Outdoor Adventure Time!, Tuesday, period 1

[vdistinctive]

A handwavy email had gone out letting the students know to meet on the beach by the lighthouse. Eliot and Parker waited for them a little ways down, away from the boardwalk. Eliot was dressed for the location in a pair of cargo pants, a fishing vest, and a floppy brimmed hat. He was even barefoot, though that was mostly because he hated trying to get sand out of his boots.

Parker was wearing a wetsuit, and had a selection of them on a movable rack with her. Also a large selection of windsurfing boards behind her, and the excited look of someone who was about to do something dangerous. Or, you know. Just looking like Parker.

“Welcome to Outdoor Adventures!” Parker said, looking over the students, grinning at the familiar faces. “And Outdoor Chilling Out, with Eliot.”

Eliot sighed. "Not everyone is an adrenaline junkie. Which is fine. The whole point of this class is to get you all outside and exploring. Whether that's by jumping off things, or by chilling out. Parker's terrible at the low-key stuff, so we're splitting the load a little." He clapped his hands together. "First thing's first, which around here is apparently introductions. Like we said, I'm Eliot, she's Parker. Some of you'll insist on 'Mr. Spencer' and 'Ms. Parker' --" He totally wasn't eying Kathy when he said that, "-- which is up to you, but honestly, it's the summer. Eliot and Parker works just fine."

“So yes, tell us what you want to be called. It doesn’t have to be your real name,” Parker added. “But it’s what I’ll call you for the rest of the term, so don’t pick something you hate. And then we wind-surf!” EEEEEEEEEE.

"Or fish," Eliot said. "Or go lookin' for shells and rocks and things." He jerked his thumb towards a set of fishing poles and tackle set up down the beach a little ways. "Fishing will happen upwind of surfing. You do not want to catch your classmates instead of a fish. Or shark or sea monster or whatever's lurking out here."

Eliot's options would not quite be entirely free of adrenaline, no.

“Pick an option, give us a name, and get started!” Parker paused, and added, “The wet suit is not optional if you’re going in the waves. Our boyfriend totally ended up with pneumonia when he thought he could go swimming in cold water.”

Eliot managed not to twitch visibly at the mention of their 'boyfriend'. That was still a new term for him, okay? "Yeah, you all aren't invulnerable. Or if you are, we don't wanna hear about it, and you have to wear one, anyway. So. Tell us your name and any other random fact you want us to know about you, and then let's have some fun."

“Kathy and Toby are our TA’s.” If you didn’t know that before, guys, now you do! “So if you need extra help or are afraid of Eliot, you can ask them questions.”

Eliot opened his mouth to point out that he wasn't doing the scary stuff, then just gave up. He pointed to one of the students. "You start."

Comments

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[soniaroadsqueen]

Don't disillusion her, Eliot!

"It does?" Ringo was definitely frowning. "But paperwork doesn't sound like it's any fun at all!"

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[vdistinctive]

Oh please. He was old. He lived to disillusion teenagers.

"It really isn't. It's like homework, only no one grades you on it."

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo blinked as she had trouble processing that last bit. "If you're not getting a grade, why would you do it?"

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[vdistinctive]

"For money," Eliot said. "Money is basically grades for grownups."

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[soniaroadsqueen]

"And if you don't do it, you can't get any money?" Was that how it was for everyone?

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[vdistinctive]

"That's it in a nutshell. A lot of the paperwork is keeping track of the money. So you don't lose it."

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Is there any way to not have to do the paperwork thing?" Ringo asked hopefully.

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[vdistinctive]

"You could hire people to do it for you," Eliot said. "If you've got the money." He should stop. He was being mean. "Sounds like you don't have to worry about that for awhile yet, though. Hey, maybe there'll be effective paperwork robots by the time you grow up."

Re: Listen to the lecture/Introduce yourself

[soniaroadsqueen]

"I hope so!" She really, really did.