Counsel the Council

[Dr. Sean Neville]

((OOC: This thread is open to all Student Activities Council members. There is no set post order.))

The prominence of the Student Activities Council and Sean’s stature outside of serving as adviser belied the somewhat casual nature of their meetings. Surely the thought of their duties conjured images of a stack of requisition forms piled to the ceiling, while every member held a clipboard and tut-tutted about expenditures, crossing off fundraiser suggestions with the exacting finality of IRS agents.

Instead, decorations were crammed into boxes, each labeled for its contents in neat, large script - the psychiatrist’s handwriting rendered in black Sharpie - but they were simply running out of room with some of the donations provided in recent years by the Coleys, whose parents were particularly generous now that five of them had passed through the school, itself an alma mater to five of those parents in return. Between those and records that the law required they keep for seven years stacked in two filing cabinets at the end of the room, they needed to consider an overflow office somewhere, without taking space away from one of the other clubs, who already had to share facilities. That would be unfair.

Their table had been scuffed earlier this year through a power mishap, and to cover the damage, Sean had invested in a series of plastic table cloths from the party store in Burlington, solid-colors replaced when they had torn or acquired too many crumbs or stains to reuse. Today’s cloth, smoothed before the students had filed in, was a shade inhabiting the spectrum between orange and brown marked as “cider.” Befitting the season. A box of miniature muffins in a handful of varieties occupied a space of prominence in the center of their circular table, while Sean sat at what they considered the head, farthest from the door, adjacent to the white board where he could memorialize the outcomes of their discussions.

”The last dance was a success,” he remarked. Halloween had managed to avoid any major mishaps and they had taken enough photos to include in the upcoming alumni newsletter. “We should start brainstorming for Valentine’s Day before finals start, and the the winter break. And I also want to start taking ideas for Spirit Week.”

[Micah and Moses Grey]

The twins had actually signed up for Student Council before they realized that Dr. Neville was the adviser for the group. It wasn't they they were afraid of him, or wished him any ill will, but they  had decided their time at Hammel would be much more fun as far away from his watchful eye and wacky brain powers a possible. Though Dad had forbid them to abandon the Student Council, so they were stuck. Still, they had wanted to be more involved at Hammel. And wanted to make being at Hammel more fun. So they supposed they could deal with it, if it meant they could help keep things from getting dreadfully boring.

Also, it helped that Dr. Neville brought treats.

The twins patted each other on the back at the success of the dance and they munched on their muffins, trying their very best to not get too distracted by the piles of boxes their fingers were just itching to dump out and dig for what were sure to be hidden treasures of fun. 

"Ugh. Valentines Day." "Ugh Valentines Day." The boys groaned in unison. Mostly because they were still in the "girls have cooties...maybe?" phase of early adolescence and they were trying to figure out how each of them felt about...love and stuff, not to mention how that all got even more complicated with their ability. It was the one thing they didn't talk to each other about. Each brother worried that if their sexuality and romantic wants didn't match up, that one of them would have to be taken over by the other. And that was too weird to even think about. Better to just live in the moment and avoid it all together.

"Uh...when is Spirit Week?" "-is Spirit Week?"

[Irving Coley, Jr]

Irving sat ramrod straight in his seat, muffin untouched on the paper plate in front of him. Unlike the twins he didn't think girls had cooties, and in fact really really liked one of them and so the mention of Valentine's Day earned no eye roll from him but rather the slight tilt of his chin upward to show that he was interested.

"We should have chocolate and peanut butter brownies."

He knew full well that peanuts (and any other tree nuts) were forbidden for school events, but he made this suggestion at every single meeting out of loyalty to Poppy and her love of chocolate combined with peanut butter. As soon as he was old enough to drive he wanted to take her into town so that she could have peanut butter to her heart's content; he wasn't about to ask his cousins for assistance with that endeavor. Especially not after Appoline had punched George in the face, something he privately thought his cousin probably deserved but that was disloyal in a way he couldn't bring himself to say aloud.

"And we could have one day for dressing up like our favorite teachers?"

[Marlow Estes]

Marlow had seated herself by George Fleming, aware of his reputation but with the naive hope that if he chose to date her he might end his pattern of running through girlfriends. He was, after all, a good boyfriend to those young women he graced with his favor. He simply hadn't found the right woman yet.

And the right woman was, obviously, her.

Then she could tell her parents that she had succeeded in finding a guy, and he was cute and rich, and they would be proud of her.

"Valentine's Day is important," She remarked in response to the twins' disgust, but her eyes remained trained on George, her chin propped up between her hands. She didn't partake of any of the snacks; she had to watch her calories or she might outgrow her dance team uniform in the wrong direction. Height might be acceptable, but width? No way.

"We need a photo booth so couples can take pictures."

If she wasn't one of those couples, though, she was going to hate this dance so much, and she would curse her current self's help in making a beautiful romantic event that she couldn't participate in. But in her fantasies at the moment she was going to be at the dance with a date, and so there wasn't any reason not to go wild with ideas.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

With one hand, Sean claimed one of the blueberry muffins, carefully peeling back the skirt with his thumb; experience at doing so one-handed allowed him to do so with practiced ease. With the other, he uncapped the nearest marker - blue because who knew what had happened to the black one? - and began transcribing the suggestions that the students made.

He ignored Micah’s and Moses’s objections to the notion of Valentine’s Day as a whole, keenly aware of their orientation struggles, and not one to foist his enjoyment of the holiday on others. He and Josh would have plans, if not for the day proper, then the weekend immediately before or after, and if that took the form of a weekend getaway, a night out as their alter egos, or merely a romantic supper and too much wine and chocolate, he didn’t know and hardly cared - all that mattered was them. But that was to get a bit carried away.

The dance would take place as it always had, and just as with every other similar event, it wasn’t mandatory if the twins wanted to skip out.

Instead, he wrote “Spirit Week” and “Valentine’s Dance” on opposite ends of the board, underlining both to begin the bullet point lists of ideas.

“Sometime in March.” Between the dance in February and spring break in April, March had always been the logical choice. “But we get to choose the exact dates. This gives us plenty of time to iron out the details.”

Followed by him jotting down Junior’s idea about dressing like a favorite teacher under “Spirit Week” along with the more common days that often occurred, like Pajama Day, Color Day, and Throwback Day. None were permanent, only a place to begin their discussion.

“That’s a good idea, Junior. For the brownies, you know the rules about nut allergies, but if you ask the home economics teacher, I’m sure they’d help you whip up a batch for Poppy and you can eat those at any time.”

Marlow’s idea of a photo booth was added to the Valentine’s Dance column. “We have that in the budget.” Thanks, in part, to the Coley’s donations. “And I know where we can get a deal on renting a booth.” In part because he and Josh had considered it for the Bash next month. “Would we want it to have props too?”

George Fleming sat sandwiched between his cousin and Marlow, ignoring the latter’s eyelash flutters, as he had at every meeting or any time they interacted. He was cordial to her, polite, always smiled, but she was fourteen and while he might flit between girlfriends regularly, he was too old for a freshman and mindful of this. However, he was also a Coley despite his surname, and the senior George Fleming’s son through and through, prompting him to suggest, “We should buy roses for all the girls in the school, to make sure they all get one for the dance.”

A girl should have a proper corsage.

[Micah and Moses Grey]

"We should have a a twin/opposite day!" "You can dress alike, or totally opposite!" Though it would lead to an argument discussion between the two as to which way they would go, Micah and Moses were always in approval of anything catering to duos, particularly at Hammel where they could enjoy them to the fullest without fear of leaving their brother Marco out of things. 

Moses rolled his eyes at all of the couples talk. Not only was it annoying, but it just rubbed at the worry he and Micah had about their own romantic future. It was the one area they couldn't talk about between them. And having everyone so concerned about it just made it harder. He wished they could just skip right over the holiday. 

Of course Micah also hated the holiday because of the uncomfortableness it caused with his twin, and yet, if he had to be truthful to himself, he wouldn't exactly mind going to the dance...maybe...if they could find a way to both enjoy it?

Speaking of enjoyment for all, "What if the boys want flowers too?" "Or the enbys?"

"Totally sexist there Dr. Neville." "Totally sexist there Dr. Neville." They couldn't resist adding a little dig to their advisor, but with the teasing smile on their face, he should be able to tell they weren't really calling him out, even without his ability to read minds. 

"Shouldn't we also talk-" "About the Snowball War?" The twins added, trying to turn to the conversation to an event they really cared about. 

[Irving Coley, Jr]

Irving beamed at the praise, even if it was perhaps a trifle confusing to not be the only Junior present. Somehow everyone seemed to refer to George by his first name, here, as opposed to the Junior he was saddled with for his family. He made a mental note to bake for Poppy; baking was an activity he hadn't considered might be a fun hobby up until he'd arrived at Hammel, but he'd taken to it like a duck to water. That the results delighted other people (especially his girlfriend and Dr. Neville) only made it a more appealing way to spend his time. Stargazing he might enjoy of his own accord, but it didn't bring a smile to other people's faces.

"It's too bad we have to raise the funds for the dance," He remarked, even though that wasn't actually a problem because his family gave so generously when asked. And he didn't mind giving to Hammel; in fact wanted his parents to do so. But he'd heard his father's sentiments before, and he imitated them now as he declared, "These kinds of things ought to be paid for with taxes."

He didn't remark on the rose idea, however, in part because he actually thought it was a good one up until the twins pointed out the flaws.

Sometimes the culture clash between the rules he'd grown up with and the lower classes felt an impossible chasm to cross.

"We could provide corsages and boutonnieres for whoever wants one, instead?" He offered, turning to look at his cousin with the hope that altering his suggestion wouldn't be seen as too hostile.

[Marlow Estes]

"I think roses for all the girls is a great idea," Marlow assured George and for once this wasn't entirely flattery in an attempt to get him to smile at her. Instead she spoke with the authority of a young girl who would have loved to receive flowers on Valentine's Day. Granted, a generic gesture to all the girls in the school wasn't as good as flowers from a date but it was certainly better than being entirely left out.

"And props would be romantic. Like candles for candlelit dinners and flower bouquets?" She asked, unaware of some of the more irreverent options more popular for photo booths.

[SeaNPC]

((OOC: As a side note, George is a sheltered upper-crust WASP Young Republican and his inner thoughts should be read through that lens.))

George Fleming, Jr.

George appeared positively scandalized at the invocation of taxes to pay for a party at a private school. Only a couple of years away had transformed his cousin into a Socialist. What next, he’d be out in the streets with those signs insinuating that the guillotines awaited their family because they’d been more successful with money over the generations than some other people?

But before he could react to that, the M&M twins voiced their objection to his perfectly reasonable suggestion motivated, in fact, to be more inclusive of the girls who didn’t have dates. It was chivalrous and that was a good thing. His eyebrows drew down, bemused., as he mouthed the unfamiliar word to himself. What was an enby?

As a senior, he had of course sat through Dr. Neville’s sex lecture at the beginning of the term, but he had drifted in and out of attention, having received more than enough pointers from his own father and cotillion.

These experimental genders confused him. As did the terminology that seemingly appeared from thin air and probably originated in the fevered imaginations of Tumblr.

“It isn’t sexist; it’s courteous,” he objected firmly. Sexism in his mind took the form of treating women unfairly, denying them the ability to work outside of the home or preventing them from seeking education or asking them inappropriate questions about family planning or, most ghastly, blaming them if their brutish husbands beat them. This was a positive and to George’s mind, it couldn’t be sexist.

Which Marlow appeared to understand, winning her a smile of approval from him, before his cousin offered a modified suggestion. It missed the point of George’s idea - something properly nice for girls on Valentine’s Day - but it wasn’t worth arguing about. He waved dismissively in Ving’s direction and said, “That’s fine too. Corsages and boutonnieres as needed. We can deliver them the morning of the dance.”

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean agreed with, or rather acknowledged the truth of, the twin’s assessment. George’s suggestion, although surely offered from a good place, was benevolent sexism followed by the litany of other factors about the gender binary and heteronormative expectations that it overlooked. Fortunately, between the group of them, they managed to work out a better alternative of boutonnieres and corsages offered freely to any students who desired them, regardless of gender, orientation, or relationship status.

That he could approve as as adviser, just as it warmed his heart to see the students hash out these details calmly without resorting to insults or for George to dig in his heels over this. Moreover, he felt a swell of pride for his protege's suggestion of tax money; it was impractical at a private school as theirs was, but his political radicalization was slowly underway, and for that he both empathized and approved. Thus, the psychiatrist added the revised suggestion to the board under the Valentine’s Day header, followed by emphasizing “props” for Marlow’s photo booth.

In between doing so, he addressed the twins’ attempt to change the conversation. “That isn’t an officially sanctioned school activity or something that the Council funds, boys. You know the rules: as long as nobody gets hurt, no property gets damaged, you keep it outside, and you don’t attack unwilling passersby, you can play at it for as long as you want. You can call a meeting with some of the other students in your dorm later if you want to discuss strategy.”

That was for the students alone. Sean, now closer to elder-hood than middle-age, had long left behind snow fights along with shoveling his own driveway or being carded when he and Josh bought liquor at the store. Now they offered him a senior discount, as depressing as that was.

“A photo booth and props, the corsages and boutonnieres. Are there any other new ideas we want to try this time? It’s early but we can think about the menu, or we can plan that when we return from winter break.”

[Micah and Moses Grey]

Neither Micah or Moses really had a huge understanding of money. They knew they weren't rich, but they weren't poor either. Anything they really needed, their fathers would provide. And discussions of the household income never really happened, at least not within their earshot. True, they had saved up to buy things before, but even then they had never stopped to think about financial stuff. The word 'taxes' had never even been one on their lips. What boring kid knew about taxes anyway?

That said, they knew a little about fundraising from being in the GSA and the Student Council. They rolled their eyes and sighed at Dr. Neville's comment. Why waste all of the fundraising on some stupid lovey dovey dance, when the money could go where it's really needed. If they had proper funding, maybe they could have a summer snowball war too. A snow machine couldn't be all that much to rent, right? Maybe if the fundraiser was a huge hit, Dr. Neville would just give them the extra funds to do whatever they wanted with. 

"What are we doing for fundraising?" "What are we doing for fundraising?" they asked. The paused for a moment, thinking before blurting out. "What about pieing teachers in the face?" "Like you pay so much for a pie," "and them wham right in Mr. Traupel's face!" "and them wham right in Mr. Traupel's face!"

They lost themselves in the fantasy of it, tuning out the discussion about the dance for the most part. Even the idea that whoever wanted flowers, regardless of gender, didn't really faze them. It wasn't that they didn't care because they weren't personally invested in the fight. It was just that this talk of flowers and dates and such was so boring. 

"What about something," "for us singles?" the twins asked, desperate to steer the conversation elsewhere. 

[Irving Coley, Jr]

Irving was simply relieved that George accepted his idea rather than arguing with him about it as he'd expected. He wondered if perhaps he should have waited for Marlow's input before opening his mouth - she was, after all, the only girl here and maybe by disagreeing with George even indirectly he was talking over the experiences of real women? Was he mansplaining by making a different suggestion?

Rather than ask any of those questions aloud he chose instead to focus on the twins and their fundraising idea and their request for pity on the singles.

"Throwing a pie in our teachers faces?" He was scandalized by the very idea. He didn't want to imagine what his dad would say if that became the school fundraiser. He wasn't sure that he could say that he was out voted and hope that might grant him some leniency in judgment.

"Umm...maybe we could do something that involves fewer teachers agreeing to get hit with a pie. Like...a bake sale. A car wash. Having a babysitting night so people can go Christmas shopping."

That last one was inspired in part by stories Poppy had told him of her family's travails regarding children and shopping. It sounded all sorts of nightmarish in his opinion.

[Marlow Estes]

How did none of the boys here but George seem to understand why Valentine's Day was important? She was particularly disappointed in Irving; didn't he have a girlfriend? What did this say for the continued romance of the day if the boys around here didn't even get Valentine's Day. Honestly, this was just sad. No wonder she couldn't get a boyfriend; the boys of Hammel apparently didn't understand how to be romantic. They probably didn't even know that they were supposed to ask girls out.

But she was as single as the Grey twins, and thus she didn't dismiss their idea about singles. Instead she twisted her mouth into a thoughtful grimace before suggesting, "What if we match up all the students without dates! That way nobody will be single!"

And maybe some of the matched up couples would fall in love. It would be romantic.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

In the span of mere minutes, Sean was inundated with suggestions that ranged from the inappropriate to…absolutely not sprang to mind, although he held back the immediate objection until he could phrase more gently. In small consolation, George managed not to interject again, allowing the back and forth to play out before him as silence was the better part of valor.

Unsurprisingly, Junior’s reaction came on the heels of Micah and Moses’s colorful revenge fantasy where they practically salivated at the ability to throw projectiles at Glenn Traupel for the unforgivable crime of attempting to teach them math. His protege’s litany of suggestions outnumbered the Grey twins, although hardly matched their enthusiasm, and the psychiatrist listed each of them on the board in the order of which they had been spoken.

However, Valentine’s Day occurred prior to the spring fundraiser, and he needed to address Marlow’s suggestion in tandem with the twins’ attempt to carve out space for those without dates and/or uninterested in procuring them.

“Corsages and boutonnieres aren’t only for people dating, but there are activities we can do for single people. The photo booth and the buffet work for friends and we can ensure not all of the music is romantic.”

He had intended to do so anyway, but that was an important reminder.

Which then dovetailed into Marlow’s idea. The psychiatrist set down his muffin, swapping it for his coffee mug, although he did not raise it to his lips just yet. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for the school to play matchmaker that way, and ‘all’ would include those that are happy not to have dates.” Such as the Grey twins, and a dozen others that immediately came to mind, to say nothing of those students who had no desire to attend with friends or stag either, hiding out in their rooms or leaving campus prior to curfew for an alternative arrangement, or who lived off campus with family and had other plans. Then the potential matches courted disaster depending on those involved, and Sean frankly had no interest in dedicating the month between classes resuming for the spring term and the dance reviewing personalities, habits, interests, and cross-checking them with orientations, age and grade, and preferences to play Cupid for children a quarter of his age. Nor would he pass that duty to other students to wield such power over their peers.

”We also don’t have enough staff or space to host an alternate singles mixer the same night. But there are other activities, like the fundraiser, that involve less romance or throwing pies at your teachers.” The last was his subtle rejection of the idea, as his gaze fell on the twins.