Amethyst

[dramatispersonae]

[ You’re in a corporate boardroom… of sorts. There’s no door and the walls are all glass, open to a clear blue sky, but if you look out the glass and down, there’s nothing but a layer of fluffy white clouds. If you look up, nothing but sky and sun. The room is dominated by an odd table that hasn’t decided what shape it wants to be – there’s a square corner on one end, but the rest of it is wavy and ellipsoid. The chairs are swiveling leather office chairs, quite comfortable and quite ordinary. The tea service and digestives have come along as well.

In the middle of the table are three typewriters with paper primed and ready to go, the mailbox, and a typewritten.

Dear Kingfisher:

We’ve gotten some very good submissions so far, but not enough to go to print! Talk amongst yourselves and write a letter asking for help solving a problem that you face, as a team or as individuals. And don’t be afraid to send in more than one. We’re such a popular feature!

- M

]

Comments

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

... Advice?

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

You look so annoyed! Anyway, did you write a letter? Because I didn't.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Self-help letters are bothersome.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

If you're going to nap in the corner and Haruki doesn't want to talk about anything ever, I suppose we can write about my problems.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

You sure? Haruki suggested we just make something up.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

There are definitely some things I wouldn't mind getting anonymous advice on.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Well, if you really want the advice, ahh...

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

If you're both going to be embarrassed for me we could just make it up... but, um, I sort of want to ask about... romance... things...

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Ahh, I won't be embarrassed. If you think they can help...

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

But you have to help me make it not so obvious that it's me.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

We can tweak stuff.

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

It's like this.

[taking a seat]

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Oh, you have an idea?

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

No, nothing I would want to share with anyone. If no one has suggestions we can make something up.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

I'm much more comfortable with making something up.

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

We can make it something generic. "How do you deal with having amnesia?" or along those lines. That's something everyone has experience with, but it doesn't have any indication of who we could be.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Jill wants advice.

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

If she wants it we can go with hers too.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

I guess it might be helpful. It's anonymous anyway.

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

If it helps her out I don't see why we can't.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Yeah. Now to make sure it's not obvious.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

Do you have anything you want to write about?

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

Not off the top of my head.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

I've got some things...

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

Do you? We can go with those.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

Are you going to get really embarrassed for me if I want to ask about romance stuff.

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

[. . .]

Only if you start asking about sex, since I don't think you should be asking anyone in Aather about that.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

I'm not going to!

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

Okay then, what are you thinking of asking?

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

I want to know what people would suggest not for sex but just for date ideas when you have two people who really like doing things like dancing and that but they're really different sizes because one of them is a bird but I can't say that because then everyone will know it's me.

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Ahh, can you just say "really different sizes" or that your date is extremely short?

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

There's no way to indicate the difference without people narrowing it down in their minds. But if the height is one of the key factors that prevent you from doing the activities you like then it's worth putting that in there.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

What about just... different physical abilities? Because it's not just size, it's that I can't fly and, you know, things like that...

"Dear Aather,

I'm going out with someone and we have pretty different abilities. We have a lot of fun together, but sometimes it's a little sad not to be able to enjoy activities the same way other people do, or the same way we would if we were more similar physically. What kind of dates would you recommend?"

Or something...

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Oh, that's a good way of doing it. It's a lot broader.

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

If it has more to do with abilities then that removes the physical aspect of it. At least a few answers might hit on what you're looking for.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

It's both... that's why I said "physically similar" in the letter, too.

What about how to sign it, though?

Re: DISCUSSION

[stigmateyes]

Curious in Camelot?

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

It's as good as anything I could think of.

Re: DISCUSSION

[maidmalapert]

That's fine with me.

Re: DISCUSSION

[artificialcommand]

We'll keep our fingers crossed.