So you made this to...remember that?

And to practice with. It looks better at night, but the whole thing will light up if I throw a little bolt at it.

That sounds very pretty, and Rhoda could understand it being a good focus. ...It would... she agrees, looking a little disappointed by that fact.

We can come back.

Pleased grin, and darting back to give Pradnakt a hug. Thank you.

She reels back when she realises what she's just done. At least partially because it feels weird being the one to initiate contact like that. Partially because she's still scared of the consequences of acting like that.

I'm not going to hurt you, kiddo. If I didn't want to be touched I just wouldn't let you, but really, it's nice.

She takes a deep breath, reminds herself that Pradnakt is fast and could easily have avoided that hug. (And to cap that off, is reading her mind, so would've known her intention.)

She steps back towards her. Thank you, she repeats.

You're welcome. Hug?

Hug.

After a little while, Rhoda will think to ask: There's other art? She's doing the thing where she doesn't actually pull away again.

Mmhmm. Want to go see?

Mhmm.

Rhoda steps back some, and tilts her head.

And off they go. The next piece is built on a low cliff face; a sheet of metal has been cut apart and the pieces attached to the stone as if stopped mid-explosion, and then left to rust, the stains streaking orange down the yellow stone.

Ooh. She just looks at this one for a little while, before turning to Pradnakt to signal she's ready to move on.

She stops a little ways off from the next one, not sure if Rhoda will want to approach it; it's less abstract than the others, a whirl of metal that suggests an animal, predatory, stalking and menacing the viewer.

Oh, good idea. Rhoda is definitely intimidated by this one, even while still finding it breathtaking and fascinating. She sidles slightly closer to Pradnakt (it's stupid, the thing is clearly inanimate, but she still finds herself wanting the protection).

Yeah. She puts an arm protectively around her shoulder and waits for her to be ready to move on.

She leans into the offered comfort. After several minutes of watching the sculpture in half-breathless awe, she's ready to move.

The next thing they come to is a large open structure, covered somewhat sparsely with metal bits of unclear purpose. It looks climbable, maybe, but not like it's meant to be climbed, and not very much like art at all. I'm not sure you're ready for this one, and it's another one that's better in the dark, anyway. I can tell you about it, I guess?

Rhoda thinks about it, and then shakes her head slightly. Not if you don't think I'm...ready. She's curious, but she also doesn't want to lose the pleasant feeling she's been having (is that selfish? She shouldn't be selfish.).

Squeeze. It's not selfish. I want you to enjoy yourself.

She leans a little more against Pradnakt. Not now, then. She pauses. ...Move on?

Mmhmm. Walking. I'm glad you're doing better at saying no to stuff. A lot of this stuff is important to me, but it's hard stuff, and it's good to be able to show you without having to worry that you're going to push yourself to see it all at once.

I...want to know. But. Just. S'a lot. And... she half-shrugs. S'a lot.

Yeah. There's no rush.

Part of what I want you to see, though, is that there's no shame in having been through hard stuff. It doesn't mean you're weak; usually it means you're strong, to have made it through that. We have that in common, you and I. Fondness and a little bit of pride come through the emotional channel. We're resilient.