[it bursts out of him in utter disbelief, more intense than he intended because he'd expecting some level of pettiness from craig. a b+, maybe, to knock tim down a peg for being annoying and asking too many questions or making the assumption there was a pool of content to take a deep dive into when it was really shallower than a puddle. frankly, he knows craig was stuck with this class on account of someone's maternity leave and the other, tenured professors wanting to take a few trips and actually enjoy their summer. that doesn't mean he's qualified to be teaching it, even if he distracts with handing out enough good grades and making things light and fun and establishing the foundations of a perfect blow-off class for the undiscerning.
unfortunately for him, tim is very discerning, and very eager to learn.
of course tim is rightfully indignant about this - at the absolute least, this paper commands an understanding of the subject matter along with his language and his ability to argue his points in a way that's advanced him to the top of the pile in any subject he chooses. his gaze flicks up to meet him as he elaborates on the overall circumstances - letting it all out like he's been harboring this since he set foot in the class, which is what it very much sounds like is happening here. retaliation, shutting a student down and punishing him for seeking more when the reality is more sinister and pulls away a certain insecurity that someone younger knows more than him, the teacher. hawk won't say it, but he knows precisely how vindictive his...acquaintance can be - witnessed it firsthand when they ran in the same crowd together during their years here flitting between fraternities and anyone set their eyes on his conquests. obviously circumstances are vastly different here, but that kind of mindset doesn't change overnight.
there's a groan when hawk utters the name of their former mutual headache.]
Bailey - christ, can't imagine what riveting topic he attempted to illuminate you all with.
[there's no reprimand for how freely tim speaks about his classmate or craig, even if hawk is keeping his cards close to the chest just how well he knows the man.]
There's a difference between disruptive and dynamic. And knowing the material well enough to have a thoughtful conversation beyond the page instead of following along word for word.
[hawk sucks in a breath, letting his hands and feet drop back into place as he rolls his chair forward and hunches slightly towards tim.]
How long has this -
[ - been escalating, he wants to ask, but finds his mouth suddenly dry from the sudden reveal of skin that he knows was absolutely unintentional on tim's part. but the bruising there...some of it is clearly fresh from coloration and others are healing slowly, probably all the more lurid from pale skin that's usually hidden from the light of day. hawk finds he cannot look away for a moment, entire focus reduced to who and what and why and not my boy. there's a shake of his head as he forcibly tears himself away from it, getting back to the matter at hand that tim actually came here for.]
Ah, sorry.
You don't have to apologize for rudeness - it sounds complicated, and your frustrations are warranted. Look, I don't want to tell you what to do and have you rock the boat any more...but I can offer you some advice.
[his eyes flicker again, voice dropping low as he leans in closer across the desk.]
no subject
[it bursts out of him in utter disbelief, more intense than he intended because he'd expecting some level of pettiness from craig. a b+, maybe, to knock tim down a peg for being annoying and asking too many questions or making the assumption there was a pool of content to take a deep dive into when it was really shallower than a puddle. frankly, he knows craig was stuck with this class on account of someone's maternity leave and the other, tenured professors wanting to take a few trips and actually enjoy their summer. that doesn't mean he's qualified to be teaching it, even if he distracts with handing out enough good grades and making things light and fun and establishing the foundations of a perfect blow-off class for the undiscerning.
unfortunately for him, tim is very discerning, and very eager to learn.
of course tim is rightfully indignant about this - at the absolute least, this paper commands an understanding of the subject matter along with his language and his ability to argue his points in a way that's advanced him to the top of the pile in any subject he chooses. his gaze flicks up to meet him as he elaborates on the overall circumstances - letting it all out like he's been harboring this since he set foot in the class, which is what it very much sounds like is happening here. retaliation, shutting a student down and punishing him for seeking more when the reality is more sinister and pulls away a certain insecurity that someone younger knows more than him, the teacher. hawk won't say it, but he knows precisely how vindictive his...acquaintance can be - witnessed it firsthand when they ran in the same crowd together during their years here flitting between fraternities and anyone set their eyes on his conquests. obviously circumstances are vastly different here, but that kind of mindset doesn't change overnight.
there's a groan when hawk utters the name of their former mutual headache.]
Bailey - christ, can't imagine what riveting topic he attempted to illuminate you all with.
[there's no reprimand for how freely tim speaks about his classmate or craig, even if hawk is keeping his cards close to the chest just how well he knows the man.]
There's a difference between disruptive and dynamic. And knowing the material well enough to have a thoughtful conversation beyond the page instead of following along word for word.
[hawk sucks in a breath, letting his hands and feet drop back into place as he rolls his chair forward and hunches slightly towards tim.]
How long has this -
[ - been escalating, he wants to ask, but finds his mouth suddenly dry from the sudden reveal of skin that he knows was absolutely unintentional on tim's part. but the bruising there...some of it is clearly fresh from coloration and others are healing slowly, probably all the more lurid from pale skin that's usually hidden from the light of day. hawk finds he cannot look away for a moment, entire focus reduced to who and what and why and not my boy. there's a shake of his head as he forcibly tears himself away from it, getting back to the matter at hand that tim actually came here for.]
Ah, sorry.
You don't have to apologize for rudeness - it sounds complicated, and your frustrations are warranted. Look, I don't want to tell you what to do and have you rock the boat any more...but I can offer you some advice.
[his eyes flicker again, voice dropping low as he leans in closer across the desk.]
Off the record, of course.