TEST DRIVE MEME - MARCH

[thewatchers]

TESTDRIVE MEME
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Winter quarter is nearing its conclusion as Finals and Spring Break are quickly approaching. The library is bustling as students frantically prepare, but campus is also buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the school-funded Spring Break trip to Provence.

The administration, however, is not unsympathetic to the stressors of being a student. Comforts such as therapy animals, snack stations, and de-stressing events are being held all over campus to keep students as relaxed as possible and help them prepare for their finals. Daybreak Academy needs their students to succeed, and they spare no expense in helping them do so.

A. STUDY SESSIONS

With the approach of exams, the Hall of Pythia is enforcing 24/7 quiet hours. While it has quiet a few study rooms available, many students will find that the rooms are being booked up at an alarming rate. To account for this, classrooms and media rooms in Theater Lenormand are also being opened up for student use. Many others are spilling over into local restaurants and cafes, coming together as groups to review course material and prepare for their upcoming exams.

During these times, Faculty are expected to take a more hands-on approach as well. Faculty are strongly encouraged to host their own study sessions and rigorously review the exams and what to expect. Faculty are all given first priority for open classrooms and are able to hold after-hours lessons and Q&A sessions as they wish. While it’s not, strictly speaking, mandatory, Faculty can expect it to come up on their annual performance review if they don’t make themselves available to students.

B. THERAPY ANIMALS

Animals have proven to reduce stress, a thing sorely needed during the lead up to exams, and Daybreak Academy has provided three types of therapy animals upon request to aid with making study times much more bearable: The rare Armenian Aralez who is generous with it’s doggy kisses, About six huggable corgi-sized Wooly Bugs with their incredibly soft wool, and a pair of languid Temple lions that don’t mind being used as pillows. Try not to get too distracted from your studies.

C. FASCHING

Also known as Fastnacht Best described as ‘Bavarian Mardi Gras’, Fasching is much like it’s New Orleans and Brazilian counterparts - a celebration of the excess and to live it up until good catholics go give it up for Lent. Least that’s the intent, but like most modern holidays it’s an excuse to cut loose and have fun, and thanks to a sizable German population in Soliel, there is a bit of Fasching in early march with Beer Gardens, Masked Parties, and Live Bands along with decadently rich desserts from both German and French Cuisine. Have fun, but remember there is a curfew.

D. STORYTIME (text)

Hi everyone! This is the Folklore Club! If we could just take a moment of your time…

Daybreak Academy sure is a big school, isn’t it? And the students and staff here come from all over! Here at the Folklore Club, we research myths, legends and stories from all around the world to examine their similarities and differences.

It would really help us out if you told us what your favourite myth or legend is! Don’t be shy - we’d love to see it! Especially if it’s something that we’ve never seen before! And who knows, maybe you’ll meet someone who loves your favourite story too!

[ The results are, naturally, public. ]

Comments

D

[timebombteacher]

I see you're a person of discerning taste. I'm quite fond of that one as well.

[foolishjustice]

It really shows how indispensable Loki actually was, doesn't it?

[timebombteacher]

It does. Someone as clever as him deserved more appreciation than he got, I think.

[foolishjustice]

He certainly did. That's not even the only story I can think of where the Aesir would have been in trouble without him.

[timebombteacher]

Care to share a few you're fond of?

[foolishjustice]

The most famous is probably the origin of Sleipnir. To build the walls of Valhalla, the contractor demanded the goddess Freya, the sun, and the moon as payment. The Aesir agreed, on the grounds that he completed his work by the end of the season, with help from no man.

He insisted that they let him use his horse, which Loki convinced them to allow. When the builder was nearly finished with three days left, they blamed Loki and threatened him with death if he didn't find a way to delay the wall.

Loki transformed into a mare and led the builder's stallion away, costing him an entire night's work and breaking his momentum. The Aesir got their wall, which they wouldn't have without Loki convincing them to make a concession in their terms, Freya remained free, and nine months later, Loki gave birth to the eight legged horse, Sleipnir.

[timebombteacher]

It's certainly quite the story.

[foolishjustice]

Another thing that's often unrecognized is that Sleipnir, supposedly the greatest of all horses, became Odin's steed. Odin is depicted riding an eight legged horse, but people don't really think about the fact that he has it because of Loki.

[timebombteacher]

Quite the shame, isn't it?

[foolishjustice]

It is. I really have to wonder...Loki was prophesied to start Ragnarok and destroy the gods. How much is that prophecy self-fulfilling, because of the way they treat him? Particularly their response to Baldr.

[timebombteacher]

Even if we have no way of knowing, that's the sort of thing worth thinking about. And, perhaps, a warning for how we treat the people around us... Even if it's unintentional.

[foolishjustice]

Something like 'if you treat someone like they're going to destroy the world, it just might happen'? Before I heard about Nightfall, I would have considered that an exaggerated aesop, but under the circumstances...

[timebombteacher]

It's certainly not a perfect lesson, but I imagine it's a convincing argument for basic decency if I ever heard one.

And that wording in particular is very apt, given the circumstances...

[foolishjustice]

It's a little scary, isn't it? To think that even a small amount of internal conflict, if it happens at the wrong time, could get us all killed.

[timebombteacher]

And an even scarier thought that there may be beings out there looking to incite such a thing.

... Of course, there's no way to prove that, but it's something to be concerned about, isn't it?

But I'd like to believe this is the kind of place where we can pull through despite everything. Wouldn't you?

[foolishjustice]

That is a terrifying concept.

But given what's on the line, I have hope that people can keep petty conflicts from undermining their ability to work together.

[timebombteacher]

I'm sure we can manage. But I'm also sure it wouldn't hurt if we had help to make sure.

[foolishjustice]

Help? You mean something like conflict resolution specialists?

[timebombteacher]

Oh, no, I wasn't thinking anything like that! But even just some level-headed students doing their part to mediate as necessary would be a huge help.

[foolishjustice]

In a school like this, I'm sure we have at least a few people with good mediation skills.

[timebombteacher]

[This... is definitely going to take a while. But, well, long-term projects are nothing new!]

Well, that's a bridge we'll cross when we get there. But I'm sure the faculty will be keeping an eye and ear out in the meantime.