hungerstrike (hungerstrike) wrote,
@ 2013-02-05 23:09:00

Flashback: Age "7"
She hadn't stopped trying.

In two years, Iota Savage had gotten the hang of being able to identify her letters and numbers. Well, most letters. And a lot of numbers. But putting them together... putting them together was difficult. Doing so in a new language -- or rather, two new languages, because she'd picked up a lot from Mae around the house, and Momma had encouraged that -- was very difficult.

But she was trying!

And so she was carefully labelling her picture of Everybody. Momma. Mae. Mee. Uncel Baen. Tomass. Karel N. She crayoned diligently.

(Post a new comment)

	anti_venom 2013-02-06 03:13 am UTC (link)
	Tomas is working out nearby. Noting the intense effort being put into the picture, or whatever it was, he stops the push ups, coming up behind Iota to study it. "Very good. A few letters out of place, but very good, Hermanita." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-06 03:19 am UTC (link)
	She looks up and beams. "Thank you, Tomas! How are you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-06 03:32 am UTC (link)
	He gestures to his name, still smiling. "Spelled with only one 'S', but otherwise quite good. You've been working hard." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-06 03:37 am UTC (link)
	"Oh! Thank you! I thought they came in pairs!" One of the beginning books was explaining the difference between glass and grass. And now, she knows yet another nuance -- yay! Iota carefully crayons out the second S. "Thank you!" she says yet again. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-06 03:39 am UTC (link)
	"Sometimes they do. English is an evil language. It likes to be very sneaky." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-06 03:50 am UTC (link)
	She nods earnestly. "I appreciate the help. Is English the most sneaky?" It was sneakier than Portuguese, but she knew Tomas and Carolyn were already studying all kinds of other things. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-06 04:11 am UTC (link)
	"Si." he agrees, raising his hands up into fake 'monster claws'. "You see, Hermanita, English likes to watch many other languages gather and mingle, and then follow them into dark alleys and..." He leaps towards her to tickle her. "Pounces them to steal their grammar!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-06 04:19 am UTC (link)
	Iota listens with rapt, gleeful attention to this 'scary story' until she's pounced, at which point she shrieks with laughter and struggles playfully. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-06 04:22 am UTC (link)
	He's merciless for several seconds, keeping her shrieking and writhing, before he finally lets up enough that she could escape if, and only if, she still has the presence of mind to figure out the proper escape route. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-06 04:33 am UTC (link)
	This whole 'phonics' thing may be coming slow, but even gasping for air, her instincts aren't bad as she starts to scramble. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-06 04:46 am UTC (link)
	"Bueno, Hermanita. Very good." he says, as she slips away from him. "A good escape, good paying attention under duress. Now, you are better equipped to learn more English!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 01:03 am UTC (link)
	"English is a bastard language," Carolyn said. "It takes from other languages and doesn't follow its own rules." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 01:05 am UTC (link)
	Iota smiles and nods earnestly. "Hello, Carolyn!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 01:08 am UTC (link)
	"Si, that's what I was just telling her. She did a very good job escaping its clutches and not having her grammar stolen." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 01:09 am UTC (link)
	Iota's just going to giggle forever. She's fallen into the practice easily enough ever since she discovered it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 01:16 am UTC (link)
	"Hello, Iota." Carolyn just rolled her eyes at her brother. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 01:18 am UTC (link)
	"Buenos dias, Carolyn. You should look at her picture. I believe she thinks so much of you that she couldn't fit all of the awesome in just one word." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 01:23 am UTC (link)
	Iota grinned and showed her the picture, then blinked. "There's only one word?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 01:25 am UTC (link)
	Carolyn looked at the picture. "Huh. I may use that if I ever need an alias." She probably would one day. It was just the nature of their parents' lives. "Yes. My name is one word, but I like yours." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 01:28 am UTC (link)
	"I don't think Karel N is that much of an alias, but maybe. But here, try this..." he picks up a green crayon, writing Carolyn's name correctly. "This is how its spelled, and its the same color as that python she liked so much at the zoo." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 01:44 am UTC (link)
	Iota paid very close attention to them both and nodded. "Thank you!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 01:48 am UTC (link)
	"I will have my own python one day," she said confidently. "I still like Karel N better." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 01:53 am UTC (link)
	"I wouldn't doubt it. For now, you will have to settle for our Hermanita here drawing you a snake to go with your picture." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 01:54 am UTC (link)
	Iota, shockingly, thinks this is a wonderful idea. Really, try to find an idea she won't think this of. "I can do that!" and she'll set to work. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 01:58 am UTC (link)
	"Mother expects us in thirty minutes for training," Carolyn told her brother. "Iota is welcome to join." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 02:04 am UTC (link)
	"Good." he agrees quickly. "I was training, but working with mother is harder. Better way to learn than just working out. Finish your snake and we can go, Hermanita. I want to see what she has set up today." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

hungerstrike
2013-02-07 02:13 am UTC (link)

Iota will happily nod as she finishes crayoning in a curled snake next to Carolyn. "I'll come. Thank you!"

But there was one thing about training, she remembered. "Mae says I have to be very careful about training because I'm '...learning at my own pace.'"

It was possible that Scandal Savage had nightmares about Iota's dealing with the kind of training scenarios she had at a not-too-dissimilar age. But she certainly wouldn't tell Iota that.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 04:51 pm UTC (link)
	"Nothing to worry about," Carolyn said. "We won't push you and we'll fight to your level." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

anti_venom
2013-02-07 05:14 pm UTC (link)

Tomas frowns, stepping back to try and not make it too obvious. What was the point of training if one wasn't constantly pushing themselves?

His philosophy, even early, had left him with a lot of unnecessary muscle cramps and bruises - but he took it all seriously, pushing to learn everything as fast as his parents would teach him. He might be more relaxed a lot of the time, but he took training deadly serious.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 05:49 pm UTC (link)
	The stepping back is enough that Iota misses seeing it enough to process. So no sudden onrush of less-happy-Iota at disappointing Tomas or holding them back. "Okay. Thanks!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 06:02 pm UTC (link)
	Carolyn was quite aware of her brother's thoughts by his action and the way he held his body. "She is not advanced as us. It is better to train her slowly than have her hurt." Carolyn said to her brother without uttering a single word. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 06:05 pm UTC (link)
	His stance shifts, body moving in subtle gestures. The frown isn't as intense, nothing to give him away - but his sister knows him plenty well enough. "Pain is one of the best teachers. And reminds us we are still alive." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 06:16 pm UTC (link)
	Being younger, less talented and educated in such things, and with the contrast to the armaghetto making it practically impossible to notice mild negative reactions, Iota remains oblivious. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 06:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes, but she is a child compared to us when it comes to fighting. Even our parents did not push us until we broke." "Maybe when we're done training, we can go out to eat. There are many things to try." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 06:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Sometimes people need to be tested to the breaking point. If they break, rebuild stronger." He's definitely an adherent of his father's stories that way. And it shows in his regimen, which is just getting worse with age. "Good idea. Indian?" His favorite. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 06:38 pm UTC (link)
	"That sounds perfect! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 06:40 pm UTC (link)
	"Some do not rebuild." Carolyn rolled her eyes. "Fine. I was hoping for Thai." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 06:45 pm UTC (link)
	"Those strong enough will always find a way. Our little sister has a fire in her spirit, or she would not have survived the pits with all this cheerfulness there." "Don't look at me like that, Hermana... very well, Thai this time. Indian next time." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 06:50 pm UTC (link)
	Iota has the Best Idea Ever. "Can we get takeout and have both at the same time? Please?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 06:54 pm UTC (link)
	"It's two against one. Indian is fine if we must settle on one." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 06:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes, but you frown and roll your eyes too much. You should smile more, and Phad Khing makes you happy. I think we could do both." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 07:02 pm UTC (link)
	"Yay!" Hugs for everyone. No, you don't get a choice; she's fast. Sorry. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 07:14 pm UTC (link)
	Carolyn just patiently accepted the hug. She wasn't a hugging type of person herself, but she didn't react negatively when people, more like Iota, hugged her. "Let's go. Mother is waiting." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	anti_venom 2013-02-07 07:23 pm UTC (link)
	Excellent, training time! Tomas returns the hug, about the time Carolyn is speaking, and as such, ends up more or less carrying Iota the first few steps towards the training room. Training was the best part of every day. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hungerstrike 2013-02-07 07:39 pm UTC (link)
	And Iota, unsurprisingly, is perfectly happy with this. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	manasa 2013-02-07 08:04 pm UTC (link)
	Carolyn was also happy about training. It was always good to beat things up. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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