fandomhigh | Creature Languages, 3/20, Period 4

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Creature Languages, 3/20, Period 4

It's possible Dream may not be entirely recovered from directing the play, but he hides it well as he4 stands before the class.

"Hello. This week, we will study the language of snakes. We'll begin today with a discussion of snake mythology -- human mythology about snakes, though most of it has parallels in the snake culture.

Cows, monkeys and dogs are revered by some cultures yet consumed as food by others. So, too, snakes are respected in some parts of the world and despised in others. The way that people feel about snakes is heavily influenced by cultural beliefs and mythology.

Some cultures held snakes in high esteem as powerful religious symbols. Quetzalcoatl, the mythical "plumed serpent," was worshiped as the "Master of Life" by ancient Aztecs of Central America. Some African cultures worshiped rock pythons and considered the killing of one to be a serious crime. In Australia, the Aborigines associated a giant rainbow serpent with the creation of life.

Other cultures have associated snakes with medicinal powers or rebirth. In India, cobras were regarded as reincarnations of important people called Nagas. Our modern medical symbol of two snakes wrapped around a staff, or 'caduceus,' comes from ancient Greek mythology. According to the Greeks, the mythical figure Aesculapius discovered medicine by watching as one snake used herbs to bring another snake back to life.

Judeo-Christian culture has been less kind to snakes. Tales of the Garden of Eden and the serpent's role in "man's fall from grace" have contributed to a negative image of snakes in western culture. In Appalachia, some Christians handle venomous snakes as part of ritual ceremonies, relying on faith to protect them from bites. Among Catholics, Saint Patrick is credited with ridding Ireland of snakes, a feat celebrated by many as a good thing.

Deep rooted cultural biases may be responsible, in part, for widespread fear and disdain for snakes.

Dream passes out a second handout listing additional myths about snakes.

"I would like for each of you to read and think about these stories and choose one as a favorite. For extra credit, imagine it from the snake's point of view."

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...

Jake Gavin jr

Molly signed in.

Victor signed in.

Paige signed in

Walter signs in.

Pippi signs in.

Mr. Neilson leaves a paw print.

Blair signed in.

Zero signed in.

Xander signed in. And flinched when he noticed Molly already in the room. Annnnd possibly flinched again when he passed Jake's desk, if for slightly different reasons.

Stark signed in.

Sakura signs in ~~and congratulates mun for remembering classes this week, even if late~~.

Pick a snake story.

Molly got to class a little bit early and spent some time writing and folding several notes. She put them in a neat pile and covered them with her hands.

Victor thought that the myth about Apepi was interesting. He found it amazing when he got to the point about solar eclipses, especially because science had already shown that they were caused by the moon getting in the way of the sun, not by some snake. He came to the conclusion that snakes probably got a lot of crap because a lot of them were poisonous and it was hard to tell which ones were or not, so people started telling stories so people would be scared of them all.

He frowned as he realised that he knew exactly what that felt like.

Walter chose the story of the caudeceus. It was rather difficult to put himself in the snakes' shoes to think of the story. He liked the story because, in comparison to the other stories, which were't particularly positive, they showed that even something generally considered evil could have a good place.

Blair reads about the Midgard Serpent because he secretly thinks Vikings are cool. ~~Way cooler than pirates or ninjas.~~

Molly tossed a note on Blair's desk. He might notice that she had several other pieces of folded paper on her desk.

Hi, Blair. How are you today?

Molly put her elbow on the desk and leaned her head on her hand as she watched him read the note.

Blair took the note and grinned over at Molly, noticing the other papers on her desk. He scribbled on the back and tossed it back to her.

I'm good. I'm myself...which is very good. You?

Molly grinned back and sat up to add to the note before tossing it back.

I don't remember being in the play and I woke up on Sunday feeling annoyed by my dreams - which I don't really remember either. Other than that, I'm good. I went swimming last night. That was fun.

She then tossed a second note after it.

Have you changed your mind about wanting to date me?

She went back to leaning on her hand to watch him read both notes. Her expression was more curious than anything.

Blair read the first note and decided that if she didn't remember it, he wasn't going to tell her about him hitting on everything that moved. He scribbled and tossed it back.

I hear that. I remember getting possesed at the beginning and then I meditated through the rest of the play. Weird stuff. Swimming? Isn't it a little cold for that?

He read the second note and looked up at her in shock. Writing quickly he threw it back to her.

What? Why would you think that?

Molly added to the first note and tossed it back.

The pool is in the basement. Nice and warm.

She read the second note with a grin and put it in a jacket pocket. Then she picked up another note, checked it quickly to make sure it was the one she wanted, tore it twice and put it in a different jacket pocket. Picking up a different note, she tossed it on Blair's desk.

When are we going to go out on a date again?

She went back to leaning on her hand with a slight grin this time as she watched him read.

Blair barely glanced at the first note, and tapped it on the desk impatiently as he waited for her to toss him the other one. He wasn't sure what that was about. Had she changed her mind about dating him? Was she bored of him? Did someone tell her about him kissing Callisto before the play?

Just before he hyperventilated himself into a panic attack, he grabbed the second note and read it. A date? That's what she wanted to know? He resisted the urge to smack himself in the forehead and scribbled on it before crumbling it into a ball and hurling it at her.

Do you want to go see a movie this weekend?

One of Molly's eyebrows went up at the crumpled note, but she smiled as she read it. Smoothing the note out carefully, she wrote on it and, folding it properly again, tossed it back.

Yes.

Another note, the last one on Molly's desk, followed it.

When is your birthday?

She watched him as he read the notes again.

Blair grinned and bounced a little. He figured writing cool and sending it back to her would sorta prove he wasn't.... so he waited for the second note and wrote on it and sent it back.

Why?

Molly grinned more at the bouncing. She eyed Blair when she read his question, but refrained from making a sarcastic comment.

Because, aside from Logan, every birthday so far this year has been a surprise to me. I've only found out about them the day of or after. So, when is your birthday?

She watched him with expectation.

Blair grinned and remembered Molly talking about her birthday party issues. He wrote back and tossed the note over again.

It's on May 24th. When's yours?

Next Monday.

Molly did not watch Blair read the note this time. Instead, she picked up her handout and started to read that.

Blair stared at the note and then at Molly and then at the note. He debated what to write for a minute and then decided that he should just keep the note to remind him.

He pulled out a notebook and started writing notes. It could be for class, or it could be for a certain someone's birthday.

~~Viking Pirates are the coolest of the cool!~~

Pippi was most interested in the bit about the Ourorboros (http://flickr.com/photos/strongestgirl/tags/ourorboros/) with which she felt a certain affinity for some reason.

She wondered how the creature would move if it were always gnawing on its own tail. Perhaps it got up on its side and rolled around.

She doubted it would make a good hula hoop.

Zero quite liked the ourobouros and what it represented. She started sketching ourobouros(es?) in her notebook, trying to decide which one would make a good tattoo. Not that she was planning on getting a snakey tattoo, but she might.

Xander took a seat at the back of the room and immediately ~~hid behind~~ started reading his handouts. Very studiously. While totally avoiding looking at... well, anyone, really. But especially anyone who might have gone adventuring on Saturday night after the play. Except for when he possibly glanced over to reassure himself that he wasn't totally avoiding looking at anyone who might have gone adventuring on Saturday night after the play, because that would be suspicious.

Jake read about the Midgard serpent, and then moved on to reading about Loke. He liked Loke. Loke was clever. Loke was... sort of an animal? Sometimes?

After skimming the stories, Stark decides he likes the Ourorboros. The fact that it appears in multiple cultures is interesting, and he likes what the symbol of the snake eating its tail stands for. He likes the idea of regeneration and harmony.

The professor is around.

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Creature Languages, 3/20, Period 4

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