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

[strangeandunusual]

[she's grinning, but she's blushing a little regardless]

You can just call me Lydia, Connie, it's okay. I think you're the first person who's actually called me a Princess like that.

[connie_maheswaran]

Sure, but no one has? You are one, aren't you?

[strangeandunusual]

I am, but there are so many others that no one really uses it as a title. It'd be like me calling you Warrior Connie, or calling the guy who fixed my Dad's phone Telephone Jim. It's just a job, really. I'm not actually in charge of anything.

[connie_maheswaran]

[Connie laughs a little] Telephone Jim, hehe...

All right. I was just trying to sort of make sure we made distinctions of title, since it seems the princesses are pretty important.

Also? I don't think I'd really mind being called "warrior Connie," but that's just the silly side of me talking.

[strangeandunusual]

[the fact that she made Connie laugh is encouraging, and Lydia grins]

Well, then, you can call me Princess Lydia if I can call you Warrior Connie. I'm never above being a little silly. Besides, we're all important here. I wouldn't be able to do what I do if I didn't have everyone in the other classes looking out for me. Princesses are the only ones who can heal, yeah, but we're also the most vulnerable to the Corrosion. It's like ... what's that Chinese thing? Yin and yang!

[connie_maheswaran]

In that case, I'll call you that when Shoggoth isn't listening, so he won't get on your case too much about it.

Right, of course! I mean, what good is anyone without their team! You'd be surprised how hard it is to hammer that into the head of people who think their part is crucial. They might mean well, but without a team, you're just asking for trouble.

[Connie thought about this a moment].

How have your teams been doing, against this Corrosion stuff? What's their rate of success?

I actually looked @ the Mission board for this b/c I am lame

[strangeandunusual]

[she cackled] Oh my gosh, please call him that as often as possible, that's hilarious. He's ... on my team. Definitely. I trust him. But that doesn't mean I can't have fun teasing him.

It's ... hm. Well, we've cleared the entire Jungle, and that only took us about five months or so ... and then we weren't able to get to anything new until fairly recently. But the Bayou missions seem to be going well too ... sometimes we fail, though. I'd say our rate of success is about ... fifty percent, give or take. But a lot of that has to do with the nature of some of the magic. Fairies and Mystics in particular have pretty unpredictable powers. My friend Fenton tried to summon a big book full of camping information on his first mission, and instead he got a blank book big enough to use as a tent. We turned it into a big scrapbook when we got home, but .... yeah.

[she's probably seen the book in question: it's in the apartment lobby, filling up steadily with photos of the Apprentices and all the places they've been]

No problem cross referencing, that definitely can help

[connie_maheswaran]

Oh, I will. I bet most people call him Betelgueist, but I figured Shoggoth sounded way more interesting. No, I bet. He speaks pretty highly of you.

Right. The jungle. Cleared. I'm writing some of this down so I can remember for next time. So the class of Faerie and Mystics have unstable early magic. I've met Fenton, I'll ask him about it the next time I see him.

How do the other classes rate as far as magic and its nature goes?

[strangeandunusual]

Fenton's great, he's such a total sweetheart. I'm glad he was one of the first people you met. You know, I've got a bunch of notes in my spellbook ... it's a little more of a hodgepodge notebook than anything else. You're welcome to come over and copy out of it if you want. I've got cocoa and stuff for sandwiches.

[connie_maheswaran]

Oh, I got that! It was strange to be approached by a walking dressed up duck at first, then I realized he was actually nicer than some regular adults that I know back home, and even some aliens."

There was a manual? I didn't know that! I'll look through it immediately!"

[strangeandunusual]

Well, there's kind of a manual that they put in everyone's room? It's not much, just the basics. The notebook I mentioned is mine, stuff I write down as I learn things.

[connie_maheswaran]

Oh. In that case, I'll opt for your notebook. If I need just the basics, I can probably just ask someone.

[strangeandunusual]

What room are you in? I can come find you, or you can come downstairs and visit. My roommate's off patrolling, which is her fancy word for sulking.

[she had decided she was pretty much done sugar-coating Mal for other people. she could still love her despite her mess, so maybe other people would learn to, too]

(Locked)

[creepyoldguy]

[In the snootiest tones his rasping voice could muster, coupled with the biggest shit-eating-grin ever,]

Pre-sent-ing her Royal Highness, Princess Deetz of Neeeew York.

[And an over-the-top bow to finish it all off.]

Oh, no. I forgot that’d also make you Duchess of Connecticut. My bad.

[He’s sure he’ll be on the receiving end later, especially considering his entire name was broadcast earlier, but, he couldn’t resist. ]

[strangeandunusual]

Of course you'd be my Town Crier, you've got the biggest mouth. I hereby dub thee Lawrence the Loud.

[creepyoldguy]

Ooooh, a title! Look at me coming up in the world!

[strangeandunusual]

Two if you count being gallery handyman, B.J.

[wink]

[creepyoldguy]

OH! Oh! Oh! That's right! I'm gonna need a fancy-schmancy jacket so I can put ribbons on it designating all my new hoity-toity titles, so everyone can be jealous of me and wish they were half as a-ma-zing as me!

[And you can practically hear his mind click and chunk as he switches gears.]

OR A TOOL BELT. HOLY SCHMOKES, I SHOULD GET ONE OF THOSE!

Or both! I could manage both.

[strangeandunusual]

Your regular jacket would be fancy if you washed it more. I'm just saying.

[she DID hear those gears, and it was amusing as heck.]

If you wear a fancy jacket while you're fixing things, you're going to mess it up. Maybe not both at the same time. If you actually know how to use some tools, I might be able to get you a belt. Counts as a business expense.

[creepyoldguy]

It takes forever to empty out the pockets.

[Huh. Lydia did bring up a good point.]

Sure, I know how to use tools! In theory. Haven't actually ever had to use tools, given the whole demonic powers thing, but, how hard could it be?

[strangeandunusual]

Those are usually famous last words, but since you're already sorta dead ... tell you what, I'll get you the manuals anyway.

[what was she getting herself into. he'd probably just try and make them work using magic anyway]

[creepyoldguy]

UGH. Manuals? As in reading?

[Then again....]

....ooh....a sad puppet show with MULTIPLE CHARACTERS? Like a puppet Les Miserables! Only with 20% more fire.

again, keywords

[strangeandunusual]

[this look]

pfffft

[creepyoldguy]

[Big smile!]

[strangeandunusual]

If you're burning everyone in the cast, it's more like a dramatization of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.