Phone

[Enid Geraint] There's careful calculation of timezones, and Ashley's class schedule taken into account before Enid calls the older mage, her mentor. She waits until there's an answer, and once there is? "Hey, it's Enid." She sounds happy, relaxed; she's been having a good time, though Ashley knows Enid's been doing the reading she assigned. She's gotten the first draft of the first paper by now. "How's everything there?"

[Ashley McGowen] Ashley is not often given cause to worry about people - mostly because these days, it's so rare for her to decide that someone is worth worrying about. Still, a few people have wormed their way into her sphere of concern as of late, and her apprentice happens to be one of them.

Now, she's tried not to call the girl too often, figuring that she's fine over in China and taking a step back will allow her to experience everything to the fullest. Still, once or twice a week she's called to check in, and generally the calls have been brief: hi, how are you, are you safe, what have you seen. So she's pleased when the girl calls her instead.

"Hey, Enid," she says, and she sounds cheerful. "Things are...fine. A little chaotic, but coming to a close soon, I think. How are you doing?"

[Enid Geraint] ((Speaking of that paper - Intel + Academics, extended roll. Diff . . . 7, I think.))
to Ashley McGowen

[Enid Geraint]
to Ashley McGowen

[Enid Geraint]
to Ashley McGowen

[Enid Geraint]
to Ashley McGowen

[Enid Geraint]
to Ashley McGowen

[Enid Geraint] "I'm alright. I miss you and Wharil and Kage and Emily and everyone. And Dad, of course. But it's amazing, being able to spend time here, you know? There's so much to see and do." There's a pause, and a little laugh. "Not that there isn't at home? But I've lived there my whole life. I think I take it for granted."

Most people tend to, after all, at least if they're as privileged as she is - goodness knows, until Wharil assigned the notebook, she hadn't bothered to really look at what was around her in . . . goodness knows how long.

"I've taken a ton of pictures. I'll have to show you when I get home. What's going on that's so . . . oh, Dylan." She hadn't forgotten, exactly - she just hadn't been involved, had been told to avoid it, and when on the other side of the world it's easy to put that sort of thing out of her mind. "Everyone's alright, aren't they?"

[Ashley McGowen] "Miss you too, kiddo," is the response, as awkward and as genuine as her hugs were the evening when they exchanged Christmas presents. "I'm glad you're having a good time. Sounds like you're getting a lot of experience." Which is a thing Ashley certainly values, particularly if one is inclined to reflect and learn the way Enid has always seemed to be.

"Everyone's okay. No injuries or anything. I think things will probably be just about back to normal when you get home."

[Enid Geraint] "I'm glad everyone's in one piece. And also that you sound like you're doing a lot better than you did when we talked last." That is, in fact, the more pleasing of the two - it's not hard to tell. "And if things aren't back to normal, it'll just be more experience. And I'll be as much help as I can, you know?" Not that she's under any illusion that she'd be much help, really - there's more that she doesn't know than that she does.

"I went to Marcom," she says after a moment. "But only to hand in my security badge and to tell them thank you, but I'd changed my mind."

[Ashley McGowen] "Well, I'm glad to hear from you," Ashley says, in response to Enid's comment that she sounds like she's doing better. She's not, in fact; she's just gotten used to it, the way one accomodates to back pain or to slowly worsening eyesight. It's not said with any particular longing, as though she were waiting for the call - more a cheerful assurance that it is pleasant happenstance.

Though her voice becomes wary when Enid mentions Marcom. "...All right. I'd watch, though, if I were you. They might still have someone tailing you. Or they might try to talk you out of it."

[Enid Geraint] "I'm being careful." She's not, particularly - she's seventeen, in love with the world, and invincible. While she's not quite oblivious, she doesn't have the experience bred paranoia that lends itself to diligence in this matter. In her head, it's still just her mom's company, the company for which some of her favorite people in the world work. "Maybe they're happy that they don't have to pay me. Not that it was much, but still. I'm more worried that Mom hasn't called or come banging on the apartment door, yet."

Part of that's worry in the way that most children worry about disappointing their parents - it's easy to forget, sometimes, given her willingness to learn and reflect, that Enid is still a child in a lot of ways, by a lot of standards.

[Ashley McGowen] "Enid," Ashley says after a moment, "if I had a daughter and she were to tell me she was joining the Technocracy, I wouldn't take an answer like that." It's a moment of self-awareness, of the uncomfortable realization that maybe they really -aren't- all that different, the way Enid was trying to bring to her attention last month. But trying to reconcile the fact that Kaye is a Technocrat and is -human- is difficult on its own, so a moment and the thought is forgotten.

"Expect her to persist, because she thinks she's saving you. They brainwash their people, like I said."

And then a short pause and she seems content to leave it at that. "I read through your paper, by the way."

[Enid Geraint] "Yeah? I wasn't exactly happy with it, but that's why it's a first draft, yeah? I'm rereading some bits and trying to cross reference and stuff. If you have suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them." It's not quite nervous - Enid knows she's good at school things, at things that can be easily quantified and defined, and that's what all this reading is so far. It'll be different, probably, when they sit down to work on things more esoteric.

[Ashley McGowen] "You do still have some things to work on. You had a strong conclusion, but I'd like you to focus and expand a little more on the points you made in the section about the -consequences- of the Massassa War. I marked up the draft with some points I thought you needed to expand on. That, and your style is a little wordy - we'll work on cutting that down."

For all that, her voice is approving; it's a better draft than she expected to get, especially from a high schooler. "I'm glad you took your time with it, though. It shows."

[Enid Geraint] She basks in the approval, though Ashley can't see it - she's still young, and it's still far too important to her, that sort of thing is. And that it's coming from someone she likes, trusts and hopes to be like in some ways, some day? That makes it better. "Well, thanks," she says after a moment, and the bit of grin is clear in her voice. "I wanted to make sure I came close to right, at least."

[Ashley McGowen] "Uh huh. Don't get too comfortable with it yet, it still has a long way to go before it's finished," Ashley tells her, smiling at first but making sure her voice is firm by the end to draw the point home. "No slacking off just because you're in China."

A short pause, and then, "Everything okay with Austin?"

[Enid Geraint] "Better than," she says, and her tone takes a turn for the want-to-gossip-but-shouldn't. "We get along really well. And he is a perfect gentleman. I may be a slightly corrupting influence, I think." She doesn't explain why, or how, but it's unlikely to be anything really serious, or she wouldn't be playing coy. "We spend a lot of time looking at temples - he gets more out of it than I do, I think, but they're all stunningly gorgeous. And I'm happy to be steeping in the language; that's why I wanted to come, more than anything else." Even more than the internship - that had been an added bonus.

[Ashley McGowen] "I didn't know you were trying to pick it up. I speak fluent Mandarin, so let me know if you want any help," Ashley tells the girl, choosing not to comment on anything she says about Austin. The most she does is make a quiet noise of acknowledgment when Enid says that Austin has been a gentleman - not quite approving, but not disapproving either.

"Have you been learning anything new from him?" And then, seconds later, a sheepish addition: "Magically, I mean."

[Enid Geraint] "I speak both Mandarin and Cantonese - had both lessons and classes almost from the time I could talk. Mom speaks about a gazillion languages and picks them all up really easily, and I think she hoped I'd be the same." There's an unseen shrug, and a tone that says obviously she isn't. But that doesn't really matter, so it's on to the second question. "Not specifically magic, no, but I'm still helping him with Chinese and we work out every day, either running, or self defense exercises, or both. And we talk about how he see things, compared to how I do - some things mesh, some don't. But it's all very interesting."

[Ashley McGowen] "It's a useful talent in the Order. You'll appreciate even a few extra languages, I think," Ashley tells Enid. And then she gives consideration to the girl's next words, the things she's been sharing with Austin. How they've been comparing notes. It reminds her a little of her father's attempts to teach her after her Awakening.

"A lot of your teachings won't really mesh all that well with his. The Brotherhood espouses a philosophy of selflessness and absorption into the All, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what you'll have to do in the pursuit of Will," Ashley says, after a moment. "So be prepared to have some strong differences with him from time to time."

[Enid Geraint] "That doesn't surprise me," she says, wryly amused. "You should have seen the look on his face when I got him something and made him dress up to go out to the theatre when we were still in Taipei. But he had fun when everything was done! Both of us did. And he's always . . . very noble. Yeah, selfless is a good word."

[Ashley McGowen] "I mean selfless in a bad way, like being subsumed into the collective," Ashley says, her tone also wry. "But all of that in time, I suppose." They'll either make it work or they won't: conflict tests people. Tests friendships and relationships.

"We're forming a cabal back here, by the way. Wharil and I are. I'll introduce you to the charter when you get back, but joining is up to you. Being in a cabal with your mentor might hamper your growth."

[Enid Geraint] "Or it might enhance it. I suppose we'll see when I get back, won't we? I love being here, but I'm looking forward to coming home." She's always traveled with a parent, or with friends she's known far longer than she has Austin; homesickness has never been a thing. And it's barely a thing now, but it is a little more than she's ever experienced before. There's bad with the good, and all that.

[Ashley McGowen] "I'm looking forward to having you back too. I have a lot of studying planned," Ashley says, her tone the one of malicious cheer that Enid has heard before. The part of her that takes delight in challenging Enid and making her work, that's hard to please and that -pushes- her at every opportunity.

"Stay safe. Don't get into too much trouble until you get home."

[Enid Geraint] "But once I'm home it's fine to get in all the trouble I want?" It's teasing, that, all little-sister-younger-friend, but then she's more serious. "I will. We both will. And I'll keep emailing and sending stuff. You don't have to worry about me."

[Ashley McGowen] Ashley is quiet for a moment, because here if Enid runs into Technocrats, she'll know. Here she knows what threats there are, enough to protect Enid if need be. In China it's a different story. But all she says is, "I'll expect you to get into trouble once you're back here. You're an apprentice, it's what you kids do."

And then she matches Enid's serious tones. "All right. Just keep me updated and let me know if you need anything."

[Enid Geraint] "I will. And hey . . . be careful with all that chaos-y stuff, okay. You're in more trouble there than I am here." She means the collective 'you'; she's been near Dylan, after all, felt the inferno, seen his insanity. Here, as far as she can tell, it's just her and Austin having fun. "I like you guys too much for something bad to happen to you."

[Ashley McGowen] "I know. We're being careful," Ashley tells her. "Don't worry about us either. I think we have it pretty well under control at this point."

[Enid Geraint] "Alright. Talk to you in a couple days, yeah? And I promise I'll let you know if anything weird happens." Though, of course, she doesn't expect it to.

[Ashley McGowen] "All right. I'll do the same. Take care, Enid, and thanks for the call."

[Enid Geraint] "No problem." And there, the call ends.