fandomhigh | Coping With Change, Friday, Period 3

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coping with change

Coping With Change, Friday, Period 3

Cecil smiled at the class and waited for them to take their seats before starting.

"Hello again, students. I know Jono - Mr. Starsmore - has been taking point most days, but he's unfortunately feeling under the weather, so you just have me today.

"The class subject for today is seeking help. A lot of times when you're trying to cope with change, you have to remember it's not as if you're alone in the world. No more than usual. Unless of course the entire world is all just a construct of each of our imaginations. But if that's the case, it's all just you, right? So there's nothing to worry about!"

Cecil beamed; that was good news, wasn't it? "Assuming that the world does exist, though, and the other people in it, you're not alone! So if you're having trouble with a change, you can ask for help! There's probably all kinds of people that are willing to help out, and some of them might even be useful. Change can be a lot easier with the right support structure. You just have to know it's there and lean on it."

Yeah, Jono; it might be best you didn't try teaching this one.

"But not too hard. Metaphorically, I mean. Well, or literally, either, just in case. Anyway, tell us about a time you asked for help and got it. Or when you didn't and should have. Or when you did and someone was a real jerk and didn't, even though your life would've been so much easier if they did. And maybe we can share ways of asking for help that work, or offer each other help if we need it!"

He looked around the room and waited.

[OOC: Yep, Cecil's still adult. As far as he's concerned, he's always been co-teacher of the class. Thanks and a tip of the hat to the lovely

furnaceface for letting him hijack it while Jono is headless!]

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For the TA totally always a teacher!

Paddra Nsu-Yeul

Celia Bowen

Dominic Vasquez

Joker Moreau (and Skippy the spacemonkey (http://fly-so-serious.livejournal.com/2828.html))

Eleanor Lamb

Mercy Thompson

Cosette Fauchelevent

Or just stare. That works, too.

Anything at all about asking for help!

"I am better at helping others than at asking for help myself," Yeul offered mildly. "If people ask, I do not mind helping, but when it comes to me... help isn't really required."

Or Yeul didn't understand why it could be required in her case. That was probably more likely.

"It might be nice, though, right?" Cecil asked. "Sometimes even if it's just someone to yell at about how life is driving you crazy."

Yeul blinked, honestly confused.

"Why would life drive me crazy?" Enough to yell? When was the last time she'd yelled about anything...

Cecil shrugged. "Maybe if things change too fast, or too often? Or maybe even too slowly! All kinds of reasons."

"But would... I mean, I suppose it might help for some people," Yeul said slowly. "Though I do not see the benefit to it."

But Yeul and coping methods were pretty special, so there was that.

That sound? That was Joker coughing quietly. If it sounded a little like the word "bullshit", that was just... Well, no, it totally sounded like "bullshit".

Eleanor had to clean this story up quite a bit in order to be able to tell it. "I brought someone back from the dead, which is totally normal in Rapture" didn't condense well.

"I ... was trapped, and found someone who could help me," she said. "I think we sort of rescued one another. We seemed to take turns; I freed him so that he could free me, and then freed myself to save him. I couldn't have done it alone."

"That sounds wonderful!" Cecil grinned at her. "Was it romantic? I know sometimes there's a whole 'bonding in the face of adversity' thing."

You'd have to forgive Cecil, Eleanor; he was pretty clueless. About so, so many things.

Eleanor laughed, awkwardly, at his question.

"It was certainly a bonding experience," she said, "but you've entirely the wrong sort of bond in mind. It was my father."

"Oh!" Cecil laughed back. "That is different. But still neat!"

"Well, it's not really coping with change," Joker answered, "more like coping with life -- but I ask Skippy here for help all the time. Fetch this, do that -- he's a lifesaver. Because he's a good boy, aren't you Skippy? Huh? Aren't you?" Please wait for a moment while Joker cuddles the alien monkey-thing.

"...So long as he understands what I'm asking, anyway," Joker added. "'Cause, you know, monkey. Not all that bright."

Please excuse Eleanor while she stared.

"You got a pet?"

Joker blinked at her, not understanding. "I... what? What are you staring at? Do I have something on my...?" He turned to conspire with the pyjak. "Hey, Skippy, what is she staring at?"

So he was going to be coy about it. Very well.

"Let me know when I merit an introduction," she said lightly.

"An introduction to...?" Joker frowned at her. "Are you saying you don't remember Skippy? I mean, he's kinda hard to miss."

Okay, this didn't sound like his usual teasing. What was --

"He would be hard to miss," Eleanor agreed, staring at Joker in confusion. "He's some sort of bizarre monkey ... rat ... thing. I would remember if I had seen him before."

"Pyjak," Joker told her slowly. "Paaaaaiieee. Jaaaaaaaaaack. We've been over this already. Just call him a 'spacemonkey' if you can't remember it. That's a technical term."

"We have never discussed this," Eleanor said emphatically. "I have never seen that thing before. I --"

She stopped, abruptly. "Cecil's too old, you've a space monkey, and Professor Jono's missing his head. Am I hallucinating?"

He's here if you need him!

"So... You got re-aged, then?" Joker asked. "How does that even work?"

"Re-aged?" Cecil asked curiously.

"Well, you said you had been 'de-aged', before..." Joker explained. "So... the curse was lifted, a la peanut butter sandwiches?"

"I'm pretty sure I never was." Cecil rolled his eyes. "I mean, sure we thought of it, but it was easier just to leave until the librarians settle down."

"I... don't even know what that means," Joker told him. "You have... rabid librarians that something something poof now you're a kid? Except not anymore?"

"Well, they're hopefully not rabid. They're dangerous enough without that!" Cecil shuddered. "But I'm just lying low for a bit. I have a petition in front of the City Council to commute my overdue fees to community service, but librarians have been known to jump the gun before."

Eleanor waited until class was over to approach Cecil. He didn't ... seem to be himself, but that wasn't the biggest question crowding her mind.

"What happened?" she asked. "To Professor Jono? The radio said ..."

The radio made it sound as though his head were missing.

"I'm not really sure." Cecil frowned in thought. "I found him in the park on Sunday, and he had this helmet on." He rolled his eyes. "Now I know, I shouldn't be judgmental about someone's fashion choices, but really, it was kind of silly looking. Anyway, it looked like his flames sort of took over a bit? He was totally okay, though."

He smiled. "Don't worry about today; he just wrote me he was feeling under the weather, and could I take care of the class? I'm sure he'll be fine tomorrow." He screwed up his face. "I'd take him some chicken soup or something, but...how do you eat that without a face? What do you do for someone with a head cold and no head?"

It had him a little baffled.

"I ..." Eleanor really had no response to that. Give her a few seconds to try to work it out.

"So he is missing his head." That seemed to be the logical thread of what he was saying, yes. "I need -- I need to speak with him. Please."

And then, because it wouldn't wait forever, "When did you grow up?"

"It depends on what you mean by grown?" Cecil shrugged. "Anyway, Jono didn't say that nobody could come and visit," Cecil said. "I bet he'd love the company!" He beamed at her.

It only gets weirder from here on out!

Thanks for grabbing this! :D

So looking forward to all the crazy yet to come. *waves haaands*

*waves hands and tentacles back*!

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Coping With Change, Friday, Period 3

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