(no subject)

[wolflord_andain]

Waking is more of a difficult prospect than it ought to be, the fact of which Galadan refuses to become resigned.

Though today is a fine day, it seems, to begin consuming food that is slightly more civilized than raw venison (if not quite so civilized as anything deep-fried).

Thus the arrival of a guest finds Galadan cleaning up after the end of his afternoon meal.

Comments

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan merely raises one eyebrow.

"Shall you not let that function as a goad to drive you toward improvement?"

He would, Mary.

And has.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary looks down almost sulkily at this. She knows it ought to only make her more determined, and ordinarily it would -- but the language that people use without words, their expressions and countenance and tones, is more difficult by far than Spanish or Chinese.

"I can read their symptoms," she mutters. "There is a lexicon for that. But it does not work with personalities."

A smile might mean anything, depending on the person; a frown, the same. It is all too confusing.

[wolflord_andain]

"That one is a more complicated lexicon, I grant you."

He's had to, after all this time of trying to teach her.

"Still, perhaps there are a few broad strokes that you may learn to differentiate."

He will give up when one of them is dead.

(And he is well aware of who is likely to go first.)

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"Or perhaps," Mary retorts, "I ought simply to mistrust everyone until I have more solid proof of what they are likely to do than a facial expression would grant."

This is not a sarcastic suggestion; it seems eminently sensible to her.

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan gives this all the consideration it deserves, coming from Mary.

Which is to say --

"Provided you learn to keep that mistrust off your face and out of your speech, I have heard worse strategies for prevention."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary hesitates.

"It would be good strategy to do so. I see that," she admits. "But -- even if it is safer to believe the rest of the world dishonest, I should rather not be dishonest myself, though I know it to be a handicap."

She meets Galadan's gaze. "I am playing with an advantage, after all -- I shall have had a far better teacher than most anyone else."

[wolflord_andain]

"Well," Galadan says, inclining his head a fraction in acknowledgment, "There is that."

He returns her look in kind, serious, but not cool.

"But you know yourself full well as any, and in addition you also know who and what you have chosen to be. I would be a fool, I suppose, to doubt your intentions now, or your capabilities."

He huffs out a quick breath.

"Handicap or no. So. Are there any other methods you might consider, that require neither lies, nor evasions, nor half-truths?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

The startled smile that appears at this is gone again in an instant -- but Mary's face stays brighter than it was, even after it disappears.

"I am not sure it would quite make you a fool to doubt me," she says, truthfully. "But -- but I am very glad you do not."

She takes a deep breath, and goes on, more steadily, "Preparation may go far. Facts may, as well. I have no objection to using the truth as a weapon to my advantage."

[wolflord_andain]

"Well, then."

Galadan and feelings are not two tastes that taste great together, shockingly. But he does not look displeased by Mary's gladness, which is something.

"Now that we have something to be going on with, shall we get started? Or shall it wait until the both of us are fully recovered?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary thinks she is quite recovered, and she would very much like Galadan to know so --

-- but even she can put two and two together enough to know that if she announces her perfect state of health, his pride is not likely to allow him to cry off if he does not feel well enough.

However, she certainly can't admit to weakness herself, which leaves her with something of a dilemma.

"How much time," she asks instead, "do you think we shall have here, to take advantage of?"

Her return to her studies is rather dependent on a lift.

[wolflord_andain]

That was in no way something Galadan was counting on.

"A few more days, I should think. Perhaps three, at most."

Some of this may depend on Mary's skill with her lessoning, such as it will be.

"Will that be enough to be going on with, on your part?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"It shall have to be," Mary answers, with a small shrug.

They both have other responsibilities now. One makes the most of the opportunities one has, that's all.

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan arches one eyebrow half-way to his hairline.

"Why so?"

Surely Mary would not acquiesce so easily if she really required the additional time.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary blinks at him, puzzled.

"Because that is the time there is," she says, as if it should be self-evident.

She will learn as rapidly as she is expected to learn, or faster.

[wolflord_andain]

"And should you have judged that more time was required?"

The Wolflord's eyebrow remains fully arched.

"Or, as it might happen, less?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"It is not that I would not like more time," Mary says, still startled.

"I am sure I should not be through with all you might teach me for much longer than three days -- so that does not much signify. But I am not your full-time pupil any longer. I must return to Dr. Hamm, who had not known I would be gone, and had not prepared for it.

[wolflord_andain]

Must she, really?

Well, so be it.

"If you deem you must, though you are right in that three days is woefully little time to see you up to speed, as it were."

Hmm. Some might consider this a quandary.

"Perhaps a series of slightly less irregular visits will allow you the opportunity of additional practice."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"Additional practice would be welcome," Mary agrees, solemnly.

It is very easy, when one is in a place doing a set thing, to think only of that place, and of that thing; sometimes Mary needs to be reminded that there is a wider world out there beyond the small clinic.

"Would it be an inconvenience to you, to arrange for it?"