Video/Action if near the shop

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

[Ingrid's sitting in a small coffee shop, hands around a steaming mug. She's looking rather perkier than usual.]

It looks as though I've missed quite a few event this last week or so. I apologize, but it seems you younger folk weren't so bad at taking care of it. Even though two of you were kidnapped. [A pause as she sips her drink.] Are you two alright, by the way? I'd hate to hear two of my potential students are still shaken by the events.

Yes, students. It seems the local high school has given me a teaching position. I'm to take over a few science classes. I do hope to see many of you there. [Her tone implies that's more of an expectation than a hope.]

I'm also a little concerned that they allowed me the job considering my lack of credentials in this world. Have any of the rest of you encountered something like this yet?

Comments

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

I doubt it will be. I was used to teaching a much more, ah, energetic crowd. I daresay this will be breeze.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Now that was a word loaded with additional meaning if I've ever heard one. My curiosity is piqued, am I allowed to pry?

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

Pry all you like; it isn't secret information. [A wry smile.] I worked with meta-human children back home. You can imagine how much more peaceful it is to have a class that can't set you on fire at a thought.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Err. Yikes. So, what you're trying to tell me is that even at work, you'll be having something of a vacation here.

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

Exactly. This [She fans her arms out.] is nothing.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

I'll bet. Are they all able to go, "blink-you're-on-fire"?

[A pause and a thoughtful hum.] For that matter, is their schoolwork any different? Guess I could see "learn how to not-ignite-everything" classes, but what about the basics?

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

Some could. Some had more disastrous powers. Some had decidedly less so.

On top of learning how not to destroy everything, they received a perfectly well rounded education. I was teaching some of the basics myself.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Hmm, education with a bit extra on top geared for them specifically? Sounds kinda nice.

[A beat, and you can almost see the thought forming before she speaks it.] Say, did you have special powers before coming here, too?

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

It serves its purpose.

[She smirks.]Why yes, I did. Would you like to hear about them?

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Sure. I'd offer to tell ya something back in exchange, but, ah, what'cha see is what'cha get, pretty much. [A faint, apologetic smile.]

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

That's fine. I don't mind to talk about myself.

In my world I was gifted with power over sand. It could control it, mold it, do with it whatever I pleased.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Huh. Bet that would be pretty handy in a desert. Were you able to just... make it anywhere? "Poof, this dirt is now sand."

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

A little more complicated than that. I needed the basic components around first. I usually just keep a little flask of sand with me for time's sake.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Hm, like an hourglass? [A beat] Actually, you'd probably need something bigger than that, right?

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

No, something like that always did me just fine. As they say it isn't the size, it's how you use it. And I'm very good at using it.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Sheesh, tell that to some of the guards back home... it's like there's some kind of primal instinct for boys to grab the biggest, flashiest sword they can get their mitts on.

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

My dear, that is a distinctly male habit that never changes wherever you go. And never leaves as they age.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Can't say I'm all that surprised. At least it works -- for some of them, anyway.

[And after a thoughtful pause.]

Efficiency really shouldn't be secondary.

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

But that's what us women are for.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Guess so. Kinda annoying when we distract 'em even more just by being around though.

[A pause, a memory of a shared avalanche of poorly-penned love letters, a shudder.]

...Why do we keep them around? In afterthought, I think insects have the better attention span.

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

Well, I for one always found distracting men to be kind of fun.

[So straight faced]Because some women enjoy having a penis shoved up there more than a wriggly bug.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Meh, try singing at a bar for a while. You get kinda tired of the drunken leering from the patrons you don't like.

[Not even batting an eyelash.] I dunno... Not that I agree with 'em, but I've met some weirdos who I wouldn't put that past.

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

Never sung, but I did spent a lot of time in them during my youth. But I always just hurt the men when they bothered me.

[oh she likes you] To each their own. Seems like a good way to get an infection, if you ask me.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

That'd be good advice, but it's not quite a good thing for one of the village leaders to randomly attack the populace. They're harmless enough, anyway.

...Let's be fair, if they're doing that, there's an infection in the brain already. One more won't hurt much.

[crazyoldbat.livejournal.com]

Ah, you had high authority there?

Maybe not them, but if they ever get the idea to go back to humans...