Extra curricular

[aestrix]

The next class in pre-jump Earth literature occurs.

Frank is early, actually. He sits at his desk with a large smile on his face, greeting students by name despite the slight hints of red around his eyes and the prominent box of tissues that have mysteriously appeared within easy reach.

It is probable that he cried, but hard to prove considering the evidence.

Comments

[thisvorlunatic]

"Speak for yourself," he says, with an edged smile.

[aestrix]

"Well!" says Frank, to a stunned classroom. "Why don't we remember this as a reason to not make assumptions and also move onto the next poem now please!"

[thisvorlunatic]

Miles snickers to himself.

[poll_the_stars]

Yvette quietly winces. At all of this. Augh.

[thisvorlunatic]

Sorry, he messages her. Lost my temper a bit.

[poll_the_stars]

It's all right. I'm not upset with you, she clarifies. Nor do I disagree. Just the - situation is unpleasant. I wish you were not in a room full of Betans try to tell you that - I don't even know how to word it, 'We are better and so the things associated with this poem do not happen, you do not exist, all is well, the delusion is secure.'

[thisvorlunatic]

I confess I actually kind of enjoyed the opportunity to make everyone in the room deeply uncomfortable.

[poll_the_stars]

Snort.

I'm - glad? That you're having fun?

[thisvorlunatic]

I should probably be kinder to the poor sheltered Betans who don't know any better, but God, it's just so satisfying. If they insist on denying my experience then let them reap what they sow, you know?

[poll_the_stars]

Hm, I don't know. I'm more concerned about what they might take away from it? I'm worried that they will think it's Barrayar that is responsible for your experience, and use that to feed the delusion some more.

[thisvorlunatic]

Unfortunately he didn't give me an opportunity to clarify, or I happily would have.

[poll_the_stars]

Why am I not surprised.

[thisvorlunatic]

Presumably you're becoming familiar with my vicious sense of humour. I promise I'm much nicer when I'm not so miserable.

[poll_the_stars]

Most people are much nicer when they're not miserable. She considers writing 'I am impressed that you are nice at all when you're miserable' but thinks that might be some brand of impolite.

I get cranky and lose my filter, she volunteers instead. So I am both thinking less charitably and also more willing to say the less charitable things.

[thisvorlunatic]

I have a wide selection of bad moods. Exercising my vicious sense of humour is more enjoyable than many of the alternatives, but I probably shouldn't give it as much free rein as I do, even so.

[poll_the_stars]

Probably not, no.

[thisvorlunatic]

Oh well.

[poll_the_stars]

Snort.





Eventually, class ends. No one else is quite as obnoxious.

"Sabine's meeting us at the nearby arboretum," she informs him. "And you have my permission to rant at me."

[thisvorlunatic]

"Smug Betan assholes piss me off. End rant," snorts Miles. "All right, let's go collect Sergeant Bothari and find your arboretum."

[poll_the_stars]

"What a detailed and nuanced rant," says Yvette. "Where do we collect Sergeant Bothari?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"He'll be waiting outside the school. He doesn't come in because the school premises are deemed sufficiently safe and it would kind of defeat the purpose of the semi-anonymity for me to go around to all my classes with a bodyguard."

[poll_the_stars]

"... I'm sorry, I just got a visual of Sergeant Bothari in an undersized chair in the corner over there looking very gruff and intimidating."

[thisvorlunatic]

"He does a very good gruff and intimidating, doesn't he? But perhaps not if we crammed him behind one of these desks."

[poll_the_stars]

"It rather undercuts both," she agrees. "Good at them though he is."

[thisvorlunatic]

"You don't know the half of it," Miles says cheerfully. "Anyway, this way."

Off through the school they go.