fandomhigh | Applied Science | Monday, 8/31 |Period 1

Oh, hey, a new semester! That meant Tyler was on time, actually put on a tie, and -- in honor of the early hour -- had a huge tank of coffee and stack of cups on a back table.

"Hi," he said as the class filed in, gesturing a little with the coffee mug that probably would not leave his hand in the next 15 classes. "Welcome to applied science. I'm Tyler Durden. Tyler works, Mr. Durden works ... not a big fan of 'hey you' in the classroom."

"Usually I make soap the first week, but this doesn't feel like a day for it." By which he meant he wasn't quite ready to repeat the class yet, and was saving it. "So today, we're talking about one of the most basic concepts in physics -- simple machines."

"Basically, a simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force -- the simplest mechanisms that use leverage to multiply force. A simple machine uses a single applied force to do work against a single load force. Ignoring friction losses, the work done on the load is equal to the work done by the applied force. They can be used to increase the amount of the output force, at the cost of a proportional decrease in the distance moved by the load. The ratio of the output to the input force is called the mechanical advantage."

"Six things are classically considered simple machines." He moved over to stand in front of a counter of such, holding each up as he talked. "The lever, like this hammer. The wheel and axle. The inclined plane, or ramp. The screw. The wedge. The pulley."

The lecture continued for a while, then: "Today we're going to introduce ourselves -- name, grade, and who you would fight if you could fight anyone, living, dead or imaginary -- then try to see how each of these simple machines are useful by trying to build something." He nodded to a student in the first row. "You first. And I need a TA or two." Not looking at Ino ~~if she was there~~, there. "Talk to me during the introductions or after class if you're interested."

[OOC: TAs have been chosen OOCly.]

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Tyler flinched slightly and involuntarily at the voice in his head. He was never too fond of telepaths. Still. He supposed it wasn't the kid's fault, so he'd stay calm.

"Hi, Jonothon," he said. "Mind raising a hand? I couldn't tell where your voice was coming from."

Jonothon kept his gaze directed downward even as he lifted his hand.

Here he was. People could commence chasing him out with sticks whenever the hell they were ready. Best to get it over with early, then.

Jono had a few issues, yes.

If he looked up, he'd see Tyler didn't have any inclination to start chasing him with sticks.

Also, he was starting to pick up on that the weird smell wasn't the bunsen burners.

"Hi. I don't like boy bands either."

Well, that was... not entirely the reaction that Jonothon had been expecting.

His hand fell down to his side again and he looked upward, raising an eyebrow slightly. This was something he was going to have to get used to, wasn't it?

//They're sellouts,// he replied. It was an uneasy sort of response, as he still wasn't entirely certain what to make of that particular reaction, but it was still open. If everybody else had to speak to the class, so did he. //Making as much money as possible from screaming thirteen year-olds isn't what music is about.//

Keeping people off-balance was one of the things Tyler did. The kid was here, so he clearly wasn't dangerous; the mental talking thing was just a wobble he'd have to get used to.

"Ah," he said. "And you like ... what? Deathcore? Straight-edge? People who play in bars to groups of about five people?"

//Mostly grunge,// Jonothon replied. //Alternative, but I have to be able to actually understand the bloody lyrics.//

Deathcore. Honestly.

//Pearl Jam, Hole, Bush. Nirvana, though I might never forgive Cobain for givin' up like 'e did.//

Better taste than he'd given the kid credit for, then, but that was stuff that had been popular when Tyler was in grade school.

"It was an as- a jerky thing to do to his daughter," he said absently. Yay, he remembered not to swear. "Weird question, but what year is it for you back home?"

//Not too weird, considerin' the things I've already run into since I got 'ere. I'm from 1995.//

That was probably one of the more normal questions he'd been asked since he was abducted by sentient mist.

"On the sliding scale of weird here, a little time travel's pretty much par for the course," Tyler had to admit, then thought of something. "Hey, how would you feel about a TA slot?"

On the sliding scale of weird, that offer was pretty much now sitting at the top Jono's list of 'wait, what?'

It was also weirdly normal, and even flattering, to some degree. A science TA because he could agree with the teacher about Cobain and he was from '95? In spite of the telepathy and the smell and the bandages? Why the hell not?

//What would I 'ave to do?//

Please, it wasn't about Cobain. It was about some sense Tyler had that this one might need a little extra help, and giving him something normal to do might make him quit glowering like that.

(A similar thought process had, of course, worked horribly with Ino, but that didn't prove the theory wrong.)

"Not much," he admitted. "Show up, share your notes with anybody else if they ask, run class with Calvin if I get sick. It's not a bad gig."

For all it was a very sound reason, Jono would just as soon live in denial about this being some outreach attempt. Cobain was easier on his pride, if nothing else.

//Doesn't sound like one,// he decided, nodding slightly. //Fine, then. TA it is.//

It meant he could sit at a different desk while hoping to blend into the background.

"Thanks, Jonothon," Tyler said, and moved on.

Hopefully this wouldn't backfire. Or at least not worse than the kid who talked to the tiger.

(... someday, in some galaxy, Tyler would have a sane TA. That day wasn't here.)

Applied Science | Monday, 8/31 |Period 1

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