Garrett Grigg
Classes:
Gary's Stuff
Backstory
My dearest Garrett,Your father and I were so happy to receive your last note. I honestly can’t believe it has been five years since you started your apprenticeship! I particularly enjoyed the biscuits you sent (though as you may remember your father refuses to touch any of your food after that fruitcake which tasted suspiciously like sulfur). Things are going well at the shop-
“Achoo! …Oh, bugger.”
Gary Grigg hastily looked around the laboratory for something to mop up the corroding powder which was currently eating its way through his mother’s signature.
“Leave it, Garrett!” Minnie Oldfiend swept into the room, dispelling the magic powder with a few muttered words and a wave of her wrench.
“Sorry, Min,” Gary said, running a nervous hand through his hair. Although only eighteen, Gary’s hair was pure white having lost its pigment two years ago when he had tried to turn it purple. Combined with his gangly frame, it was easy to mistake him for a frail old man from afar.
“I think you’ve apologized quite enough for one lifetime kiddo,” his mentor replied kindly.
“If you’d just let me clean up the dust in here-“
“If I let you clean in here, my table would be more scorch mark than wood.” Minnie finished for him with a withering look.
“Well then, you could teach me that spell,” Gary suggested without much hope. Minnie was very particular about what she was likely to share, and with good reason. Experiments had a tendency to explode when Gary was involved, more frequently than even those of the most reckless Izzet Engineers.
“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I think you’ve been an attendant long enough, don’t you?”
Gary’s face fell, “You’re giving up on me? I can’t go back to Mam and Pap. I promise, I’m an even worse tailor than I am an engineer!”
“Haven’t I told you to stop jumping to conclusions? You’re not a bad engineer and I’m not giving up on you.”
“Then I’m finally going to set up my own business within the League?”
“No, stop jumping to conclusions.”
Gary threw up his hands, “Well, what other options are there?”
“The League has agreed to sponsor your application and first year of tuition at Strixhaven University.” Minnie said, handing him an official looking League missive. “Now, close your mouth before something flies into it.”
Gary obeyed only enough to form the words: “What?! Why?! How?! When?!”
“It’s all there in the letter, the League knows you are talented and the coffers have more than enough to spare for your tuition. As for when, assuming you pass the entrance exam you’ll be starting in about five months.”
“No,” Gary clarified, “when did the League decide this?”
“Oh, they started discussions sometime in Seleszeni.” Minnie said in an attempt at evasion. She was not known, however, for being a subtle woman.
“In Seleszeni? But that’s right after the Festival of the Guildpact. Why would the League start talking about sending me to university right after I melted half of the statue of Krokt?” Gary asked as understanding dawned, “They think paying my tuition is cheaper than cleaning up after me.”
“Who gives a rat’s ass what they think?! Are you going to turn your nose up at an opportunity just because you disagree with the means? Use your brain kid, I know you’ve got one.”
They glared at each other for a beat, at which point Gary gave in.
“Will you be able to manage the lab on your own if I go though?”
“Manage? Kid, you’ve taken at least ten years off my life. With you gone, I might finally get some proper beauty sleep.” Minnie mimed brushing her short hair with her wrench.
Gary smiled, “So that’s why you look like such an old lady!”
“Get out of here and start studying, you useless lump. The entrance exam is in two months.”
“Fine,” Gary started to leave and then stopped in the doorway. “Wait, you said the League will sponsor my first year of tuition. What about after the first year?”
Minnie waved her hands impatiently, “Not to worry, Garrett, we’ll burn that bridge when we cross it.”
Basics
Age
19
Children
Pronouns
he/him
At Strixhaven
A world where gary had purple hair... interesting