Toil and Trouble

You are a wonderful person, did I ever mention that? ;)

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x-polarisstar.livejournal.com

You may have but feel free to repeat it as often as you like.

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It's not like they're important.

Come back to bed?

Manuel

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Some of us can't rely on our natural charm and good looks to get us through. If I ever want to do something with meself, it's going to be from using me brain, so yes, exams do matter, at least if I want to stand a chance of doing something decent with meself. I'll be back later tonight, once I've had the chance to get some stuff together. Can't keep stealing your shirts forever, you know. ;)

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*shrugs* Foolish, but it's your choice.

I plan on avoiding all of these ridiculous exams. They're pointless.

Manuel

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Yeah, well, I think I'll live with it.

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I know that you missed a significant part of your education while in the hospital, and before that, when your powers manifested.

You -do- know that those exams are a big part of your grades for the semester, and those grades are how you graduate so you can go to university if you so choose.

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He knows, he just don't care...

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I am just making sure. Manuel has had some -funny- ideas before.

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You mean like the one 'bout never wearing underwear? Ever?

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Does he -have- an explanation for that?

No. Wait. Nevermind, I am not sure I want to know. If I wanted, I could've asked.

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Actually, I have no idea. Every time I think to ask, I get distracted, if you know what I mean... ;)

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Grades? I'm being GRADED for this?

Ah well. It's not like it matters overmuch. Once I have access to my power, university will be simple. Assuming I even want to go to university. Fat - Alphonso always assumed I would, and I did too, but that was a long time ago.

Well, that and a lot of money.

Manuel

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What did you think the letters or numbers at the top of your papers when you get them back -were-??

I .. do not think universities here work like that. They tend to want you to have good grades. At least, the good ones.

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I hate them. They're uncomfortable, and they just get in the way.

Manuel

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I usually just trashed them without looking.

I like most of my classes, and the material is interesting (for the most part), but exams are dull. So is this "homework" they keep trying to get me to do. I usually don't bother, unless the assignment is interesting.

I have better things to do.

Manuel

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You know, Manuel, there are these fly-by-night places that offer "degrees" for several thousand dollars, with no actual work to cheat your way through. I mean, why waste your time if a degree is only a piece of paper to you?

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But on the off chance that you are serious - what's the benefit of a University degree anyway? I have a job already, one that pays very, very well. I'm a mutant. I have access to the rich and powerful.

What's the point, really? I go to class and all that because Ms Frost expects me to. I even listen and pay attention in class, because the material is usually interesting.

And I do not forget, so what is the point of this homework and test nonsense? Really, I'm more accustomed to one-on-one learning. This class thing is still a little unsettling.

Manuel

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1) A degree teaches you critical thinking skills, something you could do to develop.

2) It lends you a certain respectability in social circles.

3) It can be very personally satisfying if you make sure you study something that interests you.

4) Getting through a degree when you have other commitments teaches you a great deal about time management and discipline.

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My first instinct tells me that you are mocking me, and taking great delight in it.

My second says that there's probably a good point in there somewhere, but it's coming from you so I should disregard it.

My third says that I should just shut up and listen.

1) There's nothing wrong with the way I think. My problem is with my power, not my reasoning mind. I picked up conversational English in, what, three months? Four?
2) I'm an empath. Respectability is an emotion. If I want it, I'll have it.
3) If you say so. I find it tedious and dull to suffer through yet another repetition of material that was presented two days ago, or two weeks ago, or two months ago. I don't forget, not if I care one way or another about the material. So why this incessant need to harp on it? A good tutor should know if the student understands the material, and then _move on_. Even the most fascinating material gets old the more times it's presented.
4) So does a real job, and I have one of those.

Manuel

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Not mocking you, actually. Well, I was initially, but my little list was perfectly serious.

1) I would actually beg to differ. You tend to let your emotions dictate your actions - not at all unusual for an empath - and kick and scream, either literally or figuratively, when anyone makes you try to apply logic or take a more intellectual approach to a problem. If you only exercise a part of your body, the rest of it is going to get flabby or atrophy no matter how fit that one part is.
2) You're fully capable of that, but actually earning that respectability would avoid the need to keep making sure people feel it. It might actually be less work, in the end.
3) You don't think there are going to be things in life that you don't care about, but need to know?
4) Hah. Dismissing the value of a university education is an old, old trick, Manuel, and usually the last refuge of someone who doesn't think they're up to getting one.

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1) It works for me. *shrugs*
2) Until I learn how to make permanent changes. I know they're possible, you showed me that. All I need to do is puzzle out /how/.
3) Correct. There aren't. If I don't care about them, they're not important.
4) Nice try, Nathan.

Manuel

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1) Hasn't worked all that well for you, has it? ::points to the dampener::
2) Nothing like announcing for the world to see that you want to learn how to be a bastard with your power, Manuel. ::points to the dampener, again::
3) Must be so nice to be that innocent.
4) Only the truth, actually. People who scoff at the value of a university education are either a) trying to excuse their own lack of will or b) actually that stupid.

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allowances can be made for torture and abuse.

I have never shied away from my intentions. I do not lie, Nathan. I cannot. The dampener is just until I learn my own controls - from what Samson tells me, if I continue to make progress on my own I am due for a step-down at the end of the month. And I know that no one will teach me how to use this power. I have grown used to this. I will puzzle it out on my own. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. It will be good to see, again.

Manuel

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What is, is, Manuel. Allowances are one thing... excuses are another.

I also think that controls and ethics are not necessarily the same thing. This is one of those situations in which that critical thinking we were talking about would be very helpful.

As for puzzling things out, just don't expect me to let you use me as a learning experience. The sort of thing that was done to me is not something you need to know.

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I was talking about controls, and acquiring them.

Once I do, then my options will unfold.

But this is going far afield from where we started. I still believe that, once I have my control in place and am unlocked, that university is going to be mostly a waste of time.

I have decided that I will go, however. It is most likely expected of someone of my breeding. But I do not expect to gain what you think I will gain from the experience. I am looking forward to networking and meeting more people that I will need to know in order to be truly successful.

Money and breeding will get me in the front doors.

Manuel

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