silverworld | ~ 20 [action]

Now, I'd like to announce our new school project. You will be graded for this, of course, but most of all it is a learning experience. All the practical knowledge you gain may very well be put to use in the future. You see...

[She reaches down to pick up a small basket, placing it on the desk before her. What's inside the basket, you wonder? It's eggs. A lot of them. They aren't boiled or anything of the sort.]

For an entire week, you all will be proud parents. These [she indicates the eggs again.] will be your frail, loved children. You may name them, dress them or even try to feed them. As long as your child is still in one piece next Thursday, you pass the project. Of course, one can never become a parent on their own, which is why I've taken the liberty of assigning you all a partner. Both of you will have to cooperate and take it in turns to care for your baby. That is the trick behind parenting, after all. Stella, already being a proud mother herself, is exempt from the project and will be giving a guest lecture early next week.

When I call your names, you will come forth and take one 'child' out of the basket. Once you've all had your turn, I'd like you to take a while to get to know your partner better and make some agreements on the ways you feel this project should be handled.

Ages 6-12:
Kotaro, Chibi-Usa, Nanako
Klonoa, Hanyuu
WW Link, Kyrie
(Saku)Bo, Hikari "Kari"
Yamato "Matt", Rika
Taichi "Tai", Lymle
Takuya, Vivi Aislinn

Ages 13-16:
Simon, Yuzuhira, Hotaru
Karol, Anise
Florian, Shiki
Genis, Kairi
Riku, Seles
Roxas, Shirley
Raenef, Rena
Caesar, Usagi
Sora, Tear
Svein, Rachel
Tom Riddle, Ted

Ages 17-23:
Haruki, Hermoine
Harry, Yuzu
Draco, Charlotte
Atsuro, Terra
Minato, Colette
Alphonse, Uriko
Ryoji, Hero
Sonic, Mitsuru
Souji, Ramirez
Yosuke, Akihiko
Vyse, Estelle
Lloyd, Celes
Stahn, Kinon

Any questions? If not, feel free to start planning child care with your partner. You have fifteen minutes.

[[OOC: The pairings were randomly selected by me, mostly according to age. Whenever there was a third person left in one of the categories, they'd be placed with one of the younger couples in that same category. If I forgot your character, or you see any mistakes, let me know!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yuzuhiraaaaaaaa, save me. D8]

We're both guys.

Such a thing is hardly uncommon in this day and age. It's nothing to be ashamed of. And of course, this is all a theoretical situation for the sake of the project.

[It's not just a lesson about parenting, but acceptance of differing sexual preferences as well! Hey, this project has it all.]

But--- [Why is his first time of parenthood after 300 years with a guy? D:]

... This relationship isn't going to work out. I don't even know the first thing about taking care of an egg either.

... Can't I request Yuzuhira to be my partner?

If I were to let you choose your partner, I'd have to do the same for everyone else. We'd have to start all over again, and some students might be left out. I suggest you consider this a challenge.

But I'm the only other 3--- 16 year old with a partner of the same gender!

And there are plenty of 17 year olds with a partner of the same gender. We simply have a few too many boys in our class.

[Mouth open, close, open, close, open, gonna say something. I swear it's on the tip of my tooongue---]

...

[Slumps. Damn it, he'll never win, will he?] All right.

You'll do fine, Ted.

... We don't have to play house like those little girls back home, do we?

That choice is completely yours to make.

... Right. So all we have to do is make sure nothing bad happens to the egg for a week, right?

Yes, that's right. And there's no point in trying to switch it for another egg. I've given them all my signature to verify their authenticity, so to speak.

I wasn't planning to! [Well, there goes that plan.]

Then, I wish you luck.

[Tom listens to the exchange with interest, and his eyebrows shoot up at Professor Gelda's statement. The time he's from, it's rather uncommon, and rather frowned upon as well. Of course, he doesn't have very strong feelings on the matter, as his opinion on love in general isn't a very nice one.

He'll just have to adjust to the culture this village has accumulated and developed.

He's holding their egg and holding his tongue, waiting for Ted to resign to his fate.]

[You'll have to wait forever, Tom. Ted is a brat when he wants to be.]

[No worries. Tom can be patient.]

[That ended faster than usual. He'll just... slump over to you being all defeated and stuff by teacher logic.]

[There's a smile on Tom's face - or is that a smirk? - as he addresses Ted.]

Ted, is it?

Yeah. Are you Tom?

Indeed, I am. A pleasure to formally meet you.

Now, do you have any ideas on how to take care of this? [The egg is held up for Ted to see.]

Um... Thanks. You too.

I've taken care of cats, dogs, fishes, even beavers... but I've never taken care of an egg.

Neither have I, but I doubt it will prove difficult.

We could simply keep it in a safe location the entire week. Perhaps create a bed for it and let it stay there.