( one. ) voice • scientia potestas est [ id: nightingale ]

[ettersberg]

[ thomas nightingale does, in fact, know how to use a smartphone. he's owned one for quite a while before the end of the world; google maps in particular has always struck him as rather useful. the knowledge of how to operate such a device comes in handy now as well, though he's not entirely sure yet why he's bothering.

(the answer is peter; peter would want to know and nightingale would hate not to have any answers at all by the time his apprentice wakes up. because peter will wake up, surely. eventually.)

so there is no fumbling, no pauses when the device clicks on except deliberate ones, and a smooth, very british and posh-sounding voice inquiring: ]

It seems magic is not out of the ordinary, here. Someone has already inquired about those who believe in or practice magic, but I'd be interested to hear how magic was regulated, if at all, in your worlds. That, and whether there were particular ill-effects to it.

[ here, there is one of the aforementioned deliberate pauses. ] I'd also appreciate hearing of your experiences with employment.

Thank you.

Comments

[godwins]

Sure. I mean, Baron Blood was a Brit, originally. And… I met an American, once, who could cast all kinds of spells. [ Most of his other magical WW2 adventures were mindwiped. ] But organized? Like the Red Skull's goons? I dunno.

[ettersberg]

In my world, British practitioners were organised in the Folly. [ back before the war, when there had been british practitioners still. more than just one, that is. ]

[godwins]

[ He nods; invisible, of course. ] Never heard of it. Is that classified?

[ettersberg]

Not specifically. It simply isn't talked about outside of particular circles.

[godwins]

Wizard circles, you mean.

[ettersberg]

And the higher echelons of government.

[godwins]

Above my pay grade, is what you're saying. I've been pretty important, though. [ Spoken like a true twenty year old. ]

I've met Churchill. Did your world have a Churchill?

[ettersberg]

Most likely. [ important or not, no private of the us army would have been told as a matter of courtesy. if it became necessary due to circumstances, perhaps, but not otherwise. ]

It did, though I've not met him personally.

[godwins]

Funny guy. Good handshake.

[ettersberg]

Important quality in a man.

[ nightingale is mostly kidding, but it doesn't really show in his tone of voice, which is as even as ever. ]

[godwins]

[ Yep, the joke goes right over his head. ]

So I've heard. They made me practice, over and over. [ He doesn't sound like he liked it. ]

[ettersberg]

Did they?

[ the mild tone masks surprise, and a dose of amusement as well. ] They did no such thing with me.

[godwins]

Well, mister, I don’t think you had my job.

[ettersberg]

No, I hardly think I did.