He didn't rebuke her, not truly, but still she shrank a bit. He still called her a child, he still saw her as such. She had so much to prove to him, he didn't want perfection but..wasn't that the goal for them all? What could imperfection serve that perfection could not? "Better than perfect." She thought on it, thought hard.
Perfection, honing her skills until she could easily do them in her sleep. She could be the most formidable, each movement, action, step sure always the same, every time...Always the same! That was what he meant! If she preformed the same every time eventually that would be a determent, she could be anticipated. By being perfect she would allow someone to devise counter strategy and she would not know how to deal with it. So, she must be flexible, the light of the idea dawned in her eyes. That mind that he prized her for, above the abilities others saw, now proved him right.
"Like dance, I must remain fluid enough to compensate and ready to adapt. I understand." And she did, it was so very clear to her now, as was the reason so many others had failed. They had studied for perfection, which only made them a more perfect target. She would need to constantly reinvent herself to stay a step ahead. She would have to learn all she could, not just about fighting. Combat was a necessity, but there could be ways around it, there would be other skills she would need. She would know them, all.
He flattered her again and she demurred with a soft smile, but looked up sharply at his last address to her. It was so familiar, so warm, so sincere that she moved before she realized it. Her lips found his and everything she wanted to say poured into her kiss. A sweet desperation flavored with a promise, this was not a crush. She felt for him, and in this moment she could show it. She didn't know when the chance would come again, so she took it for all it was worth.
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Perfection, honing her skills until she could easily do them in her sleep. She could be the most formidable, each movement, action, step sure always the same, every time...Always the same! That was what he meant! If she preformed the same every time eventually that would be a determent, she could be anticipated. By being perfect she would allow someone to devise counter strategy and she would not know how to deal with it. So, she must be flexible, the light of the idea dawned in her eyes. That mind that he prized her for, above the abilities others saw, now proved him right.
"Like dance, I must remain fluid enough to compensate and ready to adapt. I understand." And she did, it was so very clear to her now, as was the reason so many others had failed. They had studied for perfection, which only made them a more perfect target. She would need to constantly reinvent herself to stay a step ahead. She would have to learn all she could, not just about fighting. Combat was a necessity, but there could be ways around it, there would be other skills she would need. She would know them, all.
He flattered her again and she demurred with a soft smile, but looked up sharply at his last address to her. It was so familiar, so warm, so sincere that she moved before she realized it. Her lips found his and everything she wanted to say poured into her kiss. A sweet desperation flavored with a promise, this was not a crush. She felt for him, and in this moment she could show it. She didn't know when the chance would come again, so she took it for all it was worth.