reverie overflow.

[vecna]

i still haven't put something less stupid here

Comments

[velluminous]

Ahhh. I am studying now. Professor.

[vecna]

[Chuckles.] That’s right. And what did you learn from this particular lesson?

[velluminous]

[ that he seems to like being called "professor", for one ]

That I have to learn to be much, much subtler than I am.

[vecna]

[It’s amusing.]

It takes practice. Even for me, it did.

[Which means they’ll have to try it again sometime.]

[velluminous]

Pah. I will be quick study.

[vecna]

It means you'll have to let me in again. Unless you want to try the other way around.

[velluminous]

You've said already door is open. You could be there again, now, still--and would I know?

[vecna]

I wouldn’t do that. I’d tell you.

[velluminous]

[ would he? ]

Oh. Polite man.

[vecna]

I have a feeling you'd not be too happy with me otherwise. I'm not risking that again.

[velluminous]

[ ah, something she is utterly susceptible to ]

Good boy.

[vecna]

["Good boy". What a lark.]

You can just call me Henry, you know. I remember mentioning that when we first met.

[velluminous]

"Good Henry" does not have same ring to it.

[vecna]

Then what about just Henry?

[velluminous]

[ ffffffffffffffffine. ]

Henry.

[vecna]

[ :) ]

Good. Otherwise, you'll start to make me feel like my father.

[velluminous]

Oh... Leery of aging, are we?

[vecna]

[He laughs.]

No. Just leery of the comparison.

[velluminous]

[ handshake emoji ]

Ha! Mammon. What pair we make.

[vecna]

[parental problems!]

Nothing better to bond over, I say.

[He finds himself wishing he could tell her more, just the sort of pain he put his father through, but instead decides on-]

Even if my particular issues have been resolved, and the fire is still burning beneath yours.

[velluminous]

[ not quite at the monologuing stage, huh, henry? ]

You pick your words so precisely.

[vecna]

[Perhaps he’s not sure their social link rank is there.]

How do you mean?

[velluminous]

You are simply very good at what you choose to say. It seems effortless. You never stumble.

[vecna]

[He’ll take that as a compliment.]

Also something that takes practice, that’s all. It helps that I worked with children for a number of years; you get into the habit of knowing what you want to say before you say it. No one’s going to listen to an orderly who sounds like he’s bumbling through it all.

[velluminous]

[ once again the oddity of that occupation strikes her. there are elements to how he talks that absolutely indicate it, though--that conscious choice of words, and many of his phrasings. his tone, when he isn't snapping at her. the even measure, his pitch. ]

How long did you say you worked with them?