Scene: A living room very late in the evening. Quisyndia sits at a desk covered in papers and scrolls. Various alchemical supplies litter every surface, some hissing, some bubbling, some oozing. A small table lamp lights the desk, but it is really the large screen TV across the room that provides the majority of illumination. Squitchy sprawls across the back of her chair, snoring. She reads from a huge tome, looks at the TV, works the remote, and makes hand gestures. Theo walks in and does a double take.
Theo: You're still up?
Quisyndia: I've almost got this new spell!
Theo: Really? What does it do?
Quisyndia: This old book says it shoots a beam that turns whatever it touches into a living ooze.
Theo: Umm...and you're learning it why?
Quisyndia: Because its magic, silly. I might need it.
Theo: A spell that turns things into living ooze?!?! What possible use could that be?
Quisyndia: Well, our contracts for issue five are about to be negotiated...
Theo looks at the camera, eyes wide.
Quisyndia: Don't bother to say it...
Theo: I wasn't.
Quisyndia notices the TV has switched to a commercial. She snatches the remote and changes to another channel. Theo studies the screen, before he can figure out what is on, it goes to commercial and Quisyndia changes to another channel. Theo turns and raises an eyebrow.
Theo: What are you watching?
Quisyndia: Hmmm? Oh, well, one show is about tiny castles, that other one is about a bunch of princesses in the city--
Theo: Oh blah! Not Princesses of Silver city?
Quisyndia: Yes, exactly. And keep your comments to yourself! These women lead fascinating lives!
Theo: and stab each other n the back constantly...
Quisyndia glares, then loses focus and stares at the TV.
Theo: And this is?
Quisyndia: Bazaar Bash! They buy junk and make it into cool stuff. Be quiet, its the big reveal!
They both watch. Theo rolls his eyes at the end, while Quisyndia giggles.
Theo: So...they bought an old breastplate, turned it inside out, painted it, and used it as sink? Hat is lame!
Quisyndia ignores him, clicks the remote back to the first show, sees it is still in commercial, and hurries through hand gestures while chanting. Nothing happens. She stamps her foot, starts reading the big tome again, but stops when the show comes back on. Theo looks at it all and grows more alarmed.
Theo: You are learning a new, dangerous spell, while watching three stupid shows after being up all day and most of the night?
Quisyndia: Your point is?
Theo: Doesn't magic take huge amounts of study time and concentration? I mean, most wizards are old men who spent their whole life learning.
Quisyndia: Most crappy wizards are old men who took years to learn to tie their shoes...I can multi-task. Now, be quiet, the good part is coming up.
Theo: A good part on Princesses of Silver city?
Quisyndia glares. Then watches the TV, and tries the hand gestures again. This time, several scrolls grow pseudopods and drag themselves off the table. She fails to notice as she stares at two princesses fighting on the TV. Theo watches them slither across the floor.
Theo: Umm...Quis? Maybe you should forget that spell?
Quisyndia: Bah! You people are always so scared when I learn new magic. Stop being jealous.
Theo: jealous? No, that's not it. I just don't think your getting the spell right.
Quisyndia: I'm not getting it at all. I haven't even said the magic words. I'm just practicing the hand gestures. Watch.
Theo: Wait!
Quisyndia sticks her tongue out, gestures with her hands, and the TV elongates into a huge blob of ooze. Distorted in the cylindrical, jiggling jelly, a third princess joins the melee.
Theo: The TV!!! Not again!
Quisyndia: Poop! Now I'll never know what happens!