fandomhigh | Practical Folklore, Monday 2nd period

When the students arrived to class, they would find Jon - a slight man with far too many scars, who looked permanently tired - looking as put-together as he could, in a jacket, pressed shirt, and trousers.

He stood from the desk once everyone seemed to have arrived, and nodded to them. "Welcome. I'm Jonathan Sims, for those of you who don't know me. This is Practical Folklore. Because there are a lot of folk tales and mythologies out there, and a lot of places treat them as fictional - for many places, they may be fictional - but in other places they could be incredibly important.

"The first week of class is traditionally for introductions, and it's early enough I hope you won't be tired of them yet. So we'll be going around and introducing ourselves. I'd like to hear your name or whatever you prefer to go by, your pronouns, where you're from as near as you're comfortable saying, and what sorts of supernatural you're aware of existing in your world."

He breathed deep and sighed. "So I suppose it's only fair if I start. As I said, I'm Jonathan Sims. He/him. I'm from Earth, more specifically England, and from Bournemouth by way of Oxford and London. In my world, all supernatural things we're aware of are a product of relation to or influence by a conglomeration of what's best described as eldritch fear gods. They create artifacts, monsters, and avatars who channel them. There are no benevolent forces."

Another sigh and a nod. "Right. Your turn."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No Arbiter in the country could find fault with what she was saying and that was good enough for this girl.

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna finish getting used to the idea of there being multiple versions of Earths before I start questioning my understanding of mine," Arden deadpanned.

"Probably a wise thing," Jon agreed. "At least as far as the island will allow."

...

"You are from 2023 or near enough, I hope."

She winced, trying to figure out how she hadn't also anticipated time travel. Because of course. Why wouldn't it be in the mix, too?

"2019," she sighed. "So near enough."

"Ah, me too," Jon noted. "Well, somewhere between 2018 and 2019, anyway. Time was difficult for a while. At least you shouldn't have too much culture clash, though you might want to get a new phone."

She glanced down at her Tracphone, purchased just a few days before she'd run away. It was already lacking bells and whistles, the cheapest she could find. "Maybe if a local place has a sale soon," she said.

Like a 90% off sale.

"Summer at the Turtle and Canary can usually help you with that for free," Jon said. "She likes to help people and believes that life without social media is deprivation. You can tell her I sent you there, if you like. She'll probably be pleased I spoke to someone."

Even if it was in class.

"Free?" Immediately sus. "Isn't this class about why you don't accept gifts? "

"Among other things," Jon agreed. "But yes, while it definitely pays to be suspicious, I can vouch for Summer. She is a...well, yes, not entirely normal, but...standard human, I suppose? And...not exactly benevolent all the time, but well-meaning.

"She...erm. She might mark it as a favor owed, but she'd see helping someone else as a way of paying it back. Or she'd ask you to come to one of her parties, where everyone on the island is invited. Or...or if you didn't, the worst that would happen would be that she might make pointed remarks."

He was really selling it, wasn't he? Jon sighed. "It's fine. She's a good person. She's also probably looking for employees if you want to work to buy one."

Yeah, John could watch Arden's face shut down at the word 'favor.' "I'm sure I'll be fine," she said brusquely. "It's not like my phone doesn't have a screen or whatever."

Jon nodded. "It's, um. It's all entirely what you're comfortable with. But...well, Fandom people tend to take care of their own. Regardless of their pasts or natures or...or anything."

Practical Folklore, Monday 2nd period

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