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Horror 101, Monday

"Persecution is not new," Mitchell began. Why, yes, the Raven-Max thing had been resolved, he'd picked that up, but he was still in a mood. "...and as to how this applies to the previous lessons, see this as your first witch class." See? That worked. "Persecution," he began again, "Is hardly new. Fears, horror, it causes people to behave in strange ways. Something odd happens, someone gets killed, someone gets hurt, and suddenly everyone's jumping at shadows. The people who wind up suffering, are those of us who are strange. Off, somehow. Away from the norm."

Mitchell had no issues. None at all.

"The witch trials are the easiest example of this," he said, nearly poking a hole in the blackboard as he made notes. "It's funny, because in the 8th century, belief in witches was actually outlawed, you see? But it never kept anyone. Something would happen, like the plague, and someone else would see some political gain or something, and whip everyone up into a frenzy. They'd run around and devise all kinds of bizarre tests, like throwing women into the water, just to see if they were witches. And then of course they'd be burned at the stake."

He took a moment to eye that particular note on his blackboard. "...Anyway," he started, "how this links back to horror in fiction is that people are always terrified of chaos," he marked that word big time, "While at the same time they all fall into it. I mean, what is persecution but organized chaos? You pinpoint someone to blame and then rip them out of the house. And then another one. And then another one. It's this cycle that keeps feeding itself. Hence the Monster from ~~meta for~~ Frankenstein being forced to flee from monsters himself. It's a common theme, that way."

He dropped the chalk and turned around. Listed off a couple more movies that ended in or featured running someone out of the house with torches and pitchforks. "...You can even pull it into perspective with today. You know, stars and the papparazzi and that sort of thing. People spiralling into chaos after every incident." He dusted off his half-gloved hands by wiping them off each other. "So we'll be talking about persecution. Who knows what it feels like to be persecuted? Have you ever been drawn into a mob, or felt the need to? How did it feel?"

At least he was getting less overcompensate-y about it all?

"And we'll watch some film, of course." ~~Meta for~~ Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition sketch. Oh yeah. He was on a roll today.

[[ ocd up, have at! ]]

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That totally earned Alex a few of those dirty images he liked so much as Emma grinned back.

"I'm plenty scary without my powers," she retorted cheerfully. "I'm a Frost. We devour the babies of lesser Fortune 500 companies for a snack. I don't need telepathy to hurt someone."

"Funny, you don't scare me," he replied, smiling lazily and trying valiantly not to pay too much attention to those dirty images. Being good, being good, Effy was in the class, being good, being good. "So, what's that say about you? Or me?"

A few more dirty ideas and -- wait. Why was Effy in there? Effy shouldn't be in there. Well, lots of people usually had thoughts about other people, but 'Effy was in the class, being good, being good,' should not be the dominant thought when you were being plied with telepathic bribes.

"Possibly that you're insane," she mused aloud. "Or that I'm too adorable for most people to be suitably frightened."

<<Is there something you want to tell me, darling?>> Buuuuuuusted.

"You're very adorable," he said, ~~sucking up~~ smirking a bit, "but I also know what you can do can be dangerous. Maybe I'm just more adaptive. Or maybe humanity really is screwed. If we can't tolerate different religions or sexualities, pretty sure mutants aren't ever gonna be accepted, sucky as that is."

<< How so? >> He could play dumb for a bit. He wasn't lying. << I want to tell you lots of things. >>

<<Then start talking,>> she practically purred.

"And if someone goes on a shooting spree, a sensible person blames the shooter, not the gun. A cat in a room with an allergic person is dangerous. Who says I want to know what they're thinking anyway?" she continued. "Do you know what most people are thinking about? It's so depressing, the sheer amount of emo and angst rolling about in their heads. And teenagers? Sex. Not even interesting sex."

"Really, it's only the interesting people that have to worry about me peeking."

Not reassuring, probably.

"I guess I should be glad that I'm interesting," he said, looking amused at her statements. She wasn't wrong and there wasn't much use in arguing, he was sure, even if it would have been fun.

<< Right here and now? >> Alex raised an eyebrow and glanced around. << That eager to know all about me, Emma? How forward. I'd tell you my birthday but that's top secret information. >>

"Interesting people are the only ones worth taking the time for."

<<Of course I want to know all about you. I'm forward and curious, which you already knew, and you're one of the interesting people,>> she teased. <<And if you don't want to start with your birthday, we can begin with why you think you have to 'be good' since 'Effy's here,'>>

"And you wouldn't want to waste that precious time of yours," he said idly.

<< We can, can we? >> Alex took a little exception with almost being ordered telepathically. << Or we can talk about this later when we're not in class and you're not ordering me around. >>

UGH. BOYS. Emma shot him one of her better 'Bitch, please,' looks. <<It was a suggestion, darling, not an order, since you said you didn't want to start with your birthday.>>

<<I know damn well that trying to order you to do anything is like getting an anorexic to eat a large pizza. Life just doesn't work that way.>>

Alex could only really smirk at that look. That had gotten a nice reaction, hadn't it? He hadn't seen one of those from Emma in awhile. It kind of felt like an accomplishment.

<< My birthday's before July, >> Alex offered, giving her a smug little smile. << Don't look sour, darling. Think I wouldn't be a jerk just to get a reaction out of you? It's kind of fun. >>

<<I think you'd be a jerk to the Pope if you thought it was funny,>> she answered, rolling her eyes. <<Can I get a date to go with the 'before July,' or shall I simply make up a birthday for you?>>

<< Probably,>> he agreed, smirking over at her. << And no, you can't get a specific date. Many people have tried, everyone fails. >>

Well, no, someone knew. He just wasn't going to let on about that right now.

<< Don't deny that you like my jerky ways either, >> he sent. << You do. >>

<<I'm going to make up a birthday for you, and you're going to get surprised with a cake and streamers and ha~at,>> she sang at him mentally. <<And you like me bitchy and stubborn, it's one of the reasons why we get along so well.>>

<< So many girls are so dedicated to finding out my birthday. >> Alex sounded and looked amused. And triumphant because look how well he'd distracted her. << And I do like you bitchy and stubborn which is why that face you made was so funny. It just doesn't affect me, Emma. You'd have to try harder." >>

Edited 2010-02-09 00:00 (UTC)

<<Count your lucky stars that we haven't banded together yet to tickle it out of you,>> Emma replied. <<Except you'd probably like that too much.>> Jerk.

<<But since you were so kind as to tell me about your birthday, why not answer my other question? Why are we being good today, darling?>> Did he seriously think she was going to give up that easily? Pffffffffffffft.

<< Oh Emma, don't give me ideas, >> Alex said, batting his eyes at her and grinning. << Because I would be just devastated if it didn't happen. >>

Or he'd laugh it off and go on with his laugh. << And I'm always good. It's the other people who are bad. You might have to be more specific with your questions. >>

And then he'd dodge her question again. He was a pro.

<<You'll have to live in devastation, then,>> she retorted. <<Why are you being good because of EFFY, Alex?>>

See her ask the question again. Emma was good at catching attempted dodges.

Alex fixed her with a look and contemplated just ignoring her. It wouldn't be any kind of permanent solution to the problem but he really didn't want to get into in class and telepathically.

<< You really don't want me to cry, do you? >> he asked, frowning exaggeratedly. << Because I will. And it'll be your fault. >>

Oh, had he avoided again? Oh well.

<<You want me to bitchface, I want to see you cry,>> Emma confirmed. <<Would it help if I promise to kiss it and make it better?>>

But if he didn't want to get into it during class, Emma could understand that. <<I've got some commitments tomorrow,>> she answered, eyes flickering quickly to Jack before back to Alex. <<So I'll come find you on Wednesday, and see if I can't make that pout any bigger.>>

You can't avoid forever, Alex, not with a curious telepath on your trail.

<< Then, I'll see you Wednesday, >> Alex said, giving her a smirky grin and bottling all the rest of his thoughts up. Wednesday would give him some time to figure out how to explain what was what.

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Horror 101, Monday

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