tushanshu_logs | Patience and grace

His suite is still furnished much as it had been when he first arrived, only a worktable near the console on the first floor being the largest and most obvious addition; but there are still other, smaller touches that slowly begun to fill the living area of the first floor. Small baubles from the last landfall are carefully organized on a shelf in the sitting area. A small wooden chest rests below it. A charcoal pencil and a notebook filled with written practiced English at a desk.

And, as ever when he is there, the console playing the audio and video from the network at a low, but still audible volume, providing an anchor for focus.

A few minutes prior to the official designated time, Midii's soft knock could be near coming from the main doorway.

There was a relaxed demeanor about her these days. Such a far cry from the shy, paranoid, almost fearful child that had first shown up in Keelai, that it was almost like a different girl. At a glance, at least, because underneath, she was still very much the same. Same cautiousness in her gaze when she came across a new person. Same hesitation in her step as she wandered the streets. Same devotion to learning everything and anything she could.

Just...more comfortable.

The fact that she was willing to meet Jor-El at his suite was evidence of that. She did not fully trust the man as much as some, but he was high on her list of people she respected. A scholar. Smart. Well educated. Midii knew she could learn a lot from him, which was why--even with Damian and Bean already helping her--she continued to insist upon his guidance in her regular English lessons.

She would even greet him with a faint smile when he eventually did open the door for her.

"Midii. Please, come in." It was equally beneficial, even as he taught her progressively more advanced encryptions and what was needed (and beyond that) of his own language for her to understand the methodology.

She was intelligent, and interested in learning. It was something he was more than willing to encourage. While there was more to teach her to bring her to a standard acceptable to what would be found on Krypton for someone her age, it had not proven to be a hindrance so far.

"I hope you are doing well." He had noticed the smile- slight as it was, it was still present, and more in line with what he was accustomed to- but there were always a multitude of possible reasons.

Her notes for each subject were separated by small tabs in her notebook. With the main focus on encryptions--she longed for the day she would be able to create her own, and not have to resort to using those others provided for her.

"I am. Thank you." Not a lie, evident by the ease in her step as she entered the room. Her eyes immediately scanned the area, taking in her surroundings. Habit. She liked knowing as much about where she was as who she was with. "All my studies are going really well, and Riva finally stopped breaking through walls whenever she wants to go out."

Riva. Her turtle baby. Well, co-parented.

Edited (gdi autocorrect) 2014-01-31 05:38 (UTC)

"I'm pleased to hear that, and of the fact she now understands the different purposes of walls and doors." Ensuring that he did not accidentally destroy anything, much less doors or walls, when he had first developed strength far beyond that of a normal Kryptonian had been difficult. A strong being without understanding the need for walls... While he was interested in seeing the recently hatched turtles, he was comforted by the fact that none had visited this building as of yet. The ground floor alone had enough delicate tools present for it to go poorly.

"Is there any damage to your suite because of her?"

She shook her head, finding an adequate spot to put down her things.

"No. My quarters are small. There's barely room for her to move around, so when it's my turn to watch her, we spend most of out time walking around the city."

Just as well, for Midii's belongings and the structural integrity of the building her suite is in.

"It must be an interesting learning experience for both of you." For who it is more, the turtle hatching or young girl, it is hard to suppose.

"I can honestly say that I've never experienced anything before it in my life."

Playing the role of Turtle Mother was a strange cross between being the older sister to a (significantly larger) baby brother, and a child with a brand new pet. Turtles were different from humans to start, but a telepathic, giant turtle capable of communicating with her? Even if only emotionally?

It was amazing. Scary. New. Wonderful. And, ultimately, fascinating to her.

"I don't think any of us here have."

Being here has been an eye-opening experience for him; while he was among the more progressive on Krypton- if not the most, in many aspects- by the standards of many here he found he was hardly anything approaching it.

"Have you communicated with any of the Turtles yet?"

"No, I have not." It is something he is curious about, but hasn't yet looked into.

"Would you like to?"

Something like introducing baby Riva to another individual--and one she trusted--wasn't something she required immediate permission from her fellow Turtle parents. It would be simple to arrange, and possibly beneficial to all parties involved. Riva would get practice in meeting more learned acquaintances. Jor-El would gain a new experience. Midii could witness the Turtle's effects on another individual.

"The way she speaks...actually, I'm not sure I can call it speaking. Not yet. Not like Asti. It's more like she...projects what she's feeling. I don't even have to read her body language to know. Not that I'm sure I could."

Turtles were too physically different from humans (or humanoids) for her to be able to recognize the usual signs and cues.

"That sounds like it's an empathic connection of some kind. I wonder if it will change with time." Intrigue is immediately apparent in his voice, his curiosity where the young turtles are involved turned into a full spark of a need to learn, with the option now available and offered to him.

"Yes, I would."

She knew the word empathic, but even then, it was difficult to compare the textbook definition to the actual experience.

"It's my turn to watch her tonight. Usually, we got for a walk in the park. You're welcome to come along, then."

"I think I'll join you, then." He can hardly deny the offer when he expressed interested in it in the first place. "Thank you."

He turns his attention to one of the reasons she is here. "How is your understanding of encryptions progressing?"

Even though it was the main purpose of their lessons, Midii was still very careful how she explained herself to Jor-El. Secrets were fewer and fewer kept the longer she spent in Keelai, but the paranoia of the ones she had left still had a hold on her.

"I can understand up to 60% on my own now."

It was not a lie, but she made it seem like such an accomplishment...considering she had already known up to 50% at the start. The only "lie" was to hide her disappointment at not learning faster.

There's the slightest nod at her words.

"You understand that's only a rough estimate of how difficult the encryption in question is. Depending on who created it in the first place what we've covered so far may not be adequate."

It hadn't escaped his notice that her initial skill and the ease she had at learning how to create and work through encryptions had waned past a certain point, but there were multiple probable reasons. There was no reason to try and get the reason why out of her for now, as long as she still showed signs of progress.

That, she knew as well. Every encryption she'd come across had been different. The weaker ones, she had been able to break. But, just as she was learning, the people around her were learning as well. Weak was becoming increasingly rare, which is why she had to get stronger too. To keep up.

"I know. But it's the only measurement I have. If I keep thinking in numbers...it'll make more sense."

"You'll need to be careful, still. While it may help now, you don't want it to become a crutch for the future." One that could unnecessarily hinder her progress and potentially undermine her confidence if she confines herself to the concept of a linear level of difficulty for these.

"How can it be a crutch? I always heard that math was the one universal language."

"Because it's not an accurate measurement by any means. And you're correct; math can be considered a universal language, if you know what radix is being used."

Oh.

She hadn't considered that before. Making a mental note to take that into consideration, Midii frowned at her own ignorance.

"How do I measure it accurately, then?"

The frown he notes; something to keep in mind, with regards to Midii's expectations in regards to herself.

"By keeping in mind all of the possible factors. That also makes it far more complex."

Not just her expectations of herself, but her continued outlook on life in general.

"Which factors? I can start learning them as soon as I need to."

Damian is sitting on a bench - cleared of snow and dry - in one of the parks, his phone holding his attention, and strange symbols scribbled down with pencil on the notebook beside him. Now and again, he looks away from the small screen, correcting one of the symbols.

Generally, if a stranger - or a child - approaches, he'll gather up his notes and change the image on the phone screen (a picture of one of the Death plane archways), but some people might either get a drop on him ... or may, possibly, be allowed to have a look at what he's actually doing.

Jor-El has no intent of catching anyone by surprise, and when he sees Damian, he approaches from the front, walking down the path that cuts through the park. It was a winding route that started at the science division's building in Metal, and would eventually reach his suite in Earth. Even with the capacity to fly (something learned with a level of doubt and difficulty- gravity was something hard to so easily dismiss), he prefers to have his feet solidly on the ground.

"Hello, Damian," he says as he approaches, from several feet away. It is enough of a distance to give the boy time to put everything away if he chooses. Whatever Damian is working on, it may be private, which is reason enough to give him the opportunity.

"Jor-El."

Damian nods, slightly, but only shifts somewhat to make sure there is space enough for the Kryptonian to join him on the bench, should he wish to.

He doesn't hide the notes. Languages and encryptions are things that the alien might be interested in... and, unless he is possessed by Malicant, Damian is reasonably sure that any findings would be safe enough with him. Not maliciously used, at least.

"Is your learning progressing to your satisfaction?"

"It is. And your own?" For the moment, he stood standing. The notes earn a short glance, but he does not keep his attention on them.

Once he developed a stronger understanding of English, he had made a simple chart to compare the two writing systems, and to provide a stronger point to practice Kryptonian from. A full written grammar book would take more time and practice in English to be comprehensive, but it made it possible to develop a stronger basic understanding of his own language's rules with less immediate aid, even though adding more to Damian's vocabulary would still require Jor-El.

Damian's lips pursed, eyes hardening.

"Not until I learn enough to know how to stop this thing, they are not."

He might feel pleased in the moment, while learning. It was an occupation that he rarely got fed up with, unless there was something bigger and more important happening. But, even then, it was always a means to an end, and, after a year and a half - and more - Damian's goal was not achieved. That did not work well for his estimation of his achievement. Of his success. Hence, one of the bigger activities he'd been employing to that end - learning - plainly could not be satisfactory.

"It may be some time before they are."

It's no judgment on Damian's skills- they are sharp, and well honed in a way that doesn't entirely fit what little he knows of human culture or what he associates with those focused on non-marital information; the boy reminds him of Zod in some ways during their younger days- but only on what time has revealed to them so far. Little. There has not been enough revealed yet to give any of them a real understanding of what they face, or if they even have the capability to succeed. Not enough data, and stretched too distantly apart for any meaningful extrapolation.

Damian nods. He knows the facts, he's been trying to collect them since he first came to this place.

"And, yet, we do not know if we have that time. Both communications from it have shown it is pretty much aware of what is happening, here. It is too much of an advantage."

"For now. An apparent advantage can always be used against itself, if utilized properly." If he knew nothing else, it was that. Krypton had certainly proven that, fulfilling all his fears.

"The most we can do for now is prepare." It's almost wry sounding as he says it. "I would prefer to act, if we could, but it would be unwise."

Patience and grace

Suite

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idek where, somewhere outside?

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