He shrugs a little. "I- never. Seen any before? Not really? Don't...understand it?"

"Oh. Well. It's just pretty, mostly, there's not much to understand."

"Oh," he blinks down at the table. "That simple?"

"Some of it is more complicated. But even the things that are, you can usually enjoy that way. It's like poetry - you can just feel it, but if you pay attention, there's usually a little more than that."

"Oh," he says again. "And Pradnakt makes it?"

"Mmhmm. Well, and I do calligraphy - really fancy writing - and we have a little of that up, too, and a few souvenirs. But everything else is hers, yes."

He looks impressed at that, but doesn't seem to have anything else to say.

"You can learn, if you want. Both of you."

He looks thoughtful, and then shakes his head slightly. It's not quite refusal, more just something to do with his head that in some way acknowledges the statement.

"I want to try it. How?"

    "Dusk will be able to help more than I can. Do you know what you want to do?"

"I like the big metal things. Not the statues, the ones on the cliffs."

    Daisy nods. "She can show you how to do those, they aren't too hard."

Pradnakt comes in, then, and gives Nova's shoulder a squeeze as she rounds the table to sit beside Daisy. "Show who how to do what?"

    "Nine wants to learn to do metal reliefs."

"Oh, nice choice. Did you have an idea for one, or just in general?"

    "I liked the one with the pitting, but with... more colors, maybe?"

"The one southwest of here, about half a mile, on the cliff with the really good banding?" He nods, and she continues. "That would be neat, yeah. That might not be a good first project, though; depends on what kind of colors you want."

    "Oh." Disappointment.

"You can still do it, it just needs some complicated chemistry. If you want to take the time to learn it instead of getting started with the art part, I'm not going to stop you."

   He perks up again. "Oh. Thank you."

She rolls her eyes, good-naturedly. "Nine, the only thing I'd ever stop you from doing is hurting us," she nods at Nova and Daisy. "You don't have to thank me for that."

    He hums thoughtfully. "Well. Still."

Nova is watching the entire exchange thoughtfully. He manages to fold his knees up to his chest without dislodging Nine's arm. (There's the still present confusion at being included in anything remotely protective, but with that there's also a warm feeling that goes along with it.)

"C'n I watch?" he asks quietly. He's not sure he wants to do (doesn't want to mess up), but he'd like to see Nine doing this he thinks. Or Pradnakt. Or both.

Pradnakt looks to Nine, who pauses, as usual, before speaking, but then sounds a little taken aback. "Of course, sir."

"- Nine, sweetheart, don't call him that, okay? He doesn't want you to be a servant to him; people who know you're a person usually won't."

This doesn't exactly help his equilibrium. "Oh. Uh. All right, s-"

Nova goes still, and manages to draw in on himself without really moving. "I- wh-whatever's...easiest for you?" he says to Nine. "But- I- m'not-" He makes a vague gesture, trying to get across 'a sir' or 'better than you' or probably both.

"No, if you don't want me to, I won't," he rumbles thoughtfully.

He relaxes a little. "Thank you," he murmurs.

"You're welcome."

"Is there anything else like that?"

"Not especially. There's lots of little social things you'll want to pick up, though. I don't know if any have been bothering him - Nova?"

He thinks for a second and then shakes his head. "Don't- know enough about social things?" he admits quietly.

She nods, "fair enough. Good enough for you, Nine?"

    He's silent, thoughtful, for a minute, and then looks down at Nova. "Will you tell me, if I do something that bothers you?"

He twists his fingers together. "'Ll try?" he says.

"Please? I can't stop if I don't know to."

He looks to Pradnakt for help, hoping she can explain better than he can. It's not that he won't try, it's that he knows, at least somewhat, that he'll forget, and just accept things bothering him. He's still not used to being able to say anything about this kind of thing.