Beatrix.

We certainly don't get very much time to adjust to the idea of a year older, do we? Truth be told, year two felt like it would never end, and while I mean that in the worst way possible, I think I've grown a bit fond of its awfulness. Not the sort of fond where I'd like to live it over again, but it's a year I'll never forget, and the sort of year that undoubtedly made me a very different person than I would have been if I'd had a boring and purely academic time of it. And it isn't all negative things I'll cherish, of course! I've met so many new people and so many of them I wish I'd known for years instead, even though that wasn't always easy, either.

If it's only up from there, as far as year three goes, that's a start, isn't it? I know I'm enjoying how things are shaping up very much! For example, I already can't imagine having anything but a spacious single. I'm not done decorating, but I must say it looks very nice and appropriately official so far. Visitors welcome at any time! I don't have much in the way of spare chairs yet, but I will. I have all sorts of ideas for making sure I'm a Resident Assistant you'll be pleased to have and you'll become well-acquainted with them in the upcoming weeks!

Now who is that dapper young fellow?

Hello, Magic faculty, and indeed Neopolis Academy at large! I am very, so very pleased to inform you that for the upcoming academic year I will be serving as one of your Resident Assistants! With the events of this past year such as they are, we've all learnt a bit about keeping a cool head under crisis and knowing when to step up to the plate (so to speak!) and I think those skills are things that will serve me very well in trying to be the best RA I can! Roommate squabbles and noise complaints and all of those sorts of things should be a perfectly manageable workload after averting nuclear disaster and I promise a fair and impartial ear for any problems you may have. I hope for a pleasant but efficient environment that everyone will be pleased to call their temporary home for the next three terms! One could argue faculty pride is as important to have as school pride, and I already have a great deal of affection for ours.

For any incoming first year students who have recently gained access to the network or elder students I simply haven't gotten to know very well yet, I hope to get to know each and every one of you throughout this year! It is a pleasure to serve, truly!

Well! Back home and enjoying it thoroughly, insomuch as a neighborhood full of rubble can ever be a comfort. The home is untouched save for a few scorch marks on the exterior, and thank goodness for that, even if everything even slightly pretty and colourful in the yard has been destroyed and all the landscape is missing is a leather-clad Mel Gibson as Mad Max walking down the road. Either we're very lucky or mum is very thorough, but I think it's some combination of the two! I appreciate that very, very much, as does my closet and all difficult-to-replace items within that I now cherish more than ever. Even if you find that sort of thing on eBay, they don't have your memories.

I also came home to a very cross cat, and I'm not entirely certain I want to know how, exactly, he managed to survive two weeks stuck on the school's island with little more than an abandonment complex to show for it. The poor thing, he can't very well open a can of salmon feast by himself! If any of you are rabbit or bird owners -- well, I apologise, but there are other cats it could have been.

I FOUND THE UNICORN

Should anyone be curious regarding how things are progressing in Faerie:

Yesterday, as the naiads and dryads resolved their differences, I was dropped in the middle of what would without appropriate context look like the set of a very high-budget (soon to be high-grossing!) pornography.

Today, the means by which I'm acquiring my freedom are, essentially, prostitution.

I killed a man-eating Hobgoblin!

I'm also tied up in a manner that isn't remotely sexy, but that's neither here nor there.

My V.I.L.L.A.I.N. is Dead Bowie?

I HATE EVERY Well, I suppose this is what I've been preparing for the entire term, so I don't even know why I'm surprised.

( FILTERED TO: CLAIRE CAULFIELD )

( FILTERED TO: ISAAC CROWLEY & VIOLET BROOME )

I apologise for It wasn't me, really, I just went poking around a bit and I advise you to stay away from Now for something completely different, Happy New Year, all! In the spirit of change (and thinking of the future!) I had a bit of fun taking a civilian career inventory. The majority I wouldn't even consider, but that's the humour of it all!

If you'd like to take it as well, the website is http://www.careercruising.com. Let's all share results!

[OOC NOTE: u/n bayville, pw nassau. :* pretend it's not an illegitimate log-in ic, k.]

Happy belated Christmas from Mr. Darcy!

Three consecutive days of champers, and it isn't even New Years yet! The necessity of finding a new celebratory beverage aside, I can mark this year's Christmas as an exceptional holiday. Not really in terms of monetary value, no, and the religious aspect is never my favourite, but it was time well-spent and I certainly didn't receive the worst gift I've ever gotten. That's always something! Thank you sincerely to everyone who gave me anything, even simply greeting cards and well-wishes! I'll be sending thank-yous by post as well, of course, but those aren't so prompt.

Thank goodness it's a Saturday. I haven't so much as glanced at a textbook this entire time and it's been far too easy to forget that exams aren't actually over!

What does one wear whilst in the background of a live broadcast of a reality television hit?

What a lovely party, Jackie! The wintery theme has me all sorts of ready for Christmas now. I'd waited a while for an occasion for that dress and I must say there was none better!

( FILTERED TO: BEA'S LADY FRIENDS (VALENTINA BURKE, VIOLET BROOME, CLAIRE CAULFIELD, QUINTELLA PID, MARLA TUDOR...AND PHOEBUS MONTGOMERY AND SANDALS JOLLY) )

For the first time since June, my Sunday nights will be completely empty as of tomorrow! Yes, yes, I'm sure the end of Dexter will blow me away and be worth the sacrifice, but that's an awful long time to have a television routine. I'll hardly know what to do with myself!

( FILTERED TO: GIANT ASSORTMENT OF PEOPLE SHE LIKES (VIOLET BROOME, VALENTINA BURKE, CLAIRE CAULFIELD, COURTNEY CHRISTIE, CHRISTIAN COX, ISAAC CROWLEY, ROB DONOVAN, SOPHIA DRAKE, HUCKLEBERRY FINN, ALVIN GREENTHISTLE, WILLIAM HARROD, SANDALS JOLLY, COLE JONES, PHOEBUS MONTGOMERY, QUINTELLA PID, NATASHA TINKS, MARLA TUDOR, ELLIE VAN HELSING, JAMIE WALKER) )

I know that now is the time for winter cheer and putting beautiful lights on any surface that will have them and baking more sweets than anyone could possibly eat, but it's hard to do any of that when shopping for presents is so very difficult and you've ruined a new pair of shoes.