The Akmon Appreciation Society

***Joint writing project with Todd, fleshing out some of Vera and Peg's early experiences together.***
 
Vera stands up on a wooden crate along one side of the student quad. It is midmorning, and second classes have let out, giving the students a longer break before the next set of classes, or to let out other students to head to work sites. The hustle and bustle largely seems to be ignoring Vera standing on the crate. She is dressed up in her brand new dress she received for the Summer, and at 16 seems to be finally shedding some of the gawky angles she had been showing off the last couple of years. Her dress was all the latest of fashion in Ruskovich, but it stood out in the quad for its oddity. Vera was used to being a spectacle by now, and seems to be trying to use it to her advantage, but to little avail.
 
“Now signing up members of the Akmon Appreciation Society! Senior positions need filling within the Society,” She stomps on the crate for emphasis, causing it to wobble dangerously.
 
She clutches at a slim clipboard, outwardly projecting the confidence she didn’t feel. Her hands are sweaty in her gloves, and she can feel the dampness under her mask building up as well. “He has brought us culture at its finest, and given us a vision of a bright future. Let us come together to discuss how Akmon provides for and assists us in the betterment of society and the lower classes. Sign up now!”
 
Most students just continue to walk by, attending to whatever it is they had going on in their own. A few point toward Vera and murmur to one another, the content obscured, but the laugh on the faces of some evident. Some students seem to take a genuine interest, however, stopping to listen to her.
 
“The school has a Dragonchess club and even a men’s club for Billiards. Why not have a club that is devoted to understanding and giving thanks to Akmon, the god responsible for bringing the civilized races up from the mud? During our meetings we could explore the many subtle ways his policies and influence have guided our lives, and enjoy some good company at the same time!” She taps her clipboard to enunciate her points, then finishes off with a lady-like fist wave. She’d practiced her speeches and motions in the mirror several times. She was sure her roommates thought she was a bit insane. But Mistress Agavra of Speeches and Influence had been adamant that practice was important.
 
Slowly, Vera begins to get signatures from various students. She continues to stump for her group, and eventually even convinces one of the more popular senior students to add their name to the board. By the end of the free period, Vera is barely able to contain her excitement and heads out with a light skip in her step to plan the first meeting.
 
—Two Weeks Later—
 
Vera is working at her school table, reviewing Percurium’s Index of Mechanical Oddities. Her usually studious concentration is gone however, and instead she finds herself just copying the book verbatim in order to memorize the information. She slips a coca leaf into her mouth, but her focus is still fragmented.
 
Peg comes out from her room, bouncing over and kissing the top of Vera’s head. She frowns a little as she looks at the other girl. “What’s wrong, Vera? You don’t look like you have any of your usual excitement for mechanical oddities?”
 
“It’s fine. It’s all… fine,” she looks at her book again blankly, leaning against Peg.
 
Peg crosses her arms and looks at Vera. “It clearly is not, so you might as well tell me what happened.”
 
“You’ll probably get a laugh out of it,” She sighs and leans back. “Do you remember when I invited you to the club I was making? The Akmon Appreciation Society? I got a bunch of other members to join. Even several older students. Some of them thought we should have a council instead of a monarchy. I decided we could do that. They formed a council and voted me out of the Society.” She gives a slightly manic laugh.
 
Peg listens with a smile to the beginning, which fades as Vera goes on. “What? Why? You started it. The whole thing was your idea. It wouldn’t even exist without you.”
 
Vera nods. “I should be happy though, right? I mean, it seems to be pretty successful. A lot of nobles are joining it? I’ll miss it.” She leans back towards her desk and begins sketching a tiara onto her notes.
 
“Happy? They kicked you out. Bloody noble brats who think they can do whatever they want. It was your idea and your work that got it started.” Peg frowns. “Did they even say why?”
 
“Yes,” Vera sighs, with a sour note to her voice. “I’m sure there are other reasons, but the one I was given by Neville was ‘Even the AAS has to accept the influence of Eosphorus.’ I figure it was a jab at my Rus origins, since he is one of the Forbidden where I am from.”
 
Peg wrinkles her nose. “If the gods are so concerned with a school group, they clearly need better things to do with their time. Neville is an imbecile who’s only here because the University couldn’t say no to his parents. I’m more disappointed in the others who went along with him.” She frowns a bit and then smiles mischievously at Vera. “Want me to go talk to them?”
 
“Sort of,” she laughs in spite of her mood. “Is that bad? I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble though.”
 
She waves that off. “Don’t worry about that, Vera. It isn’t right what they did. They should understand that.”
 
Vera goes to say something further, but has come to understand the gleam in Peg’s eye when she has an idea. She just stops and listens, taking in Peg’s scheme, helping to sculpt it.
 
 
—Later That Week—
Peg goes to the meeting of the Akmon Appreciation Society. The students were meeting in a room of the library. Peg watches them file in, chatting with one another. She frowns as she thinks about them voting Vera out. She looks at Neville as he goes in. <They’re all talking about you.> She thinks. She stifles a laugh and hides behind her book as she sees him jump and screech. The other students look at him and she can see the judgment. He shrinks a bit. <Look how foolish they think you are.> Neville looks around wildly and then bolts from the library.
 
—The Next Week—
Peg returns to the library for the next meeting of the Akmon Appreciation Society. Again, she sits with a book, watching the students file in for their meeting. She spots Penelope Amavir, who seems to have taken charge and is ordering people about. <They can tell. You’re not fooling anyone.> She thinks and she can see Penelope’s eyes grow wide. Peg smiles behind her book. <All your secrets out in the open.> She sing-songs the thought at the other girl and watches the panic spread across her face.
 
—And On…—
As the weeks passed, the Akmon Appreciation Society had fewer and fewer in attendance until it eventually disbanded. Rumor had it that without Vera’s leadership, the Society was unable to sustain itself. Vera was understandably sad that the club had failed, but she pointed out to those who would listen that poor governance and lack of enterprising spirit were the likely downfalls.