screwyoumarvel: (Steve - thinking)
screwyoumarvel ([personal profile] screwyoumarvel) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2011-01-12 12:22 pm
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Home Ec 2, Fourth Period 1/12

There were more than just brooms today, so hopefully the students wouldn't be as bored. "So," Steve said with a clap of his hands, "now that you've got your space tidied up, you need to clean it. And keep it clean. You should vacuum at least once a week," he said, gesturing to the vacuum cleaner in question. "Yes. Really. If you're from another timeframe, the vacuum cleaner may seem alarming--it's pretty loud--but don't worry, it can't hurt you unless you do something extremely inadvisable." No, he was not going to elaborate on what that might entail, or at least, only in the most roundabout of ways: he demonstrated how to use the hose and said, "Don't stick your fingers or anything you might want to get back soon in here for any reason. For the same reason, you should pick up cords and small objects like socks off your floor before you vacuum."

Moving right along, Steve expounded on the virtues of a feather duster versus a dustcloth versus those Swiffer things that he wasn't sure what they were made of but they picked up EVERYTHING (fascinating stuff, right?) and then on to, "Now let's talk about how to clean your space and not poison yourself!" with a cheerful clap of his hands. This was important. "First off, there are different cleaners for different surfaces," he said, gesturing expansively to the vast array of bottles on one of the tables. "In my day, we mostly just used bleach and soap, but now..." another gesture to the bottles. "The first thing you need to know is that you should never, ever, ever mix bleach and ammonia-based cleaners, because you'll poison gas yourself. Some cleaners can be flammable, or poisonous. Some can be harmful to the skin, meaning you'll have to wear gloves to use them. The most important thing to do, as with anything in life, is read the instructions. If you can't read the instructions or don't understand them, ask for help. Caustic burns are no fun. You'll also want to store your cleaning chemicals in a cool, dark place away from anything you might, say, eat." Sometimes with the teenagers he felt like he had to state basic logic like that.

"So, your assignment for class this week is to pair up and clean something in the classroom--" there were kitchen stations, so they had options beyond their desks or worse, mopping "--with at least one of these cleaners. Your assignment for the week is to dust your dorm rooms and clean the windows. And don't forget to sweep and tidy up!"

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, you were concerned for yourself so I thought maybe that carried over to butterflies and ladybugs," he said, watching her cleaning skills with raised eyebrows. He didn't say anything though. "They're part of our environment too."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"I wouldn't go out of my way to step on them or anything," Juliet said, as she started stabbing at the too-much-foam with a dry sponge. "I'm just saying, it's winter. I don't think bugs should be inside in winter. And if they are it's time to call an exterminator. Even if they're cute bugs."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Someone is used to living the high life," Alex said, crossing his arms and sounding amused. "Where I'm from, the exterminator is a rolled up newspaper. Much quicker and a lot more satisfying."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Is it that obvious?" Juliet asked lowering her voice. She sounded a little guilty; she thought she was doing an awesome job blending in. She was using a sponge and everything! "I don't exactly have to clean, at home. But I want to be treated just like everybody else. Like a real person!"

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Calm down there, Pinocchio," Alex said, laughing and shaking his head. "I wasn't insulting you. It's not obvious and I was just poking fun at you anyway. Nothing wrong with the high life either."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sorry," Juliet said, genuinely pleased that he didn't think she was an obvious rich girl. "I didn't mean to -- bite your head off. I just have no idea what I'm doing in this class."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, none of us have died so you're doing all right there," Alex replied, shrugging. "I think you've got enough cleaner on the sink. Now you just gotta wipe it down. It's like...swiping a credit card several times."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Juliet squinted at him, almost certain he was messing with her. "I think it's your turn," she said, stepping to the side and handing him the sponge. "It wouldn't be fair if I did all of the work."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Chuckling, Alex reached for the sponge and started wiping down the sink. Wasn't that hard and this sink was cleaner than some he'd seen so it was no big deal for him.

"I'm Alex," he said while he was cleaning. "You new?"

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm Juliet," Juliet answered. "And yes. My brother and I just got here a week ago Saturday. I'm not offended if that's obvious."

Truthfully, she would have been more offended if she just hadn't been noticed.

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're really new, then," Alex said, glancing at the sink and smirking some. "Regretting the decision to get your ass dumped here yet? Gotta clean sinks and shit. Horrifying."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't mind it so much when I'm not doing housecleaning," Juliet confided. "It's ... interesting! And so diverse. We'll just have to get used to not being known."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-12 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"What does that mean, not being known?" Alex wondered, raising an eyebrow and pulling the sponge away from the sink for a moment. "You famous or something?"

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-13 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Our father is Tripp Darling," Juliet explained, in the tone of one who thought it should be obvious why this was such a very big deal. "He owns a large chunk of Manhattan."
Edited 2011-01-13 01:55 (UTC)

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-13 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I'm from the Midwest so that name really means nothing to me," he said, shrugging. "Good for you though?"

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-13 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you," Juliet said, shrugging it off. "I don't want to just coast on who he is, though."

"Where in the Midwest?"

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-13 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Iowa," he said and rolled his eyes at the name. "Middle of fucking nowhere. I do not recommend taking a visit. It's dull."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-01-13 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll make it low on the list," Juliet promised. "But there has to be something there."

Re: Activity Time

[identity profile] fratboybitch.livejournal.com 2011-01-13 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Farms. Tornadoes," he said and laughed. "There are some bars out there. Some malls. I mean, it's not hicksville but it's still not your average big city state."