video | un: big ben

[slightlytaller]

[Hi, Trench. It's been a while since this display name surfaced on the network. This time, there was accompanying video instead of just text-- And the dour man frowning into the screen, with dark bags under his stormy ocean green eyes and his cheekbones prominent in a manner that suggested recent illness, exuded nothing short of the stony sense of a man that was done with watching the madness of recent weeks.

--Or, perhaps, someone that had actually worried himself sick over the last month. Literally.]

... Not that anyone cares, but watching all these pompous assholes call themselves 'teacher' is making me want to pull my hair out.

[And, look. He had a lot of it. Heaving a sigh, Waver Velvet plucked the wire glasses he had been wearing off and set them aside. Pinching the bridge of his nose as if to ward off a headache-- or collect himself-- he continued.]

Some of you know me. Most of you don't.

That's fine, I'm only here to offer a different option for anyone feeling a tad... unanchored here.

I am Waver Velvet, sometimes called Lord El Melloi II-- but most of the people here just know me as Mackenzie. I'm not a combat instructor, like that trio that really wanted to play out a real-life Tournament Arc a few months ago-- like we were in one of my kids' anime shows. I'm also hardly worth even calling a mage. What I am, however, is someone that is willing to offer tutoring to anyone that feels they need it... In basically any subject matter.

[A shrug. He waved a hand.]

Don't worry about whether or not I'm an expert. One thing I've learned after teaching for the last decade is that no one is. If you need help with something that I don't already know, I'll learn it well enough to help.

--Also, if you need someone to just listen and help you resolve a problem... I can do that, too.

No, I won't ask you to call me Professor, Teacher, or even have you use my title. Just keep calling me Mackenzie, if you wish. I won't ask for payment, either. But, well... if you insist, bring along something to eat. Anything. I don't really care what.

Alternately, feel free to talk about whatever's currently interesting to you.

...I won't arrange 'classes' either. I know that you lot of teenagers are basically free-range, and that's fine. There's probably good reason for you to not trust adults. I know I didn't while I was in school.

[He sighed, satisfied that at least he was able to remove this much of his concerns from his shoulders, and seemed to be signing off before adding:]

Oh. One more thing. Does anyone have an open venue? I have a stack of rhythm and fighting games that I'm willling to share with people needing a distraction-- in a public forum, of course. If enough people are interested, we could work on making something official.

That's all.

Private--- to Palamedes Sextus

Palamedes... When you have a moment and are up to it, I'd like to talk.

Comments

text; un: warden

[megatheorem]

Go ahead.

text; un: big ben

[slightlytaller]

Something with the powers that be this month has had me not acting as my normal self

That's no excuse

I apologize. Something happened, and I doubt I'll ever know the full story. The whims of gods are dangerous, and this is why I pointedly avoid them.

If there's anything you're needing help with, please feel free to ask.

... If you're willing, I'd like a chance to fix this.

oh yeah i forgot this is also all private

[megatheorem]

You're right; you won't know. Not from me.

What kind of 'chance'?

Completely

[slightlytaller]

... That's not for me to decide, is it?

[megatheorem]

Oh, my input matters now? Remarkable growth.

[slightlytaller]

... It always matters, Palamedes.

[megatheorem]

Is that how I'm intended to interpret it? You're not good at proving it.

[slightlytaller]

I've never been good with people, Palamedes. All my life has been a struggle against else my society has told me is truth, and that doesn't foster close relations.

In truth: I value you, and I do not know how to fix what I broke.

[megatheorem]

Why did you try to break into my house at the party? Which type of value is that?

[slightlytaller]

Apologies for that. I mostly wanted to see if I could figure out the code.

No ill intent was there. It was a puzzle that I never puzzled out.

[megatheorem]

The passcode to my private residence isn't a puzzle for your enjoyment. That you want to frame it as one is flabbergasting.

[slightlytaller]

... That's fair.

Mages are a distrustful lot by nature. I wouldn't trust me if I met myself at a party.

I'll be more respectful of boundaries.

I'm sorry for that.

[megatheorem]

Of course it's fucking fair. I'm right.

Tell me what you think fixes your transgressions, then. Don't tell me it's up to me again, that's avoiding the subject.

[slightlytaller]

Speaking frankly, I don't know what to say or to offer. A boon, to be determined as it's needed?

You know what I'm capable of... And you're capable of far more.

[megatheorem]

I don't want a favor.

You need to get better at dealing with people.

[slightlytaller]

I will.

And I am.

That's why I'm going back to teaching, and why I became a teacher when I was barely more than a college drop out. So others have a shot at being better than I am.

[megatheorem]

That's a start.

[slightlytaller]

[A Start.

It was all the he ever had. His own fears and biases always got the better of him. Even a decade out, with his King sleeping at his side, he still has flashes of panic at anything that resembled anything from the Fourth Holy Grail War.

He had met monsters. He has stood up to self-proclaimed God-Kings.

He was still afraid of these shadows that could no longer hurt him.

Teeth itching, he reached for a cigarette and lit up. The window was cracked-- and he would be heading out shortly. ]

... One of these kids wants me to assist them with research in the Sanctuary. Would you like me to find another avenue?

[Step one: do not make a pest of himself. Above all, honor xenia, even if the only one the understood that concept was the man he shared his bed with. ]

[megatheorem]

[Oh? ... Oh, the library.]

It's a Sanctuary, not a private college.

Don't go near the big door with the runes on it. The locked doors are mean.

[slightlytaller]

... And are you saying that because it's one of yours, or something native to the Sanctuary that was there before any of us?

[megatheorem]

The latter. We're mucking around in a ruin, it has its ups and downs.

My office doesn't have a door, but it's still polite to knock.

[slightlytaller]

I'll knock.

If you need an assist, I AM curious about this world's history and I've done my share of archaeologic field work.

With your consent, I would be interested in collaborating if you want to explore deeper.

[megatheorem]

I'll consider it.

That will have to wait, anyway; other matters are taking precedence at the moment.

[slightlytaller]

Yes, likely the results of earlier this month.

And the Pthumerians, of course.

... Just as well. I need to get my strength back. The good news is that I'm no longer a centaur, but I've been sick to my stomach with worry.

[megatheorem]

No, I've removed myself from all of that. These are personal matters, unrelated.

Congratulations on your correct number of legs.