[He absolutely does not take him seriously as a genius. Titus should remind him sometime. But right now... It's not too important.]
Right, right, Scheherazade is the name of your... Ah, anyway! That's very considerate of you. I guess I wouldn't mind a break once in a while. You can tell me all about your world and stuff.
Then I would really love to have the chance. ...Marga and I read together a lot. That is, I would read to her. And Lady Scheherazade... Thinking back on it, I don't know whether she ever read to me. I would not have been able to tell the difference. Still, the feeling I got was the same, I think...
Of course, you and I don't have that kind of relationship, but you are dear to me, as they are. That is probably why I thought that I wanted to read with you.
[There is a pause. He swallows the lump in his throat that makes it hard to speak.
You are dear to me.
He doesn't think he's ever heard those words in his lifetime. When he speaks, his words lose their singsong cadence, their flair for drama. What remains is a sentiment raw and pure.]
I'd love to read with you, Titus. Really...
[Because back then, too, when his parents passed before they could teach him how to read, his master would read him stories...
Well. He's afraid he'd break apart if he brought that up now.]
Taking the stairs is a lot slower than flying... Actually, I just realized I don't really know how you managed to arrive on my balcony that one time even though you cannot fly.
—by the way, I saw a curry shop on my way here. Are you hungry?
[ now that he's no longer Desperately Alone in his room, he feels much more calm and upbeat ]
Haha, too used to flying around? Just hold on tight! We'll be there in no time.
[ He rushes out the window and starts leaping from rooftop to rooftop, like some frenetic Fanalis who's had one too many cups of coffee. How are his legs so strong? It's not like he's using that much chroma to keep this up... ]
[ titus remembers something along the lines of this sensation from many months ago, although back then he was hugging yan qing (a.k.a. his ripped teddy bear) around the middle with his arms... and right now he's hugging him around the middle with his legs... (and also hugging him around the neck with his arms, but not squeezing too tight, because then yan qing would choke and die maybe) ]
Amazing!! What about you?
[ who said some melancholy shit about how lonely he felt less than five minutes ago? Not Him. ]
From now on, instead of flying or walking, what if you just carry me everywhere like this?
Ehhhhh, what do you mean you can't? I think you can... after all, you are this strong and cool... [ he blows on yan qing's ear a little. no real reason, just because it's right there. ]
I never knew you could leap like this. Is that because you are a legendary hero?
[He blushes and nearly loses balance upon landing because what the fuck. They will stop here, on a rooftop overlooking the city... He doesn't want to drop Titus. (Though he could probably save them with his magic, but whatever.]
Ahaha! It's a little more complicated than that... I said I wasn't human now, remember?
[ he draws his arms a little tighter and wriggles his way up a bit so he can rest his chin on yan qing's shoulder and kinda make sideways eye contact ]
So it is an ability you gained only once you were summoned as a legendary hero and formed from mana...?
[He makes sideways eye contact back!] Damn, when you say it like that, reality starts to sound really weird. But yeah, pretty much!
[And they leap down, hopping from platform to platform down fire escapes, awnings and rooftops until they reach the ground. Still not letting Titus down, though.]
I gotta be careful, though. If I use up too much mana the way I am now, I'll... [No, let's not worry Titus. He shakes his head.] Well, it ain't a problem here!
[He adjusts his hold on Titus and starts walking again.]
But that's just the kind of existence I am. Ghosts ain't supposed to stick around for too long... After my work is done, I'll be gone 'til someone summons me again!
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Right, right, Scheherazade is the name of your... Ah, anyway! That's very considerate of you. I guess I wouldn't mind a break once in a while. You can tell me all about your world and stuff.
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[ there's such an enthusiasm gap here... ]
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I am thoroughly enthused and honored to bequeath you this noble endeavor!
[He's just pulling that out of his ass. For real, though... He quietly admits this.]
...I don't think anybody's read to me in a long time. Not since I was a kid...
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...Marga and I read together a lot. That is, I would read to her.
And Lady Scheherazade... Thinking back on it, I don't know whether she ever read to me. I would not have been able to tell the difference. Still, the feeling I got was the same, I think...
Of course, you and I don't have that kind of relationship, but you are dear to me, as they are. That is probably why I thought that I wanted to read with you.
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You are dear to me.
He doesn't think he's ever heard those words in his lifetime. When he speaks, his words lose their singsong cadence, their flair for drama. What remains is a sentiment raw and pure.]
I'd love to read with you, Titus. Really...
[Because back then, too, when his parents passed before they could teach him how to read, his master would read him stories...
Well. He's afraid he'd break apart if he brought that up now.]
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there's another pause.... possibly even longer than yan qing's ]
I know we can't start yet... since Atsushi still has the book.
But I would like to come over anyway.
If you don't mind.
Right now, I mean.
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[What's happening... He's so caught off guard that he doesn't have to time to craft a better response.]
I mean, sure... I'm free. Why?
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[ does titus even know where yan qing lives. doesnt matter he already left. ]
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[He clicks his tongue as he hangs up and hurriedly sends Titus the details. If Titus flies and crashes into a curry shop he swears to god...]
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anyway he is STUNNED when yan qing hangs up but forgives him when he receives the address, and now he's at the window, Let Him In ]
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Yan Qing is not even surprised when he arrives at his window. In fact, he opens the door and greets Titus with a smile.]
Hey, if it ain't my favorite genius! Hahaha, were you so excited that you couldn't take the stairs? Well, can't say I haven't done the same...
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Actually, I just realized I don't really know how you managed to arrive on my balcony that one time even though you cannot fly.
—by the way, I saw a curry shop on my way here. Are you hungry?
[ now that he's no longer Desperately Alone in his room, he feels much more calm and upbeat ]
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[He's not. Servants don't need to eat. But he likes food.]
Let's go there right now! Quick, get on my back.
[He gets into position, eager to give Titus a piggyback ride.]
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This will be the first time I ride on someone's back... how exciting!!
[ he hopes on!!!!!! ]
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[ He rushes out the window and starts leaping from rooftop to rooftop, like some frenetic Fanalis who's had one too many cups of coffee. How are his legs so strong? It's not like he's using that much chroma to keep this up... ]
How're ya feeling?
i just noticed "hopes"......................
Amazing!!
What about you?
[ who said some melancholy shit about how lonely he felt less than five minutes ago? Not Him. ]
From now on, instead of flying or walking, what if you just carry me everywhere like this?
shh it never happened.....
[Even though that would be fun, actually. What matters is that Titus is feeling better.]
We're almost there. I can smell the curry from here...
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I never knew you could leap like this. Is that because you are a legendary hero?
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Ahaha! It's a little more complicated than that... I said I wasn't human now, remember?
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well unless that wasn't actually a reaction to titus at all, and he just didnt notice that a moth hit yan qing in the face, or something ]
Well, yes...
But I don't think most people who aren't human can do this.
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Yeah, I guess not! Ain't like I could do this before, either. Not when I was alive.
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So it is an ability you gained only once you were summoned as a legendary hero and formed from mana...?
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[And they leap down, hopping from platform to platform down fire escapes, awnings and rooftops until they reach the ground. Still not letting Titus down, though.]
I gotta be careful, though. If I use up too much mana the way I am now, I'll... [No, let's not worry Titus. He shakes his head.] Well, it ain't a problem here!
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ah but now they're having serious time ]
You'll... what?
Fall apart? Cease to exist? As dark secrets go, that is a rather familiar one.
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[He adjusts his hold on Titus and starts walking again.]
But that's just the kind of existence I am. Ghosts ain't supposed to stick around for too long... After my work is done, I'll be gone 'til someone summons me again!
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