He freezes in surprise at the grab, eye drifting to Tuuri's. Then he smiles -- it's thin and weak and not much of one at all, but it's still there. Endeared maybe, at Tuuri's words.]
...You're a historian, ain't ya? You deserve the truth -- all the angles of it.
A historian also speaks the truth. And what I see in front of me is a man with a lot of kindness and consideration in his heart. Someone who tries his best to put a smile on people's faces and is always looking out for everyone else.
I'm sure you see a lot of negatives about yourself, but that's because we all judge ourselves the harshest. Everybody here loves you, Lavi. Don't drag yourself into a pit of self-loathing.
[At that, Lavi's expression breaks -- just a little. He ducks his head as if to pull away from Tuuri's grasp.]
Don't.
[...]
I don't want them to. It's not supposed to be like that. [even if it's true, even though Tuuri's saying nothing but the truth,] It's not because I hate myself --
[though he also does]
Bookman aren't meant to mean anything to anyone. We live only for history.
[He's like 20cm taller than her, he can duck away from her hands if he wants. But she's not giving up on him even if she has to let go for now.]
Nonsense. There's not a single book in any library that doesn't have the author's name printed right there on the cover. Can you accurately record history if you don't live it yourself?
And even if you try to deny all of that, I'm a 'Bookman' too, remember? You're not going to chase me away by saying 'I'm not supposed to mean anything to anyone'.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-26 07:51 am (UTC)Now you listen to me, Lavi. I can see what you're doing, and I'm not going to just sit here and let you do it.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-26 01:04 pm (UTC)He freezes in surprise at the grab, eye drifting to Tuuri's. Then he smiles -- it's thin and weak and not much of one at all, but it's still there. Endeared maybe, at Tuuri's words.]
...You're a historian, ain't ya? You deserve the truth -- all the angles of it.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-26 01:41 pm (UTC)I'm sure you see a lot of negatives about yourself, but that's because we all judge ourselves the harshest. Everybody here loves you, Lavi. Don't drag yourself into a pit of self-loathing.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-26 02:39 pm (UTC)Don't.
[...]
I don't want them to. It's not supposed to be like that. [even if it's true, even though Tuuri's saying nothing but the truth,] It's not because I hate myself --
[though he also does]
Bookman aren't meant to mean anything to anyone. We live only for history.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-26 03:18 pm (UTC)Nonsense. There's not a single book in any library that doesn't have the author's name printed right there on the cover. Can you accurately record history if you don't live it yourself?
And even if you try to deny all of that, I'm a 'Bookman' too, remember? You're not going to chase me away by saying 'I'm not supposed to mean anything to anyone'.