Myles settled back into his chair, satisfied that the spotlight was off of him. Times like these, he was much more content to be a fly on the wall. Knowing the kind of person Juliette was, there was probably a good 50/50 chance that she was absolutely as well-adjusted as she seemed, or that she had some incredibly gnarly skeletons in the proverbial closet.
Probably not literal skeletons. But could you ever really know?
Myles amused himself with that thought for a moment, happy enough to finish his lunch and listen in while the girls did most of the talking. He could barely care about school politics or any interviews to do with such, but he was always willing to listen. In his own way.
Juliette the skeleton hoarder, dark lady of the student council. Now wasn't that an idea. If Myles had been more inclined towards the screenwriting part of film, he'd have considered drafting that into something. It was something to fall back on maybe, if he ever got it in his head to try his hand at a script.
Anyway, Juliette's non-school-related activities probably weren't going to come up in this interview whether literal skeletons were involved or not. Metaphorical skeletons probably wouldn't either, given Juliette's polished image. How boring.
Juliette Sargent For Senior Class President
Open, early fall 2017
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"Gladly," Juliette said to Keisha. "I can answer anything you want. Off the cuff, or in a more formal setting later. Or both."
She wasn't worried about giving impromptu answers to anything Keisha had to ask; in fact, that sort of setup probably played to her strengths, since she was good at thinking through her words before they escaped her mouth. It was, however, still the lunch period, which meant that they wouldn't have time to conduct a full or proper interview here and now. She also didn't see any recording equipment on Keisha; maybe she was wrong and the girl planned to use her phone or had something stuffed in her back pocket, but Juliette found it unlikely.
She had, of course, figured out almost instantly that Keisha wasn't being forthright about her article planning. If she'd already wanted to do a piece about the student council, she'd've turned up to a meeting or approached them in a more official capacity. If she was profiling all those in contention for the presidency, she had her work cut out for her because the majority of those who were eventually going to run had in all likelihood not even decided yet, let alone announced their candidacy; Juliette was well aware that she herself was putting in work well in advance.
No, what had almost certainly happened was that Keisha smelled a scoop and was going for the kill. The window dressing was her professionalism, and that made Juliette feel even more positively towards the girl and her journalistic endeavors. She knew how to do things by the book, knew how to work an angle and butter up a source and seize an opportunity. She could spin a sudden decision like she'd planned it from the start. That meant she probably wanted to do a good job. Juliette respected that.
Myles was making his way through his lunch, seemingly content. Juliette did want to keep an eye on him, just to make sure he was doing okay. She didn't want to shove him out of the conversation or bore him to tears, not when he was the one she'd been talking to first. Right now, though, nothing in his body language suggested discomfort or agitation.
She wasn't worried about giving impromptu answers to anything Keisha had to ask; in fact, that sort of setup probably played to her strengths, since she was good at thinking through her words before they escaped her mouth. It was, however, still the lunch period, which meant that they wouldn't have time to conduct a full or proper interview here and now. She also didn't see any recording equipment on Keisha; maybe she was wrong and the girl planned to use her phone or had something stuffed in her back pocket, but Juliette found it unlikely.
She had, of course, figured out almost instantly that Keisha wasn't being forthright about her article planning. If she'd already wanted to do a piece about the student council, she'd've turned up to a meeting or approached them in a more official capacity. If she was profiling all those in contention for the presidency, she had her work cut out for her because the majority of those who were eventually going to run had in all likelihood not even decided yet, let alone announced their candidacy; Juliette was well aware that she herself was putting in work well in advance.
No, what had almost certainly happened was that Keisha smelled a scoop and was going for the kill. The window dressing was her professionalism, and that made Juliette feel even more positively towards the girl and her journalistic endeavors. She knew how to do things by the book, knew how to work an angle and butter up a source and seize an opportunity. She could spin a sudden decision like she'd planned it from the start. That meant she probably wanted to do a good job. Juliette respected that.
Myles was making his way through his lunch, seemingly content. Juliette did want to keep an eye on him, just to make sure he was doing okay. She didn't want to shove him out of the conversation or bore him to tears, not when he was the one she'd been talking to first. Right now, though, nothing in his body language suggested discomfort or agitation.
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
"Oh, seriously? That'd be hella great."
Again, an involuntary smile began to make it's way across Keisha's face, and again, she did nothing to stop it's advance. There really was no reason to stop it, anyways, because everything seemed to be turning out golden. Juliette was up for an interview, Myles hadn't inserted any of his own cents into the conversation, which would've been great if she wasn't trying to make this all official-like, and then yeah. Golden. That was the term. Simply splendid.
But, just because things were hella amazing now, did not mean that they were gonna be so peachy keen or whatever in a few minutes' time. Juliette seemed chill with the pretty sudden segue into a interview request, but it was important to remind herself that she was sort of walking on eggshells or something at that very moment. Just the wrong comment could make all the shit burn down in flames, leave her screaming and weeping, and with nothing to show for it, especially not any article material. So, yeah. That was the name of the game. Balancing all the stuff out.
Still, she had to decide when having this interview would be beneficial. Catching people right after class was usually a really great to get them while they were all pissy, but if Keisha really wanted this to actually seem chill and credible, having something like that probably wasn't the best idea. Not that Juliette really seemed like an outwardly pissy person, but Keisha thought of her as a person with whom you should probably stay on at least okay relations with. The responsible ones were always the most vicious.
Maybe two days' time would work. Just enough to actually prep some good, deep questions, and lay out a plan. Lunch would work. Casual, but not too much so.
"Well, could that interview be in two days? At lunch?"
Yes, this was definitely an amazing plan.
Again, an involuntary smile began to make it's way across Keisha's face, and again, she did nothing to stop it's advance. There really was no reason to stop it, anyways, because everything seemed to be turning out golden. Juliette was up for an interview, Myles hadn't inserted any of his own cents into the conversation, which would've been great if she wasn't trying to make this all official-like, and then yeah. Golden. That was the term. Simply splendid.
But, just because things were hella amazing now, did not mean that they were gonna be so peachy keen or whatever in a few minutes' time. Juliette seemed chill with the pretty sudden segue into a interview request, but it was important to remind herself that she was sort of walking on eggshells or something at that very moment. Just the wrong comment could make all the shit burn down in flames, leave her screaming and weeping, and with nothing to show for it, especially not any article material. So, yeah. That was the name of the game. Balancing all the stuff out.
Still, she had to decide when having this interview would be beneficial. Catching people right after class was usually a really great to get them while they were all pissy, but if Keisha really wanted this to actually seem chill and credible, having something like that probably wasn't the best idea. Not that Juliette really seemed like an outwardly pissy person, but Keisha thought of her as a person with whom you should probably stay on at least okay relations with. The responsible ones were always the most vicious.
Maybe two days' time would work. Just enough to actually prep some good, deep questions, and lay out a plan. Lunch would work. Casual, but not too much so.
"Well, could that interview be in two days? At lunch?"
Yes, this was definitely an amazing plan.
Myles's attention began to drift further as Juliette and Keisha hashed out their interview plans.
Juliette Sargent, Chattanooga Bone Collector. Well, if this ever ended up some kind of TV show, he'd have to change her name. For now though, it was an acceptable placeholder. What dark secrets did the would-be senior president hide beneath her perfect image?
Cults were old hat, of course, but there was a reason that they were tried and true. Sending Chattanooga into a brand new Satanic Panic wasn't on Myles's agenda at any point in the foreseeable future, though. Of course, taking that image of Juliette, the professional class representative and turning it into something sinister rather than falling back on the standard targets of counterculture kids... that could work, yes. Something almost Stepford Wives about that.
People didn't trust things that looked so perfectly put-together, and rightfully so. There was always the chance that something was lurking there, and that you wouldn't see it coming until it was too late. An automaton. A serial killer. A jealous, ambitious wannabe politician out to destroy her competitors. By stealing their bones, yes, and keeping the skeletons in her closet. Literally.
Maybe there didn't need to be a religious angle to it at all, cult or otherwise. Just something that hinted at the supernatural, but could just as easily be one unhinged girl. That was the kind of thing that really scared people.
A little bit Stepford Wives, and a little bit Scream Queens. Maybe a bit of Carrie? Girl doesn't get what she wants in school, snaps and goes on a rampage? A bone-stealing rampage?
As he finished up his cup of noodles, Myles caught Juliette's eye. He smiled to the best of his ability with his mouth full, and wondered just what would plausibly make her snap.
Juliette Sargent, Chattanooga Bone Collector. Well, if this ever ended up some kind of TV show, he'd have to change her name. For now though, it was an acceptable placeholder. What dark secrets did the would-be senior president hide beneath her perfect image?
Cults were old hat, of course, but there was a reason that they were tried and true. Sending Chattanooga into a brand new Satanic Panic wasn't on Myles's agenda at any point in the foreseeable future, though. Of course, taking that image of Juliette, the professional class representative and turning it into something sinister rather than falling back on the standard targets of counterculture kids... that could work, yes. Something almost Stepford Wives about that.
People didn't trust things that looked so perfectly put-together, and rightfully so. There was always the chance that something was lurking there, and that you wouldn't see it coming until it was too late. An automaton. A serial killer. A jealous, ambitious wannabe politician out to destroy her competitors. By stealing their bones, yes, and keeping the skeletons in her closet. Literally.
Maybe there didn't need to be a religious angle to it at all, cult or otherwise. Just something that hinted at the supernatural, but could just as easily be one unhinged girl. That was the kind of thing that really scared people.
A little bit Stepford Wives, and a little bit Scream Queens. Maybe a bit of Carrie? Girl doesn't get what she wants in school, snaps and goes on a rampage? A bone-stealing rampage?
As he finished up his cup of noodles, Myles caught Juliette's eye. He smiled to the best of his ability with his mouth full, and wondered just what would plausibly make her snap.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"Lunch in two days sounds great," Juliette said. It did, too. That gave her plenty of time to work out a few of the little details of her campaign, to polish a slogan and figure out how best to explain certain policy positions and scope out what sort of competition might be brewing. A formal interview also meant she'd have a pretty good chance to feature prominently in actual published work of Keisha's; the girl wasn't going to go through all the trouble of setting things up and preparing questions only to then throw all her work out, at least not without good reason or outside interference. The proposal showed that, whatever the origins of her project, she was serious about seeing it through.
Lunch wasn't perfect, of course. It put a time limit on their conversation, and meant there was a chance for distractions. Juliette decided she'd skip the meal that day as well; she'd bring a snack for before, maybe, and have a slightly larger breakfast, and then she'd be able to devote all of her attention to the more pressing business. If they got done early and she was hungry after all, she could always get something at that stage, but best not to count on it. She'd also have to be sure to look nice, and to clear out her phone's memory so she could record the conversation herself as well. She trusted Keisha, certainly, but one could trust while also exercising due diligence and caution.
Myles finished his lunch and made eye contact with Juliette and gave her a sloppy smile, and she smiled right back. She was tempted, very tempted, to pair it with a wink, but restrained herself. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable with the thought of being casual or lighthearted around Myles—she had, after all, played right along with his joking earlier—but rather that she didn't want to risk misunderstandings. A wink felt right to her, but she couldn't even exactly say why, certainly couldn't put her finger on what she thought she would be communicating through the expression, and thus couldn't begin to guess what Myles would take from it. Would he think that she was making a joke? Mocking Keisha? Flirting with him? Just goofing around? Without at least a loose answer to that question, there was nothing to be gained and a whole lot of risk, especially with someone like Myles.
"I can meet you at the start of lunch," Juliette said, returning her attention to Keisha. "Wherever works for you, really. Maybe the recording booths in the music hall? I'm looking forward to it."
She was, too. This was a chance to reach a wider audience through the medium of a conversation with someone she was fond of, someone who had expressed interest in her interests. What wasn't to love?
Lunch wasn't perfect, of course. It put a time limit on their conversation, and meant there was a chance for distractions. Juliette decided she'd skip the meal that day as well; she'd bring a snack for before, maybe, and have a slightly larger breakfast, and then she'd be able to devote all of her attention to the more pressing business. If they got done early and she was hungry after all, she could always get something at that stage, but best not to count on it. She'd also have to be sure to look nice, and to clear out her phone's memory so she could record the conversation herself as well. She trusted Keisha, certainly, but one could trust while also exercising due diligence and caution.
Myles finished his lunch and made eye contact with Juliette and gave her a sloppy smile, and she smiled right back. She was tempted, very tempted, to pair it with a wink, but restrained herself. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable with the thought of being casual or lighthearted around Myles—she had, after all, played right along with his joking earlier—but rather that she didn't want to risk misunderstandings. A wink felt right to her, but she couldn't even exactly say why, certainly couldn't put her finger on what she thought she would be communicating through the expression, and thus couldn't begin to guess what Myles would take from it. Would he think that she was making a joke? Mocking Keisha? Flirting with him? Just goofing around? Without at least a loose answer to that question, there was nothing to be gained and a whole lot of risk, especially with someone like Myles.
"I can meet you at the start of lunch," Juliette said, returning her attention to Keisha. "Wherever works for you, really. Maybe the recording booths in the music hall? I'm looking forward to it."
She was, too. This was a chance to reach a wider audience through the medium of a conversation with someone she was fond of, someone who had expressed interest in her interests. What wasn't to love?
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
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Somersault
- Posts: 312
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:56 am
"Oh, the music booths? They'd work wonderfully," Keisha remarked, a smile once again evident on her face. Yes, here it was, she was Q-U-E-E-N of this whole journalism thang, able to scrounge up an interview from this random-ass meeting. And a formal one, at that, with one of the major contenders for class president, this early in the year! Deuces, deuces, deuces. It was all turning up roses, turning out swimmingly, and all she could do right now was celebrate. Internally, of course, because having it evident this early would be very weird, most definitely, and she wasn't crazy or anything, but she could still be a bit more happy, a bit more joyful. The slightest bounce in her step.
Still, she'd have to work out some of the questions she was actually going to ask. There'd have to be some generic ones, like the ones on her platform, ambitions for the school, preferred vice-presidential candidate (which was probably something that wasn't super kosher or whatever), but what made her really excited was the one for some more well, personal ones. Not rumormongering, no, but just...a chance for readers to get to know Juliette as a person, not just as a potential senior class president.
She was still smiling when she noticed Myles also smiling at Juliette, and watched as the girl offered him a smile. Oh, honey, that was not the right thing for Juliette to do, but it wasn't as if it was her own ass in the boiling water, and she seemed like a smart girl, and so Keisha would let her fend for herself or something. She had done her duty, did her job, and so she began to pack away her things, and made her way to the door.
"I do have to go now, but thanks for the conversation! And, see you soon, Juliette." Keisha smiled, offering a wave to both of the people who were sitting in the room before she entered, who would still be inside. She had no idea what Myles was trying to pull, but again, she had already done her own shit, so ta ta to them!
Exiting the room, she couldn't prevent herself from walking a bit more straighter, holding her chin up just a bit more, because she was killing this. No other term for it.
((Keisha Higgins-Bell continued in Bring It On 3: Misery Olympics))
Still, she'd have to work out some of the questions she was actually going to ask. There'd have to be some generic ones, like the ones on her platform, ambitions for the school, preferred vice-presidential candidate (which was probably something that wasn't super kosher or whatever), but what made her really excited was the one for some more well, personal ones. Not rumormongering, no, but just...a chance for readers to get to know Juliette as a person, not just as a potential senior class president.
She was still smiling when she noticed Myles also smiling at Juliette, and watched as the girl offered him a smile. Oh, honey, that was not the right thing for Juliette to do, but it wasn't as if it was her own ass in the boiling water, and she seemed like a smart girl, and so Keisha would let her fend for herself or something. She had done her duty, did her job, and so she began to pack away her things, and made her way to the door.
"I do have to go now, but thanks for the conversation! And, see you soon, Juliette." Keisha smiled, offering a wave to both of the people who were sitting in the room before she entered, who would still be inside. She had no idea what Myles was trying to pull, but again, she had already done her own shit, so ta ta to them!
Exiting the room, she couldn't prevent herself from walking a bit more straighter, holding her chin up just a bit more, because she was killing this. No other term for it.
((Keisha Higgins-Bell continued in Bring It On 3: Misery Olympics))
Myles spoke up once Keisha bounced out of the room. "She wasn't actually doing anything to do with the student council when she first got here." Not to rain on the parade of anybody in particular, just an offhand comment. Juliette's unexpectedly warm reaction had left him mildly bemused but feeling that they were on the same wavelength nonetheless.
It wasn't that he didn't like Keisha, most of the time. She was just kind of... there, in whatever she did. Most of the time, she was harmless.
But that didn't mean he couldn't poke a few holes in her credibility here and there, just in case. People ought to know better than to take reporters at face value.
"Anyway. Lunch is almost over, and I've probably bothered you long enough. I can go, if you like." Myles gave himself a little push and spun in another lazy circle. He wasn't in a huge hurry to get to class.
It wasn't that he didn't like Keisha, most of the time. She was just kind of... there, in whatever she did. Most of the time, she was harmless.
But that didn't mean he couldn't poke a few holes in her credibility here and there, just in case. People ought to know better than to take reporters at face value.
"Anyway. Lunch is almost over, and I've probably bothered you long enough. I can go, if you like." Myles gave himself a little push and spun in another lazy circle. He wasn't in a huge hurry to get to class.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"That's alright," Juliette said, when Myles told her what she already knew and in so doing told her a few other things. "She'll get an article and I'll get some practice. I don't mind. But thank you for letting me know; it'll help me prepare."
Her initial uncertainties and frustrations had sluiced away now, replaced with a general confidence and tranquility. She still wanted to get her posters done, of course, but whether or not that happened she'd made other, productive steps towards her goals. If everything went to plan, that was wonderful. If it didn't, but turned out well regardless, that was also wonderful; failure to adapt and to capitalize on surprise opportunities was not a trait to be proud of. By any metric, this lunch period had been fruitful.
"And I don't mind you being here," she continued. "You're not a bother at all."
In fact, as Myles spun his chair, Juliette reflected that his arrival had precipitated an improvement in her mood and mentality, shaking her out of her slight rut. His jokes had helped her—not to take things less seriously, per se, but to remember that levity wasn't antithetical to her goals. She didn't see herself as an uptight, boring person, but she was self aware enough to know how others might perceive her. She did not want to be Connie Massey.
Juliette quickly saved what progress she'd made, backing her files up both in her student folder and the flash drive she'd plugged in when she started her session, then allowed her attention, and her smile, to return undivided to Myles.
Her initial uncertainties and frustrations had sluiced away now, replaced with a general confidence and tranquility. She still wanted to get her posters done, of course, but whether or not that happened she'd made other, productive steps towards her goals. If everything went to plan, that was wonderful. If it didn't, but turned out well regardless, that was also wonderful; failure to adapt and to capitalize on surprise opportunities was not a trait to be proud of. By any metric, this lunch period had been fruitful.
"And I don't mind you being here," she continued. "You're not a bother at all."
In fact, as Myles spun his chair, Juliette reflected that his arrival had precipitated an improvement in her mood and mentality, shaking her out of her slight rut. His jokes had helped her—not to take things less seriously, per se, but to remember that levity wasn't antithetical to her goals. She didn't see herself as an uptight, boring person, but she was self aware enough to know how others might perceive her. She did not want to be Connie Massey.
Juliette quickly saved what progress she'd made, backing her files up both in her student folder and the flash drive she'd plugged in when she started her session, then allowed her attention, and her smile, to return undivided to Myles.
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
Well, fine by him. Myles didn't expect to start hanging out with Juliette on the regular or anything, but this right now was fun. There was still some time in the lunch period, and it wasn't like he was super excited to get to chemistry or anything. No need to get a head start on that.
"I'm kinda surprised you didn't run before this year," he said conversationally. "Seems like it'd be right up your alley."
He wasn't as focused on his words as he was on trying to parse Juliette's smile. She was a fairly smiley person normally - that politician's smile. There was just something about her one on one that wasn't as businesslike as Myles would have expected. They had never spent much time together, and he couldn't say that he would necessarily seek her out after the lunch bell rang and they went their separate ways for the day, but it was interesting.
People were... difficult to figure out, sometimes. Normally he could go with the flow as he sensed it, but Juliette had so many layers of polish that she could actually be disconcertingly hard to read beyond the prim and cheery public face.
Skeletons in the closet, he thought again, and spun back around for Juliette's response.
"I'm kinda surprised you didn't run before this year," he said conversationally. "Seems like it'd be right up your alley."
He wasn't as focused on his words as he was on trying to parse Juliette's smile. She was a fairly smiley person normally - that politician's smile. There was just something about her one on one that wasn't as businesslike as Myles would have expected. They had never spent much time together, and he couldn't say that he would necessarily seek her out after the lunch bell rang and they went their separate ways for the day, but it was interesting.
People were... difficult to figure out, sometimes. Normally he could go with the flow as he sensed it, but Juliette had so many layers of polish that she could actually be disconcertingly hard to read beyond the prim and cheery public face.
Skeletons in the closet, he thought again, and spun back around for Juliette's response.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"Honestly, so am I," Juliette said.
The truth was, she had come to the Council generally ignorant of its role and the opportunities it provided. Freshman year, she'd needed an elective and it had sounded interesting and academic enough, and she'd been curious about what went on behind the scenes and what exactly a student government would entail. She'd loved it almost instantly, but it had taken some time for her to realize her own potential to take it further; in her freshman and sophomore years she'd been content to learn, to participate in discussions without leading, to suss out how deals were made and how her fellows worked.
She'd read widely as her interest grew, weaving classics of political theory into her regime of literary fiction right alongside just about every news source she could find. Junior year, she'd given some real thought to running, but had eventually discarded the idea. She'd lacked the time, she'd told herself. It might have cut into her studies, might have added stress when unnecessary stress was the last thing she needed. And besides, what did the student officers even do?
And yet, as Canon's and Massey's campaigns thundered along, sucking all discourse inexorably towards them, Juliette had felt real regret at not being involved in a race of her own. While so many turned away in disgust at the endless election run-up, she'd quietly observed, rapt. She'd talked about it in passing, but only her family had grasped the depth of the intrigue it held for her; Kylie had begged her to stop going on about the primaries and Wikileaks and it had taken conscious self control to honor her stepsister's request. The eighth of November left many of her peers crushed, demoralized. Juliette walked away fascinated.
Still it had taken her time to decide that she was actually, truly going to run herself. She knew from the first that if she took a swing it would be for the presidency. It was the only race that would give her the experience she wanted, the only one that would guarantee her opponents cared about something more than padding their resumes and the only race that she could say with certainty she would engage in with all her heart. It was the only position she wanted.
"I had to make sure I really wanted to," she said, as Myles continued his lazy rotation. "This sort of thing is only worth doing if you do it right."
The truth was, she had come to the Council generally ignorant of its role and the opportunities it provided. Freshman year, she'd needed an elective and it had sounded interesting and academic enough, and she'd been curious about what went on behind the scenes and what exactly a student government would entail. She'd loved it almost instantly, but it had taken some time for her to realize her own potential to take it further; in her freshman and sophomore years she'd been content to learn, to participate in discussions without leading, to suss out how deals were made and how her fellows worked.
She'd read widely as her interest grew, weaving classics of political theory into her regime of literary fiction right alongside just about every news source she could find. Junior year, she'd given some real thought to running, but had eventually discarded the idea. She'd lacked the time, she'd told herself. It might have cut into her studies, might have added stress when unnecessary stress was the last thing she needed. And besides, what did the student officers even do?
And yet, as Canon's and Massey's campaigns thundered along, sucking all discourse inexorably towards them, Juliette had felt real regret at not being involved in a race of her own. While so many turned away in disgust at the endless election run-up, she'd quietly observed, rapt. She'd talked about it in passing, but only her family had grasped the depth of the intrigue it held for her; Kylie had begged her to stop going on about the primaries and Wikileaks and it had taken conscious self control to honor her stepsister's request. The eighth of November left many of her peers crushed, demoralized. Juliette walked away fascinated.
Still it had taken her time to decide that she was actually, truly going to run herself. She knew from the first that if she took a swing it would be for the presidency. It was the only race that would give her the experience she wanted, the only one that would guarantee her opponents cared about something more than padding their resumes and the only race that she could say with certainty she would engage in with all her heart. It was the only position she wanted.
"I had to make sure I really wanted to," she said, as Myles continued his lazy rotation. "This sort of thing is only worth doing if you do it right."
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
It was funny, hearing someone admit that it had taken any amount of real soul-searching to determine that they wanted to run for the student council, of all things. Myles hadn't needed to dig that deep for motivation for a good while. Even his college apps had been more a matter of just making himself sit down and do them (or getting nagged enough to do so) than agonizing over just where to go and what he wanted to do. If anybody had asked him, he would have been pretty sure that most actual politicians probably gave less thought to whether they really wanted to campaign than Juliette had.
It was still hard to imagine what she would get out of it, but Myles supposed that was why she was the politician here and he wasn't. He preferred concrete gratification, all things considered. Quick gratification, too.
He realized that he was spacing out and snapped back to reality to refocus on Juliette. "Yeah, it's best to only do the stuff you really care about. Like, what's the point of just doing things that will get you somewhere in the future if they make you miserable?"
It was still hard to imagine what she would get out of it, but Myles supposed that was why she was the politician here and he wasn't. He preferred concrete gratification, all things considered. Quick gratification, too.
He realized that he was spacing out and snapped back to reality to refocus on Juliette. "Yeah, it's best to only do the stuff you really care about. Like, what's the point of just doing things that will get you somewhere in the future if they make you miserable?"
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"Exactly," Juliette said.
It wasn't exactly what she'd been driving at, but a close enough neighbor, and she wasn't going to bore Myles with the intricacies. The truth was, Juliette did an awful lot of stuff she didn't care about, an awful lot of stuff that she didn't like, that stressed her out and ground her down, but it was the result of analysis. Unhappiness now was an acceptable price to pay for some greater future happiness. It was an investment.
She had thought about this. She'd done her cost-benefit analysis. Even now, the moments where things were good were great. Finding success, accomplishments she could be proud of, fixing a friend's problem or acing a test she'd struggled through days of study for or brokering a deal in the Council, any of those things was good like a kiss. And the best part of it was that it all came together to paint an even brighter path for her, one where day by day the annoyances and anxieties slid away and the victories mounted. Nothing would ever be perfect, but she accepted that.
Her project today was a perfect microcosm of her philosophy. Stymied by her lacking experience with the software, she'd undergone frustration. An interruption, however, had turned the entire exchange fortuitous, and now she was riding high on positive interactions and progress towards her eventual goal. How she felt now, the way she'd been just ten minutes ago was nothing, immaterial. Just now, Juliette was happy.
"I think it's easy to get caught up in the routine and miss out," she said.
It wasn't exactly what she'd been driving at, but a close enough neighbor, and she wasn't going to bore Myles with the intricacies. The truth was, Juliette did an awful lot of stuff she didn't care about, an awful lot of stuff that she didn't like, that stressed her out and ground her down, but it was the result of analysis. Unhappiness now was an acceptable price to pay for some greater future happiness. It was an investment.
She had thought about this. She'd done her cost-benefit analysis. Even now, the moments where things were good were great. Finding success, accomplishments she could be proud of, fixing a friend's problem or acing a test she'd struggled through days of study for or brokering a deal in the Council, any of those things was good like a kiss. And the best part of it was that it all came together to paint an even brighter path for her, one where day by day the annoyances and anxieties slid away and the victories mounted. Nothing would ever be perfect, but she accepted that.
Her project today was a perfect microcosm of her philosophy. Stymied by her lacking experience with the software, she'd undergone frustration. An interruption, however, had turned the entire exchange fortuitous, and now she was riding high on positive interactions and progress towards her eventual goal. How she felt now, the way she'd been just ten minutes ago was nothing, immaterial. Just now, Juliette was happy.
"I think it's easy to get caught up in the routine and miss out," she said.
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun
"Mmm," Myles hummed. "I guess that's true. Shake it up every once in a while, and you might find something good."
Come to think of it, had he done that lately? Well he'd changed his routine somewhat, obviously, seeing as how he had eaten his lunch in the computer lab and was now making conversation with somebody that he usually ignored, but that was all reactive. Maybe he ought to shake things up on his own initiative.
Maybe he really should try his hand at writing that screenplay, since Juliette had so conveniently provided the inspiration.
The lunch bell rang as Myles mulled over that thought, making him jump a little as the outside world intruded upon him again. He flashed a practiced apologetic grin at Juliette as he grabbed his empty noodle up and stood. "Whoops, gotta go. Ms. Zhang will eat me alive if I'm late to lab again." He wove around Juliette, tossing back a "Nice talking to you!" over his shoulder as he headed for the door.
It wasn't such a bad way to spend the lunch period, considering he'd started out in a swirl of bad feelings. He figured he'd vote for her, for that if for no other reason. He wasn't even sure who else was running.
Besides, Juliette might show up to his house and steal his skeleton if he didn't vote for her.
((Myles Roux continued in VOY A TENER MI VENGANZA))
Come to think of it, had he done that lately? Well he'd changed his routine somewhat, obviously, seeing as how he had eaten his lunch in the computer lab and was now making conversation with somebody that he usually ignored, but that was all reactive. Maybe he ought to shake things up on his own initiative.
Maybe he really should try his hand at writing that screenplay, since Juliette had so conveniently provided the inspiration.
The lunch bell rang as Myles mulled over that thought, making him jump a little as the outside world intruded upon him again. He flashed a practiced apologetic grin at Juliette as he grabbed his empty noodle up and stood. "Whoops, gotta go. Ms. Zhang will eat me alive if I'm late to lab again." He wove around Juliette, tossing back a "Nice talking to you!" over his shoulder as he headed for the door.
It wasn't such a bad way to spend the lunch period, considering he'd started out in a swirl of bad feelings. He figured he'd vote for her, for that if for no other reason. He wasn't even sure who else was running.
Besides, Juliette might show up to his house and steal his skeleton if he didn't vote for her.
((Myles Roux continued in VOY A TENER MI VENGANZA))
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
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MurderWeasel
- Posts: 2566
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:37 am
"You too." Juliette gave Myles a smile and a little wave, then turned back to the computer and quickly double-checked that she'd saved everything. She had. She pulled the flash drive out of the port, slipped it into her purse, and stood, straightening her clothes.
She'd made progress, reaffirmed her plans, enjoyed a conversation with her peers, and landed an interview.
And she still had just enough time to make it to her next class punctually.
((Juliette Sargent continued elsewhere))
She'd made progress, reaffirmed her plans, enjoyed a conversation with her peers, and landed an interview.
And she still had just enough time to make it to her next class punctually.
((Juliette Sargent continued elsewhere))
Avatar art by the lovely and inimitable Kotorikun