Spot nods, clearing some space on the table and grabbing a cookie.
"Sure that sounds easy enough," He confirms - he might have missed a lot of school, but he knows how to look stuff up. Actually, it might help him learn more too.
Ezra pushes his tray aside - but not before grabbing a bite of pizza - and pulls his books out, giving the textbook to Spot as he opens his history notebook and pulls out the sheet of questions.
"Alright," he says, "it's chapter - four, I think?"
Ezra takes a minute or so to get his pen out then reads the first question out, ready to combine the work with eating, and not caring what this looks like to anyone else in the cafeteria.
Ezra does grab himself a cookie immediately that Spot has his second- just to make sure he gets his fair share of cookies, and after all, Spot if getting Jello as well.
They do get a couple of stares, mostly because people aren't used to homework being done in the cafeteria, but at least once Ezra looks up and the person turns away.
After the second cookie, Spot starts on the jello - it's a little harder to eat and read at the same time with that, but he manages to avoid getting any on the book.
"You got much more to go?" He asks after a few more questions, glancing up at the clock to make sure they still had time.
"Decent enough amount that it doesn't look like you forgot, anyway," Spot agrees.
He also doesn't need the thank you, in fact he probably wouldn't know how to handle it if he got one - he doesn't feel like he's doing anything special, just helping out his new buddy.
"That's one good thing about this week," he comments as he flips through looking for the next answer "least I ain't got no homework to worry about."
"Yea." Spot snorts - he doesn't imagine it'll last past today, even, but it's still one less thing to make an already unpleasant situation worse.
Once they've done all they can, and the cookies are eaten, Spot helps him pack up the books and shoves his own stuff into his bag, slinging it over his shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow? I can tell you how music was." he offers with the faintest edge of a smile.
"Sure," Ezra says, still in the process of gathering up his history work. "Even if you hate it, I can cope."
It doesn't occur to him at all to tell Spot the most obvious thing about what to expect. That when he gets to music class the kids are already seating, there's a seating chart visible at the entrance, and Mr Jarrus is leaning against the teacher's desk waiting for people to come in.
The reason for this is probably obvious given the cane propped up against his knees and his dark glasses, as he hurries people in and reminds them to sit in their designated places.
"Alright," he's saying. "Get in and get your books out. Work is on the board."
Apparently he holds some sway, because nearly everyone is doing that.
Spot is a little surprised to spot the cane and the dark glasses, but it's not like you need to see to appreciate music, right? He gets over his surprise quickly enough and checks the seating chart, half expecting not to be on it since he's new - but there he is, Sean Conlon. Urgh.
Still, at least there's a chance he can just slink to his seat without having to do another lame introduction, maybe? That's not too bad. He finds the right seat and pulls out his books, kind of surprised at the number of people who are - at his old school, at least half the class would be trying to pull a fast one on a blind teacher. Not that Spot doesn't think he's got ways to deal with that, but that wouldn't stop them trying. Clearly kids here are better behaved.
It's not obvious which it is, at first, a combination of good behaviour in general and respect for the teacher, maybe. When one of the girls gets out a fidget spinner early in the lesson, for example, he addresses her directly and sharply:
"Use something quiet please, Miss Feldman."
And she mutters "yes sir" and relaces it with playdough.
The lesson starts like any other, with reading and a bit of a lecture, and a discussion - Spot will find that the group tables they're sitting at have hospitality-style bells in the centre that people use instead of putting their hands up. Silence is mostly enforced for obvious reasons.
Halfway through, though they are dismissed to grab instruments from around the room and work on compositions. But before the inevitable noise, he stands up and turns in Spot's approximate direction.
"Mr Conlon, can you come here, please? The rest of you, you know how it works."
Ah, so he's got really good hearing... that makes sense, Spot thinks, for a music teacher.
He doesn't really engage in the discussion, though he does at least respond when other students speak to him, and he does his best with the reading and the lecture, scribbling down barely legible notes that he doesn't entirely understand - he has a few advantages from ballet, but his previous musical education was definitely a few levels below this. Yet another thing he's going to struggle to catch up on, great...
He isn't sure what to do when they're dismissed, but before he can even decide who to ask he's being called to the front of the class, and it's unexpectedly a relief - getting called up while everybody else is busy and not paying attention is about the best-case scenario, actually.
He makes a vague noise of acknowledgement (he normally wouldn't, but recently he's become far more aware of the importance of certain adaptations) and shoves himself up from his chair, heading over to the teacher's desk.
"Yea?" He says, partially a genuine question and partially just to announce his presence.
"Come with me," Mr Jarrus says as Spot approaches, grabbing his cane and leading the way over to the grand piano in the corner of the classroom, at which he, but without opening the keyboard cover yet. He doesn't lay his hands on top of it though, automatically running his hands along the wood to check it's clear.
Spot follows him over curiously, not entirely sure what's going on. At the question, he shrugs.
"Spot is fine." He's had mixed results with getting teachers to use the nickname, but it doesn't hurt to try. He thinks he can probably live with 'Mr Conlon' if Mr Jarrus is the type to object.
"Okay, Spot," the teacher says, confirming the name before continuing. "I've had a read of your notes. The induction mics are still on order, as you know but I've requested a few for the music department especially because I guess this can get a bit noisy on general. You doing okay now?"
He's not going to beat around the bush. This isn't his first troubled kid, though it is his first Deaf kid and he wants to get it right, even if he's only a teacher for this one.
He's pleasantly surprised at both the easy acceptance of his nickname and the question, though he supposes he shouldn't be - just as he was ready to adapt for Mr Jarrus, it shouldn't be strange that the teacher is just as conscious of the reverse.
He nods easily.
"Yea it's fine. I mean, it's a bit noisy but I can deal with it." After all, he can turn his ears down if he needs to, the other kids can't - though he guesses they probably have other ways to deal with the sound in a fancy school like this.
"Right, Kanan continues. "So a couple of ground rules here. I don't know if you noticed," and he gestures vaguely at his face with a self deprecating smirk, "but you're not the only person in need of accommodation here.
"So. I'm going to ask you not to turn your hearing aids off if I'm talking.
"If you absolutely need to during independent work you tell a peer so they can let me know if I need to get your attention.
"If you need my attention and talking isn't going to work you can tap me on the shoulder, or arm. You're the only person in your class with that privilege so I'm going to know it's you. Don't take the mick, okay?"
Spot considers the rules for a moment and then nods.
"Yea, I can do that." He can't actually see any scenario where he'd abuse those rules - except maybe turning his hearing aids off, but truthfully he knows that's usually more trouble than it's worth in a classroom setting anyway. He has problems with authority, sure, but that tends to be reserved for people who throw their weight around or demand the unreasonable, and all of those rules seem pretty straightforward.
(and, okay, maybe there's just a tiny little bit of not wanting to piss off his new - and currently only - friend's foster dad)
And that's when he sits back, and lifts the lid of the piano keys, after setting a dictaphone on top of the instrument, a short distance from Spot.
"And back to music. I just want to get an idea of your sense of tone and pitch and then you can go back to your table."
It's not long, and it just involves getting Spot to repeat a few notes back to him, then a couple of scales, and then sending him back to his group for the last ten minutes of the class.
It's awkward, and vaguely uncomfortable, but at least the rest of the class are busy doing their own thing and not watching him.
His pitch isn't too bad, and his voice might even be half-decent if he wasn't very obviously holding back and being hesitant about it - he's never done anything like this before and it's obvious. Mr Jarrus might not be able to see the faces he's pulling, but he'll be able to hear his discomfort in his voice.
Not to mention the relief behind his mumbled thank you when he's released back to his group, and the way he practically flees to the table. He hopes he doesn't have to do that again.
If he does hear discomfort, he opts not to remark on it, but he does make a comment about 'releasing' Spot back to the class when he does.
When class is finished, there's a Senior girl waiting outside the classroom, her colourful jewellery and red highlights just skirting the uniform policy, holding her bags and a big art portfolio case.
She gives Spot a curious look but doesn't say anything, heading into the classroom when everyone's filed out.
Ezra, meanwhile, got away with his half-done homework and is back at the cafeteria the next day, already falling into habit.
Spot raises an eyebrow at her as he passes, but if she's not going to say anything then neither is he. Probably just wondering about the new kid, everybody has been.
The next day he drops into his seat at lunch looking particularly unenthused, but he unpacks his food and slides the package of cookies into the centre of the table as normal.
He's supposed to have ballet again this afternoon. He still doesn't know what to do.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2022-09-01 05:28 pm (UTC)Spot nods, clearing some space on the table and grabbing a cookie.
"Sure that sounds easy enough," He confirms - he might have missed a lot of school, but he knows how to look stuff up. Actually, it might help him learn more too.
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Date: 2022-09-01 08:20 pm (UTC)"Alright," he says, "it's chapter - four, I think?"
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Date: 2022-09-01 08:43 pm (UTC)"Chapter four," Spot acknowledges, taking the book and flipping to the right page.
"Alright, let's go, question one?"
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Date: 2022-09-02 09:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-02 09:41 am (UTC)Spot is also not paying attention to anybody else, but mostly because not caring whatever other people do or think is his default position.
He flips through the book, finding the answers Ezra is looking for and reading them out - slowly, so that Ezra has time to write.
When he finishes the first cookie he grabs a second, but makes sure there's some left for Ezra
no subject
Date: 2022-09-02 10:09 am (UTC)They do get a couple of stares, mostly because people aren't used to homework being done in the cafeteria, but at least once Ezra looks up and the person turns away.
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Date: 2022-09-02 10:25 am (UTC)After the second cookie, Spot starts on the jello - it's a little harder to eat and read at the same time with that, but he manages to avoid getting any on the book.
"You got much more to go?" He asks after a few more questions, glancing up at the clock to make sure they still had time.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-04 03:43 pm (UTC)"Okay lets' do two more. Then it's like - I don't know, most of them."
He ='s really grateful - this is much mre than he'd manage on his own but he's not sure how to say thanks.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-04 11:39 pm (UTC)"Decent enough amount that it doesn't look like you forgot, anyway," Spot agrees.
He also doesn't need the thank you, in fact he probably wouldn't know how to handle it if he got one - he doesn't feel like he's doing anything special, just helping out his new buddy.
"That's one good thing about this week," he comments as he flips through looking for the next answer "least I ain't got no homework to worry about."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-05 01:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-01-24 12:52 am (UTC)"Yea." Spot snorts - he doesn't imagine it'll last past today, even, but it's still one less thing to make an already unpleasant situation worse.
Once they've done all they can, and the cookies are eaten, Spot helps him pack up the books and shoves his own stuff into his bag, slinging it over his shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow? I can tell you how music was." he offers with the faintest edge of a smile.
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Date: 2023-03-02 01:23 pm (UTC)It doesn't occur to him at all to tell Spot the most obvious thing about what to expect. That when he gets to music class the kids are already seating, there's a seating chart visible at the entrance, and Mr Jarrus is leaning against the teacher's desk waiting for people to come in.
The reason for this is probably obvious given the cane propped up against his knees and his dark glasses, as he hurries people in and reminds them to sit in their designated places.
"Alright," he's saying. "Get in and get your books out. Work is on the board."
Apparently he holds some sway, because nearly everyone is doing that.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 12:45 am (UTC)Spot is a little surprised to spot the cane and the dark glasses, but it's not like you need to see to appreciate music, right? He gets over his surprise quickly enough and checks the seating chart, half expecting not to be on it since he's new - but there he is, Sean Conlon. Urgh.
Still, at least there's a chance he can just slink to his seat without having to do another lame introduction, maybe? That's not too bad. He finds the right seat and pulls out his books, kind of surprised at the number of people who are - at his old school, at least half the class would be trying to pull a fast one on a blind teacher. Not that Spot doesn't think he's got ways to deal with that, but that wouldn't stop them trying. Clearly kids here are better behaved.
Or he's got really good ways to deal with it.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 11:57 am (UTC)"Use something quiet please, Miss Feldman."
And she mutters "yes sir" and relaces it with playdough.
The lesson starts like any other, with reading and a bit of a lecture, and a discussion - Spot will find that the group tables they're sitting at have hospitality-style bells in the centre that people use instead of putting their hands up. Silence is mostly enforced for obvious reasons.
Halfway through, though they are dismissed to grab instruments from around the room and work on compositions. But before the inevitable noise, he stands up and turns in Spot's approximate direction.
"Mr Conlon, can you come here, please? The rest of you, you know how it works."
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 12:06 pm (UTC)Ah, so he's got really good hearing... that makes sense, Spot thinks, for a music teacher.
He doesn't really engage in the discussion, though he does at least respond when other students speak to him, and he does his best with the reading and the lecture, scribbling down barely legible notes that he doesn't entirely understand - he has a few advantages from ballet, but his previous musical education was definitely a few levels below this. Yet another thing he's going to struggle to catch up on, great...
He isn't sure what to do when they're dismissed, but before he can even decide who to ask he's being called to the front of the class, and it's unexpectedly a relief - getting called up while everybody else is busy and not paying attention is about the best-case scenario, actually.
He makes a vague noise of acknowledgement (he normally wouldn't, but recently he's become far more aware of the importance of certain adaptations) and shoves himself up from his chair, heading over to the teacher's desk.
"Yea?" He says, partially a genuine question and partially just to announce his presence.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 01:22 pm (UTC)"How do you like to be addressed, Mr. Conlon?"
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Date: 2023-03-03 01:34 pm (UTC)Spot follows him over curiously, not entirely sure what's going on. At the question, he shrugs.
"Spot is fine." He's had mixed results with getting teachers to use the nickname, but it doesn't hurt to try. He thinks he can probably live with 'Mr Conlon' if Mr Jarrus is the type to object.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 05:25 pm (UTC)He's not going to beat around the bush. This isn't his first troubled kid, though it is his first Deaf kid and he wants to get it right, even if he's only a teacher for this one.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 05:41 pm (UTC)He's pleasantly surprised at both the easy acceptance of his nickname and the question, though he supposes he shouldn't be - just as he was ready to adapt for Mr Jarrus, it shouldn't be strange that the teacher is just as conscious of the reverse.
He nods easily.
"Yea it's fine. I mean, it's a bit noisy but I can deal with it." After all, he can turn his ears down if he needs to, the other kids can't - though he guesses they probably have other ways to deal with the sound in a fancy school like this.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 06:12 pm (UTC)"So. I'm going to ask you not to turn your hearing aids off if I'm talking.
"If you absolutely need to during independent work you tell a peer so they can let me know if I need to get your attention.
"If you need my attention and talking isn't going to work you can tap me on the shoulder, or arm. You're the only person in your class with that privilege so I'm going to know it's you. Don't take the mick, okay?"
no subject
Date: 2023-03-03 06:54 pm (UTC)Spot considers the rules for a moment and then nods.
"Yea, I can do that." He can't actually see any scenario where he'd abuse those rules - except maybe turning his hearing aids off, but truthfully he knows that's usually more trouble than it's worth in a classroom setting anyway. He has problems with authority, sure, but that tends to be reserved for people who throw their weight around or demand the unreasonable, and all of those rules seem pretty straightforward.
(and, okay, maybe there's just a tiny little bit of not wanting to piss off his new - and currently only - friend's foster dad)
no subject
Date: 2023-03-04 07:54 am (UTC)And that's when he sits back, and lifts the lid of the piano keys, after setting a dictaphone on top of the instrument, a short distance from Spot.
"And back to music. I just want to get an idea of your sense of tone and pitch and then you can go back to your table."
It's not long, and it just involves getting Spot to repeat a few notes back to him, then a couple of scales, and then sending him back to his group for the last ten minutes of the class.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-05 03:59 am (UTC)It's awkward, and vaguely uncomfortable, but at least the rest of the class are busy doing their own thing and not watching him.
His pitch isn't too bad, and his voice might even be half-decent if he wasn't very obviously holding back and being hesitant about it - he's never done anything like this before and it's obvious. Mr Jarrus might not be able to see the faces he's pulling, but he'll be able to hear his discomfort in his voice.
Not to mention the relief behind his mumbled thank you when he's released back to his group, and the way he practically flees to the table. He hopes he doesn't have to do that again.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-05 01:37 pm (UTC)When class is finished, there's a Senior girl waiting outside the classroom, her colourful jewellery and red highlights just skirting the uniform policy, holding her bags and a big art portfolio case.
She gives Spot a curious look but doesn't say anything, heading into the classroom when everyone's filed out.
Ezra, meanwhile, got away with his half-done homework and is back at the cafeteria the next day, already falling into habit.
no subject
Date: 2023-03-08 12:18 am (UTC)Spot raises an eyebrow at her as he passes, but if she's not going to say anything then neither is he. Probably just wondering about the new kid, everybody has been.
The next day he drops into his seat at lunch looking particularly unenthused, but he unpacks his food and slides the package of cookies into the centre of the table as normal.
He's supposed to have ballet again this afternoon. He still doesn't know what to do.
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