[Open]

[komarran]

WHO: Duv Galeni, anyone who wants to bother him in class/while working
WHERE: De Chima University + Lucky Cat Café (Heropa)
WHEN: Anytime in October
WHAT: Attempting to teach another Earth’s history and a lot of cursing as he grades at a café.
NOTES/WARNINGS: Grading. It’s a warning and an adventure, trust me. Also feel free to hit me up at topsecretgirly if you want to do something specific!


1. De Chima University
He’s taken the entire summer to prepare. It’s a far cry from what he had been prepared to teach back home, scaling back entirely for teaching a thousand years removed from his own period and a topic that is ancient history for him. How in the hell did anyone manage in these antiquated lecture halls?

The topic is historical methods. Research and concepts had been easier for him to adapt into a semester-wide course though he’s had to amend all of his examples and readings to fit with recent American historians. One difficulty with the Cold War being in full swing was a lack of uncensored or unbiased sources and his bitterness at having to rely on such comes across more than once in his tone when referencing the limitations and responsibilities they had as researchers.

To his credit, he maintains a good presence while at the lectern. The class is large enough and plenty of students come in late that new faces and stragglers aren’t noticed immediately. Should an imPort wander in, the distraction of the students toward them is more of a clue than anything else. It’s enough to earn the intruders a look once noticed that says he’ll be seeing them after class.

If approached after class, he’ll be slowly packing his things and waiting expectantly. So much for the mundane and keeping his skills sharp without interference.

2. Lucky Cat Café (Heropa)
Unapologetically, he’s taken up one of the larger tables for himself. His papers are spread out in organized piles and he has his red pen at the ready. His least favorite task of the teaching profession, but a necessary one. All he can hope for is to get it over with quickly and without his drink spilling.

“There’s not even a name on this one,” he grumbles to the world at large as he rubs at his temples. “I need another coffee.”

A spiked one preferably.

Comments

2

[dendarii]

[ Just in time to make Duv's life a little brighter, a familiar bird perches on Duv's shoulder. Gently, of course, so as not to stab him with those talons. Head bent forward inquisitively. ]

Oh, that one's mine.

[komarran]

[ Duv wonders when he reached a point in his life where a small falcon perching on his shoulder is something to not be phased at. He frowns as he glances over at him. ]

This is yours? You aren't enrolled in the course.

[ At least, not according to the last roster he saw. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles makes an innocent little chirping sound. ]

Yes I am. Just a few days ago, in fact.

[komarran]

What? Why? You weren't there last week.

[ Excuse him, he's pulling out his phone to access his official roster and fact-check this. ]

[dendarii]

That's because I was still auditing at the time. From the window.

[ He says, fluffing his feathers out a bit. ]

[komarran]

You do realize auditing requires paperwork to be filled out. And fees to be paid.

[ Which he highly doubts Miles did. He has his roster up now and yes. Miles Vorkosigan. He needs a moment to stare. ]

[dendarii]

Yes, well, it's all taken care of now, isn't it? I'm on your list. And there's my essay.

[ He sounds quite smug about that. ]

[komarran]

I don't see your name on it and I have no proof it's yours beyond your word.

[ Which would mean quite a bit if they were in the Barrayaran Empire, but they are far from it. ]

[dendarii]

You have my word and my paper. Why would I write it if I weren't in your class?

[ Other than just trying to mess with Duv. Which he would also do. ]

[use_everything]

[The idea that the cafe needed a liquor license for that was baffling, frankly.]

It looks like Miles' scrawl. [The downside of staying at the Lucky Cat Cafe is the sheer awkwardness of actually GETTING coffee from the Emperor or the Butcher. On the plus side, the timing of the refill was likely excellent.]

[komarran]

Because you wish to waste both of our times. [ He looks down at the paper once more and taps it with his pen. ] You do realize the instructions said to submit a typed version.

[dendarii]

[ That stops Miles. He clacks his beak awkwardly, as if trying to snatch his lost words out of the air. ]

Er - did it? I must have skipped over that part.

[komarran]

[ At least he's prepared when Lord Vorkosigan approaches him. He's not entirely sure the coffee makes a visit from the Butcher worthwhile, but the man is here and Duv can't exactly change that now. ]

Is it? He must have slipped it into the stack back at the Residence.

[komarran]

Yes, it did.

[ There's another moment of thought before he puts a red "0" at the top. ] You have until next class to resubmit it typed for half credit.

[dendarii]

[ Miles squawks indignantly, even as Duv's point flying straight over his tiny feathered head. ]

But I did the work! There's nothing wrong with my essay except the penmanship, and really, it's perfectly legible.

[komarran]

If you didn't have time to read the instructions and follow them then I don't have time to read your paper, [ he replies calmly. He'd flip the paper over to move onto the next one, but it's not like he can grade with Miles on his shoulder like this. ]

[dendarii]

[ Well he's not moving anywhere. And he's all puffed out with annoyance on Duv's shoulder. (That, perhaps, is the best proof that Miles really did enroll and write that paper. The second best proof is how awful that handwriting is. Cramped and difficult.) ]

Ugh ... fine. I'll have it typed up by tomorrow.

[komarran]

For half credit, [ he reminds him, mostly because he doesn't want to hear complaints later after the grade is entered. ]

And this is the only time I'll accept a resubmission.

[dendarii]

Cruelty, thy name is Galeni.

[komarran]

It's called consistency. I'd say the same to any other student that failed to follow instructions.

[dendarii]

Oh? And how did they do on this essay?

[ He hops down to the table to nose at the pile of papers. ]

[komarran]

[ His hand quickly moves to stop the movement of papers. ]

You'll know the class average when I finish grading. They have laws here regarding student privacy. [ Ones he is still very much getting used to. ]

[dendarii]

[ He still noses at the corner of a page in vain. ]

Really. What an odd system.

[komarran]

It's one I'm familiarizing myself with. I can't reveal or speak about specific grades with anyone other than the student in question.

[dendarii]

You don't even post them afterwards? What's the point of outstripping everyone else if you can't rub their noses in it?