Great Old Ones and other terrors

I acquired another Honours student today, after she had apparently spent several weeks broadcasting her desire for me to supervise her thesis to approximately 64% of my immediate social circle, not including me. (She's a CLAWtype, which helps with this kind of indirect assault). Over the weekend I was informed by three separate sources that this young lady was keen for my academic oversight, but was, in fact, too scared to actually approach me about it. I find this distressing, since I honestly don't think of myself as being that terrifying*. For heaven's sake, I lecture fantasy, science fiction, Gothic, and gosh-darned Victorian nonsense. Intimidating academic rarefication, that ain't. Also, surely the days when I cowed the massed hordes of CLAW with fascism, boots and demonic organisational skills are long gone? I don't think any of the undergrad CLAWites would recognise me if I bludgeoned them over the head with my complete Clawmarks collection. Much as I would fondly like to think that my Great Old One status is accompanied by whispered lore about my achievements, vices and accompanying tentacular appendages, I really don't think so. Role-players have short attention spans, especially across generations. Barring the unearthing of the occasional musty tome with these strange, unknown names transcribed therein, I doubt I cross their consciousness in any way.

Then again, I have apparently reached a point in my role-playing life when a semi-younger CLAW-type plotting a Discworld LARP automatically assumes I'll be playing Granny Weatherwax. I suppose I can be thankful it wasn't Nanny Ogg.

If anyone wants me, I'll be out back in the rocking chair. Cackling. And eating students alive.

* Of course, her state of fear would not have been mitigated by helpful suggestions from the ilk of jo&stv (apparently I require propitiation with appropriate sacrifices of chocolate cake) that were, in fact, not. Especially since, while I enjoy chocolate cake, it's not high on the list of Things For Which I Will Commit Suspect Acts Of Favouritism.