video;

[thaumatophage]

[A teenage girl with a cat-eared headband on is squinting at the camera. When she speaks, she does so with an Australian accent.] Well. Well well well well well.

Well.

Hi. [She shakes her head and the bells on her headband jingle.] No chance of sending out a distress signal, eh? Not that I think this place is bad or anything. I just, uh...I got Stuff to take care of, back home. At least I don't have amnesia this time, right? Heh heh heh... [The laughter is nervous, and trails off. She looks concerned for a moment before turning a thousand-watt smile to the camera again.]

Also, I only have like four Tim Tams in my bag and that is a grave effing injustice.

Comments

[deadclumsy]

It was more an invitation for you to elaborate than an expression of surprise.

What sort of extenuating circumstance?

[thaumatophage]

Oh, gladly then! Basically, blah blah blah, secret undercover mission, blah blah blah, forced to suppress my memories, blah blah blah magic school yadda yadda yadda demon invasion.

It was for my job, then, wasn't it? Gotta do what you gotta do.

[deadclumsy]

[Oh, you can be dismissive, but you can bet she's going to perk up at --]

Magic school?

[thaumatophage]

Yeah! Lovely little place, well, when it's not being invaded by every demon north of Abaddon, [she says.] Ever heard of Valcentica? Heh, I'd be surprised if you had, but, well...

[deadclumsy]

No, can't say that I have. You're a witch, then?

[thaumatophage]

Aye, sure am! Or a wizard. Or a mage. The terminology really isn't important, but yes, I'm a magic user, with three whole terms of magic school under my belt.

[She sounds inordinately proud of that.]

[deadclumsy]

Three whole terms.

Are you still in school, or done with all of that?

[thaumatophage]

Uh...I like to think I'm always in school. The school of life! [she says dramatically.]

But to answer your question, nah, that's all the formal schooling I've ever had. I'm just glad they let me finish out the year before going back to work.

[deadclumsy]

Let you? Were you about to be expelled or something?

[Yes, this girl looks like a troublemaker - but not an expulsion sort of troublemaker.]

[thaumatophage]

I had work stuff to attend to. Back at work. I actually had really good marks.