[ accidental video ]

[likeboudica]

[ The feed clicks on to reveal Tessa, face somewhere between stoic and utterly, utterly shocked, addressing someone off-screen. ]

I do not-- wish to talk about these things, ma'am.

[ A short hesitation. ] I am aware that I should know, indeed, but I would prefer to-- read a book. [ It sounds like even that concession cost her. ]

Comments

video;

[likeboudica]

It is simply that-- I can imagine living in any world but one without books and time for reading. I could bear anything so long as I have books, but not their absence.

video;

[saidrepent]

[To that, he snorts.]

There are worse problems than that where I'm from.

video;

[likeboudica]

[ Normally, she would be curious, but the contempt for her need for books she reads into that snort makes her angry instead.

Stiffly: ] Then I am sorry that you do not know the comfort that books can offer.

video;

[saidrepent]

[Raymond continues to not be fazed.] There's not a lot of comfort to be had in sitting idle while the seconds of your life are ticking away. Unless you've got enough seconds left to keep you from worrying about it.

video;

[likeboudica]

[ either he truly doesn't understand, or he does not want to understand. Tessa is not sure which would be worse ]

Have you tried reading, now that you are here and have time?

video;

[saidrepent]

[That gives him a moment's pause.]

No. Haven't seen much point in it.

video;

[likeboudica]

Would you not like to try?