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Post by Rapunzel on Jan 4, 2011 21:03:45 GMT -5
She looked at the ring, a bit greedily. She had never had pretty jewelry before a few months ago, and now, she was finding herself fascinated by it. Her hair was cut and she did not feel beautiful, but jewelry made her feel significant. Especially a ring like this. “You don’t have to worry about that,” she said, with a bit of a nervous giggle, when he told her not to try to do magic on her own. “I will! How long will it be before you send for me?”
His last words made Rapunzel stiffen a little. Okay, maybe it was weird that she was so paranoid, but after everything, she thought that she had a right to be. “Not to seem rude…but what are you doing this for? I mean…my parents don’t know about this, and I don’t have any money of my own really, so I’m afraid I can’t pay you, and I didn’t know what else you could be expecting as a reward for your services.” She was terrified of being used again. This could be a dealbreaker. Why hadn’t she asked this before? She was beginning to learn that nothing in life came free, particularly not a magical book and a ring.
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Post by Maxim Horvath on Jan 4, 2011 22:24:38 GMT -5
Naive she might be, but empty night, this girl was clever. Not a one of the other potential students had asked why he was offering the keys to magic to them. They allowed greed and visions of grandeur to blind them.
How fortunate that he had an answer for her question.
"I don't believe it will be more than a few days," he assured her. "And if you do not wish for your parents to know about your studies, I will ensure that your summons is discrete." He'd been planning on that anyway. Tinkerbell wouldn't want to be seen by anyone.
"As for why... well, my sort of sorcerer has a custom regarding teaching. A master charges no fee for his lessons, beyond perhaps an odd chore or two cunningly designed to impart a message to the student. In return, however, the student must pass on what he or she has learned to other students. It was meant as a way to keep the knowledge from dying out. As I was taught under that custom, I believe it right to continue it. Should you become a full sorceress, you will be responsible for teaching at least one student of your own."
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Post by Rapunzel on Jan 4, 2011 23:33:34 GMT -5
Goodness, this man just had an answer for everything, didn’t he? She nodded mutely, before her eyebrows shot up questioningly at his next statement. Chores. She hated the word. Of all the things she liked about being a new princess, not having to do chores was one of her favorites (after, of course, knowing who her true parents were and the like). So of course she was hesitant at the prospect of having to do one, even if it was supposedly only one or two. She didn’t like the sound of that.
"What sort of chore?" she was quick to ask, not quite convinced. “If it’s going to take me awhile to learn magic just to regrow my hair, I can’t imagine I’ll be able to do anything useful for you for quite some time.” Still, having lived for centuries, she supposed he must be pretty patient. And she knew she had to repay him somehow or another. “I’ll try it… but what will happen if I change my mind?” After all of these rude questions, she smiled at him apologetically. “Sorry for asking so many questions! I don’t know much at all. I had a…pretty sheltered childhood.” She laughed quietly.
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Post by Maxim Horvath on Jan 5, 2011 0:43:34 GMT -5
He gestured vaguely. "It depends on the lesson the master believes you need to learn, and is generally only used by teachers who are short of cleaning staff. I am not one of those teachers." He'd just hired a new servant, as a matter of fact.
"As for changing your mind, well, we'll come to that in time," he added. "As I have several students already, one more is hardly a burden. Should you choose not to continue pursuing magic, simply return the Incantus and the ring and I will not consider you indebted."
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Post by Rapunzel on Jan 5, 2011 20:35:51 GMT -5
She felt a little bit relieved when he said that there would be no consequences if she changed her mind. ...that is what he'd said, right? Anyway, she decided she had asked enough questions for the moment, and would be compliant. After all, he hadn't said anything like "it's all right", so she was a little put-off and realized that he probably did think she was rude. Oh, dear, what kind of horrible princess was she?!
"Thank you very much, Mr. Horvath," she said, very politely, as if that might counterbalance her questions. "You've been very kind." She gave him her prettiest smile, which she had just used to learn to her advantage (though it was not quite what Eugene's smolder was, of course). "I'll be awaiting your message!"
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Post by Maxim Horvath on Jan 5, 2011 23:14:02 GMT -5
Horvath gave her a slight smile in return and inclined his head regally, the way a Master Sorcerer would to a princess. He could read her confusion and dismay, but was unconcerned. She was direct in her questioning, but not rude. That was to his advantage. Someone who was as direct as she was unlikely to be especially subtle, and therefore easy to distract.
All to the good. A distracted girl was an easily directed girl.
"You are welcome, my dear," he told her. "I shall see you soon, I expect."
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Post by Rapunzel on Jan 10, 2011 22:25:39 GMT -5
Rapunzel gave the man her best and brightest smile. "Yes, Mr. Horvath," she said, pushing her chair back from the magnificent desk and standing up gracefully. Even though she had not acted like it during the entirety of this visit, at the moment she looked every inch the princess. With a small curtsy, she took her leave of him. Her parents would be wondering where she'd been.
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Post by Maxim Horvath on Jan 11, 2011 11:42:19 GMT -5
Leaning back in his chair, Horvath steepled his fingers and smiled. Out of all the students he'd interviewed so far, Rapunzel struck him as one of the most promising. He thought he would have very little difficulty with her- a few nudges and some effusive praise ought to keep the girl pointed in exactly the direction he wanted.
"Tinkerbell," he called softly. "I know you've been listening in, my dear."
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Post by Tink on Jan 11, 2011 12:24:44 GMT -5
The pixie fluttered down, from where she'd been hiding at the top of an ornate door frame. She came to perch on Horvath's desk, next to his pen set. She thumped a finger on the gleaming silver pen, its shininess distracting her for a moment. Then she looked up at her human.
She didn't look ashamed for listening--after all, she was supposed to watch and listen and report. And she liked keeping an eye on Horvath when she could. He was hers, after all, and humans were terrible at letting silly things happen to them.
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Post by Maxim Horvath on Jan 11, 2011 13:14:12 GMT -5
"Ah, there you are," he said, smiling. "Very good. I believe it is time you started playing with our new guests. Miss Moreland in particular. I want you to become a little invisible nuisance. Move things on her, make odd noises at random times. Do you know what a poltergeist is?"
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Post by Tink on Jan 11, 2011 13:47:20 GMT -5
Tinkerbell shook her head. "But I know how to be a nuisance. I'm good at playing tricks." The sound of tinkling bells filled the air.
Fluttering off the desk, she hovered up in front of him. A mischievous smile filled her face. She had been so anxious to help. And playing with little humans was some of the most fun she could hope for.
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Post by Maxim Horvath on Jan 11, 2011 13:57:32 GMT -5
"Very good." Horvath smiled. "Play all the tricks you can think of. I want your playmates to be uncomfortable at home. Here, with no mysterious pranks, they will feel more comfortable. All I ask is that you do not let yourself be caught or seen. You can do that, right?"
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Post by Tink on Jan 11, 2011 14:31:54 GMT -5
Tinkerbell nodded. "Of course. Won't see me. Nope." She hovered, zipping back and forth a few inches. She was eager to get going. There was so much to do...
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Post by Maxim Horvath on Jan 11, 2011 14:35:27 GMT -5
Chuckling, the old sorcerer made a shooing motion with one hand. "Get along with you then," he told her. "Report back regularly, and have some fun."
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Post by Tink on Jan 11, 2011 14:41:38 GMT -5
Tinkerbell nodded. She would be good. Even as she was very, very naughty.
Horvath gestured, opening the window for her. And she zipped off into the night, to find Miss Moreland and play her tricks.
[closed]
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