This is a companion piece to A Lapse in Theory. Here we plod about inside the head of Dr. Natalie Durant for a lesson in patience and cunning.
Immovable Object
She'd often pondered what it would take to break his stranglehold on everything around him. The man just needed to breathe. And she was more than willing to provide the oxygen. Clearly it was time for a plan.
She wasn't one for the direct attack. Possessing neither an aggressive nature nor the confidence of victory, she opted instead for an indirect, subtle intrusion. Because his defenses were guarded with time-tested skill. But she was a woman. And there were ways around men.
The impetus for battle had been years in the making. And one could only take provocation for so long before action was required. The plan called for subtlety, caution and fail-safes. She factored in a 'room to maneuver' clause, since the impenetrable fortress wasn't likely to bow and shift to her devices. But there were ways around immovable objects.
A frontal assault was not only obvious, but would be rebuffed before she made a dent. Patient probing across the expanse of his armor indicated a chink, barely a gap that she could squeeze into a piece at a time. First she employed her own body, a ready weapon in her arsenal. Standing a bit too close, giving personal yet non-sexual touches, all the while ignoring his 'hands off' signals. A false wall was her next tool; one that allowed her to seem impervious to his temper and harshness, all the while concealing her quiet slip inside. Oh, he'd put up a stronger fight when he sensed the edge of her purposes. But there were ways around confrontation.
The first goal was trust. And trust could lead to a great many other virtues, all of which she included in her long-term strategy. It was understandable, his seeming contentment to deprive himself of the things that could potentially weaken him. She sought not to change him, but to awaken him to a world where weakness was turned into strength. So afraid of failure, this man. No one else would believe the depth of fear that resides within the frigid stone facade. But there were ways around pretense.
So many barriers. But her weapons were sharp, even as her wiles were soft. He will open to her in time. Because there are no ways around love.