarious to vanish my shirt and sweater, and it's my favorite sweater. I'm afraid to take it off, because what if I forget where I put it and I lose it? I made it myself, so it's not like I could just buy another.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm kind of tired of walking around looking like I have no shirt on...

Azurcrest Junior Boys

Did any of you get in trouble? I'm sorry if so. It was a bit fun, but of course I wouldn't want any of you to get in trouble. Sorry.

Warded to Cricket

Did you have to deal with too much with the aftermath? My spots are all gone, were you able to get yours off? I'm sorry again about that.

I hope you're feeling well. I wanted to cud I could use a hug, even if I appear to be a bit shirtless at the moment.

Who: Chris and Avery
When: After classes
Where: An empty classroom in the lodge
What: Avery wants a first kiss on her terms
Warnings: PG-13, it's literally just kissing practice without any of them feels or escalations. It's gonna be pure fluff. Also cussing, because it's Chris.

( He was trying to sponge those things from his brain and forget they ever happened, so this was probably a good start to that. )

( Gift left on Levi's bed immediately following classes )