fandomhigh | Rookiehood 101, Tuesday, Period 4

"Sometimes you ain't strong enough." That was Reno's opening statement for the day, yes. He was standing in the classroom well before any of the students arrived, with his arms crossed over his chest and a solemn expression on his face. Possibly the first time some of his students had seen him looking anything but smug, he supposed. They'd have to cope. "Sometimes, you're gonna have to get out there and do shit that you know is too damn big for you, and either you ain't gonna be able to get it done, or else you will, and that'll end up bein' all the worse, yo."

He cast his gaze across the students in the room.

"Every damn thing you do is the direct result of a decision you made. It don't matter if it's orders. You follow 'em, it was you who chose to. And some of them, it don't matter what you're doing for the rest of your life, are gonna stick with you, zoto. They're gonna stare at you when you close your eyes and they're gonna scream at you when you're lyin' down in your bed at night, tryin' not to sleep because when you sleep, it just gets louder."

He'd started to pace, now. Slowly, from one side of the room to the other, in front of the desks. The entire time, his eyes were carefully fixed on a point on the wall, well away from anything resembling eye-contact with anyone in the room.

"Maybe you're one of them people who ain't gonna ever have to choose between blood on your hands or peace of mind. Lucky you. The rest of you..." And now he looked away from the wall, seeking out the eyes of the people in the classroom, one by one. "When you leave this room today, just remember that the right decision ain't always the easy one to make. Sometimes, it'll be the one nobody wants you to make. Sometimes, it'll be the last thing anyone wants to do. And makin' it might cost you everything, yoto. You'll know what I'm talkin' about when you get there. And when you do... Don't let it be bigger'n you, Rookies. You can't take back most of what you do, so do it right the first time."

He grinned. Sometimes, Reno's grins were two inches shy of completely sane.

"No class discussion today. Leave if you wanna, or stay here if you don't. But either way, I want all of you to think about where it is you're gonna go from here, and what hard decisions you might have to make someday, yo. Are you gonna be the one who follows orders and lives with it, or are you gonna be the one who puts your foot down, gives 'em the finger, and decides to do what's right, instead?"

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The wry quirk to the corners of Tahiri's mouth hinted that she'd been addressing exactly that, and Ben's imitation of his grandfather added a slight sparkle of amusement to her eyes.

"I don't intend to, no. Don't you get any ideas, either."

"Promise," he said, brushing his hand against hers.

Tahiri curled her fingertips lightly around his. "Good. Boy. Fun class today, huh?"

"Very light and summery," Ben said, nodding.

"Good day for ice cream," Tahiri noted. As if that narrowed it down a bit, given the wide range of circumstances that usually led to them going for ice cream.

. . . like the last one. Ahem.

His cheeks went a little pink at the mention. "After reserves?" he suggested.

For ice cream, or things that were...not at all like ice cream. Really. At all.

Edited 2010-06-15 22:56 (UTC)

"Sure," agreed Tahiri, who'd gone just as pink and also had no idea what the reserves agenda for the day was.

Force help them if 'ice cream' ended up being a euphemism.

He'd have to stop asking Ender to have some, for one.

"It's a date, then," he said with a more genuine smile.

Which would change after reserves, yes.

Tahiri gave his hand another little half-squeeze. "Looking forward to it, then."

She'd understand, later, when things changed.

Rookiehood 101, Tuesday, Period 4

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