fandomhigh | How To Be Civilized, Friday, Period 3

"Every young Radchaai is expected to write poetry," Seivarden said, standing in front of the class. "The result is of course endless amounts of bad poems being sent to friends and family, possibly becoming an embarrassment years later. Only a few have the talent or learn to develop the skill ot actually write something good, of course."

She looked at the students.

"Understanding and appreciating poetry, even if your own writings are terrible, is fundamental to being civilized. That's why you're going to write a poem today, as long or as short as you like, read it to the class and then be prepared to discuss it. Apparently this planet has a lot of different poetic forms that you can try, or you could use something from your home. It can be as long or as short as you like."

She paused. "No, actually, not as long as you like, a maximum of two pages. It should be directed towards someone you care about."

"Pens and paper are over here, unless you've brought your own," Seivarden said. "Same with gloves." She glanced at Mae. "Please help yourself to some tea."

[~~Wait for OCD~~ OCD is up]

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And ask questions if you have any.

Should Nina be in class today?

Probably, almost definitely, not. But she'd been so bored and she'd felt a little better and she'd promised herself that she'd go right back to bed after her classes.

Nina was bundled up, looking pale and wan and huddled around her tea today. Even her pink gloves seemed a little wilted.

She perked up at the assignment, but wilted even further at the stipulation that it be only two pages, max…

"No epic poem is ever that short," Nina grumbled, before she started coughing again.

Yes, she covered her mouth. No, she probably, definitely, shouldn't be here ~~but the lure of writing terrible poetry for her had been too hard to resist…~~

Mae reached out with her foot to give Nina's desk a little nudge to get her attention. Then waved her plastic-baggy-covered hands with a little happy snicker.

Her Nina-gloves were tucked away safely in her room. Not wearing proper gloves in this class was now a matter of principle!

Seivarden considered commenting on the so-called gloves, but decided against it. Mae had to be doing it on purpose. She sent a few disapproving looks in her direction though.

Nina looked over and blinked as she processed what Mae was wearing on her hands today.

Then she sank down in her chair, giggling silently and helplessly.

Mae slipped her a note.

Thank u 4 the gloves! My hands r toasty warms now!

It featured a doodle of her hand, enclosed in fabulous gloves. You could tell they were fabulous by all the stars and hearts surrounding them.

Nina was totally going to keep that note because, like, really. It was pretty awesome all by itself.

You're welcome!!!!!!!! she scribbled on a folded sheet of lined paper that she'd tugged out of one of her notebooks. I'm glad Foomy got them to you and that you like them!!!!!!!!!!!!! I like what you wore for class today!!!!!!!!

Because the plastic gloves were hilarious and Nina hadn't expected Mae to wear the proper gloves here anyway.

Mae smiled happily when she read Nina's note, and sent another back to her.

Next week: mittens? _ Yes!!!! No!!! _________(please specify!!!!!!!!)

She added those exclamations purely for Nina's sake, of course.

Which Nina deeply appreciated! What if there was ever an exclamation mark shortage?!

Nina couldn't help but mouth 'oh my gosh' at Mae, before she scribbled out a few ideas.

No!!!!!!! Gauntlets!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or fingerless evening gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or palmless gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nina was all aboard the chaos train today apparently.

PALMLESS GLOVES!!

Mae beamed back at Nina.

Do they make palmless gloves??!!! Maybe we can make them!!!!!

Nina was back to giggling silently.

THEY DO!!!!!!!!!! I'm not sure why they exist, but I've seen patterns for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We could DEF make them!!!!!!!!

This weekend!!!!! Mae decided. Unless you're busy? Or still feeling ooky?

Ooky being, of course, a technical medical term.

Nina considered how she felt. Cruddy, but hey, she'd made it to class.

Theoretically she'd feel less cruddy tomorrow, so...

I still have a cough and I'm not 100% but, like, I was going to go to work tomorrow, so I should be okay??????????? Did you want to come by the bookstore??????? It's a good place to look up patterns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fandom had a bookstore? Mae clearly needed to get back on her daily runs through town.

Sounds fun!!! Don't cough on me hahah

It was possibly Mae's plastic gloves (which made Nina giggle silently every time she looked in Mae's direction) or it was possibly the fact that she was genuinely irked by that two page limit!

But the spirit of devilry had her saying, "For inspiration could we, like, have a poem you've written, Professor?????????"

Nina had wrestled with that title, not really sure if that was the proper way that Seivarden would want to be addressed but then, like, Seivarden hadn't said, so…

"Or perhaps you'll use this occasion to write one as well??????????????"

"If I had been able to bring something from my universe with me, my early poetry wouldn't have been a priority," Seivarden said. "Besides, most of it was sent as letters anyway."

Good excuses that were also true.

"And no, I won't." She smiled. "Try to inspire each other."

In a good way, Nina.

But were the good ways as much fun?

"Oh," she said, all big, earnest eyes. "That's too bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, like, I'll do my best!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And she would, too, right up until she decided to use a generator instead.

How To Be Civilized, Friday, Period 3

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