#silvergrace-academy

[talysings]

All Saints’ Wake Time Is the Best!

What a busy few days I’ve had! Well, me and Cinnamon, I suppose I should write, since she has dutifully worn a cat costume for me to be my companion as Sailor Moonkeeper. She hasn’t seemed to mind. I went to a Haunted House tour called “Midnight at the Bastion,” which featured some really frightening ghosts telling their stories, and artfully creepy décor. It was really creepy, in a good way! 

From there I went to the Wayfarers Haunted Hall, where I had heard Savo would be performing. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see her--she was just going on when I had to leave. But I did see some other performers. I met a girl from the Lucky Sparrow--E’rin--and got the chance to tell her how good their recent show was before she went on. She seems nice. Savo and Fhey said she is a dawncat, so I guess that’s sort of my opposite. I wonder if she has any similar characteristics to me? Like how alcohol doesn’t do much to me? Tastes good, though. I’ll have to ask her sometime if I see her again. Or would that be awkward, since she didn’t tell me she is a dawncat herself? Hmm . . .

As I said, I had to race out of there to help the Palazzo Aldenard with our production of Nevermore! I wasn’t in the show, I was house staff. I had to greet everyone at the door, and direct them downstairs to where the show was. So I didn’t get to see the show, unfortunately, but I could hear it, and everyone sounded in fine voice. The crowd was excellent. I liked being able to help out, since I wasn’t in one of the plays. Also, it was kind of fun being the house manager, and getting to say things like “5 minutes until the house opens.” Like I was in charge or something. In charge of the door, I guess.

The next day, Silvergrace Academy had a haunted event also. They had a haunted maze, and an escape room. I went for the haunted maze first, but I had to wait in the café for a tour guide. I met another Lucky player there, Ellmida, and told her the same thing I told E’rin. I’ve seen both of them at so many events, it’s sort of weird that we’ve never, umm, spoken. I don’t normally talk to people so much, but I really liked their performances. Ellmida seems nice to. Maybe that’s a rule at Lucky, no mean people. Ellmida and I ended up teamed up with another woman--who claimed she was a witch, by the way--and we went through the maze. The maze had a story to it, and things were popping out of walls, and dolls were coming to life--it was amazing! And scary. I loved it!

After that, it was back to the café for me, waiting for the escape room, which my friend Jean was the host for. I managed to lose horribly at a trivia contest while waiting, and then a man named Sebastien and I got called in to the room. We had to find clues that would eventually unlock the door to leave the room. It took us a while, but with our combined efforts, we eventually figured it out. My favorite part was the map that was triggered by color-coded weights.

I don’t know what I’m going to do when this season is over. This is so my favorite time of year. On the upside, my hair will go back to its natural color, which will be a relief quite honestly. On the downside . . . well, as I’ve said before, Starlight and that whole holiday season is hard for me, without family. I mean, I have some friends now . . . and that helps. But . . . well, it’s just me and Cinnamon at home, once Ona and Sayashi finish their work for the day. I love Cinnamon, but she doesn’t hold up her end of the conversation. Of course, she may be lonely for another fox sometimes, I suppose.

Well, there’s still a few days left! And after, I’ll just try to stay busy.

[orghanabolir]

So Many Places to Sleep!

Tomorrow is move-in day in the dorms at Silvergrace. I decided to accept a room assignment, though I already have more than one place to put my head down at night. It does seem as though there might be times when it would be better to stay there, as opposed to traveling back to the Goblet to sleep at the Bleating Lamb. While I do not fear to travel the roads (and woe to the Coeurlclaw that should think me an easy prey), it would clearly be prudent to avoid a journey should the hour be late.

I am not sure what it will be like to share a room with others, in particular others who are not related to me. Of course, on the Steppes, the family yurt was quite crowded, but I imagine what is acceptable among family members could be troublesome for those assigned to the same room with me. I shall need to discover what is and is not allowed.

It will be a period of adjustment, I think, although I am sure that I will still be sleeping at the Lamb often, and even on occasion staying in my yurt outside of Shirogane when I must travel there for business.

However, though I have a number of places in which to sleep, I am not likely to think of any of them as "home." When I think of home, it is still the Steppes that I see in my head. But I do wonder . . . if I were to visit my family there, would I feel the same? Or would the once-familiar grass of the Sea of Blades be as a stranger to me now?

[orghanabolir]

Care--eee-o-kee?

The school year approaches. I am Xaela, and therefore I fear little. This goes without saying. However, I cannot lie and say I am without concern about attending this school. As I wrote previously, I have been unsure about how I would be received there by the other students. I am concerned about how the teachers will receive me as well, but it is the students who concern me most. So, it was with no small amount of anxiety that I attended a music party in Shirogane at which students were to meet one another under less formal conditions than a classroom.

The term for this in Shirogane is something pronounced "care-eee-o-kee," which I have heard on occasion when passing through the city. I guess it means singing. At any rate, I decided on an Eorzean song I had heard and planned to sing it, rather than something from home, as I did not know how many students would appreciate that kind of music.

I was pleased to see some other students from the east besides me, though there were no other Xaela present. There was an Au Ra girl I sat near who I fear I may have offended, for I began to speak more as I started to relax, and I may have expressed an opinion of which she did not approve. I must be more careful to avoid alienating anyone. But some of the cheer folk were there as well, which was a blessing.

There were many names all at once, and this was difficult. Still, in conversation it seemed as though there might actually be students at Silvergrace who do not fear to wrestle a Xaela. This is good, for my skills have become stagnant, and if I return home for a visit, my sisters will surely pin me incessantly.

I believe my song was well-received, and I certainly enjoyed the many different songs I heard. Such a variety of music! The party reminded me of a place in Reunion where young Xaela will sometimes gather to share kumis and song, though the music was different.

They have many groups at Silvergrace, apparently, which are called clubs. As best I can tell, these are small tribes within the larger tribe of Silvergrace--much as the Bolir are a tribe of Xaela. I doubt these "clubs" contend with one another like Xaela, however, for that would seem at odds with the rules in the student handbook.

There was one shocking thing, however, for which I was unprepared. Mr. Pierce no longer has long flowing hair! I do not know what led to this decision, but I was caught quite off guard. Still, his hair was as shiny as ever, and he missed no opportunity to advertise his hair care products. I must respect his business acumen. If he learned these skills at Silvergrace, then perhaps I can as well, and thus fulfill the wishes of my family.