Angus had been attending Professor Moore's Experimental lectures for over a year. There was something so engaging about them. He'd always sit three rows back, close enough to look keen but not too keen. They made his day. He'd even get a book out and pretend to write notes, when he was really practicing his signature.

He was currently the only person in the theatre, he was always the first one there. His ankles were resting on the chair in front of him and he was humming a happy tune to himself. He had football practice later that afternoon. He loved fifths!

Nauleth was only slightly disappointed in his choice of electives this term; part of him secretly wished he had decided on Perceptive just so that he could've experienced a class with Freja as a professor—visiting or not. Not that he minded Professor Moore. The boy's issue was more with the subject than anything else; he probably would've enjoyed Moore's Theory class more than this Experimental one. It was too late, and so he made the most of it.

Now that he knew of the connection between the teacher and his girlfriend, he did manage to pay a little more attention in class. Usually, however, he sat in the back and tried not to do other homework. He'd never particularly noticed who else was in class with him.

Today, of all days, he noticed Angus in the third row.

Naul never sat in the third row.

He hovered in the doorway, weighing his options. The only other student he sat with regularly, on purpose, was Athrym. That was obvious, but they currently shared only one class.

Oh, what the hell. It might be amusing, after all.

Disregarding his discomfort, the dark-eyed boy walked past the rows of his normal seats and flopped unceremoniously into the chair next to Angus. The third row was ... close. He blinked, setting his satchel at his feet and glanced over at the taller, more athletically-inclined boy at his left. He smirked. Almost a smile, but not quite, one side lagging behind the other.

"Hey."

Frederick found himself with a few free class periods on the 25th. In an attempt to break with his tradition of heading of into the woods at every opportunity, he decided to stick around campus and try to build a less "feral" reputation.

So he found himself wandering into Moore's lecture. He didn't think the Professor would mind. Actually, given Harper's vision, Fred might not even be noticed. Fred just hoped this would prove stimulating enough to justify studying under Moore next term.

He headed for the front row, then decided against it. Too conspicuous. If only he had someone to blend in with... And there was the answer, or answers, in the third row. Fred considered just leaving. He hadn't spoken to Nauleth since The Intrusion. Angus had been passed out when he'd returned later that day with lunch and a fresh basin of washwater...

Oh, why not. Navigating awkward social situations is becoming your specialty after all.

"Nauleth. Angus. Mind if I hide over there with you guys?"

"Hard to clocking hide in the third row, don't you think?" Naul grunted, still sounding a little nasal as if he was getting over a cold, looking up at Hunter pointedly, voice a grinding mixture of honesty, hurt, and humor, "Besides, why start hiding now? You'll probably get a better view from this close."

The boy smirked, shrugging almost nonchalantly, but not quite. He raised his right eyebrow, curiously wondering why he'd never really noticed the shorter boy in his class. Had he been here before?

"Not like I care. Angus was here first." Naul finally laughed, guardedly, and kicked his satchel out of the way, under his seat, beginning to grin a little, revealing he didn't have any real hard feelings over their embarrassing surprise, "Go on, wild bo—Hunter."

"Heya!" Angus said to Naul, waving at Fred as he came over. "The more the merrier, I say."



"Oohhh." Angus said, touching Naul's arm and miming a burn. He was still smiling, joking like he always did.

"I see someone ate their razor blades this morning. Third row is the best place to hide. You're not close enough to look like you know all the answers and you're not far back enough to look like you skipped the homework." Angus' voice was warm, clearly meaning the words as school boy baiting and no more.

He was always surprised when the occasional person got hideously offended by him.



Angus' head swivelled towards Fred, grinning like some kind of amiable alsation.

"Wild boy?" He asked, looking delighted. "Tell me how you get a nickname like that!"

Fred sat down, happy for the company, but his smile wavered at Nauleth's "view" comment and his fair skin took on a deep blush. Perhaps deeper than was warranted for someone who'd merely wandered in and quickly retreated.



"Um, well I don't need to worry about homework seeing as how I'm not actually enrolled in this class. Which would be the reason I'm hiding. I'm just curious about Moore's teaching style."


Fred cringed.
"Wild boy, indeed. Nauleth, you're the one keeping wild animals in your room. And I mean the Anaxi ground mole, so don't get offended."

Horace had never been early for his Lectures before but he had thought that if he spent more time in his classes time might go 'faster'. He had never really fully understood Moore's Lectures but he still loved the ideas of what he might be able to do with his magic.

When Horace got to the theatre he could only see three heads and they were all in the third row. Horace usually sat in the back rows but seemed intrigued on the goings on of his classmates lately. When he got closer he could see that he recognized two of the other students, they were Nauleth Siordanti and Angus Worthing. When he approached a little bit more he finally recognized the other face, it was Frederick Vespasian.

"Hello Nauleth, do you mind if I sit here." Horace said pointing to the seat next to Naul. "Hey Angus, I forgot I've seen you at these lectures too."

Nauleth laughed, shaking his head but refusing to comment. He felt justified in a small bit of his vehemence, but only a bit. Truth be told, looking back on the whole situation was humorous. And worth all the embarrassment in the end. The girl loved him—how could he hold a grudge at the accidental cause of her confession?


With a caustic snicker, the dark-eyed boy turned his head toward Hunter. He hadn't meant for it to come out. It just did. Woops. He tried not to grin, enjoying the shorter boy's expression.


"Tsssk," He hissed, color rising to his cheeks as his grin became devious. He rolled his eyes, thumbing his nose haughtily, "Of course you meant my ground mole, Mr Bootsy ... because you should know I'm certainly not talking about what my girlfriend's like behind closed doors in class. Nice try, though ... Cheeky."

"The mole was a gift—"


Naul's expression changed and he glanced at the younger student, curious as to how he knew him, "Why should I mind? This is apparently a popular row."

His voice was suddenly deadpan; with the exception of his normally accepted lunch crowd, the boy was not used to being so social. It was still slightly uncomfortable. He tried no to bristle as he turned and grinned tauntingly at Angus, "Well, clock it, is anyone besides me actually taking this class?"

Angus smiled and waved at Horace as well. A feeling of contentment wafted over him. He was happier in crowds.



Angus smirked cheekily, leaning back even further and crossing his arms.

"I just come for the view." He inclined his chin towards the lecturn.

He liked the view.

"I take this class, but sadly I am not doing that good." Horace said rolling his eyes. "I wonder what Moore is gonna say today I am actually pretty excited and I have never really cared about his class." He said taking out this little notebook, accidently showing he cared.

"So Angus, I cannot wait until we go out with the guys. By the way who are the guys." Horace said with a rather confused look. Horace had wanted to go loosen up but he did not want to loosen up around guys he did not know.

"Wisdom drops from his lips like honey from a celestial bee hive." Angus enthused. "I assure you, whatever he's on about, it's going to be mind boggling."



"These are they." Angus said happily, directing his palm towards Fred and Naul. "Frederick and Nauleth, among others of course. May I introduce Horace Aquila, violin player and intellectual."

Angus smiled happily, starting to look around a bit, waiting for the lecture to start. Already he was anticipating their pub crawl. He loved the Stacks, in all its winding decrepitness.

"Wait, wait, wait. Did you just say Mister Bootsy?"
Hunter's low rumbling laugh rolled across the lecture hall for a moment.
"Who are you and what have you done with the real Nauleth Siordanti? Keeping pets, associating with faculty - respectable or otherwise. I assume the gift was from someone with the initials F.R.? Incredible. And here I thought my time helping- "
Maybe the baby's not such a good topic for class.


"Angus! Planning another debacle already? Maybe you deserve the nickname wild boy."
Or pick-pocket's delight.


"What? Nauleth, have I been missing so much not being at the lunch table?"

"Well it is nice to meet you." Horace said, nodding to Frederick and giving his hand to Naul to be shaken. "So you are the guys I am gonna get drunk with, great." He said in a sort of snarky sarcastic tone. "Angus, you don’t have to be so nice, intellectual that is too nice." Horace could not wait until the pub crawl; he just hoped he did not run into any of the lesser races.

"I do not think you have been missing anything, but who am I to say. I am just the young charge that I have decided you guys are gonna take care of. I am just kidding, even thought that would be cool." Horace said winking at Frederick.

Nauleth snorted, chuckling into his hand, "Ah, well, I suppose that trumps my reasons to be here, but I'm the one who's getting graded."

He wondered if Professor Moore was aware that he had a following or not.


"I didn't name the poor thing, and yes ... I believe the creature was an obscure gag gift from Miss Runesrow. He came with rules." The boy answered with a deadpan expression, though inside he knew he actually enjoyed having a pet.

He laughed off the rest of Fred's questions, comfortable with the implication that things had been changing, inside and out. Being social was still strange, and yet strangely enjoyable. Naul opened his mouth to comment on the other boy's observations, but found he didn't know where to start. Everything really was rather different. He managed a sheepish grin at Hunter, hoping that was sufficient enough a response for now.


The dark-eyed boy raised a curious eyebrow at the younger student's words, turning back to Angus expectantly. What was this?


"Oh. Wait. What?" He sat up a little in his chair, putting things together. Pub crawling? With other people? Like hanging out? Had that ever happened?

Naul smirked, bemused, "You realize I'm still on probation, right?" He shrugged, waving a hand against the obvious—he knew he hadn't yet allowed the shadow of discipline to eclipse all of his illicit activities. At least two other people in the row knew that first-hand.


"Nothing I apparently haven't been missing either," Grunted the boy with a nonchalant shrug. He tilted his head back towards Frederick with a taunting, smug sort of look, hinting that he'd noticed the other student's choices at the Masquerade, "Where have you been, anyway? Distracted since the Ball, perhaps?"


"Oh please," Naul chuckled, "No need to be humble in front of us. Besides, everyone needs an opportunity to enjoy Angus' flattery. He's so talented." He grinned wolfishly, rolling his eyes.


The dark-eyed boy's grin broadened into something more devious, "You'd best be careful what you wish for, Mister Aquila. I'd venture to say none of us are exactly safe, model students ... I take that back, I'm sure Angus would model if he could, but I was speaking more abstractly."

"S'not the only way I'm talented either." Angus smiled cheekily at Fred.

That wild boy comment had really got him wondering. And he also really loved to joke about his own sexual prowess. He did it whenever possible. Paid to advertise.

"Can I help it if I see the best in people?" Angus asked, feeling happy and pleased in the face of company. "You know you love it."



"And all the ladies and fine gentlemen would flock." Angus replied with a sigh.

"Well fine then I am an intellectual then, practically a genius." Horace said arrogantly. He knew he was smart but he never really acknowledged it, knowledge always came easy for him. "But I am not going to be too arrogant; I will just tell you guys I can help you with your homework." He said winking at Angus.

"You guys do not seem that bad." He said laughing. "No but really, I want to come out of my shell and Angus seems like the guy to help me do that. As long as I am still smart I really don't think the faculty will care." He said, slightly smirking

There was a sharp slam as the door to the lecture opened and closed; the class jumped in unison as Professor Moore strode out towards the lectern. He was wearing his pinstripe pants today, which meant that they would be discussing something unusually abstract.

"Right!" said the professor loudly, slapping his file folder down on the podium. "Now the question of electro-monic wave-particles and their differing vibratory functions brings us to the practical applications of the technology..."

He liked to begin lessons as though he was continuing a conversation from a few minutes ago. Students theorized that Professor Moore had a ticker in his brain that he could start and stop at will.

"By attaching the nodes we set up in the last class to this ceramic model here," said the Professor, doing so with excitable flair, "we can actually sustain a current through the liquid within the vessel. It is a solution capable of holding a charge. Now, given that the two nodes are comprised of manganese and zinc, can anyone take a guess as to the chemical makeup of the solution?"

Athrym was late! She ran through the halls, worried beyond belief that she would miss the class. She'd meant to be on time, truly, but sitting in the libarary reading, she'd lost track of time. The door was up ahead and she slowed, entering as quietly as she could. Turning a bright red, she mumbled apologetically and scanned for Nauleth. He was there..but..he was..surrounded. The only other chair was two rows in front...damn it...the front of the class. Holding herself with dignity, she walked straight past him and slipped into the chair.



The blonde took hold of the moment to try and cover her ass, so to speak.

"Ahh potassium...hydroxide?" She said thoughtfully, eyes narrowed in thought. Taking out her text books, a notepad and a quill, she tucked her fringe behind her ear as she turned slightly to give Naul an apologetic smile.

Professor Moore didn't know all the students in his lectures, but he instantly recognized the pale-haired galdor in front of him. His eyebrows went up in surprise; he hadn't known she was in his class. Perhaps she was one of the ones who was always in the back, trading notes.

"Correct," he said brightly, tapping a glass stirrer against the pot. With a flip of a switch and the pull of a lever, the nodes came alive, and a very small motorized wheel began to turn.

"This battery, as we call it, is powering this very small motor here. This is the future, ladies and gentlemen. A completely amagical, steamless solution. No coal - just clean electro-monic pulses. Of course, this battery won't last forever. It is quite rudimentary. Now, using the principles of conduction, what spells might we therefore cast to help sustain the charge? And not just basics, people, I'm looking for creative variations. Anyone?"

Frederick was confused intially.
Electro-monic wave particles? That's not monic manipulation, is it? It's just... well. Maybe he's just using the terminology in a way I'm not used to for electrical current. Frederick Vespasian, what have you gotten yourself into?

"You'd want spells that could affect temperature and the concentration gradients..."
Hunter mumbled almost inaudibly, trying to wrap his head around the problem, now that he'd figured out (thanks to Athrym, actually) what was being discussed.

Nauleth snickered, narrowing his eyes at the younger student from underneath his white-streaked bangs. He wagged a finger and shook his head, speaking haughtily as he looked away, "Careful with that. There's a fine line between being honest and being a pain in the ass. Keep talking like that and you're going to have to put your money where your mouth is on the Lawn."


The dark-eyed boy fumbled for his notebook and quill as Moore jumped into class, distracted. While he was still digging in his bag, it dawned on him that he had not saved Athrym a seat. He was not only sitting several rows closer than he ever had, but he was also in the middle of people he'd never sat with before. He scowled, sitting up with note-taking materials in hand just as the blonde walked past.

Damn it.

He thought about moving, but felt with the professor talking and students on either side, it was too late. Naul sighed. Class was not going to be the same.


The boy shrugged, a helpless sort of expression on his face. He mouthed the word, "Sorry," emphatically.



Naul listened, considering. It was hard not to think of his time in Freja's office. Part of him found his thoughts straying to wonder about what the mona would want. He smirked, blinking before answering, "A rather intense modification of the Fulmination spell, perhaps with the goal of directing the current—the way Immolation can direct flame—would be a way of moving the charge. Then again, I am sure there are any number of Metamorphosis variations that could make the chemical reaction easily sustainable."

Professor Moore slapped the table. "Right," he said, pointing at Nauleth. "You're thinking on both sides of the coin. We can only rely on the alkaline solution to do so much before it fizzles out. Now, for experiments using a force that requires our casting to be directed at a separate focus, we can use this 'battery' to power the machines, leaving us free to cast other spells. Conversely, we could set other mechanisms in motion and use the solution, combined with something to regulate the chemical compounds, and focus our attention on maintaining electro-monic strength."

On that note, the professor wheeled some sort of machine out from under the experimentation table. Pumping a hidden lever with his foot, the professor caused a lever inside the mechanism to push the strange machine up over the level of the table. The class could see that it had one very large wheel attached to a sort of camera spectra. Wheeling it around to face the blackboard, Harper stuck out a hand to Pull down a white sheet from the ceiling.

"Lights! Someone get the lights," he said, almost breathless with excitement. "Today we only need a bit of electricity to spin this wheel. I could spin it myself, of course, but I think I'll sit back and enjoy this one. Can I get a volunteer to man the battery?"

((omg, threadsplode!))

Angus, quite frankly, had no idea what any of this meant. He quite liked electricity but he never listened in chemistry and this whole basic battery palaver probably wasn't his thing. Gods, Moore really was something when he got excited about his work though. Angus decided he was going to have to go do some background reading on this science crap.



Hmm. Should he? Should he not? They'd all been talking about static spells before, he was at home with static. Still, he had no idea what was going on and volunteering tended to make that obvious.

What the clock, you only lived once... Kinda...

"I'm game." Angus said, putting his hand up.

"I am sorry Nauleth I did not mean to anger you. I might take your offer though when I get a little better." Horace was lying, he was probably one of the best static students in the school but he didn't want Naul to learn that.

Just because Horace was adept in static didn't mean he couldn't suck at other classes. He could never really understand what was going on when Moore talked, but he was still always fascinated.

"I'll get the lights, Professor Moore." Horace got up and ran to the back of the room and turned out the lights. When he got back to his seat he finally took out his notebook and quill. Now that the lights are out I can finally write my music. Horace had a huge fear that if the lights were on in class when he wasn’t actually taking notes. He thought the Professors could not see what he was writing, just a grey sheet of paper with grey writing on it.

Naul found this sort of idea just a little fascinating. After his slightly mysterious conversation with Professor Lux, everything had seemed bigger, more expansive, and interestingly uncharted when it came to magic. The thought of freedom to delve further into more complicated magic was ... yeah ... something that suddenly captured the boy's attention.


The dark-eyed boy glanced over at the taller student with a wry grin. He wasn't even in the clocking class. It was dangerously amusing, and he couldn't help but chuckle.


Obviously, the younger boy didn't know who he was talking to. Even if he hadn't meant it as a challenge, it was hard for Naul to see the other student's words as anything but asking for trouble. Naul choked back a snort of laughter, face lopsidedly twisting into a taunting sneer as he whispered under his breath at Horace before he got up to get the lights, "Get a little better? I'm afraid if you wait until then, I might have graduated."

He grinned wolfishly, looking away to return his attention to Moore smugly. It was still hard to resist a good baiting, lovely girlfriend or not.