(Untitled)

Jun 04, 2024 07:50

We're entirely out of calming draughts.

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teachthechange June 9 2024, 21:36:38 UTC

Nothing shakes your confidence in your teaching abilities quite like children reacting to exams in your subject with the same degree of terror they might to a sudden influx of gossiping acromantulas.

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ringaroundthe June 9 2024, 22:15:30 UTC
Now, let's be fair, I'm sure quite a lot of their feelings come from facing two weeks of daily exams that cover, well, seems to me like everything they could think of and more. I haven't had anyone need a calming drought over your normal exams.

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teachthechange June 9 2024, 22:45:19 UTC

Ah, yes. I should remember that other subjects exist and the children take them too.

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ringaroundthe June 9 2024, 22:48:30 UTC
There's such a varied and surprising amount. Even alchemy, which, actually, I was always told is deeply immoral so that's very interesting!

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teachthechange June 9 2024, 22:49:57 UTC

Alchemy is- On what basis did the people telling you this draw that conclusion?

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ringaroundthe June 9 2024, 22:58:52 UTC
Oh, religion, mostly. Only one route to eternal life, that kind of thing, so of course the whole thing must be bad. If I'm being unkind, which I suppose I'm allowed, it was probably really more about control as these things go.

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teachthechange June 9 2024, 23:10:02 UTC

A fountain of life and wealth do present something of a problem when your message requires humble poverty and a reward only after death. I feel I should note that alchemy arose out of a striving for spiritual purity and Flamel's famous success along material lines was more of side-effect of his journey than it's intended goal. Most of the alchemy students here will go on into fields of medicine and healing.

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ringaroundthe June 9 2024, 23:22:31 UTC
Hmm, I have to admit we didn't grow up with much by the way of healers either. Not, well, nothing like this, with any kind of formal oversight to it, I think. A severe lack of humble poverty though.

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teachthechange June 9 2024, 23:26:17 UTC

Meaning no slight upon your good self, but I find myself wishing to ask a great many probing and, I'm afraid, quite judgemental questions about your upbringing.

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ringaroundthe June 9 2024, 23:51:05 UTC
It's very sweet you'd prefice it that way, I'm fraid it's actually a disappointingly banal thing. You know, I went on a date once and had to end it early because I got accused of being in a cult. Being in a cult, not even having left a cult! Can you imagine?

It isn't a cult, though. My immediate family is just particularly religious and lives within a larger, very insular community.

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teachthechange June 10 2024, 07:32:26 UTC

Never the best combination, alas.

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ringaroundthe June 10 2024, 11:16:21 UTC
I'm sure you're right. *She makes a face at her reflexive non-answer and tries again:* No, it's rather bad, I just didn't know any differently.

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teachthechange June 10 2024, 12:15:37 UTC

My parents hated each other fiercely and begrudgingly accepted the arrangement that wed them solely for the security it offered both families in a time of political and social upheavel. Despite this, they also attempted to arrange my marriage. It can be difficult to shed yourself of the patterns you grew up in.

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ringaroundthe June 10 2024, 12:41:44 UTC
I'm not sure if my parents always hated eachother or if they just arrived there in the end. It's just as well, I can't judge them overmuch, my arranged marriage didn't make it to the church and it was still a spectacular disaster. If your parents just attempted to arrange yours, I assume you got away?

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teachthechange June 10 2024, 13:12:44 UTC

My Transfiguration skills caught the attention of people of influence. By the time my parents became willing to risk their reputations and press the matter, they were no longer in a position to insist on anything. Though, for all intents and purposes, I now find myself a political exile-not officially barred, of course, that would raise questions. But unwelcome in high Romanian society? Very much so.

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ringaroundthe June 10 2024, 14:12:45 UTC
Oh. I know the feeling. It's their loss, truly, for whatever my opinion is worth.

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