08-13-2013, 10:52 AM
The aborted chastisement washed over her like water, though she did look at him curiously; more in puzzlement at what he had been about to say than the fact she had clearly done something wrong. I must not - what? She waited for Jon to explain, but he didn’t. Instead he shook off whatever bothered him, and she accepted the reversion of topic back to what she’d asked – though her enthusiasm seemed better contained now, and her hand finally withdrew. Danger. He had spoken of danger, before, and maybe she had--? The dots didn’t quite connect, but she fed off his serious energy and didn’t press the issue; just internalised the lesson of caution, even if she wasn’t completely sure what that meant.
The idea of others intrigued her; he’d spoken already of his people, and now he gave them a name that elaborated a helpful context. She’d not even tried to place Jon’s distinctive features, but the words Native American resonated understanding to the forefront of her mind - like a stone plucked from a riverbed. Once pointed out, or held directly in front of her, memory stirred so that she was not completely vague. She was pleased with the suddenness of that discovery, and it probably showed in her expression; the minute widening of her eyes, the height of her brows. How long it would last, she couldn’t say, but right now, in this second, she actually understood.
She’d seen others here from time to time, but – insofar as she could remember, at least – not like Jon. Had she? Her thoughts stuttered uncertainly, but nothing broke the surface. She was not Native American. She knew that. And she had no legacy with which to explain her presence here, no answers she could offer to the questions he must have. She'd never been interested in unravelling the mystery herself - there had never seemed any point; she came, she left, and eventually she returned. Now was different, though. Now it felt like something of an adventure.
"Now, you mean? Is that possible?" Eagerness had returned, and though his smile was somewhat reticent, she beamed as though she'd known him all her life rather than all of five minutes.
The idea of others intrigued her; he’d spoken already of his people, and now he gave them a name that elaborated a helpful context. She’d not even tried to place Jon’s distinctive features, but the words Native American resonated understanding to the forefront of her mind - like a stone plucked from a riverbed. Once pointed out, or held directly in front of her, memory stirred so that she was not completely vague. She was pleased with the suddenness of that discovery, and it probably showed in her expression; the minute widening of her eyes, the height of her brows. How long it would last, she couldn’t say, but right now, in this second, she actually understood.
She’d seen others here from time to time, but – insofar as she could remember, at least – not like Jon. Had she? Her thoughts stuttered uncertainly, but nothing broke the surface. She was not Native American. She knew that. And she had no legacy with which to explain her presence here, no answers she could offer to the questions he must have. She'd never been interested in unravelling the mystery herself - there had never seemed any point; she came, she left, and eventually she returned. Now was different, though. Now it felt like something of an adventure.
"Now, you mean? Is that possible?" Eagerness had returned, and though his smile was somewhat reticent, she beamed as though she'd known him all her life rather than all of five minutes.
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