Psychology Class Strikes Back

[unaddict]

And here we have Professor Abberline with his first classes post spring break. He's at his desk, which is in the corner of the room across from the door, hiding behind his computer monitor and trying to pretend like he isn't a little hung over from St. Patrick's Day.

On the board, there's this pleasant little note:

Welcome back from Spring Break

Comments

[notyourheroine]

Gert signs her name in letters slightly less....psychotic than Nori's, and glances archly at Professor Abberline over the monitor. She doesn't...really know what a hangover looks like, but she can kind of guess.

Well, whatever, it's more honest than most of the teachers around here.

Dear Gert: you are the most cynical high school sophomore in the history of time. Shut up and take a hand-out.

[ugliest_shirts]

Ben is also here, precisely two minutes early as usual. He gives a nod to Professor Abberline and a cautious wave to Noriko, and signs his name on the roll sheet in neat angular script before grabbing a handout and a seat next to Gert.

For the moment he's keeping quiet like a good boy, but he gives her a quick grin hello. And then, as always, out come the notebook and pencils and sketchbook.

[unaddict]

He looks out over the computer again to see who's shuffling in this time, and gives a faint nod in greeting. His classes are usually small, but he's still a bit of a space case with everyone.

[notyourheroine]

Gert waves a little at Abberline, because acknowledgment is important! "Did you miss us?"

Because who could fail to miss St. Jude's population, really. Certainly not teachers. Teachers don't certainly hope for break with every breath they take. >_>

Aaayway, there be a Ben! She turns a little to face him and nods at the sketchbook. "Hey. Gonna draw the brain?" CLEARLY YES.

[unaddict]

"'Course I did," he murmurs, but not very loud. As he predicts she's got her attention to another student soon enough. It's customary for him to let them go about their business and settle in before he really starts class, anyway, but by now he's quietly observing everyone.

[ugliest_shirts]

Ben can deal with being quietly observed. He does the same thing to everyone else, he has no room to complain.

"Hadn't thought about it," he answers Gert, honestly; he's actually been doodling pictures of the dog again, judging by the current page the sketchbook's open to. "It'd be fun to try, though. Bit of a challenge."

[notyourheroine]

Someday, there will be a new student named Quiet McObservatory, and THEN what will Ben do? THEN WHAT.

....meanwhile, given that they are talking about the brain and things, there's no reason Abberline couldn't come over and chat with them, if he wanted :3 since it is his post classroom.

He could even see pictures of the dog, which Gert is doing now, curiously. DO TELL, Benjamin.

[ugliest_shirts]

Then, obviously, Ben will have to challenge this person to a showdown. A showdown of . . . quiet observation. Yes, of course, that thing.

In that spirit, anyway, he notices Gert looking at the pictures of the dog and tilts the sketchbook so she can see better. "She's a stray," he explains, even though his name isn't Benjamin. "We're looking after her, at least until someone claims her." Which he not-so-secretly hopes no one does.

[notyourheroine]

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE - I don't know.

Maybe someday Ben will tell Gert about the strange, fantastic origins of his name, and she'll lament about being named Gertrude for a while, because as far as she's concerned it's a name for someone's thousand year old aunt. ANYWAY. "Uh-oh. Distinct pronoun use is a sign of early attachment. You haven't named her yet, have you?"

Gert herself has not had a pet since her hamster 'escaped' from their yard a few years ago. Her parents say she left the gate open; it is in fact Gert's opinion that this is a giant lie.

[ugliest_shirts]

If Abberline ever shows up decapitated, we'll know why . . . and this is getting a bit disturbing, isn't it.

He might even tell her voluntarily, someday. There are people who laugh at Ben's name and people who sympathize, and Ben not only could use more of the latter but suspects Gert probably is one. However, this is one of those Things he tends to dodge around, so maybe later.

"Not yet." He looks sheepish. "But only because we can't decide yet. My grandma's been feeding her for two weeks, we couldn't just keep calling her the dog." Well, obviously. Ben also hasn't had a pet since he was little, can you tell?

[notyourheroine]

Basically a lot, yeah. Will Ben then experience THE QUICKENING and absorb all of Abberline's powers of ...uh.....being addicted to a bunch of stuff and knowing a lot about Freemasons? Because that'd be awesome.

Gert could also sympathize with Things to dodge around, but yes. For later, is what those things are. Said Yoda.

"Two weeks? I think there's some kind of rule that after 10 days if her original owners come by, you get to fight them to the death." It's in the Book of Rules. Really.

[ugliest_shirts]

He will! Ben's been sort of curious about Freemasonry lately anyway, it would all be very convenient. One-stop shopping for, um, arcane knowledge and world domination and so forth. Very awesome indeed.

"Ten days, huh?" Ben considers this and does his very very best not to look smug. "That's a good rule. I could live with that." He tilts his head, curiously. "You ever had a dog?" Because he hasn't and could desperately use a source of advice on the subject.

[unaddict]

That knowledge is not for high school students, young sir and miss.

Abberline is paying a bit more attention now, and has begun lurking between the rows of desks. Peeking at sketchbook, k.