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Jono Starsmore ([personal profile] furnaceface) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2012-08-31 08:12 am

Living on the Outskirts, Friday, Period 2

When the students made their way to the classroom for Jonothon's first ever class on the island (and really, what the hell had he been thinking when he had decided he could do this?!) they'd see that the setup for the room was a little on the informal side. Jono had given up on desks, having decided that they were anathema in a class that was supposed to be about making antisocial teens just get over themselves and socialize, already. In their place, sofas. Loveseats. A few bean-bag chairs if people so desired.

And a requisite shadowy corner. Big enough for one. Because he was a brat and wanted to see if any of his students would give one another dirty looks over it. He liked to think he knew their type, for some reason or other.

"Congratulations. If you're here, you've either decided that you're sick of standing in the shadowy corners, or else whoever it is that wrote your schedule for you has decided that you need to get the hell out of them. If it's the former, I hope I don't disappoint. If it's the latter, then I hope you don't disappoint. If you haven't noticed by now just by looking at me, yes, I do have some passing experience with not quite fitting in among my peers." Understatement was fun and educational! "My name is Jonothon Starsmore. You may call me Professor Starsmore if you wish, though I'll likely give you a strange look for it. Jono is just fine, informal though it might be. Everyone else calls me that, you might as well too."

Why mess with something if it worked, right?

"An entire week of classes is nearly out of the way, and I'm certain you're all sick and bloody tired of introductions, but there are half a million of you in here, and I'm going to need to know what to call you if you want to get an attendance mark and pass this course." This course on playing nice with others, yes. "So. Names. Year, if you feel so inclined. And a little something about what it is I'm to be working with, here. Tell me what it is that you feel puts you on the outskirts. Why you feel as though you'll never quite fit in, or what makes your life harder than everyone else's. You're most likely all teenagers. There's a good start. I haven't met a teenager yet who doesn't feel at least slightly as though their life is a ball of misery and darkness so bleak that the sun might never shine through the despair that simply waking from day to day brings them. I know how it works. I used to be a teen, myself. And what you share with the class doesn't have to be anything utterly horrible. If your biggest complaint is that you have to sit here and listen to a large grey British man lecture you about what it's like to be a teen, then that will do just fine."

His grin took on a slightly playful twist to it, perhaps a little in spite of himself.

"And then I want you to talk with your classmates, the people who have just introduced themselves to you, and give them one bright side. Even if that bright side is just that they woke up this morning with all of their body parts still attached.

"Oh, and..." Jono glanced at his class roster. "Surreal and Cade. Congratulations. You have been selected at random for the right to complain that you've just been drafted into a semester of extra responsibility as my TAs. If it's any consolation, that means you get to sit in the recliners near the back of the room, today."

Lucky them.


[Open!]

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh," Rapunzel agreed. "That is too bad." She considered. "Maybe she will visit sometime?"

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe she will," Sholeh said with a strained smile. "Umm, sometime. You know, later. Certainly not anytime soon."

*Now it sounds like you hate me,* Zhahar teased.

::Shush!::

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, well," Rapunzel offered a smile. "That's too bad. She sounds nice."

Then something occurred to her. "Um! Not that you aren't nice, too! I don't mean to imply that she should replace you or anything!" That wouldn't be very nice, after all.

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
"She is nice," Sholeh agreed with a smile to show she didn't take it the wrong way at all. "Much nicer than my other sister, who's kind of a brat."

=Hey!=

*She's right,* Zhahar said, smug.

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Younger sister?" Rapunzel guessed. Because that's who the brat always was on TV, which was where most of Rapunzel's knowledge of such things came from.

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Middle sister," Sholeh said with a sigh. "I'm the youngest."

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh." Rapunzel blinked, trying to reconcile that with sitcoms. "Is that hard? On TV being the youngest usually means that everyone picks on you."

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
"That's so true," Sholeh said, sounding almost tragic. "They do! When they're not telling you how young and silly you are and keeping secrets from you."

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
Rapunzel huffed, looking indignant on Sholeh's behalf. "That's just mean of them," she declared, wishing that the other girl's sisters were around so that she could tell them that herself.

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Isn't it though?" Sholeh agreed, sounding superior.

Inwardly, her sisters were snickering.

"I think it's also very childish."

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
After a moment, Rapunzel nodded in agreement. "You're the one with the sisters, so I'm inclined to trust your judgment," she decided with a conspiratorial sort of smile.

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
"I couldn't imagine life as an only child," Sholeh said. "This is the closest I'll ever get to being without them and I'm not entirely fond of it."

Even with her sisters here, not letting them come out and share experiences with her, trying to remember to only speak in the singular, denying their existence here...it all felt very wrong.

"Aren't you lonely?"

How did one-faces do it?

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 03:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Rapunzel shook her head with an easy smile. "Why would I be lonely? I mean, I have friend here, right?" A small green head peeked out from behind her neck, little feet tickling her and making her giggle.

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"He's adorable!" Sholeh squealed, then looked back up at Rapunzel. "He? She?"

Did it matter?

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-01 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Pascal seemed to stand taller, shuffling forward farther on Rapunzel's shoulder, and then his chest began to swell out.

"Be careful," Rapunzel giggled, "if you compliment Pascal too much, he'll swell up and pop."

Which earned her a sharp glance and an eyeroll from the chameleon.

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] 3girls-1core.livejournal.com 2012-09-03 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Pascal?" Cute name! "I've never had a pet before!"

Re: Introductions!

[identity profile] leavingthenest.livejournal.com 2012-09-03 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Wellllll, he's not exactly a pet," Rapunzel allowed, smiling as her eyes rolled to one side, as if she can spot Pascal. "He's more like my best friend." That got her a firm nod of agreement from the chameleon.