Cryptozoology 101

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

"Morning class," Trick said as the bell rang. He was standing next to his desk, because sitting behind it would just make him look like a kid. How he missed his bar, sometimes. "Welcome to Cryptozoology 101. I'm your professor, Fitzpatrick Maccorieghan, but, please, call me Trick. As I'm sure most of you know, cryptozoology is the study of hidden animals, or, more specifically, the study of creatures not normally recognized by modern science. There are generally considered to be four kinds of cryptids: creatures of myth and legend, like dragons and unicorns; supernatural beings; the Fae; and those that don't fit into the other three categories, like the Yeti or the Loch Ness monster. Those are generally considered to be remnants of extinct species, and, for the purposes of this class, anyway, are categorized as 'Others.' We will be focusing on the Fae for this class; regardless of how your own worlds work, in some worlds they are very real and often dangerous to humans. This class is designed to give you some tips on recognizing some of the more common Fae creatures that people can come in contact with, and knowing how to best handle them."

"The information I'll be passing along to you comes from countless books on the subject and also many years of me dealing with the Fae in question. I promise you that every type of Fae we'll discuss this term is one that I have dealt with personally. All the information I'll be sharing with you is information that I know for a fact is true and accurate, though it carries the caveat that it is only true and accurate for my world. Since coming to Fandom and working with Portalocity, I realize that things that are true in one world may not carry over to another. Thus, I urge you all to take this information as only a starting point--don't take this class and decide that you can then stand up to whatever nasty creature is lurking in the abandoned well back home. It's a good way to end up dead." Trick was aware that he probably sounded like some kind of paranoid scholar or something, but he'd seen far too many dead humans over the years to treat the subject lightly.

"We'll be getting into more of that next week; this week is for introductions, if the radio is to be believed. So, today, I'd like you all to list your name, class, why you took this course, and any experience in dealing with cryptids of any type. If you don't have any experience, that's fine. Feel free to share your favorite cryptid from a book or movie." He pointed to a random student. "Please begin."

Comments

Sign In (Week 1)

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

First day of class

Re: Sign In (Week 1)

[crapatnetball.livejournal.com]

Thelma Bates

Re: Sign In (Week 1)

[walkswithcoyote]

Mercy Thompson

Listen to the Lecture

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

Regardless of how you feel about the topic, Trick certainly believes it.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[crapatnetball.livejournal.com]

Thelma actually played close attention. Though when the 'you might end up dead' bit came up, she couldn't help but say "Already done that, thank you" under her non-breath.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[walkswithcoyote]

Mercy was far too aware of the Fae since they were technically out in her world. Which meant that whichever ones the Grey Lords wanted out were out and the others were left hidden. For now.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[myownface]

Okay. Okay, this guy had practical experience with the stuff he was teaching. Which was kind of awesome.

Well, Sparkle was impressed anyhow. You could tell by the way he was chewing on his pencil and making a point to look not too interested.

Intoductions!

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

"Please list your name, class, why you took this course, and any experience in dealing with cryptids of any type. If you don't have any experience, that's fine. Feel free to share your favorite cryptid from a book or movie."

Re: Intoductions!

[crapatnetball.livejournal.com]

Thelma stood up, holding up a notebook with a 'Hi I'm Thelma and I'm a Ghost' written across it.

"This is mainly for all the people who can't see or hear me," she said, looking around the room. "Hi, Thelma Bates, I'm a junior I suppose and I took this course mainly because I've had to deal with a psychotic fairy previously in my life. Oh, and I'm a ghost, like it says on the paper. Just so everyone's clear on that. Any attempts at exorcism will make me very cross, please and thank you."

Re: Intoductions!

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

"There will be no exorcising of fellow students in or out of my classroom," Trick said with authority. And considering there were several hundred years of being the ruler of the Fae in there, it was a lot of authority indeed.

Turning back to Thelma, he continued, "What kind of..." yes, that was Trick wincing at the word, "...fairy? Besides psychotic."

Because, honestly, that described like three-quarters of them.

Re: Intoductions!

[walkswithcoyote]

"I'm Mercedes Thompson and I'll be a junior next year. I, well, the Fae are out in my world, but I've always been taught that the more information you have, the better prepared you can be for any eventuality."

Re: Intoduc tions!

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Something interesting about her. She wasn't entirely human, Trick could tell that much, but she didn't seem Fae, either. He wanted to ask--oh how he wanted to ask!--but doing so would be inexcusably rude, especially since he wasn't exactly being forthcoming about his own identity here.

"Have you had any run-ins with the Fae in your world?" he asked. Perhaps that would explain some of the not-quite-humanness about her.

Re: Intoductions!

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

"Kenzi, going to be a senior, and it sounded fun. And useful." Kenzi tilted her head. "Um, I've been here about 10 months, so I've seen people turn into monsters after playing with meteors, and little tiny fairy empresses in another dimension. Oh! And a luck dragon, he was amaze-balls. Plus I kill zombies on X-box." She considered and said, "Fave from movies... Are there such things as fairy godmothers, for real? Because getting magic cloaks and superpowers would be cool."

Re: Intoductions!

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

"There are indeed fairy godmothers, Kenzi," Trick said. "But I don't think they'd match up to the reality that Disney has prepared for you. Giving and receiving gifts is often not a simple thing among the Fae."

It could be. But most Fae enjoyed complicating things unnecessarily.

Re: Intoductions!

[abitlowkey]

"I am Loki Laufeyson of Asgard," he said, perching on the back of the chair mostly because he could. "I am so called sophomore here and my experience is obvious."

A beat.

"Would the cats of lol count as a cryptid? I am almost certain they have some sort of power over the internet."

Re: Intoductions!

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

Trick actually looked surprised at Loki's introduction. "You're the Loki?" He asked, leaving out the 'claiming to be' his mouth wanted so desperately to insert. "Loki are also a race among the Fae, known for their brilliant innovations and their love of sowing mischief."

In fact, in Trick's world, the Loki of myth had been a Fae who'd proclaimed himself a god for funsies.

Re: Intoductions!

[godgavemecable.livejournal.com]

"Toby Logan, officially a sophomore now, I guess, and I've never had any experience with... cryptids, or anything out of the ordinary, really," besides being a telepath, "before Fandom. I did get turned into a creepy grey monster thing for a couple days last year. That sucked. I'm here because, well. Just cause it's fiction in my world clearly doesn't mean that's the same everywhere, and I'd like to know a little more of the 'real thing' I guess."

Re: Intoductions!

[withasword.livejournal.com]

This one was an easy one. "I'm Kate, I'm a senior, and my world is the sort of world where finding freaky things outside your door is pretty much par for the course."

"I like to know what I'm dealing with, so..." Here she was.

Re: Intoductions!

[myownface]

Sheesh. Introduction week just never ended, did it? Sparkle was making his 'I dare you to laugh' face as he stood to introduce himself.

"Sparkle, grade ten, which is apparently sophomore," named grades. Who did that? "I took the class because it looked like one of the less boring ones and I wasn't allowed to take any of the fighting stuff or anything like that. And..." He briefly chewed on the idea of making something up, some sort of tall tale about shapeshifters or alien abductions or maybe Sasquatch, but he decided against it... Mostly because he didn't want to end up looking stupid in front of a pro. "No experience with cryptids personally, but I have a certain fondness for Mishepishu."

And a broad grin. He kind of wanted to see if anyone in the class knew what in the world that was.

... It had been a toss-up between that one or Ogopogo.

Re: Intoductions!

[dressedinblood]

"My name is Anna Korlov," Anna said, "I'm a junior, and the information...seemed like it could be useful. Especially here." And especially with her being a ghost. Ahem. "I haven't really had to deal with the Fae yet, but I'm more interested in...spirits, I guess? Especially the evil ones. I've had some dealings with that sort of thing." Again, like being one.

Re: Intoductions!

[yinandyango.livejournal.com]

"I'm Fawn Farrell," said Fawn, introducing herself through a curtain of hair. "I'm going to be a freshman, and I thought this class sounded interesting. I don't have any experience with cryptids, but I've always thought mermaids were interesting?"

She looked up questioningly, wondering if that just sounded lame.

Talk to Trick

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

Next week, there will be a TA slot as well. She's been OOCly chosen, but feel to talk to Trick about other things.

Re: Talk to Trick

[regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com]

"Dude!" Kenzi wandered over to peer at him carefully. "Uh. I got questions. Hypothetical questions."

OOC

[nohattrick.livejournal.com]

So sorry for the late class. Yesterday's treatment knocked me on my ass bottom. (Sorry Fandom!) Won't happen again. I hope.

Re: OOC

[walkswithcoyote]

As a Fae, Trick may well recognize that Mercy is other than completely human. I'm fine with him doing that and calling her aside or whatever, I'm just not quite ready to out her publicly yet, though.