001: video

[doneproperly]

Hello, fellow imPorts.

[The feed displays a young man, around 17 or 18-- but the air he gives off is somehow older, more self assured than you'd expect from a teenager. He's dressed sharply in an expensively well-tailored suit; his concession to the heat was to forgo the tie and leave the top button undone. In his breast pocket, a neatly folded handkerchief square peeps out. The overall image is painfully British.]

Having seen a few young people discuss their worries about being ready for schooling in September, I would like to offer my services as a tutor to those in need. Though the history and geography of my own world is rather different, I'm quite proficient in most areas of mathematics and science, including algebra, statistics, geometry, trigonometry, physics and chemistry.

Additionally, I'm fluent in French, Czech, Hebrew and Latin should anyone desire to learn another language-- not that it is strictly necessary, here.

I admit though, that is only one part of my inquiry.

In fact, I'm eager to continue here some of the work that I performed back home. I have consulted with the police department on numerous occasions to help with their investigations, have a working knowledge of the law such as it exists in my own world, and have also some experience liaising with the press. If anyone knows of any available job openings that could make use of my abilities, I would be in your debt.

Thank you.

Comments

video;

[immuno]

Consulted with the police department officially or unofficially?

permavid

[doneproperly]

Officially. I was assistant and understudy to the head of the Internal Affairs department of our government back home for a number of years before a shift in administration.

[immuno]

You don't strike me as the average age for that kind of position. Did you know someone? [ she's squinting, trying to get a read on him. ]

[doneproperly]

[Wow, rude Lydia. He doesn't seem offended, though. If anything, he smiles diplomatically.]

I believe there is a saying regarding politics being about who you know, yes. [It's true that Mandrake did enjoy the power and prestige he did because of his connections, to an extent. He's not ashamed of that fact-- that's how the game is played. It's a mark of his ability and success, to be in favour with the important people.]

However, it's also true that one cannot advance if they are not competent, no matter how well-connected they are.

[immuno]

Half of the men currently occupying U.S. Senate and Supreme Court seats beg to differ.

[ Note how she specified men. Y'all are fucking incompetent garbage, honestly. ]

But your point's made. You know, in all the time you spent on this little video resumé, you never gave your name.

[doneproperly]

[There's a small quirk at the corner of his lips, but it's gone as soon as it appeared.]

Of course-- where are my manners. John Mandrake, a pleasure.

I can't speak for the government of this world-- America as it exists over here is rather different to the one that I'm familiar with. But... I can't deny it is true the world over that people are occasionally promoted beyond their abilities.

I'm not one such person, however.

[immuno]

Unfortunately, John, that's a claim that has to be taken on faith. I'm not really the type.

If you're so eager to do some tutoring, [ she lapses into well-practiced French seamlessly, ] you should try coming by the university learning center. They're always hiring tutors: I help with math. [ Languages seem like the easiest bluff to call, and a deliberate attempt to speak a second language actually manages to circumvent the translation mechanics (I think ??? if I read the FAQ right ??? ) ]

[doneproperly]

[The use of his first name by people his age or younger than him is still something he finds jarring, but it doesn't show on his face. He also switches to French without missing a beat-- not even a hint of an accent. He has been learning from the age of six, after all, and when the slightest mispronunciation could make the difference between life and death... you learn well.]

Of course. I would expect no less. I could be anybody, after all. But I trust that in time my capability will speak for itself.

The university is also an excellent suggestion. My thanks. I will start there.

[immuno]

In time, I'm sure it will.

[ She cants her head to the side. While she makes it sound more or less like she's just dropping her impromptu quiz when she turns back to English, it's ... actually because she doesn't know the word for the Czechoslovakian language in it. ]

When did you have the occasion to learn Czech?

[doneproperly]

Ah, that's one of the more major differences between my world and this one. The Holy Roman Empire lasted until 1868, and its' capitol was Prague. Czech was the dominant language spoken throughout Europe for most of the millennium prior to its' downfall, and though Britain now holds the seat of power, Prague continues to exert some influence and independence in the political sphere. Officially our relations with them these days are neutral, but things are not so clear-cut under the surface.

[immuno]

In my world, there are three times as many people living in the state of California as there are people who actually speak Czech. The notion of them as a world power is quite nearly laughable.

[doneproperly]

Yes-- the comparison doesn't mean much to me, but I take your point. I've been reading up on this version of events. It's all very strange. Still, different histories, so it's hardly surprising. I hear Latin is considered a dead language in this world as well-- really quite a shame.

[immuno]

Scholars still learn it because so many languages developed out of it, and so many ancient texts are still translated from it with varying success. Otherwise, you're right. Dead as a doornail.

[doneproperly]

It isn't spoken by any one country in my world any more either, hasn't been for centuries. But the language has been preserved through the ages thanks to magicians. Many of our spells require long and complex passages in the language, and mispronunciation of even one syllable can sometimes be, ah... fatal.

[immuno]

... Is that why you learned it?

[ She's still deciding whether or not she'll laugh at him for being a self-proclaimed magician. ]

[doneproperly]

Of course. It's part of the standard basic education for apprentices, in my world. You start with modern languages around age five or six-- that's French and Czech, and English if you don't already speak it. Once you've mastered those, it's expected you'll move onto the older ones.

[immuno]

For incantations, as well. [ it's an assumption. her eyebrows raise. ] I'm sorry—since when do magicians do actual spells?

[doneproperly]

Since the first magician successfully summoned a demon over five thousand years ago.

[immuno]

What happened to the demon? Do magicians still summon them?

[doneproperly]

He bound it to his will. [He manages to refrain from tacking on "obviously," but it's a near thing.]

You have in fact hit upon the primary use of magic. Demons are a valuable resource-- all the great empires throughout my world's history have risen and fallen on the strength of their magicians.

[immuno]

I’ve never seen good come out of trying to enlist the help of a demon. I'm a little reluctant to consider the notion.

[ Like literally this is how the nogitsune happened what is wrong with you. ]

[doneproperly]

I think you misunderstand. You cannot "enlist" a demon's "help"-- in that much, you are certainly correct. Demons are horrific and wicked creatures by nature and will hurt you at the first opportunity if they can. If you mess up an incantation by one syllable, draw the wrong rune, mis-calculate the right combination of chemical compounds, they will not be properly bound. A demon that is not properly bound may then be free to ignore his commands at best, or devour the magician at worst. Missteps are often fatal. That is why our education is so strict.

However, if done properly, they are bound to obey your will until you release them.

[immuno]

Tell that to Faust.

[ She's a doubting doubter, full of doubt. ]

[doneproperly]

[Mandrake blinks in some surprise, and that gives him pause for a moment.]

... I'm not quite sure I understand. You don't have demons or actual magic in your world, but you have Johann Faust?

[immuno]

[ squint. ]

Doctor Faustus is a fictional character in Christopher Marlowe's play of the same name. It's a metaphor about corruption and the conflicting ideologies of the Medieval and Renaissance thinkers as the western world's value systems evolved. Not an actual guy.

[ And she's not arguing about actual magic but she never said anything about not having demons!! She'd rather they didn't tbh. ]