A loose tongue helps none.

[calmyourmind]

After having a fifth student this morning inform me that they have no intentions of paying attention to class, and are only here looking for extra credit handouts to help them pass, I am closing office hours for the day for the good of the rest of you. I advise you to go home, if you are able, before you say something far more detrimental to someone other than myself.

[It's bad enough when he has to so many of them think it.]

Comments

[chronosexual]

Having trouble keeping your ducklings in line, Charles?

[calmyourmind]

More than usual. It gets rather exceedingly tiresome being consistently presented with how very unenthusiastic the majority of the student body is about my courses.

None of them seem too interested in offering up suggestions, either. I think I may consider taking some time off after this semester. Pursue another direction I have been considering for a while now.

[Ah... keep your mouth shut Charles. Honestly. Do you have to constantly hear the sound of your voice? Quiet for a while.]

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go pretend to be busy elsewhere.

[... Yes. That worked splendidly, didn't it.]

[chronosexual]

Cute.

What other direction? I think teaching suits you well.

[calmyourmind]

I would still be teaching. Just something I am beginning to think might be a bit more conducive to the futures of my pupils then preparing them for a world I have, as of yet, not been presented with the basic elements and structure of.

[Shut up. Shut up, Charles. This is an open network. At least mark it private.]

One I'd really rather not inform you of, at this point, Captain Harkness.

[Please don't ask.]

[chronosexual]

[ Too bad. he's going to. ]

What? Why not? Did I upset you somehow?

[calmyourmind]

[For god's sake, Jack.]

You really do not want me to-

[Slight exasperated sigh]

I have done a great many things on this island that I prefer not to remember and you seem to have a very good habit of reminding me. I'd appreciate it if you would carry on with your own business and leave me to worry about my students on my own.

[chronosexual]

That hurts. I'm only trying to be friendly. I had no idea you felt that way.

All right. I'll stop bugging you.

[calmyourmind]

[Let him leave, do not apologise. Let him leave, do not apologise.]

I'm sorry, Jack. Most of my irritation is with myself, not with you. I think it may be best if I just avoid ... conversations in general at the moment.

[That wasn't so bad. Maybe he can survive this.]

[chronosexual]

Probably a good idea. I like you, Charles, and I want to keep it that way. Though if you had such a problem with the things we did, you should have said so earlier.

[librariansheart]

Oh, really? That's terrible! Class is such a wonderful opportunity. I suppose that opens up the rest of your day, though, unless you have classes later.

[calmyourmind]

It is refreshing to know at least someone thinks so. The majority of my students would much rather I strip the program of anything remotely educational. Some of the things they come to my class, expecting to learn. [He huffs a bit irritably.]

I suppose that is better than the ones who come with no desire to learn whatsoever.

[librariansheart]

But you teach at an elevated level, don't you, Mr. Xavier? Your curriculum is meant to be challenging, I should think... Why would they sign up for your course if they didn't want to learn? I guess it just doesn't make any sense to me.

[calmyourmind]

Nor to me, I'm afraid, and it really should make a good deal more sense to me, if anyone. I think, in part, it is difficult to focus in the environment this island provides. It seems like at least once a month something happens to interrupt their studies in a vastly detrimental way.

[librariansheart]

Oh, I suppose that's very true. It must be very difficult to study when you're not certain if the test will be postponed on account of piracy. Or rampant fireballs. Or memory loss. It seems like a tough decision. How much lee-way do you give, when the events are so damaging, but students can use them for excuses not to try and complete or make up the work afterward. I suppose school policy doesn't exactly cover that.

[coinmover]

You're very kind to them. Does it help?

[calmyourmind]

I haven't the slightest idea. I do hope so. I doubt it, somehow.

[coinmover]

Then why bother? I've had setbacks, but pursuing things my way is finally paying off.

[calmyourmind]

You and I have very different methods, my friend, and I fear we always will. I'll not be changing my methods any time too soon.

[coinmover]

Such a shame, Charles. You're wasted on them. You'd be welcome to join me, you know. More than welcome. It's among my highest hopes.

[calmyourmind]

As much as I would truly like for that to be the case, I am not sure either of us could ever trust one another enough.

I would like nothing more than for the two of us to work together, but we do not want the same things, Erik.

Even if our end goals are similar, the lengths to which you are willing to go, are likely to go, to achieve those ends... I could never stand by and allow you to do so.

[coinmover]

Please. The suspicions of your future students aside, Charles, no-one has made a real move to stop me so far. And nearly everyone's lives are the better for what I've done already.

[calmyourmind]

And after we have left this island? What then, Erik? Have your opinions on the matter of our world changed in our time here?

If this island is good for anything, it is in proving that humans and mutants can cohabit peacefully, if given the chance.

[coinmover]

As any two peoples with a common enemy can.

[calmyourmind]

I do not believe that that is the reasoning behind our coexistence here. I am not even certain we truly have an enemy, here, but that is a topic for some other discussion.

Erik. The world does not have to be so divided. Humans and Mutants. We should be working together. Not against a common enemy, but for common goals. A better world, improving on what has been left for us by our ancestors. It is compassion and comradery we should be seeking.

Fear, division, anger.

All this will ever bring is more of the same. If anyone would understand that, I would think it would be you.

[coinmover]

Cooperation is negotiated from a position of strength. Anything less, and all you're doing is bringing tomorrow's enemy within arm's reach.

[coinmover]

I will bring us to that position, old friend. Where we go from there will be up to you.

[animator]

They're wasting their time and yours. Other people would kill to have a chance at higher education. Wish more students would realize that and stop screwing around.

[calmyourmind]

While not quite the words I would choose, necessarily, those sentiments, exactly, my dear.

[animator]

If I were you, I'd ask them to excuse themselves from class if they're not going to bother doing the work. But I'm a big believer in tough love.

[calmyourmind]

I'm not sure I could bring myself to do so. I keep hoping I'll change their minds on the subject. There must be some reason they signed up for my classes.

It is only recently I suspect it may have been rumors of my willingness to assign extra credit.

[animator]

You're a lot more patient than I would be. It's admirable, though. Not a common trait.

But you know, at least you're willing. I think that speaks volumes. It means you're good at what you do, you want to help students that are struggling, even if it's because they've sabotaged themselves.

It's kind of a thankless job, isn't it.

[metamorphosing]

You do kind of drone on sometimes... but you're a better teacher than most. I'm sorry, Charles.

[calmyourmind]

Raven. [A genuine smile for a moment and he shakes his head.]

I really am turning into even more of an old fart, aren't I? There are times I wonder at whether or not teaching was the right career for me. I fear this much exposure to unwilling minds has had something of an effect on my general temperament.

[metamorphosing]

You've been an old fart since you were twelve.

Of course it's the right career for you. You've never liked anything as much as you liked learning. I know I've made fun of it a lot, but you really are a genius. Sometime a student is going to come along who will appreciate that, and that's going to make it all worth it.

[calmyourmind]

Thank you, Raven. I suppose I am really just having something of an off day. There seems to be something going around, and it has made my students a bit too open about their thoughts on the matter.

You are right, though. I do very much enjoy teaching. Even if my students do not often enjoy it as much as I do.

[metamorphosing]

That definitely seems to be a theme today. I had a lot of weirdly talkative customers at work this morning. Maybe we should just try to talk it all with a grain of salt? Something doesn't seem right.

And you're a great teacher because you enjoy it. When you love what you do, it makes a difference. I can tell just by watching you.

[alwaysimpure]

What do you teach?

[quarkylass]

But I love school!

[ She looks completely devastated! ] Why wouldn't people want to work hard in order to learn and get good grades?

[pelagically]

I hope you fill your day with something more interesting than teaching.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

That would indeed be frustrated. If it helps, I very much enjoy your AP Science course at the high school.

I hope we are both here long enough for me to take some of the genetics and psychology courses you teach at the community college.