Coconut
Minion
DON'T PUT THE LIME ON THE CAT, YOU NUT!
Posts: 63
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Post by Coconut on Nov 12, 2010 22:34:07 GMT -5
Ethan had been hoping, honestly hoping that his first student who seemed to be struggling in his class would be able to right herself on her own after he'd given her a little talking to. But that had been naive of him to hope for. She'd turned in her homework like he'd hoped she would, but it was... It was clear from that first homework that she didn't understand the material.
He needed to help his student now, while it was still early in the school year and she still hadn't begun failing any quizzes or tests. He'd gone to the headmaster to see if there was anything remarkably special about this student and what he'd learned... Well, he could understand why she may been afraid the first time he'd called her out during class.
But that didn't stop what he felt he needed to do.
Class ended, he dismissed everyone and began clearing the blackboard of the mathematical equations and scribbles that covered the face. He paused and glanced back at the class, catching sight of that one particular student before she could escape and calling out to her. "Dragon. Could I have a word?"
He resumed cleaning off the blackboard, swiping out the last few white marks before turning to see if she'd obeyed his wishes and actually stayed. He'd wanted to give himself a moment to be prepared to see the fear in her eyes that he wished wasn't there.
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Ixtlilton
Moderator-In-Training
he knows where all the naughty boys and girls live
Herp
Posts: 205
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Post by Ixtlilton on Nov 12, 2010 23:57:52 GMT -5
Dragon wasn't having a good day. She stayed up late every night and made up for it by napping in class. She hated doing homework. The PE Coach wouldn't let her use her powers during PE, so she couldn't even enjoy that sort of thing, and she usually did.
She no longer stayed in a cell sleeping whenever she felt like it, exercising when she didn't, and going on periodic adventures into the world, hiding in the Doctor's shadow. Her "work" was no longer dependant on knife weilding or scaring people or waving a gun around. Or even paperwork. Well, it was still kind of dependant on paperwork. But the math she was being taught wasn't the math she used for finances. It was pointless and stupid. Everything she was being taught was pointless and stupid, except for maybe writing since that was kind of interesting.
And she hated math the most. She sat in the back of the class, ignoring the fact she could barely read the board, and struggled to stay awake despite being tired and intensly bored. She had to pay attention in this class, because Professor Jones was just the kind of asshole to call her after class and ask questions.
Which, of course, was exactly what she did. She flinched and froze, not wanting to turn around and face reality. Instinct told her on no uncertain terms that she should make a break for it, but she reminded herself for the ten billionth time why she couldn't do that. If she ran now, she'd have to like, skip Math class for the rest of forever. Which was great for her, but then Mr. Abelev would probably kick her out of Ansem or tell her she HAD to go. She could just leave, but she was certain Dr. Craven would find her if she did. So she had to face the music, or, in this case, the math.
Alright, she reminded herself as she turned around. You were paying attention. Just answer all the questions and then get the hell out of here. She stared determinedly at her feet.
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Coconut
Minion
DON'T PUT THE LIME ON THE CAT, YOU NUT!
Posts: 63
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Post by Coconut on Nov 13, 2010 1:40:43 GMT -5
The young math teacher couldn't help but look upon his student and feel the urge to sigh. He held it back, if only to keep from giving her the impression that he didn't really care about her. Not that simply not sighing would be enough to mend his reputation in her eyes, he could see that. She wouldn't even look at him.
After a moment or two of silence, Ethan placed the eraser on the blackboard ledge and addressed his student. "I don't want to see you fail my class, Dragon. Because of this, I'm going to request that you allow me to tutor you outside of class. I think that perhaps you might have an easier time understanding the material if I'm able to help you along and see where you might be struggling. I've looked at your transcripts... and think that maybe you just missed some of the material that other students have already covered before this class. I can help you catch up..."
He trailed off, feeling a bit hopeless. He wanted to help. Really, truly, that was all he ever wanted to do. It was up to her to accept his help or throw it back in his face. He could only hope that for both their sakes that she'd put up with a few more hours of him a week if only to catch her up to the rest of the class. There wasn't much else he could do.
"So what do you say?"
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Ixtlilton
Moderator-In-Training
he knows where all the naughty boys and girls live
Herp
Posts: 205
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Post by Ixtlilton on Nov 15, 2010 18:42:51 GMT -5
Dragon's first reaction was completely unjustified. She knew in the back of her head that it was completely unjustified. This guy was a teacher at a school based entirely upon protecting kids that would wind up dead otherwise. Mr. Abelev clearly trusted him, and without Abelev, Simon, and that icy lady whose name escaped Dragon, Dragon would still be in the mess she'd left behind. Logically, that sort of vouching should be enough for her.
It wasn't, though, and that logic wasn't keeping her from staring at Ethan like he'd just propositioned her.
She was thinking, though. She was trying to be logical. It wasn't WORKING, but she was trying. "...I want someone else here," she said, finally, her mouth moving without her really realizing it was. "A lady. A teacher or... a female student who's power is turning people into fish or something. And my ferret. And right after school hours when there are still a lot of people around!" Teaching her was going to be like negotiating a hostage exchange, damnit, and either he was going to find a student who could turn people into fish or she was just going to fail math and move on with her life.
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Coconut
Minion
DON'T PUT THE LIME ON THE CAT, YOU NUT!
Posts: 63
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Post by Coconut on Nov 15, 2010 20:13:20 GMT -5
At first, Ethan was puzzled. He knew that Dragon had a difficult past and that she probably would trust him at first, but that look she was giving him made him squirm uncomfortably on the inside. He could only guess as to what she must have been thinking to give him such a look and none of his ideas were positive by any means. Even so, that didn't prepare him for when she began to voice her demands. THEN everything snapped into place, her fear becoming apparent.
Ethan looked, quite frankly, horrified. "Ex... excuse me?"
He couldn't even speak for a few seconds. He just sort of stared back at her, trying to absorb the shock and get his thoughts back together. She couldn't HONESTLY think that he would... that he would EVER...
The young math teacher closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, touching his forehead with one hand and shaking his head slowly. Then he opened his eyes and spoke, composed once again. "You may have your ferret with you during our study sessions. And I have no problem with holding them right after school lets out. However, as a compromise, how about we leave the door wide open instead of asking another teacher or student to give up their free time to be here? We can prop it open with a chair so that it won't accidently close and we can sit close to the door if that will put your mind at ease."
In the back of his mind, Ethan was still freaking out just a little bit at the mere idea that a student had thought that he might take advantage of them in the guise of offering his services as a tutor.
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Ixtlilton
Moderator-In-Training
he knows where all the naughty boys and girls live
Herp
Posts: 205
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Post by Ixtlilton on Nov 15, 2010 20:30:33 GMT -5
Ethan seemed extremely taken aback, which gave him a few bonus points in Dragon's mind. She still wasn't going to be stupid about it, though. If he'd asked her a in a few months, she probably would have been comfortable enough with Ansem, but as it was, she was a strange girl in a strange place who'd just spent three years of her life kidnapped by a "nice man who had her best interests in mind." Also, the idea of a teacher staying after school to teach a student seemed kind of weird and creepy to her. Who did that?
"....Alright," she agreed, her suspicious eyes still saying 'but don't try anything, you weirdo.' She was still probably going to ask Lilith if she'd come and stick around. And also if this was normal teacher behaviour. Maybe this was a normal private-school-teacher thing. Ethan seemed off put enough to make her wonder if she was being the odd one. Still, she had a right to be creeped out and cautious. "...Can I go now?"
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Coconut
Minion
DON'T PUT THE LIME ON THE CAT, YOU NUT!
Posts: 63
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Post by Coconut on Nov 15, 2010 20:49:58 GMT -5
Ethan visibly relaxed when she finally agreed to the conditions of the tutoring sessions. It was like a weight off his shoulders. The optimistic side of the very naive new teacher told him that once he got her alone to look over the material, he'd be able to see where her problem areas were and fix everything with these (hopefully frequent) sessions. He was excited to get started, even if she had just basically accused him of being a child molester, and was a bit disappointed when she seemed as eager to get out of his room as ever. Not that he could really blame her.
Ethan gave a short nod, slipping his hands into his pockets and attempting to put on a more friendly expression. "Yes, you may go. I can start tutoring you tomorrow, just come here after your classes are over."
It would only be after Dragon had vanished out the door that the young man would realize that he had agreed to allowing a ferret come to his tutoring. A... ferret.
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