[That's nice and familiar territory, Tanya muses as she nods along commiseratively while Tayrey talks rations. She hasn't met as single soldier who had anything nicer to say about the food they're given beyond "it's edible" and she's glad to see that this vector of camaraderie isn't blocked off just because of the nature of the bizarre situation she finds herself in.
At the comment about introducing her friends and associates, Tanya can't help but smile. Despite her earlier conviction to try not to stray further into the complicated social politicking of favor trading, she can allow herself something as simple as an informal dinner at a tavern. Especially if it's just a matter of whoever else Tayrey happens to be eating with at the time.]
I'll definitely take you up on that, Lieutenant.
[And then career talk. Well, Tanya has enough experience to tell when someone's being humble. It's a positive trait, so long as it isn't in excess, which Tanya has no reason to believe is the case for now. The fact that the Lieutenant was—is? how old even is she, exactly?—a child soldier explains a lot of her earlier behavior.
Still the question at the end there... this is clearly a test. Tanya is certain that Tayrey is throwing out subtlety here for the reason of getting her true measure.]
Do my people all start this young? Not at all. I'm not an exception either, there's laws in place to allow mages like me to volunteer at any age, but most don't until they're of typical serving age and just get conscripted anyways, due to the draft for mages. I'd say that it's just that...
1/2
At the comment about introducing her friends and associates, Tanya can't help but smile. Despite her earlier conviction to try not to stray further into the complicated social politicking of favor trading, she can allow herself something as simple as an informal dinner at a tavern. Especially if it's just a matter of whoever else Tayrey happens to be eating with at the time.]
I'll definitely take you up on that, Lieutenant.
[And then career talk. Well, Tanya has enough experience to tell when someone's being humble. It's a positive trait, so long as it isn't in excess, which Tanya has no reason to believe is the case for now. The fact that the Lieutenant was—is? how old even is she, exactly?—a child soldier explains a lot of her earlier behavior.
Still the question at the end there... this is clearly a test. Tanya is certain that Tayrey is throwing out subtlety here for the reason of getting her true measure.]
Do my people all start this young? Not at all. I'm not an exception either, there's laws in place to allow mages like me to volunteer at any age, but most don't until they're of typical serving age and just get conscripted anyways, due to the draft for mages. I'd say that it's just that...