(no subject)

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Tomorrow Mary turns thirteen.

The cook is going to make a cake and she is to be let off lessons. Other than that she's not really sure what to make of this; despite the cold weather, she's sitting outside by her tree (now bare) in her garden, trying to decide.

Comments

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"Yes!" Mary says, startled - both by the question, and by the undeniably impressive eyebrow arch.

[wolflord_andain]

"Do go on. I'm curious to hear at which point you believe such events might come to pass."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"When you are just talking to people. That you know - people that you like, I mean. If it is people that you do not like, perhaps you are trying to beat them," she admits, "but if it is people that you do you do not always need to be winning something."

[wolflord_andain]

Were Galadan another man he might ruffle Mary's hair. She is very young. He has never had cause to forget that.

"I may, I suppose, hope that such a belief serves you well. I find it doubtful, as your world is not so very different from my own."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"Perhaps not - but if you are always trying to win, of course other people are going to be trying to win too," Mary says, slowly - puzzling it out as she goes.

"And you always are because you are always thinking of strategy.

If neither of the people who are talking is trying to win then - then it is different."

[wolflord_andain]

"And do you suppose you shall ever have a guarantee that your--conversational partner, as it were--has no agenda of his or her own?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"There are some people that I know do not have - have agendas. Not for me, anyways."

The word Mary is looking for, and not finding right at the moment, is 'trust'.

[wolflord_andain]

"Perhaps not sinister agendas--that I'll grant you freely."

Is he still teasing? The arch of his eyebrows suggests he may well be.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary eyes him.

"I do not think that 'I do not wish you to die' counts as an agenda."

[wolflord_andain]

"And that, I believe is where you are mistaken, Mary. An agenda such as that is one that will influence a man's--or woman's--actions for a very long time. You would do well to be aware of it."

Galadan's own agenda for Mary, such as it is--

Well. That is neither here nor there, at the moment.

Or is it?

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"I suppose it might be an agenda, technically," Mary says, unwilling to concede defeat. "But it is not the same as strategy. I do not think that anybody sits around over a chessboard thinking ten moves ahead on their diagrammed plan to make sure that their friends do not die. Not unless they are also strategizing something else too."

Mary is fairly certain that Galadan does not wish her to die, and that he does wish her to be well-educated. She has not yet thought about what other goals he might have than that.

[wolflord_andain]

Hi, Mary. You are talking to Galadan. Have you met him?

Don't answer that.

"And shall I ask you about your friend Wellard, then?"

Galadan has trouble believing that Mary does not have plans to keep Wellard safe from himself. Somehow.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"I do not scheme to protect him," Mary starts to protest, and then snorts, suddenly.

"Though I think sometimes that perhaps I ought. Mostly I just shout at him."

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan raises one eyebrow.

"And how effective a tactic has that proven to be? If I may ask, of course."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

This is something of a hit, but Mary says stoutly, "He has not had any near-death experiences at all in the past few months!"

Obviously this is all due to Mary's expert coaching.

[wolflord_andain]

"And how often have you and he been in a position to converse?"

Galadan's tone is very dry.

"In the spirit of academic curiosity, of course."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"I spoke to him when I was back from school -"

. . . has she spoken to him more than that?

"- and things have gone more quickly here than they have in Milliways!"

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan's eyebrow arches higher, though he remains silent.

His silence speaks volumes, however.

Volumes in multiple editions, even.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"- which only goes to show that all the times I shouted at him earlier have finally gotten through to him. It is a - a cumulative approach," Mary says, triumphantly.

[wolflord_andain]

"And are you quite sure it has nothing to do with chance, Mary?"

That eyebrow is not going anywhere.

"Your Wellard does not much appear to be the trainable type."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"He is not stupid."

Mary says this with quick vehemence; Mary is the only one who is allowed to insult Mary's friends!

"Only extremely prone to rushing into things without thinking - but that is because he is brave usually, and because he wishes to help and does not think how. He is the one who could use lessons in strategy."

[wolflord_andain]

"Perhaps I might be persuaded to tutor you both in such matters."

His voice is dry as the Sahara. In a bad year.

"For I do not believe for a moment that young Master Wellard is the only one to rush in without thinking."

Yes, Mary. He is talking about you.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Stung, Mary scowls at him.

"I think! I am very careful. I only rush when there is not time."

[wolflord_andain]

"And had you skill with strategy, I very much doubt you would be in a position where you did not have enough time for planning."

Both eyebrows arch very delicately.

"I do, as you are aware, know whereof I speak."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary shakes her head firmly, her lank hair whipping back against the bark.

"I do not think even you can plan for everything in Milliways. There are too many people coming and going always, and too much magic that surprises you."