Correspondence Scholarship, Class Two [Tuesday Morning, June 17th]

[theexdisgracedacademic]

When the students arrived to their domed classroom, there was a broad-shouldered clay man standing before them. A pair of goggles were awkwardly affixed to her face. The hour to begin arrived, but no other tutor came with it.

The 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."

Targets acquired.

"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!”

 

Comments

Re: Before Class

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

The Mechanic finds itself a space somewhere around some other's, they may've missed the first day but it won't stop them from trying to make up for lost time--"oh cool atomizers!" it has already started taking it apart with a screwdriver it brought with them, along with the very heavy lookin bag full of tools.

it casually spins the tool in it's hand as they lean over to talk to someone, "oi lov, got any notes from last lecture, fear I hav slept through last one with how she's being a bit literal bout it." seems as though they've "slept" so though last class that they haven't realized that this isn't the teacher from last class at all

Re: Before Class

[theliedpiper]

"Notes? Sure, if you can read 'em." The Piper digs out a few crumpled sheets of loose parchment. They're pretty sure those are their notes. Wait, that one's a shopping list. They swap it out quickly. "You wanna trade me some of those metal pieces for it?"

They'll share the notes either way, but it would be fun to get some shiny bits in exchange.

Re: Before Class

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

"Cheers! Yeah ya can hav' some of my scrap, bit sharp on the edges but what can ya do" The mechanics says as it reaches down into what can liberally call a tool bag, holding up a finger to hold on a min.

It pop's back up with a cheeky grin and a metal sheet that's the size of its head looks like it was just on the side of a zub that was unceremoniously ripped off

"sorry if ya meant this here atomizer," with how thick the accent is, it somehow manages to say 'atomizer' with posh clarity, "but silver doesn't fall off mushrooms, an' I needs it"

Re: Before Class

[theliedpiper]

The Piper's eyes widened, not that anyone would be able to tell behind their mask and goggles.

"Free zub parts? Cheers yourself!"

That would be big enough to patch the hole some of their rat friends had chewed into the hull of their zub. This class was paying off already!

Re: Before Class

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

The Mechanic eyes shot up itself's "ay how ya know it was part of a zub! ya stalkin me? you don't have a zub scheduled for scrapin a week ago did ya?" that last bit said in a bit more of a hushed tone

"I wouldn't use that bit to make a zub myzelf, less you're really confident in your ability to weld an' trust it not to turn your bits into mash"

Re: Before Class

[theliedpiper]

"Maybe by the end of this class I will be." The Piper grinned. "How cool do you think a Correspondance-powered blowtorch would be?"

Re: Before Class

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

For a moment, the Mechanic takes a moment to stop and think about the theoretical, taking ample time to give it real thought where it almost seems like they had forgotten about the conversation--but just before that point snaps

"probably bad, the Correspondance would just weld itself to whatever you're trying to weld, if you were trying to use it's innate heat"

Re: Before Class

[theliedpiper]

Ah. That was disappointing. The Piper knew a little bit about Correspondence combustion from their zub-building adventures, but there were still massive gaps in their knowledge. (Or in their memory? How much had they once known, to have built a functional zubmarine?)

Maybe they should take better notes. They started by writing down the Mechanic's theory with a thoughtful nod.

Re: Before Class

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven paused at the sight of the mechanic. Now this was definitely a new face. She approached the new student, "Hello there! I don't recall seeing you last week."

Re: Before Class

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

The Mechanic nods it's goggles at the Maven, "Can't say I saw you either! On account of me not being quite awake for it. How do ya do?"

Re: Before Class

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven laughed at that response, "Fair enough, that would explain it. I am well, thank you for asking! I am Doctor Jane Rosewood, though some refer to me as the Soft-Hearted Maven, or Maven for short. And you are?"

Re: Before Class

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

"Well how do ya do lov! Very lovely to meetcha, name's Milk!" 'Mlik' said whilst also adding as much charm a scrawny beast like itself can while covered in soot and grease

"Say Maven, does teach' ever get to the fun part of Correspondence? or she always like this!" It chortles jovially, finding something funny at lengths this class seemed impossible, with a twist that it would be just as boring as any other lecture in the university

Re: Before Class

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"Oh, class hasn't started yet," Maven explained, "though the Clay Man at the front of the class isn't who taught us last time. I'm not sure if she is a substitute or an assistant. I suppose we'll find out."

Re: Before Class

[theidiosyncraticmechanic]

"aw, dats a shame, makes for a less clear alibi for me" It sticks its tongue out, exaggerating its disappointment. "You wouldn't hav' any note from last week then hav' ye? And maybe for this week? I'm more of a hands on learner and I can already feel her words go out the other" it chortles at itself. It seemingly a creature of endless self-amusement.

Re: Before Class

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"Oh sure!" Maven smiled a little in amusement, taking out her notes and sitting down next to the kid and setting them on the desk, "You can copy these, and if you want you can double check my notes for this week to see if there's anything I note that's different from yours."