milliways_bar | (no subject)

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'They say the knight, who became a ghost and now haunts the world, holds in his hand the blood-stained sword that pierced his lover's breast,' Autor reads quietly.

He's taking notes on a play, The Wandering Knight, which the drama department asked Fakir to perform in. Naturally, most copies of the play have had their endings torn out, and no one knows who wrote it. Autor knows--or, rather, he has a theory.

Reviews of the play in its heyday litter the library table around the boy. He pecks away at the keyboard of the netbook Jay gave him. The boy types up words like pride and honor, wondering if his cause, too, is strong enough for him to cut down a lover without hesitation.

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Mirai, given the task of seeking Autor out, finds him with relative ease. How is it that always happens?

"Ah? A-are you busy, Autor-senpai?" she asks.

Autor raises his head, startled out of his focus on the keys of the netbook, but eases into a smile as soon as he sees her. "Ah, Miss Kuriyama. Hi. I'm just taking some notes. Can I help you with anything?"

"Hi," she returns the greeting. "A-actually, I was curious if you wanted to do something. If you're too busy, I understand."

Autor shuts his laptop immediately. "No, no, what did you have in mind?" he asks, gathering his notes together into a pile.

As if on cue, the door opens and a... car?... comes rolling in. One that's roughly shaped like a Formula 1 racer, but sized for a child and made of yellow cake covered with candy and frosting.

Autor's hands still on his notes.

"What? Why are you bringing a car in the library? Oh, you are a demon," he says quietly, the half-yell of incredulity he's perfected after so many years of being an amateur librarian. "Is that... made of candy?"

He glances to Miss Kuriyama, to see if she knew anything about this.

...okay, Mirai didn't know Vanellope would bring the car directly into the library. But that's the only thing.

"All of the cars are like that, I think?" Mirai asks. "From President von Schweetz's home, anyway."

"But only one of 'em is awesome," says Vanellope proudly.

Autor approaches the car, and crouches down to poke one of the wheels. "Oh, wow. That's... Okay, I have to admit that this is impressive," he says, nodding firmly. "But why bring it here?"

Mirai shrugs a little and goes, "Well, you told me you've never been for a car ride before..."

"...and I figured, maybe we should fix that," finishes Vanellope. "So how 'bout it?"

Autor blinks. And blinks again. He glances from one girl to the other. "Oh," he says, a bit breathless. "Um, okay. We could try it. Just--Just don't go too fast, maybe. To start? And let's find some place other than the library."

He pulls his sylladex out of his pocket to code his notes and laptop away.

"It'll be okay," Mirai assures him, waving a hand.

"I wasn't gonna drive in the library," Vanellope mutters, rolling her eyes. "Sheesh."

"You already did," Autor points out, "sort of, anyway." He returns his sylladex to his pocket. "So, outside, then?"

"She was just looking for you, Autor-senpai," Mirai points out. "She had to get her car here somehow."

"So what're you waiting for?" Vanellope gestures toward the rear spoiler. "Hop on!"

"Both of us?" Autor asks, that deer-in-the-headlights expression reigning on his face again. He tests the spoiler with his hands, seeing if it'll hold his weight. Then he climbs on, awkwardly swinging one leg on and then the other. He bounces a few times to see if it'll break.

The boy adjusts his glasses, and then turns to offer a hand to Mirai.

Mirai shrugs before accepting his hand. She climbs to sit next to him, slowly to test the new weight.

"Think we're ready," she says.

"Don't worry. That spoiler held up under Ralph's butt, it'll hold the pair of you just fine," says Vanellope, completely misinterpreting their apprehension. "Now, here--we--go!"

And they're off in a puff of powdered sugar.

"Oh!" Autor says, leaning back with the speed. He has to try, really try, not to grab onto Mirai, and fiercely grips the spoiler instead. His knuckles soon whiten, and he tucks his legs under him, gasping.

Still, as terrifying as it is, as much as his heart rattles around in his chest, he does smile a little.

Mirai grabs on tight, turning to glance at Autor. He seems to be liking it, at least. She even lets out a little giggle herself.

How about when Vanellope makes a sharp turn as they leave the hallway and enter the Bar proper?

Autor sees the turn coming, but didn't expect it to be so sharp. He holds on for dear life and leans, feeling the momentum push his shoulders around. His feet fly out, and he quickly tucks them underneath the spoiler again.

He whoops when they straighten, eyes shining with the speed.

Mirai braces herself as best she can, leaning against Autor at one point. She doubts speaking up to apologize would do any good, so she simply enjoys the ride for now.

Thought he might like this.