The Emporium -- Saturday

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben had to practically push Michael out the door this morning. Their son Hunter was staying in town another day, and as rough as the week had been for Michael and Hunter, Ben thought they needed some time together. Ben was quite capable of running the store, he reminded Michael. What he didn't say was that Michael needed to get out more anyway.

Saturdays were usually quiet, and Ben had his manuscript with him to work on. He was going to finish this book come hell or high water and in Fandom Town, both were possible. Whether it was any good -- or worth publishing -- remained to be seen.

Comments

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel smiled at the man behind the counter as he entered The Emporium, before heading down the aisles of snack food.

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben nods in response. "If there's anything I can help you find, let me know."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Thanks for that," Daniel replies, filling up a basket with chips, candy and other nibbly bits. "Do you sell alcohol?"

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben points to the far left-hand side of the store. "Along the left wall, toward the back." That one he knew. It was a popular section.

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Daniel smiles, wandering across and picking up a twelve-box of Budweiser Select. *mun cries because they don't sell it in this damn country* Not that he'd be drinking any, no. He had no desire to give another impromtu Shakespeare performance.

He brings the basket and the beer back to the counter. "I think this is all."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"Okay..." Ben rings up the items. "$21.19 is your total. I don't think I've seen you around before. You new to town, or have we just not bumped into each other before?"

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel hands across his credit card, smiling. "Ah, no, been here since the start of term. I'm afraid I tend to be a bit of a recluse at times... give me an artifact, or a good book, and I'm lost."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben nods, taking the card and running it through the machine. "Me too. If I'm not reading books, I'm writing them." He gestures to the manuscript. "Tends to suck away your time without you even noticing much like playing FH. Are you a teacher at the school, then?" Ben hands over the receipt and a pen.

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"You write?" Daniel asks curiously. "What sort of things?"

He takes the receipt and pen, scrawling an illegible signature. "Uh, yes. I teach anthropology and archaeology."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"Fiction now, mostly. Had a non-fiction book on HIV a while back, wasn't widely read but it got out there, anyway."

Ben looks surprised at the subjects taught. "That's pretty advanced for high school students. I would have loved to take those kinds of courses in high school. Never had time for it in college as it was."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel nods. "Getting it out there's half the battle though, isn't it?"

He shrugs. "Yeah, I guess. Archaeology not so much... that's coming in a bit more around schools. But Fandom High's not exactly the most normal of schools, so I fit in okay. The kids seem to be enjoying themselves okay."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"No kidding. The publishing world is very cutthroat."

Ben bags what he can and pushes the 12-pack and bags across the counter. "Fandom High is definitely not the most normal of schools. They should be teaching more advanced courses, as long as the kids are getting something out of it. Too many smart, bored kids because they always pander to the lowest common denominator." Ben shook his head. "I taught at a university, I saw far too many students that were the product of that. Even smart kids get lazy about their work when they're not challenged."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"So, what's your new book about?"

"Tell me about it. I know a lot of extremly smart kids there; juniors, who could quite easily be in university now," Daniel says, nodding. "I'd only previously taught as a TA back when I was doing my own post-grad, but I know what you mean."

[ooc: So does the mun, who is exactly as described]

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"Two couples trying to survive their relationships, in spite of the prejudice they face." Ben neatly avoided the fact that they were gay couples. He still wasn't sure who in this town might be on the prejudiced side. "I'm going for literary, but I'm not sure if I'm succeeding."

"It's good the kids here are getting intellectually challenged. Some of them will be our future if they're not from the future already."

((ooc: Mun just witnessed too much of it in her own schooling.))

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Sounds interesting," Daniel said, trying not to think of the prejudice he and Janet were likely to end up facing in the future.

"There's just something about teaching the next generation," he said, with a smile. "It's always great seeing them work through a problem."

[[ooc: They needed to move me up a year, but never did. The only time I was academically challenged when I was younger was when I was put in a class two years above my age group for a day]]

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"It's nice to see their gears turn, to know that they're not just coasting, that they're thinking for themselves." Ben sighs. "I sort of miss teaching. I took a year off to write, but the urge to pontificate is still in me and it has nowhere to go. Except when talking to people." He gives a wry smile.

((ooc: saw 2 of my friends -- both in top 1% of a high school class of 600 -- drop out of college because they'd gotten too used to doing things the easy/lazy way. I spent too much time trying to challenge myself because the teachers didn't.))

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Maybe you could take a class next semester?" Daniel suggested. "If you cap it, so you've only got a few and it wouldn't take up too much of your time?"


[[ooc: I had one teacher who did during secondary school, and I still thank him for it. But as it is, I'm taking a year out at the moment because of illness.]]

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben shrugs. "I've considered it. I still might. It's a lot of work, though. Hasn't been long enough that I've forgotten what prep is like." He gestures toward the manuscript. "Depends on how far I've gotten on this, I suppose."

((ooc: Been over a decade since I graduated from university. Sadly, FH is a lot more intellectually stimulating to play than my job is.))

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"What would you actually teach?" Daniel asks curiously. "And with a smaller class, there's less prep I've found... I've only got three in my linguistics."

[[ooc: *sympathises* My last summer job was like that. And FH is the only intellectually stimulating thing at the moment, which, for the sake of my brain, is probably a good thing]]

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"I think Fandom High has lit pretty well covered, with Geoff there." Ben takes a deep breath, going for the plunge. "I taught Queer Studies at Carnegie-Mellon. I'm not sure how the administration would feel about that here, although I've seen plenty of same-gender couples around."

((FH has kept me happy enough to keep me from killing stupid co-workers, I tell ya.))

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"I think Queer Studies would be a fascinating one, especially around here," Daniel said enthusiastically. "I have looked at homosexuality from an anthropological point of view... not so much in my class yet, but I've got plenty of time," he grins. "The administration seems pretty free with what gets taught, as long as it teaches the kids something."

[[Ha! Then it's all been worth it *g*]]

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben nods. "Something for me to consider, then. It would probably be good for me to get out of the house a little more." He waves a hand vaguely at the store. "I'm working today just to get my husband out of the place for a while. Our son's in town, and they really needed to spend more time together."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel smiles. "It'd be good to have you up there," he said, nodding. "That's good of you. How old's your son?" His thoughts immediately fly to Cassandra, and he wonders how she is doing.

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"He's 24, lives in Pittsburgh -- where we're from. He was in his late teens before he came to us. He was a hellion at the time, but he's calmed down...some, anyway." Ben grins. "He's an awfully smart guy, so I'm glad we reached out and gave him a chance to shine. You have any kids?"

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel hesitates. "Not really... a woman I used to work with has an adopted daughter and I was pretty close to her. But no kids of my own... yet."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben nods. "Biology isn't everything. I don't have any of my own..." He winces. "I can't. But between our adopted son and Michael's biological daughter -- who lives in Canada with her moms -- our paternal urges have been pretty well satisfied." He raises an eyebrow. "Found someone you'd like to have your own with?"

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel blushes slightly, feeling as though every conversation today was going back to Janet. Not that he minded. "I have," he says, a wide smile spreading across his face. "We'll be waiting a few years at least, but hopefully I'll be able to persuade her."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben grins. "Well good. And good luck with that. It's always nice to find someone to share your life with."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel's smile is soft. "Yeah, it is, isn't it," he says.

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben holds out his hand. "I'm Ben, by the way. Ben Bruckner."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel takes the hand and shakes it firmly. "Daniel Jackson. Nice to meet you, Ben."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

"Nice to meet you too. Seems like we don't get a lot of the teachers from the school out here, it's nice to have more adults to talk to. Not that the kids aren't great, but..." Ben shrugs. "Teen angst and all that."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel laughs. "I know what you mean, being surrounded by it up at the school. I can't speak for the other teachers, but I'm sure I'll be in here more often. I'm determined to try and be more sociable and not bury myself in work like I've done in the past."

[mikeys-ben.livejournal.com]

Ben grins. "We can make a pact to try to come out of our holes and actually talk to people now and then. It was really nice meeting you. Feel free to stop in anytime."

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel grins. "That sounds like a plan," he says, grabbing the bags of shopping. "I'll see you around, Ben."