How wonderful, Alexa! The wonders of the Endless Azure Skies crumble into dust beneath those strong fingers, even as Skotos all but swoons into that multitude of firm arms. This is the shape of the story, after all: an attempted theft, a moment of danger and fear, tension rising, and then salvation. It’s as intense as a drug running through Skotos’s veins.

Can you feel them shiver, Alexa? How they shake and tremble against your stone! How their breath comes suspiciously fast and how, how Skotos leans on you as if their strength had left them!

“Philosophers are the most perilous of scholars,” they quote by rote. “Their experiments cannot be contained within anything less than the sphere of pure logic or the cradle of a world. They alone dare to camp beneath the shadow of Olympus and present their findings to the mighty ones far above, an act which is as much the enticement of the harlot as it is the unveiling of a painting.” Their voice is soft and easy to ignore. Go right ahead! Let danger drown them out. It has no inflection, merely a gentle monotony. “By the graces of philosophy was the Atlas Cultural Sphere raised up above all other cultures, refined and wise, and by the follies of philosophy did Molech bring it crumbling down upon his head.” They do not laugh at the unintended joke. “Philosophy, at its heart, consists of the proposition, which is simply as follows: that it is possible for civilization to more perfectly please the gods through a change in its fundamental principles, whether on a small scale or a grand one.”

They didn’t complain, so it’s absolutely fine, it’s not like they’re trying to make a point about the dangers of speaking to a philosopher, and that is indeed the next step that should be taken.

…but maybe Skotos should be carried over. Yes. Just in case. They’re already right here, Alexa. All you would need to do is scoop them up. It would be so easy. Practically effortless.