#annnd yeah...rex doesn't do schedules

Thank you!! :) These were both so HARD but really fun to think about!

2.) An entry from Rook's journal

Arlathan, I think, is growing on me. Which feels strange, but what isn't anymore? I thought I was well-traveled enough before all this, but so many of the new places I've been and have to be are really just places I can't wait to leave. Some of them are really quite nice to look at, yes, but the problem is that to look at them, you have to be there. And being there is damp and wet and sticky, smells of some rotting thing or another, and full of snakes or some other thing trying to kill me.

And this place...don't even get me started on this place. As much as I wish I could see the faces of anyone who ever sneered and belched a smug little 'erratus'* in my direction when they find out I sleep on a little green couch in front of a giant fishbowl in a secret little part of their precious Fade they'll never be able to see, I...don't care. They're not missing anything. I hate it here. I hate it more than the damned corpse warehouse. What's the time, ever? Who knows. It's never night. There's no weather. Bloody floating everything everywhere. Just being here has a way of making my teeth feel like they're going to blow out of their sockets.

Everyone else seems to have found a way to feel at home here, but I can't. Minrathous is damp and wet and sticky and smells and has floaty things and is certainly more than full of snakes, but it's my damp and my wet and my sticky and so on and so forth. That's home. That's where I belong. That's where I want to be. And yet, whenever it's time to go take a walk in a big fuck-off forest full of weird, unstable magic so a baby griffon can dig truffles out of piles of nug shit, I find myself thinking that maybe I'm not in such a hurry to leave anymore. Maybe this is, for the moment, where I want to be.

Or maybe he is.

'*' - a pejorative term used by members of the Altus class to describe a non-mage born to an Altus family; loosely, 'error' or 'mistake'.

12.) Rook's daily schedule

[Written hastily in Magister Sisenna's hand on a smaller paper attached to an impossibly neat, organized letter, dated around 9:50 Dragon]

R:

Milo brought me another list last night. I don't want Milo to bring me lists. I am tired of Milo bringing me lists. If Milo brings me another list, ever, I am going to sew seaweed into all of your shoes.

-S

---

Humbly submitted for review and consideration to Madame Steward Sandrine Bettencourt and Magister Adrian Sisenna by Iosephus Milo Petrellis, Captain of the Magister’s Night Guard:

A few matters of concern observed over the last three consecutive nights, again pertaining to the timeliness and professionalism of principal guard Falx Verus Mercar:

Mercar reported for duty at eight and twenty four minutes, nine and six minutes, and seven and forty nine minutes, respectively. He is scheduled to report by seven in the morning.

When questioned as to the reason for his continued tardiness, he responded with a number of questionably relevant circumstances: first, that he'd thought he'd lost his shoes but he had in fact been wearing them the entire time; second, that he was particularly enjoying his breakfast that morning; third, he suggested I just get into bed with him next time if I wanted him out of it so badly. This is inappropriate and poor management of time and equipment.

Mercar remains to fraternize with the Magister after his duty ends at nineteen hours. I am aware of previous advisement that Mercar and the Magister are quite good friends, but it seems redundant for him to be present while I am on duty.

Mercar has been observed leaving the apartments nearing twenty three hours, and not returning until after six the following morning. This is not adequate time for sleep before he is scheduled to report at seven in the morning.

I have detailed a strict daily routine on the next page that I believe would do wonders towards mitigating the majority of these concerns. Should you agree, I would be happy to implement its use as soon as possible. I thank you for your time and consideration of these matters.

---

[Written on the back of the page in the steward's hand]

Milo, you have known Adrian as long as I have and I am certain he and I have both already reminded you several times that this...formality is simply not necessary. If you wish him to address your concerns, you may simply go and speak to him.

That said, you are well aware that he entrusts responsibilities to Mercar which extend beyond his scheduled guard duty hours and often require him to be away from the residence, thus affording him a bit of leniency as far as timeliness is concerned. You are always well compensated for your extra time. We can discuss adjusting the principal guard duty again to twelve hours from eight in the morning, but I can assure you trying to force Falx Verus Mercar to stick to any sort of routine is the quickest way to guarantee he will not.