This weeks lecture with Merlin included an old projector to illustrate the points of the lesson. This time he was explaining the way to mix certain potions with step-by-step slides of what the condition of the ingredients looked like as they were prepared and how the potions' appearance changed as it was worked on. The room was dark. Which was of course no problem for Archimedes, who of course made sure to fill in points he thought Merlin had missed or was sure the wizard would forget.
Lea sat backwards on a chair. Sora and Riku were on chairs next to him. Bryan and Kairi were laying on their stomachs on pillows on the floor. Rachel was sitting in the back.
"…and this is what the potion looks like when the grounded birch bark is added. Remember, the tree bark is key to the success of the potion. After it dries, you must not touch it with your hands as you break it into pieces more manageable for grounding."
Sora had never given much thought to potion making but it was certainly interesting to learn. At first he thought mixing potions was like cooking, getting the proper ingredients in the right amounts that result in a very specific product. And as a boy when the Destiny Islands lost their heart, he was still thinking cooking was just something mom did until you move out and discover you can't live off frozen dinners. Merlin's lecture of how to create all-purpose antidotes was particularly fascinating. Hopefully he'd never have to put it to practical use though.
Then out of the corner of his eye he noticed Riku acting strangely. Sora glanced over to see what the deal was without making it obvious he wasn't focused on the lecture. Riku sat with his arms crossed tight and his entire torso was tense. Was he trying not to laugh? His jaw was set firmly so that had to be it. The lecture wasn't exactly funny. Sora waved his hand just high enough and aggressively enough to get Riku's attention but not so much not to alert the teachers. Riku was in fact trying to suppress a smile while trying not to disturb the class. How exactly did he manage to hold that in without hurting himself?
Sora gave him a 'what the heck is so funny?' look and shrug. Riku turned his head just far enough for Sora to see him pointing deliberately to his left several times with his eyes. A look Sora returned with a 'what are you talking about' shrug. Riku looked quickly at where Merlin and Archimedes were looking before bending over to *ahem* scratch an imaginary itch on his ankle. At first Sora had a complete brain glitch and looked down at Riku's foot in case that's where the funny thing was located, then quickly realized the funny thing was beyond him. Specifically Lea. However, Lea wasn't doing anything. The only thing that was funny about Lea during a lecture was that his bored-to-death face was about the same as his this-is-pretty-interesting face. Then he saw what Riku had. Only when he did, Sora was so surprised and amused by it he couldn't hold in his snort/choke of laughter and that quickly changed into something that sounded like a dolphin on a helium high with the hiccups.
"Real smooth, Sora!" Riku growled low. But he looked like he was about to break his teeth from keeping his jaw clenched shut to keep the desperate snickers in check.
"SHHHH!" Archimedes scolded.
"Sorry!" Sora squeaked.
The others had only turned around for a brief second to see why Sora had chortled but in the dark saw nothing so they didn't linger on the subject and went back to focusing on the lecture. However, Sora and Riku were having a hard time paying attention to the lesson anymore. Riku would periodically lean forward or backward pretending to stretch or tie his shoe so Sora could get a good look at the funny thing. Just because he was supposed be quiet didn't mean he wasn't going to enjoy himself. Sora couldn't salute Riku thanks without risking being seen by the teachers. So they settled for a fist bump. After all, friends for life, brothers in arms could always be counted on to share a laugh.
Rachel had been sitting at the back of the class. Well, not sitting. Why sit on a hard chair and get your butt sore when you could float? And while she was floating, she made no sound. And in the dark with everyone focused on the slides she could get away with a lot so long as she was careful and quiet.
So she took advantage of the situation to mess with Lea without him even knowing it. Sometimes that was the best kind of prank when the schmo in question remained completely clueless. She had handful of jumbo neon smoothie straws. And she was putting them on the spikes of Lea's hair.