no meme since may?! for shame!

[aburningspirit]

the|alternate|universe|meme

ONE. list your characters (journal names optional).
TWO. others reply with one of those characters or a pairing for you to write; platonic or romantic is up to you.
THREE. pick five cliché AUs from this list (complete with explanations!), and write something of any length - a sentence, a paragraph, a drabble, or a full-length ficlet, if you'd prefer - for each of those five AUs, involving that character or pairing.

Comments

AU 01 [high school]

[the_visitor]

There's always one, in any school you go to. That girl in the back of the room with dirty hair and tired eyes. The other kids avoid her, not because she's cool or aloof, but because when bullied she fights like a tiger, no holds barred, becoming a rolling, flailing ball of knees and elbows. She should be the butt of every joke or the girlfriend of the sleaziest guy in the school. Instead she's just...there. Sitting in the back of the classroom, paying attention, her hands methodically taking notes and her eyebrows scrunched together in concentration.

The teachers exchange looks over her head when she passes in the hallway. Some are sympathetic, others scornful. In the teacher's lounge the track coach laughs when she's mentioned, calling her bitch and whore, explaining what will happen to her after graduation in disgusting detail.

Its the Science Teacher who speaks up in her defense, glaring up from behind white bangs and coke-bottle glasses.

"Funny you should say that, Coach. From everything I've heard she's working a hell of a lot harder to be here than you are."

The newer teachers look confused. They all know that Himiko is trailer-trash; you don't come to school with ratty jeans and second-hand notebooks if you're from a "normal" family. And if the track coach is to be believed, there's no way she'll ever make it beyond the gutter.

He says as much, deciding to loom over the younger man, talking big and laughing to make sure everyone knows that this is nothing serious, nothing of value is being talked about.

"And once again, I say that she's working damned hard to be here, and maybe you should recognize that!" the science teacher snaps, having taken enough of the man's commentary. He looks out at the others in the room.

"Do you people really believe what he's saying? You're just going to listen and nod when he speaks of a student like that? And of Himiko Kudo of all people. She works two jobs to be here! The girl gets up at four in the morning so she can do her homework before class!"

He's standing now, glaring up at the Track Coach, forgetting himself in his anger. "That girl believes in herself. And if you were a decent teacher you wouldn't be standing there tearing her down!"

There is a cough, and they all turn to find the girl in question standing in the door, burdened by a rack of papers almost larger than she is. Peaking just above it is her tousled, home-cut hair and a carefully neutral expression.

"Mr. Erikson sent these." She says, placing the papers carefully on the staff table and not meeting anyone's eyes. Then she turns and walks away, making no sign that she heard any of what they said.

The science teacher has the grace to look embarrassed, but that is quickly replaced with anger when the track coach leans in an whispers what the girl must have done to gain his favor.

"That's enough, Mr. Kagami." This was from the Health teacher, who had remained silent during the whole discussion. "If you would keep your personal opinion of a student to yourself, maybe we wouldn't be facing quite so many accusations of misconduct, correct?"

The Track Coach's face went white and there was more tittering from the aids, curious as to this new piece of potential gossip.

The health teacher tapped her completed reports on the table and stood. "As for Miss Himiko, whatever her conduct outside of class may be, I'm sure we can all agree that her grades speak for themselves."

There were nods around the room, as the science teacher and history professor mentioned the girl's straight A's.

"But she's violent!" the coach complained.

"Right." An aid spoke up, her voice stern. "3 accounts of fighting, and one complaint of hitting a teacher? Shouldn't she have been suspended by now?"

"That would be...twice hitting a student who attempted to attempted to dunk her in the girls toilets and once defending another from a beating?" The science teacher spoke again. "And I'm sure the Coach would love to tell you why she kicked him in the groin, correct? I understand the vice-principle was very sympathetic to her side of the story."

The room looked to the track coach, who was once again glaring at the science teacher. "That is none of your business, Stein." he hissed. "What's important is that she's proven to be violent. There's no reason she should be rewarded for it!"

"There's a distinct difference between punishing a reckless student and allowing a bullied child leniency." Replied the health teacher. "As it is, she is in the running to be salutatorian, assuming she continues her good grades."

"Hevn, you don't know what you're talking about! There's no way that trailer-trash could achieve anything."

Miss. Hevn smiled. "Oh, I don't know, Mr. Kagami. I did."