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Ranara and her little daughter Azabel move to Urtho's Tower when the latter can say six words ("up", "mama", "milk", "no", "now", and "please") and hasn't started to walk yet. Ranara sets up to teach little children to read, ones who don't have evident Gifts yet - Ranara herself has Mindspeech, is all, with about a classroom's worth of range. Azabel sits in on classes, worn on her mother's back or later plopped in a corner with toys or, when she's only four, plopped in a corner with a book, younger than the other kids in the class. When Azabel has in fact sat through her mother's curriculum she is turned somewhat loose, to walk very carefully up and down and around the Tower, exploring.
smol bell in urtho's tower
anticipating_night
She could ask if - no, if she has to ask every single time she considers touching him this will not work at all. Perhaps the Weird Hug Argument was a fluke or he's outgrown it or something. She scoots nearer and leans her head on his shoulder.
small-and-alone
Ma'ar holds very still for a moment, and then his breath sighs out, and he reaches across his lap with his other hand to replace the first hand and its accompanying arm, which he slips - very slowly and tentatively and waiting to see if she'll object - around her shoulders.
anticipating_night
Oh good, they are not having a weird fight at all. Instead they are having a snuggle. It's nice.
small-and-alone
It is nice! Ma'ar is content just to appreciate the niceness of snuggling for a minute or two.
"So, uh, what...now...?" he says uncertainly after a while.
small-and-alone
"Sure. We can do tonight." Ma'ar pauses, like he has something else to say but isn't sure enough of himself to say it.
small-and-alone
After a long hesitation: "Is - there something in particular that you want? Here? From me?"
anticipating_night
"I don't really know what I like in - relationships, yet. People... kiss, and go on dates, and plan stuff around each other, but I don't have all the detail from first principles. I think in good relationships people form really good models of each other so they can do stuff for each other without all the friction of asking which I guess I might be feeling the lack of right now but probably it can't be rushed."
small-and-alone
"That would be really neat. If I had that good a model of you. I...don't know if I can do that, but hopefully I can learn."
anticipating_night
"Yes, but I see clockwork, it's a lot of work to figure out what it all means! And I don't use it in random social situations!"
small-and-alone
"Mmm, that makes sense." Sigh. "It would be nice if understanding people was easier!"
anticipating_night
"If you want me to look at your gears in random social situations I can. If I remember, which I won't usually because I'm not in the habit."
small-and-alone
"Oh." He looks thoughtful. "I'd - like if you did, I think, if it'd help. I want you to understand me."