expiationnet | VIDEO | UN: claude von riegan

Good evening, everyone! After the month we've all had, it feels a little bit foolish to get straight back to the dreary mundanity of businesses and job opportunities, doesn't it? But life goes on, and so do we.

[ Even on camera, his smile gleams. On camera is a handsome young man, curls tamed and gelled back with tan skin and startlingly green eyes -- and dripping with more easy confidence than anyone really ought to. Behind him is a familiar sight to anyone who's been here for some time: an apothecary, stuffed to the gills with hanging bundles of plants and herbs, jars and concoctions and tins lining the the walls. Claude himself is dressed casually, in a plain white linen shirt that he nonetheless seems to wear like it's the same as his fineries. ]

For those who haven't yet had the pleasure of making my acquaintance, the name's Claude von Riegan, and I am the humble proprietor of the local Apothecary. Some of you might be aware that we suffered something of a setback a couple months ago, but I've never been one to sneeze at that sort of thing. We've rebuilt things bigger and better than ever!

And to that end... I'm hiring! I'm in need of more hands to tend to my greenhouse, to embark out into the wilderness to continue investigating the local flora and, of course, an apprentice or two to learn the tricks of the trade to keep things going even if I'm not here to do it.

[ If he dies or disappears, he means, but he has no interest in addressing something so terribly dreary. ]

I have only one caveat: if you're working in the fields or the greenhouse, I don't much care what you think of the people here. But if you're to work at the Apothecary proper, I'm firm on one rule: no matter how much we may debate about the, uh... nature of those around us who aren't us Chosen, as far as I'm concerned, they're people. Regardless of their attitudes towards us, your job as Apothecarist is to help them, no ifs, ands, or buts. We help those in need. No exceptions, even if you regard them as nothing more than bits of code. [ A beat. ] Unless I personally dislike you.

Kidding, kidding! And for the rest of you who aren't interested in work, I hope to see you at my establishment soon. These expansions won't pay for themselves!

[ He gives a little wave to the camera before swiftly cutting the feed. Toodles! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sounds like business is good.

[His smile is pretty easy, here; it may be helped by the fact that he likes Claude well enough already.]

I'd like to help out however I can. Any areas you're lacking in?

What can I say? I'm nothing if not an excellent businessman. [ He grins at Yu. ]

We've got a few takers for everything, I think. Besides, I'm more interested in what you'd like to do. You have your pick of manual labour, or really starting to learn a new craft.

[ Both are equal in Claude's mind; there's too much to do here for most people to spend their hours filling their heads with knowledge instead of just checking in for a decent paycheck. ]

I don't doubt that. [A soft chuckle. Like, Yu isn't a business expert or anything, but Claude seems like the type of guy who could convince you on a whole lot of things.

Ah. His expression goes a little surprised at the rest, though. He doesn't usually think much about--] What I want?

[But he takes a second to really think about it. As much as he can be avoidant about things like this, he's equally dedicated to diligence and thoughtfulness -- and to being sincere whenever he can be. So after that moment,] ... I think I'd like to learn. It sounds like interesting work.

Perfect! Then you can join the rest of my apprentices. Frankly, I'd like more apprentices than anything else, but I only want people who truly want to learn to sign up.

[ Which is why when people ask him what he's in need of, he's not particularly forthcoming. It's not just people in need of a job. It's people who want to learn, want to help with open, curious minds. ]

It is interesting work. I've learned more here than I thought was ever possible, back home. And if we ever return to the city that once was, without all of the electricity and technology available to us... this is what everyone will have to rely on.

Understandable. Otherwise it's just a job.

[And he's got plenty of those, but...at heart, he's just kind of a nerd who likes to learn new things. The more Claude talks about it, the more he thinks he might really like it.]

That's true. Like how Ethlyn teaches first aid...you never know when you'll need it.

[For instance, when your powers stop working. As much as he hopes that never happens again, he can't discount the possibility.

Unfortunately, Claude mentioned back home, which means now he's curious.] Is this the sort of work you used to do, where you're from?

Exactly. Ethlyn and I are from similar worlds, you know -- not precisely the same, but far more similar than our worlds are to anyone else's. We know the practicality of how to make our own medicines and dress our own wounds without much in the way of technological help. As old-fashioned as we are, there's no beating our methods when it comes to healing on the fly.

I admit that this is nothing like what I did back home, though I've always had quite the interest in botany! I'm a Duke. My day to day life was filled with governing my nation, not running a store. [ With a wry smile: ] I had people for that.

It may be called 'old-fashioned,' but in my world, "modern" medicine evolved from those practices in the first place. Some of them are still used today.

[Not that that's ever been his personal experience, but he had to do his share of research about medicine and first aid for their forays into the TV world. Diarahan only heals so much, after all.

--Wait, wait. Hold on. Yu's expression changes, surprise freely showing up on his face at that.]

A Duke? Really? I...wasn't expecting that. [But even as he says he wasn't expecting it, the surprise ebbs. It sure does make sense, actually, with the way he talks.]

Really? No? [ Claude runs his fingers through his hair, tossing his head back -- all for show, of course. ] Are you telling me that I don't have that noble bearing? My dear Lorenz would be terribly disappointed to hear that about his humble leader.

What did you think I did back home, exactly? Humour me.

[... ... ... oh no. Claude puts an absurd amount of diplomatic charm on display --kind of obvious, in retrospect, in a way where Yu thinks 'yeah, it all makes sense, really'-- and he's really on the spot now, isn't he. What kind of answer would work best here...?

... (That's a bad way to think about this, isn't it? He should be trying to give a real answer -- not one he thinks the man will like best.)

Yu is thrown for just a second, that thought process rattling on in his head, and then he loosens up, exhaling a huff of a laugh.]

A teacher or a professor? ...although when you ask like that, it makes me think actor, too.

An actor, huh? [ Claude actually looks a little pleased at that. ][ His grin softens. ]

...but being a teacher doesn't sound half-bad either. I was awfully fond of my teachers back when I was in school, you know. What of you, anyhow? Any future career aspirations?

I bet you'd be a fun teacher.

[Not that the bar is set very high for him...his own experiences have been a little, uh. Unfortunate.

Yu's expression turns thoughtful at the question. Somehow, Claude always manages to catch him offguard with things like this -- another quality for a good teacher, unfortunately. Probably also for a politician.]

... I haven't thought much about it. Back home...I figured I'd have another year to figure it out before I finished high school.

[So much for that. Back home, he'd be graduating in a few months.]

I certainly hope to be one! I'm doing a little instructing of my own around here these days anyway. I can think of a few of my old teachers that could have done with a little relaxing, let me tell you...

[ Ah, but he's getting away from himself. ]

You've had plenty of time to think about it here, haven't you? There's gotta be something that sounds appealing to you. From what I've heard, people from worlds like yours can pursue whatever job they want. Within reason.

At home, we'd say something like "please take care of me" or "I'm in your care." Here, I think I'll say "I look forward to learning from you."

[Because I never think to play with the language stuff-- anyway, looks like he's not gonna be able to deflect from this one. Claude is too sharp to let him get away with that, probably. So he has to think about it sincerely, huh...]

I think my problem is that there are too many things that sound appealing. I like to read. I like science. I like mysteries. Plenty of other things, too. I just...haven't quite figured out how to put them together, or which way to go.

Please take care of me...? That's kind of sweet.

[ And a little quaint. He's much more comfortable with Yu's version, though. He doesn't want to feel like he's taking care of anyone (even if that is precisely what he's doing). ]

Perhaps you're looking your future right in the face. There's no reason to decide now of all times, especially considering nobody here is exactly chasing down their ideal vocation, but... it sounds to me like what you really want to be is a teacher. Who better to embark on a journey of lifelong learning than one who's tasked with teaching others?

VIDEO | UN: claude von riegan

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