Not Buying It 2014-08-13

[jwhouk]

Berdine's verbal push-back, and Jessie's response, remind me of an episode of Babylon 5, in which a ghostly spirit of G'kar the Narn confronts Centauri ambassador Londo Mollari, about the horrible things Londo has done over the past few years (arranged assassinations, started a war, acquiesced to bombing of the Narn home planet back into the Stone Age).

"You aren't sorry because what you did was wrong! You're sorry because you got caught!"

Or, of course, you could just quote Rhianna. I do, routinely, to the kids at work.

[Sphinx-Napped]

i think i know what she means by "running the school"
she means the who is and who are in and out thats is what she means by running the school see pecking order of ranks

[Atomic]

Mean Girls - The "Plastics"

[jwhouk]

I have a feeling I know what Atsali's going to tell her tomorrow: "Just be yourself."

[meisdadoo]

Running the school?
That does not make sense.
Atsali is 15 years old. She must be in grade 9 or 10. She is not a senior.
Jessie seems to be in the same classes (Physical Education) so she is probably in the same grade. (There are other students who look older.)
Even if Jessie is a mermaid and high in the social order, I doubt she would be socially higher than a senior.
What do others think?

She might be 15, but how many 15 year-olds have had an entire civilization of sin bound souls go through them? She is older than she looks. Just sayin, it's not the years, it's the mileage. . .

[kingklash]

Even Space Dandy had an episode set in a musical high school, and was introduced to the ranking levels among the student body. Mostly it amounted to Cheerleaders, then the Jocks, and pretty much every one else.

[Catawampus]

Running the school?
That does not make sense.
Atsali is 15 years old. She must be in grade 9 or 10. She is not a senior.
Jessie seems to be in the same classes (Physical Education) so she is probably in the same grade. (There are other students who look older.)
Even if Jessie is a mermaid and high in the social order, I doubt she would be socially higher than a senior.
What do others think?

There are different types of seniority, though.

Granted that I've gained most of my knowledge of high-school society through watching movies and television shows (the socially-awkward "ugly" girl getting a makeover and becoming the most beautiful girl in school and going to the prom with the manly yet secretly sensitive captain of the sports team, only for the dance to be interrupted by vampires attacking is a typical sort of scenario that most high school students have gone through, right?), but I've always sort of mentally compared school society to political society.

How many years you've been in the system does have some relation to how "high" in the system you are; a senator who has been in office continuously for fifty years is probably going to be more listened to, more connected, and overall more influential than some kid who just started. It's like in the old Roman Senate, where until you had served for a certain number of years you weren't even supposed to speak during the meetings. Seeing as how this paranormal school seems to include all grades from kindirt garden to when they head off to college (I assume), then Jessie might already be three-quarters or more through and firmly established in the social system. So while she might not have the highest level of that sort of seniority that is possible, she wouldn't be in the lower levels either.

There's also a duration-related seniority that goes beyond the individual. Certain families might get themselves well-established into politics, and being a member of one of those families will give individuals an added boost to their seniority. Think of how simply being a Kennedy gives a boost to the attention that a politician gets in American politics, for example. A kid who is completely new in school might be granted high social standing because his older siblings had high status at the school, or his parents did, or somebody else from his family. For that matter, simply being associated with Important People could make other students grant another student higher levels of deference (as we're seeing with Atsali now).

The personality of the individual herself will also play a part. Many of the more well-known people in politics started off as basically unknowns from drab backgrounds, with no real connections. They ended up at the top of society by cunning, intelligence, manner, determination, or some other qualities. If Jessie was energetic enough in trying to attain mastery of the school's social order, and especially if the older students weren't all that spectacular, then she might have managed to force her way into the top slot.

So I'd imagine that there's no reason why a younger student couldn't be the one who unofficially runs the school's social scene. It would probably depend partly on circumstance and partly on the students' personalities.

Atsali said "her life would end" if Castela sent out the photo of Atsali dancing. Imagine what would happen to Jessie's rep if this video "leaked".

Such a leak could have incendiary consequences, leaving Jessie's social standing to go down in flames!

[DilyV]

It's not about grade... it's about alpha tendencies and/or social connections. In my school we had a Junior who was obviously "the queen bee". Socially important family, rich, and carried herself on her family's importance. She herself was no great shakes... Looking back, she just existed... didn't really lead. Her position in the hierarchy of things was thrust upon her by students perceiving her as important. The real power of her clique was her best friend and "princess" who was obviously the alpha. You had to go through the friend for an audience with the queen so to speak. Hindsight being 20-20 as it often is, the friend actually ran things... without the added baggage of appearing to be in charge. I have to wonder if maybe that's what's going on here between Jessie and Krystle?

How all that applies to Atsali we'll have to wait and see. Sali is trying to stay under the radar... I doubt she'll take on the mantle of queen bee willingly, nor is she trying to take over. I have the sneaking suspicion that Cricket might do exactly what I described above... Being in charge herself isn't a possibility because of the dim view everyone takes on the fae. However I think as manipulative as the fae are, I wouldn't put it past Cricket to try and run things through Atsali. We'll see...

[Bathorys Daughter]

Well, isn't Berdine just a little holier than thou carebear? She certainly thinks a lot of herself. Like making Cricket prove herself to her before she can become a friend of hers. Now up in Jessie's face with her 'tude. I think Ms Berdine could stand to eat a little humble pie as well to moderate her superior attitude. Kudos to Jessie for being calm and not giving it right back at Berdine.

Oh, and an illustration of the anal flame thrower incident would make a great pinup should Paul be so inclined. Better still would be an animated GIF! Maybe Krystle emerging from it with a bit of blackened face and singed hair? Or do I ask too much?

[oldmanmickey]

Based on Berdine's reaction to both of the girls i believe we are going to find out one or both of the were twins got screwed over in the past but just such girls. Not saying its totally justified but i can understand where she is coming from.

[My2Cents]

Oh, and an illustration of the anal flame thrower incident would make a great pinup should Paul be so inclined. Better still would be an animated GIF! Maybe Krystle emerging from it with a bit of blackened face and singed hair? Or do I ask too much?

You do realize that she was in mermaid form when she did it?

[My2Cents]

It's not about grade... it's about alpha tendencies and/or social connections. In my school we had a Junior who was obviously "the queen bee". Socially important family, rich, and carried herself on her family's importance. She herself was no great shakes... Looking back, she just existed... didn't really lead. Her position in the hierarchy of things was thrust upon her by students perceiving her as important. The real power of her clique was her best friend and "princess" who was obviously the alpha. You had to go through the friend for an audience with the queen so to speak. Hindsight being 20-20 as it often is, the friend actually ran things... without the added baggage of appearing to be in charge. I have to wonder if maybe that's what's going on here between Jessie and Krystle?

How all that applies to Atsali we'll have to wait and see. Sali is trying to stay under the radar... I doubt she'll take on the mantle of queen bee willingly, nor is she trying to take over. I have the sneaking suspicion that Cricket might do exactly what I described above... Being in charge herself isn't a possibility because of the dim view everyone takes on the fae. However I think as manipulative as the fae are, I wouldn't put it past Cricket to try and run things through Atsali. We'll see...

But nobody is going to want to go through a Fae either, so the Princess(es) are going to be the bear twins, with Cricket as the manipulative Councilor / Chief of Staff.

[jwhouk]

One thing I'd like to remind everyone: Berdine is an Ursamorph. You know, a bear? And their diet consists of fish?

[shadowinthelight]

One thing I'd like to remind everyone: Berdine is an Ursamorph. You know, a bear? And their diet consists of fish?

One would think a humanoid bear would change diets after learning of the dangers of salmonella.
*drops a bottle of fresh mountain spring water into the pun jar*

[DilyV]

Well, isn't Berdine just a little holier than thou carebear? She certainly thinks a lot of herself. Like making Cricket prove herself to her before she can become a friend of hers. Now up in Jessie's face with her 'tude. I think Ms Berdine could stand to eat a little humble pie as well to moderate her superior attitude. Kudos to Jessie for being calm and not giving it right back at Berdine.

Oh, and an illustration of the anal flame thrower incident would make a great pinup should Paul be so inclined. Better still would be an animated GIF! Maybe Krystle emerging from it with a bit of blackened face and singed hair? Or do I ask too much?

You mean something like this?

[kingklash]

Fish farts, fish farts.
Loud and stinky fish farts.
Fish farts, fish farts.
Light them up, boom!

Loud and stinky Fish Farts are never seen drinking cappuccino at Mucha Mocha with Sirens and Whatsits.....
Yeah!

[AnotherFairportfan]

The mere thought of Atsali and/or Pickle drinking cappucino or espresso...

[Dave]

The mere thought of Atsali and/or Pickle drinking cappucino or espresso...

Too late. Tina already gave Atsali a vanilla latte, and that clearly falls under the heading of "gateway drug". Mochas are probably next (with "more sugar than a body can handle"), and then on to the heavy stuff.

Siren-with-triple-espresso is only a matter of time.

[oldmanmickey]

The only thing more dangerous than any of that bunch over caffeinated would be them drunk.

[Dave]

The only thing more dangerous than any of that bunch over caffeinated would be them drunk.

Oh, let's take it to the logical conclusion, shall we?

Give 'em a couple of God's Blessings. Irish coffee.