areyto | ( closed. )

CHARACTERS: arya stark & lan wangji
DATE: now-ish-esque
LOCATION: bimini
WARNINGS: none for the moment, but arya's in this so. matter of time.
SUMMARY: little girl goes on a field trip, hangs out with her other teacher (nerrrrd)

Master Lan!

[ jory bows before lan wangji in her uniform: a plaid blue and grey pinafore under which she wears a white button-down shirt with her school's logo embroidered on the left sleeve. one sock has drooped around her ankle, and her black leather shoes are scuffed from the daily abuse she puts them through. despite the earliness of the hour, her hair is already sticking up every which way and her butterfly hair clip is at risk of falling at any moment.

behind her, the rest of her class congregates near the entrance to the museum. her teachers have not yet realized one of their students has already peeled off, occupied as they are attempting to wrangle a whole class of excitable eleven- and twelve-year-olds, more excited still by the prospect of a field trip to the museum (meaning: no class for the day).

jory smiles. ] I didn't know you'd be here.

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[ Large groups of students are a common sight in the museum, a popular destination for children of all ages; Lan Wangji has come to understand school field trips are common occurrences and generate quite a bit of excitement, even if he is left baffled by them. So really, he shouldn't be shocked when he sees Jory. Still, a brief flick of surprise crosses his face, although it's quickly hidden and his expression softens slightly as she bows.

A quick nod of acknowledgment. He's not dressed in his usual robes but simple slacks and a collared, button-down shirt, appropriate for a day of cataloging. ] I work here.

[ It's a fitting job and has helped him round out his knowledge of history, at least of the area.

Behind them, the class is talking in excited voices while the teachers wrangle the students. They're not moving forward, at least. ] I was unaware your class would be here.

They sent us with a slip last week for parents to sign. Elizabeth signed mine. She works here too, did you know? She's a guide. Do you think she'll be our guide?

[ not giving him a break to interrupt, she tugs at her hair clip, wincing a little when it brings a couple twisted strands of hair with it.

frowning at the clip, she chatters on: ] Classes have been weird since people were forgetting so long. Our teacher—that's her, she teaches Spanish—she said classes will end in June because of it. Everyone else was complaining because it's going to cut into vacation. I've never been on vacation before. I'd never even heard of it. Have you?

[ The children Lan Wangji had encountered back in Gusu were quiet, well-behaved, and generally didn't chatter at him. The child he'd adopted had been a little different, and of course, Wei Wuxian had talked his ear off at times, but generally, the chatter of children was something unusual.

He's learned, over the months since starting at the museum, that children here talk. So much. It's still a little daunting. ]

Mm, I know Miss Elizabeth. She works today, so it is likely she will be your guide.

[ His fingers twitch, almost starting to reach out and take the clip from her so he can put up her hair again. But that is inappropriate beyond measure, so he tucks his hands behind him. ] Vacation is not a concept in my home. But people here find it very important.

I like it. Elizabeth gets time at home, which is good especially with the baby coming. And Gendry too. He's finally finishing his apprenticeship with a blacksmith. Oh! That reminds me…

[ she swings her little messenger bag around, pale canvas with a blue-gray manatee cheerfully waving a flipper, and roots inside it. she emerges with a sheaf of colored construction paper, which she offers to lan wangji. ]

He's got his own smithing business, see? [ stepping next to lan wangji, jory rises on her toes. she points at the page. ] Those are some of the things he can make, but Gendry can make anything. He's an armorer too! He makes the most beautiful swords and helms and armor you'll ever see. That's my phone obviously. Don't call Gendry; he doesn't like phones. I take the orders.

[ from her bag, she removes a ruled notebook, its cover splashed with smiling sunflowers. she opens it up to reveal surprisingly well-organized, handwritten worksheets with the names, contact and order information, cost of supplies, pay status, completion estimates, and miscellaneous observations for multiple orders. the calculations for each order are neatly written out in pencil. ]

Because you're my friend, I'll discount my service so you'd only pay for Gendry's labor and the cost of supplies. But that's only for you. Anyone else has to pay the full rate. [ looking at you, xian-gege. ] There's a lot of papers there so you can pass them around to anyone you know.

[ It's not hard to follow her conversation, at least, but Lan Zhan can't help but blink at how talkative she is, a change from the silence from their first meetings. It's unusual but a pleasant change.

He takes the sheaf of construction paper, looking them over. It is impressive and he has no reason to doubt the accuracy of the list. But her detailed notebook is what really catches her eye, and he looks that over closely, considering. ]

Where did you learn to keep such records? [ They are thorough and carefully recorded, with no sloppy handwriting or scratched out notes.

She's also a shrewd businesswoman. ] I will remember that in the future and keep such information to myself. My circle of acquaintances is small— [ Wei Wuxian, his coworkers, a few others ] —but I will hand these out.

[ It would not be polite in his home but he is not there. Giving someone work is not an ignoble task. ]

Around.

[ too vague, perhaps. but master lan is not the kindly man. she does not owe him three things she learned. still, he is clever. and she should give him some explanation.

her face is still water. the edges of the hair clip bite into her palm. where would a girl like jory have learned to keep records? the answer quickly coming to her, she draws cat's skin around her shoulders again like a worn and well-loved coat. ]

My father was a sailor on the Nymeria, but he died. When he was alive, he'd known almost every tavern owner at the Ragman's Harbor. After he died, some of them gave me food and drink in return for cleaning or sweeping. One taught me to read and write. When his eyesight started going, I kept his books for him.

[ "Around", she says, and Lan Wangji thinks of the memories he received, running around a fortress. No taverns or ships, nothing quite like what she's describing. Later, perhaps, although the way she goes still and the ease of the words makes him think of Wei Wuxian and the easy way he side-stepped any serious discussion.

How does one respond to that? He has no idea, which means he defaults to a nod. ] I will remember your offer.

[ smiles must come at her bidding. her smile is quick and wide and innocent. ]

I have to get back. [ her teacher is calling her over. jory shouts back that she’s going before facing lan wangji again. ]

After we’re done, I can show you around the island if you haven’t yet seen. You can see my tree! It’s grown a lot.

[ He has explored the island but not all of it, hasn't seen this tree she speaks of. Besides, Lan Wangji likes children, finds their presence soothing, especially after the past few months and the issues with memories. ]

Very well. After your tour.

[ He dismisses her with a nod and a brief bow, looking over to her teacher as the group is joined by their guide for the day. ]

( closed. )

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I got no notif for this!!! dw!!!!

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