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

[doneproperly]

... I take it from your emphasis that you're not talking about that in the abstract sense.

[inmyothertights]

This is a travesty.

[doneproperly]

... Is it a book, then?

[Because if it's a travesty he hasn't learned it, it must be educational.]

[inmyothertights]

.....it's a musical.

[doneproperly]

... Oh. I see. To... tell you the truth, I've never really been one for the theatre.

[inmyothertights]

Movie.

[doneproperly]

... I'm not familiar with the term.

[inmyothertights]

Okay, wait. What year are we talking about, here?

[doneproperly]

[INTERNAL SIGHHhhhh why does everyone ask him this!!

No he knows why, but it's still irritating.]

2005.

[inmyothertights]

And no motion picture?

Wow.

Just.

Wow.

[doneproperly]

... As I said. My version of Earth has developed quite differently. From what I understand, the existence of magic seems to have stifled our technological advancements quite a bit in comparison to other worlds on similar time frames.

[inmyothertights]

My world has magic and movies.

...which sounded like bragging it wasn't, sorry.

[doneproperly]

You misunderstand. Or I explained myself badly, I suppose.

Magic has shaped my world very literally from the birth of civilisation some five thousand years ago. Every empire in human history has risen and fallen on the strength of their magicians. Many things here that are accomplished via technology are accomplished in my world via magic. Sending messages such as this one, for example.

[inmyothertights]

This sounds complicated.

[doneproperly]

[A shrug.]

To me it is quite simple.

[inmyothertights]

I'm Billy.

[doneproperly]

John Mandrake. A pleasure.

[inmyothertights]

So do you do magic?

[doneproperly]

[He can't resist a small smile at that; he's a prideful individual, and his magical aptitude is the one thing he takes the most pride in of all.]

... Indeed.

[inmyothertights]

Oh.

Cool.

[doneproperly]

... I'm fond of it, yes.

[inmyothertights]

What kind of magic?

[doneproperly]

[He purses his lips then, frowning, like he's trying to think of how to put it...]

I've found it is quite difficult to explain to commoners...

[inmyothertights]

[Excuse you.]

A commoner?

[doneproperly]

Non-magicians.

[He clarifies, stating it matter-of-factly, like he isn't sure where the problem lies. Gosh, Billy.]