Correspondence Scholarship, Class Six [Tuesday Morning, July 15]

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Though still moderately charred, the classroom door this week bore no suspicious marks. Students could be forgiven for muttering to themselves as they entered the class, but thankfully, all letters and sounds were free to speak.

The Ex-Disgraced Academic was at the lectern, having completed preparing several diagrams on the blackboards behind them.

“Let’s begin a crucial part of crafting proper Correspondence symbols: layering. You may have noticed two weeks ago, the way that the simple greeting was composed of the radicals for the pronoun “You,” as well as the verb “to like.” It does in fact translate as the base reassurance “you are liked.” Not a bad way to greet someone. It is, however, very formal. You see how the two radicals don’t touch? In the improper context, it could possibly be read as ‘The idea of “you” and “being liked” don’t belong within five-thousand light-years of each other.’ Hm. Not half as nice. A more casual way would look like this…” and here, they crossed the tip of To Like through the tail of You, “…there. A gentle light approaches. The meaning of this symbol will change, as the two bisect each other more closely.” The Academic wrote one across the other. “Beloved.” They raised an eyebrow. “No doubt several of you have your hearts aflutter, ready to stamp this on your next note to your latest beau. But might I offer a moment of pause before you attempt it on paper…”

The Academic erased the board. “To explain, let us turn our attention to the use of adjectives. Similarly to the prior example, the position of the adjective will denote the relationship of the adjective to the noun. An adjective which does not touch a noun can be inferred to have a weak, or even negative meaning.” The Academic pulled down a blank board, inscribed the symbol for fire, then encircled it with an odd shape. “The adjective for great, mighty. With no lines touching or intersecting, the meaning could be translated as: A fire lacking in fortitude or greatness.”



Next, The Academic picked up an atomizer, and next to the first symbol, inscribed a similar one. This time, the circle crossed through all four lines in fire. The chalk had scarcely completed its revolution, whereupon the lines blazed, and smoke billowed up from the stone.

Almost bored, The Academic doused the offending symbol, and turned back toward the class. “As you have seen, the nearer and adjective draws to a noun- here even overlapping the center of it- the more it indicates a strong correlation. A conflagration of devastating proportions/The thunderclap death of the mighty.” They gave the board another spray from over their shoulder, for good measure. “Adjectives are where we begin to cross from statements of relatively objective fact into the world of opinion, passion, and coercion. This is how it becomes a weapon.”

“Perception shapes reality, and language is a means of communicating that reality. It’s also a means of making a case that your perceived reality is the true one. And when enough people agree with you, it’s not impossible to say that reality itself can change.”

“The Correspondence is a means of arguing your case with the laws of physics itself. You’re shining a dim light into your own perspective, and allowing others to see it. Other opinions are capable of making a much stronger argument, especially those who are more fluent in the Correspondence. Eloquent folks are like that. And your only option is to become more learned and eloquent.”

“Today you will be practicing how to write the symbol for A small but merry warmth. This symbol is difficult, and can be found somewhere between the two extremes I’ve demonstrated on the board today.” The Academic went to the lectern, flipped open their own notebook, wrote something, and then placed their teacup atop it. “If you do it correctly, it will be sufficient to keep a cup of tea warm for several hours. The eternal tragedy of forgetting your cup until long after it’s gone cold? A thing of the past, if you can pull this off.” The Academic dipped from their cup, pleased with the results. “I haven’t given you a perfect example, because I want you to be careful. Mis-writing this symbol will have immediate consequences, as will most unnecessary hyperbole. Be judicious in the emphasis you place on your thoughts in The Correspondence. Be…” The Academic thought for a beat, then snapped their claws, “…temperate.”

“Allez.”

Comments

Sign In

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Collapsy-style, if you would.

Re: Sign In

[leviathanlovely]

Casually signing in, The Pupil seemed amped and unaware of most of last weeks issues or otherwise. Dressed fine-enough in a previously torn into pea coat and slacks dappled with the sweet pastels of pinned flowers here and there, their Preening Macaw Belladonna upon her perch with her head held high.

Re: Sign In

[ticktopis_observatorium]

The Chimeric professor steps in the class, earlier than usual, and looking pretty much awake and unburdened of troubles of the mind. This, somehow, seems a source of unease for them. Whichever the case, they sign and get towards their usual front-middle seat.

Before Class

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Settle in, bask in the luxury of having all your vowels in the proper places.

Re: Before Class

[leviathanlovely]

Before anyone got in it seemed as though someone was having fun, drawing on the teachers chalkboard, having a gaff; It seems The Ex-Disgraced Academic was drawn... Is this a mockery or a praise on their professors teaching? Who knows, art is subjective-- It certainly wasn't The Undistinguished Pupil who drew it and a handful of other messy doodles however, how could it be, by the time anyone comes in they're already in their seat setting out their supplies for the day.

Re: Before Class

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Upon entering the room, The Academic's attention locked in on the doodle. For a full five minutes, they scrutinized the illustration. Their expression was sharp, lips pursed in either thought, or extreme disapproval.

Then, they picked up their chalk, drew a border around the picture, wrote Not to be erased under threat of expulsion (from a high window), and returned to preparing for class.

Re: Before Class

[ticktopis_observatorium]

The Professor's entrance to the classroom was temporarily halted by the sight of the work of art waiting at the chalkboard. Interest picked they stepped right in front of it to admire, and that way the rest of the class won't see the way they're forcing their face not to laugh. So adorable! Truly captured the Academic's very essence. Now they only can hope they consider it as such as well...

The obvious infractor would be so difficult to point at were not only two people in the class, one already knowing themself innocent. So turning towards the incarnate innocence of the Pupil, an inespecific bow is bestowed.

Re: Before Class

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

When Maven spotted the art, she couldn't help but laugh. Oh that is delightful! Feeling a bit cheeky at the sight, she went to the board and drew a few flowers beneath the drawing, as if to suggest the Academic was standing in a field of flowers. She had a smile on her face that wouldn't be out of place on her devil lover.

Re: Before Class

[ticktopis_observatorium]

The Professor came uncovered as has become customary, yet tastefully dressed as the beginning. Their Vibrantly Viric Umbrella of Social Fitting left at the entrance. Seeing there's still little people they dedicate a respectful nod towards the Undistinguished Pupil, take off their gloves revealing a pair of normally human hands (were not for the thumbs, middles and pinkies having an extra phalanx) with carefully trimmed and painted nails, mosaic skin tone and completely hairless (the sensation is too unpleasant once used to scales).

Finally they turn towards the door, waiting intently for a certain specific someone with a certain anxiety.

Re: Before Class

[the_brash_devil]

There seemed something different about the Brash Devil's demeanor today. It was like before, when the course started, he was like a coiled spring, pushed down but ready to push back at a moment's notice. And though he had become a bit subdued after the grid incident, there was still that tension in him. While it wasn't gone, he seemed a bit more relaxed today. Still a bit coiled, but like there was something weighing him that was gone.

Re: Before Class

[themorbidsocialite]

The Morbid Socialite walked to his seat with a jaunt to his step, a rhythm just shy of a limp aided in hiding by the ornamental, globe-top cane he sported as well as the ease with which he carried himself. One might even imagine he was never injured in the first place.

Upon taking their seat, the Socialite set their hat at the corner of their space, as usual, and fetched a series of volumes from their bag. Their sleeves had been removed and the covers opened too fast to read the titles, but someone skilled enough may be able to clean the text they were taking notes on.

Tularemia was, herself, perched on his shoulder, keeping watch for a few particular people she found intriguing and fun to engage with (or who simply had treats and affection for her).

Re: Before Class

[tolpen]

It's been said that the Soft-Eyed Mycologist entered the class, but it would be more precise to say he has practically waltzed in. His step is jay, the corners of his mouth are raised in a smile - not a particularly pretty smile, definitely not a soft smile. He greets everyone he passes by, offers sweeping gestures left and right.
(He also looks towards the ceiling of the dome. Whatever he is looking for, he doesn't find it, because he keeps casting his gaze upwards every two minutes or so.)

Once in his seat, he starts digging out the whole work-desk from his briefcase: The Dewar bottle (this time it contains chai), the mechanical pencil, the flameproof notebook, the sliding ruler (which among many other things does work as a sliding ruler), the three pens, his own goggles, loose papers of assorted notes, gloves.
You are instantly glad you are not sitting next to him, because all this takes up... a considerable amount of space. The briefcase is a sandwich and blanket short of picnic hamper.

Re: Before Class

[the_dye_stained_socialite]

Thursday found the Emmisary before the lecture would begin. They wobbled only slightly this week, but their eyes were quite bloodshot, as if crying several lifetimes of grief in the span of a week.

When he spoke, she minced no words. "That grid was horrid. You probably already knew that I'll bet, but I wanted you to hear it from me."

A pause. A sigh that wanted to be some other, more upset noise. "I've thought about 'flexibility', where I could between the after-effects. It's... compromise, right? I'm still... it's real hard tryin' to sort morals into what ones are 'lesser' and have, what's the word, leeway. There might be... some." It seems progress had, begrudgingly, been made. At least a little. Thursday was still loathe to admit the Professor had been correct however. "But I think you might have ideas. Ideas about me. I think I deserve to hear 'em cause I can't have you-" and here came the emphatic hand-gestures, "- deciding my fate and future without my bloody input, and I think you can..." they lost their mental footing. What did they think the Emmissary could do, exactly? Talk, for one. "You can spare me a thought or two I think."

Re: Before Class

[theliedpiper]

The Piper settled into their seat, digging the few items they needed out of their satchel. Charcoal, notebook, mushroom snacks. Their satchel was full of plenty else, but that was more of a hoarder's instinct than anything they actually needed for class. Best to keep as many of their possessions as they could within sight, or risk misplacing and forgetting them.

They had the distinct feeling they were forgetting something, but for some reason, they weren't worried about it. Maybe the side effects of one of the Mycologist's mushroom-spice-concoctions had them in a good mood? Or maybe just excitement to learn this week? Or the warmth of sitting in between friends? Whatever the reason, last week's gloom seemed a distant thing.

Lecture

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Any questions or concerns before you launch into today's incredibly safe activity?

Re: Lecture

[themorbidsocialite]

Witnessing the Correspondence symbol catch fire on the board the moment it became too intense made the Morbid Socialite grow two shades paler and eight shades more horrified, glancing between the blaze and the notebook before them. He quickly masked such horror with slightly uneasy curiosity and raised a hand.

"Esteemed Emissary," he began, "what is the likelihood of an incorrectly layered symbol catching alight one to two weeks after initial employment, if it had not sparked already? Should the, let's say... 'creative' and 'unlearned' layering of the Correspondence be taken with much more care or would it simply cancel itself out, a lack of understanding in the strokes?"

Re: Lecture

[ticktopis_observatorium]

The Chimeric Professor attended the most necessary lecture, taking some notes and doodling some attempts at different yet similar meanings on the side of some fire-proof pages, being very thankful to those frilled notebooks.

How curious, the early attempts two classes ago weren't so mistaken in some cases, and yet so easy to misunderstand in others. How fortunate to have this rule now. Still very open to interpretation, but will help both expression and understanding. Now, just to try it in practice... And hope not to burn anything too important in the process...

Acitivity

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Precision in penmanship: art or science? Dousing your neighbors the instant they get it wrong: An exercise in safety, or a new kind of literary criticism?

Re: Acitivity

[ticktopis_observatorium]

The Chimeric Professor gets to the task at hand with illusion and curiosity. Enough to keep a cup of tea warm. Taking into account the two extreme examples provided, it won't be too hard to come with a middle ground. Putting ink to flameproof paper, the first attempt's result is as follows:



Seeing the page not igniting is a good sign. Hand hovering above it confirms there's some heat coming from it. Perhaps enough? One of the provided cups of tea is placed on top of it, and to wait for the result... Not too much wait, though, as some moments afterwards the cup is starting to boil!

Quickly taking the cup from the top of the now-fiery red symbol helped by a folded handkerchief, the Professor watches in awe how the drawn symbol doesn't exactly mean "A loosely mighty fire" but more likely "A fire which becomes mighty in the end" or, in other words, a flame getting progressively greater!

Before thinking about the atomizer, the Professor tries to put in practice the Brash Devil's advice and quickly draws on top of the symbol, a negation, a cancellation...



And just like that, the heat dissipates, the symbol becomes only a drawing (or, more accurately, a charring) on the paper. A relieved sigh, and a valuable lesson afterwards, they check the notebook for further warmth and, finding it safe enough, get to draw a different attempt. Let's see... What if the symbol is overlapped but also crossed, marking a limit? Maybe in the middle, to get a mild warmth?



This time there's not even the chance to place a test cup on top of it, as the warmth quickly grows until forming a flame, yet a curiously stable, self-contained flame. If no classmate douses it (the chance is left open) they'll do it to put it down, once the shock and fascination recede.

So, the idea of limiting it works, but it was too intense... And a sudden realization explains how, leading to a soft facepalm. Of course, if a distance so small as some milimeters could be interpreted in star-script as thousands of light-years, then an allegedly mild fire won't be just heat, but outright burning. This time the limitation has to be way closer to the start of the symbol. Let's see...



Now it's getting warm, good... But doesn't ignite. Perfect! Now will it be enough? The cup is once again placed on top, and it is time to wait...

Re: Acitivity

[theanachronistictailor]

Many attempts--the first one fairly immediately disastrous, even as the Tailor was finishing the stroke they could feel the heat from the page on their face. Hand outreached, they grabbed the atomizer and doused the mark quickly as traces of flame began to appear. Too much. They'd crossed the 'mighty' symbol over the 'fire' symbol three times, one in the center.

Other symbols were tried, each with small notes of how they might be interpreted alongside. If this adjective mark was here, would that affect 'mighty' instead of 'fire'? If overlap was from the bottom, did that force the effect to become belated? What if it was explored through a reframing? No.



They left small stars by the ones they felt held promise. It was unclear how much progress the Tailor was making, but experimentation was key to any endeavor.

Eventually, what they landed on was this:



A fire symbol, with the symbol for 'mighty' only touching its end and beginning but leaving its core line untouched. If they were interpreting rightly, and maybe they weren't, it would read something along the lines of "an unending warmth".

But... who knows? Maybe it would need a dousing too. It looked nice, at least.

After Class

[theexdisgracedacademic]

The Academic stepped away from their lectern for a moment, to fetch some supplies from the back of the classroom. They usually employed a nasty-looking correspondence symbol to lock their bag when not using it, and today was no exception. However, there does happen to be a sliver of paper sticking out of the corner. The stationary is so plain, it must very exceptionally expensive, indeed.

A particularly enterprising shadowy individual might be able to slip the entire thing out of the bag. A particularly watchful or persuasive one might be able to assist by distracting the professor. But even a particularly dangerous one won't survive what happens if they try to actually open the bag.

OOC: This activity isn't first-come, first-served. Everyone's free to make their own attempts to get the letter or distract The Academic. Treachery of clocks and all, you know.

Re: After Class

[ticktopis_observatorium]

Once the class finished properly, and before there was a chance to have the private, important meeting with the Mycologist, the Professor caught sight of the tempting sliver of paper, so tragically outside the protective aura of its lock...

Willing to take some risk, and doing a quick evaluation of shadowy aptitude, they turned towards their cherished Soft-Eyed Mycologist, calling him to attention with a discreet gesture. Then, via a mix of hand and face gestures with the beginning of homophrosyne being established between them, they convey a quick, tricky proposal.

"Promising document compromised. You could grab and read, I will distract the Emissary. You're in?" Closed with a devilish smile as punctuation sign.

OOC

[theexdisgracedacademic]

Canon correspondence symbols can sometimes feel like they're approaching sentence levels of meaning in their specificity. And since I'm shooting for more of an art project than an actual conlag with this study, I think that this rule for how to layer radicals might be a fun thing to consider while sketching fanon symbols!

(I'm probably still going to frequently go based on vibes while drawing, though. XD)

Re: OOC

[tolpen]

Is there a more visual guide for the odd shape of Great/Mighty for those who feel like drawing? (Me, it's me, I am going to draw a metric shitton variants of BFF (Big [redacted] Fire).)

Also love to see the return of No. Not even you.

Re: OOC

[ticktopis_observatorium]

Now I need that list of 100 virtues and assign them values in character. That would be sooo fun and illuminating and long and tedious and certainly scandalous. Pretty please!