The words come out flat, emotionless, but I catch the tightness in his shoulders. The way his grip tightens slightly on the coffee mug.
"That's bullshit."
He blinks, clearly not expecting that response.
"Learning six languages is the opposite of weak. It's like intellectual weightlifting. Your brain probably has muscles my brain doesn't even know exist."
"An interesting analogy."
"I'm serious. Do you know how many people struggle with one language their entire lives? You're out here collecting them like Pokemon cards."
That almost-smile flickers across his face again, and the bass resonance in his voice shifts to something warmer.
"Pokemon cards?"
"You know, gotta catch 'em all? Please tell me you've encountered Pokemon during your cultural immersion research."
"I may have observed the phenomenon in passing."
"May have observed." I grin and settle deeper into his couch. It's surprisingly comfortable, worn leather that molds to fit. "You totally know what Pokemon are."
"Perhaps."
"Which one's your favorite?"
"I fail to see the relevance?—"
"Come on. Everyone has a favorite Pokemon. It's like a law of cultural assimilation."
He considers this seriously, like I've posed an important philosophical question.
"Alakazam," he says finally.
"The psychic type? Of course you'd pick the one that's basically a walking brain."
"Intelligence-based abilities seem more practical than elemental manipulation."
"See? Intellectual weightlifting. I bet your family doesn't know you could probably memorize their entire oral history in three different dialects."
"Four, actually."
"Four dialects.Jesus, Ursak. You're like a walking cultural preservation society."
"That is not how most orcs would describe academic pursuits."
"Most orcs probably don't understand that preserving culture requires someone who can actually speak to other cultures. Translation is bridge-building."
He goes very still, coffee mug halfway to his lips.
"I had not considered that perspective."
"Really? Because it seems obvious. How do you share orcish stories with humans if nobody speaks both languages? How do you make sure cultural knowledge doesn't get lost or misunderstood?"
"Traditional orcish oral tradition relies on internal preservation. Knowledge passed from generation to generation within the community."
"But what happens when communities get separated? When people move or immigrate or..." I gesture around his apartment. "When someone ends up studying linguistics in a London flat because that's where the academic opportunities are?"
"Cultural dilution. Loss of authentic tradition."
