PC: CALEB

[headmt]

Comments

[headmt]

[He just shrugs, arms crossed loosely, but he seems kind of pleased that Caleb seems pleased? Good good good. Successful gesture.]

Not exactly a gift, because you have to give it back, or I'm getting charged the vouchers. And apparently, they're charging me per fucking sword, so, I need those.

But, you know, thought it'd be interesting to see what Chad would give me. I asked him to pick. So tell me if it's anything interesting. Got to say my eyes glazed over about a page into either of them.

[katzepaw]

What did you ask him to pick? Something I'd like?

[He's very happy and sort of skimming it as they walk and talk.]

It's about magic and astronomy. Ah - the way the people of this world view their universe, and their beliefs about the role magic plays. It's not a book for arcane study, exactly, but it will help me a lot in understanding what everyone else here believes. Ah, no, this is good - I attended the physics class, and I felt that I wanted to understand the concepts, but I was missing some of the foundation I would need, since they conceive of their universe without planar geography or magical theory. Maybe now I understand what I'm missing, and then I understand what they're seeing and whether I can glean anything from it even the great arcanists didn't know, ja?

[headmt]

[This is.

Wow.

A lot of nerd at once. He's not so much listening to the ramble as much as just sort of looking over, a little - almost confused, like, holy shit, I've barely heard this man talk this much at me ever.]

If anyone can get all of that from one book, I suppose it'd be you? [ But it's actually pretty adorable he's so happy about it? ] Actually, I asked Chad to give me some of his favorites. To surprise me. I was curious what he'd pick. I mentioned your names, so maybe he picked up on it.

[katzepaw]

[Huh. Maybe he should talk to Chad.]

A generous fellow, then. Maybe we've misjudged him?

[headmt]

Not so bad, not so bad. I think he doesn't like being dug at like a diamond mine of information is all.

[He likes Chad quite a bit more after that little conversation.]

The other one-- Ah. Honestly I could see the letters in that one I've just given you, but the other one is full of . . . numbers and symbols and such. Gave me something of a headache to look at it. Had some written notes in, so I gave it to Beauregard. Thought she might find something interesting, maybe?

[katzepaw]

Sounds right. Maybe she will pretend she isn't interested, but she will like to decipher some secret notes and learn a little something about the author.

[headmt]

Yes-- Yeah. That's what I thought. With the-- [Gesturing like. Writing.] Notes. I don't know. If she doesn't like hers, she can come and steal yours.

[He reaches over to tap the book.]

Anyway, I recognized - few of the symbols in there at least. [He sort of half-gestures at his back, where the tattoo has the astrological symbols around the moon phases.]

[katzepaw]

Alchemical symbols. I'll have to do some reading to unpack it.

[But he still seems pleased.]

. . . Have you done your tasks so far? Your extra credit?

[headmt]

Going to help me with my homework?

[But he just nods.]

It wasn't particularly difficult. People talk about all sorts of things at you when you're flipping the cards for them. Barely even had to prompt.

And the tasks, well, most of the questions are horseshit, if you ask me. Who knows how far they'll go until you're actually doing it? Met plenty a man who'd said he'd die for something and run when the swords are out. I imagine everyone's ideal future looks, well. Similar, right? And conflict. Conflict. Everyone has conflicts these days.

But I don't mind talking about the people I like so much.

[katzepaw]

Oh, you like some people?

[But no, this is a very Mollymauk answer; always so sure about everything and what he believes. Arrogant and a little baffling, but somewhat refreshing. He has to bite back a laugh at everyone having the same hopes for the future.]

You may be right about some of that. But I don't know if Principal Bear will care whether you think it is horseshit.

[headmt]

Lots of folks know about Yasha now, of course.

[He huffs a bit of a laugh at the Principal Bear thing, like he does every time.]

Do I care what a bear thinks about most of my thoughts? I barely care what people think.

[katzepaw]

If this is actually a storybook bear, I'm a monkey. Apparently he is holding on to all our items for us so we cannot get an unfair advantage towards graduation.

[headmt]

[Caleb out here confirming evolution exists in Exandria.]

For the record, you can get a discount on voucher order if you get it through the right Dorm Head. Chad said I could get swords for maybe five vouchers each. Someone else might charge nine.

[katzepaw]

Good to know. [. . .] I want my fucking books returned to me, but it would probably be more useful to ask for some cantrips. Luke told me at least five vouchers minimum for a little magic, if not more.

[headmt]

[Nodding, nodding. He pauses and looks at his hand, the one with the red eye on the front and back.]

Maybe I save up for a little something instead. A little more surprising than just a sword to suddenly be blind.

[katzepaw]

A sword seems like it has a little more versatility, though.

[headmt]

Suppose you can blind someone perfectly well with a sword.

[katzepaw]

And if it doesn't take, easy to try again. [. . .] You know, I'd lend you vouchers to get the sword. More useful if there's a fight for you to have one than for me to have some weak little cantrip.

[headmt]

[Oh. That's nice? That's really nice.]

I-- Maybe? Let's see how free they are with these things. Ideally we can get you something better than a cantrip, too, right?

[He tilts his head.]

If I pay for the-- thing that turns my blood to ice, suppose I wouldn't even need a real sword. You know the one of mine is just made of glass.

[katzepaw]

Ja, sure. Well, you give me the vouchers back down the line and I get magic. Let's just get something quickly so it isn't all on Beauregard if something happens.

[headmt]

[A little off the forehead two fingered salute at that.]

Sure.

[But,]

You do your tasks, then? Your extra credit?

[katzepaw]

I did them. One left to ask, if I'm going to do all four, but I'm not asking you because I agree these are stupid.

[headmt]

So you're going to do all four?

[Hrgmghrhm. He doesn't want to.]

[katzepaw]

It sounded like if you did the one related to your dorm, it could be better, so I thought might as well.

[. . . Sighing.]

If you need to ask me any to get them out of the way, I can't promise I'll answer well.

[headmt]

Well. If you want to twist meanings, suppose we've already had a conversation about a conflict.

[Does that count?]