[That makes her laugh, and the laughter only continues as she tries saying it for herself. She stumbles over the whole thing, and ends up having to press her hands over her face to hide her embarrassment.]
I'll keep that in mind for the next time I talk to Kovacs.
[There's a pause as her hands drop away and she sizes him up, judging whether or not she should bother explaining why she wants to learn.]
You don't have to teach me if you don't want to. You're a good friend to me, so I wanted to learn your language.
[ a good friend, huh? it softens something behind his eyes, but then he's lifting his free hand in a small wave back and forth. the hand on his hat moves a little too out of habit. at the same time he says the word for 'hello.' ] Oye. I guess, if we're gonna start at the beginning. [ it reminds him of talking to kids on the docks, but he pushes past it, thinking about what's the simplest thing for her to learn. ] Keting nem to? [ he points to her. what's your name? then so she has a template: ] Nem mi Milla.
[ if she feels silly learning this, then he feels downright stupid teaching it. but there's something about it too, something that inspires near homesickness. he wonders how havelock and muss ever made out. ]
[She arches an eyebrow, trying not to look too amused. Which is probably for the best, as she really needs to pay attention to what he's teaching her. She watches his body language and the way his mouth moves to form the words he's speaking, trying to whisper to herself to say it before speaking out loud.]
Nem mi Karen?
[She manages to get out, hand pressing against her chest. To her, this isn't silly or stupid at all. She feels like a kid at elementary school learning a new language maybe, but everyone has to start somewhere. Which means she adds on a belated] Oye.
[Complete with ridiculous exaggerated wave of her hand.]
[ he turns towards her, narrowing his eyes at the comment about kovacs. but THEY DOn'T TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUb aka their feelings so drop it. he's walking backwards now so he can watch her, nodding like so-so to the first statement but then he's taking her wrist with his free hand and shaking it in a more pronounced way, correcting. ] Oye.
[ since it was adapted with chinese settlers in mind, it is vaguely tonal. he shrugs. ]
Not bad for an Earther. Fo keng to im gut, Inyalowda. Nice to meet you. [ his eyes shine with something like bemusement. then he glances at max. ] What are you lookin' at? You wanna learn Belter too? To pochuye ke? You understand me, koyo keyá? Smart bastard.
[Karen laughs and places a steady hand on Max's head. He seems to always know exactly when he's being spoken to, and is currently looking up at Miller like he's a dumb asshole that he knows is insulting him. ]
Of course I'm going to teach him. I'm pretty sure he already understands morse code. And sign, obviously. He's a smarter than your average dog.
[She'll take his praise though. Karen always soaks it up from people she likes.]
Come on. Let's go get some coffee and keep going. My treat.
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[She casts him a fondly exasperated look as he shuffles to try and get all his shit together, before very directly taking notice of his gun.]
Like overcompensation, maybe. Is there a word for that?
[She's just jealous because she misses her purse and gun.]
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[ he gives her a look for that one. but fine, he'll humor her. it's how you can tell he's seriously running out of things to do. ]
Im wa koyo semówt. That's how Beltalowda say guy's got a bigger ego than... you know.
no subject
I'll keep that in mind for the next time I talk to Kovacs.
[There's a pause as her hands drop away and she sizes him up, judging whether or not she should bother explaining why she wants to learn.]
You don't have to teach me if you don't want to. You're a good friend to me, so I wanted to learn your language.
no subject
He loves when I talk Belter. Ask him about it.
[ a good friend, huh? it softens something behind his eyes, but then he's lifting his free hand in a small wave back and forth. the hand on his hat moves a little too out of habit. at the same time he says the word for 'hello.' ] Oye. I guess, if we're gonna start at the beginning. [ it reminds him of talking to kids on the docks, but he pushes past it, thinking about what's the simplest thing for her to learn. ] Keting nem to? [ he points to her. what's your name? then so she has a template: ] Nem mi Milla.
[ if she feels silly learning this, then he feels downright stupid teaching it. but there's something about it too, something that inspires near homesickness. he wonders how havelock and muss ever made out. ]
no subject
[She arches an eyebrow, trying not to look too amused. Which is probably for the best, as she really needs to pay attention to what he's teaching her. She watches his body language and the way his mouth moves to form the words he's speaking, trying to whisper to herself to say it before speaking out loud.]
Nem mi Karen?
[She manages to get out, hand pressing against her chest. To her, this isn't silly or stupid at all. She feels like a kid at elementary school learning a new language maybe, but everyone has to start somewhere. Which means she adds on a belated] Oye.
[Complete with ridiculous exaggerated wave of her hand.]
no subject
[ since it was adapted with chinese settlers in mind, it is vaguely tonal. he shrugs. ]
Not bad for an Earther. Fo keng to im gut, Inyalowda. Nice to meet you. [ his eyes shine with something like bemusement. then he glances at max. ] What are you lookin' at? You wanna learn Belter too? To pochuye ke? You understand me, koyo keyá? Smart bastard.
no subject
Of course I'm going to teach him. I'm pretty sure he already understands morse code. And sign, obviously. He's a smarter than your average dog.
[She'll take his praise though. Karen always soaks it up from people she likes.]
Come on. Let's go get some coffee and keep going. My treat.
[Ha ha her jokes are the worst.]