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benthic_universityAs the students filed in, The Academic arrived, wheeling a book cart. On one side, stacked high, were a number of small boxes. The purveyor’s whole name wasn’t legible, but from the classroom seats, the words “-Educational Picture Postcards and Assorted Souvenir Stationery” were boldly visible.” The other side of the cart had still more boxes, and something bottled and unforgettable gleamed inside. The Academic quickly folded those boxes closed, walked to a far side of the room, and closed them into a filing cabinet, before securing it with a rather nasty-looking correspondence lock.
“You’ll get that when you’re good and ready,” The Academic drawled, returning to the cart and lifting another box, “but the world’s finest pigments mean nothing at all without the proper…” and here they dropped the box thudding on the nearest bench: “paper!”
From the trim, tidy packaging, they produced a series of twee, doily-covered notebooks. Their pupil contracted at the garish sight, lips drawing back into a hiss. Suspiciously, they thumbed through the contents, relief diluting their disgust.
“Wretched and garish as they are, each of these are filled with fifty sheets of F.F. Gebrant’s Flame-Resilient Paper. These are professional-quality materials, and can safely accommodate three correspondence symbols at a time, as well as any English notes you might take alongside the symbols. The covers may be too precious by half, but you oughtn’t be. I can avail myself of a practically bottomless source, so use them up and ask for more as you require.”
“Let’s break them in with some fairly standard notes in English, shall we?” Chalk hit board, and the lecture began. "I want you to start thinking about what The Correspondence can do for you. Let us start with the two major skill sets: Crimson Engineer, and the Epistolant."
"The Crimson Engineer invents and develops technology. There are numerous subfields, any of which is well worth your consideration.”
“Aerosenautics is the application of Crimson Engineering to sustained flight. This is a very lucrative and currently developing field, due to increased interest in airships after the recent failed invasion by some misguided sects of Starved Men. The Khanate and the Iron Republic have made impressive strides and impressive craft, but I have personally overseen the work of genius minds here in London. You will not go hungry; and the miracle of flight is a rare privilege attainable by these slim few.”
“Locksmith. A simple name for the single most in-demand trade we’ll discuss today. Why do so many people want locks crafted in correspondence? It's such a specific usage! Well, the public has it in mind, and anyone with anything important to store- especially things that are hard, cold, and inflammable- love to have new safes. This occupation will net you plenty of jobs, both in the locking and unlocking of carefully-tuned safety mechanisms.”
“Our subject can also be applied to living organisms, through a surgical field known as Batbiorangilogical Studies. It is a more precise surgical field than Shapeling Arts, but it is also significantly more lethal when mishandled. Shapeling Arts involve the transmission and absorption of vital essences. Batbiorangilogical studies involve meticulous surgical comprehension.”
“Of course, there is room for generalists. But studying with colleagues is the best way to improve your skills, so it’s fine to pick a focus and change later.”
"On the other side, there are those who study The Correspondence with a strict linguistic focus.” Was that a wry smile? Could there be a hint of bias in this next bit? These are Epistolants. Rather than breaking the laws of physics directly, Epistolants avail themselves of the power of the written word as an art form. This makes use of the natural suggestive charms of both Correspondence and other tongues, meaning that there are no limits. All forms of communication can be utilized: written, spoken, sculpted, painted, auditory, textile, really, anything at all!”
“The dangers of this focus are more commonly mental and spiritual. Philosophical truths will reveal themselves to you. But more frequently, mistakes will cause useless information to burn itself into your mind, masquerading as items of vital importance. And a careless or wicked writer may do this, purposefully, to others.”
“Pure Epistolography is in letter-writing. Those who cannot read nor write will hire scribes to write for them. You'll frequently pick up work in simple english. But there will be nothing simple about your english. It will not be your duty to take simple, word-for-word dictation, but to communicate the feelings of the sender to the recipient.”
"Transchromators convey meaning from Correspondence to another language. In your cases, most likely English. You'll need to do a little of that, no matter which discipline you choose. However, as the name suggests, transchromators also must be capable of handling correspondence in its purest form: light and heat itself. Yes, this does require obtaining a license to handle otherwise illegal contraband, such as mirrorcatch boxes of sunlight."
“Poets/Composers. Based on the themes which have been popular in the past decade, I can confidently state that there is still a rich and thriving future in celestial and uplifting correspondence poetry. Something to bring light to weary and tired souls. Especially if you're musically inclined.”
“Legal work. You are not to break the laws, but to weave them. This will bring you into frequent contract- er, contact, with our infernal neighbors. If you like the challenge of technicality, there are no more suitable frontiers.”
"Now, I have neglected to mention it, but there is another option: You could, also, teach." Suddenly animated with false joy, they gestured, making no attempt at all to hide the bitterness chrining just below the surface. "If you've nothing at all better to do, why not waste your precious years of good health decomposing into a husk well before you'd ever considered shopping for your first set of tomb-bandages? What a lark! What joy!" The Academic seemed to come to their senses, remembering that they did in fact have a colleague here in class, who sometimes saw fit to wear bandages. They coughed awkwardly. “Well. I suppose there isn’t anything of itself wrong with teaching. If you’ve the choice to do it, that is.”
The thought lead into something much more soothing, and a new, satisfied expression taking its turn in the Academic’s eyes. “However, when I am at my regular occupation, then I am what is referred to as an "Emmistolant." In all avenues of life, it is not what you know, but who you know. And facilitating that communication is my trade. I need not hide myself behind my letters, nor remain cooped up in dry study. My travels take me to all corners of The Neath, discussing any number of strange matters with any type of person.”
“Every being is useful. They need only be introduced to the people who can make use of them, or to help their skills flourish. Misused as I am in this class, this administration has got one thing correct: For each of the professions I've described, I could see fit to write your chipper young careers a letter of introduction or referral.” The Academic paced the room. “But my recommendations hold more weight than the tonnage of a Standing-Stone at The Hurlers. I do not lift my pen without very good reason, and only the students whom I trust not to embarrass me on a grotesque and personal level will be ferried along to my lofty contacts. However, if you can manage some measure of esteem in this class, the one bright spot in this whole laughable summer would be in connecting those worthy with future careers as Correpondents."
A hint of pride. The Academic spoke honestly, genuinely hoping to write several letters by the end of the course.
“Now, if you’ve done your homework, you should be fresh and ready for this week’s tasks. If not, then you are going to have a very taxing morning, indeed. For the rest of today, you’ll be communicating with each other, using nothing but your current understanding of the correspondence, and the syllabary from the board.”
The Academic walked from one side of the boards to the other, pushing each up, revealing a large set of simple correspondence symbols. Unlike last week’s grid, this array did not trigger any immediate effects. The danger would likely come- as they’d been warned week one- in the night. As the Academic pushed the final board, they turned their heel in a very funny way, and gestured with their off hand. Their sleeve flowed behind the arm in a rather peculiar way. Almost like an additional limb.
“Proper Correspondence Symbols layer these in a way you aren’t quite ready for yet. So instead, you’re going to practice with a different format: Subject, verb, object. Using this simple “SVO” structure, find a partner and communicate in short sentences, no longer than three words long. You should be able to safely inscribe any number of these symbols on a single sheet without turning your notebooks to tinder, so have at it. See what you can learn with such a limited vocabulary. And only communicate this way. I don’t want to hear a single word of The Empress' English until the end of practice time.”
The Academic pointed over to a sitting-area they’d prepared. “That verbal luxury is reserved for each of you, one at a time. Come over when you’re ready, and discuss your classroom goals, and which focus might’ve caught your ear.”
“The rest of you, get to it!”
“You’ll get that when you’re good and ready,” The Academic drawled, returning to the cart and lifting another box, “but the world’s finest pigments mean nothing at all without the proper…” and here they dropped the box thudding on the nearest bench: “paper!”
From the trim, tidy packaging, they produced a series of twee, doily-covered notebooks. Their pupil contracted at the garish sight, lips drawing back into a hiss. Suspiciously, they thumbed through the contents, relief diluting their disgust.
“Hm. Well. The paper is of the requested quality. That’s enough, I suppose.” The Academic passed a notebook to the nearest student, and gestured for that student to pass it down, in turn. Soon enough, each student was in possession of a notebook.
“Wretched and garish as they are, each of these are filled with fifty sheets of F.F. Gebrant’s Flame-Resilient Paper. These are professional-quality materials, and can safely accommodate three correspondence symbols at a time, as well as any English notes you might take alongside the symbols. The covers may be too precious by half, but you oughtn’t be. I can avail myself of a practically bottomless source, so use them up and ask for more as you require.”
“Let’s break them in with some fairly standard notes in English, shall we?” Chalk hit board, and the lecture began. "I want you to start thinking about what The Correspondence can do for you. Let us start with the two major skill sets: Crimson Engineer, and the Epistolant."
"The Crimson Engineer invents and develops technology. There are numerous subfields, any of which is well worth your consideration.”
“Aerosenautics is the application of Crimson Engineering to sustained flight. This is a very lucrative and currently developing field, due to increased interest in airships after the recent failed invasion by some misguided sects of Starved Men. The Khanate and the Iron Republic have made impressive strides and impressive craft, but I have personally overseen the work of genius minds here in London. You will not go hungry; and the miracle of flight is a rare privilege attainable by these slim few.”
“Locksmith. A simple name for the single most in-demand trade we’ll discuss today. Why do so many people want locks crafted in correspondence? It's such a specific usage! Well, the public has it in mind, and anyone with anything important to store- especially things that are hard, cold, and inflammable- love to have new safes. This occupation will net you plenty of jobs, both in the locking and unlocking of carefully-tuned safety mechanisms.”
“Our subject can also be applied to living organisms, through a surgical field known as Batbiorangilogical Studies. It is a more precise surgical field than Shapeling Arts, but it is also significantly more lethal when mishandled. Shapeling Arts involve the transmission and absorption of vital essences. Batbiorangilogical studies involve meticulous surgical comprehension.”
“Of course, there is room for generalists. But studying with colleagues is the best way to improve your skills, so it’s fine to pick a focus and change later.”
"On the other side, there are those who study The Correspondence with a strict linguistic focus.” Was that a wry smile? Could there be a hint of bias in this next bit? These are Epistolants. Rather than breaking the laws of physics directly, Epistolants avail themselves of the power of the written word as an art form. This makes use of the natural suggestive charms of both Correspondence and other tongues, meaning that there are no limits. All forms of communication can be utilized: written, spoken, sculpted, painted, auditory, textile, really, anything at all!”
“The dangers of this focus are more commonly mental and spiritual. Philosophical truths will reveal themselves to you. But more frequently, mistakes will cause useless information to burn itself into your mind, masquerading as items of vital importance. And a careless or wicked writer may do this, purposefully, to others.”
“Pure Epistolography is in letter-writing. Those who cannot read nor write will hire scribes to write for them. You'll frequently pick up work in simple english. But there will be nothing simple about your english. It will not be your duty to take simple, word-for-word dictation, but to communicate the feelings of the sender to the recipient.”
"Transchromators convey meaning from Correspondence to another language. In your cases, most likely English. You'll need to do a little of that, no matter which discipline you choose. However, as the name suggests, transchromators also must be capable of handling correspondence in its purest form: light and heat itself. Yes, this does require obtaining a license to handle otherwise illegal contraband, such as mirrorcatch boxes of sunlight."
“Poets/Composers. Based on the themes which have been popular in the past decade, I can confidently state that there is still a rich and thriving future in celestial and uplifting correspondence poetry. Something to bring light to weary and tired souls. Especially if you're musically inclined.”
“Legal work. You are not to break the laws, but to weave them. This will bring you into frequent contract- er, contact, with our infernal neighbors. If you like the challenge of technicality, there are no more suitable frontiers.”
"Now, I have neglected to mention it, but there is another option: You could, also, teach." Suddenly animated with false joy, they gestured, making no attempt at all to hide the bitterness chrining just below the surface. "If you've nothing at all better to do, why not waste your precious years of good health decomposing into a husk well before you'd ever considered shopping for your first set of tomb-bandages? What a lark! What joy!" The Academic seemed to come to their senses, remembering that they did in fact have a colleague here in class, who sometimes saw fit to wear bandages. They coughed awkwardly. “Well. I suppose there isn’t anything of itself wrong with teaching. If you’ve the choice to do it, that is.”
The thought lead into something much more soothing, and a new, satisfied expression taking its turn in the Academic’s eyes. “However, when I am at my regular occupation, then I am what is referred to as an "Emmistolant." In all avenues of life, it is not what you know, but who you know. And facilitating that communication is my trade. I need not hide myself behind my letters, nor remain cooped up in dry study. My travels take me to all corners of The Neath, discussing any number of strange matters with any type of person.”
“Every being is useful. They need only be introduced to the people who can make use of them, or to help their skills flourish. Misused as I am in this class, this administration has got one thing correct: For each of the professions I've described, I could see fit to write your chipper young careers a letter of introduction or referral.” The Academic paced the room. “But my recommendations hold more weight than the tonnage of a Standing-Stone at The Hurlers. I do not lift my pen without very good reason, and only the students whom I trust not to embarrass me on a grotesque and personal level will be ferried along to my lofty contacts. However, if you can manage some measure of esteem in this class, the one bright spot in this whole laughable summer would be in connecting those worthy with future careers as Correpondents."
A hint of pride. The Academic spoke honestly, genuinely hoping to write several letters by the end of the course.
“Now, if you’ve done your homework, you should be fresh and ready for this week’s tasks. If not, then you are going to have a very taxing morning, indeed. For the rest of today, you’ll be communicating with each other, using nothing but your current understanding of the correspondence, and the syllabary from the board.”
The Academic walked from one side of the boards to the other, pushing each up, revealing a large set of simple correspondence symbols. Unlike last week’s grid, this array did not trigger any immediate effects. The danger would likely come- as they’d been warned week one- in the night. As the Academic pushed the final board, they turned their heel in a very funny way, and gestured with their off hand. Their sleeve flowed behind the arm in a rather peculiar way. Almost like an additional limb.
“Proper Correspondence Symbols layer these in a way you aren’t quite ready for yet. So instead, you’re going to practice with a different format: Subject, verb, object. Using this simple “SVO” structure, find a partner and communicate in short sentences, no longer than three words long. You should be able to safely inscribe any number of these symbols on a single sheet without turning your notebooks to tinder, so have at it. See what you can learn with such a limited vocabulary. And only communicate this way. I don’t want to hear a single word of The Empress' English until the end of practice time.”
The Academic pointed over to a sitting-area they’d prepared. “That verbal luxury is reserved for each of you, one at a time. Come over when you’re ready, and discuss your classroom goals, and which focus might’ve caught your ear.”
“The rest of you, get to it!”
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 11:47 am (UTC)If their Nightmares could be rated in a scale from 0 to 8, they'll be barely 4They finally chose today to drop incomfortable ways of covering an unnecessary charade, not with this class, and freely show their facial features. Crimson and cream-colored scales covering their skin, thin lips hardly concealing two sharp fangs (and maybe something else? Attached to the inside of the cheek, or the jaw?), reptillian eyes with slitted pupils, although those seem to have started to divide in one, maybe two points? Their hair still looks human, but for some locks that seem harder, like setae? Their hands are equally scaled and bearing black sharp claws, nicely tended to. When sitting a tail is made aparent.
They're excited! Looking around to their fellow classmates and gladly checking they seem to have fended off their dreams well. Their gaze lingers in the Mycologist as well. And then in the hilarious notebooks. Such a cute cover, they can't help but feel it with their fingers. The obvious disdain from the Academic only makes them cuter.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 01:50 pm (UTC)"How remarkable..."
It was fully audible and fully, curiously, intriguingly adoring of the features, and yet his hands flew to his mouth as if he'd uttered the worst swear imaginable, growing reddish around the ears. He obviously hadn't meant to say that out loud, but it was too late now.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 02:03 pm (UTC)"Good morning to you too, Doctor. I reckon yours isn't the most common reaction I get when I decide to show myself." spoken with a smile, wider than human but that only conveys more emotion this time, fangs at display, and something more (pedipalps?) shyly retracted.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 02:20 pm (UTC)'If you were on my operating table, I would adore autopsying you. No, scratch that, we needn't be so violent. A biopsy will do. A living study, an enamoured look into your anatomy, inside and out, as it's functioning as normal. There are, of course, other ways to go about studying a body, but those methods are not suitable for the classroom. I would love to try kissing you. May I please feel your skin? Would you be willing to open your jaw wider and let me inspect it? May I see the whole of you? May I kiss you? I'm so very curious about how kissing you would go, please let me kis--'
The Socialite coughed, turning back to the notebook on the desk. "Ah, yes, I suppose it would be abnormal, though I do still apologize. To comment on one's appearance, even positively, without the will of the one being observed is... uncouth, as it were. I had not meant to draw attention."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 02:35 pm (UTC)"No need to apologize at all, it's been a pleasant surprise. And about polite considerations, well. I personally believe intent is as important as what's said, so in this case I'll consider it a good thing between classmates."
Is that a playful smirk being repressed at all costs? Maybe the Mycologist made them a bit too comfortable with this kind of thing again... But won't press the Socialite, taking one step back to give them space.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 03:09 pm (UTC)Internally, the prolonged statement was giving the Socialite time to reign in those wild and uncontrolled thoughts, steadily filtering them into socially acceptable compliments and minor curiosity. When he had finished, he breathed and looked back up at the Professor, subtly less reddened and smiling softly. "Of course, learning how you work would be an honor and a privilege."
Ah. One thought had slipped loose. Perhaps not the worst one, but the array of implications in that statement alone had the Socialite frozen, realizing their mistake. They ran through every possible excuse for the statement, none of them saving their arse from the inevitable misconstruing of their meaning.
"I am terribly sorry..."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 03:28 pm (UTC)"That... Could... Be... Arranged..." Spoken slowly, carefully as one would approach a skitty animal. "It won't be the first time I've been in the less interesting side of an autopsy. Amber can make it less gruesome as well, when applied properly..."
Is this what he meant? Certainly sounds interesting enough. The Professor is always up to be an interesting subject for one curious researcher.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 03:53 pm (UTC)Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 04:21 pm (UTC)"Breathe, dear Doctor, be calm. Lest you morbidly compliment me again." They can't help but add, thinking if they should be regretting that, but too late. "How about we talk after class, once we had time to clear the mind about what we think or not."
Re: Before Class
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Date: 2025-07-01 04:40 pm (UTC)Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 01:51 am (UTC)She instead settled on the most mild of responses and said, "It's nice that the Professor feels so comfortable around us now, that he feels able to come without the coverings they've been wearing up until now."
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Date: 2025-07-01 03:41 pm (UTC)Yet.. a memory teased their recall. A mention of the art of shaping bodies, taught by the same friend who normally sits in that same spot. "Are you the Professor?" they blurted out, without thought on if it was rude or not to question someone's identity.
They hadn't even begun their scones yet.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 04:15 pm (UTC)"Right you are, Thursday. So nice to see you this time, I was worried when you didn't attend last class. I'm afraid you lost a pretty interesting bit, but I'm certain you could make up for it, maybe talking with the Emissary, or sharing what insight I recall."
They notice Thursday's spectacles and smile. "Have those been helpful? They suit you well."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 05:34 pm (UTC)"It's nice to see you too, to uh, actually see you." Thursday took a good look at their friend, awe creeping into their expression. "You're very good at body shapeling."
"Yeah, was worried I'd miss something fun. Just my luck," she grumbled. "It'd be really helpful to hear your insights though. Having different views gives more of a clue to the big picture."
"Oh! Uhm, thanks! I was getting them fitted last week, they're semi-semiotic, thought it'd be smart." Thursday tilted his glasses, and let the coating catch the light and gleam. Indeed, they bore resemblance to other lenses in the room. "Been helpful, yeah, I'm still getting lost trying to get here, but I can read the damn signs now, so... I think I'm making progress."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 05:55 pm (UTC)"And it was actually fascinating! The Emissary prepared grids of Correspondence symbols in the blackboards, laced with violant chalk, and looking at them was entrancing! Perhaps too entrancing, as we all ended quite mentally discomforted, and nightmares followed in the night, and every night after. I couldn't be able to recall them all, but I took notes once I got a colder mind at home." Producing some notebooks, containing some revelations on shapes and meanings of Correspondence. It's Fire Resilient Paper, luckily. "I can borrow them to you so you can take your own... But be careful of burnout and distress..."
"And semisemiotic? That's clever! It'll be quite useful for this endeavour. Beyond the benefits of a healthy sight, of course."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 03:30 am (UTC)"Oh.." their face tightened. "I think I have one of those waiting for me tonight. Damn, this is going to be awful, isn't it? Well, having more research would be greatly helpful, and who knows, maybe it'll keep me from going entirely mad." A wry laugh. "Er, well, more than I already- ah, nevermind. The Royal Beth is... strange." They raised their hands, and attempted to imitate rays of light "And bright. And I think the man who runs the place doesn't like my, uh, my," they fumbled for the words, and couldn't find them. "Yea. I don't really want to go back. But... I really want to learn this language." Their words burned with determination. It seems risking a trip to the Beth was worth it for whatever their goal was. "I uh." Again, words eluded them. No, more specifically the words were there, Thursday just couldn't get them out. "It sounds like this might be... bad. To do alone, I mean." Nailed it.
"Oh, I, yeah, I though it would be helpful! Thanks." It felt odd being proud of coming up with that, but there it was, and surely Ángel thought it was something to be proud of.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 07:35 am (UTC)"Red and Gold and Marvelous..." they answered almost automatically at the mention of the Beth, shaking their head quickly. "So recent down here and already know the Beth on the inside? Well, I can't say I lasted much longer either. But please, be careful. What's within those grids is specially taxing for the mind."
Then they immediately had to jump to answer that hinted proposition. "In fact, you shouldn't do it alone. I could go and help with the grids, if you're up to. Make sure it goes well... After all, none of us were alone, and everyone needed someone afterwards. If you tell me when and where you'll do it, I will be there."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-05 07:28 pm (UTC)"I think I need that, yes." They nodded. "I think..." they patted around their jacket, and when that did procure anything, they grabbed their carpet bag to rummage around its not-yet-dumped contents. In the process, several items had to be removed, and placed on the desk, including: Approximately 7 pens, 4 (empty) specimen jars, 1 (occupied) specimin jar with (1) dead phosphorescent scarab, several samples of glim, a spare hat pin, 1 (live) beetle (to whom they exclaimed "You're not meant to be in here!"), a wax cylinder, 13 pence, and at last! The Professor's calling card. "Aha! I can stop by your house sometime this week, and we can study there? My house is... cramped."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-05 10:58 pm (UTC)Then they observed as Thursday digged through his carpetbag, increasingly amused, giggling at the (living) beetle, and then smiling fondly at their own calling card, nodding.
"Of course, I still have some spare Free Evenings and my home will be open for you. I'll just ask for you to notice me at least a couple hours before your arrival? To be prepared and rearrange any possible plans. Then we could get to it. Will that be okay?"
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-06 12:33 am (UTC)Then he held out his hand for the beetle to climb onto. "I have no idea when this fella climbed into my bag! And I have no idea what to do with it. I don't suppose it could learn the Correspondance, but... hmm... Well, I suppose if that other Pupil can carry around companions, maybe I can too." They raised their hand up to the hat, and allowed the beetle to crawl off and onto the brim. There, problem solved!
They replaced the specimen jars within their bag, but held the occupied one aloft. "Found the poor dear like this." There was a previously unheard softness in their voice. "I'm not a fan of taking them alive from their little worlds, but if they're dead then I can take 'em home to study things I can't study while they're living."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-06 08:13 am (UTC)When the other specimen was brought up, the Professor nodded in admiration. "That's a special kind of care, one I'm certain most animals would be thankful for. One can never know what consequences a careless giant like us could bring to their microcosm. But what do you study about them? What interests you the most?"
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-07 04:48 am (UTC)"Mhm, and it wouldn't feel... it wouldn't feel right," the Pawn explained.
Oh, what a question! Not one they had been asked frequently. There was something that delighted the normaly cagey Rev, to be asked about their passions, and not expected to defend it tooth and nail. "Well," he began, a hand tapping his chest, "they're one of the smallest things in our world, but they're some of the most vital! They take energy and nutrients from things other creatures can't, or won't, eat, and then they go on to feed bigger animals, and it goes up and up! But if we didn't have beetles shaping our dirt and soil, then plants wouldn't grow right, or there would be else something wrong, and hundreds or thousands of other species would die either because the food they eat eats beetles, or because they eat beetles themselves!" They had now incorporated a happily tapping foot. "Beetles kinda control the world, you know? But sort of... through collective action! They shape our spaces and how we live, and so do most bugs, you know? But I love how beetles glow, and I like that they've usually got their own armor! And how amazing is it that they can fly? And that they shield their elytra? Plus, I think the ones with horns are really fucking awesome, and they can be so specialized! Course, sometimes this doesn't turn out well for them, but it's fascinating how they got there in the first place. They have interesting behaviors too, so I think there's a lot to like about them!"
ooc: my personal irl special interest is moths, so I'm translating that into beetles for thursday here
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Date: 2025-07-03 06:15 pm (UTC)Goodness. They'd had an idea the Professor was fond of Rubbery changes, especially from how they'd spoken last week, but what stark coloring! Not bad, but eye catching. They could understand why the Professor would usually try to conceal much to those not in the know. And the outfit had disguised the tail quite well. Unless that was new? Who could say?
The Tailor only looked out of the corner of their eye, and sipped their tea, but they were internally thinking about the accommodations and alterations one might need to make to clothes for additional limbs. Customized tailoring for Rubbery society members...
And the Professor seemed happy, at least. You learn something new about the people around you every day.