[OPEN]

[slipshot]

WHO: Gavin, Peter, and OPEN~
WHAT: Peter is trying to teach Gavin to read, and Gavin is getting distracted by literally everything, and everyone.
WHEN: A few times, as the lessons are semi-regular, in the days following the wake.
WHERE: in the weird little library in the basement
NOTES: Ridiculous hijinks



He was doing his best. He really was. But Gavin had the attention span of a goldfish, and trying to sit still for long periods focusing on something he found difficult was worse.

He'd never really figured out how to read. Every time he tried the runes would seem to move around on their own, or flip over, and it was extremely frustrating. Peter, however, was absolutely determined that Gavin should learn to read properly and stop defacing the community bulletin boards with his scribbled drawings.

They'd managed to scramble a few books together for the purpose, and some sheets of parchment, and Gavin was working on drawing a surprisingly well rendered butt as Peter was pulling out the next text to start with.

As soon as Gavin happened to see anyone wandering by, he called out and waved them over.

Comments

[cameasarat]

[For Gavin]

"That isn't-"

Oh dear, Maker. It was like trying instruct Sirius. A Sirius that actually didn't understand the material, rather than one acting out because he could learn it all and more on his own time. As he looked down at the latest inappropriate drawing, he couldn't help a sudden, sharp pang of sympathy for the senior enchanters the four of them had so delighted in tormenting not so long ago. A feeling, considering how that had all ended, he was quick so squish down.

He dropped the newest book of interest on the desk with a solid thud, a few days of cleaning ensuring that not a single bit of dust was disturbed by the action this time.

"This isn't how people communicate, Gavin."


OTA visiting

"Ten more minutes?"

Please, kind visitor. Let him get his friend through one sentence. Just one. Or he knows he'll end up translating everything Gavin posts to the messenger boards from now on.

[slipshot]

Gavin sat bolt upright as the book slammed down on the desk, which meant that the butt now had a sharp slash of ink right through one cheek. Oops. He gave Peter a sheepish look.

"Sorry," He said, for probably the fiftieth time. "It makes a lot more sense than the runes, though." He tried to write down the runes for "BUTT", but got "BULL" instead. He sighed and crossed it out. "If I draw it then it makes sense to everyone."

[cameasarat]

"Simple ideas. But you've got more than that."

Peter had full faith Gavin had more than that, in the way that teenagers know that all teens are by far more brilliant than the adults around them. Felt things more, were just deeper. Gavin just needed to learn how to express it in words, too.

This book, at least, did involve pictures. So the story of the hero and the dragon could be guessed as well as read. Maybe that would help.

"Here."

[slipshot]

"Sure, but that's when you go and find the person you want to talk to and talk to them."

He took the book he was offered though, and the pictures did help - he looked down to study them more closely.

"That's why I learned to tell stories, you know. I mean - our storyteller would argue that I'm awful at it, but he doesn't think that dragons should randomly appear in them, so obviously he's wrong."

[cameasarat]

"That isn't-" Peter can only shake his head for a moment. "What happens when they're too far away? Didn't you ever want towrite home when you were gone?"

It's a desperate grasp, particularly for Peter, who received his obligatory annual letter from his parents and that was all. But some people had closer ties, some actually wanted to remain in touch no matter the distance.

[slipshot]

The smile slipped from Gavin's lips then - faltering. "... I uh... No, I never did. Not until I came here, anyway. I sent a few notes back, once I joined the inquisition. One of the chantry sisters helped me." There was something tense in his voice, and when he looked back up at Peter, the smile that had replaced the old one didn't reach his eyes.

"It's alright. They'd rather not hear from me, all things considered, I think. Other than my clan, who would I even write to?"

[cameasarat]

"You can write to me when you start running off doing...things."

Things. Like fighting demons and other items Peter is going to try to generally avoid., but he has the feeling Gavin will be embracing.

"Not that my friends have the best record in that- still haven't heard a word from some people. But that's because they're difficult. Not 'cause they can't. I can't do anything about the first part."

Unlike the second one. Which he underscores but pushing the book even closer to Gavin. He can do this. Maybe. Possibly.

He can try.

[slipshot]

Gavin looked a little surprised for a minute, but then a smile crossed his face that wasn't teasing at all - just warm honesty.

"You want me to write you when I'm travelling?" He asked, and then laughed, happily, looking down at the book being pushed towards him. "Well, I can't promise I'd be any better than them, but I can try, if you like."

He picked up the book and took a breath. "Alright. Where were we?"