[Teacher Filter]

[wwistful]

I understand that it might be a little difficult to handle given that it's only the first week back, but I can't be the only one appalled by the behaviour of the students, can I?

Honestly. It's gotten to the point where detention has become a joke and removing points is a formality. I actually have no idea how I'm meant to deal with the amount of misbehaviour going on when they won't listen to a word I say! A student went so far as to

[Actually. He doesn't really want to announce that.]

It's a little difficult to comprehend. Is there any advice anybody can give me, because I am at a loss here. I think perhaps it's time for a discussion amongst ourselves before things get even more out of hand.


We're much stronger as team than we are individually, in any case.

Comments

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Bro really didn't mean to come off as flippant. He really, really didn't at all. Because to be honest, the last thing he was was flippant. But. Goddamn this was so stupid. But if only he knew how Murdoc was feeling, he'd feel so much less... strange. And awkward. He just can't get a sense of how Murdoc really feels and it frustrates him and makes him feel stupid. Ever since the way things had ended, he just. hasn't known where they stand and it sucks.

But. He shouldn't think about that.

As Murdoc speaks, Bro stands from the chair and goes over to the coffee he'd brewed, pouring a cup for Murdoc and himself.]

Hey to you, too.

[wwistful]

[Murdoc has never been particularly good at hiding some feelings. He's rarely subtle when he's irritated or angry and he's terrible at pretending to be happy when he's upset. Somethings, however, are more subtle. He doesn't smile or laugh much to express happiness or eagerness. He's better at teasing to encourage affection. The more he teases someone, the more he wants to engage with them. He wants reactions and he wants attention from those people more than anything.

People like Sybille.

Suddenly he feels guilty and he has no idea why. There's a pang in his chest and it infuriates him. Why does he keep denying himself happiness?

He takes the cup with a small smile.]

Thank you. [Now he's sipping OH SO CASUALLY.] I told you I'd tell you in person.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[The smile is reassuring, at least. His own lips twitch like he's about to smile too, but he turns away for a second to contain himself. No goddamn smiling, that would just... make you vulnerable. He at least makes it look like he's adding sugar to his coffee so that it doesn't look like he's avoiding Murdoc or anything.]


Yeah you did, but I didn't think you'd just pick up the conversation right from there. Where are your manners?

[Finally he turns back around and this time he's wearing a smirk rather than a smile, as goes to sit back down in his chair.] Anyway, yeah. Maybe we should just start... locking them up or something. I dunno...

[He kind of just... trails off awkwardly. Trying to have a casual conversation with Murdoc is surprisingly hard.]

[wwistful]

[Murdoc is a little perplexed by whatever it is Dirk's face is doing right now. He supposes that he's having some sort of sugar crisis and continues drinking his coffee sugarless.]

I said thank you for the coffee, didn't I? You're the one who didn't open the door for me yourself.

[He sniffs, but gives Dirk a joking look.]

That's the best idea I've heard all day. Let's just do that so we can stop talkin' about it. I'm sick of children.

[plushaeusrumpified]

Oh you're right, my bad. You're welcome.

[He's just going to try and not look as awkward as he feels for not opening the door. Yeah, that was definitely something he should've done. Oh well, moving... on...]

What would you prefer to talk about, then? I don't think we've had a normal conversation since we met.

[wwistful]

At least you found your manners.

I'm not sure. [Huh they really haven't. You can do this. You can make conversation.]

That's odd, we have plenty in common. How's...[Uh.]

How's your flock?

[plushaeusrumpified]

[At first he's confused, because what the hell is Murdoc talking about.]

My fl-

[And then it hits him and he feels like a dumbass.]

Oh! You mean the kids...

[...The kids.

Now that he's thinking about that, it's probably very obvious the shift in mood as everything in relation to them comes to mind.]

...They're fine. Yours?

[wwistful]

[He snorts a little at Dirk's confusion, for someone who talks almost entirely in ironic metaphors he didn't seem to get slang sometimes.]

Yes, Dirk. The kids. [Sip..ing his coffee.] They're alright-- He's alright. I suppose.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[He may not get slang sometimes, but that's only because Murdoc's slang is fuddy duddy old people slang. Seriously, get with the times old man.

But even though he didn't get that, he definitely zeroed in on that one little word snafu.]

...They? You said they. Preeetty sure I heard they. Which implies... Ehhh?

[wwistful]

Which implies I slipped up and said the wrong word.

[He's trying to look super casual by staring at Dirk with wide eyes.]

Dirk is a good swimmer. [Stare. Take the bait. Take ittakeittakeit.]

[plushaeusrumpified]

Dude, when kids are involved you don't just slip up and imply you have more of them than you do. That's just not a thing that happened. No, before Dirk came along I made sure to specify I only had one. You don't just say 'they' by accident. I didn't spike that coffee, bro, you ain't drunk.

[Doesn't take the bait.]

[wwistful]

Sometimes havin' Eridan makes me feel like I have three kids.

[Sigh.] I have two other children. Two girls, twins. That's about it.

Is the weather nice where you live?

[plushaeusrumpified]

[...Hold on. He's just going to stare at Murdoc with his eyebrows raised as high as they can possibly go. He can't believe his ears. He just. Can't.]

...Three...

Holy flipping dolphins, what? As hard as it is to get in your pants, you-

[Oh. Fuck. No he didn't just say that. He didn't just go there, he didn't have to go there fuck fuck fuck.]

It's nice. It's really nice, Soho is rad. Yeah, I love the weather there a whole lot. It's just... It's the best, you have no idea.

[wwistful]

They're twins, Dirk. And I didn't know about them until recently. Stop talkin' about me like I'm a game.

[He props his elbows up on the edge of the desk and rubs at his head, groaning quietly.]

You don't need to know that. I shouldn't have said anythin'.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[At his comment, Bro can't help but feel hurt and sulky. He'd already told Murdoc that he was more than a game, he thought they were over that. He turns his head away, staring hard at the floor as he lets out something that's probably just gonna make it all the more awkward for the two of them.]

You're not a game, you're the prize.

[wwistful]

[Wait what.]

I'm the what? [He's just frozen in the spot, staring at Dirk past his hands like he just told him he's the father of all of the Striders as well as his own children.]

You don't mean that.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[A part of him thought he was going to regret letting that slip out, but he isn't prepared for the reaction from Murdoc. In a way, it reminds him of how he himself had reacted when Murdoc had complimented his eyes. It gives him a sense of... control. Like he'd succeeded in taking Murdoc down a peg like he'd been taken down. It makes him feel better. Not in a cruel, sadistic kind of way, just. Like they're on even footing now.]

You heard what I said. And why don't I mean it?

[The fact that Murdoc thinks he doesn't mean it is honestly kind of frustrating. It's with a moment's hesitation that he reaches up and pulls off his shades. Instantly he feels naked, vulnerable, but he ignores that. A few more seconds and he finally gets the nerve to turn his face back to Murdoc's.]

Do I look like I'm lying?

[wwistful]

[Dirk is right, Murdoc feels very vunerable right now. He knows he's attractive, he's very content with himself in that regard. He is also very aware of how overbearing and annoyingly mopey he can be is. He isn't a prize at all, not for a guy like Dirk, anyway. He was something that seemed like a good idea at the time but would turn out to be a mistake, he was sure of it.]

You don't know me.

[He rubs the back of his neck, not sure if he wants to look at Dirk's eyes right now. Mostly because he knows he'll just melt and fold and give him everything but also because he's afraid of how much he'll give away. And yet he's looking anyway.]

I suppose not. No. [He looks guilty now.]

[plushaeusrumpified]

I know you enough.

[In a way he can't believe he's actually sounding this confident, but. It's a different feeling, when he feels more in control. It's easier to sound confident. Murdoc had caught him off guard that night and completely stolen away his coherency. This time it was kind of the other way around and he felt better about it.

He stares hard at Murdoc, trying to convey that he is a prize. That he doesn't need to know him deeply to know that. It's obvious just by the little interaction they've already had.

His brows furrow lightly at the look on Murdoc's face though.]

What's that look for?

[wwistful]

Now I'm wonderin' how much enough is.

[He sinks a little in his chair, actually pondering that. He doesn't know all that much about Dirk either. Do you have to know someone well to like them like that? Does he like him like that? This is ridiculous.

He stares back for a long moment before he drops his gaze, looking around the room for something to distract himself with.]

What look?

[plushaeusrumpified]

[He isn't quite sure how to answer that, so he just shrugs, flicking his gaze away from Murdoc finally.]

That... look. I dunno. I'm not good at describing looks.

[This is stupid. So. stupid. And he lets out a sigh, because what are they even doing? This is all dumb. He shakes his head, before putting his shades back on.]

Nevermind. I should've said anything. Just... forget it.

[Because you don't like him like that. And it's going to take more than eyes to make you fall for him. And his own feelings are just a jumbled up mess of confusion and he's frustrated with himself.]

It was a stupid slip up.

[wwistful]

Alright.

[And he's not going to push that because he honestly can't explain why he feels so guilty. Maybe it's because of Sybille. Or Constance. Or his children. Maybe it's because it shouldn't feel bad to want to play along for once.

He's just.

Tired of feeling guilty.

He leans forward a bit on the desk, reaching forward to pluck Dirk's shades off and put them to the side before crossing his arms.]

You're never goin' to win anythin' with those on.

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Murdoc, it turns out, is a constant surprise at every turn. He's just not used to anyone having the nerve to ever reach out and take his shades off without permission. Mainly because the people he's used to being with know how important they are. They know to be afraid of that- perhaps irrationally, since he wouldn't really do anything bad, but. still.

Anger flashes in his eyes briefly simply because it's not something he's used to, but he takes in a slow breath and lets it out, flicking his eyes away from Murdoc.]

Last I checked, life was like a carnival game. You can't win anything, so what's the goddamn point?

[wwistful]

[Murdoc knows it's a pretty ballsy move, but he doesn't feel like he has any reason to be scared of Dirk right now. Even if he did lash out, he'd just fight back. He knows what's behind the glasses, Dirk knows he knows what's behind them. So, putting them on makes it seem like he's trying to hide something.

If Murdoc needs to sit here with all of his expressions being made obvious, Dirk can too.]

You make me look positive, sometimes. Have you already given up?

[plushaeusrumpified]

[Bro's quiet for a long time after that, still not looking at Murdoc. He's looking anywhere but at the man, as his eyes dart across the room. The coffee cup in his hand has been forgotten and it's nearly cooled to room temperature by now. He doesn't know what to say to that. Has he given up? No. He's still stupidly falling for him like an idiot. But the way Murdoc left that night? He had made it seem like he didn't have a fucking shot. So...]

I'm still trying to decide if there's even a fucking point to trying.

[He decided to be honest. To just. fucking say it. He feels stupid after saying it, but at least he wasn't being cagey anymore. At least he was throwing it all on the table.

But godddd he feels dumb.

He's just not used to wooing someone. At all. It's just always been sex, sex, sex. He's never actively tried to... do what he's doing with Murdoc. Every little step just feels like a failure and he doesn't know what he's even fucking doing. It's frustrating to the point he wants to just scream and give up. And he's hyper aware of just how immature and stupid he sounds.]