http://exboywonder.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] exboywonder.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2011-05-27 07:27 am
Entry tags:

Life's a Circus, Friday, Second Period

The Danger Shop today looked like the inside of the familiar big top circus tent. It had a lot more columns, tightropes, trapezes, and - crucially - safety nets. Dick was on one of those tightropes, ready to address his students.

"Hey everyone," Dick said once everyone was there. "A lot of people seemed to think they could adapt their skills into being an acrobat, so this week should be a treat for you because we're going to see what you've got."

"Theoretically, most of this stuff is pretty simple. The tightrope is just a test of balance and being able to walk in a very straight line. The trapeze is just a big swing that you hold onto with your hands. But that's just in theory," Dick said. "In reality, maintaining your balance on a rope is pretty tough. And while your grip on the trapeze might be solid thanks to the terror of swinging through the air, you're eventually going to have to let go, whether it's for a trick or because you're back at the platform where you started."

"And that's why safety is absolutely key. It's just like driving a car, or firing a gun at the shooting range, or doing something that I'm not going to discuss with teenagers. You can be safe or you can risk some pretty dire consequences. And here, that consequence could be death," Dick said, getting somber for just a moment.

But then he perked right back up, "But that's why we have safety nets to catch you if you do fall. If you want, we can also get you into a safety harness so that you'll only fall a couple of feet if you lose your balance. And, of course, the Danger Shop is programmed to not let you hit the ground if you do fall. Think of it as the ultimate safety measure, but one you don't get in the real world. But I wouldn't suggest testing it out."