video | un: s.reid

[doctoral]

Hi. I'm... Dr. Spencer Reid. At home, I work with the FBI as a behavioral analyst, or profiler. I'm trying to figure out what to... do with myself here.

[ Reid is a thin, young-looking man with too-wide eyes and nearly shoulder-length unkempt hair. That combined with the cardigan, tie, and lightly patterned button-up makes him look extremely dated. It's not hard to believe him as a federal employee by clothes alone, although his age is constantly remarked upon.

He doesn't sound uncertain about addressing the wider audience of the network-- although he is, and especially about using technology this way-- but he does sound like he's choosing his words with care, enunciating clearly and with even, unhurried pacing. ]

If there's anyone that currently works for the local police, I'd like to speak with you regarding whether you think there's a use for my skills in that environment. I have done field work, but I wouldn't say it's my strong suit. Otherwise I'm considering taking up teaching at the university. I've been a TA for undergraduate classes before, although I think I'm better suited to leading graduate-level seminars. If anyone currently takes classes there, it would be helpful to hear about your experiences.

... I also noticed they're looking for librarians at the public library. Uh. I don't think that alone would keep me... sufficiently occupied, but. I could do it.

I'd like to optimize my time here by putting my skills wherever they're most needed. So I'm open to other suggestions. And-- looking for a physical therapist. And possibly an orthopedist. Thank you.

[ It cuts off abruptly. Reid can do public speaking, but it's far from his favorite past time. ]

Comments

[coyandcryptic]

Well, yes. Technically, Upworlders would be everyone else: Humans with no magical powers. Actually, we call them "mundanes," which isn't a term I like very much, having spent quite a lot of time around them and finding them—for the most part—not at all mundane.

[Magnus passes Reid his cup of tea, plain as requested and brewed to perfection, and immediately flits over to the bookshelf to start looking for his copy.]

Downworlders are warlocks like myself, werewolves, vampires, Seelie, and Shadowhunters. Well, nephilim, but they like Shadowhunters. They hunt and fight demons, hence the rather dramatic name. ...I don't think I brought the guide after all, I'm sorry. I was in something of a hurry when I packed.

[doctoral]

Speaking as a 'mundane', I appreciate that. [ That's sort of, mostly, a joke. Reid's sense of humor is a little understated and offbeat.

He accepts his tea, setting his book down, closed-- page number memorized, of course-- and takes a sip. ] Nephilim is a Christian term, [ he notes. ] I would imagine there's a lot of religious influence on terminology, or rather, that existing entities influenced religious thinking and theology throughout history. [ A moment later: ] It's okay, I'm sure you weren't planning on an interested party wanting to scour your bookshelves.

[ Another subtle note of self-deprecating humor. ]

[coyandcryptic]

Frankly I find most of the Shadowhunters more mundane than a lot of so-called mundanes. [Reid's sense of humor will fit right in.

His mission failed, Magnus perches on the back of the couch with his cup of tea, the better to give Reid access to all the shelves.]

Well, since I didn't bring the book... The terms did evolve around the beings. Shadowhunters have angel blood in them, it's where the nephilim stories first came from, and their magic is based in angelic runes that anyone without angel blood would go insane trying to use. I've seen that, it isn't pretty. Warlocks are half-demon, half-human. Vampires and werewolves are fairly close to the stories you've heard. Seelie are half-angel, half-demon. Very tricky. They can't lie, but I've never heard anyone weave words that well. All of the legends and warnings about elves and fairies come from the Seelie Court.

[Honestly this is much more fun than waiting around for his potions to finish stewing for the appropriate amount of time so he can add the next ingredients. There's a lot of freedom in being able to talk about these things to someone from a different world, and share things without risking the security of his own.]

[doctoral]

[ He listens with a slightly furrowed brow, taking this all in and committing it to memory. ]

So you're half-demon? [ he clarifies, looking interested and remarkably unalarmed. ] Can you clarify your usage of the word 'demon'-- and 'angel' for that matter? There's been many different representations throughout ecclesiastical history, and from non-Western religions.

[coyandcryptic]

I am. One of the Greater Demons. [And Reid will absolutely pick up on Magnus's careful sidestepping of any discussion on how that came about. He's a remarkably open person, but that isn't something he shares with people.

In fact, he dives for Reid's question eagerly, with some relief.]

Oh, well, it's all very Dante-esque where I'm from. Someone clearly tipped him off. The angels are angels, God's messengers, rarely ever seen on Earth, and there are Greater and lesser demons that come from various circles of Hell. The lesser are just horribly destructive nuisances, the Shadowhunters go after them.

[doctoral]

[ Reid isn't going to expect personal details on first meeting with someone. This is strictly an information-gathering visit, not about him personally but about his world. He just wants some background context, a framework with which to approach fantastical things in general. ]

Are they properly separate species with different genealogical lines, or is more similar to classical vampire stories where humans are 'turned into' something else?

[coyandcryptic]

Seelie are definitely their own unique thing. They don't have a trace of human in them. Warlocks are, well, it's an indelicate way of putting it but each warlock is a hybrid. Shadowhunters are descended from hybrids, but they're generally encouraged to...keep to themselves.

[The little sniff and roll of his eyes should be enough to elaborate on what that means. While Magnus himself is involved with a Shadowhunter at home, and Alec's sister Isabelle has been involved with vampires and Seelie, most Shadowhunters guard their precious bloodlines like they have gold running through their veins instead of diluted angel blood.]

Vampires and werewolves are turned from human. Or Shadowhunter. Usually. So we have a whole assortment of options.