Completed [Ayatah] A Certain Slant of Light

[Philomena]

Minnie stroked the book gently, the tenderness of her fingers almost matronly, now. She looked, then at the girl, her eyes soft, the eyes a lover offers to others when her love has left her feeling fulfilled. There is a sadness in them too, but for now, it is... deeper down. Not on the surface.

"I... not exactly. It has been portrayed - but it is the only major piece of Semhu that has no standard repertoire choreography. There are some popular ones, but they differ wildly, and there are a thousand individual variations, a thousand-thousand. There is a saying, among the Eypharians, it does not, I believe, translate perfectly, but it roughly goes to 'Everyone dances their own Two Sisters.' It comes from this play, and translates, idiomatically, more or less too, 'Well, we're all welcome to our own wrong opinions.'" she chuckled, at this. Then shut the book, gently.

"You are a dancer, are you not? I have heard you dance at the docks, sometimes."

[Ayatah]

” There is a saying, among the Eyharians, it does not, I believe, translate perfectly, but it roughly goes to 'Everyone dances their own Two Sisters.' It comes from this play, and translates, idiomatically, more or less too, 'Well, we're all welcome to our own wrong opinions.”

Ayatah could not help but chuckle at the saying. She agreed with the rough translation as well; a person was free to his or her own opinion, but to someone else, that first individual’s beliefs were possibly as far from correct. ”Their words are true,” she said between airy laughs. ”Perhaps there is more humility to the Eypharians after all.”


"You are a dancer, are you not? I have heard you dance at the docks, sometimes."

She nodded, ”Yes, I do. Sometimes.” Dancing was such a large part of the Myrian culture that it would have felt unnatural for Ayatah to not reherse the steps she had leant since she was a girl. And of course, it was a favourite hobby of hers. ”Maybe one day I will learn Semhu as well - or at least try it.”

|| Ayatah's speech || Ayatah's thoughts || Others' speech ||

[Philomena]

The old woman smiled, and chuckled gently, shutting the book now and slipping it on the shelf as gently as a mother putting her child to crib, "Well. Humility... is not a word one generally applies to the Eypharians, I suppose. But then, that sort of generalization, perhaps gets back into our conversation from earlier."

She turned now, shutting the case, her exhausted face smiling with the same sort of gentleness, slightly condescending, but very kind, on the Myrian girl beside her. Perhaps it was just the fading reflection of the feeling she had toward the books. Perhaps it was just a 'professorial face.' Perhaps it was the little kinships between street and jungle she had referred to earlier, "After all, child, many of my colleagues would, perhaps, be upset to know I slipped a Myrian in to look, ungarded, at books worth..." she chuckled, "... oh, many times anything either you or I own. That is after all, why I brought you, I think. I think... you see, those years ago, when I was brought up here, perhaps... well it is arrogant to say so, maybe, but you and I, we will keep it our secret, hmm? Well, perhaps, I think, that man saw some little spark of respect, and combined this with my... well, my nature as an outsider. Outsiders, like you and I, we see something, sometimes, that insiders do not. An Eypharian will look at those marks, and think only in the milieu they have been taught - the steps of proper Semhu. What if the author was a genius? What if the steps are new? Are unexpected? Something, perhaps, a fire dancer might recognize more easily than a Semhuiste? Who knows?"

She smiled, then, and nodded, "But. Not today. Today, you begin to learn. You won't be coming up here, now, just as I didn't, not for many years after that first visit. But you are a clever girl, cleverer, perhaps, than we snobby little Zeltivans would admit. Someday, perhaps, you will find your way back up here, and perhaps, you will change the world. Just a little bit, anyway."

[Limey]

Philomena Skill and Lore Rewards Skills Lore Observation 5 The Duties Of A Tutor Investigation 3 Being Properly Contrite (If Not Coherent) Teaching 5 Ayatah: Daughter Of... A Scholar?! Philosophy 4 First Love In Literature Rhetoric 3 The Flaws And Strengths Of Identity The Evils Of Generalizations Ayatah: Fearing Her Place (Or Lack Of It) Ayatah: A Curious Myrian Strengths And Weaknesses: Often A Matter Of Perception Ayatah Skill and Lore Rewards Skills Lore Rhetoric 3 Doctor Lefting: Smart But Garbled Observation 5 Myrians In Literature: Not Exactly Flattering Teaching 2 Doctor Lefting: A Pure Passion For Books Philosophy 2 Myrians: Not Ones For Reading, But There Are Exceptions... Investigation 2 Race: A Funny Thing (Just Not Ha-Ha Funny) Doctor Lefting: Perceptive And Rambling Lore: Semhu, Eypharian theatre? Senhu: As Much Dance As It Is Song (Even If It Is Insulting) Lore: Eypharian Language, Condensed And Fluid Shared Lore: Common Ground In Literature Lore: Marilyn Dorset, Mistress Of The Tomes Lore: Eyris, Gnora and Qalaya, The Stone Guardians The Similarities Between Street And Jungle Venerable Tomes: Reeking Of Age, Dust And Wisdom Lore: Matsuki, The Rain Bringer Eypharians: Disdaining Everyone Equally Lore: Epyharian Saying, 'Everyone dances their own Two Sisters.' Changing The Words (Or Just A Little Bit) Additional Notes : Well, this was very impressive, ladies. It took a while to really get going into the teaching, discussion and exchanging of ideas, but setting the scene was thorough. Especially from you, Philly. Very nice work, and the old lady at the beginning reminded my of a Pratchett character, ha! The philosophy and teaching covered was impressive, and very interesting to me. I actually laughed at the plot of that Epyharian farce, and the passion Philly put into her love of books (and Ayatah's boundless questions and shifting perception of her other people) were a joy to read. Any questions or queries, please PM me.