#earthrunes

Adam recites some basic lessons. Lead with a compliment, engage in light small-talk, ask questions about the other person (but not probing or pointed), be nice, mostly listen, don't bring up heavy subjects.

She gives him a puzzled look. "I think you might have misinterpreted something there. If all conversations were like that, I think I'd die of boredom!"

"I... I... I'm not good at it, anyway."

"Mostly I try to stay quiet. I know I'm not good at it."

"Well, no, you're not. But I think you're making the mistake of applying first-meeting rules to all conversations. I mean, honestly, you'll never get anywhere if those are your conversational limits."

"I mean... if I'm with friends, that's different. We know each other."

A skeptical look. "Do you have so many friends that conversations with them alone will carry you through the world?"

"No, Baroness." quietly.

"Well, then...you'd better get better at it, because right now you're sometimes tedious."

"I could give you some guidelines...." she offers.

"I'd like that, Baroness."

"...but they come with a price. Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes, Baroness."

"I mean, Yes! I do!" he hastily adjusts.

"I do, really."

Amused, "A simple yes is fine when you've been asked a yes-or-no question. But the additions are a nice touch."

"All right. If I tell you my guidelines, you must use them consistently from now until Yule. Not only take them under advisement. I will give you my best tips, but you will then be compelled to use them for that long. After that, you may decide whether or not they work for you. Feel free to let Granddame Bondraste know about this, as well."

"I will." He seems rapt, and it's a good thing the mare follows Samson, who understands things.

She gives him a stern look. "This is a solemn pact, Adam, you understand?"

He pulls the reins back and slithers down to kneel. The mare takes a few more steps after Samson. "My word, My Lady. I will do as you say."

She stops and looks down at him with a bemused sigh. "Well, that was excessive. Will you need help back up?"

"Will you tell me, Baroness? Your guidelines?"

"I will. Take your reins and walk along until we find a stump." She moves forward with Samson again. "Fine. First, as I said, the guidelines you have are fine for formal balls and the first time you meet somebody on a diplomatic level. A simple yes or no is fine when you are asked a question that calls for it. They're also appropriate when you are responding to somebody of higher rank who has given you instructions. However, in all other cases..." She holds up one finger, "One: when you are spoken to, you must respond."

Adam walks the mare along and listens.

"Two..." another finger held up "...your response needs to include a new idea relevant to the topic or express a clear opinion. It's okay to pause for a few moments while you compose relevant thoughts, but not more than a few moments."

Third finger held up. "And three: You must be carefully honest. Honesty does not equal rudeness, and it does not equal cruelty."

He has questions but he holds them.

She notes the look. "I'm willing to adjust these if you can make a sound argument."

"I .... just... what if I have to respond but I don't have a new idea or opinion?"

"Work harder."

A bemused look. "I did not say this would be easy."

"Yes, Barone... I mean, I will work harder, Baroness."

"You do realize this applies to everybody, yes? Members of my court, your teachers, your friends, your enemies, people you don't know yet...."

"Oh. Well....." Adam nods. "Ok. I mean, yes. I will, Baroness."

She makes a gesture with her hand indicating that she expects a little more added to that.

"Oh, uh.... Yes, Baroness, I will do as you ask even if I don't want to but what about mortals?"

"What about mortals? I imagine they will appreciate you not being tedious, too. Ohhh, you mean about the honesty? Well...carefully honest means you can be a bit cagey about the way you tell the truth...and by all means be as cagey as necessary to protect the Right of Ignorance and any other tenets of the Escheat."

"I'm worried I might step wrong. Talk about something I shouldn't. But.... Yes, Baroness."

She nods approval at that response. "It's always a risk. But playing it too safe? Tedious."

"I'm asking you to be a good deal more clever than you have been."

A few more footsteps. "I'm not sure I'm that clever, Baroness."

"Oh, I'm quite sure that you're not. Not yet, anyway. You've never had to be. Now you do."

"I try to be but...."

"How do I get better at it?"

"Oh, don't mistake 'clever' for 'witty' or 'funny' or 'amusing'...I merely mean that I want you to be clever as in thoughtful and interesting."

"Oh, dear, you're going to mistake 'thoughtful' for 'courteous' aren't you."

"You get better at it by doing as I've said. If you must struggle to find things to say, rather than just yes-ing and no-ing your way through conversations, then eventually you will get better at it."

"If I don't stick to yes or no.... I make people mad."

"Well, you're making people mad with the yes or no, as well, so you'd better try something else."

"Adam, you do realize I'm not just giving you this advice on a whim? I received a letter from Chieftain Debuke. I'm not at all pleased with what I've heard."