smk_network | A question

[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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

connie_maheswaran

Exactly.

Plus, while I'm doing that I can try and find out more about this Corrosion stuff. It's a little too vague, that it just comes and destroys things and we fight it. Why is it doing what it does? Who controls it? What makes THIS place so special? There's a lot of pieces to the puzzle, and I won't find it by just lying back in my room and just learning magic.

I mean, there is a lot to do. Getting into the mindset of work is a way to start.

From:

creepyoldguy

It’s bad stuff, no denying that. Kinda like being exorcised.

[Some red crept into his hair.]

Not pleasant.

All valid questions, and you won’t be just sitting back studying, kid, there’s missions to do. Hands on experience.

From:

connie_maheswaran

Believe me, I didn't want to get up close and personal to find out myself. I can take your word for it.

[She was really going to have to ask him about the hair].

No, I figured. And step one, which people keep telling me to put off? I have to get a weapon.

From:

creepyoldguy

[She’d have better luck asking Lydia about it.]

They’ll give you one when you get trained.

From:

connie_maheswaran

I mean, I want one before they train me to use magic. I had a sword back home.

I don't want to get rusty. It's been awhile since I sliced a car in half.

From:

creepyoldguy

What class are you?

Eh, killing is like riding a bike. You’ll be fine.

From:

connie_maheswaran

Warrior.

That's just it. Back home I was REALLY concentrated on my book studies, and we hadn't had to have a real intense fight since that one rogue gem came and tried to blow up my town.

From:

creepyoldguy

They’ll give you a weapon that suits you. Probably in a few days, if I had to guess.

Until then, get creative! Broken bottles, kitchen knives, find something with a little range to it. There are so many things you can do—-

I’m a demon so that stuff isn’t hard. It’s the whole losing my real powers and having to use their bargain basement powers instead. Drawbacks. Ugh.

From:

connie_maheswaran

Oh, good. In the meantime...well, what does one do in the meantime anyway?

I guess I can do that, although I'm not exactly a thug. I should probably just wait until I have my weapon.

That does sound upsetting. So what can you do with the magic they granted you here?

From:

creepyoldguy

Much less than I could do at home. And what I can do? Has drawbacks. It’s pathetic.

From:

connie_maheswaran

All right, well, what are the drawbacks?

From:

creepyoldguy

Depression!

[Jazz hands.]

At least, that’s the most common one I’ve encountered.

From:

connie_maheswaran

Wait, what?

You mean to tell me when you use magic afterward you get depressed?!

From:

creepyoldguy

Mm-hm. Yep. Try to get the number of limbs I want, and get depression.

From:

connie_maheswaran

But I don't understand. How exactly does that work? Why would you even want to use magic if that's the side effect that happens?

Also, demons get depressed? I did not know that was a thing that could happen.

From:

creepyoldguy

Because, sometimes a guy needs three or four arms.

And—well, sure? I mean, feelings are a thing!

[He pouted a little, purple creeping into his hair.]

From:

connie_maheswaran

No, I mean, why would it make you depressed? Shouldn't magic's purpose be to help you?

Sorry! There's still a lot about, well, lots of different people I don't know about.

From:

creepyoldguy

That’s the thing—back home? It just works. Here? There’s all kinds of drawbacks. And it’s just detrimental to helping them.

[Slightly mollified, green crept back, overtaking the purple.]

Ah, s’alright. I’m weird even among demons.

From:

connie_maheswaran

I'm not an expert on magic, so I'm not really sure what is needed to make it...work. Hopefully someone here might have more of an idea of what needs to be applied.

And I really hope it works out better for you.

[Connie had a feeling she would have to be practicing a LOT to perfect this kind of thing].

There are other demons here, right?