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furnaceface

//And just like that, the summer draws to a close,// Jono mused, leaning back against the desk at the front of the classroom and surveying the faces in the room. //Workshops end to make way for full semesters; the last of the lingering graduates, if there even are any, make their way to wherever it was they're going to go. A new group of students will be arriving soon, and possibly some new teachers as well. Time changes things.//

He shrugged his shoulders.

//But they're all changes that the island has seen, over and over and over again. Some of them might be exciting, some of them might be bittersweet, but they're familiar.//

"Most people go through this sort of change," Cecil added, "so if you need help, there should be lots of folks to give you advice! Some of it might even be useful. But no matter what, we're here! Well, Jono and I are here to help, but also, we're all just here, whatever that means."

//Well, if we weren't here, we'd be someplace else,// Jono added, reasonably. //Me, I'll be putting time in over at the Boards next semester, if anybody needs me. Not that I don't love teaching you lot, but even we old men need to take breaks from time to time. There's another familiar change... but one I chose for myself. Nice change of pace, there.//

He waved a hand at the class.

//No big lecture today, just a bit of introspection. What sort of changes might the autumn bring for you? Familiar ones? New ones? Big or small? Comfortable, or intimidating?//

voiceoverdue

So, there was a television at the front of the room today. The teachers weren't absent or anything, it was just that some days needed to be movie days.

That, and Jono had a mild 'up too late staring at scripts like a crazy man' hangover that had been mostly fuelled by insomnia, and for once didn't have a whole lecture in him. He did, however, have a film about a little brown alien creature on blu-ray, mostly because it was the thing that fell closest to hand that seemed even remotely relevant to the class they were meant to be teaching, here.

//Rejoice. There's microwave popcorn and a case of Coke. It's a film day today.//

"I brought hummus and pita chips!" Cecil added. "There's even wheat in them!" He was never going to get over being able to eat wheat and wheat by-products. "And Jono says this is a pretty good movie, so enjoy!"

//Actually, I said it was a classic, and I'm throwing popcorn at the first person in the room who complains that it's older than they are.//

Whippersnappers.

Either way, with that, he was hitting play.

furnaceface

Cecil smiled at the class and waited for them to take their seats before starting.

"Hello again, everyone. Mostly so far we've been talking about identifying changes and the sorts of them there are. Today, we're going to talk about a specific type of coping - seeking help. A lot of times when you're trying to cope with change, you have to remember it's not as if you're alone in the world. Well, no more than usual. Unless of course the entire world is all just a construct of each of our imaginations. But if that's the case, it's all just you, right? So there's nothing to worry about!"

( Assuming that the world does exist... )

[OOC: Open!]

voiceoverdue

//Morning, class,// Jono greeted as today's class began. //Last week we talked mainly about change that you can control. This week, we're going to discuss the opposite, those changes that hit hard and fast, without warning. The sort that you can't really prepare for, because the world isn't the sort of place that you can predict, no matter how good you are at preparing for the worst.//

( Read more... )

furnaceface

"Well, we've certainly got a lot of changes we could talk about!" Cecil started. "I mean, have you ever tried to take care of a cat when you're a pony? Like, even one that doesn't have tentacles?"

//Actually,// Jono said quickly, //I have. I've been a pony a few times and I'm a cat owner. And this week we're going to talk about one of the types of change.//

( He didn't want a repeat of last week. )

[OOC: Open!]

voiceoverdue

"Hi, everybody!" Cecil said. "We've got all sorts of changes to talk about this week. Like, what happens if you lose all your memories? Or what happens when you get new ones? There's a whole thing about finding out you're not who you thought, and really, you don't have to get everything all dumped on you at once for that. Although I guess it helps, right?"

//That... really depends on the situation,// Jono replied, a bit more on the subdued side, today. //Dealing with memory loss can be stressful. Coming back from it isn't necessarily any easier. And the island will do more than simply take away your memories. We've had weekends where you'll have lived an entirely different life, and coming to grips with what you did as somebody else...//

( Cut for rambling )

furnaceface

"Hello, everybody!" Cecil beamed and waved at the students.

( Ah, hello class. )

[OOC: Open!]

furnaceface

//Well, then...// Jono was leaning back against his desk as per usual this week, arms crossed, eyes on the students in the room, //last class. And I suppose the thing to do is to give you a final, but in the end… this isn't really something I can grade you on based on a few answers on a sheet of paper. Besides, I'd much rather teach you all one more thing before we part ways… something that we've been working on since class number one, something that I hope you don't lose sight of, once the bell sounds here and you leave this classroom.//

And something that even Jono could probably use some work on, yes.

( You Aren't Alone. )

[Open!]

furnaceface

Jonothon was, as usual, already leaning back against his desk with his arms crossed over his chest when his students filed in.

//I know,// he began, //that the headless version of myself at one point attempted to throw arts and crafts supplies at those of you who showed up for class a few weeks ago, so I hope that this lesson doesn't actually look as though that's what I'm attempting to do. But today, we'll be covering self-expression. Coping through venting your feelings, finding some outlet and letting it out, either by speaking, performing, creating some sort of art...//

He shrugged his shoulders.

//I'm not saying you even have to be good at whatever you choose to do. We're not all musicians, public speakers, dancers, authors, or painters, and self-expression can be as simple as keeping a diary and never sharing it with the world, putting together a playlist that echoes how you feel, or scribbling in the margins of your notes. Something your own, something that you can put your emotions into when they're running high. It's often useful for helping you sort thoughts, express feelings, calm down or nerve yourself up to doing what needs to be done. The ways to express yourself and the reasons for doing so are well and truly varied, I could be here all week going over them.//

And considering how long Jono's lectures usually ran, that wasn't even really an exaggeration.

//Today, we're going to talk about different forms of self-expression that you might embrace. If you're the sort of person to throw yourself into artful flower arranging in order to deal with the stress of finals, or if you've always wanted to give fashion design a try, feel free to share that with the class. Me, I reach for my guitar when I have something I want to get off my chest. Or I play loud music. Or I work out. What about you lot?//

[Open!]

furnaceface

//Right then, back to it,// Jono said, arms crossed over his chest and leaning back against the desk as class began. //The syllabus was thrown out a window somewhere around the time I lost my head, but we've got a few weeks left to salvage this thing, so this week we're going to discuss setting goals.//

Good lord, that almost sounded like a legitimate class discussion topic, right there.

( Setting Goals )

[Open!]

furnaceface

Today, Jonothon's class would come into the room to find him leaning back against his desk, as usual, arms crossed over his chest, as usual, looking thoughtfully over the classroom with two eyes, as was hopefully going to remain usual. He had most of his head back, and he was going to consider that... more or less a win.

//Welcome back,// he began, nodding to the students in the room. //I feel as though I ought to apologize for the past several weeks, but the man standing here in my place wasn't anything I had any control over, any more than many of you had control over your own selves. So I'll simply begin with assuring you that no, I'm not going to fail anybody who showed up to class last week. Not those of you who came into the room, and not those who turned back at the door.//

What? He had no eyes and his entire perception of the world came from his psionic senses. If you were a living being with capacity for thought, he knew you had been there.

//Next week we'll get back to... what's left of the syllabus. This week, we're going to do what this class is meant to teach you to do, and we're going to cope, either with the changes you experienced before, or with having changed back, now. You are all welcome to talk, today, to share your concerns or your relief, to raise questions and to answer them, to sort through what we've all been exposed to. None of you have to speak if you're uncomfortable, of course. Or if you'd rather discuss anything personal without the entire class as an audience, I'll be staying late today.//

Yes, he did usually stay late. Still, it was worth making certain people knew, just in case anybody who needed to talk was worried about holding him up.

//I think that's about it. If anybody needs to talk...//

[Open!]

furnaceface

If or why anybody was actually insane enough to come to class today was really anyone's best guess. The island was pretty much bending over backwards now in its attempt to kill everybody living on it. There were zombies falling into lava pits and half-monkey-half-pony monsters galloping majestically through ancient ruins with mummies riding on their backs and really, Jonothon had pretty much made up his mind that anyone who showed up for class today was going to just automatically fail the course.

( Class? Ish? )

[Open!]

furnaceface

This week, the Coping With Change students would once again find two teachers, though the class itself was being held in the Danger Shop, as opposed to their usual classroom. And, once again, neither of their teachers looked particularly ordinary.

Who could have ordinary when you could have these two, right?

//This week,// Jono said, arms crossed over his chest and sounding only slightly irritated (which was an improvement on last week's 'distinctly annoyed,' at least), //we'll be spending the class period attempting to relax. Because… apparently that's also helpful when trying to cope with things.//

Things like the looming threat of being replaced with someone else similar to you, for example.

( Relax! )

[Open!]

furnaceface

This week, students showing up for Jono's class would be treated to not one, but two teachers! Neither of whom probably looked quite how they were expected to look, but what in the world were you going to do about that, with the island as… Fandom… as it was being, these days?

( It's not time to make a change. Just relax. Take it easy... )

[OOC: Open! Co-written with the delightful

voiceoverdue!]

voiceoverdue

Cecil smiled at the class and waited for them to take their seats before starting.

"Hello again, students. I know Jono - Mr. Starsmore - has been taking point most days, but he's unfortunately feeling under the weather, so you just have me today.

"The class subject for today is seeking help. A lot of times when you're trying to cope with change, you have to remember it's not as if you're alone in the world. No more than usual. Unless of course the entire world is all just a construct of each of our imaginations. But if that's the case, it's all just you, right? So there's nothing to worry about!"

Cecil beamed; that was good news, wasn't it? "Assuming that the world does exist, though, and the other people in it, you're not alone! So if you're having trouble with a change, you can ask for help! There's probably all kinds of people that are willing to help out, and some of them might even be useful. Change can be a lot easier with the right support structure. You just have to know it's there and lean on it."

Yeah, Jono; it might be best you didn't try teaching this one.

"But not too hard. Metaphorically, I mean. Well, or literally, either, just in case. Anyway, tell us about a time you asked for help and got it. Or when you didn't and should have. Or when you did and someone was a real jerk and didn't, even though your life would've been so much easier if they did. And maybe we can share ways of asking for help that work, or offer each other help if we need it!"

He looked around the room and waited.

[OOC: Yep, Cecil's still adult. As far as he's concerned, he's always been co-teacher of the class. Thanks and a tip of the hat to the lovely

furnaceface for letting him hijack it while Jono is headless!]

Current Mood: Grown-up
Current Location: Classroom

furnaceface

Literally the only clothing that Jonothon had been able to find today in his apartment was his old Generation X uniform. The one he couldn't take seriously, because it was crimson and mustard-coloured, with a big bloody X on his belt. At least the boots had been tolerable, he supposed. And Emma had let him incorporate his jacket into his own costume. But. Really.

He couldn't quite figure out, himself, if this was somehow better or worse than the Hawaiian shirt bandages he'd been wearing last week.

//Since most if not all of you are probably too excited about break to pay attention to a proper lecture,// he began, standing behind his desk in the hopes of at least obscuring his belt some (it didn't work), //we're going to keep today's class simple. Escapism. It's perfectly natural, it's perfectly healthy, just so long as it doesn't ultimately get in the way of your dealing with life. If you're running on pure emotion and can't use logic to save your life, if you need to calm down some before you can properly apply yourself to fixing a problem and nothing is in immediate danger of irreparable damage if you do, then yes, pick up a book, or go to the cinema, or play a video game or listen to music or dance or do what you need to do in order to get yourself back in a functional headspace. So long as you're doing it in order to get yourself back to a place where you can deal, as opposed to using it in order to escape from ever having to deal, it's fine. It's good. By all means, take some time to yourself and recharge your mental and emotional batteries some.//

This was possibly his shortest lecture yet.

//All of that said, movie day. I even brought popcorn - the microwave kind, don't think I'm ever more fancy than I need to be - and a few bottles of soft drink if anybody likes. For some reason or other, the only DVD I could find in my apartment was Alice in Wonderland, and I had an old friend who would be personally disappointed in me for showing it to you all, but it is an excellent example of escapism unto itself, so...// He shrugged. //Sorry, Alice.//

[Open!]

furnaceface

Jonothon came into class today looking cranky, but… loud. There was no way in hell he was coming into his classroom the same way he'd gone down to work his Groovy Tunes shift yesterday, with his flames in plain sight, so he'd done the only thing he could do under the circumstances, and he'd destroyed a shirt in order to replace the wrappings that had gone missing. And then, because shredded shirts weren't made to go all the way down, he'd thrown a t-shirt on overtop, as well.

So today, Jono was attempting and failing to look casual with the remains of a Hawaiian shirt over his face, and a bright red Pearl Jam t-shirt on over that.

( Right. )

[Open!]

furnaceface

//Right, so, the blame game.// Jono walked into the room today looking tired but triumphant. //I was up all bloody night re-planning this class, because something, somewhere, replaced all of my notes with photographs of bags of garbage sitting at the bottom of a cliff. No, I don't know why. I'm going to say it was the island. That seems to be the case, these days, more often than not.//

Garbage. He couldn't even begin to fathom what in the world was up with that.

( The Blame Game )

[Open!]

furnaceface

//This week, I'd like to discuss the different types of change a little more,// Jono began, once it seemed like his students had all settled in. //You might notice that I teach with something of a bias toward coping with the sudden, unexpected sort. I'll even admit here and now that 'sudden and unexpected' is rather the sort of change that I'd been expecting to discuss the most, since around here, that's generally the sort that leaps first to mind. That said, there are a few others that this class will have some bearing on, as well.//

He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the desk like usual.

( I'll start with... )

[Open!]

furnaceface

//I'm not religious,// Jono started his class with today. //Not by a bloody long shot. And if anyone else in this room is or isn't is no business of mine. Pray or don't pray, whatever gets you by. So, please don't think I'm making any statement one way or the next if I quote a prayer to you that's become popular, of all places, in a lot of those twelve-step programs that people talk about, these days.//

A beat.

( Not that this is one of those, either. )

[Open!]

furnaceface

Jono was looking a little tired as he stood in front of the students in his classroom today, leaning back against his desk as usual, wrapped in leather up to the nostrils and hair still tousled as though he'd just fallen out of bed. Odds were, he probably had. Was it reassuring at all to know that your teacher had a difficult time pulling it together too, kids?

Nightmares were a bit like that.

//Right, then. Last week I had you all give introductions, and, while sharing a change in your life was optional, most of you did talk a little bit about what you've been through, what you're expecting to go through, or what you're going through now. I'm… actually a little honored that you shared those things in my classroom. Actually accepting that something has changed in your life is a difficult step to take. Opening up and telling it to another person, let alone a group of people, can be bloody terrifying. Like… it becomes real if you admit it aloud. You can't sit in that safe little fantasy bubble forever, of course. Sooner or later you have to just accept that the world around you has become a little different, that family changes or your surroundings are different or you'll never quite look right again when you see yourself in a mirror.//

( Getting a little bit personal, Chamber. )

[Open!]

furnaceface

//Change,// Jonothon said, stepping into the classroom and starting his lecture without preamble today, //happens. Winter turns to spring, puppies turn into dogs, people come and go. There are very few constants in the world. But, I hope, you knew that. Anyone who's had me as a teacher in semesters past can likely see that I'm no stranger to the idea, either.//

He leaned back against the front of his desk, arms crossed over the bandages that kept his flames from licking out from his chest and face into the room.

( If you're in this class... )

[OOC: Open! Have at!]

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