(==>)

TEACHER: I'll make it quick.

TEACHER: When the Principal gets back in here, he is going to ask you to align your accounts of what happened with what would be most beneficial for the press, and therefore the Batterwitch, to hear about his governmentally funded palace of learning, and he is going to stand behind you on camera and make sure all three of you sound like perfect representatives of such an institution.

TEACHER: I have another proposal.

TEACHER: Instead of becoming pawns in a media circus that cares not a single fucking whit about you except for what it can crush out of you for engagement and ad revenue, you could help undo the thing you have done.

TEACHER: You could do something to help your three comrades out of the situation you have helped to put them in, either as original poster or bystander asked to testify.

TEACHER: You could be the key element in helping them escape the brutal fate the batterwitch is undoubtedly setting for them.

SILAS: But Tavros--

TEACHER: Look where you are. Look who you are. I am speaking about the trolls, and you know this.

TEACHER: Those three have more going on than you realize. They've taken down the clown. What you do right now, if you save them instead of condemning them, could influence the outcome of this war. They could live. Rebellion could win.

Silas feels a rush of vertigo. This guy just said all this treasonical shit like it was nothing. Like it was something anyone could say. Like it was something she could do. She fiddles with the metal ring around the face of her wristwatch.

AVRIL: why do you need us to do this stuff, anyway? you clearly have #connections

AVRIL: why can't you just do it yourself instead of getting us to do it? #manwithaplan #childsoldiers

TEACHER: I appreciate your faith in my abilities, and you're not wrong about me asking you to insert yourselves into danger.

TEACHER: If I could fix everything myself, I would have already done so. But look at me; I'm far too liminal.

TEACHER: Nothing but a shadow figure in a side story.

TEACHER: There are layers upon layers of influence, here, kids. It's not just you.

IMODE: Like the 🦋 effect.

TEACHER: Well, sure. But also like if every time you thought you had calculated the force of the butterfly's wings against the cosmic winds of chance, you zoomed out and there was another, smaller butterfly, also flapping its wings.

SILAS: So what I'm hearin' is we're nothin' but a tiny, insignificant bugs in somebody else's story?

TEACHER: You're still flapping, aren't you?

SILAS: Poetical. Sure you're not the English teacher?

TEACHER: I'm a well rounded Rebellion plant.

TEACHER: The point is, the three of you already made your mark on the big story once. If you're happy with that, sit back and revel in your likes. Go be on TV.

TEACHER: Really slurp down that sweet engagement nectar while the buzz lasts.

TEACHER: But if that's not where you want to leave things, let me know.