ic contact;

[psycholawgy]

You've reached Athena Cykes. I'm currently unavailable, but leave a message and I'll get back to you pronto. Danke! (voice/call → text → video → action)

Comments

[cardboard_journalism]

I wouldn't lose! Kahk-kahk. I'm very aware of what's legal to print and what isn't.

[psycholawgy]

You seem confident. Good for you, Myriam.

[cardboard_journalism]

Yes!

...but? There's a "--but," you want to say, isn't there?

[psycholawgy]

I think you already know that I don't exactly approve of what you've published.

[cardboard_journalism]

[she paused a moment, voice getting soft and apologetic]

...well, yes, I know... kahk-kahk-kahk... And... I'm sorry.

But, look at it from my point of view, Athena... I can't axe the column. And I couldn't say "don't write about my friend," either, that'd be unfair to everyone else.

[psycholawgy]

Yeah? Why can't you just take it off?

[cardboard_journalism]

Kahk-kahk-kahk...

[deep sigh as she took in a breath and started to arrange her words]

Newspapers can't change overnight. They have to evolve, naturally, over time. Like a living thing, even. Sss, sss, sss.

A lot of people genuinely enjoy the gossip column. If I cut it suddenly next week, a lot of people are going to wonder "Where is the gossip column?" and "What happened?" They might think someone pressured me into taking it down, and start wondering if I get rid of certain sections of the paper so quickly, maybe I'm holding back other stories I could be publishing because they might offend someone. Now with that idea in everyone's mind, no one will come to me with a tip for a story to write about, because they can't trust me to follow up on it.

Also, it's not fair to "Miss Tattler". They've followed my rules and adhered to my deadlines, and I reward them by suddenly throwing their work out? Kinda cold-hearted. Kahk-kahk-kahk.

...so, it has to evolve. Which is why I'm glad for your letter, Athena. I can use it to start a public debate about the gossip column, get people to think that maybe removing it is "thinkable," and get every reader's opinions. Then, if enough people want it gone, I can quietly take it down with an apology to "Miss Tattler," and no one will be concerned.

Y'see?

[psycholawgy]

Nobody cares about that gossip column! All it ever does is make people upset, while all you ever think about is how glorified you seem because you're publishing "news"!

I hate whoever this "Miss Tattler" is, and when I find her, I'm going to show her a piece of my mind!

[cardboard_journalism]

...

[silence]

[psycholawgy]

Anyway! I rest my case.

For now.

[cardboard_journalism]

[it'd be a good ten or fifteen seconds before Scuttlebutt would find her voice again]

Kahk-kahk-kahk-kahk...

I c-can't cut it Athena... kahk-kahk-kahk... it'll kill the paper...

Please don't do this to me...

[psycholawgy]

Kill the paper? What are you talking about?

[ ... she might sound concerned, but she is in complete disbelief. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

I just told you how! Kaaaaahk-kahk-kahk-kahk...

[psycholawgy]

Figure this out, Myriam. That gossip section is going to destroy what credibility you have sooner or later.

If you were already working for an actual publishing company, that section wouldn't hold. You'd get so many complaints and protests, and people are going to ruin your name.

[cardboard_journalism]

Kahk-kahk kahk...

M-maybe you're right...

A better journalist would have put together a better paper...

[psycholawgy]

Wait a second. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts about your work?

[cardboard_journalism]

I-if... if all it does is make people upset, then...

K-kahk-kahk-kahk...

[these kahk's had a particularly sad cringe to them, more akin to sobbing]

[psycholawgy]

H- Hey! Are you crying?! Don't cry now!

[ Not this again?!?!?! At least Athena isn't being 100% ruthless this time around. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

Why not...?

My parents are gone... Juniper, Robin, and Hugh are all gone... The whole academy's gone...

Only thing left is my journalistic instincts... and they've gone and upset you... with my so-called "news"...

Kahk-kahk-kahk-kahk...

[psycholawgy]

It's not your fault?!

[ Where is Apollo to help control the situation... ]

It's all that Tattler's doing!

[cardboard_journalism]

Tattler never forced me to accept their column... Tattler never threatened me...

Now I'm getting threats from other people...

[psycholawgy]

That's what happens when you don't listen. People have to result to force.

[cardboard_journalism]

I knew it... I deserve it... kahk-kahk-kahk.

Fine... nothing to do but prepare my legal defense... If I'm going to be buried, it'll be under a storm of legalese!

Send me those books... I have to prepare.

[psycholawgy]

Fine. Good luck, because you're going to need it.

[ ... she does send the books, though. ]

[cardboard_journalism]

Thank you...

But p-please believe me Athena... I didn't want to upset you... or anyone...

J-just wanted to write again... like the world hadn't ended...

[click]