fandomhigh | Coping With Change, Friday, Period 3

//Change,// Jonothon said, stepping into the classroom and starting his lecture without preamble today, //happens. Winter turns to spring, puppies turn into dogs, people come and go. There are very few constants in the world. But, I hope, you knew that. Anyone who's had me as a teacher in semesters past can likely see that I'm no stranger to the idea, either.//

He leaned back against the front of his desk, arms crossed over the bandages that kept his flames from licking out from his chest and face into the room.

//If you're in this class, it's likely you've either recently gone through a major change in your life, or else you're expecting one.// Pause. //Or else you'll be telling me the office has made a terrible mistake. In which case, congratulations on having some stability in your life. We're all terribly jealous.//

And also, your teacher was a bit of a snarker. You'd have to cope with that on top of all of that change in your lives.

//For those of you who mean to be here, expect this class to be just as much theory as candid discussion of how you might apply it to your own life. I'm not going to make anyone discuss what change they've been through if they're not comfortable sharing with the class, mind, though obviously anyone is welcome to come talk to me if they need someone to confide in. I respect your right to privacy and I do keep rum on hand for squirrel bribes if need be. And, for what it's worth, this telepathic voice of mine doesn't mean that I'm rooting through your brains looking for your deepest secrets. I have much better things to do.//

Much, much better things. Like keeping his own brain in order.

//Today we're going to start off simple. Introductions, because there are new faces here I'm not familiar with. Name, class, and why you're taking this one. Feel free to share any recent changes you might be adjusting to - coming to this ridiculous bloody island absolutely counts - and we'll get into the real meat of dealing with those changes next week. For example, I'm Jonothon Starsmore, Fandom High graduate, 2011, and it's been a very long three years since. Call me Jono or Jon. Please. I'm here teaching this class because when I was your age, I was stuck figuring out how to handle everything that had turned upside-down for me on my own. And if you're wondering just what I know about change…// His psionic voice took on a wry tone. //Remind me to bring a photo album with me to class sometime.//

He waved a hand at the room.

//Any questions or volunteers to go first? I'll pick for you, otherwise.//

[OOC: Open! Have at!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"My name is Jeff Moreau, but you can call me 'Joker'. I'm a Junior, and... I don't know. I had my whole future ripped away from me and then put back into place last week; that was pretty stressful. My mom died over a year ago, and I haven't coped with that yet. Not sure I'm going to. I haven't had a sky over my head my whole life, except on vacations, so that's pretty weird... and either I've traveled a century and a half into the past, or everyone else on the island is crazy. Me 'n Occam need to sit down for a long chat about that one and make a final call."

//That's quite th'list, Joker,// Jono noted, taking the whole lot of it in stride. He'd heard stranger, really. //I can, at least, attest to how insane the island is, though I suspect that's more due to the island itself than the people on it.//

Welcome to Fandom, Jeff.

//... Perhaps some of it is the people on it.//

"Some of the people?" Joker asked, looking around at the class. "It seems like every damn person here has something weird and all brain-hurty going on with them. And let me tell you, buddy, you're on the list."

Oh, Joker. Joker, no.

//Right, then.// Jono pushed himself up from the desk, raising an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes slightly. //Time to go over the most important rule of my classroom, then. You're welcome to say whatever the hell you want about me. Trust me, Jeff, you'll have to try good and hard in order to do worse than I've heard. But I will remove people talking down on their peers in this room, no matter what the reason. There's your warning... and everyone's. Intolerance will not be tolerated. You're not the only one in this room who has a lot to wrap his head around right now, mate. Don't forget that.//

Joker waved his hands frantically. "Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! I didn't say anything-- I'm not going to-- I mean, trust me, I know what it's like to get dumped on. I'm the last person who'd ever-- Look. All I meant is that everything's crazy around here, and..."

He sighed and kind of curled inward a little. "I really stuck my foot in it there, didn't I? I'm sorry."

//Lil' bit,// Jono agreed, but his tone was a little less severe. //Just bear in mind, mate, you're surrounded by a room full of people who are every bit as overwhelmed by their situation as you are, and, just like me, and this,// he gestured at the wrappings over his face, //and you and your braces, they don't have any control over the things you're waving a hand at, calling weird. I don't think they need the reminder any more than you do.//

Joker shook his head. "No. No, they don't. They... We... This island is crazy. I'm still adjusting."

He looked around at the class and raised his voice a little. "I'm sorry, everyone. I'm not normally this much of an ass. I'm usually a smaller, much more humorous ass. So.. Yeah. Sorry."

Kathy gave Joker a sympathetic smile after Jono moved on. She knew what it was like to accidentally call down a teacher's ire for a misspeaking.

"How're you settling in?"

"Oh, you mean aside from accidentally calling everyone freaks? I'm doing just great, thanks." Joker hung his head in his hands.

"Hey... now that I'm a little more receptive, can we do the whole 'orientation' thing over again? To be honest, I tuned out most of what you said, last time."

"It's okay--I did the same thing in Mr. Alenko's class."

Kathy could feel you there, Joker. No worries.

"And sure we can. Wanna get together some time and talk? I'm pretty free whenever."

Coping With Change, Friday, Period 3

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