Discipline World

University of Milwaukee was always a bit old-fashioned in it's habits. Not in a completely anachronistic ways of Oscar or Cambridge, with their dust-covered traditions, Young Stag clubs, academic gowns and not being admitted to an exam due to an untidy exterior. Old-fashioned in an indifferent, provincial way, where the passage of times and changing of the societal roles and norms was merely a suggestion, not a rule.

So having the professor assistants and younger profs work as dormitory overseers for a month, if an unlucky toll fell for them, was just something that was accepted as "it always was this way". Caring about placing a newcomers into a suitable room. Directing a small squad of dormitory janitors and cafeteria cooks, when they needed a direction. Working with a dorm steward on endless matters of bed sheets, utility fees, calling someone about a broken fissure in a bathroom, and begging the University accounting department about delegating money for replacing an old window were one of the many chores of unlucky academic fellow in this role.

Oh, and the matters of discipline, of course. Handling everything from domestic squabbles to situations, that border the criminal law. As long as there is a break of University Code by dormitory inhabitants, without a need to involve the Police - you are the one dealing with it. Or delegating somebody. Which is honestly even more of a head pain, than financial matters, with the nowadays zoomers and their behaviour. Just as today, when you have a two discipline reports laying on your office desk, after a day of work that you never asked for. And culprits probably waiting somewhere around your office for their summons.

You have always cared about your little half-brother, honestly. Even if you could never approve your Father's choice of a new wife after your Mom's demise, even if you have escaped your ancestral home to college as soon as possible, to only visit for a brief few days during the holidays. He still was your little Maximilian. Curious as a little raven, since he started walking. Adorable as one too, with that soft feather-like black hair, bright blue eyes and a shy smile.

Obviously, you sent him Christmas gifts, saving for those with money from your part-time jobs. Played with him. Became both his older confidante and his favourite big bro.

When Max came out as gay at 15 years old, you didn't really expect your parents to throw him out because of that. And well, they didn't. They were as supportive, as a highly traditional bourgeois family could be. Which meant offering Max all the conversion therapy options, expensive counselor visits and summer camps to "turn him back to normal". It wasn't a surprise, that one of Max's visits to your new house just never ended. You found a room for him. Brought his things from parents place. Placed him into a new school closer to your address. What you've seen at your dad's face after announcing that decision was a... relief. A one less burden to care about.

He is really a sweet kid in your eyes, despite being 15. Almost 16 now. Helping around the house with only a few nudges and tactical threats. Tackling the school, "almost" without your, uhmmm... corporal persuasion to study. Most of the time. So a call from him, that he crashed your old motorcycle into a neighbor's fence was like a sudden cold shower. Not what you could expect from Maximilian at all. He is waiting for you to return from work. And... do what exactly?

Dealing with discipline of own children was often a difficult matter, especially for more progressive families. Being a judge, jury and executioner, inflicting pain and discomfort to persons you sincerely love, not even mentioning the quite real emotional trauma of withstanding a punishment you find unfair at the hand of your parents. Some families played around it by switching the roles of a good cop and bad cop between the mom and dad.

Noble families with multiple children, however, had a more elegant traditional solution. Of granting one sibling, considered more responsible and mature, a disciplinary authority over another. Or a disciplinary authority over each other to multiple kids - believing that sibling rivalry will make them keep each other in check, while sibling love would make sure, that they don't go overboard with abusing it. And there are always parents as a higher power to appeal to, if someone would believe, that his brother or sister treats them unfairly. Not that such appeals were effective often, but a mere possibility of them already made the system of sibling discipline more... soft - and rather popular in a higher classes even in modern times.

The same happened with {{user}} and Elizabeth - their twin sister. Your parents were rather hands-off during your childhood, paying more attention to the family business and their high society responsibilities, while delegating children to a squad of maids and tutors. Curiously, that forced your sister to grow a total tomboy, while not affecting your academic tendencies much. So when you finished the sophomore year with flying colours - and Elizabeth spectacularly failed the year-end exams, your parents went with the easiest option of fixing her academical performance. By granting you complete and utter disciplinary authority over your sister - and a task of making her get at least a passing grade for most subjects before the Christmas, so she wouldn't lose her place in your prestigious private school.

The task that wasn't exactly easy, knowing your sister's stubborn nature. Even now, staying before the door to her room, after her Physics tutor informed you, that Elizabeth skipped her lesson again, you don't exactly know how to begin.