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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 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
Date: 2025-07-01 04:31 pm (UTC)Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-01 04:36 pm (UTC)Re: Before Class
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."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 04:25 am (UTC)"Good lord, I had forgotten- I mean- Yes. Yes, quite. Happy to see the Professor so comfortable among us. Quite glad."
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 07:40 am (UTC)Devil must have also thought so, because he had buried his face in his arms and, although no noises came from him, the shaking of his body suggested repressed laughter.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 04:51 pm (UTC)He's absolutely sure what's so funny about it, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it, still a bit red around the ears.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 06:11 pm (UTC)"I'm not," Devil said cheekily, raising his head and leaning it on a propped up hand, "considering he and I were teasing you the first class over how crazy you are about me, I'd say they can take it."
Maven rolled her eyes, a light blush on her cheeks at the memory, "You are not helping honey. Also you realize that you are opening yourself to being teased next, right?" she finished with a smile in his direction.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 06:32 pm (UTC)Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-04 10:32 pm (UTC)Someone unfamiliar might take his anger as real, especially given how sensitive he can be, but Maven could see there was no real heat to it. Plus, with how weird things had gotten between him and Tailor, she knew he was missing some fun and friendly teasing and antagonism, even if she knew he was in denial of thinking of Tailor as a friend in the first place.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-05 05:52 am (UTC)Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-05 03:11 pm (UTC)(In retrospect the fact that they didn't say it couldn't happen, just that it was disgusting, should have been a tip off; if they considered him wrong and lesser over a lot of things, why should this be any different)
It took a while to even admit to himself, much less Maven.
But now, while he had trouble admitting many things, this was not one of them.
And while he sometimes had difficulty with being publicly tender and romantic, with the right motivation...
He grinned at that, apparently seeing it as a challenge, "Oh ho ho, I guess it's back to being Maven's turn to be teased~"
Maven turned quickly to him, "What do you-"
The Brash Devil stood up and leaned over to her ear, cupping one hand around it. He shot the Socialite a look as if to tease them about all the romantic stuff they were gonna miss out on hearing (considering how openly the Socialite had expressed a love for love right from their very first meeting), and then started whispering in her ear, careful to regulate his body so his breath didn't come out scalding onto her skin. To top it off, his other hand had reached for one of Maven's and had interlaced their fingers together. (so openly in front of the class too!)
Maven's demeanor gradually changed. Where there was once confusion was being replaced with shy demureness of one trying incredibly hard to keep from melting into a giggling mess. Her face was growing ever more red as the Devil went on, her smile growing tender. Her other hand had come up and was fiddling with one of the locks of hair that frame her face as she listened. At one point he must've said something particularly sweet because it looked like she was about to be near tears at that point. It was all very cute and romantic, like something out of an old regency romance.
Then he glanced at the Socialite again, and with a glint in his eye and a mischievous grin seemed to make a decision in that moment. He whispered something else and... did the Socialite hear his name?
Whatever it was, it made Maven suddenly tense, eyed wide and face somehow going even redder. She pushed his face away, looking scandalized but laughing as she barely managed to keep her voice from yelling as it cracked from the embarrassment, "For goodness sakes we are in a classroom!"
The Devil just laughed in response as her hand squished into his cheek, clearly having gotten the exact reaction he was hoping to get with whatever he had said last.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-05 03:28 pm (UTC)Then his name was said.
Watching the expression shift, even without knowing what was said, the Socialite still felt positively scandalized! What a wonderful feeling. They turned away, hand covering a mouth biting a lip. Barely heard under their breath was a muffled "Mary, Mother of... Goodness gracious..." And he didn't even know what was being said!
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-06 12:26 am (UTC)The sound Maven made at whatever it was he said could only be described as a mouse-like squeak of a laugh. This time she grabbed his face with one hand, giving him a light glare but obviously fighting a smile, "Stop being so incorrigible!"
Devil gave her an impudent grin, "Why? What are you gonna do, squeak like a mouse some more?"
Maven finally smiled, giving him a kiss and laughing indulgently, "That is a good question, whatever am I going to do with you?"
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-06 12:55 am (UTC)Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-06 03:37 am (UTC)Devil just sat back down with a grin, clearly not as remorseful as Maven.
Re: Before Class
Date: 2025-07-06 03:49 am (UTC)Re: Before Class
From:Re: Before Class
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