knew_anyway | Eighth Summoning [Voice] || Sometimes I'm nervous when I talk

-right.

[There's a small pause, and Nathaniel takes a deep breath, before starting to speak.]

As you all know, there is a festivity of sorts, held on Friday. For preparation, I am willing to teach a class on the basics of dance Thursday evening. Though I am not a certified instructor in the matter, I have attended several galas which required such... things, and I have had instruction on- dance. [God, it sounds so girly when he says it like that. But with friends like Makepeace, he knows the basics, which is far more than you barbaric lot.]

I will also be attending the prom of sorts if anyone wishes to speak to me face to face- on any matter. Thank you.

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[There's a long pause, as if he's not sure if he really wants to say this- but he goes with it anyway, taking a deep breath.]

...I have located another spirit that I believe to be residing in Adstringendum. Something a bit more powerful than Faisal. If... if you like, [a deep breath] you can watch the summoning.

[He lets out a soft sound, like he's nervous, maybe.] Um- not that I think it would be particularly entertaining, but you seemed... curious about that sort of thing. It would be easier than trying to explain everything.

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Oh, no, my world is fucked up. I just didn't know it until right before I got here.

What do you mean?

I guess I'm still trying to process it all, but it turned out literally two days before I arrived in Adstringendum that my house is haunted.

Not uncommon.

[He tilts his head.]

Who set the spirit on you?

There are at least six of them. I think they've been there for a long time- people keep dying in our house. Before we moved in, I mean.

Dying?

[A pause. He frowns and shakes his head.]

You're talking about ghosts. Not my sort of spirits.

Maybe. All these worlds are supposed to be different.

I'm Violet, by the way.

[A faint smile.]

John Mandrake. It's a pleasure.

So are you worried about the city's morale?

I'm worried about the city as a whole. I want to try to help people live happier and more peacefully to the utmost of my abilities.

Why?

[He balks at that. People don't generally ask why.]

-because I... I neglected my duties to the people when I was in a position of power back home.

[It sounds so cut and dry like that. Nathaniel winces.]

So you're putting yourself in a position of responsibility again?

It's not quite that simple.

Well, obviously. When is it ever?

Never.

[A sigh.]

At any rate, if I weren't actively trying to organize the community, I might go mad. This place is chaos.

So I've noticed. I'm trying to find a safe place to live, but it sounds fucked up out there.

I'd invite you to stay with me until you got your bearings, but my place is crawling with spirits.

[A wry smile. You talked to the right person.]

But I can point you to the clinic, which helps new arrivals, or the halfway house, which is a temporary lodging for new people. I also have a map of most of the homes in Adstringendum, though it hasn't been updated in terms of who's living where in over a month.

I'm in the clinic now. But I can't stay here forever- I think I want to live alone.

[She still has a lot to process.]

But I'll look at that map, if that's okay.

Of course.

[He pushes a few buttons, before his expression turns grave.]

However, I would advise you to exercise a lot of caution. You've doubtlessly heard of the monsters that plague Adstringendum, but not all of the citizens are virtuous either. I'd actually recommend trying to find a housemate if you have little means of protecting yourself against magic. [He shrugs.] It's just a suggestion, though.

[Privately attached with the message is an image of a very ornately drawn map of Adstring, complete with little buildings and dangerous areas circled in red. Electricity and running water locations are highlighted, little Xes over uninhabitable buildings, and the word 'occupied' written across the majority of the others.]