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 Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 4:29 pm
 Username: Panda Moor
Nightmare: Pyre
Entry:
While the beloved Lyra was gone, Pyre was still semi-excited for the task at hand. Not only did he sort of enjoy writing, the Fallen literally had a laundry list of siblings he could choose from. Oh yes, Pyre felt love plenty. With a cute sigh, he picked up the stubby pencil he was to write with.
My siblings all love me in different ways, and we love each other every time we see each other. They loved me since I was born! Castiel loves me a lot because we were from the same imbooing with the same Mom and Dad, but I love everyone else too. Mom always says that we're only mean to each other sometimes because we love each other. Rhys and the other big kids love us by helping us when Mom and Dad can't, like putting on our clothes or brushing our hair. I trust all of them, and talk to all of them all the time because I love them and them me.
Well. Pyre wasn't the best writer, but maybe he didn't need that much literary skill for being a nurse in the future. Satisfied, Pyre moved to turn in his entry for the assignment of the day.
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 11:44 pm
Username: jinxgirl5 Nightmare: Kalani Entry: Kalani frowned as he tried to think of an example of love. Did the teacher mean like holding hands and kissing and stuff? Yuck! Since that wouldn't work, he tried to think of something else. He loved Nanners, but would Nanners count? Well only one way to find out. I met Nanners for the first time when I was swimming through the kelp forests. She got right underneath me and blew a ton of bubbles at me, so I chased her round and round while she kept trying to avoid me and blow more bubbles. Nanners is a super good swimmer, but I finally caught her cause she had to go to the surface to breathe after all those bubbles.She looked at me with her really big eyes and made a funny noise, but she didn't swim off after I let her go. She just kept looking at me and swimming around me and making more noises. So I got under her and gave her a belly rub, and she made a really super cute sound and snuggled close. Then she blew more bubbles at me and swam away a bit, but then stopped waiting for me to chase her. And I knew right then that she was gonna be one of my best friends ever, and that I would love her lots and lots and give her lots of belly rubs and play bunches of games together for always!Kalani finished writing, tapping his pencil lightly against the table. He hoped he did okay. Writing wasn't really his strongest suit since he wasn't good at putting words together. The day he'd met Nanners he'd certainly felt a lot of love for the frisky little sealpup who loved games and tricks as much as he did. He just hoped he'd been able to convey that moment well enough.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 12:40 am
Username: jinxgirl5 Nightmare: Fridtjof Entry: Freddy's leg bounced around under the table as he tried to focus and write his essay. His thoughts kept drifting around, making it hard to keep to the topic. What did Hunter's Jubilee mean to him, anyway? He'd never even thought about it before, much less put it into words. Finally, after a lot of struggling, he managed to get something written. Hunter's Jubilee is about connections. Like it's a big festival, you're excited for it, almost everyone around you is. You get together with friends and make plans, and then on the day of you're out with friends or family actually doing things together. It's a good way to bring people together when they might usually be too busy with ordinary, everyday things. But it's not just about being with people you know, it's about getting the chance to make some new connections as well. One of my best friends ever I first met at Hunter's Jubilee, and I hope that I get to spend many more Jubilees with her. The holiday sparks a common feeling that bridges all kinds of gaps and allows people to just enjoy being with each other without worrying too much about all the little things. Hunter's Jubilee renews old connections and brings about the chance to make new ones.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 1:02 am
Username: jinxgirl5 Nightmare: Jaden Entry: Jaden pondered carefully what he wanted to write. Hunter's Jubilee to him seemed to be times when over-enthusiasm ended up in getting pelted with plushies and small trinkets, but that was doing the holiday a bit of an injustice. He'd just never been the kind to go out and celebrate. To be quite honest I don't really know what the holiday means to be just yet. I don't have any family, so sometimes it's a little sad. I don't really have anyone super special to me either, so I can't take part in the bits of the festival aimed towards that. I don't have many friends, and I don't really like big crowds or lots of noise. I think if I had to give the holiday a meaning for me as I am right now, it represents a reminder. I don't have family or a love, but maybe one day I will. I don't have bunches of friends, but I care really deeply for the ones I do have. Even though I don't really like the noise and the crowds I still try to go out for at least this holiday, and I make an effort to try to do something new. Hunter's Jubilee reminds me that while I don't have many bonds of love it makes the ones I do have all the more precious, and reminds me to cherish them.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 1:21 am
Username: jinxgirl5 Nightmare: Rowan Entry: Rowan glowered silently at their blank sheet of paper. Ugh, with the holidays getting closer people were getting all google-eyed and giggly and just....silly. They highly disapproved. But an assignment was an assignment. With an internal sigh they set to writing. I didn't really celebrate the holiday much where I came from, so coming to the Academy was my first exposure to Hunter Jubilee celebrations. While most people seem to get lost in the romantic aspects or just like having a holiday, it appears to me that the stress on love in general is what made the holiday so important in the first place. While I am not one who typically indulges in loud or exuberant festivities, nor am I typically known for my socializing skills, Hunter's Jubilee seems to break down these kinds of barriers. People tend to be far more accepting of differences, in fact even enjoying the discovery of such differences, and are more likely to forgive a faux pas. Considering all the different traditions and attitudes held by the various races of Below, Hunter's Jubilee seems like a good way to set aside differences and come together for at least a time, which in turn helps forge better understandings of each other. This can be quite beneficial in a number of ways, but I digress. So, from personal experience and belief, I would have to say that, to me, Hunter's Jubilee is a time to set aside differences and come together to learn understanding and, perhaps, acceptance.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 5:43 pm
Username: jinxgirl5 Nightmare: Alyssum Entry: Alyssum stared down at her paper through her bangs. Hmmm, this was a kinda tough one to write. She wasn't really very social and didn't exactly celebrate the holiday in the more popular fashion. Her thoughts were probably a little vague, but she did her best. I came to the Academy during Hunter's Jubilee, so it's one of my very first memories of this place. We didn't celebrate it much back home, and I usually never took part in the celebrations anyway. People always thought I was a little weird or too shy, so they'd avoid me or try to drag me into things and I was never very comfortable. When I first came to the Academy I was very worried that it would be the same, especially since I was from a very different place, but people were actually welcoming without being overly excited. Perhaps it is just my own first impression but to me Hunter's Jubilee means a time of acceptance. Whether someone is well known and cared for or a stranger with strange ways we accept how people are. While we may sometimes hold reservations or be unable to accept certain things with open arms, there is still a feeling of unity. It is a time to come together, to appreciate, and to see with an open mind.
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2017 8:28 pm
Username: nepsah
Nightmare: Orpheus
Entry: Orpheus did not like this prompt. Not at all. He sighed, and pulled out a pencil to start writing. He wasn't really sure what to write about, or rather, who. In the end he settled for writing about a senior he used to know.
A couple of years ago I met a senior in the library that was really cool. He used to take me off campus sometimes for trips to the city and we'd hang out and do lots of things together. It was really nice, like I had a real brother! Since I don't have a family it was a good feeling. But he graduated and didn't keep in contact so he's gone now. I don't know where he went. Its okay though. I have caretakers to take care of me so I guess they are kind of like a family.
This assignment was very saddening, he'd been depressed for weeks afterward. Since then he'd been contemplating trying the big sibling program since that seemed more concrete, but at the same time the idea of getting left behind again was... terrifying. He wrapped up his essay with something more positive, opting to note that he felt a great deal of love for his caretakers so everything was okay after all.
Username: nepsah
Nightmare: Fleur
Entry: Eugh, touchy subject... but... Fleur glanced over at Amai, she still hadn't spoken to her since the incident with the caretaker but...
My experience was very recent. My friend Amai did a very brave thing and she told a caretaker that I was being bullied. I was too scared to say anything. I was angry at first because I didn't want to get in more trouble with the bullies, but everything is okay now. I don't know how to handle it because I am scared Amai will be mad at me because I was mad at her. Do you have some advice? I'm sorry this isn't a very good essay...
She sighed and gently laid her head down on her desk. This was awful.
Username: nepsah
Nightmare: Amai
Entry: Oh!! Amai loved this prompt! She immediately set to work writing.
My best friend Fleur was being picked on for a long time. She didn't want to tell anyone thought so I kept her secret because I care about her feelings. But, my Mama always said its better to do the Right Thing even if it makes people mad. So I told for Fleur. I think she's mad at me still, and I don't know if she still wants to be my friend anymore, but... I know I did the right thing and that's how I chose to show my love for my friend! I hope that she forgives me soon though. I miss her.
Okay, that was... more sad than she'd anticipated... but it worked out!
Username: nepsah
Nightmare: Naoya
Entry: Hmm... Naoya had to think about this one...
My counsin goes to Grendel! He does dance. I feel a lot of love for him and feel loved when we dance together. It's really nice bonding. One day, I want to be as good a dancer as Amatus is. Sometimes his twin sister Leah will join us. She's really good at dancing too. When we all dance together it feels really warm! I show it by giving them both hugs. Its important to show how you feel!
There, that should do it! Naoya scribbled his name at the top, then dated it. He was getting better at this new language thing!
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:31 am
 Username: Panda Moor
Nightmare: Bliss
Entry:
Bliss was slightly intimidated by this prompt. Sure, he understood the difference between romantic and platonic love, but the only person he was particularly close to was his twin brother. Bliss worried his lower lip, glancing off to the side. He didn't like getting in trouble though, so he needed to write something for Lyra's essay.
'My brother loves me and I love him. We are twins, and we help each other do things and play together. One time I hurt my scales and Fin found me a bandaid. Sometimes the caretakers show me love too by bringing me bandaids and kissing my owies, but I know I am not related them to them because they're not Naiads.'
Thankfully as he glanced around it appeared that some of the others in his age group were struggling too. It made him feel slightly better and Bliss pulled his tail up into his lap, stroking the end of his fin for a long moment.
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:31 am
Username: Leopleuradon
Nightmare: Winterblossom
Entry: Blossom stared at his prompt for quite some time. He hadn't made too many friend at the Academy, but he did have a great deal of love for his parents. He might as well write about them in this essay.
I enjoy my time at the Academy, but I always look forward to going home at the end of the day. That's because I love my family. I have a sister, a mother, and a father. Being at home with them brings me a lot of joy. I may not always have a smile on my face, but they always know when I'm sad or when I'm happy. They always seem to know exactly what to do for me. I love tending to our garden with my Mother! The flowers are so lovely. I hope to have a garden of my own one day, just like my Mom's.
There, that felt like it would be good enough to submit!
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:36 am
Username: Leopleuradon
Nightmare: Odell
Entry: They needed to write about love? A blush crept over Odell's face as he thought about Maggie. Some might think they were too young for that sort of thing, but well...feelings are feelings.
Back at home I was always friends with a neighbor's children. They were a huge family, while mine was quite small. I always went over there to play and that's where I found Maggie. She was always fun and had a smile that could cheer you up on even the stormiest days. When she told me she was coming to the Academy to finish school I begged my parents to go as well. I was happy when they agreed and we could continue to spend more time together. I ended up asking her to be my girlfriend! Her brother wasn't too happy at first, but we're working on being friends again!
Atoris was maybe a little over protective of his sibling. Plus, they had been friends before as well! He hoped they could go back to how things were before.
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:40 am
Username: Leopleuradon
Nightmare: Erion
Entry: An essay about love! He was about to write his heart out in this paper!
I have an older sister who means the world to me! When I was very young I'd always look forward to the times when she would visit home. I'd often sit in her lap while she read me stories and sometimes I'd demand to sit on her lap during meals as well! She never seemed to mind! My sister always seemed to be really sad when she came home and was often quiet when other family members were around. I decided I had to follow her to the Academy and teach her all about love myself! That's what brought me here. Together the two of us are making a lot of progress! I see her smiling a lot more these days. I love my sister!
He was very proud of his essay. Writing about love was no big deal at all!
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:49 am
Username: Leopleuradon
Nightmare: Brailyn
Entry: Brailyn was excited about this prompt! Of course, she'd have to write about her twin. She loved him the most!
I love my twin! He's just the best and the two of us make an excellent ghost hunting pair! I can hear ghosts and Delpi can see ghosts! We've been on lots of adventures together. We love to dance, play, sing, and really do anything together. We're often attached at the hips and I really wouldn't have it any other way! He's so fun to be around, even if he is a little quiet. That's okay though, because I make enough noise for the both of us! We'll always be together. The dynamic ghost fighting duo!
She signed her name and date at the top of the paper and happily turned it in at the end of class.
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 1:00 pm
Username: Ishtadaal Nightmare: Astra Entry: The Hunter's Jubilee is a celebration, and like all celebrations, it can cheapen the things it's meant to celebrate. Instead of focusing on quietly celebrating the foundation of what a relationship is, and what it means, I feel that the Hunter's Jubilee acts to spur people into flings, impulsivity, and ill-thought-out decisions, all in a vain quest for singles and wanting dyads to find completion and not be found lacking, or for people to impress their friends. It makes people obsess over having a relationship just because of the approaching date, and it puts pressure on everyone already in a relationship to make an especially meaningful gesture for the big day. Really, though, how meaningful– and how sincere– can a gesture motivated largely and initially by social expectations be? How can the recipient truly believe that the gesture is meant for them, and not to fulfill a social contract on a statistically-important day?
While society's recognition of certain acts and practices as being part of courtship is paramount in defining a relationship and making peoples' overtures explicitly obvious and known to the beloved subject of the acts, I don't feel that it has a place in forcing people to acknowledge imaginary milestones, especially when people may have other factors in their lives that would make conforming to said milestones' observance a stressful experience to complete.
Worse than even that, though, is that the culture of having to go out and seek someone promises a failure of sorts to those who don't manage to fill that imaginary void, even if they don't seek it out: everyone who fails to find any coparticipants with an excuse to be morose that they mightn't have felt otherwise, making the day a source of unnecessary and imagined misery to many. It encourages people who either don't know that romance isn't for them yet, or people who would like romance but have no pressing desire to experience it, to push themselves into something that they don't necessarily want, but rather, because the rest of the community has lathered itself into a froth about the joys of romance, relationships, and intimacy, that they think they should want.
That is why I don't really pay much stock to this particular holiday, and actually find it personally distasteful. I feel that it should be a quieter, and more private affair– the sort of thing that people wouldn't be looked down upon for not observing, even within the context of a relationship. I don't want people needing a reminder to tell me they love me... or for my dad to leave for people to ignore me on a day that I wouldn't have cared about being not-paid-attention-to normally.
So, with all due respect to the spirit of the celebration, and with no intent to belittle people who enjoy the festivities and find that they really add something to their lives, I don't personally feel the Holiday takes a special place in my life, except to put social pressures on people and encourage us to feel lacking if our expectations aren't met, and I believe that the best and most important acts of love are those shown outside of a context of social expectation.
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Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 2:14 pm
Username: nepsah
Nightmare: Ludo
Entry: Eugh, this was not Ludo’s favorite topic to write about at all. They stared at their paper, trying to think of something to write down that wouldn’t make them sound like a total downer.
My family celebrates Hunter’s Jubilee, but it doesn’t have the association with Kallistos that it has here in Below. Naiads don’t really… believe in the Nine, and my family is no different. It’s been a little bit of a culture shock experiencing it. It’s still pretty focused on courting though. I guess it’s nice here at school because there’s a lot more focus on other kinds of love too. I think that’s really important because sometimes romantic love doesn’t work out for everyone… and sometimes there are people not interested in it.
They stopped there, deciding that if they continued any further it really might get depressing. With a sigh, Ludo signed their name and then got up to go turn in their paper.
Username: nepsah
Nightmare: Xeizii
Entry: Well… wasn’t this an awkward topic. Xeizii had to think for a moment before beginning to write.
We do celebrate Hunter’s Jubilee in my village. It’s a big get together, everyone comes to the meeting hut and we all tell stories and share food. So in a way it is not that different from how the Academy celebrates. I have not really thought about why it is important to celebrate, but I suppose that back in my home it is very harsh… and knowing that you are surrounded by loved ones is helpful. Even if it is not a romantic love.
Alright, he managed to skirt around the romance part of the holiday so it really wasn’t… all that awkward. Good going.
Username: nepsah
Nightmare: Pangurban
Entry: Pangur could have sighed aloud if he thought he’d get away with it. Every year they had to write some nonsense about Hunter’s Jubilee. It got old a long time ago.
I grew up here, nothing is new or different or hard to understand. I guess its interesting to see how outsiders react, but other than that it’s nothing special. I don’t like the over the top focus on togetherness, it feels fake and forced. If I want to show my affection for someone else, I’ll do it my own way. I don’t need a holiday to do it. I understand it’s a holiday that pays tribute to a God, but other Gods get tributes in far quieter ways. It’d be nice if we didn’t have to do this whole song and dance every year.
They couldn’t fault him for his opinion… They’d asked for it, after all.
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Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2017 2:25 pm
Username: musicaloner7
Nightmare: Lilan
Entry: Love... Wrinkling his nose, the little Litch frowned heavily at the task they were given. He didn't... love anyone. Yeah he had a family but... was what he felt towards them love?
Uh... I guess a time I felt something like love was the first time I saw a dancer. Well anytime I see a good dancer, actually. They look so amazing, and beautiful with everything they do. Each movement, small or big. I admire their hardwork and how easy they make it all look. And they always have such nice things to say in their interviews, and tell learners like us to keep at it, so that we can get better too. It really makes me happy I want to be just like them some day, and maybe meet some of them to tell them how much I appreciate them.
There. Hopefully that counted.
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