Awakening Supports/Miriel Donnel

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C Support

Donnel:
Say, Miriel? Do ya have a minute?

Miriel:
......

Donnel:
Er, Miriel?

Miriel:
......

Donnel:
Hey! Miriel!

Miriel:
Gwaugh?! What is it? Why are you shouting?

Donnel:
I tried gettin' yer attention, but you was off in yer own world.

Miriel:
Yes. When I read, I often immerse myself in it to the exclusion of all else.

Donnel:
Seems like yer always readin', Miriel.

Miriel:
I strive to utilize my time efficaciously. What free time I have, I spend reading.

Donnel:
I reckon ya must'a studied a whole bunch by now, huh?

Miriel:
I cannot say whether the breadth of my scholarship constitutes "a bunch." But I have studied more than the average person, that much is incontrovertible.

Donnel:
In that case, I got a favor I wanna ask ya for... Miriel, will ya teach me?

Miriel:
Teach you what?

Donnel:
Er, I dunno. Math and science and all that kinda stuff, I guess.

Miriel:
Why?

Donnel:
If I learn my subjects now, I'll be able to help my village when the war's done. We got no school back home, so there ain't no one what knows about book learnin'.

Miriel:
I can instruct you in the basic theories of the usual courses. You may, however, find none of it to be of immediate practical use.

Donnel:
Well, so long as I know the theory, I can always think up ways to use it.

Miriel:
Are you literate?

Donnel:
Ol' Goatkeep Gran knew her letters. She taught me how to read all right.

Miriel:
I cannot instruct you beyond the bounds of my own ken, but I will attempt the basics.

Donnel:
Well, much obliged then, Miriel!

Miriel:
Be forewarned—I am not easy on my pupils.

Donnel:
I wouldn't want ya to be!

B Support

Miriel:
...Let us conclude today's lesson here.

Donnel:
Whew! Good. I'm beat.

Miriel:
Unsurprising. We covered material of exceptional complexity today. But that is not to say these lessons have been entirely free of surprises.

Donnel:
Oh? Like what?

Miriel:
For one, the voracity with which you attack your studies is remarkable. I acceded to your request for tutelage with the expectation you would lose interest. Yet here you are, having already mastered some of the more difficult concepts.

Donnel:
Aw, shucks. I'm barely keepin' up! And I ain't sure I got a perfect grasp on it, neither.

Miriel:
Even an imperfect grasp, in conjunction with a diligent attitude, is sufficient to advance. Often a nuanced, intuitive understanding is something that develops organically.

Donnel:
Er, if you say so, Miriel.

Miriel:
Given this rate of acquisition, you might...

Donnel:
Hmm? You say somethin'?

Miriel:
Nothing of import. Now then, class is dismissed. Be certain to review the material before our next lesson.

Donnel:
Yes, ma'am!

A Support

Miriel:
I finished grading your examination.

Donnel:
How'd I do?

Miriel:
A perfect score. Exemplary work.

Donnel:
Yee-haw!

Miriel:
That concludes a canvass of the primary precepts of academic study. My lessons end here.

Donnel:
They do? Gosh, I think I'm gonna miss 'em.

Miriel:
But there is no end to learning. From today hence, you will be navigating the sea of knowledge by your own sextant.

Donnel:
All by m'self, huh?

Miriel:
Worry not. To extrapolate from the present data, you possess considerable aptitude. Continue to apply yourself, and you will find ample success in any academic pursuits.

Donnel:
But I'd still rather be sailin' them seas with you, Miriel.

Miriel:
I must recommend against such a joint venture.

Donnel:
Why do ya say that?

Miriel:
Empirical data shows that no previous attempt at such a partnership has survived. I have not always been without colleagues interested in collaborative investigation... Yet, ultimately, none were ever able to sustain the arrangement.

Donnel:
Well, why not?

Miriel:
According to them, I exhibit a tendency to press onward to new territory alone. Even I am aware that I tend to lose sight of all else when immersed in thought. As such, continuing my studies alone is the only natural conclusion.

Donnel:
That ain't true at all!

Miriel:
Hmm?

Donnel:
It's their own fault for not keepin' up! Just 'cause they got lazy don't mean you should have to study alone forever.

Miriel:
That is a fascinating theory.

Donnel:
Let me join ya, Miriel. I'll do all I can to keep up! You said yourself I been makin' progress faster'n you thought!

Miriel:
To use a metaphor, the path ahead is steeper still, and the footing unsure. There will be times I am unable to point the way. Are you certain you want this?

Donnel:
Well all that sailin' talk had me nervous, but I'm a mountain boy. Climbin'? Now THAT I can do!

S Support

Donnel:
Your studies been goin' well lately, Miriel?

Miriel:
Quite smoothly, yes. Thanks to you. Many a time, you've provided the clue to surmount a current stumbling block. As the conventional wisdom goes, two heads appear empirically superior to one.

Donnel:
Oh. That's real nice. So, um... I wanted to talk at ya about that today.

Miriel:
About having two heads? You know that scientifically, this is highly improbable. ...Ah. Or perhaps you're finding it difficult to pursue studies in conjunction with me?

Donnel:
Naw, it ain't that! It's the opposite, actually.

Miriel:
Go on.

Donnel:
I want us to be more conjuncted! Er, I wanna conjunct different... Shoot. Here! I wanna give ya this!

Miriel:
A ring.

Donnel:
It's a weddin' ring. I was hopin' ya might consent to be m'wife. I wanna keep explorin' things with ya as long as I live!

Miriel:
I see no requisite for marriage in pursuing a joint exploration of academic studies.

Donnel:
Well, no, I reckon not. So does that mean ya won't?

Miriel:
However, accepting this ring would enable a host of other exploratory pursuits. And each of them could be undertaken as a collaboration with you... I can scarce think of a more exhilarating prospect.

Donnel:
Um, could ya please just say yes or no?

Miriel:
...Very well. I accept. A broad array of new frontiers now lie open before us.

Donnel:
And we got the rest of our lives to explore 'em together!