Cantabile

[professahhh]

Luke Triton Witches don't really exist. Do they?

[ a bit later ]

Luke Triton Despite all the odd happenings lately, I've been trying to focus on studying. It can get a bit boring, though, especially with the lovely spring weather outside. What's your favorite thing about spring, and is it lamb?

Comments

[professahhh]

Of course! It's been a good two weeks.

[ So if he wasn't okay at the time, he would have had plenty of time to recover by now ]

[divine_braid]

Okay. You got me there. But, still. Like... I mean, you know. You weren't hurt or anything, right?

[professahhh]

Not particularly! I've been in worse scrapes, and my instrument turned out all right.

[divine_braid]

Do you get picked on a lot?

[professahhh]

I'm grateful to you for helping, but that's a bit personal, isn't it?

[ Luke was trying to be courteous about it, but this line of questioning was rather close from a virtual stranger. ]

[divine_braid]

I guess. Sorry.

I just was wondering if you wanted some tips maybe on sticking up for yourself. I could show you some tricks.

Cuz I got bullied a lot as a kid, and had to learn on my own, so I don't like seeing it happen to other people.

[curseoclock]

yeah must've been a seriously slow news day, huh? just going after random people like that.

it's not even celebrity gossip or anything

[professahhh]

That's all right; I've lasted this far on my own, and in any case they're certainly not worse than the football hooligans.

[professahhh]

The odd thing was that they were treating it as if it was! Photographers and everything.

It's a real puzzle, I'll tell you that.

[curseoclock]

right? i had to deal with a bunch of them. well i dealt with them pretty easily, but they were super persistent

i don't wanna seem like a conspiracy nut or anything but it makes you wonder if someone told them to do that or something???

[professahhh]

I couldn't begin to guess.

But since we're both safe and sound now, why don't we celebrate? I've got a puzzle I've been just dying to tell someone!

[curseoclock]

oh? sure, sounds fun

hit me!

[professahhh]

What makes you so sure?

[professahhh]

Alright, then! I've got five pairs of words in mind. Remove the letters 'ba' from the first word in the pair, and you'll get a second word. Naturally, I'll give you a hint as to what one of the words are.

For instance, if I were to say 'Start with a word that means equilibrium', you'd say 'balance'. Take out the 'ba', and you have the word 'lance'. Does that make sense?

[trueend]

lots of weird stuff happening lately
no reason for witches to NOT be real when horses
are all gone

[divine_braid]

Well, if you're sure. I've been there, and, well... yeah. It's alright. Just, lemme know if you need anything, alright? I'm Don.

[professahhh]

Ah, that story. It all sounds rather fantastical to me -- hornless deer with metal hooves?

[professahhh]

Certainly. Thank you, Don. I'm sure even those lads you chased off will soon find something else to occupy their time.

[ Like falling off skateboards. ]

[divine_braid]

Yeah. Probably. Take care of yourself, okay?

[professahhh]

Of course! I don't want to be a bother.

[divine_braid]

No bother, really. I promise. I'll see you around, Luke.

[trueend]

theyre not deer
theyre HORSES
totally different :T

[frostythehitman]

....no. What the hell is 'spring lamb'?

[professahhh]

[ He'd actually meant to his parents and not to this guy, but... maybe it was just best to leave it at that.

Luke went back to his studying. ]

[professahhh]

It's a very tender young lamb, available in spring or early summer. A lot of people have it for Easter and Passover, too.

[ Plus lambs were traditionally born in the spring, and they were also one of those cute baby animals along with rabbits and chicks that were closely associated with Easter and spring in general... what did this guy live under a rock or something? ]