Rain
Comic 1338 - The Graduates
Author Notes:
However, at least at my graduation, we were seated specifically in the order we'd be going up. So reading the names out of order - based on how I know it - would cause kind of a fiasco in this structure with a lot of kids having to climb over each other in the aisles. It would behoove Arthur to keep a firm grip on those names this time! XD
Anyway, this means a lot of the more significant characters ended up having their names called early, and if not for Gavin, that second page might feel a little pointless. But I did want them all to get their moment. Just pretend a few hundred other names were called out in the midst of it.
And as a reminder, these are all the named seniors in the story, that are (well, were) actively in St. Hallvard. Maria is a senior, but she's attending the public school now. Rudy, Chanel, and Ana are underclassmen. Ky is an underclassman and in the public school. So Brother Arthur wouldn't be calling out any of their names.
We'll go into that in a bit, though. ^_^
(Reminder that this is not the end of the story; it's not even the end of the chapter!) XD
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But if you know someone prefers a certain pronoun, there's literally no reason to arbitrarily use something else. ^^;
Like, for example, if you referred to me as they/them before knowing me, fine. That's proper usage if you don't know the preferred pronoun. But if you call me that after I've already told you I'm she/her, you're misgendering me.
So if you know he uses he/him, use he/him.
Well, don't. If someone tells you their pronouns, use what they ask to be called. It's rude to do otherwise.
I'm not trying to give you a hard time either; I'm trying to be clear. This is very important.
Accidentally outing someone is far, far worse than misgendering them with good intent.
I can agree to that, but chances are the person in question will still detail, "but I'm not out yet, so for the time being, please use [x] pronouns in public."
I 100% agree it's important not to out anyone. Ultimately, the end result is still, I believe, to call people what they ask. Follow all instructions given. :)
I tried to do this when I came out to my family but they were unable to not out me so I had to basically go back in the closet and ask them to act as if I had never said anything. But they get weird about it and my dad calls me his "offspring" which I hate.
Speaking of which, I suspected Brother Arthur would use Rain's name. He's always been a cool person =)
Their principal tripped on the way up the stairs to the stage, and dropped the stack of 3x5 cards he had in his hand. Cards flew everywhere. He picked himself up and looked at the cards, some of which were being blown further by the wind.
He went to the podium, and said something like, "Well, that was unfortunate. I had all the names in order. Well, I guess I'll have to wing it, and just say the names of the people I recognize. I've had four years to get to know you all, so hopefully I can manage a reasonable number of you. If I miss your name, take heart, it means you weren't sent to my office too many times."
He then proceeded to name each student, along with a "memorable achievement" that was supposedly how he remembered them. He got all of them right. Many of those achievements were things that the people in question had thought the principal wasn't anywhere near.
Later on, it turned out he did that every year. Every teacher was tasked with noting at least one notable achievement their students made in each of their classes, and his secretary picked the achievements for him to list for each student.
My coworker said he was more impressed knowing that background than he had been by watching the guy do it for his class. It may have been a rigged demo, but it certainly wasn't an easy one.
It's a big step, a big day. I'm happy it was Arthur reading these names, it means Rain got to hear her name one of the times it mattered most. Poor Ryan though, I'm sure he'll make a good heading having this be the last time he's deadnamed publicly.
I don't know if her last name's ever been directly said in canon, but yeah, that's always been it, yeah. XD
I seem to remember we weren't allowed to throw our hats either for the same reason, and my graduation was a long time ago now. Realistically, St. Hallvard's graduating class probably shouldn't be throwing them either, but for the sake finalizing the moment in a fictional setting, I felt it was appropriate. ^_^
First page, second name. Between Drew and Ryan. :)
Randy's middle name is Martin. :)
He only has a middle initial because it works for the play on words. Because he's Randy M. Guy (a random guy). ^_^