[ The blushing and body language and averted gaze are telling a whole story that, when combined with Kieran's little smile earlier, strikes Ben as a sweet one. Bittersweet, when he remembers that Kieran is separated from whoever this person is. There hasn't been all that much room (see: any) in Ben's own life for romance, but there had been books, at least. Underneath all his practicality, it's possible Ben has a bit of a romantic streak. No one tell his siblings.
He wonders if that woman had felt the same, and what kinds of hardships they were that she needed to escape. But there's definitely no way of asking that without being super weird and invasive, so Ben just nods, a little smile turning up the corners of his mouth.
And then, without him needing to ask, Kieran is saying that he is excluded from that particular method of escapism because he never learned. Which, in turn, means he was never taught. Almost certainly from a time before public school was widespread and mandatory, then. It also meant that he'd either been raised by people who couldn't read, themselves, or by people who didn't care about him enough to teach him. Ben's probably cynical for even considering the latter option but that's just where his brain lives.
Immediately, and without the slightest hesitation, he says: ]
I could teach you, if you'd like. I've never done it before before, but I can try, and I think I would probably figure it out. If that is something you're interested in, I mean.
[ Maybe it will help KIeran to feel more connected to this woman who is special to him that he's separated from. It isn't as if Ben is lacking in free time. And besides - it would be good to be able to help someone. Not in the way that he is most used to - by scolding them into better life choices, if it's Klaus, or by killing dangerous people, for everyone else. Helping without any violence at all.... would be quite a thing. ]
no subject
He wonders if that woman had felt the same, and what kinds of hardships they were that she needed to escape. But there's definitely no way of asking that without being super weird and invasive, so Ben just nods, a little smile turning up the corners of his mouth.
And then, without him needing to ask, Kieran is saying that he is excluded from that particular method of escapism because he never learned. Which, in turn, means he was never taught. Almost certainly from a time before public school was widespread and mandatory, then. It also meant that he'd either been raised by people who couldn't read, themselves, or by people who didn't care about him enough to teach him. Ben's probably cynical for even considering the latter option but that's just where his brain lives.
Immediately, and without the slightest hesitation, he says: ]
I could teach you, if you'd like. I've never done it before before, but I can try, and I think I would probably figure it out. If that is something you're interested in, I mean.
[ Maybe it will help KIeran to feel more connected to this woman who is special to him that he's separated from. It isn't as if Ben is lacking in free time. And besides - it would be good to be able to help someone. Not in the way that he is most used to - by scolding them into better life choices, if it's Klaus, or by killing dangerous people, for everyone else. Helping without any violence at all.... would be quite a thing. ]