fandomhigh | Boot Camp 101: Falling in Line and Loving It, Wednesday, Period 2, Week 4

Kennedy's class wasn't fun and games. Anyone who read the title and expected a cakewalk-- well, tough luck for them. By now, four weeks into the session, everybody ought to know the routine: show up in appropriate workout attire, get to class on time, line up and wait for instructions. By now nobody should be surprised to show up and find Kennedy, thumbs tucked behind her belt buckle and stern expression set on her face, standing at the front of whatever setup she had in store for them this week.

Today that was a climbing wall.

"This is the last week of Phase One," she said as she paced back and forth along the line with measured strides, taking the time to look each student in the face for several seconds as she did. (The usual reason: she wanted you all to know she was watching you.) "Next week we start on field training, so you better hope your conditioning is up to standards."

She pointed toward various piles of equipment: helmets, harnesses, ropes, carabiners, rosin bags and gloves. "Gear up, and scale the wall-- cut the chatter," she added preemptively, as if she didn't remind them every week that talking amongst themselves was a thing that would get them yelled at. "Get to it."

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Sholeh held up her bandaged hand. She'd changed the gauze before class, so it was still a clean white. "I had to write lines in study hall today," Sholeh said quietly. "I will not be a glutton."

Edited 2012-07-25 18:25 (UTC)

"You think a sore hand is an excuse?" Kennedy asked sharply. "If you were out in the field and had to climb a wall to save your life, would you let it stop you then?"

"I-- I--" Sholeh was going to sputter a few times, apparently. "I just thought--I mean, I'm never going to be in the field--I can do another assignment..."

Practically speaking, most of these kids were never going to be in the field, but Kennedy liked the whole boot-camp setup too much to let a technicality stop her.

"I think you're missing the point here, student," she said. "You got busted, and you had to write lines. That's on you, and now you get to suck it up and deal with the consequences."

The fact that someone would let her teach a class like this was a clear sign that something was really wrong with the universe, huh?

Sholeh still thought she was better than Ms. Maggotbone. After all, Sholeh hadn't actually been busted doing anything. She'd just done as the demon had suggested and that had led to her having to write lines anyway.

She didn't think that explanation would sway Kennedy any, but maybe she could try, "Could I maybe come back another day and do it?" Like the next time she had study hall, instead of being with the Madri? "Mr. Priestly let me have an alternate assignment. He said that injuring myself again while I'm still healing isn't going to do anyone any good..."

"Because he's a softie." Kennedy rolled her eyes. She lived with the guy; she figured she was entitled to an opinion on the matter.

...okay, she'd think she was entitled to an opinion on the matter anyway. But whatever.

"Your fingers aren't broken," she pointed out, "and you can walk. So you can still climb."

"I--"

=Leave it.= Zeela's words were brusque, but her tone compassionate. =Don't push her; she's not going to budge and if you keep pushing, she might get you into more trouble. I'll see if I can't help you up and over, okay?=

"Yes, ma'am," Sholeh murmured, ducking her head and scurrying back over to the wall. The wall she probably wouldn't have been able to climb even with her hand completely unblemished.

Boot Camp 101: Falling in Line and Loving It, Wednesday, Period 2, Week 4

Re: Talk to Kennedy [KA,TS Week 4]

Re: Talk to Kennedy [KA,TS Week 4]

Re: Talk to Kennedy [KA,TS Week 4]

Re: Talk to Kennedy [KA,TS Week 4]

Re: Talk to Kennedy [KA,TS Week 4]

Re: Talk to Kennedy [KA,TS Week 4]

Re: Talk to Kennedy [KA,TS Week 4]