probe | Audience: Mahito

Wow! Maybe I'd leave yours alone.

[He can say this and mean it genuinely, because not even he can predict his own fanciful whims when it comes to turning people into play doh...]

The maybe is hardly a satisfactory guarantee...

Would you believe me if I said "I'd definitely leave it alone"? We could make a binding vow.

[Said teasingly. Hehehe.]

Hilarious. [absolutely the fuck not.] But I think I prefer that you leave what's left of my soul alone for now.

[WHEN WILL SOMEONE MAKE A CONTRACT WITH OL' MAHITO MAHITOSON who's just here vibing... He laughs though, and waves a gentle hand.]

Alright, alright. Not like I can do anything about it anyway. So! New books?

[NO.]

New books. Perhaps a bit of fiction will do you some good?

[He'll never reach true demon status at this rate... Sad. But he'll lean up against the desk, head canting to the side curiously.]

What've you got?

[give them a second to pull out crime and punishment, 1984 and les miserables.]

These should keep you busy for some time.

[GLEEFULLY PICKING THESE UP, though he pauses at Les Miserables, hilariously.]

Oh! I've read this one before.

[With a title like Les Miserables, is that really surprising...]

I've seen the play a couple of times, too! And the movie back when it came out.

I. See. [OF COURSE YOU HAVE, YOU FUNKY LITTLE WEIRDO. so they take that book and trade it out with the legend of sleepy hollow instead.]

I haven't bothered with the film, though the play isn't a terrible retelling.

[He is indeed a funky little weirdo, but he will happily gather up the new third book into his demon arms.]

Huh... I thought the film was pretty good! Javert made a really funny sound when he hit the dam after his last scene.

[THANKS AGAIN MAHITO FOR THIS VALUABLE INSIGHT AS ALWAYS.]

But I like the play more, mm.

[there's an almost-amused sort of sound. what a strange curse.]

Perhaps I'll review it on my own another time then. Plays are always an interesting medium.

[JUST A FUNKY LAD... VIBIN. Unfortunately Mahito genuinely enjoys discussing plays, books, movies and the like, so he's still perked up like an interested dog.]

They are! Hey, do you have a favorite play, then?

[what a terrible way to trap greed.]

...I've a fondness for Shakespeare.

[!! HE'S SUCCEEDING AT SOMETHING AT LONG LAST.]

Ah! Yeah, that makes sense. [He doesn't even mean it in a rude way... God bless.] What's your favorite? I haven't read all of his works, but I've read most of them and seen a few.

[they don't take offense to it because they are aware of how they're perceived.]

Hamlet, I think. Or perhaps The Tempest.

[these are two very wildly different answers.]

[They really are wow... He has fortunately read both, so he can pick up on that.]

Huh... What's your favorite part about each one?

[...somehow, this is difficult to answer.]

In a sense, I believe I relate to both in two different ways. And in those ways, I feel as though I understand the tale itself.

[which is just a fancy-ass way of saying "both stories have things that are relevant to me but on different levels, so i understand them better."]

[Why is this creature so pinkies-out.

Mahito unfortunately understands this concept too though, from the perspective of "he knows that humans create stories to better understand themselves". The reverse makes sense, too; finding bits of familiarity in the things you consume.]

Ah... I see! I get it. Eh - well, I get it in theory. That's never happened to me before, but I know people really like things they can connect with.

[truly wish we knew.

but they seem to stick with that and don't plan to elaborate unless mahito asks, so they accept this answer.]

It isn't always easy to connect to such things. Some people find it easier than others, but sometimes a story is really just a story.

[Mahito apparently does not plan on asking, at least not at the moment.]

Yeah, I get it! Like Cast Away! [WHY. Anyway, he moves from that incredibly stupid observation to saying, somewhat wistfully:] I wish I could read or watch something that I could connect with. Is it fun? What does it feel like when it happens?

[mahito for fucks sake. but sure. okay!]

...it depends on how you connect with it, if it's in a good way or a bad way. Just like anything else, I think.

[HE'S DOING HIS BEST. He also hums at the explanation; a high, curious-sounding note.]

Huh... How do you connect to those two? In a good or bad way?

The Tempest is a good way, Hamlet a not-so good way. Though Hamlet keeps me focused more than the Tempest ever has.

Makes sense, makes sense. Tragedies usually act like that, in most people's lives.

[Considering the types of stories both are... But! He'll adjust the books in his hold, reaching out to give Maus a last little pat.]

--Anyway! I'll let you get back to whatever you were doing. [What were they even doing, god, he got so distracted by the dog.] Thanks for the books.

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probe - 2021-03-16 04:10 (UTC) - Expand