Tseng bit back his first response to her protest - this conversation was not about him, Sheska's misplaced admiration aside. "Life isn't a story, Sheska - the background characters have a lot more power, in reality. And you underestimate the importance of knowledge, and being a source of it - as someone who was forced to learn traditional research techniques over the last two years...it's harder than it seems."
She gave him a perplexed look. He didn't really get it. But then she had never been particularly good at explaining herself. Half the time people thought she meant something entirely different than what she'd actually said. Of course life was a story. Or rather, it was a lot of little stories all combined into one large story that never ended. Characters and their stories threaded in and out to form one long pattern of events. What else were history and legends and myths? "I'm not a source... the writers and texts themselves are sources. I'm just an ordinary person who happens to read and remember more than is good for her." And sometimes those around her. But she didn't want to argue. Not with him. Not with anyone, really, but particularly not with him. "I'll think on it and do my best not to work myself into a greater knot of worry than I already am."
He gave her a wry smile. "I suppose it seems different to you - organizing knowledge comes so naturally to you. But trust me - those of us whose skills lay in other directions appreciate your knowledge. And...I suppose I'll have to be satisfied with that, then."
She felt an embarrassed flush rising. That last phrase always meant the speaker was disappointed in her. She sighed. "I'm sorry... I just have a hard time understanding why this is so important. I'll try. I promise I will." This reminded her of the lecture she'd gotten when her mother had discovered that she wasn't defending herself against the school bullies.
Not quite the reaction he'd wanted. "It's important because I want you to be happy, Sheska. But...I can't force you to change your opinions of yourself, I know."
That tone was familiar too. Relenting, but opinion unchanged. She refused to let herself read too deeply into that hope for happiness. That was a road unpaved and often hit with meteorites. "You worry too much, Tseng-san," she said with half a smile, thoroughly ignoring the irony inherent in that statement. "I am happy." Which was mostly true, usually. Every now and then... but didn't everyone have down times?
She nodded. "I promised that I would, and I will. I think... I think that it will be easier once I've learned some magic. That's something no one else in my world has done before, that I know of! It will be unique, and I'll be able to do things on a larger scale than a pair of libraries." She reached forward and laid her fingers over his. "And you? You'll rest, and concentrate on healing?"
"Once I'm sure that it won't somehow accidentally backfire, I certainly can arrange a demonstration, if you like." The memory of the last magical demonstration she saw made her smile. "And promise to let me know if I can help in some way? Or if you'd like some non-Turkish company?"
"I'll do so - and I can imagine I'll hold you to that offer of company. Three weeks stuck in the house with Reno is going to be...interesting." He gave her a wry smile.
"I thought the objective was for me to get better faster?" he said in wry amusement. "I think the two of us in the same room would likely be detrimental to that particular goal. We Turks are not very good patients."
"Nor do you have much." she murmured, playing on his last word with a smile. "But I wouldn't worry. Aeris has a better respect for her mental health than that. Though it might be entertaining to watch you two hurling pillows and insults at one another."
"Perhaps so," she answered, laughter in her tone. "I'll bring you the money tomorrow, all right?" She gave in to the impulse to smooth his nigh-pristine hair. "Get some rest."
She stood, settling the bag of books against the nightstand and checking the security of the ticket, bookmark wrapped around her left hand. "Sleep well, Xiaowen. Sweet dreams and a quick recovery." She made her way to the door and closed it gently behind her.
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Re: Action!
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