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Office Hours - Abnormal Psychology

Jenny's typing away on her laptop, a pot of coffee is brewing on the credenza, and a newly-purchased scanner is working on scanning in all her students' prior assignments.

She's here for any students that might need to talk to her, whether they're in her class or just want to meet the new teacher. Also, Elizabeth Weir had questions about magic, and Parker wanted to learn more about the curse.

OOC: Originally posted in the wrong place. My apologies.

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On a break from the library, Parker came in yawning. "Good morning, Miss Calendar. Thanks for helping with the disinvitation yesterday at Echolls'. I meant to ask you about the curse, but, well. Floating happened, and I got distracted."

"Hi, Parker," said Jenny. She nodded to the coffeemaker. "Want a cup of coffee? Don't worry about it. If I were floating? I'd be having too much fun to talk about curses."

"It was kind of fun, once the freak-out factor passed. Also? Don't eat candy from Willy Wonka's this week. That was probably what was doing it." Parker sat down, and looked yearningly at the coffee maker. "Half a cup, please. And yeah. Curses." She grimaced.

"Magical candy?" asked Jenny. "That's interesting. I've got a couple of extra cups on the counter; feel free to get yourself some."

"So what do you want to know about the curse? Let's spread the information far and wide this time."

Parker helped herself, adding cream and cuddling the cup like a pet. "I know that the-- Kalderash? -- made it to punish Angelus for feeding off one of their tribe. I know it locks the soul in with the demon inside the vampire. The copy I used is at Mr. Phale's bookshop. I'm thinking of putting it on the internet, so it can't be lost again." Parker took a sip of her coffee. "I know it's a punishment for the demon, and it gives Liam-Angel-whoever a chance to atone. What I don't get? Is why it even *has* a loophole. Unless that's the only way it can work, it seems stupid." She blinked, and bit her lip. "No offense."

Jenny leaned back in her chair, looking thoughtful and wrapping her hands around her coffee mug. "How much do you know about curses?" she asked. "The basic premise, the magical theory, anything?"

"Assume nothing, and you'll probably be close." Parker shrugged. "The only thing I know is a curse is a curse because it doesn't benefit the person it's cast on. That's it."

"A curse is fed by the caster's hatred," said Jenny. "And fueled by his or her desire for revenge. Especially that curse. The story behind it's not so pretty."

"My ancestors devised that curse. Angelus was the boogeyman in every bedtime story I grew up with. The girl he killed was my several-times great aunt, and he didn't just feed from her. Angelus never "just" feeds from anyone. She was the favorite daughter of the baro--the guy in charge. One of the elders at the time was a chovihani--a witch."

Jenny smiled bitterly. "Every curse needs a loophole. It's impossible to make one that's unbreakable. Not even the gods can do that."

She stops and takes a long drink from her mug.

Parker rested her chin on her fist. "I thought it might be something like that." She frowned. "So, was it so hard for Tara to cast it because she likes Angelus? Or is it just realy difficult?" She took a sip of her coffee, and shook her head. "And *why* perfect happiness? Couldn't they make the loophole that he, I don't know, walk on the moon? That one seems fairly vague."

"The loophole has to be related to the curse. There has to be a chance for it to be broken, however slim and remote."

Jenny tapped her forefinger on the coffee mug and looked thoughtful as she spoke. "My people are big on vengeance. And the chovihani? Really mad. A moment of perfect happiness is a simplistic description of the curse's loophole. Angel's not human. He's a vampire. Restoring his soul caused both Angelus and Angel pain. The chovihani wanted Angel to suffer with that knowledge through every instant of every day. If he forgot, even for an instant, and felt the simple contentment of being human--"

Jenny spread her hands--one palm flat, but the other hand still wrapped around her coffee mug--and shrugged. "Good-bye soul, and hello Angelus. Who, might I add, comes back with a real mad-on for having experienced human feelings. It's like a two-for-one vengeance bonus."

Parker stared at her, then pinched the bridge of her nose. "I would've just killed him, if I were them." She shook her head, dropping her fingers from her face. "And if we could've found him this time, same deal. Aghh. What a mess. And now, those stupid prophecies say he has to be around, or at least a souled vampire does, for the End of Days. It just *can't* be easy, can it?"

"Death is easy," said Jenny. "Vengeance makes you suffer. And I don't know about the End of Days."

However, she's going to research the heck out of it soon.

"Okay. So. Magic has more rules than I thought." She rubbed her temples. "If Professor Gandalf hadn't been eaten by Special Collections, I would *so* be signing up for his class on this."

"Magic's a very complicated process," said Jenny. "And I'm a little more fringe than most. On the other hand, I got a seriously in-depth course on the rules while I was growing up."

Jenny frowned. "There are no classes on magic in a place with a whole bunch of magic users. Not even magical theory?"

"I think there *were*, but like I said, Professor Gandalf disappeared in Special Collections almost a month ago, and Professor Jareth had to leave.They were the ones trying to teach those classes," Parker said. "I don't know if they have anyone lined up for next semester." She grimaced. "This school has some really great courses offered, but some huge gaps too. They didn't get a math teacher until really late in the term, and they still don't have a qualified counselor again."

"Weird," said Jenny. "But magical theory's something that should be elective--wait. Why the emphasis on qualified for a counselor?"

"Because we had one at the beginning of the semester, but she left. And since then, Jonathan Crane is 'here to listen.'" Parker made a face. "I wouldn't trust that creep with any of *my* inmost secrets. Even if he wasn't only sixteen."

"Jonathan Crane is a high school student," said Jenny. "And he's part of that Junior Achievers group I heard about. And he's totally unqualified to be a counselor."

She frowned. "Damn. I think I may need to pay one of the Deans a visit."

"This would be why *I* don't go near him," Parker said. "Even if I didn't have analyst issues. I know he's supposed to be really interested in psychology, which, hello, does not qualify him for anything more than putting mice on little wheels." She grinned. "Definitely. Go talk to the Deans. Tell them I said 'hi.'"

"In high school? They don't even let you put mice on wheels." Jenny grinned. "They might let him psychoanalyze a household pet or two, though."

"With the number of cats and other fauna around here, he'd probably make good money if he did." Parker looked amused. "Anyway. Thanks for clearing up that 'perfect happiness' loophole." She stood up and headed for the door. "I just wish there was some way to make it a moot point."

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Office Hours - Abnormal Psychology

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