Linneus is fifteen, and he is explaining, one hand toying with hair that still lies in heavy waves-

“I want it to look… the way Xanthe likes. O-on girls.” The woman he is speaking to gives him a smiling look over the rim of her teacup, encouraging. “And I would… I would like to move better.”

“Like a woman?” Adele has the same amber eyes as her son, and she leans forward, proffering the sugar bowl. Linneus must be distracted, to not have taken his sugar yet.

“No? Or yes…”

Linneus doesn't really consider himself as wanting to be ‘like a woman’. Or 'like a man'. At least not in the way Master Atros would consider it. He’s not certain how he considers himself at all. He’s only sure that he’s somehow caught between being a boy and being an adult, still - only very recently developing and growing into himself.

Busying himself with the sugar as he gathers his thoughts.

“I would rather move more the way you and the other ladies move. Not… like a woman, but less like a child. And not… not like a man.” Hesitantly, after a sip of tea- “At least-- I know the Master has ideas of what a man is. What a man does…”

“And that isn’t you?” It’s not a question – not really. Adele has seen him running around the house since he was very young.

Lightly, he shakes his head.

“No. No, that isn’t me.”

She watches him a moment, her head tipped to one side. That smile still on her face – fond, but a little sad.

“All right. Then we can start tomorrow.”