A Sorting Ceremony

[bubblewrapped]

Sorting Ceremony 2012

September 1st 2012. It seems like forever ago, now. A simpler time. Here, now, a moose is just a moose and aurors aren’t looked upon with suspicion. Mr. Pennywise still teaches Potions and the Anonymous Entry is relatively new.

It’s a hot and humid high in the Utah mountains and a heavy haze hangs in the air. Students have been fed and oriented and the day is getting long. The lights along the trails are flickering to life. It’s time for the sorting ceremony to begin. Students new and old make the trek from the lodge to the cave, not a one of them aware of what they will experience – what they will endure - in the years to come.

A fire crackles in the center of the amphitheater where Gooseberry's faculty and staff have gathered to greet the students. Headmistress Bloom delivers an enthusiastic speech, as she always does, promising an exciting year ahead. Gooseberry is your home for the next ten months. Here, you'll find new friends and family, learn about yourself and the world around you in exciting new ways. Here, you will grow. As she speaks, something moves beyond the treeline. Perhaps you caught a glimpse of it – or maybe it was nothing at all. Before you know it, Bloom’s speech is over.

With that, the first name is called. Step up to the cave and be sorted. It’s dark inside, drafty and full of strange sounds.

Take a deep breath before you head inside and remember to be brave.

HOW THIS WORKS

• This is taking place on Sept 1, 2012, the academic year preceding year 1. So, super seniors would be juniors, seniors would be sophomores, juniors would be the incoming freshmen and sophomores are nothing more than an ominous cloud on the horizon.


• This is SUPER LOW PRESSURE. Just have fun playing your kids as babies!!


• The sorting ceremony takes place not long after dinner this year.


• Freshmen and any students who were new to Gooseberry in the 2013 school year would be getting sorted.


• New kids spent the bulk of the day unsorted, it's possible older kids may've tried to recruit you to their house!


• SORTING CEREMONY: Students are called into the cave one by one in alphabetical order. Inside, the emblems of each house assess the student about why they should join their respective house. Their goal is to convince the student that they're a good fit with them, but ultimately the student is allowed to choose where they'd like to go. If the sorting takes more than five minutes, a teacher will go in to hurry things along. After your character is sorted, they go to sit in their house's section of the audience, often to excited cheers.


• After the ceremony, students head back to their campsites with their new classmates for the evening.

Blah blah blah...

» Before the Ceremony: Today was a busy day! Everyone arrived this morning by 11am. There was lunch and orientation, a bit of free time before dinner. What did you get up to?

» The Sorting Ceremony: Students gather in the amphitheater outside the sorting cave to see the newest members of the Gooseberry family learn their new houses.

» After the Ceremony: It's well past sunset, now. Time to head to your campsite and settle in!

» OOC - Questions, comments, concerns!

Comments

Before the Ceremony

[bubblewrapped]

Students arrived on campus by 11am, most via magical bus system. Lunch was served, followed by orientation for new students led by the Head Girl and Boy, while returning students meet up with friends and move their things into their cabins. After dinner, everyone heads to the amphitheater for the sorting ceremony.

Love at First Sight (Calvin & Micah)

[evercreep]

With the Sorting on the horizon, at least one student is using the time to study. A small boy with a cherubic face dressed entirely in black has already opened several of his books. He's sitting by himself, and has so far shunned all offers of company.

Because Calvin wants to be alone. He doesn't know anyone here, which is the point. Even the older exchange students are strangers, and they look right through him, not realising he's one of them.

So here he is with his clean slate. A fresh start. No Sam, no Ed, and no Dimi. It's a relief, it really is. Being alone is better than being held back or pushed around. He spent the whole ride up into the mountains composing letters in his head about how much better Gooseberry was than Hogwarts, and how little he needed any of them. Of course, he'd need good marks to prove that. When a shadow falls over his textbook, his serene expression disappears.

"Move." He gives the offender a look that could curdle milk.

The Sorting Ceremony

[bubblewrapped]

Baby Bearents

[heyitsnia]

Even if her posture is tight and withdrawn in an unfamiliar way, the simple two plait hairstyle should give away who this is. Antonia Papadakis is just a tiny wisp of a thing, tired-eyed and newly trusted with responsibility. Truth be told, being charged with enforcing the rules is sort of invigorating in a way she's not used to. The touchy feely bullshit she could take or leave, but having something to do, that's great.

If only her partner in crime fighting were someone more enthusiastic about the job. Nia sighs heavily and stares at her co-prefect across the way, sizing him up. This is a partnership, so she's going to make it work the only way she knows how.

Pushing past a few juniors, Nia plops down next to him as he sits. "So, I see your plan is to preempt bad behavior in your peers entirely with an intimidating scowl."

The only way she knows how to make things work is by being a shithead.

Spooky Kids Get Spooky

[odder]

Honestly there’s probably nothing to see in the sorting cave, at least until you get inside. Jade’s clustered together with the other freshmen whose last names start between C and Z, all waiting to get in. She’s not nervous. She knows that whatever house she gets in, she’ll take over in a month. That’s how it’s always been. She’s mastered the art of getting her way, from downright ignoring other people to standing with a haughty sneer like she is now, staring down the cave like she’s going to come in it and burn it down personally if their answers aren’t correct.

Or at least she would if a tall boy with extraordinarily bushy hair wasn’t smack-dab in her eyeline.
“If you don’t move, you’re not going to have your head for long.” She snaps, impatient to stare down a disco fox. She looks like she means it. And she did bring her sharp knives.

Todd & Cash (& anyone else)

[longcons]

Standing amongst his fellow 14 year olds, Cassius Holcomb cuts a far less distinctive silhouette. Still, there's something about his posture —feet shoulder width apart, hands clasped behind his back— that would be recognisable to the observant time traveller. Not 'uptight' so much as 'tightly controlled,' even as a freshman.

He's quiet; his voice hasn't dropped and now, in this new environment, he's taking care to open his mouth as little as possible. Which is fine. He doesn't mind. It's like a game, in a way. Saying the most in the fewest words. Besides, he's never made a habit of garrulity.

Cash's eyes flick back and forth between the cave and the crowd. Sophomores and upperclassmen are gathered around in colour-coded clumps, and he's already formed some opinions about the houses and their occupants. The ones in purple are high strung. The ones in blue? Clearly on amphetamines. He sighs. It could be worse. The "Ribbonfins" strike him as remarkably boring. And at least people on speed are productive.

"You should change your name," he tells the boy on his right as the students start to line up. They're half an alphabet away, but he's feeling reluctant to part from his friend just yet. Ending up in separate houses would be... aggravating.

Fish Mom & Some Guy Who Will Do As a Dad

[browbeats]

Rosemary Stoker was made to be a prefect. Arms crossed, resting bitch face on, she narrows her eyes at all these unruly freshmen and honestly everyone else around her. Maybe she can be the first prefect to take points this year. That seems like a nice goal to have.

"Spot any troublemakers yet?" she asks her new co-prefect, the yin to her yang, the scrawny kid she called Fergie for at least the first six months of last year. They've moved through half the alphabet by now, they've definitely had enough time to properly judge these kids.

After the Ceremony

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The sun set quite a while ago, most students head back to their campsites to settle in for the evening.

Baby Birds @ Azurcrest

[bubblewrapped]

Everyone here touches each other. They hug and latch onto each other while laughing and shouting. It's so loud. Oh my god is that a flask? Did that boy just take a drink from a flask? Doesn't he know the risks of underage drinking? Oh god he just shared it with some else. What if they have a cold? Now everyone's going to have a cold.

Lucas Kowalski has never been more positive of anything in his life - this was a mistake. He shakes his inhaler before taking a click of medication into his tightening lungs. It's the only sound the tall ghost with a storm cloud of dark hair makes as he shuffles awkwardly toward the other new Azurcrest sortees, narrowly avoiding brushing against a cute older boy. God everyone here is so attractive. It's disgusting.

Standing just behind the other new Azurcrest freshmen, Lucas sighs heavily, audibly, and immediately regrets that decision, too.

Calvin meets Cole

[evercreep]

Calvin already doesn't like this boy he's going to be living with for the next four. He's very American looking, with his Muggle clothes and long surfer hair. He probably lives on the beach, and his family must have money. Girls love boys that look like this. He'd better not bring them around to the cabin to snog.

"Calvin Evercreech." He introduces himself as though it's distasteful to have to do this at all. He extends a hand.

OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[bubblewrapped]

Ngl I 100% did this so I could write my characters as disaster babies. I want a baby jay thread.

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[racingstripe]

Sobs my children, my perfect babies.

Jeffy's account expired and his icon selection is even worse than usual oh no

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[odder]

This is gonna make me cry at work again.
(But you’re all going to see a supermean Jade and Supernerd Ira so get ready I suppose)

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[bubblewrapped]

So in 2013...
Lucas is an absolute disaster of a human being, timid anxious weirdo disaster, and he's about to get sorted into Azurcrest which seems like a mistake.
Nia is a newly minted prefect pretending that she's totally fine in the wake of her life falling apart over the summer.
Yancey is actually here!! And is a scrawny nerd that looks nothing like Chord Overstreet.
Danny is also a scrawny nerd that looks nothing like Chord Overstreet but he's less nice about it.
Zav definitely brought something to cronch on during the ceremony.
Takeru may have fallen asleep on one of his roommate's shoulders.

And for the record, Dimi is King of Gryffindors, Griffy is King of Squonks and Nisha somehow still hasn't been kicked out of Wampus yet.

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[magitechnically]

oh my god okay

Essie is a super mousey shy child preparing to embark on a year of being Diego's literal shadow and finishing off the year with an ill-fated crush on Jesse McBride.
Sun-mi has a year of prefecting under her belt, but is honestly even more lax than she was her senior year. She's just your Cool Big Sister partner-in-not-crime to Ravi!!!
Ursula hates being back here, is even more prissy, and is generally following Coralee's lead. She's pretty awful.
January is actually here! She doesn't kiss girls yet. She spent freshmen year forcing a bunch of boys to date her for a week before dumping them. Danny and Ferdie among them.

And in other news, Jacob has just been named prefect, is weeks away from making the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and generally starting on the Worst Year Ever and Pear is trying to not murder her sister back at Ilvermorny.

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[destructobot]

oh gosh cuuute ♥ ;-;

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[goosemods]

btw jenny i think this year is actually 2012 :o

since Year 1 was 2013-2014
and Year 2 was 2014-2015

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[casperkim]

If you want any of mine, hit me up! :) I'll be busy with work for a while, but...

Cecil is a junior prefect at this point and more comfortable with his role this year! He just wants everyone to get get along, he's starting to lean into being a big brother to other students (both in terms of looking out for them and spoiling them), and he's excited about the new baby birds! He probably brought homemade cupcakes.

Ty is a junior fox, a cheerboy (not yet a captain), a flirt, and an excitable person! He's really happy to be back at Gooseberry after a long summer at home, so he'll be all over his roommates and anyone that will pay attention to him. He's about to meet his baby sister for the first time maybe? :o ♥

Casper is a returning Quidditch player, a new prefect (he's still wondering how that happened??), and even more prickly now than he was as a junior/senior. He's trying to figure out how he feels about his responsibilities and Ms. Rhee's apparent trust in him.

Cole is even more of a quiet space cadet at this point and he's almost certainly drawing on his hands in marker while this is going on. He made the choice to come to Gooseberry to get away form his overbearing brother...but he seems to be a bit lost without him. He'll be caught off-guard to end up in a different house from Micah, who was his roommate at Ilvermorny.

Heathcliff is PUMPED to be here and eager to meet new people, especially his roommates! He won't be surprised at all to end up in Coppertale. I mean. DUH??? He probably looks like a sophomore or a junior because he's still a Big Guy.

Lachlan is still at Hogwarts and Balthazar is still a bb getting home-schooled. :(

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[readingrainbows]

i just remembered that zach was a hatstall??? and look at him now cheep cheep ;u;

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[stclair]

ok i'm at work but i'll run through mine real quick

ravi is a junior prefect who's looking forward to seeing which fishies join this year!!!
mina is a junior who's cheering loudly every time someone sorts into ebonhide. BEAR HOUSE BEST HOUSE
sy is a soph who just made the jump from reserve to starting chaser for coppertale, so he's Very Proud of himself.
micah is an incoming fresh jay who will sort into azurcrest like... asap.

my other ones aren't at school yet!! but lmk if you want to do a cute scene

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[evercreep]

Ahhhh so cuuuute! ;o;

Diego is a junior Azurcrest! He's currently dating Tabitha Ogletree, and in about, oh, 6 months he's going to fuck that up real bad. On the outside they seem like the couple that's definitely getting married right after high school.
Rafael is a junior Coppertale prefect who thinks he has Head Boy in the bag next year. He's very happy to greet the new Coppertales. His older brother, Ricardo, is a VERY popular senior Coppertale. Rafa is currently dating Quinn, and Ric likes to torment her for it.
Neil is here, unfortunately!!!! He's a junior Ebonhide and he's a huge loser with an unearned ego and a love of ghosts.
Reid is a lonely, quiet Sophomore Coppertale who acts like an asshole to hide that he's just shy and struggles with speaking. He and Sy hate one another at this point. He coasts through his role as Seeker, and isn't very reliable.
Mackenzie is a sophomore Azurcrest who's perpetually content with her life. She's very spoiled, and is having a ball as a full on mean girl rich bitch. Today she's looking for fresh blood.
Calvin is a baby Ribbonfin, and currently absolutely awful. He's Draco Malfoy with none of the money. He hates all of you and thinks he's better and smarter than you. Boys make him panic. He's right on the heels of a not so healthy relationship, as as well as tension with his beloved older brother. His self-confidence is at an all time low and he's coping with it by lashing out!
Ophelia is a grubby tomboy looking girl who just got stuck in Ebonhide. Very emotional, very insufferable, very uncool. So like normal Ophelia before she decided people would like her more if she got hot.

Spencer is going to beat the shit out of a competitor and trash his reputation, which will land him at GB next year. :')
Archimedes is not living a great life at this point, and next year will take that out on all his classmates via Amortentia.

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[lilwitchhazel]

I have no self control and I wanted to post this even though I should be doing work oops

Hazel is a freshman and even though she's sad to leave home she's so excited!!! And happy!!! And feels responsible for no one but herself!!!! She'll be your friend and tell you to shut up probably!!!

Ramon is also a child and just praying he's not in the same house as Sofia (sorry, Sofia). He looks unimpressed with everything but is actually glad to be here.

Jaime is very very stupid and very very ready to party his little sophomore brains out. Also, he'll maybe make Quid reserve this year?? I have no idea what his quid life is like whoops. Incredibly reckless, loves everyone.

Phi is a baby soph with no responsibilities and has just learned/is about to learn that Heathcliff is here, I just realized!!!! They haven't talked in 2 years????

Eileen is a much happier/slightly nicer soph person who is dating Sandy or is about to "bully" him into it. She makes the coppertale quid team this year as keeper!!! She thinks this is boring but came anyways to quietly heckle the new kids.

Asher is a junior and thinks he's going to work on his paper again this year but he's not :,) he's dating his terrible girlfriend Seraphina who is very nice on the outside and very not nice on the inside.

Rupert is being offended somewhere in Canada.

I am up for anything!!!! When I'm not at work whoops

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[gwenniepop]

I have no idea if I am doing anything with this yet BUT

Gwen is an awkward sophomore with Rapunzel hair who is coming off a freshman year where she sneezed the entire time. She is terrified of her roommates and is about to embark on an ill-advised friendship with Calvin, against his will.

Teddy is about to be sorted into Ebonhide and is very chill about that. He thinks a girl in his class is very cute.

Juniper is planning a murder back in NY at her day school but it's really all in theory.

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[chryseis]

Cricket just spent a summer in London being unbelievably gay and now she’s pretending that she didn’t like it and she’s not in love with Maggie. She likes dumb boys. Definitely. For sure.

Jesse is drunk and hates Ricardo

Lilika is in Tulpehanink framing her cheating ex for drug dealing and getting him expelled. She flees to Gooseberry soon!

Re: OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[professionalcorpse]

guys. guys i'm so late to and lost at everything.

but, um. 2012?

roxie has just had the strange and stunning realization that she's possibly going to be staying at this school for more than three minutes total. she's quiet and hesitant and probably had zero friends.
bash is an anxious mess. this is the longest (& farthest) he's been from his sister ever and there's nobody around to tell him what to do. he teeter-totters back and forth between talking too much and possibly physically clamping a hand over his own mouth. generally harasses some emblems.
and antigone is an infant. and probably sleeping on a beach.