fandomhigh | Maths For Real Life, Class 1, Period 1 [1-7]

"Good morning," Jean-Paul said to his students, who might notice he was actually hovering just barely above the floor, with his toes pointed so that he appeared to be standing en pointe, "and welcome to Maths For Real Life. There are certain things your parents should teach you; unfortunately, your parents chose to send you to boarding school instead. Or...you may not have parents. Or you may not be on speaking terms with them. These things happen. At any rate, here we are. And within three and a half years, unless you are remarkably bad at this, your high school careers will end and you will be catapulted into the real world, where you will have to not give other people more money than you actually have, deal with your country, planet, or dimension's version of the Internal Revenue Service, and figure out how many ounces are in a kilogram. I will teach you these things. You are welcome.

"Today, I would like to get to know what I am dealing with. We shall simply have introductions, going around the room. Each of you will please tell me your name, where you are from, and what you hope to get out of this class."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The eyes on the back of his head - or rather, their owner, since Michael didn't want to blind anyone - soon became the target of a paper aeroplane, thrown from somewhere around waist level and yet remarkably accurate.

He caught the paper after it'd bounced off his arm and pulled it onto his desk. Then he started unfolding it.

If he gave up paper, then why shouldn't he keep it?

There were a few words written in block print on one wing, if Liir happened to notice them.

"Michael Guerin. Hi."

He noticed.

And blinked as he looked at it. Hmm.

Then he wrote something below the greeting and folded the paper.

Michael should find it on his desk in a minute after a very smooth sideways toss.

He did, and raised his eyebrows in vague admiration before unfolding the note.

Liir. Are these notes part of class?

No. Just a tradition.

A tradition that will get me in trouble or a tradition that's considered a part of the experience?

Both, if we get caught. Why were you looking at me?

Because you look bored, which is ridiculous. Or as if you don't care, which is also ridiculous.

Why? The good stuff didn't start yet.

Have you taken this course?

First year here. But he's just doing intros, you heard him.

And that's not interesting? It's more than you knew before.

And nothing I couldn't find out in the dorms.

But you could do better things at the dorms. If you're going to be here, you might as well pay attention.

Besides, there's always something to who tells you what. Information is more than just what you hear.