The Art Of War

[curiously_cora]

Since Coraline had found herself locked in that room again, she hadn't been able to sleep properly. She'd sleep but her dreams were filled with red claws and hungry button eyes and something waiting for her at the bottom of a deep well. When faced with that prospect every night you could see why a ten year old explorer would rather sit up than turn

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[beentodamascus]

Adam wasn't often letting Coraline out of his sight. He'd left the rec-room briefly, to make coffee, and stood in the doorway, sipping from the steaming mug as he listened to her talk to herself. He'd showered, and his shirt was still sticking across damp shoulders, his hair standing up in wet spikes.

"I read that when I was at Cambridge," he said. "I brought you some juice."

[curiously_cora]

"It's very interesting, the other one had pictures but I think I like this one best. Even if I don't understand all of it," Coraline said seriously, absentmindedly playing with the key around her neck. She'd worn a heavier one once made from cold black iron, this one didn't feel quite so much of a burden. Coraline moved the pile of books onto the floor so that Adam could sit down. "Thank you. Did you understand it?"

[beentodamascus]

"Most of it," he said, settling down on the cushion beside her, and handing her the juice. "Or, I pretended to, anyway." He craned his neck, to look down at the page.

"What don't you understand, sweetheart?"

[curiously_cora]

"I don't understand the bit about gratifying my spleen," Coraline said, looking at the passage about not putting troops into the field. She wasn't really sure what gratifying was to start with or why it had anything to do with her spleen. Her spleen didn't really want much of anything from Coraline. "I liked the bits about spies."

Coraline took the juice from him sipping it slowly.

[heartliketin]

Cain just leaned himself against the doorway, not saying a word as he listened to Coraline speak. It was a tried and true effort and one they'd used in the Resistance often, one he was proud to see Jeb had taken to, but it didn't mean he approved of it in girls like Coraline. So he didn't move, just kept quiet and leaning against the door. He wasn't wearing his hat and his shoulder hurt as it usually did, but was the slightest bit better.

[curiously_cora]

"He will win who knows when to fight and when not to-Cain!" Coraline exclaimed, putting the book down and running to her tall, cowboy saviour. Coraline hugged his middle almost fondly, giving him a tight and serious smile.

[heartliketin]

Cain managed his own tense smile as he hugged her, a little awkwardly. "Hey, kiddo," he greeted. "What're you reading that stuff for?" he asked, taking hold of her shoulders to give enough distance so he could look her in the eye.

[curiously_cora]

"In case the other mother comes," Coraline replied honestly, a serious look on her face. Her eyes were tired, she was tired but she didn't want to sleep yet even if she did feel safer in the bright light of the day. "If she does come then I should be prepared. So I'm reading books about war and strategy, I think I like the one with the big words best. I didn't like the one with pictures much."

[red_ponytail]

"Hey, Coraline," Bill greeted, dropping down onto the couch next to her. "What's that you're reading? I thought I heard something about warfare and crushing the enemy."

[curiously_cora]

"Hello husband-to-be," Coraline said seriously, as Bill sat down. Coraline smiled showing Bill her book to him. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. She much preferred it to the one with all the body parts. "The Art of War. I'm learning how to be stupid so the enemy underestimates me and I can crush her-them."

[red_ponytail]

Bill wished not for the first time that Ginny was there so he could ask her what to do about Coraline's apparent crush. It wasn't that it made him uncomfortable; he just didn't want to do anything to hurt her feelings. He made a mental note to speak to Tonks about it as he skimmed the book, one eyebrow raising. "Who is this enemy you're planning to be stupid for?" he asked.

[curiously_cora]

"The other mother," Coraline said, absent mindedly playing with the silver key around her neck. It was a much easier burden than the black iron key had been but it still hung heavy around her. "I woke up in the Mirror Room, it's where she puts children to kill them. So I'm learning how to be stupid and obedient so I can kill her. It's very good, it has a whole bit about spies."

[theonionknight]

Davos had been keeping half an eye out for Coraline ever since she'd told him about the Other Mother and he'd been meaning to hand over the knife he took from the kitchen to her for some time. He was still somewhat reluctant to give a weapon to a girl but the worried look in her eyes and scabbed over hands had convinced him that she needed protecting and with no men he could trust here this seemed the best way.

"Smart girl," he said with an approving smile when he overheard her words. "It's always best to take the foe by surprise."

[curiously_cora]

"It also said I should invest heavily in spies, and double agents if I can turn my enemies spies." Coraline said, though she was a little bit unsure on the last part. All of the other mother's people had been bad copies of Coraline's family and friends, none of them could be trusted not even as a double agent. "I took her by surprise once, I think I'll have to be much more sneaky about it this time though."

[theonionknight]

"Aye, the first thing you need to do is find out everything you can about her. Like you said act stupid and don't let on you're planning anything, people will tell you a lot if they don't think you're a threat. It's best not to move too soon or act by yourself, though." Davos paused briefly to look around him before continuing in a low earnest voice.

"I tried to kill a sorceress once. I thought I just needed to get close to her and rip her heart out but she could read the future in her flames. She knew what I was planning and I ended up alone in a dark cell. The next time I went up against her, I made sure to find out everything I could about her powers and gathered some good men to help me. Never act too hastily Coraline, even the best steel won't help you if you don't know what they're planning."

Davos thought it best that a young girl in danger was surrounded by good men she could trust and while he wouldn't voice the statement out loud he hoped she knew where to find them.

[curiously_cora]

"I'm the only one alive who knows anything about her, she killed the other children." Coraline said seriously, thinking about his words. Coraline knew a lot of good men, most of whom kept telling her to let them deal with the other mother. The book said she should treat her soldiers like family but that mean she'd be sending her family into danger and she really didn't want that. She could handle the other mother herself, she had done it before and won. "It's good advice though. No one thinks I'm a threat anyway, they all think I'm just a young kid."

Coraline wondered if the other mother knew what she planned for her. "Did you get her in the end?"

[skybot_snd]

The T-1000 didn't have a very positive experience with children. Even without bringing John Connor into the equation.

But the girl in the rec room was going through books that discussed military strategy, and talking about killing. It was definitely an area of familiarity for him. He decided it was worth another shot.

"Being a child is probably a sufficient diversion tactic. People don't generally expect to be attacked by children, at least not lethally," he informed the girl as he approached, stopping by the coach and offering curious tilt of the head.

[curiously_cora]

Coraline replied with her own curious head tilt. Not many Grown Ups liked to tell Coraline anything. Unless it was to do with bunnies and kittens and then they might tell her something.

"She's probably expecting it though, I threw a cat at her and I tricked her into a well." Coraline said, she had felt very sorry about throwing Cat at her but he had taken it well and she thought, forgiven her. "So I think I've lost the element of surprise there."

[skybot_snd]

"That's creative. I've never used a cat as a weapon," the T-1000 said appreciatively, even managing a flicker of a smile. "But if your target knows you, then it's already aware that you're an intelligent threat. Acting silly would accomplish nothing, unless you can somehow disguise yourself as well."

[curiously_cora]

"I don't think she views me as a threat," Coraline said seriously, though she wasn't really quite sure what the other mother thought of her. "She wants me to be her daughter, so maybe if I act like a good daughter then she might be fooled?"

Coraline looked at him like he was the fountain of all knowledge. "I'm Coraline by the way, Coraline Jones."