Weston T. Tucker

Algebra professor at Dryden Hills University, now residing in Grand Haven, Michigan. That's... pretty much it.

[violet-penn-grand-haven-blog]

Violet flung her arms around him and hugged him. "I'm so sorry, Professor. That's not fair. You shouldn't have had to lose your family." It took a moment, but she eventually realised that perhaps hugging a teacher wasn't the most appropriate thing ever. She pulled back and bit her lip, resisting the urge to hug him again. He was warm and solid and very, very sad. That wasn't right, either. More than she hated most things, she hated to see people bearing crosses too heavy, blaming themselves for the injustices that had happened to them. 

"Um. Uh. My - my dad, after the divorce, my mom made sure he didn't get visitation, and I tried running away a lot when I was little, so she put trackers in my phone, and I couldn't see him, and he moved, so I can't find his number or his address or anything." Violet shrugged, hugging her legs to stop herself from hugging Professor Tucker again. As much as she wanted the comfort, it wasn't exactly permitted. She shrugged again and buried her face in her knees."I miss him a lot. He basically raised everyone. My mom was always busy or busy. Dad drank, sure, but at least he was there."

[westonttucker]

Her abrupt closeness startled Weston out of his almost hyperventilation, besides making the whole ordeal even more awkward. The memories burying him all at once plus a hug from a woman wasn't the best thing that could've happened at that moment. Not that he wouldn't be uncomfortable with a man hugging him, but... past experiences screwed people like that. Like how stupid it was that, for a millisecond, he thought she'd punch him. You jumpy wuss. "My son? No, not fair. But my wife? Maybe it was." he accidentally let out, only being glad that the student backed away from the contact.

As the minutes passed by, and he heard of her parents and what happened between them, Weston calmed down, breathing deeply, with her story taking his mind off unpleasant recollections. A sympathetic smile took place, as he saw her hide her face in her knees. "That's... that's really sad." he said hesitantly, clearing his throat as his voice failed him at the first try. "I'm sure he'd be a great father for you and your brothers. Perhaps when you're older you'll find him, who knows? However, why didn't your mother want him around? If she was so... busy, all the time. At least she could have him to take care of you."

[violet-penn-grand-haven-blog]

Violet frowned, blue eyes fixed very soberly on the professor's face. Something - some shift in his features, some line or dimple or twist - made it clear that that wasn't the whole truth. She decided not to mention it, and smiled far too widely. "You seem like an observant guy. You would have seen it if it had been wrong the whole time." She ran a hand through her hair and sighed quietly.

"You give good advice, too. You remind me of my dad. He probably would have been really great, y'know? At dealing with this kind of stuff. He and my mother just met each other too early, and started a family to early. They weren't ready, and I don't think they ever can be. Not together, anyway." Violet grabbed up her lighter and flicked it on, then off, distracting herself. "Did you have any kids? With your wife? Not 'did' like past-tense-dead, but 'did' like past-tense-historically-speaking." She laughed sharply, part nervous energy and part intoxication. She almost swore - I'd been hiding it so well, too. 

[westonttucker]

He could only smile at her reply. "I wish I did. How I wish I did." Perhaps everything would've been different then. Brighter, simpler.

"I bet he'd be." Weston smiled, imagining how happier she'd be if that were the case. "It must've been hard for them. So, where is your father now?" From what she said, it didn't seem she had contact with him anymore, nor that he was dead, therefore he had to be somewhere. Violet probably missed him, by the kind tone she spoke of him with.

The last question hit him hard. Harder than he ever expected it would. It'd been some time without thinking about the subject for him, and the unexpected blow came too fast. It wasn't the studen'ts fault, though, it'd been just a question.

He remembered it so clearly. Alec, his funny little boy; blond hair and eyes blue as the sky, just like his mother. It didn't stop her from throwing him down the stairs, though. Weston remembered the four-years-old body, laying still on the first steps of the staircase. The feeling of stepping on the edge of sanity, it was. It'd been the first time he hit Debora back, and yet, with his hands around her throat, she still negotiated with him. If she reported domestic abuse, everyone'd believe her, and soon Alec's death would be linked to him. And as the fucking great coward he was, he stopped. And cried. He cried over everything; his dead son, the poor excuse of a man he was, the life he didn't even had the strenght to try getting out of anymore. At the time, Weston thought he'd be too numb to even feel anything later, but countless bruises, burns and scars on his body successfully proved him wrong during the fourteen years of their marriage that were still to come.

"No, you were right; I did have a kid with my wife and... well, both of them are... d- dead. So, yeah, past-tense-dead." he managed to say, his voice almost stopping in his throat as he let out a strangled and brief laugh. After some seconds breathing deeply, he tried to regain somewhat of a composure. "I'm sorry. I'm truly am. Let's just... forget I had an emotional breakdown here. But, hum... What about you? Have you ever thought of having children in the futur-- God, I- I'm sorry, just give me a second." he stuttered, covering his eyes as he realized he couldn't push that lump in his throat down. "Fuck, I should be over that by now."

[violet-penn-grand-haven-blog]

"I didn't think you had," Violet said, grinding out the glowing end of her cigarette's filter. She shook an entire cancer stick's worth of ash off her hand and sniffed, drying her eyes with the cuff of her sweater. "Nobody would put up with me so long for a cigarette. Easier to take it and run." 

She twisted to face him properly and frowned. "Who broke your heart? I - If you don't mind my asking, I mean. It's just..." She tilted her head, frown deepening. "You're too good at this not to have told it to yourself once."

[westonttucker]

He couldn't stop frowning at her words. Was that what she really thought of herself? He knew that mere words wouldn't miraculously change the situation, but a little try wouldn't hurt. "As far as I could see of you during these first months of the semester, anyone should would be lucky to have you as a friend. You look like a good-hearted girl, Violet. And that's all that matters in life, in the end. You don't need to prove anyone anything, just... be happy. Be at peace with who you are, what you think and how you act, so no matter who comes and goes, you'll be alright. You won't lose yourself." he spoke, wondering if that could be applied to any situation. Even if not, he could only hope things would get better for that girl. It wouldn't do well for her in the long run, mentally and physically, seeing how she drowned her frustation in drinking and smoking.

For a second, Weston thought if he'd really tell something of what happened. Violet was letting all out to him, it'd be only fair. Still... he wouldn't tell her everything. He'd save her the shame of hearing the whole story, as well as he'd to do everyone. No one needed to know that. "It was my wife." he sighed, taking a deep breath as unpleasant memories tried to come back. The feeling of glass cutting his skin, the so well-known taste of blood. "You see, she wasn't the best wife one could have. It wasn't because of cheating or disagreements, the usual stuff, no; things just went... wrong, somewhere. Perhpas they'd been wrong all along, it was me who didn't notice. So I tried to handle the situation. Needless to say, it didn't work out. And even after everything that's happened, I still love her... I- I still love her." he whispered the last part more to himself than to her ears, smiling bitterly. And oh, how he wished to die at hearing those words coming from his mouth.

[nopressur-es]

[laurasotherside]

[violet-penn-grand-haven-blog]

"They hate me," she sniffed, pressing her eyes into her knees, cigarette forgotten. "Like, a lot. They really, really loathe me, and I don't know what I did to make them like that, but they don't hate each other, so it's obvious that it's my fault." 

Violet pulled out of her knees and turned to look at the algebra professor. She'd never taken his class, preferring to take the more difficult math courses even as she hated them, but now she wondered 'why not?' "Why are you doing this?" she asked, quiet. "It doesn't... it makes no sense."

[westonttucker]

"Maybe it isn't. Maybe they're just jealous. They don't want to see their sister succeding in life away from them. Don't get to conclusions so fast, Violet. I know what I'm talking about here." he replied, trying to make her feel better. And it was true. There had been a time where he thought it was his fault, the cause of everything that was happening in his marriage. However, time showed him that Debora was the only one to blame, which didn't make things better, unfortunately.

At her question, Weston raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding what she meant. "You mean... this?" he asked, gesturing to both of them, sitting on a bridge of the campus, smoking and throwing caution to the wind. "Well, at first I wasn't very happy to see a student drinking around the university, but then, you didn't look in your best mood; I'm not your teacher, might as well be a friend. A more than twenty years older friend, but age doesn't matter for a good cheering up, I guess." He waved his hand holding the cigarette and smiled playfully. "I promise I didn't do this only for the cigarette."

[westonttucker]

Meeting Expectations // Roland & Weston

[rolandlemont]

He figured he’d have to find a way to excuse himself of the grade. Not necessarily cheat an A for himself, just make the teacher forget he had it, to leave him alone about it for long enough to let him barely slip by with the minimum requirement of a C. He figured as well, that that would be hard to do. 

"Well, I guess you could in fact say that’s the only reason, Professor."

[westonttucker]

Weston sighed, crossing his arms in front of him. The student's tone didn't gave away a lot of good will. "Then I'll ask you a little more of effort, Roland. It might be not of your taste, but it's required. Sometimes you don't like things, yet you'll have to handle them. I'm not asking perfect grades, just... a little more effort. Just a little. Even if is just to show me you're trying." he tried, as kind as possible in his request.

He'd been a tough student to deal with himself, and he knew that too much pressure would only scare his will to study away. He also knew that even that didn't do the job sometimes, but, at least, he tried.

[nora-grace-writer]

Preparations | Nora & Weston

[nora-grace-writer]

Nora blushed a bit as he took the protractor away, breathing out and standing. She made her way to the shelf, taking the black folders down and setting them on the table beside her chair. She sat down and got to work, labeling each folder “Research Papers”, “Exams”, and “Assignments”. She trifled through the papers around her, setting each in their corresponding folder. She started to hum, an old Scottish lullaby as she worked. The song always calmed her down and helped her to focus.

“So, are you excited to start teaching again or have you enjoyed the four weeks off too much and don’t want it to end.” She wasn’t sure how the professor worked. If he liked small talk or if silence was a better environment for him. She’d only had two math classes in her college career and she’d never had him as her teacher. In fact she hadn’t known at all until a few days ago when she’d gotten a call from her student aide advisor who had texted her about him needing help. “I’ll be glad when I can start tutoring again. You would think being in America that students wouldn’t need tutoring in English classes but I never find a moment where I’m not needed for something.” 

[westonttucker]

As he sat behind his desk, he noticed her humming, a sweet song, which he never really heard in his life. It was calming, making it easier to concentrate on the work in front of him. Her voice was soothing, like a mother singing to her child, and it reminded him of Debora's voice. As she sang in the kitchen, making breakfast, while he changed for work. Weston could only frown at that after a few seconds of, dear God, nostalgia and happiness. And it hurt like hell.

"The rest was good, I won't lie to you. But... it's better to keep the mind occupied." Mainly after all that's happened. It was easier to sleep without taking pills when he was actually tired. At her comment, he let out a soft laugh, imagining how funny it must've been for her. "It's incredible, isn't it? I wonder if in other countries, their population has the same problem. Thing is, even I wasn't that good in English at school." Nora was a fun person to have around. It was subtle, but she tried to make people around her comfortable, striking a conversation here and there, which was a spetacular trait. Always polite and hard-working. Ah, if every student was like her...

[cockandloadit-deactivated201407]

When you feel like that about someone, I’d completely agree with your decisions to show her like you did. Its quite sweet, and honestly I don’t think it matters that the actions could be considered impractical or petty, the gesture is still romantically sweet and that alone makes it the best thing to do.

No Mr. Tucker, I am completely straight. No girl finding for me. As for a man…no. I’ve got no one, as it’s said. And I’m not sure if I should be as desperate to find one like it seems all the other single ladies here are, but it doesn’t concern me too much. Not yet anyways.

[westonttucker]

I guess you're right. Yet, I'm not sure if it was all worth it, in the end.

You know, Adrianna, I think it's better that way. You should ponder about it a lot, so not to make the wrong decision, because once you're in, it's hard to get out. You're still young, take your time. Perhaps you'll be even happier without geting married.

[nora-grace-writer]

Preparations | Nora & Weston

[nora-grace-writer]

She laughed as she opened the door, looking around for a safe place to set the bundle in her arms, deciding to just…set it on the floor. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I’m just happy to have some work again. the last four weeks have been absolute torture with all of the students gone.” She started to sit in an empty chair b the door, but jumped away when she sees noticed a rather sharp instrument sticking out of a pile of books. It was just a protractor. She sighed in relief smiling over at the professor. 

"So. What should I do first?" She looked around eagerly at the stack of papers around. "I’m absolute rubbish when it comes to math, but If there’s a ke I’m sure I can help grade some of these papers." She nodded confidently, picking up a stack and sitting down in an empty space on the floor. 

[westonttucker]

"Not one to fool around, eh? It'd be delightful if everyone was like yourself. Although I have to agree, the quietness of the halls are quite disturbing." Standing up to reach for a specific document on top of the bookshelf at his right, Weston turned her way to say something more when he noticed where she was going to sit. "No, no, don't sit...! There."

Going to her side with an apologetic expression, he took the protractor from under the hiding set of books, wihle trying to remember where else he might've left pointy instruments. "Sorry about that." He tried his best to clean one of the chairs, moving all of its contents to his table. "Please, sit here. It's enough that you're helping me, it'd be horrible from my part to let you sit on the floor. And no, leave the grading to me. See those folders on... Where were they... Ah, there." he said, pointing to three black folders in a shelf at the corner of the room. "I need you to use them to organize the exams, assignments and research papers. That would help a lot for later."

[violet-penn-grand-haven-blog]

Violet covered her face in her hands, biting back a scream. "It's wrong. isn't it?" She looked up, eyes wide. "It's wrong, trying to cherry-pick your family members like that, right?" 

Another drag. "My stupid older brother..." She tapped the card over Tom's face with her fingernail. "He taught me to smoke when I was fifteen." She tucked her knees tight to her chest, pulling the layers of sweaters she wore down to her shins, and rested her chin in the divot between kneecaps. "It's like one big, sucking quagmire of dysfunction, and I don't know what to do."

[westonttucker]

"I think it is. Family is family, there shouldn't be a different treatment just because of conditions and distance." he replied, reassuting her the best he could.

Turning his glance to the person she pointed at the photo, he thought about his own brother. Only in his case, Robert almost jumped at his throat when he found out his older brother got into the habit of smoking. And then he became a doctor and mother died of lung cancer... tihngs never were good for his addiction. "How is your relationship with your brothers?" he asked in an attempt for her to let out whatever she wanted to say, even though just by what she already said, it was kind of obvious.

[nora-grace-writer]

Preparations | Nora & Weston

Nora practically skipped down the sidewalk, her arms loaded with books and papers, making her way to Professor Tucker’s office. She was so happy to finally have interesting work to do, even if it wasn’t in her field. She figured work was work, and anything was better than sitting alone somewhere. All of her friends, save a few who worked at Little Things, were gone for the holiday and she was stuck on campus. She’d been so bored until she’d been offered this small job.

Math wasn’t really her thing. She liked words, not numbers. But she figured she wouldn’t have to deal with too much math. She was just helping him prepare for the coming semester, organizing, filing, that kind of thing. When she reached his office, she knocked on the door, pushing it open enough to slip her head in. “Anybody home?”

[westonttucker]

With a sigh, Weston stared at the stacks of paper accumulating on... pretty much everywhere. Countless assignments, researchs and some exams he still had to grade. That is, if he didn't think about all of the new ones he'd have to prepare for the next semester.

Being a teacher wasn't unpleasant, no, never. Passing on the knowledge and helping the students to know what challenges they'll have ahead; the rewarding feeling was of sheer joy. But the paperwork...! Thank God there was always a good samaritan to help him carry on the weight.

Like the one knocking on the door. "Ah, Grace. Please, come in." he said, welcoming the red-haired into the - just a little - messy office. Smiling back awkwardly at her bright expression, he wondered how she could be beaming so much at the face of such a boring task. Certainly something very good must've taken place in the morning for her. "You look... happy. Has something happened?"

[violet-penn-grand-haven-blog]

"Th-thank you," Violet managed. She cleared her throat, squeezing her knees to hide how shaky she was. "Yeah, um. It's a pretty fantastic reason, actually." She reached up her sleeve and pulled out the Christmas card she'd only just received.

Over a clearly posed photo of her mother and brothers was an overly-stylized cursive banner: "Merry Christmas From The Whole Family." Hand trembling, she waved the card at him, taking another angry drag.

"The whole family. Except for Dad, the spineless drunk, and me. Because apparently, leaving home means leaving the family." Violet only just restrained herself from swearing in front of her professor and tucked her knees into her chest. She noticed him looking at her cigarette and offered him the pack. "Want one?"

[westonttucker]

Bending down a little to take a better look at the card being shown, Weston understood what she meant. As she said, it was a pretty good reason. That surely stinged like hell, mainly coming from the family. "Damn. I'm sorry for that. Sometimes, family's beliefs can be a pain in the ass." he commented, immediately wincing inside. I need to hold my tongue now and then. "But hey, you've entered a great university, probably following your dreams; no matter what they say, you're good, and should be proud of yourself. I would, if you were my daughter."

And as any respectable father, he should be a good example and refuse the offered pack. "No, no, I-- " Stopping with his mouth open, ready to decline, he thought better about it.

To hell with should, he needed that.

"You know what, I'll accept it. Thank you." Weston took one of the cigarettes and lit it, sitting on the edge of the bridge by Violet's side. "Now, let's just pray nobody comes around here." he said, taking in the relieving sensation of poisoning lungs. It wouldn't work as good as a Desyrel pill, but it was calming enough.

[cockandloadit-deactivated201407]

*laughs* Okay then, I’ll have to keep that in mind next time I apologize for letting lose with my thoughts.

…I am yeah. It..it surprises people sometimes, but I’m still a girl. I have those wishes, those wants, that could definitely label me as a romantic. I’m not obsessive or anything, but. Its still there.

[westonttucker]

Let's be glad that there are still people like you out there, then. I remember considering myself quite insensitive and laid back in that matter when younger, but after meeting Debora... God, I was a helpless puddle of cliches. Opening the door for her, buying flowers - she said they were unpractical and would die in a week; still, I tried. I guess when it's the right person, you just can't help it, eh?

And you, Adrianna? Already found the boy of your dreams? Or girl, I don't know.

[westonttucker]

Meeting Expectations // Roland & Weston

[rolandlemont]

Roland took great pride in his grades and how well he did in each class, that is, how well he decided he would do. He liked to convince himself and others that whatever grade he got was product of his own will, as if he could choose every grade he received. So far, it’d been quite a good time in college up until it came time for required courses like Algebra and the ever-endearing science elective. 

Finding himself again ignoring the apparent ache of his teacher, he clarified, “I don’t like math at all, that much I know. But that really isn’t the problem.”

[westonttucker]

The last it was. That made things a bit easier, seeing most of the students shared Roland's opinion on math. "I see you performed very well in other subjects. Therefore, can I assume your results are consequences of, and only, your disliking of the course? Or you do find difficulties in it?"

"So, what might the problem be, Lemont? I'm not upset, just worried. Whatever it is, I hope we can handle it as soon as possible, otherwise you won't save your grades in the end."

[violet-penn-grand-haven-blog]

Violet & Open (Note: I do not condone underaged drinking and smoking, which is present in this prompt, as Violet is only seventeen.)

Violet, on the whole, was not the sort of person who did stupid things. She ate well, got her full eight hours of sleep, and got regular physicals. She took care of herself very well, for the most part. 

But sometimes, when one of her brothers called or when Mother sent family photo greeting cards to really ram home that she wasn’t anymore, Violet borrowed her roommate’s school ID and covered Kaitlyn’s picture with her own, slipped it into the clear plastic pocket in her wallet so the seam was virtually indetectable, and indulged in some admittedly terrible habits. 

Tonight, bundled up in about forty different sweaters, Violet sat cross-legged on the bridge that ran through the woodsier edge of the campus and drank. She capped the bottle, nose still wrinkled from the smell of tequila, and puffed furiously on a cigarette, snarling in frustration as it turned to one long ash between her trembling hands. She swore, cheeks heating apologetically the moment the rather creative string of expletives left her mouth, and lit another cigarette from the first, stuffing the dead butt into a black plastic bag. 

A footstep landed heavily behind her and Violet jolted, eyes widening as she turned. “Don’t tell Dean Drupont,” she pleaded. 

[westonttucker]

It hadn't been a good day, in general. Worse is, Weston didn't even know why, he just felt bad. That hurtful gripping feeling in one's chest, impossible to shake off; as if you have something to worry about, but you can't remember what it was exactly, so you just keep on worrying. There was no doubt he wouldn't be able to close his eyes as soon as his back touched the mattress that night.

So, instead of heading back home after the classes ended, he decided to wander around the campus for some time, in an attempt to clear his mind. The air of December unexpectedly helped, rendering him unable to focus on anything else other than how goddamned cold it was.

And apparently, some people were as mad as him to be enjoying that 'breeze', he thought, glancing at the lonely student sitting on the bridge near the engineering building, on the surroundings of the campus. On a second look, though, Weston noticed something was really wrong with that picure as he got closer. 

The girl - who he recognized as Violet Penn, sophomore year, one of his students during afternoon - turned in a jolt, startled as a deer in the headlights. Well, she should've been; her actions were clearly forbidden. Yet, all he could manage to reply was "I won't. I only expect you not to do that again." And because you look like crap, although the last part he wouldn't say out loud. She did, nonetheless, and he wouldn't be the bastard who'd tell her off as she passed through whatever tough difficulties she was in. Personally, he was a smoker himself; and now with Debora's death, he'd returned to that hateful addiction, even though, she'd been very clear on how much she disliked it. Some people did, or stopped doing, stuff in respect to their loved one's memories... Well, he wasn't one of those people.

Hiding his hands in the coat's pockets, Weston stood by Violet's side with a disapproving look. "I believe you have good reasons for this." he said, more as a question than as a statement.

[cockandloadit-deactivated201407]

Thank you….but if you knew how often I actually do ramble, you might just change your mind.

It seems to be making a comeback, but honestly it does depend on which crowd of people you’re hanging out with. Not everyone’s adopted the action.

[westonttucker]

Rambling is good. It keeps you from forcing thoughts and opinions to remain inside until you snap. So, yeah, a fine habit you have there.

And what about you, also one of those who adopted the action? I may be utterly wrong, but you strike me as someone who's a bit romantic.