tushanshu_logs | The Midnight Hotel January catch-all

Entry tags:

The Midnight Hotel January catch-all

Characters: Anyone, everyone.
Date: Month of January, 2016
Location: The Midnight Hotel
Situation: Catch-all post! Feel free to use this post for anything that happens within the Midnight Hotel over the month of January, using the subject header to label specific rooms or for specific people. Please also see the OOC note at the bottom.
Warnings/Rating: None thus far.

The Midnight Hotel was among the few buildings which showed no sign of having been damaged by the invasion six months ago. That followed, of course; the Hotel hadn't even been present. But either way it stood out, and many of the kedan knew by now that the building, so different from the architecture of the rest of the city, was a safe-haven. Too many mistook it as a Foreigner safe-haven alone, but not all; even now there was usually one or two kedan present.

Some of them were gang-members, ones with whom Anton had forged closer relationships before the Foreigners' year-long disappearance or simply those who chose to visit in defiance of the general public's opinion.

Anton had taken great pains to give the Foreigners structure and normalcy. While the means of payment were, in some cases, not much more than an illusion, he gave as much in the way of purpose as he could. As a result there were now many Foreigners on staff at the Hotel, though of course the rules were still in strict effect. Anton himself was readily available at most given moments if needed for assistance, questions or otherwise.

There was also an oddity in the lobby: a construction in one of the corners where a long bank of three public consoles was being built. The Metalworkers responsible for its construction were generally taciturn and more concerned with their work than with interactions, but they didn't seem worried about being observed or by the close proximity of the Foreigners.

[ooc: The Midnight Hotel's status page is available here, with the rules at the top and ongoing status at the bottom. PLEASE POST TO THE STATUS PAGE IF YOUR CHARACTER WOULD LIKE A ROOM. Anton will manufacture means of payment until Foreigners are able to properly offer recompense or choose to move out, so you can assume they're 'paying' in some method.

If you have a specific job for your character to do around the Hotel (eg working the kitchen, security, house chores) please also note that so I can keep track of Anton's casual staff.]

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"A pleasure, Professor Callaghan." Now they can move on to things she doesn't already know. China tugs an extra chair over and settles into it, as comfortably as if he'd invited her to join him. That's a lovely improvement in attitude, and he hasn't lost his wits completely, either. "I believe I know the systems you speak of. Tell me, how are you finding the magical aspects to work around?" For surely he's no sorcerer. She rests her elbows on his table and her chin in her hands, intentionally placing herself on a level a little lower than his. Looking up to him.

There really is something pleasing about the fact she can still twist people round her fingers just as easily as ever, no matter where she is or what else has changed. It may not last -- Shudder or Skulduggery will likely remember eventually to make sure those Foreigners they care about are wise to her ways -- but by then she'll have a solid enough foundation laid with the useful ones that it won't matter.

The usage of his title as opposed to his first name should offer some distance along with that professionalism, but he's not sure how much it really does. At least- at least the mention of magic is something that Callaghan is able to shift his attention to, offering a wry little chuckle and a shrug as he pulls some of the papers over to bring them in to her view.

"To be frank, I'm not. There's no such thing as 'magic' where I'm from, and while I'm still getting my bearings about it, I'm trying to think of it as some sort of science I haven't yet had an opportunity to study." Even with Anton's describing it as unquantifiable...

Surely, nothing is.

"They don't seem to affect the mechanics, anyway. So I'm just trying to bring those up to efficiency, as best as I can." Should he go in to details? Would she even know what he was talking about? She seems attentive, already, like an eager student just waiting for knowledge- he finds himself already starting to mention some of the specifics, his careful watching only to make sure she understands the concepts, of course. He doesn't want to make her feel foolish.

"Have you considered that magic may simply be hidden in your world, as well?" China presents the idea as a gentle sort of challenge, the reminder that there are more things in heaven and on earth. "But in some respects, you're not far wrong. There are observable rules which magic must follow, after all, and especially when it comes to the language of magic, the same procedures may be repeated for the same reliable results. If it makes you feel better to look at it that way..."

She shrugs, making even the throwaway lift of shoulders into an elegant, calculated gesture, and pays her attention to his notes, and the specifics he's beginning to go into. Most of it is not at all of interest to her, and she speaks only to urge him onward, never asking for clarification. Some very little she notes as potentially useful to remember, but for the most part all she's interested in is getting Callaghan to talk, to see what use he may have to her. "--And what is it that you teach?" she asks at length, wondering. There's certainly a breadth of knowledge here.

"If that's the case, than I doubt it's really 'magic' at all- just something we haven't had the chance to fully understand. They used to call electricity magic," Robert notes, with the air of someone who has utter confidence that everything can be fully understand in time.

So the idea of this being what this is...well. It just needs time, or maybe a more equipped mind to deal with it.

But that's besides the point.

His answer, when she asks, has only the slightest of hesitations; it doesn't seem out of reluctance, but of finding the proper way to phrase it. "I had a number of classes, depending on the semester," he begins, before elaborating on the specifics with minimal prompting. A somewhat general engineering technology- primarily so that the students would have the instruction required for building whatever projects they took on. It also gave him the position of being the laboratory head, directly monitoring and observing its usage and those within. And, of course, his own more specific classes on robotics and design...

China will probably note that Callaghan does seem to refer to it all in past tense. But that makes sense - he's certainly not teaching now, is he?

He's certainly not teaching now, no, but if he's only recently been unceremoniously yanked away from his teaching job to Keeliai, he might well be slipping up with his verbs more often. It's just a little circumstantial thing, of course, nothing to rest any suspicions on, and China dismisses it nearly as soon as she notices.

She goes back to the idea of magic, instead, since it's her primary area of interest, and robotics quite frankly do nothing for her at the moment. It's quite a list of technological qualifications, however, and she does make an appropriately impressed noise before drawing the conversation back to its initial thread. "There are scientists among sorcerers," she points out, leaning forward a little. "There have been for centuries. Even so, the source of magic itself..." China shakes her head slowly. No one's gotten that far. "But understanding it wouldn't necessarily mean it wasn't magic."

Of course she'd bring it back to that. He hardly has what he'd need to teach here, anyway, aside from the basics.

(To be fair, to him, the 'basics' can still be rather...advanced.)

"Are you a student yourself, then?" he can't help but ask with a small smile. It'd explain her interest in both this and...the whole magic thing. "I'll admit that it's still new to me, but without having the chance to really devote myself to its study...I won't discount the thought that it's something of its own - those professor's blueprints were enough for that - but it still seems strange."

And this coming from a man who had a school mascot as a constant fixture in the lab.

China Sorrows is a master in her field, and even the intent to appeal to this professor's teaching instincts can't make her hide that pride for long. "No," she says, after the briefest of pauses. "I haven't been anyone's student in a long time." Hasn't considered that anyone might have anything valuable to teach her in nearly as long, though stranger things have happened.

"No, I'm something of a collector. Of knowledge, among other things. And I find it... beneficial to know my environment, and the people in it." The look she gives him from under her lashes is pointed. "Especially when people are making changes to that environment. Which professor's blueprints?" A moment to think it over it herself. The combination of science with magic, a professor from her own world who would have worked with Shudder-- ah. "Grouse?"

"A collector," he repeats, taking in. It's a bit of an odd way to describe oneself, but it doesn't seem a poor one. There's certainly nothing wrong with trying to understand what's going on, at least; if anything, it's simply being informed. He nods slightly, in affirmation of both the logic and her question. "Correct. Most of what I'm doing is repairs and simple upgrades; they should only make things more efficient, in the long run."

In case she's worried about breaking anything.

She's confident enough in her skills to be sure that if something breaks, it will be his work, and it will almost certainly not be because of anything she did. Mostly China just wants to know what allowances she's going to have to make, and, fortunately, it sounds like very few.

Well, Shudder usually at least has competent companions, if not tolerable.

"Of course," China says. Taps her fingers on his notes for a moment, idle, thinking. "Where may I find you otherwise?"

"I've found a place in the Metal District, though it isn't much." He's made what home of it as he can, but it's mostly for the fact that he feels as though he's not being given charity that makes it more appealing than the hotel rooms. Sure, he's working and earning his keep, but he's always been proud - sometimes, too proud.

But all that's moot. Apparently he's interesting enough to be worth another discussion? "I'm a regular visitor here, with the work. If you wanted to upgrades, I wouldn't mind."

The thought that Anton might isn't even at the edges of his mind. Why would he?

Yes, why would Anton mind. China hasn't the faintest idea.

She does note, however, that he's apparently one of the very few Foreigners actually living outside the Hotel. And among the more recently arrived, too. That says something about him.

China nods, then, and her smile is easy. "Yes, I think I'd like that," she says. Which is, as ever, true more because of the opportunities it grants her than for any genuine interest in Callaghan as a person. But he's not objectionable. That's something. "Shall I leave you to your work, then, Professor? --or do you prefer Robert?"

"Ah..." There's a brief hesitation, because as pleasant as it is to hear her say his name...perhaps, whatever distance he can get from this headiness is best. He can't keep his head in the clouds, not for someone he's just met, as pleasant as she is. "Perhaps Professor would be better," he admits with a rueful smile. "I'm- used to hearing it from more than just my students, though you have me a little interested in what sort of knowledges you've collected over the years..."

It's as good a way he can think of, to phrase how he would not in the slightest be against seeing her again. Talking with her again.

Oh, good, she can keep 'Robert' in reserve for when she really wants something. Which she may have to, since Shudder has proven to be quite cranky about anything more overt on her part.

"Of course," China says. This is both about the form of address and about his interest; he's a scientist and academic, after all. And Callaghan does seem reasonable, which she will take. Perhaps even pleasant to converse with. "Professor Callaghan. I suppose I could be convinced to share."

Half-playful teasing turns to a shade of wistfulness, and it's one of the more honest things she's displayed today. "Were we in my world, I might invite you to my library. The texts are mostly magical in nature, of course, but you might well learn something."

And, of course, if her library still existed. Details.

That whimsical offer does seem to catch his attention - if only because having a library of magical texts implies that there have been a variety of writers on the subject, and it lends to its credibility. "How big is it, if you don't mind me asking?" he wonders, leaning back a bit. "I wasn't able to keep much of a personal collection, but convincing the institute to keep their own library up to date wasn't difficult..."

Still, if things had gone differently...maybe he'd have been able to focus on building a better selection for his own use. But he'd gotten so focused on other things...

"Among the largest in the world," she says, with a note of pride. "Thousands of volumes." And then, blasé, as if it is not something that's going to sting for months or years yet, she adds, "Or it was, at least."

Hundreds of years of effort, gone in moments.

"It's a shame. A good library is a priceless resource." That's both for her own and for his lack of capacity to keep a personal collection.

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The Midnight Hotel January catch-all

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i'm just handwaving all the specifics because i have no idea what specific course names would be 8D;

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blech, belated edit up there; understood in time, not understand

...whoops I am very sorry about the delay

is all good

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*to watch the upgrades. whups

I was p sure that was it c:

\o\ /o/

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