LuxuryTale (Chester x Parker)

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Welcome to the library. Yes we know... the sign is misspelled." The old woman mumbles, looking up from her book.

He didn't even realize the sign was wrong! Probably because he isn't that good at reading anyway...

Actually, coming to a library pretty much set Chester up for failure. He can barely read a picture book without wanting to tear his hair out of frustration!

Thankfully, the library isn't big. There's only six shelves and only one room.

"Do you have any books in mind that you'd maybe want to check out? There's really not that many here..." Parker mumbles, looking through the yellow shelf.

Chester pulls out one of the books from the red shelf, flipping it open to the first page.

Almost immediately, the words look smooshed together and impossible to read. Why must his brain be so terrible at processing things?

"Ooo, what's that one about?" Parker asks, swinging an arm over Chester's shoulder while staring down at the book in his hands.

Chester gulps, cringing.
"Uhh.... You know... stuff."

Parker deadpans.
"Lemme see that."

Before he can argue, Parker snatches it away to read for himself.
"Monster funerals? Is that another hard topic for you to handle?"

Chester shakes his head.
"No, it's totally fine. I just... ugh, this is so stupid..."

"Why? What's wrong?" Parker frowns, placing a hand back onto Chester shoulder.

"Now, don't... l-laugh at me for this..." Chester takes a deep breath.

"But... I'm dyslexic."

Parker lowers the book, eyebrows raised. He's not smiling or anything.

"Oh, why did you agree to come here then?" Parker asks.

"I don't know, okay?! I don't t-think before I act sometimes and it just... happens!" He tries to hold back the urge to scream, they're in a library after all.

Parker hums quietly to himself, looking back down at the book.

"I'm sorry, okay? We can... go somewhere else, I guess—"

Parker clears his throat,
"Monster funerals, technically speaking, are cool as heck. When monsters get old and kick the bucket, they turn into dust. At funerals, we take that dust and spread it on that person's favorite thing. Then their essence will live on in that thing..."

He looks back up from the book to see Chester staring in awe.

"I'm sure you've probably heard something like that before from relatives or something. Here, I found another one." Parker smiles, handing him back the red book and opening an orange one next.

"Because they are made of magic, monsters' bodies are attuned to their SOUL. If a monster doesn't want to fight, its defenses will weaken. And the crueler the intentions of our enemies, the more their attacks will hurt us. Therefore, if a being with a powerful SOUL struck with the desire to kill..." Parker's voice grows quiet.
"Uhm... this one is a little dark."

Turning around, he puts the book back on it's correct shelf and looks through the lime colored books next.

Chester is feeling many emotions, most he can barely even describe.

"Ah, here's another cool one!" Parker beams, flipping open the book.

"Fearing the humans no longer, we moved out of our old city, HOME. We braved harsh cold, damp swampland, and searing heat... Until we reached what we now call our capital. NEW HOME. Again, our King is really bad at names....?"
They both laugh at the last part, who would've thought monster books would have comedy in it?

"Another one! Another one!" Chester requests in-between laughing.

Without looking at the book title, Parker flips open a green book and starts reading.

"Love, hope, compassion... This is what people say monster SOUL's are made of. But the absolute nature of SOUL is unknown. After all, humans have proven their SOUL's don't need these things to exist."

Parker's smile slowly fades, eventually disappearing completely.

Chester seems to be just as uncomfortable.

"Uh... I-I think that's going to be it for reading, at least for today." Parker sniffles awkwardly, putting the book back and beelining it to the door.

"H-Hey, wait up!" Chester calls out, forgetting about keeping his voice at a whispering level.

The old lady at the counter sighs sadly.
"That poor boy..."

Chester doesn't understand what she means by that, but continues walking out anyway without asking questions.

By the time he walks out the door, Parker is already about ten feet away from him.

"Dude, slow down!" Chester hollers, having to run in order to catch up.

"H-Hey, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly acting weird?" Chester asks, worried he might start yelling any second now.

Parker stops walking, looking down at the snow.

"Do... Do you wanna go somewhere? It's away from everyone so you don't have to worry about any danger." Parker mumbles.

Chester opens his mouth to speak, but....

"Yes? Great, let's go." Parker forces a smile, then continues to walk forward.

Chester didn't dare to ask any more questions. Instead, he only silently follows closely from behind.