Inheritance/Session Two

From Greenthings

<DavidMcNeal> The piped in sound of the bell chimes just as Professor McNeal rushes into the room, a small stack of papers perched on one jacket covered arm. "Welcome to English 1035. I'm David Archibald McNeal, as it should say on your syllabus."

<DavidMcNeal> "This is an alternate to the standard first-year English and Literature course, with a smaller class-size, and a more intensive focus on writing strategy and preparation."

• Arista looked up at the Professor from her seat -- which was, as in all her classes, in the front row next to the window. She was looking forward to this class, relatively speaking.

• Ran| is sitting in the back, wondering if maybe she /shouldn't/ have brought the copy of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies to this class after all.

<DavidMcNeal> "Alright, that takes care of the mandated overblown introduction of the teacher!" David drops the stack of papers onto the tiny table near the podium and brushes his arms off. "Now let's move on to the students' introductions."

<DavidMcNeal> David coughs, clearing his throat. "Alright, no volunteers. Then we'll start with you." David points at Arista.

• Arista stands hesitantly. (God I hate introductions...) "My name's Arista Whitman."

<Arista> "I...don't really have anything interesting to say about myself."

<DavidMcNeal> "Have you decided on a major yet?"

<Arista> "I'm majoring in English Literature, with a minor in Creative Writing."

<DavidMcNeal> "There you go, that's interesting." David smiles and then points to the next student, going around the room until he reaches Ran.

<Ran|> "Er.. I'm Ran Hashigawa, and I think my concept of literature may be at odds with the general consensus."

<DavidMcNeal> "Literature: Written word, collected in some way, shape, or form." David raises an eyebrow. "Is that concept at odds?"

<Ran|> "So... it IS good I brought this book?" She holds up the aforementioned victorian zombie splatter novel.

<DavidMcNeal> "You're reading, that's great, absolutely. However," he holds up a finger, "don't read books in class that aren't on the list. After all, you students are paying entirely too much for class to ignore it."

<DavidMcNeal> "Ok, and last for today, since apparently some students didn't show up, is...you." Pointing, finally, at Jayle.

<Jayle> "Hi. I'm Jayle Voss." Jayle says with wave to her classmates, "Some of you know me already. For the rest of you...fair warning. I know kung fu." She winks and grins for a moment.

<DavidMcNeal> "Wonderful! So, now that we all know everyone else's name, let's hand out the basic papers, boring instructions, and so forth." Suiting action to word, David hands out stacks of needed papers!

<Greenling> As Dr. McNeal hands the papers over, a small pile of snow drops onto his head.

<Ran|> !

• Ran| pokes Arista and points!

• Arista whispers, "I know, I see it too." Well, it was either following them or it was a campus-wide phenomenon.

• Jayle just sighs and lets her head fall to her desk with a soft thump

• DavidMcNeal looks at the ceiling, after wiping the snow off with a small towel.

<Ran|> For possibly the first time in her life, Ran pays complete attention in class. Though she still doesn't get much from it, since she spends the entire lesson staring intently at a point about six inches above the prof's head.

<Greenling> This means, of course, that somewhere in the middle of class, snow drops on Ran's head.

<Ran|> "Pffdjghs. Ack. DX "

• Arista snickers.

<DavidMcNeal> David raises an eyebrow, and examines the ceiling once more. "Either this building is falling apart, or someone has devised an extremely intricate prank."

<Greenling> Ceiling looks normal.

<Jayle> "...Given that it was happening in our room yesterday, sir, I think it's a prank."

<Arista> "It dropped on Ran's head in the hallway yesterday, as well."

<DavidMcNeal> "In which building?" David is mildly distracted from the teaching at this point.

<Arista> "In the complex we live in. We went to the next floor up to see if the people above us knew anything about it."

<Arista> Arista tells him which complex their dorm is located in.

<DavidMcNeal> "Strange. It was happening yesterday in the English Department as well." David shakes his head. "Ah well, back to the joys of learning. As it says on your syllabus, we will be first reading a piece of Classical American lit. Here are the choices!" David points to the syllabus.

<Greenling> It's snowing outside, too. :3

• Arista is looking over the list and internally monologuing about how Faulkner is a thousand times better than "that sexist pig" Hemingway and otherwise making mental commentary about every familiar author or work on the list.

• Jayle sighs and resigns herself to the pain that is classic literature

• Ran| is trying to figure out if any of these books involve zombies or, perhaps, the odd mutant superhero.

<DavidMcNeal> "I fully expect everyone to have a vote for Thursday's class. Including those students who didn't make it. I also fully expect everyone to use the Cliff's Notes, and b.s. their way through the requisite essays."

<DavidMcNeal> "Which is understandable, as most of these books are, by today's standards, dry, meandering, and entirely too verbose. However, requirements are requirements, and the class must choose one to 'read'." David then smiles. "After that, we'll get into more modern literature, from multiple cultures."

• Jayle bites her lip and tries not to laugh out loud

• Arista smirks. At the very least, he doesn't seem like he'll be insulting from her Hemingway rants, and she might get to reread Catcher in the Rye.

<DavidMcNeal> "So. Questions, concerns, comments?"

<Jayle> "Would it be too foward to say that you're the best English Professor ever, sir?"

<DavidMcNeal> "It would not, but it won't help your final grade."

<DavidMcNeal> The bell rings! "Alright, that's it for today. I'll see you all Thursday. My office is listed on the syllabus if anyone has questions. And yes, I do check my e-mail."

<Arista> After class, Arista heads to somewhere she can do research, most likely her room if it has wifi, to try and look up information on strange spirits and exorcisms and any sort of strange phenomena fitting the description of "wtf snow if falling on me DX".

• Ran| goes running because if she's outside and it's snowing at least it's not some kind of conspiracy when snow falls on her head.

• Jayle ponders how one could manage to make snow seem to appear from midair as she leaves