I'm pleased to hear that you've joined our House. And I should be more than happy to help you get your bearings; my friend and room-mate Miss Woodhouse did the same for me on my arrival, and I'm glad to do likewise for another new arrival in turn. I can meet you in the common room later this evening, and then we can proceed from there, as needed.
((Apologies in advance for vanishing later this evening. Will respond as I can.))
Sensing that what Logan referred to as her "Victorian schoolmarm"* clothes would suit the occasion best, Susan dressed accordingly and made her way down to the common room. She was relieved to find that the place was in relative order and that no particular debauchery was going on at the bar (the sight of Ryuuji and Stephen and the mud had scarred her for life, though she'd never admit it aloud); Mr Adams, she felt, would be discombobulated enough without anyone shouting about evil clowns and handing out blocks of blue alcoholic gelatin.
-- *Susan still had only the vaguest idea of what "Victorian" meant, but she knew enough to be aware that there were some aspects of the concept of which she approved -- sensibility, tidiness, literacy -- there were others that she found completely confusing. The whole business with the table legs, apocryphal or not, was one of those.
((No problem. I've got plans this evening, too, but I do finish threads even if sometimes it takes me awhile. :D))
Not entirely sure what time Miss Sto Helit had intended to meet in her letter, John decided to go earlier rather than later to save her from unnecessary waiting. He checked his appearance in the mirror, making a mental note to find out where he could procure new clothes*, and headed down to the common tavern room.
As John entered, he spotted Miss Sto Helit immediately. With her somewhat unusual hair and severe clothing**, she tended to stand out from the crowd.
"My apologies, madam. I had intended to arrive earlier so that you shouldn't be forced to wait for me. I beg your pardon. You're looking very well."
*He'd been wearing the same clothes for a week or two now. The coat was fine, of course, but the other things had to be washed every evening by the somewhat disturbing help and he was growing tired of looking at himself
( ... )
"Mr Adams, good evening. It's quite all right; I've not been waiting long. You look well yourself." She smiled and extended her hand.*
"Welcome to Ravenclaw House, then. Thankfully, it's a quiet evening here; I should warn you that it's been known to get ... well, quite raucous. Silencing charms are our friends."
*It didn't occur to her that handshaking might not be a common custom for women in Mr Adams's home time and place. Ankh-Morpork may have been rather old-fashioned by 21st-century roundworld standards, but some customs had moved right along, being pushed or dragged as needed.
He took her hand and bowed over it rather than shaking it. "I look the same, madam, but it's kind of you to say so. I certainly feel more composed. As I'm sure you know, it is somewhat difficult to arrive here just at the moment my life's work appeared to be nearing completion. But I don't wish to bore you on the subject. After a somewhat painful discussion with Master Dib, I'm not even sure I can discuss it yet."
John looked around the common room. "And there's no need to worry about my sensibilities. I can converse with sailors as well as statesmen. If our country is to promote the values of equality between men, its greatest supporters must do the same. But please, do tell me about silencing charms."
"Dib? Ah, yes, he's from further along in your, um, time-stream." Susan could make a reasonable guess as to what the discussion had been, and why it would have been difficult for Adams, and chose not to pursue the matter further.
"Silencing charms -- well, there are those that silence other people, those you can use to make yourself unheard, and those you can use to muffle the sounds around you. The last is the most useful when the common room is getting rowdy; the last is considered somewhat rude; and the second is useful mainly in the library." She paused. "You'll need a wand, I think, and you may want to talk to Professor Malfoy -- she's the Charms professor. I've learned much through self-study, but I ... come from a world where magic isn't that unusual. In yours --?"
"In mine," said John dryly, "it's a children's story. We've had to make do with science, philosophy, hard-work, and divine providence. I don't know that magic will alleviate any of those, but it may help. A wand you say? Where might I acquire such a thing? And if it's not an imposition, may I see you perform some magic? Apart from the inherently magical objects in the school, I'm not sure that I've witnessed any directly yet."
"Time was, there was a fellow here named Ollivander who was a wandsmith, but he's p--" She broke off. One thing at a time; and what with River and all, she wasn't entirely sure she was up to explaining the whole "popcorn" business right now. "He's not around anymore, unfortunately" she went on hastily. "I believe some of the current students have purchased their wands from either a shop in Hogsmeade -- that's the nearby town -- or have gone via Hogsmeade to Ollivander's original shop in London." She thought a moment. "Master Dib might be able to help you with that, as he's one of those who arrived after Mr Ollivander's disappearance."
She drew her own wand from the sheath she wore on her belt, like a chatelaine. "This is what one looks like," she said, holding it out for him to see. "And as for a demonstration --" she coloured a little, feeling a bit self-conscious, "well, here's a simple spell. Lumos." A small wave, and a bright beam of light shone from the end of the wand, picking out glassware along the top of the bar.
"Incredible!" John exclaimed, staring at the light as if he were trying to figure out how it worked. Maybe it had something to do with the electricity that Franklin was always going on about. Did the wand channel lightning somehow? He'd seen that done before, though it hadn't been harnessed to provide any useful work.
"How long does the effect last?" he finally asked in astonishment. "That could be quite an economy on oil and candles. I shall certainly look into getting one myself."
Then John looked faintly embarrassed. This wasn't normally a topic of conversation one brought up with ladies, but he didn't know who else to ask. "...Do you think I might find a tailor in the village as well?"
"As long as one concentrates on it, or until it's extinguished, thus: Nox." The light winked out.
"As to your other question, there is a clothing shop in Hogsmeade, although it's biased towards the, ah, local wizarding customers. Robes and suchlike." She shrugged a little; she still found the local wizarding propensity toward robes to be mildly silly, and a bit too much like staff of Unseen University, with all the associations that included. "Nonetheless, you should be able to make arrangements to your liking, I think."
He shook his head bemused, thinking about himself in wizarding attire, until another chilling thought came to mind. "And what does one do for, er, financial considerations. I have very little currency on me and I suspect it's hopelessly out of date as well as the wrong nationality." John met Susan's eyes. "Is every new student so ill prepared?"
She gave him a wry, sympathetic smile. "No, but you're certainly not alone in that. I came here of my own free will, but there are others, such as Dr Malcolm -- also a member of this House -- who were just as surprised as you. There's one good thing about the wizarding banks; they are quite flexible with conversions. I'm sure they can help, at least in the short term."
"Even in a magic world, I doubt a handful of pocket change will buy one a new suit," said John. "But I fear I'm being a terrible guest. Pray, madam, tell me about yourself. What part of this school do you find the most exhilarating?"
Susan found herself momentarily at a loss for words. Exhilarating? That was not a word that often described her feelings towards Hogwarts. Infurating, unnerving, disturbing, irritating, yes. But --
"It's a strange place," she said finally. "I love the learning, really, I always have -- and flying is lovely." She smiled a little wistfully; she'd been avoiding such things after her last, unpleasant excursion above the Quidditch pitch. "And I've made some remarkable friends. But perhaps unlike schools of your experience, you may find that there is less emphasis on education here than on ... intrigues." She couldn't help making a bit of a face at that last.
"Flying? Good god!" John looked half horrified and half excited by the idea. "But please spare me the intrigues. I am sick to death of them. I'd much rather hear of your home where magic is not unheard of or of these remarkable friends of yours. I come from a place where everyone is accounted remarkable, and yet they are still only men."
I'm pleased to hear that you've joined our House. And I should be more than happy to help you get your bearings; my friend and room-mate Miss Woodhouse did the same for me on my arrival, and I'm glad to do likewise for another new arrival in turn. I can meet you in the common room later this evening, and then we can proceed from there, as needed.
Sincerely,
Susan Sto Helit
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Thank you. Then I shall meet you there with my deepest gratitude.
Your servant,
John Adams
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Sensing that what Logan referred to as her "Victorian schoolmarm"* clothes would suit the occasion best, Susan dressed accordingly and made her way down to the common room. She was relieved to find that the place was in relative order and that no particular debauchery was going on at the bar (the sight of Ryuuji and Stephen and the mud had scarred her for life, though she'd never admit it aloud); Mr Adams, she felt, would be discombobulated enough without anyone shouting about evil clowns and handing out blocks of blue alcoholic gelatin.
--
*Susan still had only the vaguest idea of what "Victorian" meant, but she knew enough to be aware that there were some aspects of the concept of which she approved -- sensibility, tidiness, literacy -- there were others that she found completely confusing. The whole business with the table legs, apocryphal or not, was one of those.
Reply
Not entirely sure what time Miss Sto Helit had intended to meet in her letter, John decided to go earlier rather than later to save her from unnecessary waiting. He checked his appearance in the mirror, making a mental note to find out where he could procure new clothes*, and headed down to the common tavern room.
As John entered, he spotted Miss Sto Helit immediately. With her somewhat unusual hair and severe clothing**, she tended to stand out from the crowd.
"My apologies, madam. I had intended to arrive earlier so that you shouldn't be forced to wait for me. I beg your pardon. You're looking very well."
*He'd been wearing the same clothes for a week or two now. The coat was fine, of course, but the other things had to be washed every evening by the somewhat disturbing help and he was growing tired of looking at himself ( ... )
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"Mr Adams, good evening. It's quite all right; I've not been waiting long. You look well yourself." She smiled and extended her hand.*
"Welcome to Ravenclaw House, then. Thankfully, it's a quiet evening here; I should warn you that it's been known to get ... well, quite raucous. Silencing charms are our friends."
*It didn't occur to her that handshaking might not be a common custom for women in Mr Adams's home time and place. Ankh-Morpork may have been rather old-fashioned by 21st-century roundworld standards, but some customs had moved right along, being pushed or dragged as needed.
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John looked around the common room. "And there's no need to worry about my sensibilities. I can converse with sailors as well as statesmen. If our country is to promote the values of equality between men, its greatest supporters must do the same. But please, do tell me about silencing charms."
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"Silencing charms -- well, there are those that silence other people, those you can use to make yourself unheard, and those you can use to muffle the sounds around you. The last is the most useful when the common room is getting rowdy; the last is considered somewhat rude; and the second is useful mainly in the library." She paused. "You'll need a wand, I think, and you may want to talk to Professor Malfoy -- she's the Charms professor. I've learned much through self-study, but I ... come from a world where magic isn't that unusual. In yours --?"
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She drew her own wand from the sheath she wore on her belt, like a chatelaine. "This is what one looks like," she said, holding it out for him to see. "And as for a demonstration --" she coloured a little, feeling a bit self-conscious, "well, here's a simple spell. Lumos." A small wave, and a bright beam of light shone from the end of the wand, picking out glassware along the top of the bar.
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"How long does the effect last?" he finally asked in astonishment. "That could be quite an economy on oil and candles. I shall certainly look into getting one myself."
Then John looked faintly embarrassed. This wasn't normally a topic of conversation one brought up with ladies, but he didn't know who else to ask. "...Do you think I might find a tailor in the village as well?"
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"As to your other question, there is a clothing shop in Hogsmeade, although it's biased towards the, ah, local wizarding customers. Robes and suchlike." She shrugged a little; she still found the local wizarding propensity toward robes to be mildly silly, and a bit too much like staff of Unseen University, with all the associations that included. "Nonetheless, you should be able to make arrangements to your liking, I think."
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"It's a strange place," she said finally. "I love the learning, really, I always have -- and flying is lovely." She smiled a little wistfully; she'd been avoiding such things after her last, unpleasant excursion above the Quidditch pitch. "And I've made some remarkable friends. But perhaps unlike schools of your experience, you may find that there is less emphasis on education here than on ... intrigues." She couldn't help making a bit of a face at that last.
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