Beaching It [Week 1, Period 5, Wed. 7/7]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

It was a beautiful day at Galactica Point. Who needed giant waves or clear water? The greenish blue of the Chesapeake lapping at the shoreline offered great wading and a lovely backdrop for the third day of workshops. And what a workshop this would be. John stood in the sand, waiting for the few students brave enough to sign up for a class designed to waste time. He liked being back already.

"Hey guys...well, mostly girls really. It's good to see a couple familiar faces among the fresh ones. I'm John Sheppard, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force in case you're interested. Like you, I attended Fandom High and actually graduated a year or so ago according to this time line," he paused, realizing he probably looked a bit older than a recent grad. "Yeah, time doesn't always pass the way you'd expect. But here I am, teaching you all the true meaning of relaxing on the beach. While I'm no expert, I'm incredibly aware of the stress most of you are dealing with despite your youth and this class is meant to remind you that you're teens and should live a little while you're able. Today we're gonna start off with some introductions - because you all need to know who you're spending seven weeks applying sunscreen to, and then we'll head off to Pixie Dust to hook you up with proper swimwear. If you've got questions, be sure to call me John or you'll end up getting an answer you didn't expect. Oh, and feel free to bug Rose, she'll be our TA and resident expert of safe sun tanning."

He thought pausing and pointing out his TA was the kind thing to do just then. "So, who's first? Tell us your name, your favorite outdoor activity, and your excuses for not relaxing. I'm sure they're good."

Comments

Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

What's your name? What do you like to do outside? Why don't you relax all the time?

Re: Activity [B1]

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Alex Karev," he said and was sad he couldn't say sex to the outside question because he didn't do it outside that often, "and I like to smoke outside. If I'm not relaxing, it's usually because I'm exerting myself in other, better ways."

Oh there, he could still be TMI without being an oversharer.

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Alex, I feel like we've met before," John realized, without actually remembering. "Smoking's not an activity we'll be attacking for this class, but it's a totally valid way to waste time on the beach. And a good way to meet girls." Which was totally the secondary purpose of the class, shh.

Re: Activity [B1]

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"No worries on the smoking, I do that plenty on my own time," Alex said, shrugging. "Meeting girls, that's definitely on the agenda. Sure I'll do okay there."

And maybe he was just saying that to tease someone in particular who he knew to be in this class with him. Because he could. And because he liked being a jerk sometimes.

Re: Activity [B1]

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"Princess Azula," Azula said with crossed arms and clearly Not Pleased. "I like to train when I have the space for it and I do know how to relax."

Said someone who turned a friendly game of beach ball into a warzone.

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he generally took Not Pleased as a sign to slap a smirk on his face and be really annoying.

"Of course you do," John said, tooootally believing her. "We'll just make sure you have a good time on the beach - take the training aspect away and see if it can't be all smiles and fun."

Re: Activity [B1]

[azuldragon.livejournal.com]

"I can be all smiles and fun," she said, stubbornly. "I take fun in the beach very seriously."

Too seriously.

Re: Activity [B1]

[notavalleygirl.livejournal.com]

"I'm Kitty," she said, liking this class already. Beach. What was there not to like? "I like being able to hang out and like not get sunburned. I'm easy there. And I don't relax all the time because I have to go to class and stuff and that makes it harder."

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Kitty! That's a great name!" John should not be so excited by this, but whatever, he was in Fandom where weird shit wasn't weird anymore. "Please tell me that you turn into a cat as your secret super power?"

Re: Activity [B1]

[notavalleygirl.livejournal.com]

"Noooo," she said slowly. "There will be no turning into cats. None."

Because that would be too obvious.

Re: Activity [B1]

[wrongkindofsith]

"Cara, and I do all sorts of things outside." She'd let the smirk speak for itself. "Protecting the Seeker is more important than relaxing." Strangely enough, Richard being in another world entirely did not help with the relaxation any.

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Okay, John should not be amused by the telling smirks of teenagers, and yet. "So you do bodyguarding work outside? I'm no Kevin Costner, but I've seen the movie and I gotta say, you kids probably could use a day getting your tan on." Though he was betting the leather wasn't going to allow for much tanning.

Re: Activity [B1]

[wrongkindofsith]

"Mord'Sith protect the Lord Rahl wherever he is," Cara replied. "That includes when he's outside." Which was pretty much all the time with Richard.

Re: Activity [B1]

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"My name is Helen Haras-Uquara and I'm not sure how I ended up in this class." She shook her head. "In any case, I enjoy riding horses and, well, there always seem to be many more important things to do rather than relax."

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Nice to meet you Helen. So what kind of important are we talking here?" John wondered curiously. "Save the world or just a cheerleader here and there?"

Re: Activity [B1]

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"I have not needed to save the worlds in some time," she said seriously. "But I still do my best to learn as much as I can about other worlds and their languages and cultures."

Re: Activity [B1]

[noteviltwin.livejournal.com]

"I'm Andy Gallagher," Andy said. "I'm not the most outdoorsy kind of guy, but the beach is cool. I guess I like stargazing. And you can't relax all the time or it wouldn't feel like relaxing when you did it. You gotta have something to compare it to."

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"That's true enough, Andy," John agreed. "Interesting how both of the guys in the class know about relaxing already. I wonder what this says."

Re: Activity [B1]

[noteviltwin.livejournal.com]

"That we're a rare and special breed?" Andy guessed.

Re: Activity [B1]

[robinthefrog.livejournal.com]

"Hi! I'm Robin. I like to swim, surf, and skateboard. And just relaxing can be fun, but if you do it too long it can get boring."

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

It was the frog! Here in John's very own class. John could've sworn they'd had a class together back when he'd gone to Fandom. "You've been here for forever, huh?"

Re: Activity [B1]

[shes-got-legs.livejournal.com]

Ta-dah! Ariel proudly produced her pre-prepared card:

""Hello! My name is Ariel, and I have no voice, so I can't introduce myself except by this card. But I am very happy to be here!!!! :D"

And, while Mister Sheppard was reading that, she worked on jotting down the more specific questions on a second, blank card that she'd brought for this exact purpose.

"I like to do anything outside! Especially walk on the beach and hunt for treazure! I don't relax all the time because there are too many fun things in the world to explore!!!"

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

John's head tilted as he read the cards. "Great! Uh, I think you'll enjoy our class," he said loudly. "Maybe even find new ways to explore the beach!"

Re: Activity [B1]

[likes_scoundrels]

"Leia Organa," Leia said. "My favorite outdoor activity is riding a thranta." Preferably with an inappropriate boy. "And I can't relax all the time because I'm involved in a rebellion against the tyrannical government that controls my home galaxy."

Re: Activity [B1]

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

And like her daughter, still she returned to Fandom. Weird family. "And so we'll just see if we can't get you to find some completely appropriate ways to relax here in Fandom."