Chapter Text
The entire Prydonian chapter, from Cardinals to secretaries, to guards and prisoners, and from elders to Timetots were buzzing with the latest news that had been picked up by a major newspaper. Over the Otherstide break at the Academy, Lord Borusa and Lord Goth had gotten married in a Courthouse after years of affair rumors floating in the Panopticon.
Of course both families were shocked, though unable to do much as they were both the highest paid and highest ranking Timelords in said houses. And, to make matters worse, there were photos taken on a popular island vacation destination of them actively holding hands and snuggling up during an outdoor performance.
The Academy was horrified but could not of course comment — it was illegal to discriminate based on non criminal legal actions done by either professors or their spouses.
Even the Lord Chancellor had been asked to comment who declined, except to state that there was little chance of a conflict of interest in the congressional votes as “Lord Borusa has often voted against his now-husband and has argued against his proposed laws many times. I doubt if they are together in this fashion that Lord Goth would dare try and dictate how Lord Borusa runs his district.”
********
Borusa had barely made it through the doors of the Academy entrance he used most days when Ushas ran up to him.
“SIR! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?! WHY IS THAT BLONDE IDIOT HOLDING YOUR HAND IN THIS PHOTO!?” Ushas roared, the angriest Borusa had seen her in a while, holding his and Goth’s publicly released wedding photo of them holding hands in front of the courthouse.
Borusa could feel his hearts flutter thinking of the moment he signed and their legal statuses changed from Single to Married.
“That would be my husband Lord Goth and I taking a photo commemorating the day we got legally married in the Citadel Courthouse.” Borusa said, with a genuine and almost blissful smile. Ushas looked suddenly as if she would puke.
“Y-you …and him….??? Not arranged???” Ushas asked as other students gathered wondering about the commotion, them too wishing to know the details of the academy’s most scandalous marriage between two Cardinals in true Prydonian fashion.
“Not arranged of course. His family is much higher class than mine and has been even before my appointment to Lord Cardinal. We have been in a long term relationship since the time I had finished school. We made a deal that if in 300 years we did not grow apart or break up we would propose marriage to our families.”
“Three…THREE HUNDRED YEARS? YOU TWO HAVE BEEN TOGETHER THAT LONG?” Ushas cried in disgust, unable to even look at her professor.
“Excuse me, Lord Borusa, I am a familial law student, did your families approve of said engagement? Did you need their support legally to be there as a witness?” A voice said behind him. Borusa smiled and turned. He couldn’t resist a fun lecture topic.
“Both declined support but, under Rassilon’s constitutions of Freedom of Lawful Relations they cannot force us apart. We are the only Cardinals of each house. We have no other prospects of marriage. I love him with all of my hearts and he loves me as well. So we did a cheap wedding in the courthouse. I think flashy weddings between Public Servants are tacky and could impact future reelections. It could be seen as a waste of taxpayer dollars to the general public.” Borusa said with a knowing smile. The students murmured in agreement. Situationally, it made sense to most of them. All except for Ushas and the rest of the Deca.
“Sir…It’s foul. I don’t know what you see in that man.” Ushas groaned, rubbing her face.
“Well. Luckily, since you are rarely in detention when he wants to meet quickly for a grocery list, it should not matter to you Miss Ushas. I will be taking an extra week of holiday next break for the Solstice so we can visit both of our families and spend some time as newly weds getting our condo together but other than that, you will not have to deal with Lord Goth. That is a task I will have to gladly take for myself. Let’s get to homeroom.” Borusa explained.
The students chattered amongst each other and headed off to homeroom as more professors peaked out of their rooms to find their students.
Borusa once more had only made it to his desk when he was greeted by a huge hug from Millennia and Jelpax.
“CONGRATULATIONS LORD BORUSA!!!” Millenia squealed in excitement with Jelpax.
“Space yeah! Congrats dude.” Mortimus said with a thumbs up.
“Oh my heavens, Millenia. Thank you, though I do not find students over the age of 10 years old hugging me to be appropriate. And Mortimus, I want a Professor or Lord in front.” Borusa scolded.
“Sorry! I am just excited!!!! AHHH YOU HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT RING AND EVERYTHING HOW CUTE!!! LET ME SEE!” Millenia continued to bubble and bounce with excitement.
“My bad, Lord Borusa. We are just excited.” Mortimus said with a smile.
“Sir, are you still our advisor? You have a job here still?” Jelpax asked, almost as if he was about to cry.
“Oh I saw that in the paper, my housemother wants to talk to you. She is worried you will corrupt me or something.” Magnus added.
“Students, give me a second to get my stuff settled and I can answer questions then. I will be your advisor still. Nothing has changed at this academy regarding your learning or experience other than perhaps Lord Goth stopping by to say hello or to pick up grocery lists every so often after school.” Borusa said, setting his bag and coffee at his desk.
“Oh, sorry sir.” Jelpax and the others said, sitting back at their seats to talk about their breaks.
Borusa began preparing for his first class and for the announcements to be read when his biggest troublemakers, Drax and Theta Sigma, walked in, with Koschei and Vansell not far behind. Vansell walked up to Borusa’s desk immediately.
“Sir. Can I ask you something about your marriage?” Vansell asked, still holding his backpack and watching Borusa type. The professor looked up at Vansell.
“No you may not. We will all talk in a few minutes and address questions.” Borusa said plainly.
“Alright. I am sorry sir. I hope that wasn’t rude.” Vansell said, scratching his head, not sure what to do next. Borusa paused, carefully taking a breath.
“You were not rude. I appreciate when young people instead of leaping off the edge of the cliff into the abyss of inappropriate behavior stop and ask for advice. You are fine, Vansell.” Borusa said.
The other students in the class paused, not sure what their professor meant. Professors were known to have their quirks from time to time.
“Okay. Sounds good.” Vansell said sitting in his chair.
Borusa was updating his lecture files and lightly glancing at the grade book, as if taking the pulse of the students under his guidance. Most of them were performing quite well, with a few glaring problem students performing below average. He ran over the names; reading them, thinking over them, reviewing each scenario of his lecture and how it affected them.
The training and interview process to retain an adjunct professor position at the Prydonian Academy was brutal. The school’s goal was to produce the next generation of Timelords that statistically would go on to rule Gallifrey and participate in the volatile and unforgiving political jungles of the Panopticon.
The fourth year of the academy was critical. Instead of having the same Professor all day (except for special subjects), students began to switch classes. Alone. There was no help unless asked for regarding homework or extra time for assignments. There was no comforting of unreasonable emotions unless it involved direct detriment to another student. The Professors were to be friendly and kind, but professional, as if working amongst adults in their field of work.
This of course was not the normal standards for all chapters, nor was it what was best for the students emotionally at that age if they had no other support outside of the academy, but Gallifrey was cruel. Borusa had been loomed in the middle of Morbius’s time as Lord President. People were executed weekly for disobedience on the Public Matrix Feed played on every screen and at every Academy. And he had to learn how to mind shield as a young 8 year old to protect his true thoughts of the horrors around him. He had learned to be quiet, observe, and think extremely carefully before speaking his opinion and thoughts.
Thanks to many in his graduating cohort, things were different now. And, despite the cruel world Borusa had grown up in, the biggest complaint the headmaster had in his performance reviews was his apparent “overactive” parental instinct and defensiveness regarding the students. Even Goth had caught him referring to his students as “the children” when discussing current school affairs.
Borusa closed the tab on the Matrix Computer and turned his attention to the students who were chatting and staring at him closely.
“Alright, this will be much easier if we do this together.” Borusa said, walking to the front of the class.
The students waited in an unusual silence.
“Raise your hand, and one at a time I will answer questions about my recent life events.” Borusa said slowly and carefully.
Four hands were raised immediately.
“Millennia, you may start.” Borusa said.
“Sir! Did you and Lord Goth get to go on a romantic honeymoon? Was it anywhere fun?” Millennia asked, her genuine smile reaching ear to ear. Borusa took a breath.
“Yes we did. We spent four days in the Constellation Islands. We had lots of fun exploring the ruins and the beaches. I recommend it.” Borusa smiled thinking of the extra curricular activities on the island.
“Aww that’s so cute.” Millennia said while most of the class cringed.
“Any other questions?” Borusa asked. More hands were raised.
“Yes, Koschei?”
“Sir, how does it feel to be a hypocrite when you are the one frolicking with men in your spare time, out of wedlock, might I add?” Koschei asked plainly, in almost a mocking way of Lord Borusa’s cool and calm exterior.
The Cardinal blinked, thinking for only a split moment.
“It feels good now. I would tell my students to avoid it as it caused a great deal of stress, worry, and….” Borusa paused, trying to distill his true feelings.
“…heartbreak in my life to not be able to be open about things. It is very tiring to take the path I took. I would not repeat it or recommend it for anyone. I partially finally got married so that you students can feel the courage to do the right thing.” Borusa said, his face softening.
The first night after their wedding, both Cardinals slept for over ten hours, the stress of their secret no longer weighing on them as it had for 300 years.
“So let’s say if I decide to have an affair when I am a Cardinal will you speak publicly against me in the Panopticon?” Magnus asked, not totally convinced of Borusa morals being as pure as he still claimed them to be.
“Well, if you have an affair, Magnus, it is not really my business. I expect my students to use their judgment. Could you hold a secret relationship for 300 years and continue to be a success? I do not know what I do not know. For all we know Lord Goth could have a death wish and have another partner somewhere he’s spending time with. I do not know what I do not know.” Borusa repeated, his hawk eyes narrowed, and his smile with a touch of the famed Prydonian deceit.
“Fair enough.” Koschei said.
Theta Sigma, who had been stewing about his break being ruined with the disgusting news of his gross older tutor in a relationship, raised his hand.
“Yes, Theta?” Borusa said.
“Sir, why do you find Goth and his fake hair attractive? What the hell do you two even plan on doing? Having a family?” Theta Sigma half shouted getting distressed at even the thought of them holding hands.
Borusa bit his inner cheek to keep from laughing at the tantrum his student was having.
“Firstly, I am one of only a few Timelords in that Panopticon with as much hair as I do. Also, the mind is much more meaningful than simple looks anyway. Though Lord Goth’s current form is… satisfactory.” Borusa started, crossing his arms as he thought to himself.
Ushas groaned.
“Secondly, we plan on continuing to work and live together. Nothing here should be affected. If this marriage being public can last for a good amount of time… we have discussed signing the application to Loom a child, if the opportunity arises. It would be a great honor to serve the Gallifreyan people in that way.” Borusa smiled.
“If this government lets you two loom you will produce the most boring child in all of time and space!!!” Theta cried.
“I can second that with a genetic study if you let me get a cheek swab of Lord Goth!! There is no way that hypothesis is wrong!!! You two cannot have a child. Ever!” Ushas said, slamming her fist on the table.
“If you two are going to be rude like this you can join me in detention, is that clear?” Borusa said sternly.
“Ugh.” Ushas groaned, resting her head on her desk.
Theta fought back an eye roll at his advisor and looked down. How could Borusa lie to them for so long? What else hadn’t he been honest to them about?
“Any other questions?” Borusa asked softly. Rallon raised his hand sheepishly.
“Yes?”
“If you two loomed a child, would you stop working and stop being our advisor?” He asked in a quiet voice.
“Well, I don’t see why I would stop working completely. At most until they are two or three years old. Only a few years. My own advisor, back in the dark times, had a little boy when she was my advisor and I simply met her at her home once a year and the rest of the time we talked over the matrix.” Borusa said with a smile.
The thought of leaving his students was incomprehensible. He could not simply allow these young adults to graduate without being there for them. It was preposterous.
“Oh thank Rassilon.” Vansell sighed in relief as Mort made the Sign of the Cross he had learned in his Alien Religions class.
“Students, if that is all I will hand out the announcements and you all are welcome to ask more questions in my office hours.” Borusa said with a small smile.
“Sir, does Lord Goth have a skimmer?” Drax asked without raising his hand.
“Yes he does, Drax. I can’t remember the model but I will write it down for you.” Borusa promised as the campus clock struck, marking the beginning of the school day.
“Thank you, though you should’ve asked what he has before marrying him, I don’t want you with a guy with a crappy Cerulean Forest Glider.” Drax said as the rest of the students began to shuffle out, waving or saying goodbye.
“Alright I will keep that in mind, be good everyone.” Borusa waved to the students and turned towards his desk, feeling relief wash over him.
Things were going to be okay.