III. Reckoner.

[maleficentia]

Velvet Amandine Lyon. I know you're lurking around these journals, somewhere, so don't lets continue with the charade. If any of her friends and associates feel inclined to turn her in, well, let's have it, and promptly.

Have you finally summoned up a spine and published that piece you showed me at the end of our semester together?

Comments

[bonesandbottles]

Are you going to ask her out?

[maleficentia]

If she's published, I just might.

Of course not--I'm going to browbeat her.

[bonesandbottles]

For information? Can I play good cop?

[maleficentia]

In a sense--and yes, please, if only for the fact that I'd like to see you try.

She was my student a few years ago, and at the end of the class I finally forced her to write something worthwhile. Since then, the little coward has kept it to herself.

[bramblesgaveway]

[maleficentia]

Agreed. Sounds a bit like a fetishistic stage name, if one were to ask me. Or perhaps a stuffed animal.

[bramblesgaveway]

[maleficentia]

An unfortunate whim of a parental unit, no doubt.

[scheherazading]

Hello, Professor.

To answer simply and honestly: No, I haven't.

[maleficentia]

Try again: why not?

[scheherazading]

[like her original response, this takes a while]

I don't know

It wasn't a priority at

I don't really have a good answer, sir.

[maleficentia]

You're a coward? Insecure? No faith in your own abilities? Try one of those on for size.

Lyon, I've been teaching for a few years now. I only let fifteen students into my class each semester. If I'm very lucky, one of them might produce a piece of writing that doesn't make me want to stab myself with my own pen. If I'm very, very lucky, one of them might force something out of themselves that is, against all odds, good. You were that student at Hunter. You have a gift.

[bibbetyboo]

So you're bullying people completely without subtlety now?

And like you can talk about names. Uh, Asher Amadeus Frey, anyone? I looked up your birth certificate. Dad had a copy.

[strucktwelve]

[maleficentia]

You didn't know?

[strucktwelve]

[cygnettes]

[...]

Define 'turn her in'?

[maleficentia]

I'd prefer a meet in person. Better for strong-arming purposes, you see.

[cygnettes]

Hm. I just don't think strong-arming my roommate would be the most morally acceptable thing to do, you see. How good was that piece?

[maleficentia]

I'm not interested in your justifications, dear. I had a roommate that published my first book against my will; you ought to do the same to yours.

Very.