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[color=slategray][sub]A post written by one [@Universorum] and a person named [@melissahart]
Featuring: [color=7fc19e][b]Kit ‘Shop Sucks!’ Thomas[/b][/color] and [color=d2b48c][b]Wesley ‘No It Does NOT’ Bristow[/b][/color]
Location: Woodshop
Time: 6th period, Tuesday[/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr][indent]Kit hated woodshop. Like, she really truly did. It wasn’t that she didn’t have good ideas, she had [i]those[/i]. It was that she wasn’t good at it! There was too much to think about. It wasn’t as simple as measuring and cutting, and it wasn’t as true as numbers, or even science. At least those things made sense. Woodshop was so much more than that! She had to think about what kind of wood she used. There were hardwoods, softwoods, and all this other kind of stuff in between. Truly, that isn’t even [i]scratching the surface.[/i] It went so beyond that! There were over [i]eighty five[/i] tools in the woodshop. Eighty. Five. Eight. And a five. It was [i]obscene[/i].

What was the difference between a router and a lathe? A drill and a hole saw? They both did the same thing, but had different bits! Why were they even called bits!? They were [i]extensions[/i], not bits. Kit had spent all day Monday trying to decide on some kind of project to do, and she’d finally decided she’d just woodburn her name, along with the Tekken logo, into a nice piece of dark oak, which the shop teacher had insured her would look lovely.

That was all well and good, but Kit had no fucking clue what she was doing. She had plugged the woodburner in, and found a piece of wood. She had planed it down to a smoothness, and then sanded away any bumps. That was easy. But she had no idea how to tell when the woodburner was at the proper temperature to… well, burn wood. Kit picked it up and stared at it for a few seconds, looking around for the teacher to ask for assistance…

No! She didn’t need help. She’d just figure out if it were hot the same way you figured out if [i]anything[/i] was hot. Kit reached out with her index finger, and touched the tip. [color=7fc19e][b]“MOTHER[i]fucker[/i]!”[/b][/color] She squealed, dropping the tool to the ground and stuffing her finger in her mouth.

Well, it was hot.

Wesley was sitting on a stool in the back corner, minding his own business while sanding some planks for a new project. Shop was his time to do what he wanted- he was in here enough that he and the teacher had an understanding of sorts. Wes was allowed to use the shop whenever he pleased, no questions asked, and in return he served as the pseudo “TA” of the course. It wasn’t a real position, as all the blonde boy really did was make sure that no one fucked around with the tools and machinery and do any permanent damage…. to the equipment, the teacher couldn’t care less if a student lost a finger to the bandsaw. So, Wes sat there, overseeing the rest of the students whilst plotting his next creation. 

Things seemed calm for a Tuesday, [i]too calm[/i], so it didn’t surprise the boy in the slightest when a shriek came from the right half of the classroom, where a small Freshman stood sucking her finger like a baby sucked a pacifier. Jesus. Walking with a sense of purpose, Wesley grabbed the woodburner off of the ground, and put it back on its holster. Turning to the young girl, he couldn’t help but scold her. 

[color=D2B48C][b]“You’re not supposed to use it without gloves. It’s literally written in bold letters.”[/b][/color] He motioned to the tell tale sign on the countertop where the woodburner sat, where in very, [i]very[/i] large font read “CAUTION: WEAR GLOVES WHILE USING, [i]EXTREMELY[/i], HOT”. Taking her shoulders, he guided her towards the sink and flipped on the cold faucet to its absolute maximum. [color=D2B48C][b]“Soak it.”[/b][/color]

Kit let herself be led over to the sink, and stuck her finger under the running water. She let it soothe her hand for a bit, before she began her protests, [color=7fc19e][b]“I wasn’t sure when it was hot! I didn’t know how else to check it. I guess I could have touched it to the wood but then it would have smudged the wood and the whole project would have been ruined. Woodshop sucks! [i]I[/i] wanted to make a box, but noooo, I can’t make [i]another[/i] box. I have to do something [i]unique[/i] and [i]fresh[/i].”[/b][/color] Kit huffed, blowing a raspberry with her lips before she finally retracted her hand. She held it up close to her face and blew on it. Red? Yes. Burned? Yes. Blistered… nope, that wouldn’t be happening this time! She was satisfied. [color=7fc19e][b]“Thanks! I’m Kit.”[/b][/color]

Wesley let the girl ramble on, rolling his eyes in the process as she defended her decision to touch the versa tool. Like, who does that? Quite frankly, he didn’t care that she had burned herself, Wes was more concerned with the fact that this [i]freshman[/i] was even allowed in the shop. [color=D2B48C][b]“Sacrifice the project, not your skin. Bad choice, in my opinion.”[/b][/color] Wes huffed, leaning against the wall next to the sink, crossing his arms over his chest. [color=D2B48C][b]“Well Kit, woodshop does not suck, you just gotta figure out what you need in life and the rest is easy.”[/b][/color] You could make absolutely [i]anything[/i] in the shop, much more than a silly box. [color=D2B48C][b]“I’m Wes.”[/b][/color]

[color=7fc19e][b]“It’s nice to meet you, Wes. Here’s the thing: I don’t need anything. I just want to pass the class and move on, man.”[/b][/color] Kit complained, looking back at the station where she’d left the piece of wood and the wood burner. [color=7fc19e][b]“Well, what do [i]you[/i] think I should make? I’m open to suggestions! My thing is, I don’t really [i]need[/i] a whole lot. I would [i]like[/i] to make a grandfather clock, but it’s wayyyy too complicated for me. You have to build the clock, then the mechanisms of the clock… I don’t even know how a clock would really work! Maybe I can make one though, I’m pretty… smart.”[/b][/color]

Wes chuckled, [color=D2B48C][b]“Can I let you in on a secret? [i]Everyone[/i] passes this class. Do you see the teacher anywhere?”[/b][/color] He motioned around, and sure enough, the instructor was nowhere to be found. [color=D2B48C][b]“He doesn’t care what you make. But, making a clock isn’t as hard as you think it is.”[/b][/color] He walked over to one of the cabinets on the side of the room and pulled out one of the few Clock Hands kits that was in there. [color=D2B48C][b]“This here is all you need. It runs on it’s own motor, so you don’t have to deal with the mechanisms and shit.”[/b][/color] Wes held it out to her with a smirk.

Huh. She had never realized how inattentive the teacher was in this class… that seemed unsafe, to say the least. Then, this guy showed her a collection of kits! Kit was a big fan of kits. They made it easier to do work, because you just had to follow instructions. She may not have been an ultimate shop master, but she could follow instructions and put a kit together! [color=7fc19e][b]“That’s totally wicked, I’ll just make a clock then. But I’m gonna need more wood. And more plans. Which means more drawing. Which means more time…”[/b][/color] Kit blew at her blonde bangs dejectedly, but ultimately looked toward the room where the wood was stored. [color=7fc19e][b]“I guess I’ll go see what we got…”[/b][/color]

[color=D2B48C][b]“I’m sure it won’t take you too long, since you can dictate how complicated you make it.”[/b][/color] Wes stated looking around the room at what the other students were building. There were birdhouses, boxes, and lots of miscellaneous items, but no one else seemed to be making a clock like Kit wanted to.  [color=D2B48C][b]“Plus, you’d be the first to make a grandfather clock, which is pretty neat if you ask me.”[/b][/color] He encouraged her, just like he did his little sister, who was also a Freshman. Kit reminded him of her in all of her innocence.

Kit was again being presented with choices… She’d have to look around on the internet for design ideas… She was creative, but that was mostly applicable when she was playing video games. She was creative in the sense that she was good with mixing up her moves and throwing off the opponent. Building grandfather clocks? Not as much. [color=7fc19e][b]“Well.. I guess that’s cool. I’ll figure something out and get something done. Thank you for your help, Mister Wes! If I never anything else, I’ll come to you first.”[/b][/color] She said, beaming at him. She gave a wide wave, and ducked into the wood room. Time to think.

Wes watched as she fled to the wood room, a chuckle escaping his lips. Mister Wes? What was he, 30? The freshman were getting younger and younger every single year. With a sigh, he meandered back over to his stool, ready to sit back and relax, when a shrill scream came from the other side of the shop.

So much for sitting there and doing nothing.[/indent]