[Video]

[whatsatisfiesme]

[First rule of cutting classes: Don't post on the school network that you're cutting classes.

No one's told Gilbert that one apparently, however, because here he is well into the morning - it's around second or third period - still in bed and capturing video of himself on his school-provided laptop. With just a long night-shirt draping off him still, he's nestled himself against the headboard and pillows with a book on Renaissance art and a small bowl of sliced fruit he's nibbling from.

After the strain that the riots put on his empathic powers, he'd been given nearly a week of recovery time...and now that's more than come and gone, and he's decided simply not to go back.]

It must be so tedious - burning through all your time in classes here, studying the same things a human school would be making you learn. It's a marvelous sham, isn't it? Do this work for a diploma so you can attend university, find a career, "become a member of society..."

As if society is going to want us any more then than it does now! But you can guess what the real lesson is, can't you?

[The smile he's turning on the camera now can really only be described as "flirtatious."]

This entire school is just one long class in how to pretend. How to play along and make nice for the humans, like we're all cats they've de-clawed. I hope you all have a lovely afternoon, sitting and listening to that. [He kicks back on the bed then, looking so comfortable it's almost a sin.]

I'll be right here.

Comments

[voice]

[friendofdorothy]

[...OK, don't look too closely or think too much about the fact that he seems to be wearing only a large t-shirt]

...Yes, that will liberate us: being ignorant. The flatscans are going to be terrified.

[video]

[whatsatisfiesme]

[Clearly that was unintentional. Just like him sticking to video, even after Liir responds without it.

He crosses one leg over the other and smiles like he has the higher hand at a card table.]

I'm sorry, can you not read without someone looming over your shoulder to double check each word? How sad.

[friendofdorothy]

[Does Gilbert ever smile in any other way? Maybe when he's trying to ingratiate himself...]

Maybe you can. Not everyone is a supremely independent, self educated person. Probably not the majority, really

[whatsatisfiesme]

They'd still be better off learning on their own than with teachers only here to tame them. If the school won't change, there are enough of us to study together without them.

[Either Gilbert seriously just suggested that they all take over the school and form some kind of rebellious student commune, or he's full of it and just wants to keep pressing his argument.

It's six of one, half a dozen of the other, actually.]

We wouldn't need classes. If someone has to tutor me in math, I'd rather do it having a lie-in like this, wouldn't you?

[friendofdorothy]

...You'll seriously die on any hill just to be contrary, won't you? Fine, I call your bluff. What subject should we study together?

[video]

[fire_and_romance]

[She clearly isn't aware that her video is on, seeing how utterly dishevled her hair and nightgown are. Jun would normally never allow anyone to see her like that, especially since she clearly is skipping class as well. She speaks up after a brief pause, clearly nervous, eyes glowing intently and accent as heavy as ever.]

"Do you really think that's what they're doing?"

[she pauses and bites her lip.]

"But what about me? How am I...there's no point in me being here, is there?"

[her voice is heavy in emotion and she covers her mouth, eyes shut tight to hold back any tears that might otherwise escape.]

[whatsatisfiesme]

It's what I said, isn't it?

[That's a more...dramatic reaction than Gilbert expected, but he's not the type to back down from making a point over something like that. That's arguably a sympathetic look he's wearing, at least, as he leans back against the headboard of his bed and shrugs.]

I wouldn't know. I suppose being here is better than being on the street in most places? But if they left it up to me I'd be back home by tonight.

[fire_and_romance]

[Jun takes a moment to compose herself and even straighten out her hair a little bit. She still isn't aware that anyone can see her, so it's more of a personal thing.]

"Are they keeping you here?"

[That's worrisome. Very worrisome. Jun fidgets uncomfortably.]

[whatsatisfiesme]

[That darkens Gilbert's expression and pushes most of that sympathy away. It's not a good question, because the answer isn't at all what Gilbert would like. The school certainly has all the right forms and permissions to keep him as a student.]

I haven't tried to run away, but I don't imagine they'd let me.

[Video]

[sonofhulk]

What do you think we should learn?

[The tone is calm, even a bit curious rather than sarcastic. If they're meant to make nice and just fit in, where does the combat training come in? Do they teach that at human schools too?

So many questions just come to mind, but he'll throw them out one at a time.]

[whatsatisfiesme]

I don't mind learning history or mathematics or anything like that. But when you dress it up the same as any human school -

[He shrugs, cool and dismissive.]

We should be learning how to fight off being oppressed, not taught to make nice so the humans decide we're all harmless. The teachers talk about "control" and "safety," but all they mean is "keep quiet" and "keep hidden." "Don't fight for anything, unless we say."

[sonofhulk]

So mutants should have a different kind of school...instead of a school like normal humans?

[He supposed that made some sense.]

I thought we were learning how to fight too. That's why Miss Ororo said there would be more X-teams.

[whatsatisfiesme]

Of course. We're different; we shouldn't have to be taught the same.

[And then Skaar's next question prompts a high, dubious laugh.]

Oui, they'll let you fight. Against Magneto or the MLF or anyone else who frightens humanity too much. If you want to learn to be a trained attack dog, this school is wonderful!

[voice]

[realmenknitplushies]

[Voice only for the sheer reason that Kanji's flipping the bird at the screen. Another one of these guys.]

Dude, if you think this school shit's pointless, I ain't gonna argue. Half of this crap ain't any use. But I don't see you doin' anything more interestin' or useful than sitting around.

[whatsatisfiesme]

[Still on video here!

You just had to reply, Kanji, and now you get Gilbert smirking and pillowing his head back like you're just the most amusing idiot he's encountered all day.]

Pardon me, I didn't realize I had to care about holding your interest. Of course, you're free to waste your time letting Xavier teach you when to bark, if you want.

I'm only saying I'll spend mine how I please.

[realmenknitplushies]

[Ugh. Asshole. Probably wasn't even worth his breath.]

And that's by saying "you guys all suck, look at me"?

[whatsatisfiesme]

When did I say that? [He quirks one eyebrow.]

I was hoping someone might want to come and join me.

[video]

[kickstart_my_heart]

-And from the Library, Gilbert's roommate!-

I've been told to bring you your homework... Look, mate, it's been some time. You can't stay in the room forever. You need some sunshine.

[video]

[whatsatisfiesme]

[At first, Gilbert meets Bridget's reply with stormy silence, like it's an especially unwanted interruption. (It is.)

But then he pauses and sits up, utterly neutral as he shrugs.]

Alright.

What class do you have next? Skip it and come get some sun with me.

Re: [video]

[kickstart_my_heart]

I'm not gonna skip class for you. Fortunately, I don't have to either. My next period I can take off as I'm ahead in it.

It's basically spring now. Weather's warming up. You'll still want to put on some other clothes, though. -Bridget himself was dressed cutely as always, though with a scarf and matching jacket. He'd be alright.-

[whatsatisfiesme]

[Gilbert makes no effort to disguise the pout he puts on, just then. It's not nearly as satisfying if Bridget doesn't have to cut class to come meet him.

But in reality he wouldn't have posted this in the first place if being cooped up in the dorms by himself hadn't started to grow unbearable.]

Don't tell me what I want. It's not so cold out, now.

[Still, he stands and starts to hike up the hem of his nightshirt to strip - stepping off camera just an instant before he'd be flashing the school intranet at large. There's really no chance that wasn't intentional.]

text;

[thirdarrow]

[ He doesn't bother with video unless it's something very important. ]

Are you intending to become the next MLF leader?

[stubbornly video forever]

[whatsatisfiesme]

Non.

The MLF has a leader already, and you have her locked up.

[Gilbert says as much like he's simply stating a fact, though there's obviously meant to be a barb hidden in his retort.]

[thirdarrow]

What do you want, then?

[whatsatisfiesme]

To not have people harassing me to attend lessons I don't want. To quit having to listen to hypocrites' speeches about "peace" and "understanding."

[He's counting off each demand on his fingers now, one by one.]

To be somewhere else.