[There are thousands of girls--not all aboard this ship, to be sure, but there are still girls--and some of them are interesting and some are fit--and then there is Alayne Stone, who should really not be as interesting as she is. Perhaps it's because she's always nearly answering him, with yeses or nos; perhaps because she will take his presents with a regal sort of air, with a less-than-regal blush on her cheeks--
He could answer with thousands of answers, in thousands of ways, he could ask insignificant questions or joke questions or dirty questions or teasing questions--but in the end, Sirius Black opts for a question he rarely employs: a real question.
Everything seems too cheap, too trite; this business of being real is more difficult than it seems, no wonder he doesn't go in for it--but in the end, he thinks of something.]
what is the best and happiest thing that you can remember? whatever made you happiest
[Because if she answers truthfully--that will be a clue. There is some way to win Alayne Stone's heart, and Sirius is dogged enough to learn it.
....but of course, his moment of seriousness doesn't prevent him from adding:]
sorry for difficulties but i have to make it count if i only get one
[text]
He could answer with thousands of answers, in thousands of ways, he could ask insignificant questions or joke questions or dirty questions or teasing questions--but in the end, Sirius Black opts for a question he rarely employs: a real question.
Everything seems too cheap, too trite; this business of being real is more difficult than it seems, no wonder he doesn't go in for it--but in the end, he thinks of something.]
what is the best and happiest thing that you can remember? whatever made you happiest
[Because if she answers truthfully--that will be a clue. There is some way to win Alayne Stone's heart, and Sirius is dogged enough to learn it.
....but of course, his moment of seriousness doesn't prevent him from adding:]
sorry for difficulties but i have to make it count
if i only get one