Tokyo Babylon shortfic
Title: The Proper Attitude
Series: Tokyo Babylon
Characters: Lady Sumeragi, Subaru
Rating: G
Genre: Gen
Word count: 337
Summary: A look at some of Lady Sumeragi's thoughts while she trains Subaru.
It was vitally important for the clan that her successor possessed the right mindset for the task ahead. Training was needed, and diligence, care. There had to be a proper appreciation of the history and role of the clan, of the dedication and precision that should never be lacking, and all of it had to be instilled with the required gravity.
She was very proud of her young grandson and his progress. Very proud indeed.
"Try that spell once more," she said. "I want to be certain that its success wasn't a fluke."
Subaru nodded, immediately assuming the correct hand position for the spell. "Yes, Obaachan." He was clearly tired, but his manners were still impeccable, and his concentration was fixed absolutely on the task at hand.
She couldn't find a single fault with his behaviour, and the way his onmyoujutsu power and skill had increased so quickly and constantly over time meant there was simply no comparison with the other youngsters who were being carefully trained by other members of the clan. They were oceans apart.
But she was missing something, she knew it. A feeling nagged at the back of her mind, and she wondered at how slack she had become, for her to let any matter touching the clan's future so closely slip through her fingers in this way.
So when Subaru finished his spell, his cheeks slightly flushed with the effort, there was a faint frown creasing Lady Sumeragi's brow, the smallest thing, and the curl of her lips tended downwards rather than up in a smile.
"I need to talk to you for a while longer," she said in her firm, authoritative voice, soft but clear. "You need to remember to work hard and to maintain the high standards of the clan..."
Subaru sat there obediently, drinking in her words with the focused attention that only made her prouder of him, but the niggling feeling didn't disappear. Next time, she resolved, she would take care to communicate her points with greater clarity.
Series: Tokyo Babylon
Characters: Lady Sumeragi, Subaru
Rating: G
Genre: Gen
Word count: 337
Summary: A look at some of Lady Sumeragi's thoughts while she trains Subaru.
It was vitally important for the clan that her successor possessed the right mindset for the task ahead. Training was needed, and diligence, care. There had to be a proper appreciation of the history and role of the clan, of the dedication and precision that should never be lacking, and all of it had to be instilled with the required gravity.
She was very proud of her young grandson and his progress. Very proud indeed.
"Try that spell once more," she said. "I want to be certain that its success wasn't a fluke."
Subaru nodded, immediately assuming the correct hand position for the spell. "Yes, Obaachan." He was clearly tired, but his manners were still impeccable, and his concentration was fixed absolutely on the task at hand.
She couldn't find a single fault with his behaviour, and the way his onmyoujutsu power and skill had increased so quickly and constantly over time meant there was simply no comparison with the other youngsters who were being carefully trained by other members of the clan. They were oceans apart.
But she was missing something, she knew it. A feeling nagged at the back of her mind, and she wondered at how slack she had become, for her to let any matter touching the clan's future so closely slip through her fingers in this way.
So when Subaru finished his spell, his cheeks slightly flushed with the effort, there was a faint frown creasing Lady Sumeragi's brow, the smallest thing, and the curl of her lips tended downwards rather than up in a smile.
"I need to talk to you for a while longer," she said in her firm, authoritative voice, soft but clear. "You need to remember to work hard and to maintain the high standards of the clan..."
Subaru sat there obediently, drinking in her words with the focused attention that only made her prouder of him, but the niggling feeling didn't disappear. Next time, she resolved, she would take care to communicate her points with greater clarity.