curiously_cora | (no subject)

Entry tags:

helen,
ig

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There was one puppy, sprawled out on the floor kicking his feet back and forth as he dreamed of puppy dreams. There was one haughty, black cat running around and through a set of long legs. And there was one teenage girl, smiling happily at the woman who owned the legs. Some things changed as Coraline got older but one thing that would never change was how much she loved having tea with Helen every week.

"Cat get out from underneath Miss Helen's feet," Coraline said, rolling her eyes at her cats behaviour. Cat was only very friendly with certain people, Coraline being one of them and Helen being one of the others. "Hi Miss Helen, ignore Cat. He's being silly today. And very affectionate. Don't let him sit on your lap, he sheds everywhere."

Coraline straightened her dress, brushing it down smartly as she brought over the pot of tea.

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"Oh, I'm quite excellent with firearms," Helen said, laughing a bit. It was hard to remember sometimes that those on the island simply didn't have reference for many of the things she'd seen and done back in Old City.

"You should be careful with such a thing but I can teach you how to use it properly if you'll lend me your boat? Fair trade, I should think."

"Really?" Coraline said looking at Helen with a brighter smile. She had teachers for knives and swords and martial arts but finding someone who who didn't mind teaching her about guns was pretty hard to come by. And she couldn't ask Aidan, he was far too... shirtless all the time. "I know. I mean, I had a lesson with Aidan when I was um, grown up but it's not the same and everyone gets quite funny when they think I want to learn about guns. But I don't mind you lending my boat at all especially if I get to have lessons."

"I shall expect you to be serious about it."

Helen expected Coraline to be clever about it, she was very good with the animals at the vet's office, but it needed to be said again because guns were a whole different beast.

"Guns can hurt someone if used improperly. If you want to learn from me, you'll be learning the proper way to handle them in order to keep yourself and others safe, all right? And if you horse around about it, I will stop teaching you."

"Of course!" Coraline said seriously even though she smiled happily at Helen. Coraline nodded as she listened to Helen. Coraline was quite aware of the danger of guns but didn't say that, she wanted someone- Helen to teach her. "I won't. I know paintball guns are supposed to be fun sort of ones but I don't think of it like that, it's something a tool I can use for when I'm older and can fire a proper gun and you should never joke about that or any weapons really."

"Exactly the proper attitude," Helen said, nodding in agreement. "I always want to hear that sort of good judgment from a girl like you, especially if I'm going to teach you things that might end up being dangerous. This is exactly the sort of gravity I need you to apply to anything I teach you, not just guns."

Coraline, someday, might be very good at a very many things but it required having faith in her.

Coraline smiled at Helen happily. Helen always made her feel supported, she could be strict but she was always there. It was kind of like having Sarah back again except with more tea if that was even possible.

"I know, I will I promise." Coraline said before looking at Helen curiously. "Are we going to eat them now? Only I'm a growing girl and I'm practically wasting away. It's terrible."

"Eat as much as you like," Helen said warmly, laughing a little. "You never have to worry about eating in front of me, Coraline, I assure you of that. Take seconds and thirds, if you want. Call me progressive, but I simply hated being told it wasn't ladylike to eat my fill and enjoy my food."

That had changed, as she'd grown older, and she did restrict her intake but young girls didn't need that sort of discouragement.

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