The Art of Conversation, 3rd period

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon looked at his (thankfully small) class and sighed. "Hello. I...well, I've given up on asking the moose for specific courses at this point. So. I'm Jonathan Sims, and welcome to The Art of Conversation, apparently. The first week of classes is traditionally for introductions, which seems like as good a start of conversation as any. If you're going to talk with someone, you should know who they are and vice versa."

He took a deep breath and stood a little straighter. "As I said, I'm Jonathan Sims. I come from England - Bournemouth originally and London more recently - and roughly this year. And I am here because I'm meant to be instructing you. Now you." He nodded to them.

Comments

Re: Class activity

[witchoftheflesh]

"My name is Adrian Blackwood, most recently from the Blackwood Forest in Massachusetts. present day. My version of Earth seems to be very different from everybody else's, though the normal humans with Gilgamesh's scales still over their eyes likely wouldn't notice anything much different. I'm here to nurture a small Blackwood Grove as practice for starting a much bigger one out west."

Re: Class activity

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

And if Luma's teeth briefly made him nostalgic for Daisy, Blackwood...well.

Jon would definitely be calling him Adrian.

"Hello again." Jon nodded to him. "Um. I'm not sure what you mean by Gilgamesh's scales."

Re: Class activity

[witchoftheflesh]

"Gilgamesh put scales on the eyes of humanity to keep them from the magic that is their birthright," Adrian explained. "Which means that most humans generally don't notice subtle magics happening around them and their minds are much more inclined to come up with reasonable excuses for what they saw that isn't magic. The scales can be removed, of course, but it takes a lot to do so."

Re: Class activity

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon frowned. "I'm not sure if that's metaphorical or actual. Or why Gilgamesh would do such a thing."

Re: Class activity

[witchoftheflesh]

"An actual thing and because Gilgamesh is a dick," Adrian said.

Re: Class activity

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Er...well, yes, although in my world's legends he improved after Enkidu," Jon said. "Though as far as I know he wasn't real. People are still good at rationalizing things they don't understand, though."

Re: Class activity

[witchoftheflesh]

"He's real in mine," Adrian said sharply. "He murdered the gods and took over Heaven and he and his sons have watched over the systemic destruction of the magics that he didn't directly control. Which included destroying the people who practiced those magics, until the only ones that are left are those who are excellent at hiding, have impressive protections, or have made ourselves useful to him in some way."

Re: Class activity

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon started at that intensity. "Right, I...I'm sorry about that. That's...that's very different than my world's legends. It sounds...very bad."

Look, not only was Jon Bad At People, he was also English. Understatement was only to be expected.