001 [Voice]

[elegant_and_proud]

Much as I would have preferred not to be pulled unceremoniously from my own world, it has occurred to me that this is a rare opportunity to learn about worlds I was previously unaware of.

[In other words, this is her polite way of saying "I'm bored, entertain me".]

How many are from worlds were magic exists? How many are from worlds where the technology is highly advanced?

[She's more interested in the magic portion, really, but she is curious about people's answers regardless.]

What is the government structure like in your world?

Inquiring minds want to know. Or this one does, at least.

Comments

Voice

[foundafamily]

What's the government got to do with the rest of those?

[He could just answer like a normal person, of course, but Firo finds it difficult living life without giving others a hard time.]

Voice

[elegant_and_proud]

All three are things that can significantly shape a society and their culture.

[foundafamily]

I don't think ours did back home. Even when they banned alcohol, there were still bars everywhere. Hell, I think there were even more.

[Which is probably still significantly shaping it, but Firo ignores that.]

[elegant_and_proud]

I would say part of human nature involves the desire to do exactly what people in authority tell one not to do. Wouldn't you agree?

[foundafamily]

Definitely.

That's how you operate? What'd you do back home?

[elegant_and_proud]

I was part of a mage guild called Death's Head Caucus. The work is quite varied in nature and occasionally a bit mercenary.

[Or extremely mercenary in her case, seeing as her own guild is unparalleled in its rate of successful assassinations...]

Sometimes people transporting valuable goods might hire mages to act as extra security, for example. There are also monsters in the world who have been known to attack downs. Mages are hired to defeat them. There are even mundane jobs like entertaining at children's birthday parties, but I prefer the more exciting ones.

[foundafamily]

Mercenary?

[Oh, that sounds interesting-- But then she gets to children's parties.]

...Did you just make all that up on the spot?

[She has to be mocking him, right?]

[elegant_and_proud]

No, I did not. My guild has never taken on those sorts of mundane jobs, but I have heard of them being posted in the guild halls of some of the guilds more known for being family friendly. There is a well known guild named Fairy Tail in Magnolia city that puts on an annual parade in the city. I would not be surprised if they received such requests.

[She couldn't see their stronger members taking on those sorts of jobs, but jobs like that wouldn't be such a bad idea for young mages getting used to guild life, she supposes.]

The closest I've ever personally come to something like that was acting as a bodyguard to children from wealthy families.

[foundafamily]

So is all of that--the kid's parties, bodyguarding people--advertised right out in the open? The serious stuff has to be some kinda underworld thing, right?

[It's hard to reconcile them both being part of the same thing.]

[elegant_and_proud]

People come to mage guilds, and if the guild master is willing, the job is posted in the guild hall. The only things that are truly underground are those which are definitely illegal, such as theft and assassinations. Guilds that take those jobs are referred to as dark guilds.

[She didn't even get into the part where children can join guilds and take jobs without adult supervision.]

[foundafamily]

[Dark guilds and not-dark guilds. Which means there's only one big question now:]

Which yours definitely isn't, right?

[He's curious if it is, hence the fishing. From what she's said, it sounds like everything she does is legal... but one can always hope that they'll run into a fellow shady character.]

[elegant_and_proud]

It's somewhat of a moot point here, is it not? There is no money in this place.

[Plausible deniability is a good thing. Notably, she's not morally affronted by the idea that her guild could potentially be a dark one. Because it is. It's unparalleled in its rate of successful assassinations.]

[foundafamily]

Hey, relax. I was just curious. What I'm involved in back home is really different, but...

[There seem to be some commonalities. Like incredibly shady stuff.]

[elegant_and_proud]

One does what one must to make a living, yes?

[That's the closest she'll come to publicly admitting to shady things.]

[foundafamily]

Exactly. And it's good to be around people you know have your back.

[At least, he's assuming the guilds work like the Families that way.]