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benthic_universityThe Clay Substitute laid her hands upon the podium. "PLEASE. OPEN YOUR TEXTBOOKS TO PAGE-"
Much the same as last week, there was a hubbub in the hall outside. The door slammed open, and one figure marched another to the front of the class. The Beleaguered Dean, swathed in a coat of thick tweed and a thicker coat of nervous sweat, was all but pushing The Ex-Disgraced Academic back into their pace behind the podium.
The Academic wasn't missing a beat in the argument: "-can't at all see what the issue is, so long as they learn the material-"
"You cannot offload your duties to an Underclay aspirant!" The Dean's fury is only matched by the fearful tension in his voice, "And an unfinished one at that! How did you get it up here-"
The Academic's eye widened in almost-honorable affront. "You can't prove that this perfectly capable worker is unfinished, can you?"
"No, but I can certainly prove that it's not on the faculty list." The Dean wiped his brow. "Get on with it, man!"
The Clay Substitute barely moved, but the grinding of her turning head rumbled through the floor. "I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE PAID IN FULL, REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG CLASS WENT?"
Coin was exchanged, and, the Dean ushered The Clay Substitute out of the room. The Academic hissed through their teeth, clearly ready to vent their terrible mood at the first faces to cross theirs.
They turned to look at the class. And smiled a terrible smile. "Good morning."
"So! You've all decided to return for a second week. I suppose it can't be helped. Any damage you incur from here on out is upon your own heads." They began their lecture.
“English is a phonographic language, as the distinct letters of the alphabet each represent units of sound. The Correspondence is logographic, meaning that similar to the languages of the second and fourth cities (and the Khanate, of course), Correspondence Symbols each represent units of meaning.”
In bold, rapid strokes, The Academic scrawled a symbol onto the chalkboard:
They whirled around, pointing an accusing claw at anyone unfortunate enough to still be moving their pens. “Do not copy this into your notes! If you fancy yourself cheeky and attempt to copy it whilst my back is turned, I will still know, so do NOT try me.” They turned back, circling the image. Anyone foolhardy enough to ignore the command would earn immediate combustion to their notebook, and a quick, scathing look of satisfaction from The Academic.
“This is the symbol for “an unmappable direction. It is one of the more frequent symbols to be found in practical human application of The Correspondence, as well as in architectural engravings ranging from first city ruins all the way up to lapsarian London. It is also exceptionally flammable. None but the most expensive of papers can contain it.” And with a terrifically wicked smile: "Chalkboards are fine, though."
They continued. “The Correspondence is a purely semiotic construct. There are currently no known pronunciations or verbal applications for these signs-“ The Academic covered a bark of laughter, and then continued, “-apologies, but I would hate for my lectures to contradict the well-documented research that the Ministry of Public Decency has gently requested I adhere to."
The Academic pushed their current chalkboard up and out of the way, revealing an unblemished second layer. They added a tidy column of six simple symbols. "There are one hundred and eight basic radicals, and we've discovered twice as many in total. But for this course, we will begin with six."
And, after writing these on the board, the academic turned to the students. “These you may record in your notes, however-“ their tone sharpened, slicing through the momentum of those who may have rushed to begin- “confine each radical to its own sheet for practice. None of these, alone, is a complete symbol. But some can be converted very easily into real Correspondence symbols, and it is vital that you do not accidentally do so. Spend the rest of today's duration memorizing and practicing these radicals until you can reproduce them by heart. You'll know if you're doing well, because you paper will become warm to the touch once half-full. I will also be writing additional complete correspondence symbols on the other chalkboards. Your homework is to discern which of these six parts of speech each of the symbols is.”
The Academic pointed once more at the spray bottles on each row of desks. “At any sign of smoke, you are to douse the offending student’s work, without hesitation. Last week was not a one-off exercise. Consider this both a basic safety precaution, as well as your first taste of operant conditioning. Get to it!”
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-22 07:47 pm (UTC)They held a completed sheet of radicals up to the light, examining their work, and smiled, satisfied. Yes, this had been a very good class.
There was just the problem of week four to consider... How, exactly, could Correspondence be applicable to their own ambitions? (What even were their ambitions, outside of this strange and constant need to win? At everything?)
Hm. A problem for another day, maybe. They returned to packing their bag, and their hand settled on the box of pastries, still wrapped. After a long moment's thought, they pulled it free and unwrapped the handkerchief from around it to tuck into their coat's breast pocket as a small display article. Yes, that suited them.
They popped open the box and helped themself to a scone. Bless it, but these were good.
(OOC: We're at the end of the week so there's no obligation to worry about this, folks, but hey! free scones! if the Tailor doesn't remove your hand for trying to snatch one.)
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-22 08:23 pm (UTC)Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-22 08:33 pm (UTC)There were crumbs on the corner of their mouth that went unnoticed. They tried to clear their throat, setting their unfinished scone back in the box for later. "I trust class went well for you? Your friend's clash with the professor aside," they added a little lightly, poking fun at the Devil's behavior from the start of class. It made for entertainment at least.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-22 11:01 pm (UTC)(Watchful Success, Shadowy Failure)She grabbed the offending wrist and redirected his arm up so he was facing her, "No, you had plenty this morning."Devil just responded by sticking his tongue out at her playfully. He seemed... more wound up than usual. As if he was bursting with energy.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-22 11:12 pm (UTC)"Yes, that's a thing I find interesting. English has, I think, too many letters that look like each other, only flipped. Bit of a confusing mess. It's something of a relief to know this is a bit more consistent. I admit I'm feeling... surprisingly confident about it so far." This was said with a touch of doubt; as though the idea of being good at something to be skeptical of. "Ah, well. Early days. Watch--one of our classmates will feel equally certain and we'll be hearing of fires across half of London by next week, ha!"
They glanced at the Devil again, who seemed to be bristling. The smug smile returned. "My money's on you."
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 12:46 am (UTC)Yeah he was definitely still wound up from the lecture.
(He hadn't wanted to admit that he agreed about English being a confusing mess of symbols that looked too much like each other. It may be true, but he wasn't gonna admit to agreeing with the Tailor.)
He then snarled, turning away and kicking a chair, "AAGH I NEED TO KILL SOMETHING!!"
"Honey, that isn't a healthy outlet," Maven said flatly, not meeting his energy. If this were the surface she would likely have had a much stronger reaction to that, but as it stood death generally was just an inconvenience down here.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 01:15 am (UTC)Although... a comparative between Devil language and Correspondence as taught in class... Now, that would be interesting, wouldn't it? Not to mention a good way to see the language in practice and get more experience.
"Because," the Tailor said carefully, "I like to learn from multiple sources. I'm not so prideful I can't see the benefit of it. I think a well-rounded education is the best way to take in information. Don;t you, Maven?"
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 02:23 am (UTC)"Uh-" Devil glanced between Maven and the Tailor, "Uh... Y-Yeah, o-of course!"
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 02:33 am (UTC)Surely they were just pleased to have roped the Devil into something he clearly did not want to do. Surely.
"Right, well, I'm off to work. What are your plans for the rest of the evening, if I may ask?"
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 03:50 am (UTC)"Oh fuck yes!!" Devil's entire demeanor changed at that. He swept her up in a hug, his tiny frame spinning her much taller one as he said, "It's been way too long since we did any monster hunting!!"
Maven laughed at his exuberance, her face breaking out in a warm smile. It was an entirely audacious show of affection, and if they were more in public than in a partially empty classroom she was sure there would be such a scandal. Not that she was a secret to scandal at this point; it was all but an open secret that the two were living together despite him technically having his own official public address. Scandal came with the territory of openly courting a devil, but to be courting one as brash as him made it even moreso the case. Not that she truly minded, not when the trade off was having someone like him in her life.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 04:46 am (UTC)"Luck on your endeavors, then. Try to keep an eye to the weather--the marshes can be hard to navigate come evening time, I've heard. Fog from the zee, is the story. I imagine you'll practice caution, you don't need someone like me to tell you."
They finished packing their bag and, out of habit they couldn't explain, wiped their mouth. Ah, there had been crumbs they hadn't noticed. Bit embarrassing, that. The Tailor glanced up.
"I suppose I'll see you at our next class, then, barring any changes. Enjoy your hunt."
There was something in the way they said it... but it was unreadable, and easy to overlook. The Tailor smiled. "Have a wonderful evening."
And with that, they were gone.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-24 03:39 am (UTC)Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-24 03:56 am (UTC)Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 08:41 am (UTC)"Have I heard well? Such a wonderful idea! Group learning is best learning after all. Please, count me in when such plans arise"
The Professor eyed the scones, oh temptation, yet in an exert of willpower didn't ask for one. They were the Tailor's, and they themselves had their own pastries at home. They rather entertained themselves with the affection shown between Maven and Devil. So lovely, the warm smile betrayed in which size they fight on the War on Scandal.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-24 12:49 am (UTC)When the Professor approached as they discussed the possibility of a study group, Maven got even more excited, "I'm so happy to hear that! I had some ideas already, but if you have any insight or ideas on how best to put together such a thing I would be open to suggestions. I haven't put together a study group like this before, so if there's anything that could be done better to help everyone's learning experience I'd love to implement it!"
Devil, meanwhile, continued to look frozen. Internally, he was rapidly being forced to acknowledge something he had not wanted to.
He can't teach anyone anything.
Sure, he could offer basic translations for stuff. But when asked about the deeper context, etymology, why things were the way they were, the things needed to give someone a deeper understanding of why a language works the way it does? He didn't know shit. To him, it just was what it was. He was just making guesses that the Academic was teaching some weird (to him) old Curator-based dialect based on the fact that he reeked of the Masters and had used that as a jumping off point to call the whole class into question. Because he didn't want to face the obvious fact that he couldn't teach his lover how to be fluent in his native language and she needed to learn from another human. And now his ego got him into promising to teach a bunch of strangers?!
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-24 05:58 am (UTC)"Of course! We'll be in contact and I'll be happy to collaborate."
While being completely oblivious to the Devil's inner worryings. Or perhaps not? The fiend wears his heart on a sleeve, and Maven's words specifically makes them flourish. Perhaps the Professor is just as eager to see how a hard lesson is learned, or how far can pride lead someone into something they don't want. They all will learn something new for certain.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 04:39 am (UTC)So the Pawn made their unsteady way back to their Tailor's desk to do... somerthing. Maybe ask about a spectacle maker? Ask their preferred color?
And then Thursday saw the scones, and that plan promptly disappeared, as their thoughts were consumed with the idea of hopefully good food. Look, they weren't even burnt! They were not subtle about eyeing up the scones.
"Could I have one?" Missing sonething. "Please?" Better.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 04:52 am (UTC)They were good scones. Excellent ones. The Maven had duplicated the Soft-Hearted Widow's recipe to near perfection. The Tailor didn't prefer scones, though, so they didn't mind sharing as long as it was asked politely.
"Oh, by the way, the Professor has left the notes from last week on the board back there--" they gestured a bit at a board that had been pushed to the side of the room "--so if you need to get a better look, you've got the chance."
Oh, gosh, they were talking with their mouth full. Crumbs. Literally. They sheepishly covered their mouth.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 05:18 am (UTC)"Holy shit." It was delicious. "Who made these? They're really good at it woah." They were awful at cooking, and worse at baking, but let it never be said Thursday Volante did not appreciate when other's baking was out-of-this-cave tasty.
"Yea?" They looked to the board, then looked back. "Shit, that's helpful actually- uh." Thursday raised their eyebrows. The Tailor? slightly messy? "Damn good scones," they remarked with a playgul snort.
Re: After Class
Date: 2025-06-23 05:28 am (UTC)('The children she provides housing for'. What an odd choice of words.)
They lowered their hand, and put their bit of scone back into the box for later, dusting their fingers. Unbeknownst to them, the Tailor had crumbs around the corners of their mouth. They cleared their throat. "I prefer a turnover, myself. But I could never really afford to be picky about food in front of me."