🛍️🎓 video; @b.potts

[tutee]

[ Bill is used to smart phones, but she's not used to this sort of a network thing where people just go online to chat and ask questions about things... But, she's new here, and she's trying to fit in. Plus she has some questions that she definitely can't ask the Doctor about.

When the video starts, Bill's dressed in a drab dark outfit with her hair pulled back in a braided bun. Very dystopia. She does a little wave, then launches into her question. ]

Hi. I guess. My name's Bill, just arrived. Except the portal thing didn't exactly let me pack, so all I have to wear is... well, not exactly my style. Anyone know where's good to shop around here? Someplace not too expensive; I'm a university student now, I've got to keep a budget.

OH! [ She holds up a finger. ] If you were going to university, and could study anything you want, anything at all... What would you study? I'm at a bit of a loss, myself. Never actually done this officially before.

[ She pauses to think if she has anything else to add, but no. That's it. ]

Anyway, yeah. If you could help me out, that'd be brilliant. Cheers!

Comments

[tutee]

[ Wow. Those look like a pair of fantasy pyjamas. ]

Hi, Regene! Am I pronouncing that right? [ Re-jeen. ]

I've gotten directions to a few places to try, if you want to come along? Shopping's always more fun with a friend along.

[fratropathic]

[He smiles patiently enough, but with a twist of amused arrogance all the same.]

Regene. [ray-zhen, with a rolled R and soft French G - he'll take a close approximation, but her first attempt wasn't that.] Not a common name, as far as my own experience has told me.

[Her offer causes his smile to settle into something much more genuine, because - well, he hasn't gotten many friendly offers in his life. Nothing without an ulterior motive.] In that case, I would. When will you be going?

[tutee]

I haven't heard it before. Is it French? [ He sounds American, but Americans can have names from anywhere. ]

Probably this afternoon sometime, if that works for you?

[fratropathic]

I wonder... I've never been told what inspired my name. [He doesn't seem too concerned with that fact, either, moving along with no more to say about heritage.] This afternoon will be fine, I should find something suitable for work before I start next week.

[His expression shifts quite suddenly as something occurs to him for the first time.] What is suitable for technical support on a land development project?

[tutee]

[ Bill doesn't know the origins behind her own name either-- her mum wasn't around to ask. So she lets it go. ]

Dunno. Collared shirt, I reckon.

[fratropathic]

As long as you have some idea, you'll be a help. Judging by your question, it sounds like you're going right back to school rather than into a new career?

[She was totally at school before even if she wasn't technically a student. Like Regene said the first time they talked, she was still learning a lot, and not even for the reward of a grade.]

[tutee]

Well, sort of. [ She doesn't think she could handle just being a student full-time. She's worked for so long, she needs something to keep her busy. ] I'm going to take classes at the university, but they've also assigned me a part-time job at the community centre, mentoring young girls.

[fratropathic]

Mentoring, hmm? Encourage them to live up to their potential, give them a positive role model, that sort of thing?

[tutee]

Exactly that. [ Bill shrugs. ] It's not really anything I've done before, but how hard can it be? Just try to give them good advice, make sure they don't make the same mistakes I made. Help them take advantage of new opportunities... Nothing to it, right?

[fratropathic]

If your first instinct is to model them against your own image rather than in it, I'd say you're a perfect candidate for the job.

[Regene's expression shifts as he considers how that came out, because while that's not often a big concern of his, he was doing the opposite of trying to insult someone this time.]

... nothing against your own image. I mean the lack of ego it shows.

[tutee]

[ Bill smiles kindly. ]

I know what you meant.