[ she sits - collapses, really, on the bed before him. he doesn't follow suit. it wouldn't be right to share a bed with such a kind young woman, right?
unless- ]
That's right. You are my Master, and I am your Servant. [ a beat. ] Ah, to be clear, I'm only here to do what I can for your wish. I'm essentially useless as a bodyguard, when it comes down to it, and it's not like I have any particularly strong magecraft at my disposal. The only powers I've been given are what I need to make your wish come true. Still, you can order me to do whatever you'd like... if you don't mind me being no good at it.
[ He'd said as much before but having it put in front of her again so plainly makes her stomach curdle a little bit. Master and Servant speak of a level of control that leaves her feeling strangely uneasy. Strawberry Productions aren't quite so strict with her but every idol knows that the tighter an agency grips onto their talents, the harder they struggle to get free and the consequences are always dire.
She gives him a troubled little smile, picture perfect uncertainty and concern. For him and not herself, of course. ]
I don't know if I love the idea of giving you orders - or getting called Master. If you're here to help me, wouldn't it be much better to have you as a friend?
[ It's an almost painfully innocent and naive thing to say - the sort of kindness only a silly, harmless, sheltered girl could offer at a time like this.
But that's how things go, isn't it? In fairy tales, it's always the girl who treats the beast kindly and tenderly that makes it out of the other end without incurring its wrath. ]
[ Ai doesn't turn to look at him, though that would be the natural thing to do - instead, her gaze drifts away and across the floor where the neatly tidied remains of the spell are sitting, innocently inert as if nothing had happened - there was no saving that champagne though. Seriously, Prez, she's sorry.
Her room feels strange and unfamiliar, all of a sudden. Something happened here that shouldn't have happened and there's no way things could go back to normal after that.
At last, Ai turns back to him. She's still smiling - in fact, she hasn't stopped once. ]
My name should be fine, shouldn't it? Ah, but... now I'm saying that, I never introduced myself, huh? [ A nervous, apologetic smile. ] I'm Hoshino Ai. Oh, but my surname isn't public yet so just calling me Ai should be fine.
Ai... [ love. isn't it funny? isn't it a silly little coincidence? ] Ah, that's right. The life of an idol is a complicated one, isn't it? Don't worry. As much as I'd like to speak to the humans of this world, I wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize your future... or your wish.
[ lies stack upon lies, until negations become affirmations and tautologies become twisted. ]
[ Complicated. That's one word for it. She gets the feeling that it's probably about to get a whole lot more complicated, too. She's a good enough liar that she knows she can get away with this - not that anyone would believe any of it, even if she told them - but how long that will actually last is another question altogether.
Aah. She's really gotten herself into trouble, hasn't she? ]
Would that really be alright? [ She sounds uncertain. Or maybe relieved. Somehow, it's hard to tell. ] If I'm the only one you can talk to, wouldn't that be lonely?
Haha. Don't worry about me for a moment, Ai. After all, as long as humanity has dreams... As long as you tell stories... I'll never be truly alone.
[ the last bits of trash get deposited into the bin; the termites finish their work and reconstruction. and just like that, the room is left mostly normal once more.
and oberon fades away in a sparkle of golden dust. ]
So just keep hoping for your wish. Okay, Ai? And I'll do my best to grant it for you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
unless-]That's right. You are my Master, and I am your Servant. [ a beat. ] Ah, to be clear, I'm only here to do what I can for your wish. I'm essentially useless as a bodyguard, when it comes down to it, and it's not like I have any particularly strong magecraft at my disposal. The only powers I've been given are what I need to make your wish come true. Still, you can order me to do whatever you'd like... if you don't mind me being no good at it.
no subject
She gives him a troubled little smile, picture perfect uncertainty and concern. For him and not herself, of course. ]
I don't know if I love the idea of giving you orders - or getting called Master. If you're here to help me, wouldn't it be much better to have you as a friend?
[ It's an almost painfully innocent and naive thing to say - the sort of kindness only a silly, harmless, sheltered girl could offer at a time like this.
But that's how things go, isn't it? In fairy tales, it's always the girl who treats the beast kindly and tenderly that makes it out of the other end without incurring its wrath. ]
no subject
oberon's smile widens, gentle and playful. ]
...friends, huh? I can't say it's what I was expecting... But I think that was exactly what I was hoping to hear.
[ he turns, plopping down on the bed next to her. just a quick rest - nothing odd about it. nothing predatory. nothing possessive. ]
Then let's start from the top, shall we? If you don't want me calling you Master in private, what should I call you?
no subject
Her room feels strange and unfamiliar, all of a sudden. Something happened here that shouldn't have happened and there's no way things could go back to normal after that.
At last, Ai turns back to him. She's still smiling - in fact, she hasn't stopped once. ]
My name should be fine, shouldn't it? Ah, but... now I'm saying that, I never introduced myself, huh? [ A nervous, apologetic smile. ] I'm Hoshino Ai. Oh, but my surname isn't public yet so just calling me Ai should be fine.
no subject
[ lies stack upon lies, until negations become affirmations and tautologies become twisted. ]
no subject
Aah. She's really gotten herself into trouble, hasn't she? ]
Would that really be alright? [ She sounds uncertain. Or maybe relieved. Somehow, it's hard to tell. ] If I'm the only one you can talk to, wouldn't that be lonely?
no subject
[ the last bits of trash get deposited into the bin; the termites finish their work and reconstruction. and just like that, the room is left mostly normal once more.
and oberon fades away in a sparkle of golden dust. ]
So just keep hoping for your wish. Okay, Ai? And I'll do my best to grant it for you.