There Will Be Cake [Tuesday, Period Three]

[doubleohblonde]

Bond looked much better this week, given he was actually there and all. Additionally there were baking supplies out.

"Good afternoon, now as those of you who keep track of such things know, this weekend is Easter. A holiday where the fact a by all accounts fairly decent man was nailed to a tree for telling people to be nice to each other, and then became a zombie, is celebrated with chocolate and baked goods." No, Bond wasn't particularly religious, why do you ask? "But the reasons why is not particularly important right now so much as the form the baked goods take, namely hot cross buns, which you'll be making today."

"Now, traditionally, these are spiced fruit bun, but there are also other variations which you may try if you feel they're more your speed."

[Class Roster]

Supernatural Studies, Wednesday, Period 1

[bitten_notshy]

Jack coughed a few times, trying to clear his throat before he started talking.

"Right," he said. "We're talking about werewolves. I've been doing everything under the sun to get out of this class because I am one and it embarrasses me, but apparently I have no control over what I'm blurting out today, so this is ... what's happening. Also I spent the last two nights barred up in a basement so I wouldn't maul anyone and I've been off what you'd call carbs since Monday, so I'm a tiny bit cross. If you want to leave, I wouldn't blame you."

With that out of the way, he glanced at his notes. "A werewolf or lycanthrope is a human who transforms into a wolf or wolf-like creature on or around the full moon. Generally you have to get bitten by another werewolf to get the condition, though in some worlds you can be born with it. In my case -- because I can't do anything the normal way -- I managed to get bitten by a ghost werewolf. Which is an absurdly long story, so I won't go into it.

"Once you have it, there's no cure I know of. You do get enhanced senses, speed and strength out of the condition, which are all quite nice. The drawbacks are that you turn into a bloodthirsty wolf monster every month, without fail, for the rest of your life. I also want to throw up every time I cross a river or stream, which happens more often than you'd think, and silver makes my hands sting when I touch it. I've taken to not eating much of anything but sandwiches in public because you get funny looks if you bring your own flatware to a restaurant. And the transformation hurts terribly. Imagine having your skin set on fire while someone grabbed your organs and yanked hard and you have some general concept."

He drew a breath. "But I've been lucky," he said. "My friends stood by me, and I've arranged my life so that I wouldn't hurt anyone. Not everyone has a place like Fandom, so not everyone can say that."

"My discussion question for you is about reacting to conditions along the lines of mine. It doesn't have to be being a werewolf, of course. You might get bitten by a vampire, or die and come back as a ghost, or have a mutation manifest, or any number of things. But if what you could do was to change, fundamentally and irrevocably, would that also change who you were? Would you expect the changes to be good or bad?

"Or you could quiz me about werewolf stuff. It's the only time you'll get a straight answer."

Library, Wednesday, All Day

[3girls-1core.livejournal.com]

Sholeh was very not happy with what had happened in class today. Very not happy at all. As soon as she'd opened her mouth, she'd begun saying all sorts of things that she'd really rather not have shared with anyone, especially not an entire class of students.

It was a relief to be able to escape into the library. Hopefully the rules governing quiet in the library would keep her from saying too much. Doubtful, but a girl could hope, couldn't she?

Friendship 101, Wednesday

[justlurkinghere]

Class met in a regular classroom today, with desks and everything. Pinkie greeted the students as they came in, wearing a lampshade on her head.

If asked, she'd tell the truth about it. But it was probably better not to ask at all.

"Hi everypony!" she greeted at the top of the class. "We're in here today instead of the Danger Shop because every time I tried to program something in, it gave me cupcake bats, which give me the heebiest of jeebies."

Derek wasn't asking. He wasn't asking because he didn't want to talk at all. Today was the absolute worst day of all days on island.

And yet...

"And because I can't work the controls any better than a pony," Derek added with the most anger possible while discussing Pinkie Pie.

"You shouldn't feel bad," Pinkie assured him. "I'm weirdly good at it, considering I have hooves and not fingery things."

"I feel bad about everything," Derek ground out, glaring daggers at Pinkie Pie for continuing this conversation. "Especially with people who are my friends. They're going to die or betray me at some point."

Wow, Derek. That's some healthy thinking.

Pinkie gave him giant sad wibbly eyes. "Aww! I'd give you a hug but you're very prickly about your physical boundaries." She turned back to the class. "But that brings us to a good point! Today, we're going to talk about why we all need friendship in the first place! For one thing, we need it because it's very powerful magic that can turn your enemies to stone and weaponize rainbows! But I need it personally because I'm constantly afraid that everypony secretly finds me deeply irritating and terrible."

If what he said before wasn't bad enough, Derek, hands covering his face like that would help, added, "I don't find you irritating or terrible."

Pinkie's giant sad wibbly eyes went large enough to actually tip the lampshade most of the way back off her head. "AWWWW! I really do have to hug you, now." At least she gave him warning.

This continued to be the worst day ever. Ever. Derek didn't even uncover his eyes to react to that hug. "Tell each other why friendship is important to you," he ordered the class before quietly adding. "I like hugs."

Yes, he managed to make it sound angry. Deal with it.