Magic, bigods!

[crossbowizard]

A month or two ago, a few very formal letters were exchanged between the University of Union and some very prestigious schools and universities of magic in Sanctuary. Deals had been made, a sum of money had been exchanged, papers had been signed, and hands had been shook. Now, with the small but slowly growing number of young mages Union, it was time for institutes of education to see to their training and upbringing. Today, the University of Union was celebrating the opening of their brand new department official studies with a modest banquet.

Several mages had come from Sanctuary. They all wore red robes, carried long staves, and were topped by pointy hats. The were old relatively old (a casual observer would be surprised if any of them was under 50, and most looked significantly older) and they all had the well fed frames of people who had never known hunger or poverty. Their leader¹ was a gentleman by the name of Mustrum Ridcully.

After speeches, photographs, and the rather substantial meal² it was time for after dinner drinks, and an excellent time for any of you who frequent the events of Union's upper crust to hobnob with the good ol' UU's newest staff, and possibly also the man holding it as well.

[Video, and all at high volume]

Hello? Is this thing on? Can they hear me?

[a voice from somewhere off screen assured him it was. A servant or something, perhaps.]

It better be or I'm going to feel awfully foolish...

I say, good morrow to you all, people of Union! I am Mustrum Ridcully, and I am the head of your fine University's new department of of magical studies! Hopefully you're all ready to come contemplate the mysteries of the inner workings of the cosmos with us!

I've got one mystery to contemplate right now that just can't wait: Where's the best fly fishing around here?

***

¹Identifiable by being the tallest, having the most magnificent robes, and being the one shaking hands with the university's chairman.

²All mages are able to put away an impressive amount of food. They get lots of practice at it, as most major events invite them simply out of fear of what might happen if they anger the magic community<sup>3

3</sup>You know the old saying, after all: "Meddle not in the affairs of wizards, for they are not subtle at all, and quick to anger."

Comments

[video]

[arachnocide]

[Well that blast of voice took both man and pokemon off guard, the Pumpkaboo clinging to the man for dear life]

Boo?! BOO!

[Magical studies? This sounds like something he should at least look into - it might be helpful to know in the future. Kurapika slowly uncovers his ears]

Sorry Pairo... Ah, Professor Ridcully, is that the correct term? You seem to have your volume all the way up.

[crossbowizard]

Well I had to make sure you all heard me, after all! You're all quite far away, as I understand it.

[arachnocide]

Our devices have speakers.. so the volume doesn't need to be so high to be heard.

[He does however, turn down the volume on his warp band]

I have to say I haven't been anywhere that's so accepting of outsiders as this city is.

[ video ]

[divine_braid]

Yeah, man... we can hear ya. You can quit yelling now.

[crossbowizard]

I'm not yelling I just have a naturally carrying voice.

[divine_braid]

Well, can ya carry it a little softer?

[He sighed.]

You're looking for fishing, huh? Well, there's the ocean a bit south of here... if you're into surf casting.

[video]

[heartandsoul]

...[Fly fishing?]

[He's supposed to be a professor, so it would make sense to ask questions. But still. That's not the subject he's teaching.]

Um, what's fly fishing, sir?

[Maka is not a...physical activities kind of person.]

[crossbowizard]

[This is what's wrong with Millenials.]

It's...it's fishing. With a lure that you flick onto the surface of the water to look like a bug.

[heartandsoul]

[Does it really count as millenials in a post apocalyptic generation, though.]

[Maka falters at that, reaching up to twist one of her pigtails around her fingers. Oh. It's just fishing after all.]

Oh...ah, the name made it sound like, um...[like what, Maka, literally flying while fishing?] N-never mind. There might be a gentlemen's fishing club you can look into. My dad doesn't fish, so I don't know a whole lot about it. [Generally he's too busy with getting drunk and hooking up with girls.]

Voice;

[soulofmagus]

[she can't help but wince at the volume, which also gets a startled squawk from her recently evolved Tranquill. Fortunately, it can be reduced on her side - though the man himself is still Very Loud]

Welcome to Union, Mr Ridcully. Or, should that be Professor? [it's only appropriate to query the correct title, after all] What sort of things are involved in magical studies, exactly?

[crossbowizard]

Oh you know, plotting the stars and calculating the infinities of the cosmos. Contemplating that which man was Not Meant To Know. Uncovering eldritch lore from forgotten eras.

That sort of thing.

[soulofmagus]

[ Something about 'eldritch lore' makes her shiver. it doesn't show in her voice, however. ]

I see.. Does that include information regarding the Gods? And what sort of practical applications does that have for us here in Union, be it Enlightened or otherwise?

[video]

[wise_maiden]

[Raine doesn't often catch up with the band's broadcasts, but there's something strikingly familiar about that voice...

Well, that explained a lot about the company of mages that had been talked about. So had that all been finalized after all? Hmm.]

... Welcome to Union, Professor.

[She's surprised to see him, but at the same time... not surprised at all, at how this turned out.] Getting used to the devices are an adjustment, but they do have their convenience. Will you be all right setting up the department?

[Her brother is attending the school, so there's something of a vested interest there... and she wonders just how much Sanctuary plans to keep out of it's offered curriculum.]

[crossbowizard]

Ho ho, I'm not so old that I can't whip this department into shape. They'll be impressing ancient wisdom into young minds in no time.

[And the sooner they can start, the sooner Ridcully can stop worrying about it. He's a very hands off teacher¹.

More immediately pressing though was that he could not for the life of him remember this young lady's name. Ryan? Rianne? Riley? R-something!]

***

¹By which we mean that he avoids his students whenever possible.

[wise_maiden]

I'm certain they'll be glad of any expertise you have to offer, Professor...

[She can't help feeling a little responsible, being from Sanctuary herself, and wondering just what this appointment would indicate about them.]

The classes will likely be very lively, as well. They'll have so many questions for you.

[Union doesn't handle 'vague' very well.]

Video, unphased by volume

[taudriver]

How far are you willing to go? The Lake Shrine isn't bad but if you take the road down to the port island fishing is really the best.

[crossbowizard]

Oh distance is no object, and you're the second person to recommend heading south. There must be something to it!

[taudriver]

I grew up on the Archipelago, there's a lot of great fishing out there! I'd go with my grandpa all the time!

video;

[comparative_insanity]

[A skinny cricket of a man appears on the screen - or maybe "stork" is more appropriate, considering the fair feathers on his head and the hint of bright blue wings.]

Ah... I haven't even set foot in the University in over a year.

[Which is a strange realization to have, since he's always been very academically minded, all his aspirations leaning toward it. But... well, he has been busy, hasn't he?]

Nice to know the old place is still alive and full of noise. More full of noise than usual, even.

[crossbowizard]

[A student who never shows up to bother the professors is, frankly, the best kind of student.]

They seem like a pretty sedentary bunch here. I have every intention of thanking things up.

[comparative_insanity]

It can get a bit too quiet for my tastes.

[He grins, like one might who may or may not in the greatest University traditions have herded a bunch of Fire type pokémon into a lecture.]

Though I have to admit I'm not all that familiar with the concept of magic yet. You could say I've been a bit out of touch in general for a year or so.

[windyflower]

Um...I don't mean to be rude but mind if I ask what is fly fishing?

[crossbowizard]

Good grief, what goes into children's upbringing these days?

[commissionergrump]

[James Gordon takes a small measure of amusement at new arrivals to Union his own age, some even older. Them being from Sanctuary causes a little hesitation, but the blustery fellow that seems to be calling the shots seems pleasant enough.]

There's the Lake Shrine, though perhaps you'd be best off starting at the various lakes and rivers around the Verdant Forest. If you've got a warp band, I assume you've started partnering with Pokemon?

[He pauses for a moment.]

James Gordon. You can call me Jim.

[crossbowizard]

Jim! A fellow fishing enthusiast, I hope?

[He offered a hand to shake that was large enough you could imagine it crushing a child's skull. If you had a particularly violent imagination.]