Magical Bestiary | Tuesday, period 2

[nuclear_snide]

The Danger Shop was set up like a pleasant room, sunlit polished wood all around. It was comfortable and just slightly dinged up. "Good morning," Bob greeted the students. He looked them over critically, noting the new faces. "This is the Magical Bestiary class, where we plan on learning all about a number of magical creatures - what sorts there are, what you can and should do if faced with them, and how to determine when you're faced with them."

He might have smirked just a little at that and hoped the returning students weren't of a mind to talk. Then again, Bob smirked a lot. When he wasn't scowling.

"This week is the week for introductions. In addition to your names, I should like to know what sorts of magical creatures, if any, you have experience with. If you've had friends among them, fought them, or what have you. To begin, my name for those of you who aren't aware is Hrothbert of Bainbridge. You may all call me Bob, or Sir if you're the formal type." He waved one hand dismissively. "I care less how you address me and more how you learn, since one is more likely to get you killed than the other."

Then the smirk was out in full force. "Although address me too disrespectfully, and I can and will make your life miserable." He went back to smiling pleasantly and pacing a bit. "My world is home to any number of creatures; I have personally encountered vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons, dragons, natural spirits, and unfortunately even an old god or two. Before coming here," he clarified. "I've also lived with and taught any number of wizards and sorcerers."

He clapped his hands together. "So, names and prior experience, please. And Anders, assuming he's there, you'll be my TA again, if you've no objections?"

Comments

Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

Name, magical-creature experience, etc.!

Re: Introduce yourself!

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

"I'm Mabel Pines," Mabel greeted the class cheerfully. "And I've had run-ins with all sorts of things. Gnomes, wax statues that were cursed to come to life, ghosts," not just you, Bob, "some kind of evil spirit made out of loser candy, a gremloblin, a merman," wistful sigh, "a shapeshifter, tiny little golf ball people..."

She paused to tick things off on her fingers.

"... Zombies, the god of love, evil video game spirits, a gigantic time baby... I guess the dinosaurs probably don't count... Aaaand a creepy triangular dream demon."

A beat.

"I think that's all."

She couldn't remember a lot of that summer, still. Just wait until she remembered the unicorn.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"...Candy that lost things, or candy that losers like?" That was the first question, yes. There were others. So, so many others.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[rhymeswithtable.livejournal.com]

"Candy that nobody likes," Mabel explained, matter-of-factly. "All of the candy that people throw away after the Summerween festivities are through, all congregated in one place and taking a sad and pathetic and frankly pretty terrifying life of its own."

She gave a shrug of her shoulders.

"You know, like black licorice and candy corn and Blor̈ch."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[rebelseekspizza]

"My name is Dante," Dante said, sitting back and eyeing this guy up. "I've killed a lot of demons."

There. That should say enough.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"What sorts of demons?" Bob asked. "What are they in your world? Any other magical creatures you know of?"

Re: Introduce yourself!

[rebelseekspizza]

Dante eyed him. "The kinda demons that try to kill you?" he offered.

He wasn't even sure if this guy was taking him seriously or not. Hard to tell by the expression. Too many wrinkles.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[spin_kick_snap]

"I'm Kathy Li, and the only experience I've had with magical creatures has been here," Kathy said when it was her turn. "There are some stories about a weird monster roaming Venice Beach back home, but since it supposedly stopped a shipment of drugs from coming in, I'm not sure it counts."

And even if it did, she'd never met it.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"If it's magical, it absolutely counts," Bob said. "We're not only learning about the harmful things here; that would be Mr. Winchester's class in a few days. If you've got helpful creatures about, the thing to know is how to keep them helpful and happy."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[spin_kick_snap]

"I just don't know enough about it to say either way," Kathy admitted. "Mostly just what it says in the papers and no one's been able to get a good photo of it so far. Other than that--to the best of my knowledge anyway--everything else is just stories."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[not_every_mage]

"I'm Anders, and I'm happy to TA for Bob again," Anders said smoothly. "At home I knew a lot of mages, I've met some spirits and demons, and we've got some dragons though I can't say I've met one up close, thank the Maker. I also have some experience with other types of darkspawn, like ogres, genlocks, abominations and golem. And some people say there are werewolves in the Brecilian Forest. Can't say if it's true for sure or not, but I'd believe it."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"Lovely!" Bob said, beaming at him. "And believe me, dragons are definitely no fun. Very little sense of humour, too, from the few I've met."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[cracksmostly]

Oh no, they had to introduce themselves to the class? This would have been a lot more uncomfortable than it could have been if she didn't already know a couple of people here.

"Hello," Merrill said, waving one hand in a vague gesture of greeting. "I'm Merrill, and I was just living in the Brecilian Forest, but I haven't met any werewolves there."

The same could not be said of other Dalish clans, but they only talked to each other once every decade or so.

"But we've dealt with sylvans a time or two -- that's when a demon or a spirit possesses a tree. The occasional spirit . . . oh! We came across some dragonlings before, but not a grown dragon. Or a griffon." She looked a little bit wistful at that. "I always wanted a griffon."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"Ah, you're from Anders' world, then?" Bob asked. "I must say, a griffon is something I've never met. Are you a mage as well?"

Re: Introduce yourself!

[cracksmostly]

Merrill nodded. "I am, and yes. I've never met a griffon either --" and she really did sound sad about that -- "but a baby one would make a nice pet."

Never mind that people kept telling her they didn't really exist.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy gave Merrill a small wave back after Professor Bob had moved on. She'd done a great job!

Also hello!

Re: Introduce yourself!

[cracksmostly]

Merrill waved back, looking somewhat gratified, and mouthed "hello!"

Re: Introduce yourself!

[notamascot]

"I'm Kaylin Neya," she said, looking a bit uncertain. "I have unfortunately had to deal with some of the Imperial mages, but not any of the Arcanum. But magical creatures? I guess you could consider dragons magical, but I thought mostly they just did magic, so I'm not sure about the other races of Elantra. As for the other creatures you mentioned I've only heard of ghosts and gods and I don't know anyone who's ever seen either."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"Welcome, Kaylin." Bob nodded at her. "What races do you have? And what is the Arcanum, some special body of mages?"

Re: Introduce yourself!

[notamascot]

"There's the humans, of course," Kaylin said. "And the Aerians, the Barrani, the Leontines, the Dragons, and the Tha'alani." She started to spit, then stopped herself, remembering that a lot of the teachers found that rude, especially inside.

"Thr Arcanum are mages who don't think they have to follow the emperor's rules. I don't trust any of them." She didn't trust pretty much anyone not a Hawk to begin with, though.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[yogurtvore]

"I'm Blue Sargent," Blue said, "and I've only encountered magical creatures here on the island, but that doesn't mean I'm ruling them out at home."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"Always a good thing," Bob agreed. "Never rule anything out."

Re: Introduce yourself!

[justwantedfriends]

"I'm Kira Yukimura, and most of my experience has been here in Fandom. We don't exactly have teal deer where I'm from." After a moment, she added, "Also, I may count as a magical creature, since I'm a kitsune."

Yeah, admitting that was still weird.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy gave Kira a small Victory sign. She knew how much bravery it could take, admitting things like that out loud.

Re: Introduce yourself!

[nuclear_snide]

"Well, pleased to meet you, Kira." Bob beamed at her. "You're the first kitsune I've ever met. Don't get many of them in Britain or Chicago," he confided. "Tell me about yourself."