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xp_logsGuess who wants to become a citizen of Attilan? Crystal helps Forge study for his citizenship test. Too bad someone's not a fan of studying history.
Attilan Date: August 04, 2008
"The colonization of Attilan began in what year?" Crystal asked Forge. Forge was a genius when it came to any number of subjects, but apparently history was not one of them. She was working with Forge to help him study for his Attilani citizenship test. Although she'd offered to see about enrolling him in an actual class, Forge had opted for the individual tutoring option.
"Crapweasels, I know this one..." Forge closed his eyes and leaned forward onto his knees. "1427? No, no. The island was discovered in 1427. Colonization was... 1439?" He opened his eyes, looking for any> sign of approval.
"Attilan and the islands of the Azores were rediscovered in 1427, but yes, Attilan was settled in 1439," Crystal said. "I suppose the idea of discovery and rediscovery is a tricky one. After all, American school children have been taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America, yet people already lived there when he arrived." She smiled slightly. "However, we are studying the history and policies of Attilan, are we not? Next question... in 1583, King who of what country sent a fleet ships to remove French traders?"
"...removing the French... King Alejandro, of Portugal? No, wait, the English? Spanish?" Groaning, Forge reached for the history book. "Phillip II of Spain," he read, then cursed under his breath. "Four and a half centuries ago, how's knowing that even remotely applicable today, I ask?" He glanced over at Crystal and pointed an accusing finger. "And don't you pull a Dayspring and tell me that I can't understand the present without understanding the past. He was a crazy psychic ninja who talked to ghosts from the future, you know."
Crystal stared at Forge for a moment. "It is history, Forge. Knowing historical facts allows a person to gain a good perspective on how and why a country came to be in its current state. I have always believed that whatever happens to us becomes a part of us. So too is it with the history of a nation; the events of the past become part of the whole. 'Crazy psychic ninja who talked to ghosts from the future'?"
"Agh, it's like that Agrippa guy. The philosopher that the Professor goes on about. Went on... whatever," he waved his hand with a sigh. "And yes, when I first met Mr. D., he had some weird psychic link to these ghosts that were purportedly from the eleventy-billionth century or whatever. I wouldn't have believed him if I hadn't had them share their weird technology. You know, the psimitar he uses. Used."
Forge punched the couch cushions in frustration. "Now I'm doing it. Everyone's talking about the rest of the world in past tense, like it's the rest of the world that went away, and not Attilan."
Crystal closed the book she had been holding. "'Everyone' you say?" She sighed slightly, leaning back in her chair. "What happened, especially since we still do not know what 'it' is, is quite a hard concept to accept or grasp. People have had a wide variety of reactions and they deal with it in their own ways. Not all Attilani were on the island when it vanished; people have loved ones who are not here. I think, to some, it is easier to think of them as 'gone.' It has been over a year since anyone here spoke to anyone outside of Attilan. I cannot even imagine the thoughts of the people in the rest of the world who had people they cared about on Attilan when it disappeared."
Forge nodded, his posture suddenly showing a weary exhaustion. "You know, I used to sit out on the flyers' platform early in the morning. Wasn't supposed to be there, but it was quiet, you know? The farthest place in the mansion you could get from all the electronics making noise. And I'd look up at the sky and maybe see a contrail from a jet, miles up. I'd sit there and see if I could 'hear' it." He smiled tiredly, leaning back into the couch. "Sometimes I could. But not for a year now. And I worry that I'll forget what that feeling was like."
"Well, we do have jets here, but there is not really much of a point to flying them," Crystal said with a wry smile. "The only places to go are other places on Attilan. In addition, a number of people saw the royal plane as it made its descent towards Attilan, and although we did send a couple of planes off the island during the early days, I am not so sure that doing so now would be a good idea."
Forge's breath caught in his throat. "Yeah," he said after a while, "I suppose not. I mean, I was there in the airport and... so, right. Attilan history, hit me with the next one."
"What?" Crystal looked confused for a moment, then looked down at the book on her lap. "Oh, we were studying. Of course." With the change in subject from the past history of Attilan to the current situation, her thoughts had turned to her lost relatives, especially her parents. Speaking about Nathan had also brought to mind the people she had known in New York. Crystal glanced at the book for another moment before opening it and randomly selecting a page. "Obvious answer there, how about... what is the anthem of Attilan?"
Forge smiled widely at that one. "An Accolade To Attilan, I even learned all three verses, just don't ask me to sing them."
Attilan Date: August 04, 2008
"The colonization of Attilan began in what year?" Crystal asked Forge. Forge was a genius when it came to any number of subjects, but apparently history was not one of them. She was working with Forge to help him study for his Attilani citizenship test. Although she'd offered to see about enrolling him in an actual class, Forge had opted for the individual tutoring option.
"Crapweasels, I know this one..." Forge closed his eyes and leaned forward onto his knees. "1427? No, no. The island was discovered in 1427. Colonization was... 1439?" He opened his eyes, looking for any> sign of approval.
"Attilan and the islands of the Azores were rediscovered in 1427, but yes, Attilan was settled in 1439," Crystal said. "I suppose the idea of discovery and rediscovery is a tricky one. After all, American school children have been taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America, yet people already lived there when he arrived." She smiled slightly. "However, we are studying the history and policies of Attilan, are we not? Next question... in 1583, King who of what country sent a fleet ships to remove French traders?"
"...removing the French... King Alejandro, of Portugal? No, wait, the English? Spanish?" Groaning, Forge reached for the history book. "Phillip II of Spain," he read, then cursed under his breath. "Four and a half centuries ago, how's knowing that even remotely applicable today, I ask?" He glanced over at Crystal and pointed an accusing finger. "And don't you pull a Dayspring and tell me that I can't understand the present without understanding the past. He was a crazy psychic ninja who talked to ghosts from the future, you know."
Crystal stared at Forge for a moment. "It is history, Forge. Knowing historical facts allows a person to gain a good perspective on how and why a country came to be in its current state. I have always believed that whatever happens to us becomes a part of us. So too is it with the history of a nation; the events of the past become part of the whole. 'Crazy psychic ninja who talked to ghosts from the future'?"
"Agh, it's like that Agrippa guy. The philosopher that the Professor goes on about. Went on... whatever," he waved his hand with a sigh. "And yes, when I first met Mr. D., he had some weird psychic link to these ghosts that were purportedly from the eleventy-billionth century or whatever. I wouldn't have believed him if I hadn't had them share their weird technology. You know, the psimitar he uses. Used."
Forge punched the couch cushions in frustration. "Now I'm doing it. Everyone's talking about the rest of the world in past tense, like it's the rest of the world that went away, and not Attilan."
Crystal closed the book she had been holding. "'Everyone' you say?" She sighed slightly, leaning back in her chair. "What happened, especially since we still do not know what 'it' is, is quite a hard concept to accept or grasp. People have had a wide variety of reactions and they deal with it in their own ways. Not all Attilani were on the island when it vanished; people have loved ones who are not here. I think, to some, it is easier to think of them as 'gone.' It has been over a year since anyone here spoke to anyone outside of Attilan. I cannot even imagine the thoughts of the people in the rest of the world who had people they cared about on Attilan when it disappeared."
Forge nodded, his posture suddenly showing a weary exhaustion. "You know, I used to sit out on the flyers' platform early in the morning. Wasn't supposed to be there, but it was quiet, you know? The farthest place in the mansion you could get from all the electronics making noise. And I'd look up at the sky and maybe see a contrail from a jet, miles up. I'd sit there and see if I could 'hear' it." He smiled tiredly, leaning back into the couch. "Sometimes I could. But not for a year now. And I worry that I'll forget what that feeling was like."
"Well, we do have jets here, but there is not really much of a point to flying them," Crystal said with a wry smile. "The only places to go are other places on Attilan. In addition, a number of people saw the royal plane as it made its descent towards Attilan, and although we did send a couple of planes off the island during the early days, I am not so sure that doing so now would be a good idea."
Forge's breath caught in his throat. "Yeah," he said after a while, "I suppose not. I mean, I was there in the airport and... so, right. Attilan history, hit me with the next one."
"What?" Crystal looked confused for a moment, then looked down at the book on her lap. "Oh, we were studying. Of course." With the change in subject from the past history of Attilan to the current situation, her thoughts had turned to her lost relatives, especially her parents. Speaking about Nathan had also brought to mind the people she had known in New York. Crystal glanced at the book for another moment before opening it and randomly selecting a page. "Obvious answer there, how about... what is the anthem of Attilan?"
Forge smiled widely at that one. "An Accolade To Attilan, I even learned all three verses, just don't ask me to sing them."
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