[ she hears the door open and doesn't acknowledge him. at least, not at first. it was how whatever this was worked. she didn't give him the time of day as a child and now that she was giving him even a minute of that time, he would still have to work for it.

after a moment, she finally speaks up, voice dry and almost bored: ]

In most cultures, it is expected to greet a woman with politeness, or even more shockingly, intimacy. Failure to do so can be seen as a sign of disrespect or, rather, flagrant homosexuality.

[ the entire time, she doesn't look up from her book once, just flipping a page and shifting on her side a little, getting more comfortable. and still, without looking up once:]

You should wash your face.