"Alfie's one of the smarter people here," He says with a smirk. He doesn't usually dish out bold-faced complements, but when he does, of course it's going to be behind the back.
It's truth, Little girls have to their disposal a powerful tool for trickery. He and Mom learned that the hard way, though he's far from thinking about that now.
He snorts. "Understatement. He didn't improve any more than that in the course of month." That had been a very bad month, and he hadn't even been technically conscious for it. "But," He continues, "You know what did get him to improve fast, after all that? It was finding a reason to actually fight, and then getting right into battle. So tell me, Emily. What do you want to fight for?"
The thing she wants to fight for... She's never actually considered it, not being aware of it anyway. The question surprises her, and it shows on her face. Slowly, she looks around them as if seeing the Meadous will somehow give her the answer she's craving. It has to be something worth it. Something meaningful.
"I want to... fight for myself," she finally murmurs. "I want... to be stronger... so I can fight for other things all on my own. So I won't need saving. So I can save other people instead.
"So no one won't be able to take me every again, and so... what happened to Mother won't happen to me." She lifts her head. "I want to fight to be stronger," she repeats, more sure of it this time.
She's never thought about it. He can somewhat understand. It's not common that sort of thing immediately shapes someone's whole life. Catalysts like that usually come later, and by that time, helplessness might be all someone knows.
His face is impassive, carefully blank while he waits for her answers. Once done, he leans just that little bit closer. His grin grows wide enough to show nearly all his teeth.
"Good answer," He says. "If I were your power, I think I'd be pretty willing to help you along with that."
He stands up straighter. "Lucky for you, I'm already willing as it is! Keep that wish of yours in mind when you use that power. What you want and what your power seeks might not be the same thing, but knowing that will still help you integrate."
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2018-11-21 02:38 am (UTC)It's truth, Little girls have to their disposal a powerful tool for trickery. He and Mom learned that the hard way, though he's far from thinking about that now.
He snorts. "Understatement. He didn't improve any more than that in the course of month." That had been a very bad month, and he hadn't even been technically conscious for it. "But," He continues, "You know what did get him to improve fast, after all that? It was finding a reason to actually fight, and then getting right into battle. So tell me, Emily. What do you want to fight for?"
no subject
on 2018-11-21 05:03 pm (UTC)"I want to... fight for myself," she finally murmurs. "I want... to be stronger... so I can fight for other things all on my own. So I won't need saving. So I can save other people instead.
"So no one won't be able to take me every again, and so... what happened to Mother won't happen to me." She lifts her head. "I want to fight to be stronger," she repeats, more sure of it this time.
no subject
on 2018-11-22 01:33 am (UTC)His face is impassive, carefully blank while he waits for her answers. Once done, he leans just that little bit closer. His grin grows wide enough to show nearly all his teeth.
"Good answer," He says. "If I were your power, I think I'd be pretty willing to help you along with that."
He stands up straighter. "Lucky for you, I'm already willing as it is! Keep that wish of yours in mind when you use that power. What you want and what your power seeks might not be the same thing, but knowing that will still help you integrate."