fandomhigh | Horror 101, Monday

"Horror," Mitchell told the class, "Is about fear. I know that's patently obvious, but sometimes people forget and make it all about what cool new prosthetics they can put on a rubber mask." Mitchell's eyes: rolling a bit. "So today we're taking it back to the source. To fear. All those small, everyday fears that can cripple us, make us leap at shadows, make our lives run another course just to avoid them. The best horror films and books are based on these fears, on these innate terrors that make us shiver and turn all the lights on in the house, cram ourselves up in tiny spaces or big ones. Those kind of fears. Phobias."

He unfurled from the couch. "I've got a little homework assignment for you all this week," he said, distributing a list.

Acrophobia
Aichmophobia
Anthophobia
Astraphobia
Chiroptophobia
Coulrophobia
Emetophobia
Entomophobia
Ergasiophobia
Erotophobia
Gerascophobia
Haptephobia
Necrophobia
Nosophobia
Triskaidekaphobia
Trypanophobia

"On this list, you'll find a number of phobias. I want you all to pick one and work out what it is. Then find me a film or a book or a series that has something to do with it. It doesn't have to be literal or anything. As long as you can explain it to me, I'm happy."

He sat back down. "That's your belated midterm," he decided. "As a start, we'll be watching The Way Down. If nothing else, it helps stir our claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces, and our nyctophobia, our fear of the dark. Anything could be going on in the darkness, the caves..."

He smiled. "Get to work!"

[[ up and at them! ]]

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... Jack would have assumed Mitchell had suffered a head injury if he'd raised the possibility of a hug. They were fine as far as it went; Jack was just keeping a certain distance until his mind had settled more.

"There is, and I know that's the major purpose of this class," he said idly. "Getting us up to full academic standards ..."

Even he couldn't keep that up very long before a real question poked through. "How's the new house?"

...What? He was a hip, sensitive, 21st-century-guy - well, he was, now - and hugs were hardly anathema to him.

But anyway.

"It's good," Mitchell said, smiling a little. "It's-- homey. We've got a ghost. She's sweet."

Nothing! Jack failed at the hip part of that, was all. Also the 21st century part, no matter how hard he tried to blend.

Anyhow.

"A nice one?" Jack perked up. He'd never heard of a nice ghost, but it was easy enough to accept. "She must be nice, if you're calling her sweet. She's getting on with George?"

Mitchell shrugged. "Like cats and dogs," he said, "It's like an episode of Shackled... With Babies in there."

It took Jack a second, but he placed the reference. "No wonder you're staying here some of the time too."

"Well, maybe if George can stop reminding her that she isn't corporeal..."

"It does seem a bit rude to bring that up, yes."

Which had stopped Mitchell from making dog jokes about George precisely never, but Jack wasn't going to mention that.

Well, he was a vampire, George was a lyco, it was just gentle ribbing!

...

Most of the time.

"She equates it to telling fat people they're fat," Mitchell confided, grinning. He was... a little more than enthused about the new addition to the household, yes.

"I can see that," Jack said thoughtfully. "It's not as if she could have failed to notice her change in status."

He wasn't entirely certain how the ghost thing worked, come to that. Sometimes in stories they didn't know they were dead. "Actually, did she know right away, or did she have to ... work it out for herself?"

"I think she knew she was dead."

Now that was a smile-killer, if there ever was one. He thought back to that first real conversation in that kitchen - All that emotion... - and managed a rueful one anyway.

"I think she knew. I don't think she really understood the implications. Especially when her family was still around the house."

"Oh." Jack winced; he hadn't thought through the question before asking.

Stupid curiosity.

"It's probably good for her to have someone in the house, then," he decided, doggedly. "Even if she's not getting on with George."

"They'll work it out." Optimism, yay. "We got the house cheaply because she scared the last couple of punters out of the building," he continued, fidgeting idly with his pen. "You're right, though. It's good for her to have someone she can actually talk to."

"It must be," Jack said ... and it was time for a slight subject change, because thinking about ghosts was making him uncomfortable. "So you're splitting your week? Portalocity must love you."

"It took me two days to get a deal off those bastards," Mitchell complained. Not that he hadn't noticed the subject change, but he wasn't particularly attached enough to the flow of the conversation to push something Jack didn't want to talk about. "But someone has to look after Annie and George."

Not that Mitchell had a weak spot for strays, or anything.

Edited 2010-03-16 14:08 (UTC)

He did, and it got a genuine smile out of Jack. "Sounds like a chore, but I'm sure you're up to it," he said.

There were probably other things to say, but they weren't coming to Jack's mind easily; he could let sleeping dogs lie. He fidgeted a bit with his things.

"I'll see you next class, then?"

"Yeah."

A beat.

"Office hours on Wednesdays," Mitchell volunteered. It was a pretty poorly disguised... well, peace-offering wasn't the right word, but something like it. "Kate says she's going to make a cake. Personally, I'm in suspense."

"I'll brave a slice," Jack said. Not-quite-peace-offering accepted, apparently. "Somehow I'd trust Kate's baking."

Horror 101, Monday

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