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xp_logs2004-09-05 10:32 am
x-vega.livejournal.com) wrote in xp_logs2004-09-05 10:32 am
[Paul, Kitty] "Do you think the students would tolerate a full formal dance?"
"Full formal equals boys in tuxes, yes? Good God, yes, please yes. And dresses. Formal dresses!"
Kitty had gotten quite a list of alll the new people at the mansion from 'Yana - it was certainly impressive how much could change in just a couple of months. The days when she was the only outgoing person and the regular 'greater' of the school were long gone, but she liked to keep her hand in, and it was always good to be able to at least recognize one's new teachers and classmates. Subsequently, here she was late Sunday morning at the door of the suite she'd been informed held both her favorite physics (and math, and computer science, and...) teacher in the world, and Mr. Jean-Paul Beaubier.
Knocking on the door, even though it was open, Kitty called out, "Hello? Anyone in?"
Either the noise or something less obvious and far more interesting had caught the attention of at least someone inside, as a slim brown cat poked her nose out from behind one of the doors.
Kitty grinned. "So, the rumors are true. Someone has come to steal my name from me, and looks to be cute enough to do it, too," she said. Kneeling down, she offered her fingers to the little cat's inquistive nose. "Heya 'kitty'. As one feline to another, it's very nice to meet you."
Delphine mewed loudly at Kitty and sniffed her fingers before butting her head under the proferred hand.
"I am." Hearing Kitty call out, Paul came out of the bathroom, where he'd been hanging up newly purchased towels, and made his way across the livingroom. He opened the door all the way and smiled at the sight of girl and cat getting acquainted. "Were you looking for Hank?"
"Nope," Kitty said, scratting Delphine's head. "Looking for you, if, as I suspect, you're Mr. Beaubier?"
"I am at that. And you must be Kitty." Paul stepped back. "Would you like to come in?" The suite was obviously still in mid-unpack, stacks of books awaited storage in newly established shelves and a collection of aboriginal sculptures clustered under the window like a strange, frozen clan gathering. Delphine trotted into the room, hopped out of sight up onto a chair, then reappeared peeking over the back to watch the doorway. She mewed imperatively. "Delphine says, please do come in," Paul said, amused at the cat's demand.
"Well, I wouldn`t want to disappoint her," Kitty said. "And you`re absolutely right - I am Kitty. I take it you`ve heard of me? I swear, not all the stories are true."
"Well, I've made a point of reading all the student profiles as people arrive, so I cheated a little." Paul gestured for her to have a seat. The furniture was still looking a little haphazard. "What can I do for you?"
"Ah. In that case, probably the stories are true." She grinned. "I really only came to say 'hello and welcome'. I feel very behind the times, after three months away... So many new faces."
"I'm a little overwhelmed myself, at times," Paul admitted, wandering into the kitchen. "I think... yes he did, Hank left a pot of tea on. I think I'm being mothered," he said dryly. "Would you like a cup?"
"Tea sounds lovely," Kitty said, finally settling down into the proffered seat. "And mothering is... not uncommon here abouts. Dr. McCoy is particularly good at it, in a large, blue, male sort of way."
Delphine hopped over to Kitty's chair and proceded to inspect her with little sniffs and cat-commentary. "Anything in your tea? I've noticed that about the mothering," Paul said, pouring tea for them both. "Then again, I suppose I brought it on myself in a fairly spectacular way last week. I guess I should ask what classes you plan on taking; I've been remiss about checking the lists."
Kitty grinned down at the little cat. "Sugar and a splash of cream, if you would. Assuming this is black tea? Otherwise I'll just take it as is." She grimaced at the reminder that she still hadn't decided what classes she was taking. "I don't actually know yet, sir," she admitted. "Haven't had a lot of time to go over the lists yet."
"Yes, black tea, as I'm still not allowed any coffee. Hank hid it, though he swears it got misplaced in the move." Paul fixed hers and brought it over, sitting down across from her with his own in hand. "I suppose it's a little reassuring to know I'm not the only one still getting their head into the class-mode." He grinned boyishly at her. "I haven't been in school one way or another in a long time. I hope I remember how to do it."
"I would just hope it didn't get 'misplaced' any where near Dr. Mctaggart or Lorna or Storm. Otherwise you'll never see it again." She picked up her tea cup and blew on it softly. "That's not really the problem for me, but I guess it kind of is. I've not been in school for three months, and it's highly disconcerting in it's own way. But, well, they sent me the list of classes in an email, but no one can remember which email address they sent it to and I'm still trying to get through all the spam..."
Paul laughed and reached over for his computer that was sitting on the table. "The joys of technology. The final list is up now, I do believe. Nathan's courses weren't fully settled until just recently. Did you want a look now?" He glanced over at the girl; it didn't seem quite like her, from her records, not to be on top of everything.
"Oh, that would be excellent!" Kitty said, almost knocking over her own tea cup as she set it down. "I've been going kind of out of my mind trying to get everything back together."
"Well, saying hello to all your friends again and getting settled should come first anyway." Paul found the list for her and passed the computer over. "That's the final draft there, take a look. Feel free to mail it to yourself at an address you know you can access."
Scanning the list, Kitty wasn't even entirely aware she was thinking out loud. "Math, of course, whatever Dr. McCoy thinks is right, same for Physics. Paige wants me to join her in Chem, and I still need dance and gymnastics... yes, there they are. Hmmm, Weird Physics? Does he design his courses for me or what? Where's... oh, yes, Speech, and I said I'd rejoin the Self Defense classes. Programing, of course, oh, and Computer Engineering... Although Electronics Engineering looks interesting. Maybe I can just combine them into a self study? And I still haven't got any hummanities at all, have I?" She looks up, finally processing what Paul has said. "Oh, yes. Email. What an excellent idea."
Paul chuckled at her. "You could probably use at least one humanities or liberal arts course, yes. They make for a well-rounded person." Delphine abandoned Kitty's lap to jump into Paul's. Her intentions were not all pure, though; she promptly stuck her head into his mug to help herself to whatever he was drinking.
Kitty blushed. "Especially after all the fi... discussions my mother and I had about it over the summer. But, well, I sign up for all the classes I really want to take, and then I run out of space in my schedule."
"Ah, the sacrifices of being mature," Paul teased. "Well, let's see what you can squeeze in. Delphine, get out of my tea." Delphine pulled her head out and looked up at him with tea droplets all over her whiskers. "Oh, for..." Paul leaned over and grabbed a tissue, which he used to wipe her face in spite of her sneezes of protest.
Kitty giggled. "Does she actually like tea, or does she only want it because you have it?"
"You know, that's a good question. She only drinks it when there's sweetener in it, so I have to assume that's what she's after. She doesn't touch coffee too often. If it were cocoa, she'd be covered to the ears. What do you say, chere?" he asked the little cat. "Do you just want what's Papa's?" Delphine mewed at him and then assaulted the tissue, wrapping her paws around his wrist in a fierce grip.
"Seems like it may be a question for the ages that neither man nor woman shall ever truly understand," Kitty said. "For it seems she's not telling." Leaning back, she stared down at the computer list again. "The thing is," she said, suddenly switching back to the earlier conversation, "I can never really decide if I'm interested in a humanities course or not. They all sort of sound the same on some basic level. What are you teaching?"
"French, of course," Paul said, sounding long-suffering. Delphine gnawed at his fingers without effect. "Post-colonial literature, looking at the way power and oppression shape the literature of cultures. Mutation in society; that's the standard bitch and grumble course, hopefully with a close look at effective activism. And then I'm teaching a seminar course on sexuality that covers gender, power, preferences, and all that, as well as the standard how-to stuff."
Kitty blinked. "Well, actually, that's exactly my point, really. I mean, aside from the French I'm not certain I could really even say what that was all about. Well, maybe the mutation one, but I've done it already. Twice."
"Well," Paul pulled his sleeve up so that Delphine's claws didn't get caught in it as she tried to wrestle the tissue away from him. "The literature one will include books by people from colonial cultures, including England and America, books by people whose countries have been colonized like South Africans and Native Americans, and books by people in exile, like Salamon Rushdie. The purpose is to look at the dynamics of power and the effects of it on the oppressors and the oppressed alike. The sexuality course is to provide students with an awareness of the paradigm they're already living in, to give a vocabulary with which to discuss sex and gender issues, and to start people thinking about what they're doing in their relationships with each other and with themselves. And, most importantly, it's to get students used to talking about things, no matter where the discussion goes. Does that help?"
Kitty blinked, then blinked again. "No, I'm sorry. Maybe this is what Jamie means when he says he can't figure out what language we're talking in when Doug and I go on about computers..."
Paul pondered this for a moment. "Language issue, definitely. Both those courses are about systems and languages." He frowned and threw what was left of the tissue to the couch. Delphine leapt after it gleefully and grabbed it before bolting to the bedroom to shred it all over his pillow in peace. "We exist within structures of power and language that we can't see because we're in them. Like people who don't realize that there's something to their computer behind Windows XP. All both courses are doing is taking a look at different aspects of the operating system that is our culture, looking at the code and language that we're living inside. So that when we act a certain way, or speak of certain things, we're doing it with an awareness of why and we have a choice to pick a different system or change the one we're programmed with. One course focuses on the race and power aspect, the other focuses on sex and gender. Am I getting anywhere?"
Kitty grinned suddenly. "No, but at least I know what you're talking about this time. You're good, I'll give you that much. Took Storm months to figure out that I'd catch on faster if she started using science metaphors, but they were all very, very bad. I'm convinced it should be illegal for humanities teachers to even mention Schroedinger."
Paul laughed at her. "I'll work on the metaphor, because culture and operating systems aren't that far off each other. And we don't talk about Schroedinger much around here," he said, casting a glance toward the bedroom before continuing in a low voice. "You know. Because of the thing with the cat."
"You have no idea the puns that get made..." Kitty said, shaking her head. "At least once a year Dr. McCoy threatens to put me in a box, just to see..."
"You know, you could scare the heck out of him if you had an escape route planned," Paul said thoughtfully. "If it comes up again, let me know. I'm all for punishing Hank for some of his puns. I had no idea living with him would be so hazardous."
"I am the cat who walks through walls," Kitty intoned. "I always have an escape route."
"I am assuming you have at least one copy of that book. Don't tell Hank, but it's one of my favourites. I think he's set on turning me into a geek, you know." Paul didn't look at all displeased at the idea. "Firefly? Have you heard of that? I'm supposed to be sat down and indoctrinated as soon as we're settled in."
"And indoctrinated you most certainly shall be. I know of the show, but I've never seen it. True of most of the pop-culture that gets referenced around here, much to my boyfriend's dismay. He keeps trying to show me Buffy and I just want to do my homework. It seems I'm a failure as a teenager."
Paul nodded solemnly, then smiled. "I wasn't too good at it myself. I didn't have time for much but going downhill as fast as possible. When you have something you're passionate about, it's hard to stop. Buffy will be there when you're done studying, homework doesn't wait. On the other hand, you need balance" He wagged a finger at her. "Get out and dance or something, and I don't mean lessons."
Kitty grinned unrepentantly as she said, "But I like the lessons. But really, I know what you mean. That's one of the reasons Jamie's so brilliant, you know? He can tell when I'm going insane and just make me put it down and forget about it. It's... it's good balance."
"Brilliant, driven people need someone like that," Paul said, enjoying Kitty's unfettered enthusiasm about her boyfriend. "Otherwise they wake up one morning surrounded by all their success and nothing else. It's not happy. At least Jamie has a squad of very handsome selves and a gift for cookie-making on his side to keep you in line."
"Indeed. The cookies, I think, are key." She blushed, suddenly. "And I'm just sort of going on, aren't I?"
"In a very endearing way," Paul said, smiling. "Really, it's refreshing to meet someone who's not prone to churning out angst like it was going out of style. I can see why Hank likes you, you've got your head on right, as funny as that saying always sounds."
"Wouldn't have thought of myself as having such, but thank you, I guess. I must admit, I've done my share of aengst and payne, but I try to do it out of the public eye. Us midwesterners are funny like that, I think."
"I'd be lying if didn't admit to angsting like a Gothic novel, with the wind-swept crags and lonely parapets and all," Paul confided. "Also with the doing it more in private. No time for that kind of thing on the farm. Pigs don't care if you just got your heart broken, neither do the chickens. Some environments just breed practicality. This?" He gestured around them, laughing. "So not one of them."
That earned another bright giggle. "Very, very true. And I must say I highly approve of both wind swept crags and lonely parapets. They give a building style. The Mansion is, I feel, sorely lacking in both. Not that we need more excuses for the angst."
"I've stayed in a few castles, and they do have that effect on people," Paul said. "I rather like the Mansion, and it's really not that angsty most of the time, I was being partly facetious. I just don't think you can put this many teenagers in one place and not suffer some sort of angst-convergence, though." Delphine came streaking out of the bedroom, did two laps around a pile of boxes, skittered under the coffee table, and shot out like a bullet. Paul blinked in surprise and she zinged off into Hank's room.
"Hmm, you may be right. We are an angsty bunch, we adolescents. And..." She stops suddenly as Delphine comes zooming out. "Well, that was impressive."
"It's a cat thing; she's chasing ghosts, I'm told. You mean you don't do that?" Paul teased. "Oh, you know, you're a good person to ask this question I have rattling around. Shinobi and I are going to throw a party for the students and some other guests to ease our rich-boy ennui. Do you think the students would tolerate a full formal dance? It sounds like they might, from Marie-Ange's reception of it, butI haven't been a teenager in a long time, so I'm at a loss."
"Full formal?" Kitty's eyes lit up. "Full formal equals boys in tuxes, yes? Good God, yes, please yes. And dresses. Formal dresses!" It's not quite a squeak, but definitely far from being a composed and rational response. "Oh, please can we?"
Paul laughed, pleased at her response. "Yes, boys in tuxes and girls in long dresses. Ballroom and live music and waiters and all that, the whole nine yards. That would be a yes on the full formal, then."
Kitty nodded, not entirely certain she could answer properly, her head swimming with images of Jamie in a tuxedo. "Oh, I need to go shopping..." she suddenly said.
Paul grinned wickedly. "That, my dear, is the whole idea. Any excuse to shop is a good one, but an excuse to shop and then be admired is ten times better. Maybe I should organize a trip into the city for you girls, and soon, hm?"
"That," Kitty said enthusiastically, "would be brilliant."
"Done then, we'll make it as soon as possible. I'll talk to Alison about it too. You have to promise to help me with Paige, though," he said, putting his mug aside. "I haven't even managed to get her to keep her split ends trimmed and it's driving me mad. She's a hard case."
"Oh, Paige," Kitty said, waving her hand. "The lady doth protest to much. She doesn't like the fuss, but she likes the end results. Although I'm not certain if the end result she likes is the way she looks or the way that Angelo and Jono look at the way she looks." She shrugged. "It's doable. I'll help."
"Excellent." Paul paused and then shook his head. "I'm turning into a stereotype. You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to playing fairy godfather to you girls. It finally happened," he said wryly, starting to laugh. "Now I'm /really/ gay. I guess I'd better get planning that party, then."
Kitty shrugged. "I guess if you're going to do something you should do it really well?" she suggested. "Besides, we're really a lot of fun and will love you forever for it, so it has it's benifits."
"Definitely. We'll make it a Helix fundraiser, so we can pretend it's practical." Paul reached for his laptop. "Did you mail yourself the class list?"
"Oh, that will make it even easier to get Jamie in to a tux. Sir, I love you. Seriously, forever and ever. And yes, I did. Thank you very much for letting me use your laptop. It's very cute."
"You're welcome. I love toys," Paul said sheepishly, pulling it into his lap. "You should see my GPS devices and radios. My closet looks like I ransacked an electronics store."
"GPS?" Kitty said, her eyes lighting up. "Sir, you have officially made this suite my favorite of all the teachers' suites. Even Al and Lorna can not compete with GPS and formal dances and Dr. McCoy."
"I like geocaching," Paul admitted. "It's outside and it lets me buy lots of toys, all the time. Anything that lets me buy shiny things that beep, preferably with glowy acrylic bits and LCD screens, is good with me. I'm a very shallow geek. And you're welcome to come by any time and rummage around, I don't even know what's in some of the boxes right now, once I get the latest thing, the old one goes away."
"See, I'm all about software and very sleek and very shiny and very, very fast processors. Computer geek, through and through."
"I like lights. And beeping. And the shiny." Paul laughed at himself. "And not eating my speeches or itineraries. Impressing intelligent men helps too. I usually bat my lashes and let them fix my firewalls and such things. Any time you want to help reduce my shallowness, let me know. I wish I knew more than I did. I'd rather play dumb than be dumb."
"I can definitely help," Kitty said with a smile. "But Dr. McCoy has, you know, the doctorate already, and is probably more qualified. Although probably also more verbose."
"Yes, but I'd be a poor suitemate if I let him go on about work too much when he's supposed to be home, no matter how much he likes it. He can educate me in the ways of science fiction, but not computer science."
"I think that's probably very fair, actually. Well then, I'd be happy to help you figure out your computer." She grinned.
"Excellent. I'm sure I could come up with a reason to buy new parts for my desktop," Paul said happily. "What's that called? Overclocking? We could do that."
Kitty giggled. "Yes, we can do that, but do you know why you would want to? Cause you probably don't need to, just yet. But hey, give us time. We'll have you up to speed in no time."
"Because I like to go fast." Paul grinned at her. "Fast is good. I go fast, my car goes fast, I want my computer to go fast."
"I guess that's a good enough reason, and it won't do any harm. Here," she said, gesturing to the computer. "I'll show you how, and then I should probably actually go make my decisions and submit my class list before classes start and all."
"Fast and shiny." Paul moved over so they could look at the computer together. "You're making me a happy man, Kitty."
"I do my best, sir. Here, you should probably still do the typing, so you'll have some idea how to undo and redo it, if you want." She angled the computer towards him and started explaining what he should do.
Kitty comes by to greet the new teacher before classes start. She comes in for tea and stays for quite a while as Paul attempts to explain the Humanities courses to her, then picks her brain about the HeliX event and his computer.
Kitty had gotten quite a list of alll the new people at the mansion from 'Yana - it was certainly impressive how much could change in just a couple of months. The days when she was the only outgoing person and the regular 'greater' of the school were long gone, but she liked to keep her hand in, and it was always good to be able to at least recognize one's new teachers and classmates. Subsequently, here she was late Sunday morning at the door of the suite she'd been informed held both her favorite physics (and math, and computer science, and...) teacher in the world, and Mr. Jean-Paul Beaubier.
Knocking on the door, even though it was open, Kitty called out, "Hello? Anyone in?"
Either the noise or something less obvious and far more interesting had caught the attention of at least someone inside, as a slim brown cat poked her nose out from behind one of the doors.
Kitty grinned. "So, the rumors are true. Someone has come to steal my name from me, and looks to be cute enough to do it, too," she said. Kneeling down, she offered her fingers to the little cat's inquistive nose. "Heya 'kitty'. As one feline to another, it's very nice to meet you."
Delphine mewed loudly at Kitty and sniffed her fingers before butting her head under the proferred hand.
"I am." Hearing Kitty call out, Paul came out of the bathroom, where he'd been hanging up newly purchased towels, and made his way across the livingroom. He opened the door all the way and smiled at the sight of girl and cat getting acquainted. "Were you looking for Hank?"
"Nope," Kitty said, scratting Delphine's head. "Looking for you, if, as I suspect, you're Mr. Beaubier?"
"I am at that. And you must be Kitty." Paul stepped back. "Would you like to come in?" The suite was obviously still in mid-unpack, stacks of books awaited storage in newly established shelves and a collection of aboriginal sculptures clustered under the window like a strange, frozen clan gathering. Delphine trotted into the room, hopped out of sight up onto a chair, then reappeared peeking over the back to watch the doorway. She mewed imperatively. "Delphine says, please do come in," Paul said, amused at the cat's demand.
"Well, I wouldn`t want to disappoint her," Kitty said. "And you`re absolutely right - I am Kitty. I take it you`ve heard of me? I swear, not all the stories are true."
"Well, I've made a point of reading all the student profiles as people arrive, so I cheated a little." Paul gestured for her to have a seat. The furniture was still looking a little haphazard. "What can I do for you?"
"Ah. In that case, probably the stories are true." She grinned. "I really only came to say 'hello and welcome'. I feel very behind the times, after three months away... So many new faces."
"I'm a little overwhelmed myself, at times," Paul admitted, wandering into the kitchen. "I think... yes he did, Hank left a pot of tea on. I think I'm being mothered," he said dryly. "Would you like a cup?"
"Tea sounds lovely," Kitty said, finally settling down into the proffered seat. "And mothering is... not uncommon here abouts. Dr. McCoy is particularly good at it, in a large, blue, male sort of way."
Delphine hopped over to Kitty's chair and proceded to inspect her with little sniffs and cat-commentary. "Anything in your tea? I've noticed that about the mothering," Paul said, pouring tea for them both. "Then again, I suppose I brought it on myself in a fairly spectacular way last week. I guess I should ask what classes you plan on taking; I've been remiss about checking the lists."
Kitty grinned down at the little cat. "Sugar and a splash of cream, if you would. Assuming this is black tea? Otherwise I'll just take it as is." She grimaced at the reminder that she still hadn't decided what classes she was taking. "I don't actually know yet, sir," she admitted. "Haven't had a lot of time to go over the lists yet."
"Yes, black tea, as I'm still not allowed any coffee. Hank hid it, though he swears it got misplaced in the move." Paul fixed hers and brought it over, sitting down across from her with his own in hand. "I suppose it's a little reassuring to know I'm not the only one still getting their head into the class-mode." He grinned boyishly at her. "I haven't been in school one way or another in a long time. I hope I remember how to do it."
"I would just hope it didn't get 'misplaced' any where near Dr. Mctaggart or Lorna or Storm. Otherwise you'll never see it again." She picked up her tea cup and blew on it softly. "That's not really the problem for me, but I guess it kind of is. I've not been in school for three months, and it's highly disconcerting in it's own way. But, well, they sent me the list of classes in an email, but no one can remember which email address they sent it to and I'm still trying to get through all the spam..."
Paul laughed and reached over for his computer that was sitting on the table. "The joys of technology. The final list is up now, I do believe. Nathan's courses weren't fully settled until just recently. Did you want a look now?" He glanced over at the girl; it didn't seem quite like her, from her records, not to be on top of everything.
"Oh, that would be excellent!" Kitty said, almost knocking over her own tea cup as she set it down. "I've been going kind of out of my mind trying to get everything back together."
"Well, saying hello to all your friends again and getting settled should come first anyway." Paul found the list for her and passed the computer over. "That's the final draft there, take a look. Feel free to mail it to yourself at an address you know you can access."
Scanning the list, Kitty wasn't even entirely aware she was thinking out loud. "Math, of course, whatever Dr. McCoy thinks is right, same for Physics. Paige wants me to join her in Chem, and I still need dance and gymnastics... yes, there they are. Hmmm, Weird Physics? Does he design his courses for me or what? Where's... oh, yes, Speech, and I said I'd rejoin the Self Defense classes. Programing, of course, oh, and Computer Engineering... Although Electronics Engineering looks interesting. Maybe I can just combine them into a self study? And I still haven't got any hummanities at all, have I?" She looks up, finally processing what Paul has said. "Oh, yes. Email. What an excellent idea."
Paul chuckled at her. "You could probably use at least one humanities or liberal arts course, yes. They make for a well-rounded person." Delphine abandoned Kitty's lap to jump into Paul's. Her intentions were not all pure, though; she promptly stuck her head into his mug to help herself to whatever he was drinking.
Kitty blushed. "Especially after all the fi... discussions my mother and I had about it over the summer. But, well, I sign up for all the classes I really want to take, and then I run out of space in my schedule."
"Ah, the sacrifices of being mature," Paul teased. "Well, let's see what you can squeeze in. Delphine, get out of my tea." Delphine pulled her head out and looked up at him with tea droplets all over her whiskers. "Oh, for..." Paul leaned over and grabbed a tissue, which he used to wipe her face in spite of her sneezes of protest.
Kitty giggled. "Does she actually like tea, or does she only want it because you have it?"
"You know, that's a good question. She only drinks it when there's sweetener in it, so I have to assume that's what she's after. She doesn't touch coffee too often. If it were cocoa, she'd be covered to the ears. What do you say, chere?" he asked the little cat. "Do you just want what's Papa's?" Delphine mewed at him and then assaulted the tissue, wrapping her paws around his wrist in a fierce grip.
"Seems like it may be a question for the ages that neither man nor woman shall ever truly understand," Kitty said. "For it seems she's not telling." Leaning back, she stared down at the computer list again. "The thing is," she said, suddenly switching back to the earlier conversation, "I can never really decide if I'm interested in a humanities course or not. They all sort of sound the same on some basic level. What are you teaching?"
"French, of course," Paul said, sounding long-suffering. Delphine gnawed at his fingers without effect. "Post-colonial literature, looking at the way power and oppression shape the literature of cultures. Mutation in society; that's the standard bitch and grumble course, hopefully with a close look at effective activism. And then I'm teaching a seminar course on sexuality that covers gender, power, preferences, and all that, as well as the standard how-to stuff."
Kitty blinked. "Well, actually, that's exactly my point, really. I mean, aside from the French I'm not certain I could really even say what that was all about. Well, maybe the mutation one, but I've done it already. Twice."
"Well," Paul pulled his sleeve up so that Delphine's claws didn't get caught in it as she tried to wrestle the tissue away from him. "The literature one will include books by people from colonial cultures, including England and America, books by people whose countries have been colonized like South Africans and Native Americans, and books by people in exile, like Salamon Rushdie. The purpose is to look at the dynamics of power and the effects of it on the oppressors and the oppressed alike. The sexuality course is to provide students with an awareness of the paradigm they're already living in, to give a vocabulary with which to discuss sex and gender issues, and to start people thinking about what they're doing in their relationships with each other and with themselves. And, most importantly, it's to get students used to talking about things, no matter where the discussion goes. Does that help?"
Kitty blinked, then blinked again. "No, I'm sorry. Maybe this is what Jamie means when he says he can't figure out what language we're talking in when Doug and I go on about computers..."
Paul pondered this for a moment. "Language issue, definitely. Both those courses are about systems and languages." He frowned and threw what was left of the tissue to the couch. Delphine leapt after it gleefully and grabbed it before bolting to the bedroom to shred it all over his pillow in peace. "We exist within structures of power and language that we can't see because we're in them. Like people who don't realize that there's something to their computer behind Windows XP. All both courses are doing is taking a look at different aspects of the operating system that is our culture, looking at the code and language that we're living inside. So that when we act a certain way, or speak of certain things, we're doing it with an awareness of why and we have a choice to pick a different system or change the one we're programmed with. One course focuses on the race and power aspect, the other focuses on sex and gender. Am I getting anywhere?"
Kitty grinned suddenly. "No, but at least I know what you're talking about this time. You're good, I'll give you that much. Took Storm months to figure out that I'd catch on faster if she started using science metaphors, but they were all very, very bad. I'm convinced it should be illegal for humanities teachers to even mention Schroedinger."
Paul laughed at her. "I'll work on the metaphor, because culture and operating systems aren't that far off each other. And we don't talk about Schroedinger much around here," he said, casting a glance toward the bedroom before continuing in a low voice. "You know. Because of the thing with the cat."
"You have no idea the puns that get made..." Kitty said, shaking her head. "At least once a year Dr. McCoy threatens to put me in a box, just to see..."
"You know, you could scare the heck out of him if you had an escape route planned," Paul said thoughtfully. "If it comes up again, let me know. I'm all for punishing Hank for some of his puns. I had no idea living with him would be so hazardous."
"I am the cat who walks through walls," Kitty intoned. "I always have an escape route."
"I am assuming you have at least one copy of that book. Don't tell Hank, but it's one of my favourites. I think he's set on turning me into a geek, you know." Paul didn't look at all displeased at the idea. "Firefly? Have you heard of that? I'm supposed to be sat down and indoctrinated as soon as we're settled in."
"And indoctrinated you most certainly shall be. I know of the show, but I've never seen it. True of most of the pop-culture that gets referenced around here, much to my boyfriend's dismay. He keeps trying to show me Buffy and I just want to do my homework. It seems I'm a failure as a teenager."
Paul nodded solemnly, then smiled. "I wasn't too good at it myself. I didn't have time for much but going downhill as fast as possible. When you have something you're passionate about, it's hard to stop. Buffy will be there when you're done studying, homework doesn't wait. On the other hand, you need balance" He wagged a finger at her. "Get out and dance or something, and I don't mean lessons."
Kitty grinned unrepentantly as she said, "But I like the lessons. But really, I know what you mean. That's one of the reasons Jamie's so brilliant, you know? He can tell when I'm going insane and just make me put it down and forget about it. It's... it's good balance."
"Brilliant, driven people need someone like that," Paul said, enjoying Kitty's unfettered enthusiasm about her boyfriend. "Otherwise they wake up one morning surrounded by all their success and nothing else. It's not happy. At least Jamie has a squad of very handsome selves and a gift for cookie-making on his side to keep you in line."
"Indeed. The cookies, I think, are key." She blushed, suddenly. "And I'm just sort of going on, aren't I?"
"In a very endearing way," Paul said, smiling. "Really, it's refreshing to meet someone who's not prone to churning out angst like it was going out of style. I can see why Hank likes you, you've got your head on right, as funny as that saying always sounds."
"Wouldn't have thought of myself as having such, but thank you, I guess. I must admit, I've done my share of aengst and payne, but I try to do it out of the public eye. Us midwesterners are funny like that, I think."
"I'd be lying if didn't admit to angsting like a Gothic novel, with the wind-swept crags and lonely parapets and all," Paul confided. "Also with the doing it more in private. No time for that kind of thing on the farm. Pigs don't care if you just got your heart broken, neither do the chickens. Some environments just breed practicality. This?" He gestured around them, laughing. "So not one of them."
That earned another bright giggle. "Very, very true. And I must say I highly approve of both wind swept crags and lonely parapets. They give a building style. The Mansion is, I feel, sorely lacking in both. Not that we need more excuses for the angst."
"I've stayed in a few castles, and they do have that effect on people," Paul said. "I rather like the Mansion, and it's really not that angsty most of the time, I was being partly facetious. I just don't think you can put this many teenagers in one place and not suffer some sort of angst-convergence, though." Delphine came streaking out of the bedroom, did two laps around a pile of boxes, skittered under the coffee table, and shot out like a bullet. Paul blinked in surprise and she zinged off into Hank's room.
"Hmm, you may be right. We are an angsty bunch, we adolescents. And..." She stops suddenly as Delphine comes zooming out. "Well, that was impressive."
"It's a cat thing; she's chasing ghosts, I'm told. You mean you don't do that?" Paul teased. "Oh, you know, you're a good person to ask this question I have rattling around. Shinobi and I are going to throw a party for the students and some other guests to ease our rich-boy ennui. Do you think the students would tolerate a full formal dance? It sounds like they might, from Marie-Ange's reception of it, butI haven't been a teenager in a long time, so I'm at a loss."
"Full formal?" Kitty's eyes lit up. "Full formal equals boys in tuxes, yes? Good God, yes, please yes. And dresses. Formal dresses!" It's not quite a squeak, but definitely far from being a composed and rational response. "Oh, please can we?"
Paul laughed, pleased at her response. "Yes, boys in tuxes and girls in long dresses. Ballroom and live music and waiters and all that, the whole nine yards. That would be a yes on the full formal, then."
Kitty nodded, not entirely certain she could answer properly, her head swimming with images of Jamie in a tuxedo. "Oh, I need to go shopping..." she suddenly said.
Paul grinned wickedly. "That, my dear, is the whole idea. Any excuse to shop is a good one, but an excuse to shop and then be admired is ten times better. Maybe I should organize a trip into the city for you girls, and soon, hm?"
"That," Kitty said enthusiastically, "would be brilliant."
"Done then, we'll make it as soon as possible. I'll talk to Alison about it too. You have to promise to help me with Paige, though," he said, putting his mug aside. "I haven't even managed to get her to keep her split ends trimmed and it's driving me mad. She's a hard case."
"Oh, Paige," Kitty said, waving her hand. "The lady doth protest to much. She doesn't like the fuss, but she likes the end results. Although I'm not certain if the end result she likes is the way she looks or the way that Angelo and Jono look at the way she looks." She shrugged. "It's doable. I'll help."
"Excellent." Paul paused and then shook his head. "I'm turning into a stereotype. You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to playing fairy godfather to you girls. It finally happened," he said wryly, starting to laugh. "Now I'm /really/ gay. I guess I'd better get planning that party, then."
Kitty shrugged. "I guess if you're going to do something you should do it really well?" she suggested. "Besides, we're really a lot of fun and will love you forever for it, so it has it's benifits."
"Definitely. We'll make it a Helix fundraiser, so we can pretend it's practical." Paul reached for his laptop. "Did you mail yourself the class list?"
"Oh, that will make it even easier to get Jamie in to a tux. Sir, I love you. Seriously, forever and ever. And yes, I did. Thank you very much for letting me use your laptop. It's very cute."
"You're welcome. I love toys," Paul said sheepishly, pulling it into his lap. "You should see my GPS devices and radios. My closet looks like I ransacked an electronics store."
"GPS?" Kitty said, her eyes lighting up. "Sir, you have officially made this suite my favorite of all the teachers' suites. Even Al and Lorna can not compete with GPS and formal dances and Dr. McCoy."
"I like geocaching," Paul admitted. "It's outside and it lets me buy lots of toys, all the time. Anything that lets me buy shiny things that beep, preferably with glowy acrylic bits and LCD screens, is good with me. I'm a very shallow geek. And you're welcome to come by any time and rummage around, I don't even know what's in some of the boxes right now, once I get the latest thing, the old one goes away."
"See, I'm all about software and very sleek and very shiny and very, very fast processors. Computer geek, through and through."
"I like lights. And beeping. And the shiny." Paul laughed at himself. "And not eating my speeches or itineraries. Impressing intelligent men helps too. I usually bat my lashes and let them fix my firewalls and such things. Any time you want to help reduce my shallowness, let me know. I wish I knew more than I did. I'd rather play dumb than be dumb."
"I can definitely help," Kitty said with a smile. "But Dr. McCoy has, you know, the doctorate already, and is probably more qualified. Although probably also more verbose."
"Yes, but I'd be a poor suitemate if I let him go on about work too much when he's supposed to be home, no matter how much he likes it. He can educate me in the ways of science fiction, but not computer science."
"I think that's probably very fair, actually. Well then, I'd be happy to help you figure out your computer." She grinned.
"Excellent. I'm sure I could come up with a reason to buy new parts for my desktop," Paul said happily. "What's that called? Overclocking? We could do that."
Kitty giggled. "Yes, we can do that, but do you know why you would want to? Cause you probably don't need to, just yet. But hey, give us time. We'll have you up to speed in no time."
"Because I like to go fast." Paul grinned at her. "Fast is good. I go fast, my car goes fast, I want my computer to go fast."
"I guess that's a good enough reason, and it won't do any harm. Here," she said, gesturing to the computer. "I'll show you how, and then I should probably actually go make my decisions and submit my class list before classes start and all."
"Fast and shiny." Paul moved over so they could look at the computer together. "You're making me a happy man, Kitty."
"I do my best, sir. Here, you should probably still do the typing, so you'll have some idea how to undo and redo it, if you want." She angled the computer towards him and started explaining what he should do.
Kitty comes by to greet the new teacher before classes start. She comes in for tea and stays for quite a while as Paul attempts to explain the Humanities courses to her, then picks her brain about the HeliX event and his computer.