I Want To Read A Book

Romi

Romi

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Makara felt something in him flutter when Nia announced they would just have to learn forever. There wasn't any judgement--some confusion, obviously--just acceptance. She didn't tease him, didn't make fun of him... and perhaps most importantly of all, didn't try and deny that.

He'd been afraid of that most of all--afraid that she would simply pretend like he was lying, making it up. It was certainly a problem that existed on the island, but it wasn't a problem that existed among humans.

Except for him, human as he had once been.

"By talking. And I know... some shapes? I know the numbers. So if someone says room one fifteen, I know that means one one five." He's pleased that he at least knows that much, but it seems laughably small in light of everything. "And just asking. People will answer if you ask." So he's done a lot of asking, and a lot more bluffing.
 
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Live gave a small nod, understanding. It was a bit baffling that an adult didn't know how to read but she was sure stranger things existed. Like her for example. An amnesiac psychic. That was definitely weirder than an illiterate adult.

She had meant what she said about them learning together but she wasn't exactly sure how to teach someone how to read. In fact, she wasn't totally sure how reading worked. She could do it, but it felt very alien to her, as most things did. Well, guess this would be a good challenge.

"Do you know the shapes of the letters? I think that's important for reading..." Probably? Maybe? She wasn't sure. Maybe you could read without knowing how the letters worked but it definitely wasn't something she was positive about.
 
Romi

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Makara didn't really know anything. He knew what he had to, and he could recognize certain words, but beyond that? Nothing. He knew the shape of a few words, ones that had been important, but he didn't know the individual letters.

"Not really," he was forced to admit, looking awfully uncomfortable.

It felt strange, having someone know. Having admitted it at all, really. He hadn't ever admitted it to anyone before.

"Maybe there's a class you could take. One that would help you." He didn't think there'd be one for him, but him learning to read was a distant second in importance from helping Nia with it. Nia needed to learn--realistically, he could function just fine without it.
 
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Her eyes narrowed a bit, as her thoughts brought her deeper, "Did you not learn when...you were alive?" She asked the question with a bit of hesitation. She didn't want to seem insensitive to his circumstances.

She turned her eyes back to the book and papers she held. She opened one of the pamphlets and flipped through a bit, "I'm sure they have a class...but, I'm more comfortable are you. Taking class would mean talking to someone new..."

That was pretty terrifying but she supposed she had to do it when she started taking classes at the school anyways. Why couldn't she just hide away in here and never talk to anyone except Makara? That sounded like a great plan to her.
 
Romi

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It was a strange and awkward question. It was also one he didn't think he'd ever been asked, and Makara shifted uncomfortably at the thought.

"No. I might have learned a bit, but... where I grew up, it was better not to know anything at all. Learning to read was... bad."

It was the closest he'd ever come to talking about his history, and even then he was doing his absolute best to keep it as basic as possible. "I could go with you. And sit with you in class - to help you get used to it?"
 
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Well that response was even more puzzling. How could learning to read be bad? "That must have been a very silly place. I don't know much about this world but I do know that learning is important. I mean, we are sitting in a building dedicated to it right now."

Nia smiled a bit a nodded, "I would like that. And then maybe you can pick up a bit too. I can teach you the alphabet because I know that but...I'm not sure if I will be very good explaining how to read."
 
Romi

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It was hard--if not impossible--for him to explain his childhood in a way that made any sense. He didn't want to scare her, but at the same time, he didn't feel like he could just leave it at 'knowing things was bad'.

"It was very different. They didn't think this kind of knowledge--books and writing--was any good. So I didn't learn."

"You don't need to try and help me though," he adds, feeling a bit embarrassed that he was having a student offer to help teach him. "What matters is you being able to learn."
 
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The world was a very unique place with many different places. She supposed it wasn't really outside the realm of possibilities that there would be a place that didn't value reading and writing. Though she could image that sharing information and education in general would be difficult in a place like that. But, she felt it was probably best for her to not judge.

"Well...at least you can now. I mean, if you want to. It's okay if you don't think reading is important." She suddenly thought of how maybe Makara hadn't learned to read because he also believed that it wasn't a good thing. She didn't want to be insensitive.

Nia nodded. She realized that maybe even more so than Makara not thinking reading was important (though she doubted that was the case) was that he didn't feel right having someone teach him. Especially Nia, who he was suppose to be a parent for. "Well, I will just have to do my best to learn then."
 
Romi

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Makara was quick to shake his head, dismissing that idea outright.

"No. Learning to read and write is really important. I'll just... work on it in my own time." He wasn't sure how true that was, but he would at least make an effort, and wasn't that what counted? It was what he always told people counted when he pushed them into going to class, after all. Not everyone was cut out for learning, especially not book learning.

"And if you need help, the school has lots of resources." He had a whole list of them back in his office that he could give her, even if he couldn't read the list himself.
 
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Nia smiled softly to Makara and nodded. She could tell that he did think learning was important but she supposed that maybe it was a bit different for him, being a ghost and all. The things that were important to learn when you were a human child were probably very different when you were a dead man.

"I'd love more recourses." Nia said quickly. She wanted all the information she could get. She wasn't really sure why she was so determined to learn everything she could but it almost felt like...her life mission of sorts.

 
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