"The therapist Dad made him see when he refused to talk to anyone but me after Mom died would probably remember him, but not positively."

"Well, in theory therapists are not supposed to be judgmental about the very traits that keep them in a job, but in practice it's probably worse than a cold start."

"I think it's less that he was judging me for not talking and more that he may not...have the highest opinion of my responsibility. I bit him, once," Kanimir says, wincing.

"You bit him?"

"I was very, very angry. I don't think I quite understood the distinction between being angry at the world for killing my mother and angry at my father for forcing me to be there and angry at the therapist for being there. I did not have a psychologically healthy eleventh year."

"Well, I'm... glad you smoothed out okay from there."

"Yes. But it would probably be best not to involve the poor man. The nurses are fine," he adds. "the bite was an isolated incident and I regretted it even before I had gotten the rest of the way out of my shell. And I was much better company while she was convalescing, in any case."

Nod, nod.

"Should I not have brought it up? Sorry."

"It's not a big deal, it was years ago, I just don't actually know how to react to being told that somebody bit somebody else."

"Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it. The specific details of one man's reason to dislike me weren't terribly relevant to the conversation at hand."

"Conversations do that," shrugs May. "Anyway, do you want to come up with our meaning lists right now so we can cross-check them and get started on our spells tonight? ...And if I email you my spreadsheet will you have it at home?"

"Yes, I will. And that sounds like a great idea."

"Is there actually any point in us sticking around, and if not, do you guys want smoothies, I feel like grabbing smoothies."

"Um. Not if you're not going to try to help compile runes, which probably isn't the best idea since you haven't finished the book yet."

"Although third and fourth opinions on meaning sets for the projects are still useful even if you don't want to do all the arithmetic and construction."

"In that case, I shall be back after I have fetched smoothies, assuming anyone other than me wants a smoothie."

"Cherry, please."

"...Ooh, banana peach? I'll pay you back."

"Blueberry, please."

"Cherry, banana peach, blueberry and whatever I decide I want. Which will probably be strawberry banana. Got it." And she heads smoothiewards.

"Thanks!"

"Y'welcome!" she calls over her shoulder.

"I love her, she's great," Jaromira says, a little smugly.