December, already?

[alt_sinistra]

I’m delighted to say that the first committee meeting for a proposed revision of the standard astronomy text went very well. (And students, thank you very much for your feedback over the previous month - it was most useful in helping us decide how to focus our discussion.) Some other excellent conversation with other guild members around edges, as always.

And, as it was last year, it is delightful to see New London decorated for the holidays. It’s hard to believe it’s December already, but the lights and the displays tell me otherwise. I’ve already spotted two I like just as much as the Hogwarts Quidditch display last year.

Comments

Private message to Raz and Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

Dolores was waiting for me in the front hall as I left this afternoon, wanting to hand me her observation notes. (The woman has an absurd sense of timing. At least I could plead a pressing appointment in New London - no need to tell her it involved shoes for the wedding.)

Anyway, she basically admits I know what I’m doing, but has a few teensy things I could do better. (More than a few, but most are ignorance of the field and the fundamental realities of the solar system.) And fairness compels me to say there’s one or two worthwhile points in there.

However, when I saw Georg this afternoon (he’s the Astronomy guildmaster, Tosha, and another of Alde’s former assistants decades back), he said she stopped by the Guild to talk to him on Friday, and asked who else might be a suitable candidate when - not if - I stopped teaching. He made it clear I’d be very difficult to replace (being trained for teaching in a way most people aren’t), and he also has his ear out about who else she might be talking to.

Anyway, I am almost sure this is just her standard assumption that I’ll stop once I’m married, but it’s still tedious. I’m going to be fairly blunt in my response about it, but I think I’d like both of you to read it before I hand it to her, if you would.

Raz, love - I should be back by 9, but if you go late with your newts, can we find half an hour tomorrow? (There’s a couple of holiday invites that came in my morning mail, plus I’ve designs from the engraver for you to look at, and I think I’ve finally managed to convince the florist not to get too creative.) Also, I despise shoe shopping, but I already knew that.

Re: Private message to Raz and Tosha

[alt_antonin]

I would be more than happy to take a look at things, dear one. (And, must confess, seeing her observations might make it clearer what in the name of the nine hundred little hells she's up to.) I still haven't recovered from the damage I've done to my sleep habits in the past few weeks; if you'd like to stop by after your practical session tonight, I will almost certainly still be awake.

(Since I've at least another day or two of conserving what little magical power wasn't used to power the bindings on the little darlings until I recover it, I could also use a Reparo or two. I hadn't quite realised how frequently I break things until I couldn't just fix them on the spot.)

If you've better things to do, mind you, don't feel like it's necessary!

Yours, in exhaustion (and a pile of broken crockery),
T

Re: Private message to Raz and Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

Right. I'm back. (Also: I won our regular Tuesday supper "Who had the worst week" competition by a longshot this week, for obvious reasons. We buy six of the Archetype's small pastries between the five of us, and the winner gets the extra. I liked this one - chocolate and raspberry and entirely decadent - enough to snag the last handful to bring back for you both and for Pomona and Poppy and Minerva.)

Tosha - If you're sure you'll still be up, I can certainly come down. And Reparo, certainly.

Anyway. I can easily manage copies of the observation notes for you both in a few minutes. My response may take a little longer, but I'll see if I can draft the teaching bit before class. (Much of the rest is tedious explanation in simple language of the realities of the field, as I said, and I can do that any time.) Re-reading them, I - no, I still can't figure out where she's going with some of it. Some of it's obvious, but the rest.

I'll be curious what she tells you both, actually. (Long may she take to get there, mind. I'd not wish it on people I hate, never mind you both.)

Re: Private message to Raz and Tosha

[alt_antonin]

I suppose that if one must suffer a week like this week has been, raspberry chocolate pastries are at least a small consolation. Thank you for thinking of me, dear heart. (And, you know, that beignet recipe I gave you for your mother might also find a good home with your café -- do feel free to pass it along, if you think it would suit.)

I am certain I will still be awake; I came entirely too close to sleeping through the beginning of the fourth years' class this morning. I seem to have shifted entirely too nocturnal for a professor's schedule, this week. At least tomorrow morning is one of my late ones!

And, no, I cannot figure out what she might be up to either. Nor whose authority she is trading upon, to set herself up as observer over us all. Well, we'll see when she gets to me, and what she has to say...

Troubling to think of, yes. And entirely too many possibilities.

Thoughtfully,
T

Re: Private message to Raz and Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

I could not eat them and not want to share them. Entirely too selfish of me. (And entirely rude to swoon about the pleasure without sharing out, too.)

As to nocturnal schedules, haven't I told you that the secret to my schedule lies in the late afternoon nap? Since you can not manage that, given your own course schedule, I can only hope you start sleeping at a moderate hour very soon. (Which is to say, if you want to go to sleep tonight, just drop me a note: I'll check before coming down.)

And yes, on Dolores, all of it. I should get Mum talking again, sometime, soon, and see, too. I know Dolores has been talking to Latimer Caldwell, and maybe more gossip's filtered down that Mum didn't think was relevant. I don't know.

Re: Private message to Raz and Tosha

[alt_rabastan]

We won't be going late. No special pointers or extra assistance tonight. They're doing strategic duelling on parchment- just another part of my on-going effort to sap lessons of anything resembling real-life demonstration until they get the message that such practical elements are earned, not a given.

I rather enjoy shoe shopping.

Re: Private message to Raz and Tosha

[alt_sinistra]

Right. I'll come down to your rooms, then, and wait for you. I'd pity them, but no, not really. Given everything.

Things I had never known about you, my love. You can have all of my shoe shopping, ever.

(Honestly, I don't usually mind so much, but this was forty-five minutes of arguing over the perfect heel height for the wedding robes. I'm going to have to spend hours practicing before I feel confident in them. Even with the charms to avoid me wrenching my ankle.)

Private message to Raz

[alt_sinistra]

Just to you, this bit. Obviously.

Would it - look, if I'm coming down the tower anyway, would it wake you if I slipped into your rooms after? If you think it would, just say, but I thought I'd check.

Re: Private message to Raz

[alt_rabastan]

Won't know until you try, will I?

But you can wake me anytime, love. You know that.

Re: Private message to Raz

[alt_sinistra]

Well, there's waking and there's startling, and I'd rather not do the latter by accident.

But in that case, do expect me.

Private message to Georg Bright

[alt_sinistra]

Georg -

It went very well. We’ve come up with at least three options, and we’ll meet again in January after people have had a chance to flesh them out. (Cantus has settled out nicely, hasn’t he? He’s really getting the knack for listening without allowing tangents.)

Thanks again for telling me Dolores was asking around. And especially for reinforcing the realities of the situation. Maybe she’ll listen better to you than to me? Also, very interesting who else she’s talked to - Hildegard, really? And Leoris, though I’m glad you overheard that one and could report it fairly. The only one I’d really worry about is Alexander, and he’s been lying very low since the end of the summer.

I’m thinking of how best to explain it on my end, but it’s hard. Our shared House does very badly with unique circumstances like Alcor hand-picking me. It always looks too much like bragging and undue ambition. (And yes, I know you’re still mystified by Houses - that’s what you get for emigrating. Just trust me, here.) Though the ‘I have specific kinds of experience designed to help with teaching’ gives me a way in, I think.

At any rate, sure I’ll see you at one event or another over the holidays, and perhaps we can find time before the next committee meeting to catch up properly? One of these days, I’d like to sit down and talk stars without eight other things getting in the way.

- A.

Private message to Tamsin Overby

[alt_sinistra]

Tamsin -

Just wanted to confirm the list I gave you, plus an additional eight baskets like the last one (Total of 15. You have simplified my shopping no end.) The list has all the deliveries, and we can find a time for me to pick up or have you drop the others through the floo.

One thing - and I’m asking you, because I overheard one of your muggleborns mention it on my way out - I did notice there’s an uptick of graffiti and of all different sorts. And just recently, the last couple of weeks. Designs that seem like they’re related (all those stars, so of course I noticed), but also other things.

You’re not worried about safety, are you? If you are well, Campanella’d be a good person to mention it to. If you have any reason to think it’s more than just people fooling around, that is. She’d take you seriously and tell you if it needed to go further, and who to bring it to.

Or even something like... Look, I’ve heard enough stories about the Watch to - they mean well, I suppose, but that doesn’t always mean they act sensibly.

I should be in next week, but not the week after (our end of term exams start the 17th).