Saint Joseph School

BACK FROM OVER THERE!
By Summer

Well, as of last night, I got back from a long deserved, and very enjoyable vacation to relax, mind, body and soul. Knowing that I feel like a new person has brought into light some of the hardships I've put others through and my guilt makes me write as I tell everyone, I apologize for my recent crabby, snooting and bitchy behavior as of late. I especially mean no hard feelings to Misercorde and Francis Cross and hope they'll each let this whole thing with me go.

Now, as I've returned, I've decided to put up my own news column, reporting stories that I find interesting around the school, conductiing interviews to help shed light on some confusing things here at SJS and further more, to keep people up to date with current events.

I know we have a school paper, thus I should be sending this columnt o them but then I figured to hell with it, if I want to speak, I should speak and not let an editor stand in my way to keep from reporting the real story. My promise as defined, are to report the truth with no care of consequence to my own reputation, this doesn't exclude leaving names out if asked, keeping things cofidential do to the se

ntisitivity of the situation and furthermore, to not try and upset a mass of people because I had to.

This column is simply me, telling you point of view on a story, be it big, small, large or thin, heart warm or heart wrenching, I'll do all I can to write the story, no lies attached. My column is thusly called, The Vigilant.

Signed, Summer Vigil

OOC: This is all IC but there is truth to it, I was off doing things but it wasn't no vacation![/img]

An Interview with Jade Rooster

Title: No Fear

Topic: Is Jade Rooster afraid of Girls or is this sensless rumors plaguing yet another soul?

Summer: Lets get right down to it. Are you afraid of girls?

Jade Rooster: Heck, no! Most of my best friends here at school are girls, and I certainly won't back down from apprehending a criminal just because they might be a woman. It's a little strange in a fight, since the center of gravity in a female body is significantly lower with relation to the frame, and from what I've seen the power shift tends to favor the lower chakra. Obviously, there's also generally a stronger yin aspect to the internal alchemy. That's hardly something to be afraid of, though!

Summer: When and why would a rumor like this occur?

J.R.: I guess the big reason is that I don't tend to talk about dirty or suggestive things in a positive light. I know I tend to come off as preaching when I speak against it, but it's really more a matter of offering my perspective. If other kids wanna mess around, that's their decision. I'm just pointing out that it's hardly manditory, and in a lot of ways it draws on energy reserves that could be used for more constructive means. From hearing a lot of the kids talk, it's like it's required of people to look into that sort of thing in order to be normal or healthy.
Also, I never actually saw a real female until I came to Paragon a year or so back, though I did hear plenty of stories about them from Master Lei. He would always talk about what sort of trouble they'd bring, how they'd sew seeds of impurity in the body and mind and all that. It was unusual, and maybe a little intimidating at first, but it wasn't an issue once I saw for myself that the stories were exaggerated.

Summer: Who was the first to spread a rumor like this?

J.R.: I've heard a name or two when people have brought my attention to this, but I dunno if it would be constructive to point fingers. The important thing is that it's spread to practically half of the campus, and that's the problem.

Summer: Have you tried telling them the truth?

J.R.: I've been pretty vocal about trying to dispel this, but there are people who keep trying to push it. Some of them are just having a little fun, but others sound like they seriously believe it or are trying to be truly mean about it. It's the latter that bugs me. I can take a little verbal joking amongst friends and peers, but when people seriously believe the hearsay it becomes a problem.

Summer: Is this pressuring you as a student to try and fit in?

J.R.: Well, there seems to be a mindset amongst people that I won't be rid of this until I somehow prove otherwise, and that's where the pressure really kicks in. If I don't react to this by going and looking for a girlfriend, it somehow implies that either I really am afraid of it or the girls I do know and hang out with are somehow not qualified for me to ask. That's a bunch of nonsense, naturally.

Summer: Are you hoping this interview will help put to end this silly rumor of your fear of girls?

J.R.: I certainly wouldn't mind it! I didn't think that this was a big enough deal to warrant an interview like this, but if this gets the positive word out then I'm all for it. What I'd really like this to do is let at least one or two students here realize that you don't have to conform to ideas like dating and romance to be a happy, healthy person. Things like exercise, hobbies, creative crafts and martial discipline can fill the same span of time a significant other might, and give you just as much peace of mind and focus of spirit.

Also, community work is another great alternative. If anyone here at Saint Joe's is feeling pressured or confused by their peers, go out and get licensed as a hero! You don't have to be a full-on crimefighter to do some good in the city, as long as you're out there and working towards a positive goal for the people of Paragon and the world. People joke about favors like helping the elderly cross streets or retrieving lost pets, but actions like that really do make a difference in people's lives. An hour at a soup kitchen or a visit to a retirement home is all it takes to spark a fire in your spirit and shine its light on your life and the lives of those around you!

----

Straight from his mouth, he's not afraid, and this senseless tripe of a rumor has been dispeled with the proper use of power of the press. After I left him to go do his Bruce Lee/Chuck Norris thing with his Martial Arts, I've written this conversation out in entirity.

Want to get the facts straight, let out a Service Announcement, tell people your thoughts while I ask you the questions? Drop me a line in a nice note underneath this interview, I'll be glad to talk with you.

Questions? Comments? Flames? Doesn't matter, leave all of it underneath and please refrain from tearing off others requests for interviews, they want it and its not your business to make that decesion for them.

---

Now, a small editoral on my thoughts over this interview. Now, I know it might come as a groan considering most people know this already but I've been in love with a girl at this school for a while which makes me a Lesbian. I'm over the initial thoughts and I know I love her, its not hard to say it anymore. Getting nailed for critizism over this is something I'm expecting.

Seeing this interview, where a person gathered up the strength to be straight with everyone makes it just that much easier for me to tell people about my little secret which isn't too much of a secret. You want to know who it is, ask me, I'll tell you, but I will not say their name in this paper as I think that is sensitive information and may lead to someone, particulary my love, to be harrassed by someone.

Finally, I want you all to read this interview and judge it for yourself, you still want to cling to what you heard, so be it but let this interview be a stark statement against this rumor and hopefully make Jade Rooster's life just that much easier.

Author Space: A Vigilant Editorial by the Vigilant's only Editor Summer

Subject: My Travels

I figure I should give people an update on what's been the reason i had to leave for a couple weeks. For one, I know I was loosing my head sticking around here on campus. I came in thinking I could change the world and make a large diffrence in a lot of people's lives without anyone's help. Stupid? You bet. Idealistic? To a point that nearly sickens a regular person. Maybe I'm being cynical, but I realized that making a small diffrence that leads to a large diffrence is a much easier route towards change.

I didn't come to this idea lightly, and I said I was going to tell you where I've been and they're both connected so I'll get back to this in a minute. My first and formost reason was already explained, but the underlying reasons were my confusion in my loyalities, my own sexual orientation which I've already said ut not explained, and of course I needed to tell my dad about this.

Most people don't know who my Father is, some do, most don't and never bother to ask which keeps me safe, but I'm going honest, leaving this secrets and lies behind me because I don't want to wake up and be someone else, I like being me, a lot more than I like being Me with all these secrets, so I'm letting the cat out of the bag.

My full name is Yelena Summer Aeon, the daughter and heir to Doctor Aeon, the twisted right hand man of Lord Recluse and his band of super flunkies. Ooo, so exciting, I get chills as I type this. My travels sent me southward, into international waters and back to the Rogue Islands to settle up with Daddy and tell him what's been happening with me.

As most know, no parent really wants to hear their kid tell them their a homosexual, it makes them think they did something wrong, never taking into account that this is a choice and not a reaction or a mistake. I made my choice, again, it wasn't taken lightly, I weighed my options, I took my evaluation and I realized that spending the rest of my days in the arms of my loved one instead of pining over her for leaving me is truely the only thought keeping me up at night. Daddy of course was apologizing, saying it was his fault and that somewhere in his expriments with me he'd made a critical error when in fact there was no error made, it was just me.

We talked for several hours, he asked who she was and I knew better than to give a name, secrey and lies are the only true way to protect the ones you love in occasions like this. Dad knew full well that if word leaked out that his little girl was a lesbian, it'd be a sign of weakness on his part and Recluse would immediately start planning on destroying him or me, either way, it wouldn't end well. Thus, me and him both decided it was for the best for me to be considered KIA or Killed in Action since Dad hadn't reported me as alive or dead yet. To make a clone of me, he had to take something away from me to sucessfully make it a perfect clone.

As of now, my mutant power of reading the chaos theory has been erased, I no longer can see how an event will pan out which makes me just as subject to harm as anyone. Since I'm no longer a mutant, I can breath a tad easier, one less burden for me to carry. Of course, I mean no offense to the mutant population of this school which is considerably large. Still, back on topic. As I was coming home on the frigate inside a container like other Isle Refugees, I was talking with another person who told me their view on life.

He was a nice boy, had to be at least 19 years old, short blond hair, wore a hoody and had a pair of round glasses. Never gave me his name, just smiled and talked to me, which made him one of my first interviewees. He told me that every morning he wakes up he makes the choice to walk the balance beam of life. He told me how when he was only 17 years old, he watched his little brother get shot for playing super hero in highschool. His brother died in his arms trying to stand up to opression from those with no conscious to stop them with regret. His gave up his innocence to finish the job that his brother set out and he won but he lost everything in doing so. He told me though that he wouldn't change it, except maybe to get his little brother alive again.

The piece of advice he gave me was simply this, "Do what you want to make yourself happy and if someone says otherwise, don't listen to them. This girlfriend of your's means something to you, never let her go. You like your school, you don't need to protect it, it was there before you and it'll be there after you. All you need to protect is yourself and that girlfriend of your's. The rest is simply up to fate and that balance beam we al walk everyday of the week."

It was then, as everyone everyone slept that I sat up evaluating myself. This guy had suffered a lot more than me, I didn't know if he was crazy and I was pretty certain he been there but was over it. How a person like that can wake up everyday and simply go one is what gave me the strength to put my priorities straight. I saw how honesty is truly the best option and that lying only hurts people no matter how sugar coated it is.

It was there that I decided to do journalism, to write. I never felt bad when I was writing, nothing really bugged me and it gave me a deep satifaction to look at a full page of script and I could make a diffrence in at least someone's life, be it just mine if anything. This paper is the only thing besides my love that I'll protect fiercely and I will not give up writing. If a person can give up their lives to protect a memory, then I'll do just that and I'll do it with honesty and pride.

This paper is my life, my feelings and my enjoyment, I'll take it with me forever, till my grave and beyond. Nothing makes me smile then seeing people applaud, knowing I gave a smile to one person is good, but knowing I gave a smile to 10 or 20 is what some call a miracle. I'll keep doing this till I can't bring a smile to myself and that will never happen.

-Summer

No Date

Subject: Dating

I have no date, which sucks because that was a partial reason why I didn't show up for the halloween thing two months agp but there were other reasons behind that as well so its not truly fair to place blame on something as shallow as that.

Still, the problem remains, me and the lack of a date. Normal girls wait for guys to ask them out, but I'm a girl who likes girls which places me square in the cross hairs of an awkward conversation. Its not my place to ask a girl who's straight to go with me cause that might label her which I don't want for them, we all suffer enough without a rumor on our backs, see my interview with Jade Rooster if you want more clarififcation on this.

Now of course, I'm sure a few girls would be cool with saying yes but I think the vast majority are looking at this article with a raised eyebrow and a no way ready to come forth from their mouths. Thus, I'm screwed in lamens terms. I will attend the dance, but without a date which to my knowledge isn't a good thing which I guess labels me as sad in some way. I have to live with it because its my journalistic duty to report on this, with or without a date, so be it.

Still, a shallow thing like a date can't truly be that much of a problem? Having a steady is a little leg up on someone's social standing making it a mutually benificial thing for both people to have, course it depends on who your with but still there's nothing wrong with having another to confide in right? I have my girlfriend but she's out of town. I'm okay with that, her family means a lot to her and she means a lot to me to let her go do this and not restrain her to simply being my girlfriend and never leaving my side. That'd be something archaic not to mention down right wrong on so many levels nowadays.

I know I shouldn't be wasting ink and paper discussing my social life or lack there of. How many girls sit and write a paper everyday and enjoy it and don't mention blogging, it sickens me. Oh well, if anything, this counts as a article on dating and the strang things that it carries along with the beneifits and drawbacks. The main drawback of course being you gotta take care of your needs and someone elses needs, there aren't a lot of people who can do that but most try their damnedest to I'll give you that. I haven't seen a larger display of exertion then someone trying to prove their love to someone, and I shudder the day I'm actually doubted in my love for her.

I'll end this on a light note. I WILL bring my camera for this dance, 2 days people! Thus you can all see people acting stupid and crazy and I will not forget to mention everybody in my double sized paper for Saturday and I'm pondering on taking on another person to help me make the Sunday Special a true sunday.

Your Editor-In-Chief,
Summer

SI Radio Night









OOC

Pictures from the dance.

An overly enjoyable night. New people who came to join our school, (Shout out Heil!). THe overall night had its cast of people, a few being Myself, Barj, Mimi, Rudi MacKenzie (KENZIE!!!), Kali, Timothy..., Misercorde and Dani.

The night started rough with a fight between Dani and a girl named Night Protector, making Dani leave quickly and much to my dismay. Kali was getting hit on by some strange dude whom wouldn't stop with the corny pick ups, litterally I could shuck the corn off each word as it came out. I, myself, was dancing and having a good time while popping comments to the DJ's and requesting songs. I got my favorite band, Muse played twice and I had my funny story told.

The night rolled on with more and more people showing up, Toliver of course, Mr. Personality. Me and Mis dicussed things before he left and I kind of sat there pondering why Mis is the way he is, we really never talk, he just seems to nod his head wit me and bugger off. O_o; *Shrugs* Ah well. Anyway, the night quickly started slipping by 11 CST and the I decided to go help Nox and Blitzen.

Hope everyone else had a good time, I know I did. I WILL SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW AT 7:00!

Saturday - Sunday - Monday


OOC: Not that I like making excuses on my own promisies but I had a lot off off duty writing to get around too so now that I DO have time, it's time to give you a double size issue.


The Party - Sat.

So there I was, early and psyched, ready to get nuts. I had my song requests ready and my nice outfit on, which is the same outfit actually, I need to go get another one. Still, at 7 in the evening, everything is already kicking. People are coming in twos and threes, Mimi is handing door prizes out left and right. Ghost Widow showed up, yet again, making this an official scene to be at for the remainder of the evening.

Nothing big happened till Tolliver and Glace decided just who was the bigger man. Thunder Criket and Eric were pulling into the confrontation which ensued into an Arena match. I watched keenly as an observer as Glacial and Eric dominated, taking out the mighty tower of testorone and the pillar of Ego, Tolliver in a group effort due to the fact that Tolliver vs. Glace was a stale mate. Blows were traded, most of them in good fun, (I could totally be wrong ). Glacial and Eric emerged victorious and I smiled knowing Tolly had gotten a small taste of defeat.

Still surprises were just around the corner. Little Merin Genoell was being crowded and since she's roughly 12 years old if that, she's tiny, and everyone else is, well big. She suffered a bit of trauma and me and her had a night conversation about life at the bar. Dispite her looks, Merin is a very smart girl especially with her age.

Jules was finishing up playing her sets as the party began to wane. People were getting tired and the punch was running low. We didn't make our number (54 was the top by my count) from Halloween which I think was big enough to spawn an alternate reality exactly like the other one where people could go to at any time. Regardless, we had a lot of people, I met a great many people.

A shout out to Dani, Rudi, Mimi, Francis, Merin, Roxy, Xeiaus or X and a bunch of others whom I met but can't remember off the top of my head. Also, a shout out to Jules, thanks for the dedication I made.


Aftermath and Revealing - Sunday

Coming off a long bender, where I sleeped in after getting straight to bed, I was up to greet the day as the sun began sinking. The night was ever young as I ran around the city doing my usual runs, saving people from certain death while microwaving the offenders with my nuke bolts. I was on a few teams here and there but nothing commited at the moment.

It wasn't till around 10:30 that my night took a strange turn. Simply put, Merin was having a bit of a coping problem. I first thought it had to do with the dance last night, she was a little distraught but I found out it was more than that. I'm leaving the reasons for this as anonymous incase Merin wishes to spill it for herself but as for right now it will remain as nothing. I comforted her in her time of crisis, doing my best to play a big sister role, one role I think she had but was never truly given. It pains me to know that.

Now of course, everyone knows what my chief thing is now. I want to give Merin and her bigger sister Silme a new place to live. I've made my own nessecary arrangements for the quad to be laid out and I've talked with both Stasis and Erika and told them I will be moving out of my quad by the end of the semester. Erika was particularly worried but she knew why I was doing it and I'm thankful for her understanding.

Contemplation - Monday

Now of course its back to my real job, writing my column for the Daily Vigilant, which has a nice ring to it. I'm writing this as a letter of peace towards the St. Joesph Flier, the REAL school newspaper. Be it that my paper is strickly student run and dominated, I know these people work hard every month to give you all a good paper. They have sports columns, roster updates, school wide polls and numerous other stuff that I simply don't have.

I was sent an anonymous letter by someone, I can only guess as against this publication of mine. They feel my paper is uncalled for and challenging authority. They told me that I wasn't a true catholic and my soul would be banished to hell for its sins of craving female flesh instead of trying to repent for my original sin whatever that means. I know this person must read my paper and obivously he's entitled to his own opinion. I'm making this last part simple. I don't report to the FCC, nor any newspaper authority. I'm a student doing what I wish freely to do. I may be a lesbian and a I may not share their views of god almighty but I'm not going out of my way to attack anyone. I'm simply wishing to carve out my own piece of enjoyment from this school and hold onto it.

I extend this paper as a sign of peace to whomever it was that thinks of me as this. I hold no grudge, no quarrel with you, just simply, I wish to exist and I wish for my paper to exist. I do hope this sort of intolerance can be defeated by logic and understanding and I want no fighting, or snooping, or judging or pointing of fingers because one person felt it their right to express themselves in paper towards me and my views. I'd be calling myself a hypocrite if I said a person like this has based their entire argument of evidence that is merely substantial and holds no true fact in it because I to do the same. Thus, I wish nothing be done.

Oh and for everyone, please leave your comments on the board, I like comments, they let me know who I made smile. I want more smiling, cause I know I did something good.

- Summer -

NEWS FLASH! IT'S F***ING COLD!

By: Summer

Okay, so I go to leave my nice warm room to check the halls, and for once NOT wake up at an ungodly time to do a final. I come out, and the hall has an icicle. My first thought was a kid having a bad day, wasn't the case. I looked at the window, looking past Erika who sleeps just under it. Outside, snow... snow... and more snow. There was icicles, clouds, and a nice layer of frost beginning to cover Stasis's bed.

I threw on my hoodie which I'd bought to keep me warm when I was traveling in the cold frigate holds. I brushed my hair down to its familiar curl and threw on my pants, socks and shoes and made for the outside. Despite the frost niping my nose and ears, it wasn't particularly bad, because I could feel the sun's radiance hitting me ever so slightly. That and the hoodie kept me decently warm, thanks to it being black and absorbing the rays.

Now, most the time, I frown buying stuff for myself, I figure others need the cash but a friend of mine dropped a million dollars into my bank account recently, making me a rather rich 17 year old not paying income tax. I figured my part of the room needed some sprucing up. I grabbed a new microwave for myself, a cup and 500 packets of hot chocolate.

When I got back at my room, I got every set up on my night stand which was bare because my books were thrown all oer the floor. FYI, I'm drinking a cup right now, and its definitely what's missing. Anyways, after that I figured I'd spot this whole thing they have going on in Pocket D. Everyone was chattering about this ski slope with Father Time and all this crap.

I will personally say right now, I know Magic exists, I just choose to stay VERY far away from it because I don't understand it. It saves me time and tylenol but regardless, I went anyway. I was blown away by the eleborate layout they had. A whole hill, which I went sking down using a 'frost'board and superspeed with which I highly recommend. Besides that, there was this urgent thing that a being calling himself Father Time needed. After ignoring his problem for my own personal enjoyment, I actually went to see what he wanted.

Now, I have a lot of things going off in my head, namely a guy calling himself Father Time, but as Barjnal pointed out, this man had no pants on. Its like 10 degrees... and he's got no pants. NONE! That bugs me, not just with him but with Magic in general. It denies physics and normal understanding simply because it can and will. There was no way a man like that could stand there for any length of time in 10 degree weather and not DIE! Still, I know there's a lot of magical people here, some of my best friends being connected to the leylines that seem everywhere.

Still he wanted me to save Baby New Year, or as I personally refer to him as, the walking Football with a mouth. He could give Tolliver a run for his money easily, and he's about as big as someone's head. If you wanted to, you could make a field goal with him. Getting to him wasn't easy and his kidnapper, a red cap calling himself 'Snaggletooth' or something like that was the one to beat. I'd've taken him over the little football with legs but I didn't have a heck of a choice.

I saved him with Barj and some others help. I go to Father Time to tell him the good news and of course, as if this whole thing didn't happen, he told me that Baby New year had been captured by a red cap named, 'Snaggletooth'. One frustrated scream later, I'm jetting down the hill and saving the loudmouthed football again. I did this for a while till I was so tired, I decided it was time to come back to the school and write out my Article.

I will give Father Time and his loudmouthed football an article, they both could use this kind of critizism. Hopefully the football will keep itself out of trouble cause I'm tired of.

- Summer -

Why sleep is important

Section: Health and Fitness

Okay, so I was up all night last night, till three or four in the morning to be precise. I figured I was alright to take the train back to school, get to my quad, sleep and generally be okay. Now you're all thinking, I woke up on the train this morning. I didn't pass out on the train, but I was close. Actually, I made it all the way back to the quad. Just not the right one. To be truthful, I'm not exactly sure WHOSE bed I slept in last night, and fyi, I didn't sleep with anyone so don't spread a rumor before you get the facts down.

Anyway, I wound up waking at around half past 11 in the morning with a little sense that I might be somewhere not safe. Turns out, I went one too few and passed out in Girls Quad #3. Sorry everyone, I bet it was a shock to see me passed out in, *Checks records* Moth's bed. There was no alcohol involved in this, but I will say, at three in the morning the lack of sleep is comparable to a small buzz of alcohol. Medical records show this trend of sleep deprivation being like drinking except the alcohol doesn't leave your system till you pass out.

Anyway, general apology to all the girls in Quad 3, thanks for not hitting me with a pillow or screaming at the top of your lungs. I generally messed up. Now, the lesson to be learned here is not staying up till 3 in the morning and winding up in the wrong room. That's generally frowned upon. Remember to hit the bed at least 16 hours after waking up that morning or you will suffer sleep deprivation like this and wind up making a fool of yourself.

Here's a small chart to help.

WAKE UP - FALL ASLEEP

9:00 A.M. - No later > 1:00 AM
8:00 A.M. - No later > Midnight
10:00 A.M. - No Later > 2:00 A.M.

Generally it's accepted for most people to get 8 hours of sleep, but that's not the case for Teenagers. Teenagers need around 9 to 10 hours to be fully functional and healthy.

9:00 A.M. - No Later > 11:00 P.M.
8:00 A.M. - No Later > 10:00 P.M.
10:00 A.M. - No Later > Midnight

Now, I'm sure everyone of us has stayed up studying for finals till an obscene hour. Helpful tips to generally keep yourself from hurting the next morning sleep wise are this.

1. The Power Nap

Before studying, take an hour, maybe two hours to sleep. Set your alarm for a specific time and get some rest. A mind that just woke up is generally more alert than one that's been up for 12 to 14 hours with exertion and work without a break. This helps to keep things working and refreshed letting you go late into the night to get all your stuff down without passing out the next day in class.

2. The Quick Nap

I frown on this method being used but it works for some. If you're studying, set an alarm clock next to you. When you feel sleep coming down on you, set the time for fifteen minutes more than your present time. 12:00 A.M. should be set to 12:15 A.M. and so on and so forth. Your body moves in cycles and 15 minutes is a way to let your brain get a quick sleep snack before working more. Usually I just shut the clock off and fall asleep anyway so this method doesn't work for me, but to each their own.

Anyway, those two tips, along with the general rule ofthumb which is not going past 16 hours of full on awake will keep you from winding up in the wrong room of even the wrong dorm for that matter.

Good luck and Merry Christmas
- Summer -

New Students

I remember when I showed up for the beginning of this semester in September. The only new students I remember were Star Flash who booked faster than a jack rabbit and myself. Still kinda unsure where everyone came from though I can guess most came from the parties we threw. Nothing quite brings a crowd like a Highschool dance with a DJ.

Still, I figured I oughta do an article on the new students whom I've run into as of late.

First off,

Blitzen: (With a big "I" because the BLitzen was taken, sucks don't it)

A relatively easy going girl, so far as I know. Samantha has gotten to be known throughout the entire school in record time, possible because she's the only girl that's good at sports or because she's the only girl minus Stasis and Erika who can get clocked in the face and knock someone for the metaphorical loop.

I've run missions with Her, Jase (Broadway J), Nox Veratis (Nick), and Myrania in another team. Overall, despite getting hit more than a truck in a destruction derby, Blitz ran through most the enemies without toggles running, thus making me devote a lot of my time to healing her and group healing Jase and Nox or in the other instance, Jase and Myr.

Overall, I hope Blitzen makes it far in this school, it'd be a shame if she left.

Next Up,

Myrania: (Dunno her last name, just Myra for short.)

A Fire/Ice blaster, with a small enjoyment to hit everyone with fire or ice, more specifically Jase. I think she's the hots for him, she hates me for telling people but I find it cute. The whole puppy dog love is something you have to admire if anything for the fact of its purity.

I've teamed with her, she's nice, had her fair share of problems growing up, but we all have, we wouldn't be living in dorms, talking to eachother and keeping most of stuff hidden if it wasn't harsh on more than a few things.

Jase, if you're reading, date the girl, she's totally retarded for and I'd like to see another couple. And Myra, if you're reading this, I'm in Quad #5, you can try and roast me but read the rest before you do.

Aeon Quisling: [Just Aeon for short.]

Our relative cyborg girl. Living in Quad #5 with Erika, Stasis and Myself, she gave me a hell of a scare first day in. She's easy going, ableit you may need to settle with yourself about the whole mechanical arm. No offense to Aeon. Anyway, me and her didn't team together. So I'm relatively unware of what she's capable of. She is nice to have around and talk to considring Erika is pining for Stoned and Stasis is out whumping stuff from noon to midnight and leaving me in my room for most the day working on the newspaper. Since she hasn't started classes yet and won't till January 3rd, 2007, we'll probably get to know eachother really well before this all ends.

She seems easy enough to get along with so if you see her, say hi, and don't stare. Oh and if you want free hot chocolate, if I'm not in Quad #5, just ask her to make you a cup, she's got rights to the fridge.

Next on the list:

Nox Veratis: (Nick)

A scrapper packing Dark Melee and Regeneration, he's a tough guy to take down and an easy guy to talk with. I haven't once found him in a bad mood, unless of course he just got bitch smacked by a giant snowman and killed. Regardless, he's still a guy you can work with on any occasion.

His usual thing to do at night is look for toruble, more specifically trouble that was looking for trouble itself, I.E. he beats up troublemakers. Ask him for a team, if he's not busy, he'll oblige. If he is busy, he'll oblige and if he's busy getting beat up, he might oblige. Most the time, he'll oblige, only time he won't is when he's not on.

Gravwarp: (Gravametric)

So, you always say hello over the com. You know that voice you're unfamiliar with but always says hello back to you within a snap second of saying it. That's grav. Yeah, he's a grav controller, who could've guessed right? Right... anyway. An up and coming, I think he'll make a good controller one day, probably one of the best, as soon as he stops abousing the propel feature (You hit someone with an Oldsmobile for crying out loud!). Hopefully after he gets out of Propel rehab, he'll be an asset to any team.

I find him a nice enough guy, could do a little less with the "Hey Every-(Cut Off)" "Hello Summer!!!!" thing but that's not exactly annoying me to rip my hair out or contemplate murder one.

Still, overall, that's 5 new people and I doubt I've even covered the new ones that just got in in the last three days so I'll consider this an on going thing.

By the way, if any of you want to talk, I can set up an interview and we'll run through the paces and go from there.

- Summer -

Notice

So I got a notice from the school. Due to my academic achievement, I'm skipping the rest of my freshman classes and starting sophomore year come this new semester. I didn't see this coming, not right now, I figured I'd move onto Sophomore year by next year, and not jump in it half way through but I guess they figure my knowledge is there so I guess I get to roll with it.

Anyway, this is sort of my first, Christmas. Prior to, I was usually sitting on the couch in the Rogue isles watching Recluse TV which is in no way entertaining unless you're a raving zealot and enjoy being a villain morning, noon and night. Nope, christmas was NOT celebrated on penalty of death. Sucky isn't it? So I figure tonight, I'll basically enjoy what every kid had earlier in their lives. I asked people what it's like to wake up with presents under the tree. Some have told me that it's a feeling of pure joy as you come downstairs and see things with your name on it, just for you and they're things that you've always wanted.

Others are a lot more somber, telling me that it's waking up and for one day knowing there is nothing wrong with today. No one is going to have a bad day, its not going to end in an overly hostile evening with nothing but fighting. For once, everything is at peace, including yourself.

Both of these are as foreign to me as the holiday itself. Last year alone, I remember hearing about people getting killed for simply saying merry christmas. I guess Recluse doesn't want people to think there is a Santa Clause or for that matter deceny in his kingdom. I guess that's how some people feel secure, by stomping on others dreams. Its a Machiavellian ideal to think that its better to rule by fear than by happiness. Making people fear you is a way to keep them from overthrowing you. Recluse wasn't exactly the most humane person in the world, he did forcefully take over the isles.

Still, I'm beginning to think all beings have one redeeming quality in their lives. No matter how small and concealed it is, its there and we all know about it. Some of us choose to act on that little shred and mold it into something for the betterment of some part of the world. Others bury it for their own reasons, their own purpose, or because their interest and their quality can't exist with each other. I haven't a clue at what my quality is, maybe its that I was the daughter with a hear born to one of the greatest criminal minds in the world. Maybe its my confidence and the infectious nature of it with others. I guess one day I'll figure it out. One day I'll sit down, think this all over and know exactly what my qualities are.

Maybe I'll do that tomorrow, when everyone who's still in school is sitting there unwraping presents. I don't know if I'll get presents, probably not, though the changes I made as of late might get me somewhere with people. Like I said though, this concept, giving people pesent, maybe thing they want is still strange. I'll get over it, I adapt, its in a human's nature to.

From the only one here at the Vigilant, Merry Christmas

>-O=-<Summer>-=O-<

Possible Paranoia


You ever get a funny little feeling that something just isn't right? You know, that feeling you get on the back of your neck, the one that crawled from the base of your spine and told you that wherever you were, whatever you were doing was wrong and you needed to leave or stop. I remeber that feeling all to well. It was an side effect of having the ability to read the chaos theory. My worst fear may be that this loss of my power was temporary and the fact that I lost may have been simply just a mis conception.

This power I have has lead to my psychosis of a split, dangerous and horrible personality. It made my life horrible, worse than anything I'd wish to another soul. Now, I think I'm facing the fact that my mutant power is returning, slowly but none less. This article is a declaration. I'm declaring that if I'm not around or I don't talk, I'm probably in a fit, an anxiety disorder that's building within me as we go. Even now I'm seeing things, predicting things, realising things. Things I wanted unknown and quiet.

Its the strangest feeling in the world. For 17 years, I've made good with keeping my powers in check, but here, its like the on and off button I was so used to is out of service and I'm left standing on the road with the control driving off without me. I'm scared. I'm scared of all the things that I'm sure will disassemble with me. Things I'm clinging to. This manager job with Football team, my personal relationships with people. I don't want to lose any of it and all the while, the other part of me keeps whispering that it'll crumble because of this... this damned curse I have to live with. Maybe my Dad has some kind of connection with this, maybe he is the one to blame for all this horrible shit that's been on me.

It hurts now, all these ideas, all these horrible visions, thoughts, scenarios. They'll be powerful at some parts of the day and weak and ignorable at others which means my powers beginning to fluctuate and grow stronger as each attack is getting stronger. I want this crap to end and I wish I wasn't a mutant but that thought will only comfort so well when I know it's inescapable. This horrible ability of mine is something beyond that of unthinkable. I can watch something occur and I know its not real but it seems real, it even feels real. I see myself getting hit by cars and run over in every gory detail. I see people leaving me and betraying me. I see people I wish would die asking for my help and I see people wanting death and getting none. It all comes and hits me like a brick to the stomach.

I'm left sitting here as these visions swirl in and out of my head with tears streaming down my eyes as I write it. God I wish this horrible power would leave me as no good things can come from it. Nothing I see is worth watching yet like an observer of all, I'm forced to because I have no choice.

I chose to have no power, I chose to transfer it in a cloning process to produce a dead body to exile me from the isles without consequence but this power of mine will not die easily. This ability must stop and I will find a cure to this horrible thing.

- Summer -

Deep Thought

Okay, so I'm sitting here writing this article now to answer a few things.

One, my power coming back wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. As a matter of fact its now more along the lines of a weak form of precognition instead of full blown predictions and visions. That of course makes it really handy for a few things like, avoiding a vending machine that'll eat my quarter when I need a snack or not opening a can after its been dropped.

Now, onto the rather large thing that has me in a somewhat stellar and enjoyable mood is what I got from this reawakening of my powers. A couple nights back, I was sitting in my room, getting a grip on reality when I was hit with another surge, the last one I've had as an fyi. So I sat there looking off into space as my mind decoded the chaos theory and looked at what would most likely be in store for me. When it comes to relationships, no one is truly certain on anything and that's why people enter and exit them a lot is because the mystery of the unknown is both scary and exhilerating. For me, I saw something that made my heart stay the course and muscle through my problem.

I saw me and my girlfriend, Picayune, together even after highschool. Its been a fear of mine that she'll leave me to do what she wants but this, this vision I saw, it makes my understand the whole matter. It lets me sleep knowing that for once, everything will turn out fine admist all these relationship problems. The vision of me and her holding hands, talking, laughing, enjoying dinner together makes me smile both outwardly and inwardly. You all know I'm a lesbian, it is how it is with me. I don't know if Pica shares the exact same feelings with me and personally I couldn't care because I know I'll love her no matter what the case is.

Its a love that is labeled unconditional. Power in a sense that's un describale yet totally understood by everyone. Its a power that makes stability in a life full of turmoil. It binds people together, it smooths over any rough patch in a relationship. The ties that bind is a good phrase to describe it. Not love for the fellow man as its too general but love for the partner is what makes this kind of power some of the strongest and pure on earth, both in body and mind. For me, it gave me the strength to overcome this power and surpress its hold on my life and give me control when I had none previous. I can look in the mirror and be glad to be me. Now I know the nuns read this paper and I know students read this paper and though some don't agree with or ponder the thought of a lesbian couple, I can safely enjoy the lack of resistence due to the pioneers of this school.

This article is dedicated to both Novemeber Bell and Moth and Eric Copper and Glacial Mass for paving the way for gay people and the couples like mine that'll have to face a world full of prejudice against lesbian and gay people. This school is a safe haven for people like us with powers but you all made it safe for people like me to truly express out orientation without consequence. You built up tolerance to an ideal and because of that, I have to say thank you. Thank you, all four of you for making this a true place of understanding and development to further a persons life and not some insitution that holds no care for itself or its people.

I can go on for days talking about all these things and that's fine and good but nothing truly beats a full thank you that's both heart felt and memorable. For me, it means something when people take a bold more and come out about something, it doesn't even have to be about being queer or straight. It could be about not liking horsh raddish or not like alcohol, or not like lays potatoe chips or numerous other things. It takes courage and confidence to express one's self without letting someone stand in your way. When you can't say what you want, when you want, you're giving up an American right to free speech. Though these rights, such as freedom of the press, makes my life easier, I do know moderation.

Moderation is the thing stopping people from become truly greedy and selfish. For me, Moderation keeps me from publishing articles that may harm people and help me. This paper was founded to report things that I either thought MEANT something or topics I just wanted to talk about. Right here and right now, I'm excersing Moderation by not delving into people's lives and talking about them with out their persmission even if they didn't care. This moderation also applies to my sexuality. Just because I'm a lesbian doesn't mean I value women higher then men, it just means like Men I stare at women. Just because I kiss girls doesn't mean I should get special treatment or quality or a helping hand. I just want to exist in peace with others and enjoy my life as I see fight, free of all notions towards me and against me.

I'm a lesbian by choice, nature had me that way and that is how it will go about its business. This whole issue, with sexuality, racisim and all that is due to people not being with in the socialably excepted bounds. This is a flawed concept yet it remains because we wish it to remain. People want it gone but deep down their hesistent to abandon something they've clung to for years and years. I've cast aside this ideal for a new, larger and more accepting idea of culture that I hope others will aid me to bring about in the world. Though I doubt it'll happen in my life time, I hope to one day see a vision on the future where people who, like me, didn't fit are in harmony with those that fit prior to.

I leave with this thought on my mind. What if I was straight. If I liked staring at Men, dating and being with them instead of choosing Women as a preferance. Whould my ideas now be diffrent, whould I be intolerant to those around me. I don't think so. When I come back to it now, this kind of thing seems out in left field. I like girls, I'm over the intial shock and now, I can honestly say I like it. It feel right and not because its familiar but because deep down I was sure about it, I just couldn't stand up and voice my opinion.


(This Article is dedicated to the same sex couples of SJS, Past, Present and Future.)

- Summer -

[I got special permission from Glowing Vigilance to post on this thread. Please see my post hereif you are interested in chiming in on the topic with your own fiction.

In the last week, there has been a bit of an uproar at SJS concerning the latest Vigilant. The discussion of homosexuality, in so open a forum-- and particularly discussing SJS as a 'safe haven' for gays and lesbians, when clearly it is not condoned by the Church-- has caused a stir. Many of the Sisters of Cupertino took great offense, and most copies of The Vigilant were pulled from students' hands. At the same time, several of the lay faculty have defended Summer's right to free speech.

The students are also divided, since some of the 'pioneering' gays and lesbians mentioned in Summer's article were not out to everyone in the student body. Those students who are practicing Catholics have found themselves the objects of a certain amount of derision at the hands of the more progressive students for being bigoted and backward. There has been no direct discussion of the article at any of the Chapel services, but it is certainly on everyone's mind.

Summer herself may or may not have been called in for a talk with Sir Arthur Winston and Father Bob Montoya, to discuss things. No one knows what the results may be.]

I'm not done

Section: Editorial

First off, I just want to get this out of the way... no. No, I will not feel bad anymore, for both myself and you all. This is a subject, it controversial, its not meant to be talked about like it doesn't exist, its there, but deviding yourselves into groups just because you have a diffrent opinon on it doesn't give you the right to start making your opinion the only one.

Between the death threats, which I could care less about and the people asking me to sign my own Article, I refuse any and all. I'm sick and tired of rolling in my own self misery for basically speaking my mind and being happy. I don't understand why we can't all be happy, be it with ourselves, others, or just plain life in general. Conflict is human nature, it exists because we exist. In terms of chaos and peace, chaos can not rain forever and peace must prevail at least for a time to keep the balance on nature together before everything becomes too far gone to repair. For me, I doing what I should've done immediately and that's standing up for myself.

I've heard people call me a dyke, a lap licker and other fowl and obnoxious names and its not like I could care about their opinions espcially since they don't get it and never will. I've been beaten, I've been thrown out of my own dorm and excepted back into it. I don't care, my body is a physical, it can be destoryed but what I stand for, can not. So go ahead, destroy me, destroy my life, my love, my passion but what I stand for is more important than anything I can think of. I am selfless, and those who berate me, spit on me, yell at me, look down on me, are selfish.

Think about that for a moment. Selflessness is basically looking past your own problems and transcending and sometimes devoting your own life to something more than frivolous concepts like fashion or people's lives. For me, I know I'm hitting that as I let out my anger, my frustration and my pain all here and now for this whole school to see. I stand up for my right to be what I want, not what someone else wants because it conflicts with them. They can voice their opinion and I can excerise my right to ignore them. Sure, I should've been private and sure I should never have brought up others but I did and its done. If they wish to strike me, so be it, I will not fight back but I will never, renounce my intentions. I could give a damn about that, killing me isn't really a big thing, I'm fine with death and I think its counting the hours till I meet it anyway so if I'm rushed oh well.

Now, comes the point where I sit here and let you all know exactly what has transpired. Over the course of this escapade, I have lost many things. My pride and dignity went first, then came my reputation and my friends, and now I sit here, with nothing left by myself and those happy memories, long past. Life has certainly been better, but this article is not a pity party and I'm not going woe is me. I made my mistake and I'm paying for it. Maybe a bit too much but I can understand the argument against that. So now, I give you all what has happened.

Between dissappearing for a wekk, its because I was beaten and left in the streets because of WHAT I am, not who I am. It was civilians, the very people I save on the street. People who's views about me are not nice. Do I care if I was laid up in someone's apartment while they helped me get better? And why didn't I activate my med badge? Because my med badge was in my dorm and I was leaving to escape this whole thing. Now I'm back and I'm ready to destroy this horrible problem once and for all, now and forever. So you see me sitting here, thinking this beating was unnessecary? No, it was totally called for as it showed me that this world will understand me later, but until that day, life will be hard, not just for me, but for everyone I've mentioned, for people like myself. They can strike me if it makes them feel better and if it satisfies them, I could care less. I'm paying for it still.

If my girlfriend leaves me because of this, I could understand immediately why and I will shed many a tear for my lose but I'm paying for it. I'm paying dearly for my own mistake. No one can assist me in this not that I'd expect someone to in the first place and before you even think about it, No. This is MY fight, and this is MY lose and thus I pay my price and move on. Life does not stand still and if I don't move, than I stay in the same spot and will remain there. I'm done waiting, I'm moving on with life. Come what may, more beatings, more yelling, more persecution, more getting thrown our and spit on, I can live with it.

I will never give up the Vigilant. Its mine, and it will be here from now till forever with me. You can shred it, you can burn it, pull it and pitch it but regardless, its there, it will remain it will never go away so long as I walk these halls and this earth, this paper is mine and mine alone.

- Vig -

Ttitle: Normal [Headline]

Wells its almost two months since the Vigilant has started out. I'm surprised it last this long, especially with all that stuff in recent weeks. Pretty dark indeed. So yeah, things are coming back to normal. School is running good, homework, schedules, desks, and all that fun stuff. I'm a sophomore, people know this, I wrote about it. A truly amazing thing to be a grade ahead of your intended year simply on academic achievement alone. Now I'm taking it easy and having myself a nice hot chocolate although Erika and Stasis seem to be drinking my 500 packet stash more then I am, not that I care, I have enough money to survive. I make enough on interest in the bank to cover for my own habits which really makes me feel good knowing I'm well off for once instead of two feet from being sent off in a pine box. Metaphorically speaking that is...

Still, I figure, now is the time for us to all just relax. Life is finally getting back to where it needs to be. The holiday season is over, the presents are finished, the dance is done and the only major holiday we have (besides Saint Patrick's Day and April Fools) is Easter and that's April any how. Thus, I'm aiming for this issue to be cheerful and somewhat out of character.

Well, first off, I'd like to say congrats to Erika who was now sporting the Taskforce Commander badge and finishing her Numina TF. I wanted to get on it but alas I was detained. Still, it was a sucess without me so props to Erika and team Spectre for the defeat of Jurrasik and his band of miscreants.

Also, I'd like to give a shout out to some new people. Admittedly, I haven't teamed with you all so I may come off as shoving worlds in your mouth, this is not my intention!

Eddie Amplitude (Eddie) - Admitedly, I was skeptical, I teamed with you and had to pick you up off the floor a lot of times. Still, as you've progressed, things have picked up, namely me NOT having to pick you up off the floor.

Next, the Sno Ball Queen, Cryogene! Hands down, no one saw this one coming, and neither the fight afterwords but that's history. Still, I've talked with you both privately and publicly, we've teamed and all of that and I know you don't want to feel bad. So don't! You won fair and square against everyone else that competed so good job!

Nate Harper - You're ENGLISH! ENGLISH! ENGLISH! ENGLISHHHH! Sorry, I just wanted to say that a lot. Anyway, you're English. You seem like a nice guy, rough around the edges but who isn't right? Hopefully you and me can team more often.

Kara Rose: Only heard about you but as student records show you're 10 and a hald years old and in highschool!!! That's ridiculous! You beat out Merin by a mile! Hopefully the both of us can meet up and talk, I'd love to swap stories.

Voritex - I probably spelled your name wrong but oh well. Anyway, we met breifly at the ball, and it was fun talking to you. I thought you were interested in the school when I saw you standing around the place looking at us. From what gravwarp says, you're a grav controller, good for you, its hard being a grav controller so wear that with pride.

Last but certainly not least Kintress -
Again, another person I've probably met briefly. I hope to talk with you more and enjoy some more company. So far it looks like we've got a lot more girls coming this semester but again this was an all girls school it seems before it became a co-ed.

Anyway, with that, I'm hearing someone knock on the door which I usually lock to keep people from distrurbing me too much. So I figure I'll print, this post this and have you all smiling somewhere in the article.

And nate... YOU'RE BLOODY ENGLISH!!! *Giggles madly*