Public Channel | forward dated to S2:D9, Morning

[genice]

Victor Nikiforov, new showman here. I have a question for anyone who has a few minutes to talk!

( There's a smile in his voice; entirely deliberate, and entirely gone once he gets to his question. )

What things do you wish you'd been told about or known from early on once you started working here?

Comments

[atouts]

That people from my own world might show up. You may experience the same at some point, not unlike how you yourself ended up here.

[ From somewhere the carnival wasn't even officially located in. It happens. ]

Hello again, Mr. Nikiforov.

[genice]

Hello, Mr. Childermass. Thank you again for your assistance in the woods.

( At least it'd started him talking with the Ringmaster, which... was not necessarily enlightening in the ways Victor had hoped for, but alas. )

The way you say that makes it seem more like it's people I know that may show up, not simply people from my world. ( He says this slowly, processing through it. Wandering in from a city not even connected. ) Is that an accurate statement?

[atouts]

Of course.

[ Sorry you're stuck here, Victor, but that's the most help he'd been able to offer. ]

And possibly. In my own case, it was someone I specifically knew and there are certainly a few people here who all know one another from their own worlds. [ looking at you, gems. ] So it could very well be that one presence attracts the same. I've no actual proof, however, only observations.

[genice]

( Thanks, Childermass, it was (sadly) better than what Victor was managing for himself. )

Has the Ringmaster ever offered a statement on such things?

( Who knows, maybe she has. Worth asking at least. He sighs, closing his eyes as he makes himself smile. )

It's a worthwhile thought. I won't say I'd look forward to seeing anyone I knew end up contracted... especially since if I actually like them, none of our contracts will line up, will they.

( For some reason he finds this amusing, because it also doesn't matter to an extent. Besides, his list of "people I care enough about to find this disconcerting" is countable on his fingers. Or his toes, if he adds in the people he met in Hasetsu. )

Speaking of, do you have any rough estimate of how many of the current staff formed contracts with intention versus without?

[atouts]

She has not. You could always ask her but I cannot guarantee you would understand her answer.

[ Especially if there's a lot of magic talk involved. Anyway, if you could shrug with your voice, his tone would totally be one big shrug right now. ]

And no, I don't generally pry into why someone is here. I could guess that it's an even mix, though. I've certainly met enough from both sides of that coin.

[genice]

Ah, well, I suppose trying is worth more than giving up before being confused over any answer given.

( Though he'll hold off for the time being. It's hardly a pressing matter, as far as he knows. )

Mm, I suppose that makes the most sense. ( The lack of prying? The possibly even divide? He doesn't clarify. ) Though before I forget, I did have a question related to acquisitions, if you don't mind. Generally speaking, should we be treating requests given to acquisitions as mundane shopping lists, or more for those things that might be difficult for us to find on our own time?

[atouts]

[ Godspeed, Victor, who knows what kind of answer the Ringmaster will have. Even Childermass can never tell. ]

Thus far I've relegated it to items more difficult to find on one's own or items needed in bulk. [ For, say, the kitchens. ] If it's something you need for your own work, that as well. There something, in particular, you're looking for?

[genice]

( He hums, taking stock that it's unlikely he'll need to make requests for the things that he wants; not bad. )

At the moment, less for myself and more inspired by a conversation with Reira. Would it be possible to pick up sets of learning materials for primary and secondary school students? I was thinking mathematics and sciences and literature aimed at different reading levels, not so much history.

[atouts]

[ Okay, welcome to 'wow, that's a long pause' land, Victor, because Childermass has to think about that one for a bit. Primary? Secondary? Well, he can at least figure out what that means from the rest of what Victor said. ]

You mean schoolbooks. [ He can probably swing that. Books are already going to be a long-standing request, anyhow. ] You will need to be more specific about the level of maths and sciences, though, Mr. Nikiforov. I am not personally familiar with much of it.

[genice]

( it's like an epidemic, these long pauses. Victor has one of his own, sorting through thoughts and old memories. he hasn't dealt with school since he completed his equivalent education. )

Speaking on more practical levels, all lower levels of mathematics, then up through algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Maybe calculus? I'm trying to remember what's actually applicable in problem solving, but most of what I'm thinking is handled in algebra and geometry. For sciences, biology, chemistry, geology, introductory physics would be good. Anything more in depth is unnecessary unless someone's pursuing their own studies. Ah... maybe veterinary science books. Human and animal anatomy? Plants, too...

( he sighs, more resigned at how nonsense everything really is. )

The general subjects I mentioned first may be best, but the degree of changes might... make the anatomy books useful. I'm making my own guesses; my education wasn't in a classic, formal setting.

[atouts]

[ He thinks he can remember all of that. Potentially. ]

Hmm, well, neither was mine. [ Which is actually a huge stretch that shouldn't be compared to Victor's in any case. There's a difference between self-taught and having any kind of actual teacher. ] But I will see what I can do about getting those. Books are something that has already requested, so it's really only a matter of appending yours to the rest.

[genice]

Books of any particular genre? ( A pause for a beat, then an exhalation tinged with an amused heh. He doesn't need to ask, but he's also realising... what the heck else is he going to do in his downtime when all his own books are literally not in reach now? SUDDEN REALISATION. ) Thank you, either way.

[atouts]

No need for thanks. I'm only doing my job. [ Really, he is. ] And anything my team feels like picking up, I imagine. You're the only one to ask for anything as specific as schoolbooks.

[ It could all end up being cooking books or "how-to" dummy guides or maybe, just maybe, way too many cheesy bodice rippers. ]

[genice]

( He smiles to himself; fine by him, if the general politeness he's learned (even when genuine) isn't considered necessary. )

Here's to hoping your team feels like picking up a variety of literature.

( Said lightly; he's not making requests because there's no way for him to know anything about Wismuth's literature scene, let alone world lit. He unironically will devour the bodice rippers. All's fun in the name of ridiculous witty banter and over the top descriptions of basically everything. )

I'll contact you after we leave Wismuth to see how your team's collecting went?

[atouts]

If you wish. If not, well, I'm sure I'll find somewhere to dump off a bunch of books.

[ It's not like they have their own library here or anything. ]

[genice]

( He laughs, finding this amusing [ and someone for the love of literature tell this man about the local library]. )

Poorly thought out if I just wanted to be whimsical! What channel can I contact you on?

[atouts]

[ Cities have libraries, Victor. You should know this, you modern man you. ]

My personal channel is 181.69310. Feel free to use it as needed.

[genice]

( Libraries are for loans! What happens if they disconnect from Wismuth before he returns them all? That'd be book theft! ... Yes, let's just quietly not point out the willful ignorance that Acquisitions hasn't sounded on the up and up yet, which... Faerie carnival that tricks half its workers into contracts. C'est la vie. When he figures out the carnival has its own version of a book exchange and library, sort of, he'll be content to poke around at it himself.

Now here he is typing that number onto his phone since he'll forget in five minutes otherwise: )

Thank you, Mr. Childermass! I'll be certain to do so.

( Sadly, he will, but gladly, Childermass is unlikely to hear from him often. )