[with a happy ending, ideally. maybe if they read a story where everything is wrapped up nicely tonight, they'll be inspired to bring about some kind of happier ending tomorrow.]
[shaking at this thread now but, Itsuki will take a moment or two to pick something out, and then he nods.]
I've got the perfect one.
[he'll settle down and open the book, which noticeably doesn't have a title? but the picture on it is very pretty. a forest and a lake, and a faraway kingdom.
the story starts in that same vein,]
Once upon a time...
[Itsuki's voice slides into a cadence with an ease that speaks of how often he's done this. the story is straightforward. a young girl is given a choice between attending a ball to find a prince, or to smuggle on board a ship in order to seek her own fortune. she goes through a trying ordeal, because of course she chooses the ship.
she has adventure after adventure, relying on her own wit and the help of her fellow comrades -- other girls, same as her. finally, she ends up saving the kingdom, and when asked if she'd like to marry the prince --
she says thanks, but no thanks. and instead goes home to her mother, who is only happy to see her daughter come home again. there's a sweet, tearful reunion,]
...The next day, both decide to take a journey of their own. The best way to tell her mother of all the things she'd seen is to show her, right? And so they both went on their ship, and sailed off to see all the wonders of the world together.
anyway. jiuqing listens quietly as he tells the tale. it's a straightforward story, but she finds herself appreciating that the girl within it chooses adventure instead of a prince, and then, when the adventure is over and she has the chance for a reward, she just goes home.
being here in this place isn't an adventure they've chosen, but...
she hopes that when they're done here, that they can have a similar ending. that they can return to where they want to be and reunite with the people they've missed most. that they can share the good things they've taken from here with them.
she smiles back at him, and it reaches her eyes this time.]
[Itsuki's smile in return is warm, and a little relieved. Sometimes, it feels like he can't do anything here, but if Jiuqing had at least one moment of peace listening to this... then he's glad.
he slips the book back on the shelf.]
I thought I'd pick one that reminded me of you. [itsuki says, as if the story isn't absolutely based on her.] A go-getter with a taste for adventure.
...that's not so bad. she's never really thought of herself that way - she's had a single-minded focus on surviving, and on keeping her mother alive, for such a long time that she finds it difficult to think of herself as anything else.
maybe that makes her a go-getter. hopefully, she'll be able to live up to his impression of her.]
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nightchild) wrote2022-02-14 10:21 pm
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[she should maybe not take him up on that offer??
...but she doesn't seem opposed to seeing him. she did, after all, come looking instead of trying to slip quietly out of the library.]
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he's quiet for a moment, then]
...I'm glad you're still here.
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[she does manage a small smile at that, and reaches up to put her hand over his where it's resting on her shoulder.]
I'm glad you are, too.
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...]
...We don't have to talk or anything, but... I came by because I wanted to check up on you.
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...I appreciate that. [...] I just don't really... know what to say.
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he'll lightly pat her on the head]
...I know. [he barely had any idea what to say last week,] That's why I'm here. I can talk enough for the both of us, until you're ready.
[it's one of his only skills,]
I can read you a story. I've been told that I have a great voice for that.
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...you do have a very nice voice.
[me wincing because now it seems like she's the one hitting on him help]
If you really wouldn't mind, I think I'd like that. ...just until I figure out what to say.
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he does squeeze her shoulder again before stepping towards the shelves to find a book,]
Sure. [now... for a story.... he'll pass on the usual romance fairy tales, hm] Should I pick? Or do you have any requests?
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[with a happy ending, ideally. maybe if they read a story where everything is wrapped up nicely tonight, they'll be inspired to bring about some kind of happier ending tomorrow.]
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I've got the perfect one.
[he'll settle down and open the book, which noticeably doesn't have a title? but the picture on it is very pretty. a forest and a lake, and a faraway kingdom.
the story starts in that same vein,]
Once upon a time...
[Itsuki's voice slides into a cadence with an ease that speaks of how often he's done this. the story is straightforward. a young girl is given a choice between attending a ball to find a prince, or to smuggle on board a ship in order to seek her own fortune. she goes through a trying ordeal, because of course she chooses the ship.
she has adventure after adventure, relying on her own wit and the help of her fellow comrades -- other girls, same as her. finally, she ends up saving the kingdom, and when asked if she'd like to marry the prince --
she says thanks, but no thanks. and instead goes home to her mother, who is only happy to see her daughter come home again. there's a sweet, tearful reunion,]
...The next day, both decide to take a journey of their own. The best way to tell her mother of all the things she'd seen is to show her, right? And so they both went on their ship, and sailed off to see all the wonders of the world together.
[he closes the book, smiling]
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anyway. jiuqing listens quietly as he tells the tale. it's a straightforward story, but she finds herself appreciating that the girl within it chooses adventure instead of a prince, and then, when the adventure is over and she has the chance for a reward, she just goes home.
being here in this place isn't an adventure they've chosen, but...
she hopes that when they're done here, that they can have a similar ending. that they can return to where they want to be and reunite with the people they've missed most. that they can share the good things they've taken from here with them.
she smiles back at him, and it reaches her eyes this time.]
...thank you, Itsuki. That was a lovely story.
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he slips the book back on the shelf.]
I thought I'd pick one that reminded me of you. [itsuki says, as if the story isn't absolutely based on her.] A go-getter with a taste for adventure.
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[huh.
...that's not so bad. she's never really thought of herself that way - she's had a single-minded focus on surviving, and on keeping her mother alive, for such a long time that she finds it difficult to think of herself as anything else.
maybe that makes her a go-getter. hopefully, she'll be able to live up to his impression of her.]
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[jiuqing telling him she's a doctor!!! he'd been pretty impressed then, and he's still impressed by her now, for more than just that reason.]
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Thank you, Itsuki. I'm flattered.