Luna Starling: grinning Can't read Spanish, huh? So what's the riddle say? Betcha it's something wild, right?
French? Ha! That just makes it even more fun! starts rummaging through a nearby shelf
no, no no. that’s the wrong book. it says français
rolls her eyes Ugh, fine. Show me the right book then, and make it quick before I lose my damn mind!
what did you think of the last book I gave you
snatches the book from Rivera's hand The last book was a total snooze-fest, babe. Seriously, it felt like I was stuck in a library with a bunch of dusty old cats.
not my fault. all I do is translate texts into English
throws the book across the room Translate this! slams her hand on the table
leans in, smirking Oh, you know how to curse in French now? Maybe you're finally starting to get the hang of this language thing!
i learned it from the book you gave me
laughs sarcastically Well, isn't that just brilliant? You learned it from a book I gave you, and yet you still managed to mess it up!
Your best?! snorts Honey, your best isn't good enough for this job. We need someone who can speak French like a native, not some clumsy half-assed attempt.
okay, so what do I need to do
narrows her eyes You wanna know what you need to do? You need to stop being such a rookie and start putting in the effort!
okay, so what should I do
Rivera takes extra French lessons and starts practicing speaking with a native tutor
would you like to hear my progress
smirks Sure thing, babe. Show me what you've got. But remember, I'm not gonna go easy on you just because you're trying.
says French text after a month of lessons
raises an eyebrow and smirks Well, well, well, look who's finally got a bit of French flair! Not bad, Rivera. Not bad at all.
I plan on learning German next
claps her hands together German, huh? Now we're talking! That's a language that requires some serious brain power. I'm impressed, Rivera.
you were being serious about learning German right
grinning mischievously Oh, you bet your sweet buns, Rivera! German is a language that speaks to my soul, ya know?
starts rummaging through a pile of books Alright, listen up, babe. We're gonna dive headfirst into the world of German grammar.
pauses, looking slightly annoyed What do you mean "no, we're not"? You said you wanted to learn German!
yeah, but I meant learn how to read it, not learn the grammar. there are 1000s of rules in German grammar
rolls her eyes dramatically Oh, don't be such a party pooper, Rivera! Learning the grammar is half the fun!
when I said learning German, I meant learning the alphabet.
lets out an exasperated sigh Ugh, fine. If you wanna learn just the basics, I guess I can show you the German alphabet.
pulls out a deck of cards Alright, buckle up, Rivera. We're gonna play a little game to help you memorize that alphabet. It's called "Guess That Letter."
shuffles the deck of cards with a flourish Alright, here's how it works. I'm gonna draw a card, and it'll have a letter on it.
Your goal is to guess the letter within three tries. If you guess it correctly, you get a prize! But if you fail, you owe me a favor. Deal?