(no subject)

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

A sign on the door says: *Shop Class Cancelled. Go back to bed.*

The computer components that were HAL have been disconnected and placed in the corner.

Mac sits at his desk, a pair of crutches leaning on the wall and a cast on his leg. His mood is somewhere between grumpy and guilty.

Comments

[nadiathesaint]

The sign on the door doesn't surprise Nadia in the least. But going back to bed isn't terribly likely to happen, so she takes a deep breath and knocks.

Shop is her favorite class. She's not about to let herself be afraid of it.

[ooc: feel free to ignore her or tell her to go away if you're busy]

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"Come on in," Mac calls out looking up from his desk.

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia took another deep breath and opened the door. "Hi," she said, just a touch shyly. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

Mac gave her a small smile. "I'm fine. I just have to wear a cast and walk on some crutches for a few weeks. Are you okay? You were pretty out of it the last time a saw you."

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia rubbed her head, a gesture that was quickly becoming habitual. "I still have a bump, but I think I'm okay." She bit her lip for a second, then blurted out her next question. "What happened? I mean, I remember Hal going nuts, and the robots and everything, but I also remember Walter sitting on my bed without a shirt on, so I think I might be a little . . ." she waved a finger in the air. "Mixed up, still."

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"HAL had a little... malfunction," Mac said gesturing over to where HAL's components lay in the corner of the room. "I have a pretty good idea of why it happened and unfortunately a good deal of it was my fault. I should have known better than to install an AI component to the Danger Shop program without putting in some safeguards."

There's a bitter look on Mac's face.

"I'll know more about what happened after I talk with a couple of people."

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"Hey Sydney," Mac says looking up from some paperwork. "How are you feeling?"

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

Mac shrugged a little. "Oh you know. Broken leg. Extreme guilt for getting my students into a battle with a deranged software programs and seeing them get hurt. Other than that? Pretty darn well."

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"Let's just say that hindsight is 20/20," Mac said in a grumpy tone directed at himself. He shrugs it of and gives Sydney a grin. "As for what you can do for me? Do your homework. Stay in school. Stay off drugs. No premarital sex. Go to bed early."

"Not necessarily in that order."

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Pippi swings by the Danger shop and peeks in.

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"Hi Pippi," Mac says with a little wave. "Looks like you survived the mishap pretty well on monday."

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Pippi smiled and walked up to where Mac was sitting.

"Yeah, I tend to do that..." she said quietly.

"I just wanted to see how your leg was and to thank you for having us in class... Even if it didn't go exactly as you planned."

She looked over to where Hal was sitting.

"What are you going to do with him?"

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"Leg is broken but other than that nothing serious, thank you for asking," Mac said before looking over at HAL. "For the moment I'm keeping him turned off and offline until we can figure out what happened to him.

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

She regarded Hal for a little while trying to work out what she was going to say.

"I hope I can work Shop into my schedule next semester." She said looking back to Mac. "In the meantime... I am very strong. I don't like to hurt people if I can help it, because of that... But, if you ever need any assistance that requires it, I would be happy to make myself available to you sir."

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"That would be great Pippi. I'd enjoy having you in my class," Mac replied. "And I know how strong you were. If it wasn't for you I'd still be stuck in the middle of a robot attack. Thank you again for getting me to safety."

[soldtoarmenians]

Xander would totally peek in? Except he slept like crap. So he leaves a post-it under Mac's note, attached with a bit of duct tape both for sentimental reasons and because he's met this school, and God knows what would happen if the damn thing blew away and got found without context.

I kinda love you.

In a manly, platonic way, of course.

~Xander

And then he trudges home to follow orders, and go back to bed.

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

Mac finally sees the note when he leaves for the day. He makes a mental note to check in on Xander to make sure he's okay.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Even though she was thrilled not to have to spend the morning in the shop, Sam knew she'd have to face Mac eventually. Better not to do it in public. She knocked on the door.

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"Come on in!" Mac shouted through the door.

He had finally moved on from the paperwork and was fiddling around with some paperclips, chewing gum and duct tape.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam opened the door and poked her head in. "Hey. Got a minute?"

"And what on earth are you making?"

[manofthemullet.livejournal.com]

"Something very important," Mac replied brandishing what appeared to be a very long thin rod made of paper clips. He slowly slid the clips in between the cast and his leg and sighed in relief.

"This thing itches like crazy," Mac said moving it around in his cast. "I'm glad you dropped by, because I think we need to have a chat about your 'aunt'."

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam grinned. "You can duct tape chopsticks together if you need something sturdier."

"Yeah, I think we probably do," she admitted, taking a seat. "HAL told me that she was responsible for the reprogramming."