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Jono Starsmore ([personal profile] furnaceface) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2015-01-16 10:03 am
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Powers, Identity, and The World; Embracing the Real You - Friday, Period One

Once again, Jono and Rinoa's class were going to find themselves meeting in a classroom. And once again, they'd find their teachers standing at the front of the room, looking… about as ready as anybody could possibly look, while teaching this particular pack of students.

//Hello again,// Jono said, nodding once it looked as though everyone had taken their seats. //And welcome back. Good to see we didn't scare you off last week, because this week, we're going to talk about more of the same… you. Last week, we discussed a bit about who you are. This week, we're going to stretch things a little, to talk about who it is you might become.//

There weren't any clairvoyants in the room, were there? Not that it mattered, but that could be an interesting insight to have at one's disposal for this lesson.

“For some people, you’ve got this whole life mapped out until one day, bam, it all changes,” Rinoa said. “And then you’re left wondering whether you can still be what you want, while now having to be what you are. Other people have always been different, and so their dreams and hopes are built around that framework. I can’t play basketball, because I’m too short. I can’t be a general, because the Galbadian army only has men in it. I can’t be a doctor, because I keep failing anatomy.”

It wasn’t just people with powers who had that problem, and it wasn’t just powers that might keep students away from some of their dreams. Reality was messy.

//And me, I can't get people to stop bloody well calling me 'General,' and I would really rather they never do so again,// Jono added, wryly. //Spent half my life thinking I was going to be frontman for my own grunge band, that's sort of fallen through for, er, obvious reasons. But I wouldn't mind perhaps getting up to something over at the Boards - the theatre I used to run - again. Even if I can't sing, it's… a compromise. Sometimes, even if you can't have exactly what you want, at least there's that much.//

“I thought I’d be a librarian,” Rinoa said, shrugging her shoulders. “And now I’m the Sorceress, which makes me into an international diplomat whether I want to be or not. But I’m working on restoring the Great Library in Dollet, and I could pick up an extra shift working in a bookstore here if I wanted to.” Or if she had the free time, which, lately, she hadn’t.

“The point is that maybe you can’t have everything you want, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some of it. Maybe you can start a basketball league for short people. Maybe you can work somewhere else in the medical field that has less strict grade requirements, but still lets you heal people. Maybe you can start your own army. Just because there are limitations doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It just means you need to get creative.”

//This week, we're opening the discussion floor to you lot again. We want to talk about your futures… where you see yourself after high school. Where you would like to see yourself after high school. Maybe your life has been set out for you from this point onward already. Maybe you had a game plan, but like myself and Rinoa, that didn't quite work out the way you would've liked, thanks to your powers, or thanks to some other factor in your life. Open discussion time, for those who care to share… What you want to do, what the probable reality is… and then we can talk possible compromises, or workarounds. Or just clap you on the shoulder and say well-done if things are working out as you'd like. And if you have any suggestions for your classmates for alternatives if what they want isn't shaping up to be what they're going to get, please, share. Maybe we can give some people something to strive for, today.//

[OOC: Open!]

Re: Sign In!

[identity profile] notacokeperson.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Karina Lyle
not_every_mage: ([neg] facepalm)

Re: Sign In!

[personal profile] not_every_mage 2015-01-16 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Anders

Re: Sign In!

[identity profile] thegc161kid.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Alex Mack

Re: Lecture!

[identity profile] notacokeperson.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
This week, Karina took a seat right at the back. Not as close to the door as possible, but in the back.

Mostly because, this way, if she needed to be horrified at how touchy-feely and emotional people got in this class, most of them wouldn't be able to see her expressions.

It was like she was doing them all a favour!

Because, seriously, ugh. Why was almost everyone in this class so insecure? Her hopes for today's discussions weren't super high, no.

Re: Sign In!

[identity profile] iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Elsa of Arendelle

Re: Discuss!

[identity profile] notacokeperson.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Anyway, this whole topic sorta stumped her.

She'd mentioned what she was going to be in the future last class. Did she really have to retread the same ground?

"I think I'm good," Karina said, shrugging. "Not much to talk about on my end."

Useful, Karina.

Re: Sign In!

[identity profile] sarcastic-vamp.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Carmilla Karnstein

Re: Discuss!

[identity profile] notacokeperson.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
She gave him a vaguely dirty look, mostly because a true glare would be almost like admitting anything that she had... nothing to admit to.

Karina was still pretty sure she was the only person in this class legitimately due to a paperwork error.

Even if she maybe had powers anyway.

Shut up.

Rather than say any of that, or even concede about differences (shut up, Jono, you knew NOTHING) Karina actually had to think about his other question.

The quick and fun answer was 'well, gee, ways to keep from getting shot on my way to stardom would be pretty great', but Karina didn't really need anyone to comment on the fact that risking her life against criminals to be a super idol was… unusual.

Still, she hesitated for a bit, looking tempted, because it would be hilarious to see his expression.

"Well, yeah," she said finally, "there's challenges, but I've got it covered. I've been looking into how to start a company lately, I guess, but all that's needed for that is research and a good lawyer."

Re: Discuss!

[identity profile] sarcastic-vamp.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"I want to be a meta for Disney Princess!" Carmilla said cheerfully, extremely glad that stupid truth thing hadn't lasted into today.
not_every_mage: ([neg] indignant)

Re: Discuss!

[personal profile] not_every_mage 2015-01-16 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"When I grow up I want to be not locked in a tower," Anders said acridly, stretching his legs out. These questions brought out the side of him that was furious at his entire world. "Beyond that? I like healing and not being bothered by the Templars. If I could just set up a clinic in some village somewhere I'd be perfectly happy. Maybe move to Denerim for a while if I want to be really adventurous."

He sounded less bitter as he continued. "But is anyone else from a place where jobs really aren't a choice? My father was a tradesman. If I wasn't a mage, I could have joined the Chantry or the army, or I could have been apprenticed to him or one of his friends. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around this notion anyone could do anything."

Re: Discuss!

[identity profile] sarcastic-vamp.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, there you have my problem," Carmilla said with a heavy sigh.

"I can't carry a tune. Not if my life depended on it."

Re: Discuss!

[identity profile] notacokeperson.livejournal.com 2015-01-16 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Her smile was slightly wry.

"I'm pretty hard to burn out," Karina said, which was true on several different levels, not the least that she was already running two careers while being a student. "But, yeah, delegation is key to a lot of things. I'll figure it out."

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