[ Damn straight he can't prove that wrong, which is just a little grating. Avicebron gives a quiet sigh but doesn't bother trying to fight it. ]
You've nothing to apologize for.
[ Because on a rational level, he understands this is his own problem, not anyone else's. It's a little unfair of him to impose his demands on Atsushi like this. ]
You're the one being inconvenienced. So I'm grateful for your cooperation.
[Atsushi knows he has nothing to apologize for, really, because he never intended any of this. He didn't even do anything, as far as he knows, besides have some probably overpriced food with some foxes. But he still feels some measure of responsibility and the need to make it up to Avicebron, and while he can't fix the actual problem...]
Whenever you finish your mask [since his assumption is that this is priority number one] I could lend you my book. I can't go very far from it, but it isn't all that long a read.
[ He glances briefly over his shoulders, squinting, before turning his attention back to the tree. At least his voice is softer, if a little wearier, when he responds. ]
You're kind to offer me a distraction. But I feel it would be doing you an injustice. I wouldn't wish to read your work when I'm unable to focus on it.
[ But also, they're spirits, so he sort of gets the importance of that book. He's not about to treat it lightly. ]
[The book is him, more than the human-shaped body is. It's his legacy and his only weapon against Taints. It's important, and even Atsushi, who barely considers himself a writer worthy to stand with other writers, knows that.
But.]
I wouldn't wish to leave you in distress without at least trying to do something to relieve it. Even if I weren't involved at all, I still wouldn't be able to.
[Because he doesn't want Avicebron to be in distress. It's simple.]
[ Atsushi is genuinely kind person, isn't he. Which is all the more reason he shouldn't be stuck in that wretched form, wearing his face. Avicebron tries to shove away the disgust bubbling up at the back of his mind.
Still, it takes him a moment to think of a proper response. ]
You're under no obligation to help me. But ... [ His shoulders rise and fall in a faint sigh. ] ... creating something with no preparation consumes more energy that I'd like. I can recover some of it by eating.
[ And they're surrounded by food stalls. How convenient. ]
[No, bad, that is the opposite of how Atsushi wanted to make Avicebron feel??]
I can buy you something! Or cook, if you want to wait a bit longer.
[Yes, there are food stalls, and Atsushi would be happy to purchase their wares, but the option is there. He's not an expert chef or anything like that, but he is an adult who has fed himself and his family on multiple occassions.]
[ The thought of making Atsushi go through the trouble of cooking isn't great. But also, he's not sure if he could handle watching himself cooking, Atsushi's physical mannerisms and all.
Avicebron gestures vaguely with his hand, with the communication device at his wrist. ]
I can repay you in demichroma. But ... if you could find something easy to eat without fully removing my mask, I'd be grateful.
[Without waiting to hear any argument, Atsushi heads towards the food stalls. There are all kinds of foods here, but what he returns with in a couple minutes is: a fruit smoothie. Straw included, of course.]
[ Atsushi returns just as Avicebron finishes his preparations and presses his hands to the trunk of the tree; if he listens really carefully, he might hear the tail end of a quiet incantation.
The end result is that a wooden mask practically pops out of the tree's surface, and Avicebron sighs as he takes it up. ]
Thank you. [ A brief glance over and a small nod. ] That will do.
[ And then he puts on the mask. Unfortunately, this one's nowhere near as polished as the metal one -- it has small slits for eyeholes, the edges still a little rough. ]
[Without thinking, Atsushi reaches out to steady him, but his hand stops an inch before making actual contact.
Right. His touch won't be appreciated right now. He lowers his hand.]
At least you can recover from normal food. [If he starts talking maybe Avicebron won't notice anything happened!] Usually all that heals me is ink... which tastes about as bad as you'd expect.
[ He notices the hesitation and appreciates it deeply, even if he doesn't mention it. But he does give a low exhale, almost a laugh, and his voice is just a touch softer around the edges. ]
... ink. I see. I suppose it makes sense for a spirit possessing a book. Is eating paper also a viable option?
[ Actually a serious question.
In the meantime, he scoots his mask up just enough that he can get to the straw for the smoothie. ]
Aah, so the ink doesn't need to be in its pure, unbinded form to take effect.
[ He leans against a nearby fence as he nurses the smoothie. Atsushi was right to bring this up; having a puzzle like this to mull over definitely helps keep his mind occupied. ]
Then the solution seems simple -- combine the ink with a solid to create pills, swallow without tasting, coated in something like honey if necessary. It seems far preferable to drinking ... ink.
[Protip: it tastes bad! Metallic and super, super bitter.]
I should try that here. Moonlacing is more pleasant than drinking ink, but a lot less efficient, and I can't exactly keep a moonlace partner in my pockets.
[Unless someone was very small and also into that.]
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no subject
You've nothing to apologize for.
[ Because on a rational level, he understands this is his own problem, not anyone else's. It's a little unfair of him to impose his demands on Atsushi like this. ]
You're the one being inconvenienced. So I'm grateful for your cooperation.
no subject
Whenever you finish your mask [since his assumption is that this is priority number one] I could lend you my book. I can't go very far from it, but it isn't all that long a read.
no subject
You're kind to offer me a distraction. But I feel it would be doing you an injustice. I wouldn't wish to read your work when I'm unable to focus on it.
[ But also, they're spirits, so he sort of gets the importance of that book. He's not about to treat it lightly. ]
no subject
But.]
I wouldn't wish to leave you in distress without at least trying to do something to relieve it. Even if I weren't involved at all, I still wouldn't be able to.
[Because he doesn't want Avicebron to be in distress. It's simple.]
no subject
Still, it takes him a moment to think of a proper response. ]
You're under no obligation to help me. But ... [ His shoulders rise and fall in a faint sigh. ] ... creating something with no preparation consumes more energy that I'd like. I can recover some of it by eating.
[ And they're surrounded by food stalls. How convenient. ]
no subject
I can buy you something! Or cook, if you want to wait a bit longer.
[Yes, there are food stalls, and Atsushi would be happy to purchase their wares, but the option is there. He's not an expert chef or anything like that, but he is an adult who has fed himself and his family on multiple occassions.]
no subject
[ The thought of making Atsushi go through the trouble of cooking isn't great. But also, he's not sure if he could handle watching himself cooking, Atsushi's physical mannerisms and all.
Avicebron gestures vaguely with his hand, with the communication device at his wrist. ]
I can repay you in demichroma. But ... if you could find something easy to eat without fully removing my mask, I'd be grateful.
no subject
No, I'll pay.
[Without waiting to hear any argument, Atsushi heads towards the food stalls. There are all kinds of foods here, but what he returns with in a couple minutes is: a fruit smoothie. Straw included, of course.]
It doesn't get much easier than this, I think.
no subject
The end result is that a wooden mask practically pops out of the tree's surface, and Avicebron sighs as he takes it up. ]
Thank you. [ A brief glance over and a small nod. ] That will do.
[ And then he puts on the mask. Unfortunately, this one's nowhere near as polished as the metal one -- it has small slits for eyeholes, the edges still a little rough. ]
no subject
He hands Avicebron the smoothie.]
You work quickly.
no subject
[ Case in point, he's a little wobbly as he steps away from the tree. Avicebron accepts the smoothie wearily. ]
no subject
Right. His touch won't be appreciated right now. He lowers his hand.]
At least you can recover from normal food. [If he starts talking maybe Avicebron won't notice anything happened!] Usually all that heals me is ink... which tastes about as bad as you'd expect.
no subject
... ink. I see. I suppose it makes sense for a spirit possessing a book. Is eating paper also a viable option?
[ Actually a serious question.
In the meantime, he scoots his mask up just enough that he can get to the straw for the smoothie. ]
no subject
If it was printed on, then yes, but that would just be another way of consuming the ink. ...I suppose the paper might lessen the awful taste somewhat?
no subject
[ He leans against a nearby fence as he nurses the smoothie. Atsushi was right to bring this up; having a puzzle like this to mull over definitely helps keep his mind occupied. ]
Then the solution seems simple -- combine the ink with a solid to create pills, swallow without tasting, coated in something like honey if necessary. It seems far preferable to drinking ... ink.
[ He wonders what it tastes like. ]
no subject
I should try that here. Moonlacing is more pleasant than drinking ink, but a lot less efficient, and I can't exactly keep a moonlace partner in my pockets.
[Unless someone was very small and also into that.]