(Untitled)

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary's studying languages tonight, which means there's a lot of muttered German coming from a table in the corner.

It's an unfortunate fact that no matter how often she repeats a sentence, or how correct her grammer is, her accent stubbornly fails to conform itself to 'native German speaker' and continues to quite clearly convey 'British

Comments

[morethanprops]

Moist walks by her and stops to listen, she sounds like she could almost be speaking Uberwaldian.

Since he's been having a relaxed day, he's still only in part of his best suit, the jacket is back in his inn room, but the waistcoat and pants are of fine quality.

[mmquitecontrary]

For a girl of the upper class, Mary actually doesn't know nearly as much as she should about how to tell a fine cut or expensive fabric from a poor one; she's lucky she has someone else buying her clothes.

She does, however, notice when people are paying attention to her; after a moment, she looks up sharply.

"Yes?"

[morethanprops]

"What language are you working on?"

Some of the words sound almost the same as what he grew up speaking and its disconcerting.

She also looks like she should be attending one of the academies in Quirm. He smiles and bows at her sharp look.

[mmquitecontrary]

"I am studying German," Mary announces, and closes the book (holding her place with one finger) to display the words prominently featured on the cover: German Grammar and Composition.

"Are you a speaker?"

[a1enzo]

"Hey, Mary!"

Not that Enzo isn't pleased to see her, but his tone may suggest he's got something on his mind. All his greetings have sounded like that, lately.

[mmquitecontrary]

Sadly, Mary is not particularly skilled at reading people at the best of times - so she takes Enzo's greeting at face value, looking up and raising her left hand in a greeting of her own. (The right holds her place in the book.)

[a1enzo]

"What's processing?"

He'll get to it.

[mmquitecontrary]

"Conjugating, in fact," Mary says, rather misunderstanding.

"I am practicing my German - I am going over verbs."

[notnathaniel]

"German," a familiar boy clearly identifies, "that's what you're trying to speak, isn't it?"

He looks to be going over some of his own work files at the table next to hers.

John had been listening in for the past little while, not entirely surprised that he had gone unnoticed this whole time; and being terribly busy with paperwork (and being a little antisocial), preferred to remain so.

But then he'd allowed himself a break, complete with a cup of tea.

So, there's an attempt at being amiable.

[mmquitecontrary]

"Yes," Mary answers, glancing over at John's pile of files in return.

She raises an eyebrow. "Do you speak it?"

If he does, perhaps she can rope him into practicing with her - not, of course, that she intends to let him know that she needs the practice. Dignity must be preserved.

[notnathaniel]

"Some," he admits a little begrudgingly.

The fact that he isn't fluent in it feels, to him, like a bit of a weakness. (Even if that's completely ridiculous. He knows plenty of other more relevant languages instead.)

He clears his throat.

"German hasn't been terribly important to learn in my world."

Mostly because they're a small, almost insignificant nation right now.

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary brightens almost immediately, at this confession. This means she gets to retain her German-language superiority! Excellent.

"It is about to become extremely important in mine," she tells him. "We are going to be at war with Germany quite soon."

The corollary, Mary feels, is self-evident. One ought to know one's enemy.

[ginsu_master]

Leo sets a teapot and two cups down on the table.

"I thought you had decided you were going to study medicine," he comments conversationally, sits down, and pours them both a cup of tea.

[mmquitecontrary]

"That does not mean it is any less important to study languages," Mary answers, and carefully inserts a piece of note paper to mark her place in the book before reaching for her tea.

"Besides, this is something I know I can make progress on by myself - whereas I must consider the best way to go about learning medicine that is useful, not only what doctors know in my time."

The way she says 'doctors' does not imply a great respect for the profession.

[ginsu_master]

Leo lifts an eyebrow. "You don't like doctors. Nor seem to think too highly of them. Why would you want to be one, then?"

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary blinks at him, mildly startled - isn't the answer obvious?

"To be better than them."