Procrastination....

[justaswise]

Well, I never--

Miss Mun, give me one good reason that I should not Transfigure you into a pocket watch right now! This is a month late. Completely unacceptable. You have kept Severus waiting long enough! Now get that application done or you will suffer the consequences.

Comments

[oldstrangersvoice]

Now I'm sure they don't mean nothing by it ma'am. [Rucks stands, leaning a little on his cane, hat off like a proper gentleman, rough looking as he may be]

besides. Ain't like a pocket watch'd be any more punctual when it comes to writing.

[justaswise]

She had no good reason, sir. May I ask your name? I am Minerva McGonagall.

[oldstrangersvoice]

Mostly just Rucks these days. Ain't so many names going around these days, so it suits just fine.

Folks can have no reason and still mean you no unkindness, Miz Mcgonagall.

Would you care for a seat? [He gives her a slightly apologetic look] These old bones aren't quite so spry as they used to be, courtesy aside.

[justaswise]

I understand the feeling, Mr. Rucks. [She takes a seat.]

Even then, I know she can do much better. A promise is a promise, and she very nearly failed to uphold it. I refuse to let that happen.

[oldstrangersvoice]

I always find they work better with a few words of encouragement. Favors for favors, after all.

And if that fails, there's plenty of ways to pass the time.

You ever tell stories, ma'am?

[justaswise]

I have encouraged her enough. I know she has the will to do what must be done if she puts her mind to it. I would rather not keep Severus waiting.

No. I find that stories are for children, and I have none of my own.

[oldstrangersvoice]

Fraid that's where we differ. Of course, we're from different places, but I think you'll find that.. When there ain't nothing left, stories are all you've got.

Severus, huh? So you got someone waiting, where you aim to go?

Must be nice. Seeing where mine's got his eye on, I'm gonna be on my own, up in that rock in the stars. Don't even like the sound of the place. "facility." [He laughs, none too happy] Thats a word dances around the subject matter. That's a place capable of all manner of unkindess, calling it something like that.

[justaswise]

I don't intent on having nothing left. I have students to teach and places to be yet. I do not know yet when I'll retire.

Yes. The place is named Adstringedum. Not very plesant, from what I have heard. And a facility is not always a bad thing, Mr. Rucks. Consider the place where I work is called a learning facility. A school.

[oldstrangersvoice]

Yeah, but that's what you call it, isn't it? A school. Anyone calling it a... Learning facility's either covering up what it really is, or they're just being sarcastic. And as for this place, they call it that because it sounds a whole lot better than a torture room. Ain't no trials in a place like that. Only sentences.

Wasn't talking about retiring. If there was still a world left where I was from I'd be still building, still designing. I was an engineer, one of the city's mancers.

But the city's gone. The Calamity saw to that.

[justaswise]

I do feel bad for you, but there is nothing I can do to change your mun's mind. As for your city, I am very sorry that it happened, but then you must keep moving. Rebuild.

[oldstrangersvoice]

Rebuild. That was the plan, actually. That's what the Bastion was for. Channel the city's hearts....put those stories and memories to work with the power of the cores, send everything back.

Don't rightly know if it worked, now. And I suppose I won't ever find out. [He gives a little smile] Suppose I can be glad we got so far, though. Wouldn't have made it without that kid.

But here I go, rambling again. I apologize.

[justaswise]

Mr. Rucks, please excuse my rudeness, but...did you die? Or did your mun just take you from that point? [She hopes it's the second, really. He seems like a good man. But good men do die.]

[oldstrangersvoice]

Nope. Well. Not exactly. See, I'm not sure how it worked...or if it worked, but the Bastion was meant to...put it all back. Imagine the chance to live your whole life over. All the mistakes, everybody you ever hurt, everything you did....

It was meant to undo the calamity. A way to learn. A way to bring back the dead, stop the wars, put the world back together proper.

But the thing about a machine meant to send everything back to how it was before.... [He looks a little uncomfortable] You can't exactly...test it. Sure, I made it. But I don't rightly know if it worked, understand. Gave the kid the honor of pulling the lever...setting it all in motion. He earned it more than anyone else, really.

But I don't know what happened after that.

[justaswise]

Ah. So he never came back then, I assume.

But, I am sure that it was the right thing to do.

[nexmosnonlucror]

-- Minerva?

[justaswise]

Mr. Tom? You haven't aged at all.

[nexmosnonlucror]

The Slytherin house has always been the most inventive.

[Quite pleasantly.]

But in all seriousness, I believe you're from my future.

[justaswise]

I was afraid that was it's only redeeming quality.

I believe so, seeing how young you are. I remember, we had classes together. Potions, was it?

[snarkypotions]

And what consequences would those be?

[justaswise]

That is between my mun and I, Severus. There is no need for you to get involved.

[snarkypotions]

And yet my name was mentioned nonetheless.

[justaswise]

I do not believe it is fair to keep you waiting. Even though I am quite sure you will not be so...joyous at my arrival.

[snarkypotions]

Me? Joyous? Careful, Minerva... One would think you're trying to insult me.

[justaswise]

I would never insult a colleague of mine, Severus. I thought you knew that.

[snarkypotions]

Experience begs to differ.

[justaswise]

You became an enemy, Severus. I do not tolerate cowards.

[snarkypotions]

_{[And then any humor in his expression disappears, his voice dropping just the slightest bit.]}

Nor do I.

[justaswise]

Well, that is irrelevant. I expect I'll want to fight you when I get there, unless someone teaches me otherwise.

[snarkypotions]

Seeing as to how the majority of those from our world are of the same mindset as you, I doubt that would happen anytime soon.

[justaswise]

Are you insulting me now, Severus? Hardly a way to mend our relationship.

[snarkypotions]

Considering the fact that you seem to favor those I'm speaking of, doubtful.

[justaswise]

They are my students, Severus. I try not to play favorites as I heard some teachers do.

[snarkypotions]

Do some? Shocking.

[justaswise]

Certainly you do not, Severus? As the Slytherin house is very trustworthy.

[snarkypotions]

To those of sufficient intelligence, quite.

[justaswise]

Oh, you flatter me. As an old lady, I'm not used to those kind of compliments. I could blush.

[snarkypotions]

Careful, Minerva, you might scare your students.

[bookish_lioness]

Professor! Are you thinking of heading to Adstringendum as well?

[justaswise]

Yes. My mun has finally finished that app, so I shall arrive soon with good luck, Miss Granger. My mun is procrastinating again, though. She says she needs someone to read it.

She would be best off as a pocket watch.

[bookish_lioness]

Weren't you the one who taught us not to Transfigure people as punishment, Professor?

[justaswise]

I did, Miss Granger, but it is still rather hard to give her so much time to do this application when she should have had it done a month ago.

[bookish_lioness]

Perhaps positive reinforcement is necessary?

[justaswise]

I believe saying I know that she can do it, Miss Granger, is a form of that.

[bookish_lioness]

You can never tell. Some mundanes need the world on a string before they can be budged from their ways.

[mixer]

It's a horrible place full of rabid animals and... and that dreaded Animus. I was lucky to have escaped unscathed.

[justaswise]

Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I assume it is very dangerous. But, if Severus can handle it, I will do just fine.