Grayson Wright
January 14, 2022 6:22 PM
Orientation for First Years by Grayson Wright
The wizard who stood under the 1st Years Here banner off to the side of the wagon landing site could, to some eyes, have seemed assembled from a couple of incompatible stereotypes. His head and shoulders - clean-shaven face, short-cut, very dark hair which was starting to go grey, rectangular, wire-rimmed glasses, a none-too-boldly-colored tie - could have belonged to any non-magical man in his mid-forties. Then, though, what could at first have resembled a businessman's dark blue jacket just kept going, extending into a long, wide-sleeved wizard's robe, and he wore a matching pointed, round-brimmed wizard's hat, overshadowing the mundanity of his hair and glasses a bit."First year students...All first year students over here, please...."
Finally, all the older students seemed to have gotten off the wagons and dispersed, leaving only the new students. A quick head count came up to the expected number, and Grayson Wright smiled around at them all.
"Welcome to Sonora," he said pleasantly. "My name is Professor Wright. Tomorrow morning, I'll become one of your teachers, so I look forward to getting to know you all this year. For now, though - leave all your luggage with the wagons, and follow me, please."
He only led them a short distance into the Labyrinth Gardens, walking down a wide path which opened onto a hedge-walled courtyard with a central fountain, several stone benches, and three tables in it. On one of these tables, there were as many dark green folders as there were students present. On another, there was a buffet of light snack foods, with lightweight plates and paper napkins available so students could gather several refreshments in one trip if they wished. On the third table, there were several large apparatuses, each topped with a clear (and unbreakable) glass bulb which showed the color of the drink within, though they were also distinguished by written labels on their fronts above the spigots which, when turned, would dispense the contents into glasses: pumpkin juice, apple juice, grape juice, iced tea, and plain water. There was also a box of ice (charmed not to melt) with a scoop in it and plenty of clear cups.
"Come in, everyone, and please take one folder," he instructed them. "You'll get to the refreshments soon, but if you could give me your attention for a few minutes first..."
For many years, Professor Wright had recited almost the same speech to each group of first years, mostly from memory. He had noticed, however, that a lot of students seemed to find it all just as tedious to listen to as he found it to recite. He had, therefore, taken the (for him) bold decision to cut it down, leaving out most of the information that wouldn't be applicable to first years and focusing on topics they wouldn't also hear about from their heads of houses later in the evening.
"Once again, welcome, everyone," he said. "Tomorrow morning, you will all start taking seven classes - Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, and flying lessons. I'll be your Charms teacher, so you'll see a lot of me for at least the next five years." Older students might have expected him to add for them to contain their enthusiasm, but he tried to be uniformly pleasant and straightforward with the Beginners classes. "You have schedules in your folders which tell you when and where each class meets, along with other important times, like when meals are served and when curfew is." He paused for half a beat and then added, "It's understandable if some of you feel a little overwhelmed looking at your schedules, so, just to be clear - we know that you all may have had very different educations before this, and different levels of information about the wizarding world. You'll also each learn at your own pace, and find you're stronger in some areas of magic than others. If you find yourselves struggling, we - your teachers - will all understand, and so will many of your fellow students. You'll each be Sorted into a House tonight, with a Head of House from the staff and several older student leaders we call 'prefects' who you can go to for support, along with all teachers having regular office hours and the option for scheduling special sessions if that's what's needed. Don't get discouraged, or let things get out of hand."
He cleared his throat after that little speech, which he hadn't fully planned out. "On more cheerful notes, we also can provide enrichment for any subject where you find you learn unusually quickly, and you'll have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities here during your free time. Club leaders will post sign-up sheets in the next few weeks, and the school Quidditch sign-up sheet should appear in the Cascade Hall. You'll also most likely find people in your Houses who you can create activities you're interested in with, if we don't already have something - you're Sorted into different Houses based on personality traits, though you're welcome and encouraged to make friends from other Houses as well. The Sorting Ceremony will take place later, in the Cascade Hall, where you'll dip the blank badges attached to your folders into a potion. If it turns blue, you're in Aladren, and will get to see even more of me, since I'm Head of that House. If it turns red, that means you're a Crotalus and will be under the care of Professor Skies, our deputy headmistress. Yellow badges go to Teppenpaw, and your Head of House is Professor Xavier, our very capable Herbology teacher, and brown ones go to Pecari and Professor Carter-Xavier - who, yes, is Professor Xavier's wife. Some people think of their Houses as a sort of extended family here, and I hope you'll all do your different Houses proud during your time here."
He resisted the temptation to add especially if you're Aladrens; he was not only Head of House, but had also been an Aladren student during his years in school, long, long before any of these kids had been born. Instead, he said, "if no-one has any questions about all of that, you can talk for a while and have some snacks until we begin our tour of the main building. If you do have any questions, feel free to come see me before we begin our tour – and welcome again to Sonora.”
OOC: Welcome first years to Sonora! You can post a reply here to ask staff questions or meet your new classmates. This thread is intended for first year students to have a chance to try out posting and get acclimated to the site before we throw you into the big Opening Feast, which is open to the entire school population and can be a bit overwhelming. New authors have been given a buddy for ease, so look for your names below.'
Now, go forth, new first years of Sonora! Post, enjoy, have fun! Everyone here is happy to help out, so if you've got a question, put it on the OOC board or try to catch somebody in the Chatzy and we'll try to get you an answer as quick as we can. Have fun and we’re glad you could join us!
[Credit to Nathan Xavier's author for the content of this OOC notice]
Subthreads: Orientation buddy for Flora Wilkins by Leviosa Scurlock
Orientation buddy for Antonia Guter by Fortune Ardovini with Antonia Guter
Hi, I'm Lenny by Lenny Pierce with Xander Faro
Orientation Buddy for Eris Ryan by Cole Pierce with Eris Ryan
Touch Down by Freya Curtis with Yaniel Ayala Velez
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Grayson Wright
Orientation for First Years
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Cole Pierce
January 15, 2022 4:56 PM
Orientation Buddy for Eris Ryan by Cole Pierce
Cole had given his mom and dad big hugs, and his grandma a big hug, and his Gramelia a medium sized hug, and his Aunt Bel a big wave before getting onto the flying Wagon in Boston with his two cousins, Alexander and Mab, who were both sixth years, and both prefects. One was in Teppenpaw, and the other in Pecari, and he figured he had a good chance of ending up in the same House as one of them by the end of the night. Since both of his parents had been Teppenpaws as well, Cole guessed it would be Alexander in Teppenpaw, but Pecari was an outside possibility he wasn't willing to eliminate yet.Mab took a window seat and encouraged Alexander to sit next to her and she didn't shoo him away when he sat next to Alexander, so he guessed it was okay to hang out with her in front of other people, though she did seem more reserved and scowly than she did at home. But maybe that was just the wagon. Cole didn't really like it much. It was cool at first, but after a while he got a stomach ache from the turbulence and his legs were cramping from sitting in the same place for three quarters of the width of the country.
He was really glad when they finally touched down at the school in Arizona, not least because he wasn't sure how much longer his queasy stomach had been going to stay just queasy and not try to do something more proactive. Feeling more than a little green, he made his way over to where the first years were being gathered. He stretched the kinks out of his legs and back, but then slumped down to sit in the dirt and put his head between his knees, like he'd been taught to do when he got carsick. (Not that he rode a car often, but when he did, his stomach wasn't too agreeable about that mode of transport either.)
Luckily, he was feeling a bit better by the time they moved to the clearing and he went for some water while his classmates collected their green folders. It would either help settle his belly, or make it worse, and this time he was fortunate enough that it was the former. He continued to sip slowly at the water while Professor Wright talked. When the speech was over, he got his own folder, and then went looking for some bland looking crackers at the snack table.
"How was your trip?" he asked one of the kids standing nearby when he moved away and started nibbling on a cracker. "I got a little wagon-sick. But I'm super excited to be here now!"
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Cole Pierce
Orientation Buddy for Eris Ryan
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Eris Ryan
January 26, 2022 6:46 AM
Eris meets the Wizarding World by Eris Ryan
There was no way this could go wrong. Absolutely no-fricking-way this could go wrong. Eris had prepared for this moment since she first found out about the magical world hiding under her nose all these years. She smoothed her vibrant purple hair down, adjusted her shirt, and took a deep breath. With shaking fingers, Eris reached for the door of the wagon beyond which her new home awaited her. Just as her fingers brushed the handle, she heard bright laughter and chattering from outside. She yanked her hand back and held it to her chest.What if they don’t like me? Or think I’m weird… what do witches and wizards even TALK about? Eris’ thoughts began to spiral into a vortex of anxiety. NO, stop it! She chastised herself. In one swift motion, she flung open the door and tumbled out of the wagon bumping into someone.
“Sorry…” she mumbled, but the other student had already moved on with the river of others flowing towards Sonora’s gates. Eris stood numbly trying to take it all in. Looking behind her, she could see a deserted wasteland of baked earth suffering under the Arizona sun, but ahead of her an oasis beckoned. The students continued to flow around her, parting like water around riverstones. A few smiled at her while the rest where lost in their own anticipation. There was no way this could go wrong. She just had to blend in. Ducking her head and peering through a violet curtain, Eris took the first steps towards Sonora’s gates following the teacher who looked like he knew where they were going.
Eris slowly moved towards the back of the group as they entered the courtyard. She didn’t want the teacher, who she guessed was really a professor ( Does he have a PhD? she wondered vaguely), to notice her and immediately dislike her from the start. Reluctantly she grabbed one of the indicated folders from the table and stepped back towards the tables as the professor continued to talk about being sorted into houses based on their personality.
I wonder if they have a house for people who ruin everything… she thought nervously. Eris hadn’t ever fit in anywhere before, how were they going to determine where she belonged without even knowing anything about her?
Her panicked thoughts were interrupted by a boy next to her. He did look a bit green, but she probably shouldn’t say that out loud.
“My trip? Oh, it was fine. Much less stressful than boarding an airplane and checking in through TSA. It was my first time traveling by myself anywhere though... or by magic... so I guess that was cool. Your face kind of matches the folder, you know?” Oops. She hadn’t meant to mention the green.
“I mean… Ihopeyouffeelbbetterffromyourwagonsicknesssoon," her words rushed together and she forced herself to count to ten and take a deep breath.
"I’m sorry. I don’t usually talk to… well anyone. I always want to but most people avoid me.” Eris really thought she should stop talking now. She should ask him something.
“Erm..” She ducked her head so her hair hid her from view again. “What was Mr. Professor dude talking about with the houses?"
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Eris Ryan
Eris meets the Wizarding World
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Cole Pierce
January 26, 2022 8:28 AM
And the Wizarding World meets Eris Ryan! by Cole Pierce
OOC: Welcome to Sonora! I'm glad you could join us! BIC:
Cole smiled, taking another nibble on his cracker as the girl spoke. He was glad she hadn't suffered from motion sickness the way he did. When she compared his face to his folder, he was glad he'd only nibbled, though, or he might have choked on it. As it was he kind of half-laughed, half-coughed at the sheer unexpectedness of the comment. Sure, he knew he probably looked bad, but most people wouldn't mention it.
She seemed even more taken aback by her own comment than he did, though, which made it easier to take it without offense. "Thanks," he said, welcoming the well-wishes for his stomach to improve.
"I won't avoid you!" he promised sincerely when she admitted to a lack of opportunity to talk to other people. It was a problem he had a deep seated sympathy for, being an only child.
He perked up delightedly when she asked about the Houses. This was a question he could answer! The opportunity to be helpful also went a long way toward curing the lingering queasiness, which suggested it might not entirely be the fault of the wagon anymore. "There are four Houses," he declared with authority, "Teppenpaw, and Pecari, and Al-" he hesitated, not having any relatives in that one, so it didn't get talked about nearly as often, but he pulled it out of his short term memory with the help of a glance toward the Professor who had introduced himself as the Head that House, "Aladren, and Crotalus. The students get divided into those four, and we can earn House Points, and there's usually some kind of prize at the end of the year for the House that collects the most of them," he explained what his cousins had tried to explain to him.
"Also, your Head of House, like Professor Wright if you're an Aladren," he pointed at their orientation leader, "kind of acts as your guardian while you're here, so anything you'd need a parent for, you can ask him. And there's House Prefects in the upper years, too, who are like older siblings you can go to if you need a little help but not a whole adult. I'm hoping for Teppenpaw or Pecari because the sixth year prefects in those are my actual cousins. Are you the first of your family to come here?" he guessed, or she probably would have peppered these kinds of questions on her older family members all summer, like Cole had done.
"Oh! And I'm forgetting my manners. I'm Cole. Cole Pierce, from Boston." He stuck out his left hand to shake, because his right was covered in cracker crumbs.
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Cole Pierce
And the Wizarding World meets Eris Ryan!
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Eris Ryan
February 02, 2022 1:08 AM
Pre-sorting jitters by Eris Ryan
Eris had listened to the boy named Cole— who had kindly promised not to avoid her despite her mortifying word vomit— describe the different houses and his cousins and had felt more lost by the minute. She really really hoped that the sorting ceremony wouldn’t be like gym class. She didn’t want to be a member of a “family” by default. Not that she would blame them for not choosing her, she didn’t know the first thing about magic or… any of the things she saw listed on the course schedule.Staring at Cole’s hand offered in greeting, Eris hesitated. The last time she shook someone’s hand they accused her of having one of those prank zappers in her hand. At the time she thought they were just lying to get her in trouble, but maybe she had done something magic when she was nervous? But probably they were just being mean. She didn’t want to take any risks. Eris opted to awkwardly wave at Cole instead.
Eris felt it was best to be honest… but maybe not too honest about who she was. After all, if she wanted Cole to be her friend it wouldn’t do to scare him off. “My name is Marie Ryan. But everyone calls me Eris… long story, don’t ask… You’re really lucky to have family with you here. I don’t know how I’m going to keep anything straight. I’m the first… “ She paused feeling weird about what was about to come out of her mouth, “witch… in my whole family. My parents are muggles; they took the news better than I did. We live outside of Raleigh now. I wouldn’t say I’m from there though.”
She noticed some of the students were starting to move towards a door into the school… “Guess we better get this sorting business over with, huh?”
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Eris Ryan
Pre-sorting jitters
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Cole Pierce
February 03, 2022 5:33 PM
Is that a dance? by Cole Pierce
Cole wasn't quite sure how one got from 'Marie' to 'Eris' but there was apparently a long story attached to it, that he kind of wanted to hear someday, but she didn't seem interested in explaining right now, so he didn't ask, as requested."Oh, cool," he said when she explained she was a muggleborn, and so the first in her family to have magic at all, never mind attend Sonora. "My parents are both magical, but I went to a muggle elementary school!" he said excitedly, like this was something quite rare and amazing. "My dad's a first grade teacher!" He'd spent most of his life being 'Mr. Pierce's son' to his classmates so it seemed entirely natural to share this information with Eris, too.
He assumed that living outside of Raleigh but not being from there meant she was like his parents, living someplace they hadn't been born. Cole was pretty solidly Bostonian, though his city accent was nowhere near as strong as his cousin's was, thanks to neither of his parents having one. He'd been born there, and raised there, and all of his family except Mom's parents lived there.
"Yeah, okay," he agreed, following her to where the promised school tour looked like it might be starting soon.
OOC: If you want to end here we can, but you don't need to close off threads to move on to new ones. They can be happening simultaneously in real life, but at different times in character.
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Cole Pierce
Is that a dance?
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