[IC Inbox -- Snowblind]

[heavensreader]

Is it worki - oh. Ahem. This is Kesara Freamon. Please leave your message here and I will call back on you as soon as I can.







Wait, is it still - argh, how do I ma-

Comments

[heavensreader]

No, I mean before.

[This out loud, as she gets a little impatient with the limitations of how she's chosen to communicate. She has enough limitations already that imposing more on herself is always trying. She catches herself quickly enough, and continues in the slow, complex business of writing.]

When(?) begin, no one has name. Now he tell(?). You know?

[She's not sure of all the words, but she thinks this explains it better. Her teacher is not the first to hide his name in Norfinbury.]

[advanced]

[Ah, he thinks he gets what she's trying to say. But having a fake name and completely trying to hide your identity are different, perhaps, Kain seems to have come clean now at least.]

I know.

Tell me about your name. What does it mean?

[heavensreader]

[This question briefly distracts her from her focus on finding out his true intentions. It's a question she's delighted to answer. The very first word she learned. The most precious treasure she has ever been given.

She sketches a tadpole and beams at him over it as she holds the paper up to the camera.]

Teacher gave me. Good name!

[She burbles on a little, knowing she can't tell the rest in writing but eager to tell it nonetheless.] He is a real Chinaman and very wise. He says to be named this way is very auspicious.

[advanced]

I told you to only respond in Chinese.

[No matter how endearing it is that she's so excited about her name, he isn't going to be easy on her. He's here for a purpose, though the itch at the back of his mind says he should cut this short now. He's talked too long, the admin might be tracking him.]

My teacher gave me this name, he is from China and a very wise man. He said to be named this way is very auspicious.

That's what you just said, learn how to write it for next time.

[heavensreader]

Yes, teacher.

[The written words come with a mumbled echo as she reads them out in a shamefaced tone. Kesara is duly scolded. Even when unsure of her teacher, she has the instincts - and pride - of a model student.

She needs to mollify him further, she thinks, and also stop him going off. And maybe she can get another nugget of information if she does it right.]

Teacher is good. He teach before?

[advanced]

[He thought she would take the hint that the lesson is over, but she's tricksy. He's not surprised any more, she's been like this since they first spoke, but it does set him on the defensive. Questions about himself always do.]

Yes.

[Not Chinese, but he helped teach the others in the Winter Soldier project, so he can't technically say no.]

You have your homework. I'll talk to you again soon.