Day 1: Verbal Affirmation
They met in the courtyard after lunch.
The sun was bright. Students milled about, discussing magic theory and weekend plans.
"Okay," Marcus said. "Let's try a compliment. remember, keep it natural."
Iris nodded. She stiffened her spine. She looked like she was preparing for a duel.
She marched up to him. She stopped six inches from his face.
"Marcus," she said loudly. "Your skeletal structure is adequate."
A passing student dropped his books.
Marcus winced.
"Okay," he said. "Good volume. Bad content. 'Adequate' is not romantic. It sounds like a performance review."
"But your skeleton is adequate," Iris argued. "It supports your flesh efficiently."
"Try to focus on something less... internal," Marcus suggested. "Look at my face. Find something you like."
Iris looked at his face.
She really looked at it.
She saw the laugh lines around his eyes. She saw the intelligent grey of his irises.
She saw the way his hair fell messily over his forehead.
