The House of Mages

 

Hi, I'm Legend, she/ze, and we're back at the Teashop Between Worlds after a brief hiatus due to a missing laptop cable. Please welcome Julius from Jay Mullin's Posterity.

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Legend: First of all, please introduce yourself. Name, pronouns if you wish, and tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

 

Julius: Hello my dear, it’s a pleasure to be here. My name is Julius, Julius Virignal – yes, those Virignals. *lowers voice* Are you sure it’s safe to talk about pronouns here? Fabulous – one can never be too careful, you know especially a man in my position. My pronouns are he/him, and an interesting fact, you say? Well, let’s see – I’m the most good-looking person at The House. But then you knew that already, didn’t you?

 

Legend: Anyone who tries to make it unsafe to discuss pronouns here will find something very nasty happening to them. *Ignores his other comment since ze's used to dealing with egotistical fae.* Can you tell us a bit about the world you live in?​

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Julius: Ah, it’s that kind of interview, I see. And here I thought we were just going to be talking about my dashing good looks and fabulous marriage prospects; as one of the most eligible Premier Heirs of my generation, that’s what most people want to talk to me about. 

Well, just between us – it’s rather scary, actually. Our ruler, the First Regent Minister, well he – look, are you sure I can speak freely here? Okay. Well, he’s a bit of a bastard, actually. He worked out a long time ago that queer people – LGBTQ people – hold on, do you know what those mean?

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Legend: They aren't our world terms - most people here just like who they like and are what they are - but we've come across them.

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Julius: Right. Well, in our world not many people do. Because, as I say, the First worked out that queer people are the only humans with access to magic in our world, and because he’s threatened by magic he realised that the easiest way to control the magic users was to outlaw being queer. For the past fifty or so years, he’s been telling the public that all magic users are evil, and he’s erased the general public’s knowledge of queer identities to the point that most people don’t even know we exist. 

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Legend: What a terrifying place. He should come visit the place I was born. "She flashes a sharp grin.* Basically everyone is what you call 'queer' and basically everyone can do magic. No correlation, just what's normal in Faerie. Let’s a have a quick-fire round of This or That. Try to just answer and not think too hard about it. 

 

Julius:

•    Tea or coffee? Coffee
•    Sweet or savoury? Sweet
•    Music or sports? Music 
•    Paperback or ebook? Paperback
•    Paint or pencil? Pencil
•    Countryside or city? Countryside
•    Fight or negotiate? Negotiate – to a point. Then fight.
•    Sword or gun? Sword
•    Vampire or werewolf? Umm, that’s a bit inappropriate, isn’t it? I’m friends with both
•    Film or TV series? Film
•    Morals or laws? Morals
•    Kids or puppies? Puppies
•    Gold or silver? Gold!
•    Museum or beach? Depends on the museum. And the weather
•    World peace or end famine? World peace
•    Winter or summer? Summer
•    Dance or football? Dance
•    Olives or sardines? Olives
•    Rainbows or monochrome? Rainbows!
•    Brain or gut? Brain. No, gut. No, brain. Hang on, let me think about this.
•    Traditional or new? Traditional
•    Revenge or justice? Justice
•    Fast zombies or slow zombies? Zombies don’t exist. Why would you want them to go fast though? Surely that’s a recipe for disaster?!
•    Mountains or oceans? Ooh, oceans?
•    Afterlife or ghost? Afterlife
•    Friendship or the law? Friendship
•    Fantasy or reality? Reality. But my reality in The House, not outside it

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Legend: Reality is very bendy here. Let's get into something a bit illegal, since it sounds like being illegal is good in your world. If you had to hide a body, whose would it be and who would you ask to help you?

 

Julius: Oho, it’s a long list! I’d ask Maia for help though, definitely – she’s both sneaky and extremely capable.

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Legend: I like her already. But apparently you're the Creator's gift to folk, so let's go personal. What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?

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Julius: Oh my, there’s so many to choose from – they sort of blur into a mass vision of tittering imbeciles! Okay, how about this one? My father had been being pestered by this chap he went to school with for eons about setting me up with his daughter – very beautiful, excellent prospects, enormous dowry etc. etc., and eventually my father agreed because he just wanted the fellow to shut up about it! Well, I turn up to this very nice restaurant for lunch and there, sitting at the table, is an actual child. A real life six-year-old girl, in frills and pigtails, doing a lovely bit of colouring on her napkin. Well, I had a bit of chat with her nanny who was there acting as chaperone - turned out the father was a big fan of arranged marriages and wanted to get me locked into a contract before I had a chance to fall for the wiles of one of the other ladies at court! We did some colouring together, had two puddings each and played I-spy when we ran out of napkin space… Actually, you know what? Scratch that – that was absolutely the best date I’ve ever been on.

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​Legend: Sounds a lot more fun than many dates I've been on and no one got stabbed. Good time all round. So, you may be on everyone else's wishlist, apparently, but what’s on your birthday wishlist?

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Julius: Ooh, that’s a good one. For my last birthday my father bought me a sports car, so I’m not sure. Maybe some more clothes? You can never have too many clothes… And if we’re talking from friends, then jewellery and makeup please – the sparklier the better!​

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Legend: Sparklier is always better. "She waggles long, glittery fingernails at him.* In the same sphere but non-dating, how do you feel about social situations? Do you throw yourself into it or are you the person rehearsing every conversation in their head a million times?

 

Julius: I’m extremely good at them, my dear, can’t you tell?

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Legend: *Unconvinced* Uh huh...

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Julius: Actually, I hate them. I’ve spent my whole life being trained to be charming, as well as having to hide part of who I am, so the mask comes extremely naturally - too naturally, some might say - and I don’t like the person I become when I’m wearing it. 

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Legend: That I can kind of empathise with.

Julius: Inside the House, though, I love them. I don’t have to pretend, I can just be me; no pressure and no expectations, just hanging out with people whose company I actually enjoy, and who aren’t trying to impress me simply because of my family name. That’s the kind of social situation I enjoy. 
 

Legend: On to something new. You said magic is banned in your world, but how do you feel about magic?

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Julius: I love magic! I’m lucky enough that my family have been involved in the House for generations, so I grew up knowing both stories – the one the public hears about it being evil, and the truth – so I never had the abrupt introduction to magic that most people who come to the House get. Still, when I first discovered I could use magic it was brilliant – such an amazing feeling. My affinity is Transportation, you know, which is fairly unusual – not as unusual as Manifestation, obviously, but still. Uncommon enough that I know I can do some real good with it, if I work hard.​​

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Legend: I'm intrigued. Folks, if you want to know more, you'll have to read the book. However, there's a cat in the corner over there, Zero, *ze indicates a snoozing white fluffball on the window ledge* who does this knock-knock-step-through-reality-to-somewhere-else thing who probably wants to chat with you. Speaking of animals, if you could change into an animal, what would it be?

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Julius: A cat. Definitely. Elegant but deadly, beautiful, exceptionally clever and cunning – need I go on? 

 

Legend: Hey, stop flirting with Zero. I think he has a boyfriend already. We've talked about how your world is pretty nasty outside the House, would you consider overthrowing your government?

 

Julius: Consider it?! I’m actively planning it… 

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​​Legend: That's what we like to hear! Are you a risk-taking gambler or do you analyse everything and only take action when you know all the variables?

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Julius: I haven’t got this far in life with gambling – careful research, planning and skill are the route to success. 

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Legend: Last question, have you and your author ever seriously disagreed on something? What was it and who won?

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Julius: Ha! Spoilers, darling! Let’s just say, the author seriously underestimated my charm when they first met me, leading to some – shall we say – renegotiations? And who won? Me, obviously. 

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Legend: Us characters usually get our own way in the end, haha. Well, best of luck to you overthrowing your leader and rubbing glitter on his grave. Been lovely to have you here. Help yourself to a cup of tea and try not to get kidnapped as a pretty pet.

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