Editing A Teacher's Lament (section)

== Prologue ==

It is late in the evening, the sun drawing low across the walls of Imperator High, the grounds nearly deserted save for two peculiar figures engaged in even more peculiar activity. Ahzek Ahriman and Fabius Bile sit amid a small rooftop garden that the latter has used to cultivate a number of plants for his experiments and research.  Tonight is not one for academic pursuits, however. Instead, the odd couple are enjoying a bottle of fine Prospero wine and smoking some of the more stimulating specimens that Bile had raised clandestinely.

“What the fuck happened to us, Bob?”

Ahriman sighs, having drained most of his glass almost as soon he'd poured it.

“It seems like just yesterday I was a demigod, striding fearlessly across the face of the universe, destroying the enemies of man like an angel of death, gathering lost wisdom from the far-flung extremes of time and space. There was nothing I couldn't do, Bob. Do you remember that feeling?”

Ahriman's companion took a long drag from his joint, giving no reply. He knew the aging Son was going to keep rambling on like this regardless of what he said.

“Do you know how I spent my day? About half of it grading the Warp Theory exam from yesterday, and the other half trying to convince Magnus' sobbing offspring that making an A- on it isn't the end of all life as we know it.”

Ahriman takes another healthy swig from his goblet.

“I swear before the Emperor, given the choice between a rabid Carnifex and a hormonal teenage girl, I'd take the Carnifex any fucking day of the week.”

Ahriman deftly poured himself another glass. Bile gives no sign of interest, instead simply staring out over the darkening horizon.

“At least Miranda is actually interested in what I have to teach. Some of those other little harridans… I'd be doing the Imperium a favor by launching them into the Eye without a Gellar Field.”

This elicited a chuckle from Bile.

“Do you know what I found in my staff case as I was about to leave? A tampon. A used tampon.”

Ahriman now took a long drag from his joint as Bile slowly turned to face him.

“Do you think the Emperor might be convinced that this whole thing was a horrid mistake? Because I'd sure as shit make the argument.”

Bile ineffectually blew some smoke in Ahriman's direction.

“I don't know, Ahzek, but stop calling me Bob.”