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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Feb 25, 2011 12:00:14 GMT -5
It's nice to see that Esme appears to be enjoying her time at Training School, despite Beatrice being able to catch on quicker in a few subjects. I loved the mention of not one but two Squalor brothers, and the addition of Elizabeth as one of the students. I've always envisioned Esme hating to share a room with her, just because I envision Elizabeth as a neat freak and Esme falling somewhere between neat and messy. XD Yeah, I don't think canon!Esme would want much - if anything - to do with Jerome; and he would be the type who stared to the point where it was creepy. Esme's opinion of weirdo!Lemony was very funny, too. She asked Bertrand to do her homework for her. Tsk, tsk, Miss Salinger. I really like the classes you've come up with (V.F.D. History Class and Machinery & Mechanics). Would you mind if I were to mention some in V.F.D. Training Days? Esme's reflection on Christmases with her family was so beautiful and Bertrand is so spontaneous with his lips! But why is she ashamed? Also: Latkes with whipped cream and eggnog should be the official holiday dessert for everyone. Mmm. ^^ *Edit* Chapter Four is on the previous page, guys.
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Post by Seymour Glass on Feb 25, 2011 16:10:41 GMT -5
I enjoy reading this.
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Post by Hermes on Feb 25, 2011 17:10:27 GMT -5
Very interesting! Yes, I rather expected Esme and Bertrand to get closer to one another, so no surprises there. And she's developing an interest in things that are in. Good to see Elizabeth in her youth as well. And yes, I'm sure VFD would have classes in swordfighting.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Feb 26, 2011 16:47:58 GMT -5
Everyone else has summed up everything I wanted to say on this chapter, I think, so I'll just comment that I really like how you're using the documentation to tell the story.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on May 3, 2011 19:39:02 GMT -5
More Diaries coming soon, guys! Stay tuned.
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Post by Dante on May 4, 2011 3:09:11 GMT -5
My tune is thoroughly stayed.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on May 4, 2011 15:01:26 GMT -5
My tune is thoroughly stayed. LOL. Oh, Dante, the things you say. I, too, patiently await the return of Diaries.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jun 10, 2011 18:27:26 GMT -5
Chapter Five: Part One
Learning Days According the the book V.F.D. Training School: A History, by V.F.D. Historian - the name was cut out of the paper, almost as if someone wanted to keep the name of said historian from being divulged - "The V.F.D. trained it's young recruits in it's many different buildings of it's training school, located at - the location was, too, cut out with probably scissors, to prevent others from discovering it - Depicted above are the cafeteria, where the recruits had their meals during the day and the classrooms where they studied many subjects including Anagrams and Codes, Enginneering, and Reptiles, Grammar and Naval Protocols." "A big building, with many hallways, and many hallways with many paintings of many volunteers, all who did something remarkable for the organization. It was here that the Squalors, along with the Baudelaires, Snickets, Anwhistles, Quagmires, Widdershins, among other noble families all learned their secret, but noble trade, the trade of volunteering. Here, the world was quiet, but it was specially quiet in the library, where no noise was allowed by a particularly stern librarian." - description of the Building, by a student, found in the book. It is also worthwhile to point out the presence of smaller scale libraries in each building - dorms included - and the large central library of the campus, which everyone frecquented more often than the sub-libraries. Esmé Salinger spent a lot of time in this building, along with her peers, Beatrice Salinger, Kit Snicket and Elizabeth Anwhistle. - - - - - Interview with a Janitor: A transcript *static noises* *voices of people talking undiscernable information, as if this was recorded in a hallway, which it was* TS: Just tell me everything you remember about E. J: Oh, well. She was a pretty one, that she was, the lass. But she was a fierce one too. Didn't let anyone near easily, that one. TS: But she did have friends, didn't she? J: She had her sister, and those two girls who followed her sister around. The Snicket lass and the Anwhistle one. That Squalor boy, and the Baudelaire too. TS: Any particular memories of E? Anything eventful? J: There was this afternoon, you see. A winter afternoon, everyone was inside, all cooped up, it was so darn cold. E was inside, in the dining hall, with the rest of'em. But she was isolated. No one would seat near her, and B, E, and K were not around. They were out in one of those classes they had when it was snowing, I don't recall the name. TS: Snowstorm Survival Class? J: That, yes. TS: Proceed. J: Oh, the kids were always running around talking about things everyone liked, you see. Trendy stuff, you know how kids act. One of them finds something cool, the others follow around like zombies! But E never seemed to please the others, I guess. TS: Why? J: Whenever she tried to hop into whatever 'cool' new thing everyone was into, they quickly swapped interests, like that. *sound of finger snap* J: She never really fit in with the rest of them. Which was a shame, she was really bright, that girl. Not book bright, but she had these cunning ways, you see. She knew how to get what she wanted. She was bad at Engineering, and other complicated classes, but no one could beat her at the classes that involved some form of deception. Or at least that's what I gathered from all the times I swept the professor's lounge when they were talking. TS: A gentleman doesn't eardrop, sir. *laughter* J: I guess I was never much of a gentleman myself, then. Aren't you glad I did so, though? How else would ya be able to find all this out? TS: I guess you're right. Back to that winter afternoon. J: Oh yes. TS: Anything else? J: I recall E having an altercation with B about something. She was mad at him, for some reason, and left the dining hall, crying. I was sweeping the hallway, you see. I tried to talk to her, but she just looked at me and I shut up as if the headmaster himself was telling me to do it. She went outside, to the dorm, I guess. TS: I see. Thank you very much sir. Call me if anything else comes to mind. *sound of card with a telephone number switching hands* J: Anytime. *end of recording*
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Post by Dante on Jun 11, 2011 5:39:19 GMT -5
I see I've caught this just in time; it's quite intriguing. I like a good few false documents, and these fit in well with the methods established in the main series.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jun 11, 2011 6:09:54 GMT -5
This certainly explains Esmé's later obsession with being in. Nice photograph of the building, too. Whatever happens within those walls, you can't deny the outside is rather pleasant-looking.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jun 11, 2011 10:30:23 GMT -5
It's nice to see The Esme Diaries making its debut once more, and so grandly at that! The photograph of the V.F.D. Training School really catches the eye. The image itself resembles a much stronger depiction than what I've come across while trying to find something that fits my interpretation of the school attended by our favorite villainess. I love all of the little details you've worked in; particularly the names of the classes, and the bit about the paintings depicting volunteers. It's also interesting, and very realistic, that the school would have more than one library - after all, they say that noble people are passionate readers. I love that Elizabeth was a friend of Esme's - or, at least, an acquaintance, seeing as Elizabeth and Kit appear to have become associated with Esme through Beatrice. The story of how Esme became such a fashionista really explains why her outfits in ASoUE and YASoUE are so over-the-top. Poor Esme, though - it always hurts being left out of a conversation, especially when the few friends you have seem to have abandoned you. I have a few ideas on what the reason behind this could be, but I'll keep them to myself...for now. ^^
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Post by Hermes on Jun 12, 2011 11:32:55 GMT -5
Well, other people have said most of what I wanted to say, but it is indeed a very nice school - it reminds me a bit of one I was at, actually. And it's interesting to hear the voice of T.S.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Feb 4, 2012 8:15:10 GMT -5
Chapter Five: Part Two
Quicksand January 3rd
Bertrand and I have been ‘going out’ for the past few weeks. During that whole time I have been the happiest I’ve ever been. Bertrand is handsome, and unlike the other boys he doesn’t care about my past. He says that what happened to my mother was unfortunate, and that he was very sorry, but that I should be proud of her. He’s the first person to ever tell me that. If you don’t count Beatrice, that is. She always liked my mom. Sometimes we would go into my mom’s room and Beatrice would read for her, while my mom held my hand. Then she would give me and Bea a kiss each.
January 6th
Bertrand offered to help me with classes. Machinery & Mechanics has been a pain. For me at least. I’ve been doing great at Drama class. Mr. Funcoot, well, Mr. Olaf says I’m a great actress. During intermission we had a snowball fight outside. It was a dogdeball game, but with snowballs. I’m so used at dodging the things that were thrown at me back at that orphanage, that no one hit me. That kid Jerome Squalor on the other hand, got covered in snowballs. He went inside soaked wet, and the janitor chewed him out for it. We all laughed. The Snickets also participated in the fight, and Elizabeth Anwhistle was specially brutal. I don’t what it is about her, she behaves in the most unladylike manner yet she seems to attract a lot of the boys. Yes, I pay attention to this kind of things. I know who’s dating who, and I hear all kinds of gossip, too. I heard that everyone is wearing these bracelets, I wonder where I can get one?
January 9th
I’m very mad right now. Those jerks! They were all wearing these bracelets, but when I got one, they suddenly stopped wearing them, and I was the only kid here who wore one! Grrr they make me so mad sometimes! I really told it to them in the cafeteria though! I expected Beatrice to at least make a comment or defend me, but she was more interested in talking to Lemony Snicket and Bertrand.
January 13th
Today a fight broke out in the cafeteria, and I was involved and before I knew it the whole thing turned into a food fight. Everyone was throwing food. I was really mad at first, because they got pasta in my hair, but I managed to toss meatballs and eggs at a lot of them. It was hilarious, but the professors didn’t think so, and the janitor was particularly furious. It took me forever to get that pasta sauce out of my hair, though.
January 17th
I don’t know where Bertrand and I stand. He’s been walking everywhere with Beatrice, talking about the classes where they are both good at – which incidentally are the ones where I suck – and other things. The other day I finally confronted Beatrice about it and told her to stay away from him. She told me she liked someone else already and that I shouldn’t be intimidated by her friendship with Bertrand, but too long I’ve been used to her hand-me-downs and I know better. I told her to stay away from him anyway. She already has that dolt, Lemony Snicket, why is she going after what’s mine? She hasn’t talked to me after that, but she did stay away from Bertrand anyway so I won. Of course I won. I am determined to win everything. I read in a magazine: ‘winning is in’ and that struck me as very true.
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Post by Christmas Chief on Feb 4, 2012 9:25:54 GMT -5
We're really seeing adult Esme forming now. Her problems are not spectacular in the way you might expect them to be, but of course we know they are spectacular, as is the way she handles them.
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Post by Dante on Feb 4, 2012 9:35:43 GMT -5
Ah, I was wondering when we'd see more of this. I agree with Sherry Ann; Esmé's adult personality is really starting to emerge here, or form, perhaps. Still, it hasn't been easy for her. Can we forgive her, for that?
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