No, it's all telekinesis work, you're done for today.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Daisy, you okay?

    Yes, she grins.

Good.

    Will you be practicing afterward?

I might skip today, I'm not sure when Nine will be back. If he comes in while I'm working I'll have him tell you.

    Okay.

It takes Nova a moment, but he manages to make himself ask: Practice? (It's been mentioned a couple of times, but he's not sure what Pradnakt is practicing.) I- if you don't mind me asking.

It's okay. I practice "fighting" for a while most nights, and it's not really safe to be near me while I do. You'll be okay inside, though.

He nods as he finishes eating. He thinks he might have eaten a little too much, and half wants to start the dishes, but- He also wants to sit put for a little while.

Can I take your dishes?

(Pradnakt picks up her bowl to drink the last of her soup.)

He hesitates, before signing - fingers making the motions small - Yes?

Thank you.

Hug before I go?

Please?

Hug. And then she goes.

He leans a little into the hug, and watches Daisy for a moment before half-starting to his feet.

I can dry? he offers.

"If you want," she says, but offers him the towel anyway.

He takes it with a small smile and sets about drying dishes and putting them away.

And then she shows him how to make garlic bread. It really is very simple, up to the point where she's showing him how to use the oven: "Do you know how to read numbers?"

"Some," he says after a moment. "Those were...easier to work out."

"They are, yes."

"I suppose you must not have had much chance to try to learn to read - you've picked everything else up so quickly, it's a little surprising that you can't."

He shrugs, looks away. "Less...practical," he murmurs. "Harder to...get away with."

"Mm," she hums disapprovingly. "Well, we'll have some workbooks and things for you soon enough, anyway."

He flinches slightly, even if he's mostly certain that her disapproval isn't aimed at him. "I- thank you. You- didn't- have to."

"Here, let's put these in and sit down." She shows him the setting, and then leads him back to the table.

He nods, slightly pointlessly, notes the setting, and follows Daisy back to the table, although it takes him a moment before he manages to sit down.

She sits too, and sets her hand on the table for him to hold if he wants to.

"How things were for you before really wasn't okay, and this is one of the ways it wasn't - it's important to be able to read; there are a lot of things you can't do if you can't. And it would be wrong for us not to let you learn that, just the same way it was wrong for them not to let you. Okay?"

He looks down at his hands as he listens to her - and after a moment, one hand sort-of-sneaks over to not-quite touch hers.

"I- as you-" he stops, thinks. Still doesn't understand entirely why that's the case but... "Okay," he agrees quietly.