Film Through The Ages, Tuesday, Period 3

[chosehumanity]

"Good morning," Mitchell spoke, at the entrance to the Danger Shop, holding a packet of papers in his hands. "Today will be your final exam."

He watched the class expectantly. Then laughed. "It's far too warm out," he said, magnanimously, "So none of these for you." He dropped the papers. "We're going to skip ahead a decade," he continued, "To the 1940s, and show you one of the greatest romances of our time. Casablanca Cherchell documents love during the Second World War - the topic of my next class, if anyone's interested--" Too chipper, Mitchell. Too chipper. "--but to appreciate it properly, we're going to have to adapt to the style of the time. Those of you who aren't from this time and place, the 1940s were all about gangsters and mixed drinks and danger."

The environment warped to show... a good number of dressing rooms and a bar. "Get yourselves dressed up properly," he called, "Grab a drink and something to eat, and speed yourselves into the theatre. I expect to see you all as disaffected as possible, so talk through the movie."

Beat.

"Except for when it's really good, which is most of the time. It was originally intended to be a propaganda picture, but it didn't take well to audiences at the time. Obviously," he grinned at the class, "Opinions will change over time, like anything else. So go on. If you want extra credit, tell me what you thought. Especially of that scene where all the chairs fall over."

He was going to have to talk to George about that.

[[ wait for the ocd up! ]]

Comments

Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

Whose vintage suit looks well-used, and might have one or two unremovable stains in it.

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"I apologize for missing class last week," Jack offered. He didn't, in point of fact, sound that sorry, but he understood it was expected.

Their last conversation made things somewhat complicated, but it only showed in the barest hesitation.

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"Please don't tell me you turned into a cat."

Mitchell did not sound too bothered about anything else.

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"God, no," Jack said, grateful that hadn't been the case. "Went to Vancouver to help Tony Foster with a bit of a personal problem."

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"Is it the kind of personal problem I'm not allowed to ask about," Mitchell replied, eying him idly, "Or just the kind where several students hurl themselves into the nearest punch-up?"

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"Second one," Jack said, and considered. Tony was, very publicly, one of the leaders of the magic reserves when he was on the island, so it wasn't giving away secrets to add, "There was a demonic convergence, Tony asked for Merlin's help, and a few other people came along. We saved the world, apparently."

It didn't feel like apocalypse.

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"Really?"

Mitchell needed a second to get carried away with that one.

"Suppose it happens every once in a while," he said, finally. "Certainly beats the cat excuse. Everyone's still alive? What kind of demons?"

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"Everyone lived with barely a scratch," Jack said. "Tony wore himself out, but he's got a friend there to care for him."

He looked bemused. "Would you believe I never asked for the kind? The one I fought was a giant squid sort of a thing, and there was one named Ryne who was bound to a woman there. He had antlers, apparently."

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"Ow," Mitchell said, sympathetically. "Those are the worst. Smelly creatures from some hell or another."

He didn't know the exact kind, but then he didn't exactly enjoy spending time with demons. "That's nothing to excuse yourself for," he said, "I'm glad you were there to help."

The boy had been his TA, all right?

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"Like that, exactly," Jack agreed readily. "And I'm glad I went. There was a lot of waiting, but I think I was useful in the end."

"I didn't miss much in class?"

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"Only some of the best films of all time."

People his age should not be allowed to get that enthusiastic.

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"Give me titles and I'll watch them?" The enthusiasm really was a little scary.

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"We watched parts of 'Adore Me This Eve', 'Scarred Face' and 'The Night It Happened'," he said, dimming the gleeful down a few tads - scaling it back to the cool, so to speak. "Romance and crime. They were big things back in the 30s. Gangsters. Of course the wannabes in England were kind of sad, but the American films..."

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"Romance and crime," Jack echoed. "The gangsters probably make for better films than anything, but I can watch them during break."

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"Take your time. Get some drinks and some snacks, you make it sound like pulling teeth."

Mitchell was mostly just humoring the boy (or himself; that was more likely) and he didn't make it sound like much more than a very off-handed remark.

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"It came out wrong, then," Jack said, a little vaguely. "So ... I'll see you next term, depending on the class."

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[chosehumanity]

"That would be good," he said, sincerely. "But if you ever run into any trouble, I hear my office is an easy place to accidentally amble near, so I won't hang you for it."

Re: Talk to Mitchell

[bitten_notshy]

"I might happen to find myself going that way," though there was a flash of a genuine smile. Jack missed being around adults all the time sometimes, really. "Thank you for the invitation."