Westfall College and the Blackwood Family
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Scribbles on 22-05-2010, 00:04:27</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Westfall College and the Blackwood Family</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Scribbles</strong> on <strong>22-05-2010, 00:04:27</strong>
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				Link to Invite Thread: Click Here (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=69644.0)<br>Link to OOC Thread: Click Here (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=69647.0)<br><br>-------------------------<br><br>Four stories high and built like a Victorian palace, from above Westfall College resembled that of a blocky red and white bracket, enveloping a field of green, trees and a single large white, marble, fountain. It was here the Blackwood family studied, worked and even where many of them lived. And it was here where they were expected to excel, like so many Blackwoods before them. It put a lot of pressure on the family members but that's why a certain mother always tried to keep a hand in their lives, no matter how annoying.<br><br>Sitting cross legged and hunched over the side of her desk, with both arms folded lazily over one knee, Valen Blackwood puffed intermittently at the cigarette she had scissored loosely between her fingers. Tired from the day, the professor&nbsp; was dressed in an expensive, black, pencil skirt and pair of t-strap heels, with a contrasting, bright white, V-neck blouse. And yet, despite the business-like attire, the jaded teacher looked like she'd just stepped out from a quick rendezvous in the college supply closet; her short black hair ruffled and cuffs unbuttoned and rolled up her arms. All that was missing was the pleasant look of an afterglow, replaced instead by a tired green gaze; one which made her look decidedly closer to her actual age. Time had been good to Valen however, the mother of more-kids-than-she-ever-wanted still buxom and pseudo-young enough to turn a couple of heads; a fact which knew she knew and even flaunted if she was feeling mischievous enough.<br><br>After taking another long drag from her cig', she rolled her shoulders and once again stared disinterestedly into the empty office. No matter how one looked at it, the space seemed to scream "shrink", with the calming cream coloured walls, intricate wooden furnishings, twin brown leather seats before the desk and the similarly made couch against the far wall simply epitomizing this view. She'd often contemplate changing it but the slightest thought of the time and effort the procedure would take was always enough to sway her into simply accepting it as it was. If anything, it certainly appeared professional, something you wouldn't really expect for someone who specialized in the more artsy world.<br><br>Exhaling a cloud of smoke she continued to wait for her family, having called them all in for a regular check up on their current state, grades, etc. It was a nice enough excuse, covering up the real reason of her just wanting to see and chat with them for a short time as well as make sure they weren't taking the whole Blackwood tradition too seriously. It was unfortunate but even she felt the weight of a line of ancestors weighing down on her when she first attended the college, with everyone around the younger Valen expecting the unprepared teen to excel and overcome the Blackwoods before her. Just the thought of it brought a crack of a smile to the corner of the now older woman's lips, especially as she remembered the paths she'd taken in an attempt to cope; from emo, to goth, to disco. The last of the three still haunted her to this very day as she continued to run into pictures of her old self wearing the most gaudy and ridiculous of clothes; only for each to be subsequently burned upon discovery.<br><br>With a sigh and another breath of smoke, she glanced at her watch and to the door, growing slightly impatient at the wait. Not that they were late, she was just unfortunately always like this, in a rush to get things done so she could fight for that perpetually out-of-reach Valen-time. And, especially as of late, that just seemed more and more like an impossible task.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Westfall College and the Blackwood Family</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Gosco</strong> on <strong>22-05-2010, 01:28:46</strong>
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				Brian bent down to pick up his notebook and papers that he had dropped all over the floor of the hallway. He had to quickly reach up and adjust his glasses on his head to make sure they didn’t fall off. Brian was the youngest of the Blackwoods and didn’t ever get a chance to forget that. While all of them had been brilliant, he was destined to be the one that moved on to invent something or be an officer in a Fortune 500 company. He always felt the pressure baring down on his shoulders.<br><br>“Ugh I want to skip this one. I have homework to do and that program I have to write isn’t anywhere near being done,” Brian mumbled to himself. He hated these little meeting that his mother arranged, but he wasn’t about to against her word. Even if she wasn’t a professor at the college, she’d make his life a living hell if he deliberately skipped a meeting. She was the den mother to say the least, and all the cubs would fall in line for her. Not to say that the relationship wasn't warm or anything. They were a happy family, it just seemed like stress was putting some strain on the bonds of family as of late.<br><br>Brian was the first one in the door. He stood the shortest of the family, due to age. He also stood the youngest of the family. Any trace of his figure was hidden behind the button up shirts that he wore near everyday. Today, he had on a red shirt, with a white undershirt under it, complete with a pair of black khakis. His broad shoulders pushed out on the shirt and usually, Brian kept it unbuttoned on the first couple, just for comfort. He had on glasses that would have looked big on an NBA player, but it was the only kind that worked for his eyes, and he had lost his contacts the night before. Something he neglected to tell his mother that morning. He had on a pair of white dress shoes as well, just to complete the look. He probably would have been called a nerd if anyone had to label him, even though he hated the stereotype.<br><br>The chair was comfortable, and Brian made it audibly apparent as he sat down in the first one he could find. His bag fell down at the side and spilled some books and papers out onto the floor. He may have been a smart cookie, but he was a disorganized one too. Most of the stuff he was carrying now wasn't even for a subject that he had that day. It must have made him look like a mess as the papers scattered about. He quickly reached over and started to gathering them up. Even though he did look like a mess, he was always accessible. Who didn't like their little brother? Well...who hated them at least. He never really fought with anyone in the family, at least outloud. <br><br>The stress was mounting, though. He reached up and rubbed his face, waiting for his siblings to walk into the room. "What time is it, Mom?" he asked taking in a couple long and deep breathes, trying to calm himself down. Brian could feel the stress tightening in his shoulders, which is where he usually started to feel it when he was stressed. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Westfall College and the Blackwood Family</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>KunoichiRogue5</strong> on <strong>24-05-2010, 09:40:08</strong>
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				Yawning, Chloe glanced at her cell phone as she walked. She had a few minutes to spare, but she also knew her MOTHER had called the meeting and she wasn't very happy with the older woman at the moment. Closing her phone she dropped it into her pocket as she walked away, heading for her car. She had shoulder length hair that was dyed many different colors. It was a dark purple color that had one inch of pink at the end, except in the front which was just a puff of white hair. It had taken a long time to get her hair this color but she didn't care. She liked it.<br><br>She wore simple blue-jeans and a black tee shirt that read "sperm dumpster" on the front in splotchy white lettering. She was the 'black sheep' of the family, though she was only that way because she rebelled against her mother's 'ideal daughter' image.&nbsp; She brushed some of her hair out of her eyes as she slid into her car before she took off, heading into town. If it was important enough her mother would talk to her later. But if it was, as she thought it was, a 'check up' on herself and her brothers she wanted nothing to do with it. She had to get to the arcade and meet up with her friends.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Westfall College and the Blackwood Family</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Starkweather</strong> on <strong>26-05-2010, 09:44:05</strong>
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				Jacob would be the last to arrive. The eldest child was dressed in his typically droll blue jeans, gray t-shirt, and shoes. There was a hole in those jeans, and his shoes were severely worn. The bottoms of his pant legs were heavily frayed and torn. The eldest Blackwood child wore a pair of stylish glasses before his dull emerald gaze. His short, jet black hair shot out in all directions, clearly not having been combed in quite some time. <br><br>The young man seemed unfocused and lethargic. Likely attributed to the fact that he had been sound alseep not two minutes ago. These little 'family meetings' annoyed him to no end. He would much rather be sleeping on the only day that he had no classes nor had to work. Days such as these were a rarity. Jacob cherished them like precious stones. Likewise, they were every bit as rare. Which only served to aggrivate Jacob when he was informed that he would have to actually get up and get dressed and see his stupid family today. Don't get me wrong, he loves them all. He just loves sleeping more. <br><br>"Make it quick, mom," said Jake, as he seated himself on the stairs a few feet down from the older woman. An elbow lain onto a knee, and his cheek lain in it's hand.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Westfall College and the Blackwood Family</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Scribbles</strong> on <strong>26-05-2010, 23:38:31</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Dabbing her cigarette into a small ashtray, Valen extinguished it before glancing up with a broad smile; happy to see Brian even if he didn't seem so over-the-moon to see her. "It's around one PM; you're not in a hurry to get away now, are you?" she asked with a playful pout as she hopped off her desk with a swing of her legs and a light push from her arms. Despite her enthusiasm however her heart felt something more like concern as she noticed his completely worn appearance. Circling the boy she took his broad shoulders gently into her hands and began to lovingly press at them, attempting to massage the tightness from his muscles. "Loosen up Brian, you're far too tense," she admonished; a little curious about his glasses but believing it not the best time to bring in that spark just yet, especially while he was obviously so on edge. <br><br>And then Jacob appeared, looking like he'd been attacked by thugs; but that was how he always looked. Glancing up she smiled just as brightly, greeting her son with a cheerful, "Hello Jacob," while choosing not to respond to his request. She did comply however, feeling that she was just making things worse, and so resisted the urge for small talk or to peek into their personal lives. Instead, while still gently rubbing at Brian's shoulders, she asked, "Okay, I was going to go through the usual motions of checking your reports and progress but since you're both looking a little tuckered I'll simply ask a favour instead. I want you both to choose one short activity, anything you want, from squash, to swimming, to riding, for us all to do together in the next hour or two." Looking down at her watch she added under her breath, "And hopefully your sister will join us in time to also participate."<br><br>Glancing back to the boys she stopped the back rub and fell into a nearby chair, crossing her legs as she awaited a response before adding, with just the hint of a sigh, "If you like though, you can also just leave."
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