Things That Never Happened in History Class
1. Professor Gadling's History 101
"... and so you see, Nan Boleyn was no 'femme fatale' homewrecking the happy Tudor household and leading the 'good' King Henry astray..."
There were snickers in the room.
"... though it makes for some pretty good stories, aye? Always love me a good bodice-ripper or that Jonathan Rhys-Meyers on the telly. He's a dish, that one." Professor Gadling leaned a bit forward, a naughty gleam in his eyes. "Though, the real King Henry was a looker when he was younger. Looked a bit like our Prince Harry, now that I think about it."
More laughter. Which was typical in Professor Gadling's classes. Iggy Pop - really, that was his name and yes, his parents loved him dearly - said, "Like, the dude's got a way with bringing all that historical stuff to life. Like he was totally there. Totally awesome, dude."
Iggy also had some of the best grades in the class, California surfer animated Pixar turtle accent and all. But the observation was accurate.
And it was also one of the reasons why Professor Gadling's history classes were booked solid every semester.
2. Nevermore
Sometimes, there was a raven on Professor Gadling's shoulder.
The first time he appeared, he was perched all nice and comfy on the professor's shoulder, looking as calm as you please, fixing the class with his beady black clever eyes.
The Professor sighed. "No, he's not me familiar. He's babysitting."
"You mean, YOU'RE babysitting him, right, Professor?"
The raven squawked in protest. Professor Gadling rolled his eyes. "He's the one doing the babysitting. I try not to pick arguments with ravens, you see. Terribly bad idea."
"Nevermore," said the raven clearly and drolly.
The class eventually learned the raven's name was Matthew.
3. There can be only one
There was a persistent rumor that someone once confronted Professor Gadling with an honest-to-God actual sword.
It happened in that secluded alleyway created by the old library and the faculty building, or so the story went.
The Professor, in atypical fashion, went, "Nope."
"There can be only one!" declared the sword-wielder, raising his weapon.
"Nope, I'm NOT that kind of immortal. You don't get to take my head, there's not going to be any ruddy lightning quick-thing whatever it is you lot call it. I'm not the droid you're looking for. Go off with you."
Apparently, Matthew the Raven helped drive whoever it was away - aside from the fact that the Professor was actually pretty good in a fight.
"Ugh, Pierson owes me THREE pints for this!"
4. Shakespeare In Love
There was a rule that got passed down from class to class.
For sheer unadulterated entertainment, get Professor Gadling to rant about William Shakespeare. Oh, he wasn't one of those who posited that the Bard never wrote his plays. Far from it.
He just absolutely had Very Specific Opinions about the man. And they were Loud, Pointed and absolutely Hilarious.
This was also good for distracting the Professor long enough to get out of any last minute homework or suprise quizzes. There was hell to pay during the next class, but it was well worth it.
"You are too harsh on dear William, sir," said the snow-pale young man in black, with the messy, rumpled hair.
The class wasn't sure how he suddenly appeared in their midst, although it felt like he'd always been there. He looked perfectly grave, absolutely serious... except for the glint of mischief in his odd dark blue eyes.
The professor crossed his arms over his chest, looking sourly at him. "He was a ruddy hack. Got a bit lucky, I'd say."
The pale young man smiled faintly. "He had a true gift that just needed a little bit of nudging."
A scoff. "Sure. Exchanged his soul for artistic immortality, Faustian bargains, deals with the Devil."
"No." The smile was still there and it was mesmerizing to see, as if this wasn't a man given much to that expression. "Just two plays, commissioned to order. What need have I for men's souls?"
"Hmph."
"Jealousy does not become you, Hob Gadling."
"Oi!"
"Uh... Professor, should we leave you two alone now? Like, this whole lover's quarrel UST thing you've got going is kinda cute, but we really don't wanna be around for the kiss-and-make-up part!"
Of course, it was Iggy Pop who just had to ruin what seemed to be the most interesting moment that had happened so far in Professor Gadling's history classes.
Someone raised a hand. "I don't mind being around for the kiss-and-make-up part!"
The class would later learn that the young man's name was apparently "Murphy."
He was also Matthew's "boss."
Any kissing and making up supposedly took place at that New Inn down the road, which also served, among other things, a delicious shepherd's pie.
- end -
NOTE: Yes, I did a Highlander reference. I couldn't resist.
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Because I am god damned shipping trash and you can't stop me, I started looking up things. When I saw this:
I had a hot moment of: BWAHAHAHAHAH! Then I was like: I wonder what the other names mean. The rabbit hole.
I found a twimbler by jikooksubunit that basically summed up to : Katsuki Yuuri means ‘student of a victor who benefits from courage’ and I think that is beautiful. And I was like: Fuck yeah.
Then I went further down, because fuck you, you can't stop me.
Yuri Plisetsky means (first name) farmer [unless he's Jewish, in which case it means Light of God] (last name) Influencer/Freedom Lover/Charisma. Which, I mean, humble origins, willing to suffer for what he wants, and damned if he's not an influencer with his own style and everyone wants a piece of him (for good or ill). Also a fucking demonic angel. So... yes.
And as you know, shipping trash don't do half. So I looked up Otabek Altin. We all know Altin means gold. What dose his first name mean, google? Fucking help me! So it did. It's actually an Uzbek name. It can be translated as "The Father of all Dukes" or “The Greatest Duke”. In middleage it was also a title for all the heirs coming from a certain lineage of Taimur.
MY MIND FUCKING BLOWN.
Fucking ICE KING Winner-Winnerson
his Queen/King consort SIMPAI TAUGHT ME HOW TO KICK YOUR ASS
there feral ice child some times called princess to the determent of everyone with the sheer chutzpah to try it HO, I'M GONNA AND MAKE YOU PAY THE BILL RESPECT MY ETHEREAL, DAINTY, TOUGH AS NAILS ASS, YOU BASIC BITCH
and his BFF/prince charming : LITERALLY A FUCKING ROYAL BLOOD LINE MADE OF GAWD DAMNED GOLD, A.K.A. original 'Daddy of them All' (it's in the fucking name!), called a hero of his home country (rescue Yurio, on your modern day steed, daddy?). [Calmly exert your 'dad energy' in that 'you have awoken the beast' way that the wild cat some times needs?] Ether way, mah dudes. Ether way.
No wonder his ass can afford to ship that bike where ever he wants. Yurio is gonna get so damned spoiled.
I love this fucking fandom.
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