A question

[connie_maheswaran]

[Yes, it is rather easy to send one of these out when you have the internet back home. Connie was a little vexed that there was no network quite like that here, but she'd make do].

Ok, I know that most of the people here have a lot of questions about how things work and how to fight and all, and so far there have been plenty of you who have graciously given us answers and time (I'm very grateful to specific people here like Mr. Crackshell and Webigail and Princess Deetz, but many of you really helped, thank you). I have a different type of question though.

For those of you who live here and work, how easy is it to do all of your magical studies and keep a stable job? Back home I have to be attending college, but I'll be living on campus. That's different from working here and living AND learning about magic.

Basically, how do you budget your time? Any tips?

Comments

[creepyoldguy]

Oh! You meet Keeps! He’s my pal. Almost drowned me once, but, that was an accident.

[Keeper was cool.]

Yeah, he tastes everyone. Pretty nice of him to ask permission before eating, though.

I might have to meet this person! She sounds jumpy.

[connie_maheswaran]

Your pal should probably not greet people by licking them. Remember that we just got here through a magic mirror. It's usually best not to freak people out on the first day when you're already cursing your rotten luck.

Actually, I had to remind him to not go licking people right off the bat.

Please don't freak her out. I have a feeling she's going to have a rough few days.

[creepyoldguy]

Everyone has to eat. Keeps eats living creatures, and says that already offed stuff tastes bad and ‘dead’.

[He shrugged.]

Can’t expect human behavior from people who aren’t human.

Oh, hey, I would never freak out someone already having issues...

[Pause. He could feel two separate Lydias giving him looks if they heard him say that.]

Fine, okay, I totes would. But! I shall refrain because you asked nicely.

[connie_maheswaran]

Then maybe someone can make him food that won't mind being eaten?

Can that be done?

Thanks, I appreciate that. I don't think I got your name? Mine's Connie.

[creepyoldguy]

He hunts for things that can’t complain.

I’m—

[He froze on the first phoneme. Stupid, stupid, curse.]


Oh, hold on.

[Beetlejuice took the mirror with him to outside his and MT’s apartment. He turned the device and pointed at his name plate. Lawrence Betelgeuse Shoggoth]

Don’t call me Lawrence. Go for the middle name, or, any variation of it.

[connie_maheswaran]

So no one told him about not doing that during the Meet and greets?

Ah.

[Connie was a bit of a nerd, thank you, so she was guessing he might not be able to SAY his name. He did say he was a demon, after all].

Hmm. So I guess you won't let me call you Shoggoth, huh? Or Shog? Gothy?

[creepyoldguy]

To be fair, did anyone tell you not to taste the other Apprentices?

And I don’t think it would do any good. You gotta look at it from a very not-human point of view. He’s being nice and polite and not just eating people who taste good.

People get a little freaked? Not a big deal. They’re still alive, right?

[He made a face.]

Shoggoth is fine. Not “Gothy” , that’s how I describe Lydia, and “Shog” sounds like a failed muppet.

[connie_maheswaran]

They wouldn't have had to.

He's still tasting people though, and it would be different if he just got here. But he's been here sometime. He ought to know NOT to taste.

From their point of view, you are making the situation of being pulled into a world without your consent much, much worse. So a bad day becomes compounded. It's just consideration for us newbies.

Heh ok. Shoggoth it is!

[creepyoldguy]

He tasted me on our first day here. Asked if he could eat me. It’s not that big of a deal. He listens when people say “No”, after all.

[He tilted his head.]

Can’t pronounce the B-name, huh?

[connie_maheswaran]

I have a feeling its different for people who aren't demons. Most aren't well adjusted to the idea of someone tasting you.

[Connie had actually been pretty calm about it].

Oh I can, but the last name is way more fun, don't you think?

[creepyoldguy]

Just have to be willing to step outside the old comfort zone.

[Said the entity who welcomed two recently deceased to being ghosts by hugging and trying to make out with them. He had empathy for the weird boundaries thing.]

More fun? Maybe? Easier to spell, that’s for damn sure.

[connie_maheswaran]

You explain that to the newcomers then.

Well yeah, it sounds kind of Dungeons and Dragons, you know?

[creepyoldguy]

Isn't that what I'm doing?

[He hummed.]

What, that nerd game with dice and numbers? Level 12 whoozy-whatzits and level 23 whatzy-whoozits?

I'm offended. I will eat a 20 sided die in protest.

[connie_maheswaran]

A little too late when it comes to Keeper. Again, not everyone understands what or why he does what he does. First impressions are a big deal.

I mean. It's much more than that when you break it down to classes and attributes and player imagin-never mind.

You could, but what would it accomplish? Now, spitting it out at someone, that might be pretty funny.

[creepyoldguy]

It would hardly be fair to tell people in a broadcast, for example, to avoid someone they never met. AND there's always that slim chance that eventually, SOMEDAY, Keeps will find someone who says 'yes' to his"Can I eat you?" query.

I mean, we can only hope for his sake. He'd be so happy!

[A dramatic hand wave.]


What would it accomplish? I'd get to eat an icosahedron.

[connie_maheswaran]

I'm sure he would be, but then we would all be missing out on someone. I guess the only way that would work is if the person can regenerate.

He seems really sweet, if a little off the wall.

Right, and then what?

[creepyoldguy]

If they wanna be someone’s dinner, that’s on them.

[He gave her his best off-kilter grin.]

My honor will be sated.

[connie_maheswaran]

Sure, I guess.

[Probably never going to happen].

Good luck then!

So...what places are actually open for exploring?

[creepyoldguy]

It just so happens, I’m one of the Tour Guides. Only, I refuse to wear plaid—not a flattering look.

Stop by for a tour, I’ll show you Lydia’s gallery too.

[It was the only stop that got a legit description.]

[connie_maheswaran]

Who makes a tour guide wear plaid? A hat I understand, that's tradition, but plaid? Seems kind of mid western to me.

[So she'd heard anyway].

Ok! I'd love to get a better idea of what the town is like!

[creepyoldguy]

Plaid is A-dog’s thing and he can make it work. But, these are plaid jackets that scream “used-car salesman circa 1970”.

So, I go for stripes, instead.

Anyway, sure. Come by for my next shift. Ignore the dirty looks from the yokels, they’re what we call ‘ingrates’.

[connie_maheswaran]

A-dog? Who's that?

Oh, I see. Better to avoid it then.

I'll do that. For now.

[creepyoldguy]

A-dog, also known as one Adam Maitland is a ghost from back home. He and his wife B-town Barbara Maitland hired me to help them get breathers outta their home. They are adorable, died together and everything! Without being a murder suicide!

[connie_maheswaran]

Oh!

Um, good for them for not being a murder suicide?

Has anyone ever told you your humor is pretty dark?

[creepyoldguy]

[He laughed, his hair flaring a brighter shade of green in his amusement.]

Oh, yeah, like, all the time!

But it really was cute.