Sunday 7 August 2011

Enrolment Interview

From: Aporia

FAO: The Headmaster

Here’s the transcript of the interview with Rupert Campbell, as requested. I’ll note my comments at the end.

*

Present: Rebecca Glass (deputy headteacher / tutor, manipulation), Aporia (tutor, perception), Ernest Taylor (tutor, the mind), Rupert Campbell (potential applicant).

Glass: The tape is now recording. I will be chairing this meeting, which is to interview Rupert Campbell to assess suitability for enrolment at [REMOVED]. Interview will be held with Aporia. She would be Rupert’s tutor upon enrolment.

Aporia: Hi, Rupert. I’m Aporia – sorry, Ms Glass, I can’t do the official talk.

Glass: Continue.

Rupert: Guys, to be honest, I don’t really want to come here. It’s my mum, she thinks I need special training, but this isn’t like a proper school, is it?

Glass: If I may? You’d continue to be tutored in academic subjects – that’s a legal requirement. But the emphasis is certainly on mastering your powers, yes.

Rupert: My powers are fine.

Aporia: May I ask what they are?

Rupert: Um, yeah, I suppose. My mum’ll tell you if I don’t. I can create illusions – like mirages? That’s what my mates call me – Mirage. But I can use them properly. I don’t need training.

Aporia: Training isn’t to use them properly, it’s to use them better. I would teach you how to use them more efficiently and stuff.

Rupert: Aren’t all powers different?

Aporia: To an extent, but here at [REMOVED], we specialise in specific sub-sets of powers. My speciality is perception, so I’d be teaching you.

Rupert: You have my powers, then?

Aporia: Not quite. I can make it so people doubt I’m really there. Tricky to do on purpose – for years, I’d just do it by accident. Got a phone call once – my mate upset I hadn’t been to her birthday party. I was standing right next to her when she phoned!

Taylor: Look, if I may ... It’s not really up to you, Campbell. I’m very sorry about that. Our job is to decide whether you’re suitable, but you’re still a minor.

Rupert: I know how this place works, sir. Obviously. You find kids to recruit, only you don’t choose everyone. I heard about these twins – something-or-other Garcia? You let in the girl, and not the boy. Why?

Taylor: We have limited space ...

Rupert: I think it’s because he was incredibly strong, and she could turn into animals. I don’t think you’re really trying to help these kids. And I think the only reason you’re letting me in is because I’m [REMOVED]’s son.

Glass: Sorry, Rupert. We don’t want you to feel unwelcome. You are a good fit for the school, and we really would take the best care of you. You’re right – we haven’t done much to ease your mind. If you like, Aporia can take you to see the rest of the building, and you can talk to some of the students here. You’ll find they’re all perfectly happy.

Rupert: Who’s doing something to me? I’m stuck.

Glass: Sorry, that’s me. I can stop you using your powers – keep them under lock.

Rupert: Then stop it.

Glass: I’ll stop when you stop trying to use them.

Taylor: Right, let’s get to it. The official questions.

Aporia: Oh, sorry, yes. I was meant to ask those, wasn’t I? Okay, how’s your school performance?

Rupert: Impeccable. Do you really need to ask? Straight As in my mock GCSEs. The best education money can buy.

Aporia: Right, yes. How many friends do you have?

Rupert: Are these really official questions? Okay, fine. Um, loads – the other guys in my dorm, we’re really close. My girlfriend, and her mates. I’m in a band with a few guys in town.

Aporia: Okay, good. We really push the social side in this place, so that’s a big help.

Rupert: Except I’d be leaving them all to come here.

Aporia: Last question – who knows about your powers?

Rupert: My mum, my girlfriend, the band, two of the guys in the dorm ... um, my cousins and maybe their friends. Probably loads of people they’ve told. It’s not a secret.

Taylor: That’s great. That’s all we need, isn’t it?

Glass: Thank you, Rupert. You’ll be shown around the school in a moment, but you’ve been a big help.

*

Comments: He seems like a nice kid, but I’m still really unsure. He’s got loads of friends, which we could use as our excuse not to admit him. We could say we’re afraid his education would be compromised by the move.

Problem is, there’s no way in the world [REMOVED] would accept that. I don’t think she cares about his academic education. She just wants him to maser his powers.

He’s a good match for my class, certainly. All I’ll say on a personal level is that I’d work hard to make sure he doesn’t turn out like his mother. Otherwise, I’ll be all professional, promise.

I’m sure you’ll speak to Ernest and Rebecca too, but they’re on opposite sides. Ernest sees no reason not to let him in, since his powers fit the bill. Rebecca reckons nobody should be allowed to buy their way in, not even [REMOVED]. She’s afraid it wouldn’t be long before we were just another private school, available to the highest bidder.

She also reckons that, the second we admit him, we’ll be overrun with Scribblers.

2 comments:

Quoth the Raven said...

I really love how much Finesse trusts Rebecca Glass and yet I don't at all, not even slightly, not one tiny bit. Just what the sod is this school doing training itself some Scribblers? Hmm? Bitch. I don't trust her.

I actually quite like Rupert. I like that he's done his homework before having the interview, and has no qualms about stressing this - his question about the twins was excellent. He's the sort who would make a cracking good investigative journalist, although possibly in the short term he could do with not telling Clear Evils what he knows about them, the daft bastard. Mind you, he has an Apparent Supervillain Mam. That probably bestows confidence.

Ooh, all getting exciting, though! But when will it be paid off? When?!

Steffan said...

Pay-off will be sooner than anticipated, I hope. I intend to include a major bit of pay-off at the end of the final vignette - two more to come.