Quantum Physics 123: Wednesday 7 December

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor looks vaguely hungover, and generally as if he doesn't want to take any crap today. All things considered.]

After Monday, it struck me that most of you haven't exactly done piles of research--Ms Belmont excepted. [He puts his hand up.] Don't give me any excuses, I don't want to hear them. I'm turning you loose today on the library, and I'm going to be in my office during the rest of class time to answer questions and take requests for more information you can't find on your own.

And if you can't figure out the card catalogue...why Adam doesn't bloody computerise it is beyond me...I have the Dewey numbers for you, so that's no excuse either. Quantum teleportation is 539. Time travel is 530.11 and 530.12.
This does not mean you have permission to go into Special Collections. If you need that, see me.

And I will KNOW if you skip out. [A long steady look at them all.] So don't.


((I expect EVERYONE in this class to respond either here or in the library, except Cally, who has a RL excuse. Dewey numbers are real, because I'm anal like that.))

Comments

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Anything I can do to help?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[His voice is dry.] Oh, you're offering? How sweet.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

[Methos sat back up, drumming his fingers on the edge of the desk.] So... I take it you're annoyed with me?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Great guesswork there. Brilliant analytical mind. [He sets down his book and starts to check his email.]

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Can I ask why? I mean, exactly why. I don't want to assume anything, because it's just going to kick me in the ass if I'm wrong.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Ten turns towards him and sighs. He looks very, very tired.] When do you call me without it being you calling me back, Adam? When do we see each other without me hunting you down and feeling like a stalker? I mean, you don't have to care about me as much as you care about CJ, I understand that...she's worth everything she receives and more. But I'd like to be occasionally recognised as interesting and important. And then I find out from her that she feels similarly...what's the deal, Methos? I asked you to try, and what do you do?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

I *am* trying. And apparently I'm screwing up. [He sighs roughly.] I'm trying to balance all of this. I never expected to fall in love, let alone twice over.

[He stands up and starts pacing.] And, for the record, if you and CJ don't stop thinking that I love the other one of you more, I'm going to tie you both up and knock some sense into your heads. I love you. I love her. You both are mad at me because you love me and I don't poke my head out of my hole often enough -- and you can pick which hole my head is in, if you like.

How do people do it? How do they honestly do it? I try to juggle all of this -- and I keep missing. I've got Janet snapping her fingers in front of my nose because I forget to say good morning. There's probably a half a dozen teachers at this school I haven't even *talked* to. How can I be five thousand bloody years old and have no time?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Ten waits until he's done, waits a moment more for maximum impact (or maybe because he's still feeling as if he's been flattened by a truck), then speaks, resting his chin in his hand.] Maybe being in love means you have to make time, have to make an effort to stop being insular. [He looks him in the eye.] Just because you're different doesn't mean you shouldn't be a part of the world. Or maybe we're asking too much of you.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

I'm not asking to be left out of the world! Just to have it SLOW DOWN! [He sits down and knocks his forehead against Ten's desk.] I don't want to hurt the people I love. You think that'd be an easy thing to not do.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Harder than you think. And don't do that. [He reaches forward and pushes Methos' head away from the front of his desk.] Don't want to kill your few remaining brain cells. You've got to essentially 'suck it up and deal', as the kids say.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Trust me, if I haven't killed the brain cells, it proves that they regenerate. [He sighs again.] I'm sorry I hurt you.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Fine...but what are you going to do about it?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Try again. Try to not screw up this time. Will you let me?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Yes. You want to know why?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

[Methos closes his eyes in relief at the simple word 'yes', and resists the reflexive urge to quip his way out of the situation. So, very quietly, he says:] Yes, I do. Why?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Ten smiles slightly and blushes a bit. His voice is also quiet.] Because I'm in love with you, regardless. Can't stop. But there's things I want...things I need from you. Do you understand?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

[Methos nods, and turns one hand up on Ten's desk, palm open as though to accept... anything.] Yes, I understand.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Ten takes his hand and squeezes it.] Good. I...I'm so glad you do.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

[Methos squeezes back, then sighs.] I've got to get back to the library. Oh, by the way... I've applied to be the history prof next semester. Possibly in addition to being the librarian. Please shoot me the next time I have a clever thought like that?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

You've got to be bloody mad. [He raises his brows and remembers that he hasn't sent in his information for next semester's classes.] Weren't you just complaining that you had no time?

Still...no one better.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

They always say, teach what you know, right? [Methos grins.] Not that I can claim to know history... I could only be in one place at a time, and usually woefully after something interesting had happened.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

This, love, is why one becomes a time traveller. [Ten smirks, then looks slightly rueful.] Though, frankly, one has to be careful with Important Events, because they're notoriously easy to muck up.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

They're easy to muck up when you aren't a time traveller, too.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He looks Methos in the eye, concerned about something in his tone.] That could be said for 95% of life, actually.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

95% of life is mucking up? [Methos makes a face, and sighs.] Can't argue with that.