A/N: As always, the support is always welcomed! Furthermore, I like the choir setting, too! Also, totally misspelled Mrs. Butte's name wrong in this chapter and previous ones - I'll be rectifying that mistake immediately!

And now, we're starting to pick up in pace :-), Who's ready for some a cappella fun?

_._

"Heavens, no, I'm not interested creating a Glee Club, Mr. Carson. I'm simply interested in enriching the lives of our charges with an a cappella sound." Because he uses "enriching" more often than she can count, so she can throw it back at him from time to time. "Besides, the ladies are picking up the pace rather well, surely they can handle learning a few more songs."

"Yes, well, regardless of how well the ladies are picking up their pieces, Mrs. Hughes, I simply must protest. I have found in my time that a cappella music really is just Glee Clubs and a scandalous attempt at sound that is somehow allowed to reign free in the world. So, you'll forgive me if I don't put much stock into what you're planning to get the Advanced ladies - of all singers - involved with." He had his back to her at this, and so missed her roll her eyes at such a backwards thought.

"Did you not approve of the Masters of Harmony when I played them for the ladies?"

"I'm not at all sure of what you mean."

She paused, stiffening at his denial.

You mean, you're going to claim being unaware of such a moment? At the very least, you should've been able to hear the sound through those paper thin walls! And your boys did applaud too, you know! That, even I could hear!

For although Mrs. Hughes had gotten caught up in the fond memories that the video brought forth, she hadn't been so lost in her reverie that she missed the thunderous applause from teenagers of all people. After all, such approval was as common as snow in August.

But, unfortunately, it looked like Mr. Carson really was going to attempt to feign ignorance to it all, the daft man.

Well then. That just meant she'd have to try a different track, a different route of persuasion.

"Surely there's something you've come across, in your many years of choral expertise," That last part is a bit too impertinent to be disguised as respect. But she's past caring and he's absolutely oblivious. "That didn't sound like a 'scandalous attempt at sound'?"

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can recall, Ms. Hughes." Though, the truth is that he hardly gave it a proper thought before responding. "Nothing at all."

Elsie refrained from scoffing at this, choosing instead to nod thoughtfully and keep her not-so-polite words to herself for the time being.

_._

"I wonder if Mrs. Hughes will allow us to sing any proper solos this semester. Mrs. Butte never did."

"Rose, as we've said before," Even Sybil was losing a little of her famous patience when dealing with her cousin. "Solos are only performed in the spring. Besides, Mr. Carson is the one in charge of the music."

"And he's as likely as Mrs. Butte to allow a 'proper solo'." Edith intoned darkly.

"Well, I think there's new opportunity with Mrs. Hughes! I'm sure things will be different with her around, listening to that song proved as such." At this, the one girl who never cared to truly involve herself with her cousin's schemes and ideas finally decided to insert her own opinion.

"I think, darling Rose, we're in agreement for once." After all, if she were going to speak in the first place, Mary simply had to have the last word

_._

"But, how did you actually manage not to get yelled at and play the video? I've seen many students get lectured by Mr. Carson for far worse."

"Mr. Carson is not the ruler of the land, Beryl, whether he knows it or not. And, they were interested in hearing what I had to offer. So, why shouldn't I offer it and further enrich their opportunities?"

They snickered together, safely ensconced in Beryl's own "land" and therefore able to be quite candid with one another.

"So, do you think you'll stick to the songs Mrs. Butte had selected? For the other choirs, that is."

Elsie paused a moment before responding, giving her next words careful thought.

"Well, apparently, Mrs. Butte hadn't been able to complete her selections before falling ill. So, even though Mr. Carson informed me she is beginning to recover, I'm afraid it'll be up to me to fill in the gaps."

Beryl snorted.

"Oh," She began to deadpan. "What a shame."

_._

"It's not normally like this, is it?" John had somehow managed to cross paths with one Anna Smith today, and he was fully intending to take advantage of it. "How the choirs are ran at the Academy, that is."

She snorted at his question, knowing fully well that he knew the answer already.

_._

Sticking to her word about refraining from changing every song selected and only filling in the gaps was something that was quite easy.

The real challenge for Elsie was convincing her fellow colleague that the students wanted this change. That they were willing to work more for it, and that said change was worthy of being implemented.

_._

When Google searches hardly availed any real answers about your new choir teacher, that usually meant it was time to go straight to the source.

"Do you have an appointment to meet with Mrs. Crawley?" The secretary coldly asked, not particularly interested in letting Thomas just pass by.

"Not officially, but-"

"If you do not have an appointment, then I cannot allow you to meet with her."

Well, then. He'd make an official appointment.

_._

"Mr. Carson, I do believe that there has to be something in the a cappella realm that would meet even your standards of repertoire." He looked taken aback at this challenge, shuddering at the thought.

"I'm afraid I still can think of nothing Mrs. Hughes."

"What if I find something within your own music library that could potentially meet such standards?"

He paused in his administrative tasks - being the choir director wasn't just conducting, playing piano, and picking music, you know - and mets her penetrating stare with his own.

"If you can find even one piece in this library that even Mrs. Crawley would approve of, and have it approved by the end of this week, I will consider allowing you the opportunity to perform that song." Her eyes narrowed at this.

"That's hardly a true consideration, let alone a fair guarantee, Mr. Carson."

"Nothing in life is fair or even a guarantee, Mrs. Hughes." And that was his position on the matter.

That is, until he saw her eyes suddenly narrow further into pure slits of vexation.

"Though, if Mrs. Crawley did approve, I'd also be willing to let you have free reign over selecting any other songs you'd like to incorporate." She paused a moment, thinking over his hastily spoken amendment, before eventually responding.

"Can I have a few of your boys to work with? Or will you be further restricting my choices by reducing me to only female ensembles?"

They both knew that, although there was indeed a beautiful range of sound for women pieces, there were only so many notes that either gender could typically reach - especially at such a young age. Which translates into male singers having a much larger repertoire to select from, just because they can sing falsetto as well as notes as low as the second E on the piano.

In short, because they both knew the current vocal limits for female singers, Elsie's new level of respect for the man was going to be dictated by his next few words.

And that was something that even Mr. Carson recognized.

_._

"Did you see how Mr. Carson was bossing around Mrs. Hughes today? I thought she was ready to explode and it's only Week Three!" Although Andy was only in the Men's Ensemble, he had always been apart of this friend group ever since he came to Downton Academy.

"Honestly, Andy," Daisy shook her head in disbelief. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad. Though, I do wish she'd let us know if we could ever be like them." Ivy nodded, knowing as to who Daisy was referring to.

"Who's this 'them' you're talking about, Daisy?"

"Never you mind." She wasn't interested in reminding him about that video, seeing as how Andy didn't seem particularly interested the first time she and Ivy - another Bel Canto singer - had brought it up.

Andy, seeing no support from his crush, tossed the question in the direction of their other mutual friend."What do you think, William? Do you think Mrs. Hughes is gonna blow?"

William paused, debating about what he should actually say. On one hand, he was kind of on Andy's side - if that meant he liked Mrs. Hughes enough that he didn't want to her to be ignored or bossed around by Mr. Carson. On the other hand, Daisy didn't think it was that big of a deal and maybe she was right.

"I don't know, really."

"And does it really matter, Andy?" Daisy piped up again, looking at something on her phone. "It's not like Mrs. Hughes will be here after this semester."

"I guess not."

Though, had Daisy and the others really thought it through, they'd realize just how important it is for their choir teachers to be united in matters. That, healthy conflict is good to challenge old traditions, but if there's unnecessary tension that can destroy a choir.

Fortunately, while there may be conflict, it was hardly the sort of tension that would "destroy" everything.

_._

"Now, Elsie, he said that you needed the approval of Mrs. Crawley right?" They'd been chatting over tea while Elsie ranted about the whole situation.

"Yes." Her friend muttered through gritted teeth, loathing the fact that she still had to talk Violet Crawley about all of this.

"Well, then, it's quite simple isn't it?"

Elsie stared at her friend in confusion, before realization swept the confusion away.

_._

"'A cappella music really is just Glee Clubs and a scandalous attempt at sound allowed to reign free', eh?" She hadn't been impressed with that remark, not one bit. Nor had Mrs. Crawley, when Elsie finally explained the situation.

See, as she had started to explain to her students before, Glee Clubs hardly scratched the surface of a cappella opportunity. And with a music library filled with hundred of pieces, there had to be at least one piece here that even Charles Carson would approve of.

"Wait a minute."

As defiance and obstinacy continued to rise within her, a particular piece came to mind. One that suited the requirements and would absolutely win administrative approval.

And with further recollection, a fond memory sparked from a performance years past. A memory that instilled her with confidence that this would be a piece of cake to conduct, let alone sing.

But, she couldn't teach from a memory. Not accurately and not effectively, at the very least. So, hopefully this old-fashioned school had the sheet music for it somewhere in this library.

"Surely Downton Academy has to have such an enriching piece?" But her heart was hardly in the old tease; Elsie was more invested in properly searching for the song. With that in mind, she pulled open the cabinets to start scanning the sheet music before her.

Now, Mr. Carson had personally explained his system on her first day here. But there had been quite a lot to process all around and so she didn't remember everything. Not to mention, their accidental first meeting was unusual enough to distract her thoughts throughout that particular day.

"You couldn't have just alphabetized the whole lot, could you?" But she wasn't terribly bothered by his system - it gave her more of an understanding of his character.

And it was alphabetized, in a sense. However, it was only alphabetized after being sectioned off into subcategories. French chansons, German lieder, English solo pieces, songs requiring an orchestra, choral selections, eight-part pieces, they all had their little sections in these cabinets.

And so with over two hundred songs filed away, there were many sections to peruse.

Fortunately, it only took her about five minutes to get enough of an understanding to properly search. And it only took an additional ten to find what she was looking.

While John Rutter was not normally her first choice, it was a sweet and lovely piece. Furthermore,

"Yes,"

Elsie knew that even her curmudgeon of a choir director would be inclined to agree that this was a 'worthy' choice for their little army of choristers.

"This will do."

All that was left now was to properly convince said curmudgeon

_._

"Now, before we begin, " He was ready to give the same speech he'd been giving to each main chorus throughout the day. "I would like to announce an opportunity for you all."

They all leaned forward in anticipation, much to his frustration. His students were typically filled with the most decorum and professionalism. His choirs themselves were usually packed to the brim with talented sight singers and gorgeous tonal quality at a moment's notice.

And now? In this particular moment?

They currently resembled toddlers touching music for the first time.

"What is it, Mr. Carson?" Sybil innocently asked, as though she hadn't been hearing of this particular opportunity from her friends in the other choirs.

"Simply put, Sybil," He resigned himself to the same outcome that had occurred each time he got to this part: chaos disguised as innocent inquisition and curiosity. "If you are interested in an opportunity to practice a cappella music in a more formalized setting, and are content to give up your free time after-school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays," For this was the deal he made with Mrs. Hughes. "You must inform Mrs. Hughes as such by the end of tomorrow."

It was at this point that the woman with the request had regained their attention, stepping forth to finally speak.

"And, I promise you," She softly smiled at the eagerness before her. "If you do decide to join, it will be a lot of fun."

_._

They had all made up their reasons to their respective friends,

"Oh, well, it has to be better than Mrs. Butte's selections. I can drop it if anything."

"I didn't have anything to do on Fridays anyway."

"Mrs. Hughes seems alright, maybe it'd be fun."

"It'd be so worth it to prove Mr. Carson wrong. Because he's absolutely wrong if he doesn't think we should be doing this."

And so, by Wednesday evening, she had the administration's approval, the song itself, and even a little army.

_._

"What do you think, Mrs. Patmore?" The band and orchestra director were heading out of the building together. Naturally, that created an interest in conversing together about certain subjects. "Do you think Mr. Carson will actually allow Mrs. Hughes to have any hint of free reign?"

"I think Mrs. Hughes is far stronger than she looks." Isobel Crawley spoke out from behind them, causing both women to give a start. "And that Mr. Carson will be in quite for the semester if he doesn't allow even a hint of change."