fandomhigh | Living on the Outskirts, Friday, Period 2

"I realize," Jono said as he stepped into the classroom, "that last week's lesson was a touch... heavy, for at least a few of you."

He wasn't going to name names, or even single anybody in the room out by looking at them. They knew who they were, and that was enough.

"This week, we're going to lighten things up a little bit. I know I'm not the party person here on the island, but I did my best. For the rest of the class, it's music, refreshments, dancing, and, you know, being social. If you aren't up dancing, I want to at least see you making small talk with somebody else in the room. There is a shadowy corner right over there," he pointed at a corner of the room behind his speaker equipment, where light was somewhat scarce, "and if I see you in there for anything besides re-grouping and taking a breather if you're feeling overwhelmed, you'll have marks docked."

... He wasn't really marking you on partying during class hours, but there was nothing stopping Jono from making that threat all the same.

"Random social situation? Go."

[Open!]

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The tiniest of frowns crossed her face briefly before being tucked away again. "I do not quite follow you, Professor."

He gave her the faintest of smiles in return.

"I just mean... I hope that your experiences here are something good that you can cherish. Something for you to hold on to, for as long as you can."

Something she could look back on, and think of it, 'I lived.'

She looked awkward.

"I am making friends," she said, not looking at him. "Mercy has thanked me for being a 'support'. I have never been considered that before. When Rapunzel laughs, it makes me want to laugh. Liara talks about new worlds and experiments and listening to her makes everything seem wider. Evan looked like I had given him something precious when I promised I would never be scared of him, no matter what. I do not understand them. It's different."

It was terrifying for someone like Yeul, whose existence was endlessly the same.

"Different," Jono agreed. "It was overwhelming for me when I came here too, though I suppose it would have been in a completely different sort of way."

He tilted his head at her.

"But is it bad?"

"I do not know," she said helplessly. "I do not think I'm doing anything wrong in this life but will this make the next and the next harder and lonelier and more difficult to bear?"

"Whether it does or not is up to you, luv," Jonothon replied softly. "That will depend on if you choose to keep those memories as something to compare the rest of your life to... or something to cherish. And it might ache... Life aches, sometimes. But perhaps at some point you'll remember something that makes you smile, something that makes you laugh. Something to think back on fondly, even if things might not necessarily be the same again."

"I can remember a time before Caius was my Guardian." Yeul still did not look at him. "I remember my Guardians changing and it was an honor to guard the Seeress, not the girl. Caius loved the girl, still loves each girl, and I think that was why he was given the gift that the Goddess chose to give him."

Which was... a double-edged blade.

"Other than the visions, he is the one constant I have. I remember pain, Professor. It sticks through each life. I do not know if I will remember joy. Not if it does not involve him."

Jonothon gave her a long, thoughtful look. And then he was murmuring his reply, just loudly enough to be heard over the music.

"If you don't remember the joy," he said, at last, "then you'll have nothing to miss. Have you ever known joy without him? I have the feeling that so much of your life revolves around Caius, you won't know unless you experience it yourself."

And if this served to only bring her pain into eternity...

He refused to accept that it would.

"It's possible," she conceded, finally looking up. "In my mind, there is no one more important that Caius. I have not attempted to make... connections with others in a very long time."

"And nobody you meet here ever has to be more important than Caius is," Jono assured her. "But friendships... they don't need to replace other friendships. That's the wonderful thing about them, luv. There's no limit to the number you can have."

"I will have to think about it," she said, smiling slightly to show that she wasn't upset with him. "I think..."

Yeul looked around the classroom.

"I think I will let Rapunzel talk me into dancing, if that is alright with you, Professor?"

Rapunzel didn't know she'd be talking Yeul into dancing but Yeul could guess how their conversation might go and it was... it was what she wanted, right then and there.

"I think that sounds like an excellent idea, Yeul," Jono replied, smiling a little more broadly than before. "Enjoy your dance, luv. I'll see you again after class for cleanup."

"Of course, Professor."

And with a smile, though feeling vaguely unsettled at how happy he'd been over her idea of what to do rather than talk to him, Yeul headed off to chat to someone who was far more cheerful than she.

Living on the Outskirts, Friday, Period 2

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