[Mingle-Log] Only non-alcoholic beverages in the punch bowl...

[adminfury]

[This is an open mingle log. You do not have to be part of the community to post in this thread. Consider it a test-drive of sorts to get your voice or meet new characters!]



SHIELD Academy
Open House
Everyone is congregated in the spacious auditorium of the SHIELD Academy. The noise level is probably a decibel below deafening and the lights are probably a little dimmer than what might seem normal for this time in the evening, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone as they just carry on. There are banners strewn about welcoming all first years to a new chapter in their lives while others welcome the others back for another year at the Academy. Refreshments are served up on stage while other tables set up around the massive room are home to pamphlets and flyers for clubs and classes. Special electives and advertisements for training sessions are also littered amongst the tables.

Make a few friends, find old ones, look into clubs that catch your interest. This is open house for all returning students and prospective students, so hang out, hit up others and just mingle!

Comments

[unseasoned]

Compliment aside, Virginia doesn't exactly expect to suddenly find someone pulling her aside by the arm as if they've known each other for ages. At the same time though, she doesn't really mind it. That Gwen actually appreciates her assessment is just as much of a surprise, but thankfully a pleasant one.

"I can't really complain; if I do end up running, it'd be good to have the support of another candidate." If, although Virginia can't quite keep her smile in when Gwen goes on. "Really? I know treasurer can't be everyone's favorite position, but I'd think there'd be at least one other person running for it."

[spiderette]

"Excedrin?" She picks up on that comment, mulls it over as she nods. She's been keeping track of what most of her classmates can do and how it affects them. Nothing comes easily or without a cost. "The mental strain, I'm guessing? That should get easier if you train it and learn to focus it. Translation, huh? Written or spoken or both? That's useful if you ever wanna travel anywhere."

[spiderette]

"Well apparently someone saw something about you to warrant you here," Natasha points out with a grin. "And honestly I'm not sure why I'm here either, because I don't have abilities like every one else. It's not obvious for everyone here. I think they look at things we're not aware of. I mean, I'm smart enough and ambitious enough to keep up with some, but I'm pretty average in comparison to my classmates. So don't worry, you won't stand out that much unless you want to."

[prevalkyrie]

"A little of both," Sif admits with a conspiring grin. "There are all sorts of interesting things to be learned here and never enough time to experience them all. It is difficult to decide on which to choose at times. I have goals, but I also choose some for pure fun. I have rarely regretted it. It is refreshing, to do something purely for enjoyment's sake, isn't it?"

[unseasoned]

I guess this really is still just a high school. [Which is oddly relieving in its own way. Normal has been an elusive concept for Virginia as of late, and certainly not something she thinks she's going to find among a bunch of superpowered agents-in-training. But they're all still kids too, regardless of intelligence and abilities. Maybe eventually Virginia can be too.

She doesn't miss how Bruce keeps his distance, but that's okay. She isn't looking to scare him off, and if a lack of contact makes him more comfortable, Virginia can work with it. She keeps up pretty easily, making her way to the tables until they come to the set up Bruce had pointed out earlier.]

So, am I picking up another pamphlet, or is there more of a demonstration for this one?

[prevalkyrie]

"There are many people here with enhanced abilities who still compete in sports," Sif answered, giving the matter a moment of thought. "Yes, we have advantages over some, but to play the game in all fairness, we also have an additional challenge. In our case, we limit ourselves and our abilities to even the playing field and still make the sport enjoyable for all. So perhaps normally it would be too simplistic and easy for us, but with this handicap or restriction, we make it more of a challenge for ourselves and keep it as such for others."

At least that was how Sif always viewed it. She was very much about fairness in sportsmanship. The battlefield was something different, but this was meant to be fun and in play with worthy companions.

"Besides, there is always normal training and practice where you can find worthy partners to test yourself against with your full abilities when that is what you crave."

The way Max's expression lights up has Sif laughing and draping an arm comfortably around the girl's shoulders. "You would do well in Asgard, I think. We would show them together that girls are just as able fighters as any male."

[prevalkyrie]

"I am indeed," Sif answers, moving to sink down on the chair next to Myka's with a glance asking for permission when the girl puts her book away. "Very much. I have missed this place and my companions in my months of absence. It is good to be reacquainted with everyone once more. Did you have an enjoyable summer?"

[prevalkyrie]

"Do you get a long with your siblings?" Sif asked, looking curious for a moment, because Gale didn't always open up about his home, or at least he hadn't in her hearing, despite her having known him for several years now. "I always wanted a sibling or two. I have a half-brother, but he is much older, and was already grown by the time I was born. It is not the same, I think, as having playmates near your own age."

[pocketphysics]

Make me wonder what they've been feeding them. My summer was okay. I got to do some work at Greenwich and started tracking an anomaly in space. How was yours?

[pocketphysics]

It's okay. I was like that last year. It's a little overwhelming. Hi, I'm Jane and I'm not normally the practical one.

[pocketphysics]

we can always ask Tony how his exoskeleton's going. Stilts should be a thing, but then I might fall on my face.

[voiceinthedark]

He gives her a surprised (and faintly reproachful) look when she ruffles his hair. He's not a kid damn it! "Yeah and it almost got me arrested. I'm pretty sure they just wanted me here to make sure Kevin came too."

Kevin with the special abilities and actual talent.

He shrugs at that, looking thoroughly sceptical. "Bet they still send reports home about how I'm failing French."

[felicitousfeloniousfeline]

"You got that right." Felicia replied, thinking of all the nights she's spent out partying, there was a bitterness to that joy though. "What do you do for enjoyment then?" she asked, to get her mind off the subject of her own inner turmoil.

[lefthandedgenius]

There's a faint grin from her. "I don't think Natasha's the only one you have to worry about in the Martial Arts club, but you should at least give it a try. It's important to try new things, right? And it's good to have some athletics on your record when you start looking at colleges."

[x5452]

Max isn't stupid; all the X5's have ridiculously high IQs. But real world application is a completely different matter, and somehow even though it didn't make any sense when the same advice came from Maya, when Sif suggests paring herself back, it clicks into place for Max.

"I spent all that time in a place where they wanted us at 100% all the time," she admits ruefully, "It never really occurred to me that I should even try dialing back. But you're right."

Of course Sif is right. Sif is amazing. She beams at the Asgardian as the arm is draped around her shoulders. "I'm game if you are." she says forthrightly.

[vates]

He nods; it's the mental strain. It gives him nosebleeds too. None of it is very fun for him, honestly.

"Written is easier. I can do spoken, but it's harder, and it takes longer." And it wears him out faster, too. Being able to work with the text, translating, taking notes, that's all a big part of it.

"It'll be more useful once I'm able to get through a page without feeling sick."

[spiderette]

Or it might explode. This is Tony we're talking about. There's always a 50% chance of that.

[spiderette]

She shakes her head at that. "Nope. No reports sent home. They're very strict about that. Trust me my dad wasn't thrilled when he learned he couldn't keep tabs on my grades except through me, but the administration thinks it helps with the pressure on us. Since we already have plenty. Personally I think it's brilliant of them. Also why on earth are you failing French? Besides, you can't be failing it yet, it hasn't even started."

[spiderette]

"If anyone here can teach you how to use it, it's SHIELD. They have a couple teachers who are really good at that sort of thing. Some people here need a lot of focus and concentration for what they do." She gives him a sympathetic look. "The side effects suck at the start though."

[prevalkyrie]

Sif lifts one shoulder in a shrug, her expression flashing momentarily sheepish. "I come from a place very far away from here. I've always wanted to be a warrior among my people, but it is not a common path for girls to follow. Here, it is more acceptable if I want to learn to fight, so many of the clubs I have tried have something to do with that, or competition. The sports are enjoyable. There is a horseback riding club that is very relaxing and fun."

[prevalkyrie]

"There are times for us to give our full strength and skill," Sif agreed, giving her an understanding smile, because it had been a strange thing for her to learn here. She suspected Thor still struggled with it as well. "But in good sport, it is not one of them. Besides, if we did not give ourselves the challenge of playing fair, I suspect sports could end up being very boring. Then there is no benefit to it. At least this way, it is an exercise in control and being aware of our own limits and how to moderate how we use them."

She grins and gives the girl a squeeze. "I am always game. They will not know what hit them, the dour old pricks. It would serve them right."

[itsmychoice]

"I think all warning include Blake, whether in regard to your room or not," Gwen smirked. Blake was always a handful but if anyone could attempt to keep him in line it was definitely Natasha.

"More transfers then I've seen in the past. They must have been busy recruiting this summer."

[itsmychoice]

"I haven't heard anything yet, usually we have an idea of whose interested in running," Gwen told her. "Though if you share those kinds of ideas with people you would be a shoe in."

[felicitousfeloniousfeline]

"Warrior, huh?" Felicia couldn't figure out Sif's origin and it intrigued her. "I wonder if they teach Wu Shu here. I really enjoyed the different martial arts and gymnastics clubs I was in back home. It helped me focus."

[voiceinthedark]

Sam gives her a sceptical look. "What, really? They're not gonna call home? Neither of them are gonna like that. Mum likes to keep up with Kevin's grades and his cello practice and dad..." Likes telling him that he's dishonouring the family. Fun.

"Because I'm pretty awful at French? I mean, I was failing it back at home."