Teacher's Lounge: [1/16]

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan opened up the Teacher's Lounge, and left a selection of muffins and bagels for the teachers. Might as well get acquainted, so they'd know who to send the problem students to, if needed.

She stopped, frowning at a magazine someone had left on the coffee table.

People? Must be American. But who on Earth was J-Lo?

Comments

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos' mouth quirked, and he declined to explain that his accent was, at best, an affectation. "Adam Pierson. A pleasure. If there's anything I can do to help settle you in, please let me know."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Thanks. I do have a question, actually." Susan held up the copy of People. "Is this woman very popular here? Because I've never heard of her."

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos made a face at the magazine. "Her fifteen minutes of fame got artificially stretched to about two hours. Yes, she's popular... being famous is something of a career in and of itself to Americans sometimes."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"I see." Susan made a note to buy several movie magazines at her next stop at the store; if she wanted to be able to communicate with the students, they'd need more common reference points. "What do you teach here, Adam? And have you been here long? Anything a new teacher should be avoiding in terms of bureaucracy and adminstrivia?"

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"I teach ancient and medieval history. Last semester I was the librarian, and I think the school's only been open that long. As for what to avoid... frankly, what comes to mind is 'stupidity'. Foolishness is what is going to get you bloodlessly cut down here." Methos grins as though this amuses him.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Foolishness like not believing in vampires?" Susan looked rueful. "I've already had one wake-up call this weekend. I can't believe they don't provide some sort of orientation for the incoming teachers, so they don't stand gaping the first time they meet a talking cat."

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"And if you were told that there were vampires here, would you have come?" he asked.

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

Susan looked thoughtful. "If they'd also said their were little girls who flew on broomsticks, and talking cats, and large white security balls... I still might have." She laughed. "Perhaps they did know what they were doing with that query letter."

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"I'd hate to see people scared off," Methos agreed. "Because this place really is extraordinary. And many of the faculty have just as... eccentric backgrounds as the students, so it gives them a chance to bring their experiences into teaching in a way a more mundane environment would not allow."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Mmm. Well, so far, I've only met Dean Washburn, and my colleagues in the clinic. Anyone 'eccentric' I should anticipate meeting?" Susan smiled, feeling her delight at the possibilities of this place come back to her. So many years without magic, and then it was just here, back again.

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos frowned in thought. "It's hard to think of specifics now. You get used to things. Oh, the literature teacher for instance. He's Geoffery Chaucer. As in the 14th century poet. And I've heard tell that the Dean of Students is a ghost in a tube, but I haven't verified that myself. And the librarian... my replacement. Is an orange ape."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"The Geoffrey Chaucer?" Susan stared at him. "Canterbury Tales, that Chaucer. Good heavens. How does he cope with the 21st Century?" She blinked at the news of the ghost-in-the-machine, then sighed when he mentioned the new Librarian. "Well, at least I've already met one Talking Animal. I should hopefully be able to keep my composure when I apply for a library card with him."

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

"Well, there is one small problem. He doesn't talk. I suppose apes don't have the right voicebox or something. He ooks."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"Ooks." Susan stared at him, then sighed. "I see I shall have to say good-bye to any hope that I won't be continually surprised here, won't I." She laughed a little. "How do you cope with the strangeness here?"

[prof-methos.livejournal.com]

Methos considered her question. "I guess... I delight in it. It's been a very long time since I've encountered anything that challenged me this much. If it's true that there is nothing new under the sun, then it's nice to discover there's a great deal I hadn't enountered yet."

[susanofnarnia.livejournal.com]

"That is a reassuringly optimistic take on this school. For a while there I was becoming quite intimidated. But perhaps I'll be able to cope, if you're still enjoying it after a semester here." Susan smiled in relief. "Thank you, Adam."