Deviation Actions
Literature Text
I'm of two minds about this, as it neatly answers the question "Why did Chloe begin calling Tanita a Kentauride?" and gives us a bit of insight into Chloe's personality, yet at the same time, it shows Tanita in a way that I'd like to think she's evolved beyond. The thought here is not romantic, but simply about friendship. What do you think? Should I keep trying to fix this, or just cut it out altogether? And if the former, wouldn't Chloe have assembled her IKEA dresser on her own? Any other comments are always greatly appreciated.
Tanita deposited the cardboard box on the bed and Chloe ripped off the tape. She began removing personal objects, a pair of bookends shaped like library lions, a rubber penguin stress-ball, and a white plaster statuette that looked like a five legged horse.
“What's that?” Tanita asked as Chloe placed it reverently atop the black IKEA dresser Jimmy had assembled for her just that morning.
"It's a miniature of Rodin's "Centauresse."
"Who's Rodin? Have I met him?"
"You're kidding right?"
"Uhm, no...” She chewed on her lower lip. “Why?"
Chloe sighed. “Rodin was a famous sculptor. He created this over a hundred and twenty years ago.”
"Where did he find a model?"
"He... Look, it's art, it doesn't need a model, OK?"
Tanita picked up the plaster statue and studied it closely.
"What's she doing? Why is she pulling on that pole?” she demanded, her voice getting strident [What if I replaced this word with "angry"?]. “Is she trapped? I don't think I like this Chloe, she's stuck on something!"
“Calm down, calm down! She's just trying to pull herself up an incline.”
“That's just stupid,” she announced, putting the statuette back. “She wouldn't be pulling herself like that.”
“Yeah, well, I doubt Rodin had much contact with many of your brethren.”
“Then why did he do it?”
“I don't know. Why does anyone do anything? Maybe he just liked Centaurs.”
“But this is a Kentauride...”
“Well, he called her a Centaurette.”
“But you told me...”
“I know, I know,” Chloe interrupted, covering her eyes with her hand. “I told you that to build your confidence. I figured associating you with fierce warriors would help you think more of yourself, make you less fidgety. When I first met you, your lower-heart-rate would skyrocket if your bathwater was too warm; I had to find some way to calm you down. Besides, it worked, didn't it?”
Tanita was about to argue when she suddenly stopped and went silent. She looked down, and, careful not to trod on her foot, took a quick step forward and grabbed Chloe in a bear hug.
She whispered, “Thank you, Chloe. I love you.”
Chloe was about to make a snide comment about getting romantically involved with her patients, but she caught her tongue in time and simply returned the hug, whispering, “I love you too Tani. I love you too.”
and 
are available on Amazon Kindle. Go to www.thekentauride.com for direct links.Update 1: I may have found a way to fix it; what if I replace the word "strident" by "angry"?
Update 2: I took this picture about three or four years after I wrote the above.
Rodin made several variations of this piece, and several brass castings were made as well. Not all of them have the pole.
She could demand "What's she doing? Why is she pulling on that pole?” in an inquisitive tone, or merely demand it, as you wrote before the word that bugs us. It would describe her reaction as curious (and thus intelligent, which fits her previous studies) instead of whiney or overstressed.
As for the rest of the dialogue, Tanita could say that it doesn't makes sense, that she doesn't sees a reason why a centaur would do that and Chloe wouldn't think of a reason either. Tanita would point out the odd name choice and Chloe would get to the point of her gift and why she told her about the kentaurides.
This is very rough, inelegant, somewhat fake and needs more polishing, I admit, and it doesn't enlightens the difference between Tanita and Kentaurides as much as an overreaction from Tanita would but it sounds more grown-up to me. Maybe it's the price to pay for an insight into Chloe's personality and aspirations without involving a childish reaction from Tanita. Or maybe a totally different context - of which I can't think of - is required.
What do you think about it?