paradisa | thirteenth ;

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krasus

thirteenth ;

[Galadriel]

Now that the castle is finished rearranging us for a brief moment, I would like to begin the lessons. I can host, but as a warning, my quarters are more accustomed to the study of magic than entertainment. I sometimes find it difficult to concentrate outside of stone walls; I imagine you are much the opposite.

-----

Rhonin,

I wonder at times what you would think of this situation. I do not always proclaim my need for guidance-- let alone of a mortal-- but the truth is that I admire you, and your humanity, a great deal. (Do not let this go to your head, however.) Even if I have spent generations among wizards young and old alike, warriors and thieves and kings, you still manage to perplex me. It is that sort of ingenious surprise that I require now.

What am I not seeing? With all my power, I cannot devise any other plan than to wait. It is not that I have grown complacent, but I know that I cannot cheat death any longer. My life is here.

Shall I take risks and endanger those I care for, for the sake of a chance? Or, is there a better way? Would such a foolish plan have a greater chance of success in the hands of someone like you?

I wrestle with these questions day and night. It seems that I am the apprentice now, and you are silent and far away.

[He doesn't sign it, and instead tucks it into his mahogany desk.]

-----

[written]

A question, if you will: how many of you have devoted your lives to education or academics? The subject matters little, whether it is medicine or magic or literature. The distinction between teacher and student does not concern me, but you may state it if you wish. I have found that people with a particular thirst for learning enjoy the company of others, but are often too remote to communicate without prompting.

I will volunteer first. I have studied magic of all kinds on Azeroth, either to control it or to subvert it. I have mentored in the past, but I am not the finest teacher nor the wisest.

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I was a schoolteacher in a small town for several years, and I do tend to be placed in that sort of position whenever there's a world change; I was, for example, a Pokemon Professor during my time in Unova for over a year.

You must enjoy teaching a great deal. Do you long to lecture at a college, or are you content?

[She laughs nervously.] Oh, that would preclude the existence of a college that wouldn't simply lock me in the basement and force me to research for the rest of my natural life. No, I'm quite happy with a simple life, really.

... There seems to be a story behind those words.

Yes, well, education doesn't always mean enlightenment, I'm afraid.

You are not the first wizard with whom I have kept company, nor are these stone walls the first I have dwelt within. I am quite certain your quarters will be more than satisfactory. [Not to mention that she's more than a little curious about where he lives.]

[It's probably one of the safest places in the castle aside from the TARDIS. He hasn't had company in a long time... ever, actually. -- Eonar, he's got some cleaning to do.]

In that case, I need a few minutes to prepare, if you would... I apologize for the inconvenience, but ancient literature does not make for a proper chair.

[She gives a little laugh] It is no inconvenience at all. I will await further word from you.

[About an hour later...]

1714, the Ortus tower, if you would.

Of course. I will be there shortly.

[And sure enough, he doesn't have to wait long before there's a knock on his door.]

[The door swings open as soon as her hand leaves it. Krasus stands there without his cloak, garbed in scarlet robes. He bows slightly, then steps aside to let her inside.]

Greetings, my lady. Take a seat where you wish. I have no preference.

[He says this like she'd want to sit down immediately rather than poking around. Aside from a few candles and an oil lamp, the main source of light is the large fireplace casting a warm, flickering glow across everything. Bookshelves reach to the high ceiling, stuffed to the brim with tomes of all ages and subjects. It's a fraction of the library he had in Dalaran, but it will do. Matching the deep cherry wood of the bookshelves, there is a large writing desk in the corner with several journals resting on top of it. He wasn't kidding when he said he wasn't used to entertaining guests. A comfortable-looking settee and two large, fluffy chairs can handle most visitors. Judging by the indentations on the seats, however, they typically seat books. And where does he eat? Probably the carved wooden table in the other corner, the one with two matching chairs. Curiously, there is no sign of a bed anywhere in this room.

Across the back wall, where there ought to be a window, there is a miniature apothecary instead. Galadriel would find jars containing endless amounts of wacky ingredients: dried newt, exotic flowers, softly-glowing powders, spices from another dimension, that sort of thing. He's got the kind of collection one would expect from a wizard of at least a couple hundred years. Truth be told, some of this is so old it predates human wizardry on his world.

Krasus busies himself with serving tea at the breakfast table. There's a small assortment of sophisticated snacks as well.]

Thank you.

[Oh, she is far too polite to openly poke around. Not that is going to stop her from giving the room a careful look-over. She seats herself on one of the two chairs and glances about, taking in what she can.]

Do you not sleep, my lord? [There's just the slightest hint of amusement in her voice. Somehow, she doesn't find it terribly difficult to believe that he doesn't.]

[Krasus hesitates as he realizes he forgot that detail. OOPS.]

I... Not quite. [He clears his throat purposefully and finishes pouring the tea.] I only require a couple hours of sleep in comparison to the average human, so I see no need for a bed. [More room for books.]

[She chuckles a little]

I also require less sleep than most humans, but once again, you surpass me.

[He offers her a teacup and saucer. Milk and sugar is there if she needs it.]

I know of a warm cave if you tire of sleeping in the castle.

[... Not sure if joking.]

[And she will accept it, smiling lightly.]

Now what would my husband say to that, I wonder. [She is joking, plainly. She trusts him far too much to seriously think that he has anything but honorable intentions.]

[The silence following her retort is disturbed by Krasus spilling his tea.]

Excuse my... lack of... grace. [HAHAHA HE'S FLUSTERED HAHAHAHA.] I did not mean to insinuate-- [Oh, fuck it. He stands up and waves a hand, drying his robes with a rather cosmetic but handy spell.]

... Shall we continue?

[Sorry, Krasus. She's just going to laugh at your expense for a bit.]

I know you did not, my friend. [And then catching her breath enough to speak properly.] By all means.

[The tips of his ears pinken, a hilariously human reaction to being embarrassed. He pours himself a second cup of tea.]

I have accumulated some study materials for Thalassian: an introduction to high elf history, a dictionary, and the alphabet to imitate. That should suffice for a beginning lesson, I believe.

[Who knew trolling him would be so fun? Filing this back in her head for later reference.]

It will more than suffice. Would that I had such tools when first I learned Sindarin. [Language learning through total immersion is terrifying.]

Does it have to be academics?

It does not. Tell me, then, what is it that you have devoted your life to learning?

Not me, actually. I mean, I'm not much of a teacher.

But the man I called a mentor is here now. He's still getting used to the castle, but I'd point you toward him if you wanted.

I apologize for the misunderstanding, then. I am not necessarily in search of tutoring; I was curious to see how many 'academic' sorts we had living within the castle.

The way magic works in my world, it's probably more accurate to say that the study of magic chose me. Still, I enjoyed learning even before I discovered I was a wizard. Afterwards I picked up any new theories when I could, even some that by my schools standards were technically heretical. I suppose I've never been terribly focused...[He chuckles]

In any case, I did some teaching before I left, though I can't say it was a vocation I sought out.

Edited 2012-07-31 23:19 (UTC)

Unfortunately, the drive to learn does not come with innate discipline. In my younger days, I was much the same.

Teaching involves... a different sort of learning.

Maybe so. I started to find that having the desire for them to learn was a more than adequate beginning.

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JESUS CHRIST i am sorry for this late tag. I went on a desperately-needed hiatus.

it's cool <3