(no subject)

[sythyry]

Woe for Real-Eel [15 Chirreb 4261]

Today's stuff for Vae: a package of marzipan weapons (which are sufficiently harmless for even the most determined anti-doorwayer to deem not aiding monsters, and, indeed, tasty), and a bottle of ink and a few pens so she can practice her handwriting. You might think that she could write some other way, if she wanted to. Well, she can. She wants to practice her handwriting. Better than her spellcraft, I say.

And we were sitting in the grove. I had, of course, mentioned that the summer wasn't as hot as I like it, and she had, of course, turned the branch I was sitting on into a cloud of fire. This left me in mid-air in the midst of a fireball.

Which is, of course, quite comfortable and pleasant. But I am trying to train Vae to stop casting helpful spells on me without asking. I admit to a bit of crooning and stretching before I felt like glaring at her.

Vae:"There's the tooth-sharp look I'm coming to dread."

Me:"I'm afraid so, Vae."

Vae:"It's The Conversation we're about to have again, isn't it?"

Me:"I'm afraid so, Vae."

She turned into a small and very plush pig with a catapult strapped to her back. I don't know why -- she's taken to wearing small and increasingly odd forms when I scold her. We had The Conversation -- I have lost track of how many times we've had it -- and she pretty much recited my lines as I said them.

(Aside: By this point she knows perfectly well that she shouldn't cast spells on me (or anyone) without asking. Except for a few seconds a day: then she can't remember it. Any suggestions?)

And then Real-Eel comes galloping down the road from the next gate up, riding Nestrune's horse Glorglorga.

Comments

[dracosphynx.livejournal.com]

Have you considered that perhaps she likes the attention you give her while scolding her?

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

We don't think she does.

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

Technically, she didn't cast a spell on you . . .

[goodluckfox.livejournal.com]

I think Greenreaper makes a very good point. What she did wasn't actually invasive. Depending on the exact workding of The Conversation, she may have not violated the letter of the law so to speak. And.... isn't that exactly the sort of spell that one casts as good manners to show hospitality? Remember, the baker offered you her oven to sit in. Vae did the equivalent of "pulling you up a chair."

Seems reasonable to me.

Loxley

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Well, you'd need an exceedingly good barrister to get that fine point accepted in court.

[goodluckfox.livejournal.com]

Funny you should say that... :)

[spotweld.livejournal.com]

Perhaps she needs it pointed out that good things are even better when they're asked for. Something along the lines "This cloud of fire is nice, but I would be enjoying it so much more if I knew about it and had a chance to stretch out a little first.." And a few stories of your own experiences where you got to do nice things for friends (after you asked permission first). Well, probably not the things you do for Ilottat, but other than that there must be some examples.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I don't want her casting spells on people without asking. (Or near them.) At all. As with that umbrella spell, it's far too dangerous.

[gavinfox.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of trying to spin the conversation in a positive light. Sorta like the misdirection you do to young children, "okay, I see your idea, but what about if we do it this way instead..."

Simply mention, when these things happen, an alternative she could have done, and make that alternative seem more fun... its especially good if you can get her to think it was her idea.

In a related note, you can try and roleplay a bit with her what would have been proper, after the fact. "Vae, that fire was nice, but next time you have an idea like doing that, what do you say first?" and actually get her to say it.

[cattitude.livejournal.com]

A small plush pig with a catapult.

Oh, dear.

Next it will be a shark with a frickin' laser on its head.

[draconis.livejournal.com]

It may seem like a horrible thought, but.. if Vae is so competent and spell which change memories and mind, would she not be able to cast one on herself to alter her behaviour in that small way? She seems willing but not entirely capable in the normal-behaviour-change department, so I'd suspect that she'd agree to it in a flash, unless she has some ulterior purpose hidden away regarding the spells. Its unthinkable I suppose, but if all else fails...

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

It's a horrible thought. No decent prime would suggest such a thing.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

Well, you aren't exactly a *decent* prime. But it is quite a horrible suggestion. Ick.

[collie13.livejournal.com]

But she's not a "decent prime" according to you, right?
Just a thought... ;)

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

Well, I am -- my choice of lovers aside -- and I'm certainly not going to suggest it.

[OOC - relatively few people will accept rearrangement of their psyches, except in places that really hurt. Losing a bad habit might be convenient -- but there's no telling how much of the rest of Vae's personality is connected to that bad habit one way or another. Psychic surgery is quite tricky!]

[collie13.livejournal.com]

OOCly, I couldn't agree more -- deliberately and non-consensually playing with someone else's mind is one of my truly serious hot buttons.

Fictionally, however, I'm doing my best to be a "good" naughtily insidious monster. ;)

[brennabat.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you could reduce the number and/or quantity of gifts every time she violates the rules of The Conversation. In this way you re-enforce good behavior with rewards while punishing bad behavior with a denial of Prime gifts.

[sythyry.livejournal.com]

I'm not exactly sure how much leeway I have on this point.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I have to find it cute that she's reciting your lines as you say them, but perhaps what you need to do is to have a little Sythyry-like replica telling her the Conversation every so often, before the fact!

[striderhlc.livejournal.com]

Maybe this should be Sythyry's next enchantment project- a little statuette of zirself that would recite The Conversation on command.

- HC