10/12 - forward-dated

[strangeandunusual]

[Lydia turns on the video feed while she's sitting in the middle of the garden outside the Graven Image Gallery. She's wearing a black and red dress that looks like Dracula turned a medieval court lady, and holding a notebook shaped like a coffin, her pen topped with a big fuzzy spider with google eyes.]

Hey, everyone! There might be a couple of you I haven't talked to a lot yet, but I'm Lydia Deetz ... one of me, anyway, the one who's been here the longest. There's another version of me, but her hair's shorter and she wears a lot more safety pins on her clothes.

Anyway. I was one of the first Apprentices through the mirror, and I've noticed that trainings have had fewer and fewer people show up. This isn't good, you guys. If the Corroded come by again, or if something else happens? We might not be prepared.

I'm not trying to take charge, and I don't want to. But I was hoping I could at least get people thinking about their powers, and the skills you have that aren't tied to magic. If we put it all here on the network, that way, if anyone does need help for any reason, they know who to ask. And how to find them.

I'll get it started: I'm a Princess, which means I can heal if anyone gets hurt. I can also purify Corroded things, and if anyone's magic needs a boost, I've recently learned how to do that, too. My problem is that if I keep it up for too long, I get dizzy, and if I really push it, I faint ... so I like to have someone around who can help me with that just in case. I can also sew, and bake, and I've been told I give a really good pep talk. So if you're feeling down, don't hesitate to give me a call!

I don't want any of you to think you don't have anything to contribute. Just because you think someone might not find your love of, I don't know, building models? useful, doesn't mean we can't use that for something else. You could help rebuild broken things. Bigger scale, but still applicable, right? I feel like some of us have been living in our boxes for a while, since the last time we had to bring Dreamfinder back. We had a lot of people come and go, and it's ... it's been hard, I know. But we're still here. And I know each and every one of you is here for a reason, and that you can do great things.

So if we can do all those great things separately ... think about what we can do together.. I know we only had one new person show up a few days ago, so training might not officially get set up. If it doesn't? Please consider finding some way to train anyway. The Blue Bayou missions are all done, which means we've got some heavy lifting coming to purify something, the same way it happened at the temple. We need to be ready. And we will. I believe in all of you.

Also: this is less important, but I still wanted to tell you ... the Graven Image is having an anniversary party on Halloween Day! I scheduled it so it wouldn't cut into any parties that might happen at night, but costumes are welcome! I'm remodeling the Gallery to add a new wing, and I think you're all gonna be really excited when you see the surprise. No meeting, no bringing presents necessary, none of that. Just come by and get some cider or cocoa and have fun!

((OOC: She has a top-level in her log post for anyone who wants to meet in person after this, too.))

Comments

[strangeandunusual]

[Harry's initial response to convincing earns a massive grimace]

I don't know, Harry. I want them to decide to do it, themselves. Charming them into it sounds like bullying or mind control ... and some of the people I know would just take the biscuits anyway. I don't want them to do things against their will, I just ... wish they'd see that it's necessary, you know?

[and then: he describes the only sport Lydia might ever willingly play]

There's a sport you play on broomsticks? That sounds amazing! Is the Snitch really made out of gold?

[phoenixwiz]

Okay, scratch that. I guess we’ll need to go for more subtle ways then. Got any suggestions?

Well, it is gold coloured metal, but the effect is still there. Although it was originally played with small birds at first but they became an endangered species over time, so Golden Snitches came to be as their replacement. I wish I could show you one, but it wasn’t with me when I arrived here.

[strangeandunusual]

Not really, that's why I've been asking people for ideas. Everything I've tried over the last year ... there are only so many people it's worked for, and I don't know how to reach the others.

[she thought for a moment about the snitch itself, the concept of chasing a tiny bird as sport]

The poor little Snitches. ... I'm glad they thought of a replacement. Maybe someday your magic will be strong enough that you can make them. As distractions for the Corroded.

[phoenixwiz]

(Harry thinks for a moment before remembering the biscuits and tea part)

We could ask people to take turns providing snacks and drinks for everyone to snack on every month. As mentioned before, I could provide some biscuits and tea. It may not convince everyone to get motivated, but at least no one won’t be hungry during training, right?

I agree with you on the bird replacements as well. You do have a point, Lydia: once I get the hang of this world’s magic, I could try to recreate some Snitches so everyone can try to play a broomless Quidditch game. They may not look exactly like the real things from home, but they shall do the trick while we’re here.

[strangeandunusual]

... Games! [she snaps her fingers, delighted]

Harry, I think you may be on to something. If we make training into a game, it might not seem like work to everyone so much. And having even just some kind of thing every month where people can come and hang out ... besides the one for new arrivals ... that might encourage people, too. Is that something you would be interested in doing for us?

[phoenixwiz]

(Making training like a game of Quidditch? Girl, you are on the same page as Harry too!)

Wait a minute, I’m a bloody genius?!? Hey, that definitely sounds like a brilliant idea, Lydia! I’ll definitely try my best to make that happen. You can meet me later at the Emporium during my lunch break and we can plan this out. (After all, he was both one of the leaders of Dumbledore’s Army and a Quidditch Team Leader for Gryffindor. This is going to be a cakewalk for him.)

[strangeandunusual]

These are exactly the kinds of strengths I was hoping people would focus on when I opened the mirror. Thank you so much! When's your lunch break? I work mornings at the photo center before I head over to my gallery, so I can try to time it so switching jobs lines up.

[phoenixwiz]

At around 12 noon in Carnation Cafe. I will bring along some pens and paper I got from my arrival to jot down ideas for the training.

[strangeandunusual]

I love the Carnation. Have you had their cinnamon roll French Toast yet? It's uh-MAY-zing.

[she paused. pens and paper? oh heck no. if he was going to be helping her plan and run things he'd need more than that. she'd have to arrange to bring him a few surprise gifts]

But yeah, that sounds perfect. Also: just for my reference? What are your favorite colors? I make things for friends when the holidays start rolling around, so I like to have a head start on ideas.

[phoenixwiz]

I had some of the toast for breakfast sometimes before heading for work, pretty brilliant indeed.

(Colors, huh? He has no specific color preferences, although he did got a green sweater from Mrs. Weasley for his first actual Christmas gift back in his First Year and he tends to go for blue in his clothing for some time.)

Oh colors? This is fun. I really like blue and red if you ask me.

[strangeandunusual]

Mm, but was it the regular toast or the French toast? There's a difference. [she winked] French Toast, they dip it in eggs and sweet spices and fry it so it gets all gooey on the inside and crispy on the outside. It's the best when it's chilly out.

[blue and red are easy colors, she knows she has both in abundance as far as paint. what she has in mind will be a snap to pull together before...]

So, tomorrow at noon, then?

[phoenixwiz]

Oh sorry, I thought I was thinking about the French Toast, got mixed up there. Before having to eat it some time ago, I never had a French Toast that tastes like cinnamon rolls before, and yet it actually tastes rather delicious. Reminds me a lot of my friend’s mum’s cooking.

Yeah, tomorrow noon. See you then, Lydia.

want to keep going but skip to lunch? :)

[strangeandunusual]

That's okay! I just know some people here who had never heard of it before, so I wanted to make sure you weren't missing out.

[she grins]

Have a good rest of your day, Harry! Say hi to Eleanor for me.

Will Do (Fast forward to that important lunch meeting)

[phoenixwiz]

Sure thing, Lydia.

(A Day Later. Harry is sitting out at the patio dining area of Carnation Cafe, waiting for Lydia to talk about making training less of a chore. It is also clear that he is still in his Emporium staff’s uniform as he is taking his lunch break here. A menu is on the table for Lydia, while another is within Harry’s hands as he goes through it. When he does get to see her coming, he politely waves back and smiles at her.)

Hi Lydia, nice to see you coming in early.

[strangeandunusual]

[it's not hard to miss the uniform, or that now-familiar unkempt head of hair. Lydia slides into the chair across from him, not even bothering with the menu: she's lived here for over a year, and knows it back to front. instead, she sets a small, oblong, flat package down on top of it. it's tied with a ribbon and a name tag: his name]

Hey, Harry. How has your day been so far? Not too many cranky customers or ghosts messing with the inventory, I hope?

[phoenixwiz]

(Oh, a small package for him. He lifts it from the table and shakes it a bit before checking in with Lydia.)

Really brilliant so far. Not that many customers have a bad day right now besides getting spooked by a few ghosts. And while there are some ghosts who visited the shop at the moment, they didn’t mess with the store inventory: just like to play hide and seek in the dollhouses and snow globes.

[strangeandunusual]

[no noises from within - whatever it is, it's solid. when he unwraps it he'll find a journal in his favorite colors: a nice solid cloth-bound one with a pen loop built into the cover and a new pen waiting. inside, she's written To Harry, for plans and dreams - thanks for lending a hand! ~ Lydia]

That's good. I'm glad the ghosts are behaving themselves... I know some of them can be pretty rude. One of them got into the camera shop and unspooled a few boxes of film, so they were ruined. Joke's on them, though, I turned it all into decorative garlands.

[phoenixwiz]

Oh wow, this is really brilliant! The journal is amazing, thanks.

(He then open up the journal and picking up the pen before chatting with Lydia again.)

They are quite mischievous, right? At least you were able to repurpose the film into something else, that is definitely great to hear. So about making the training less of a chore, we can incorporate some games into each Class training?

[strangeandunusual]

You're welcome. I like having nice journals, they make all my notes feel more official.

[she set up her tea and dunked it up and down idly as she thought]

Some people might be all for games, yeah. The problem is, we have so many different types of people here that I'm not sure everyone would. I can think of at least a few who would think using games for training would be childish and dumb, but ... they're kind of dumb sometimes, themselves, so. I think that's the tricky part. Thinking of ways to get everyone on board. You know?

[phoenixwiz]

Okay, that is understandable. It might take people time to loosen up, although I am pretty sure that we can find a way to make sure that training won’t be too burdensome nor too childish.

(If there is a consolation, compromises do exist somehow. Trying to solve this one problem is one huge task.)

You have a point: Convincing people with various personalities is going to be a hard time, so telling everyone that we’re getting too complicit is not going to work. We are going to gauge how much time and effort are people going to take to practise magic.

[strangeandunusual]

Yeah, exactly. I really do think there's a way to make it work, but we need to know everyone first. It's how we were able to save the Doctor, you know. Everyone knew what they were good at and how those strengths could work together. If we can get it to work with a small group, there's no reason we can't do it for all the Apprentices! ... Maybe starting with a list is a good idea.

[phoenixwiz]

(Lydia, Harry is also thinking the same way too! Why not conducting a survey among the current Apprentices and conducting a small group session to see what everyone is capable of?

Of course, he is making good use of his new journal to scribe down notes on.)

That sounds like a brilliant idea, Lydia. We could post a survey at the apartment lobby or at the castle grounds to gauge all Apprentices’ capabilities (or least all who are still at the Kingdoms). And from that list, we can work around that to see where things might go from there.

[strangeandunusual]

Hmm, yeah!

[she nodded in agreement, pausing to sip at her drink]

And in addition to posting them, you could put something on the mirror networks, too: there are some people who might prefer that to writing things down.

[phoenixwiz]

That sounds likes a brilliant idea, Lydia. I will definitely consider doing that too.

(He is smiling in relief as he too sips on his drink and putting down the suggestion on his journal.)

I appreciate the idea and make the video about the survey on the network.

[strangeandunusual]

You look like you're feeling a little less intimidated by all of this.

[she grinned, but as a thought came to her, her smile faded just a little]

My roommate thinks we should focus on just the people who want to help, and that trying to make anyone else work harder could make them resent us. ... You said you helped organize people before... have you ever run into anything like that?