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He could only stare quietly for a moment as he schemed some manner of way to get his hands on a few lottery tickets. This kid was too lucky for him to just forget about it. Hideo didn't seem to get it though. The Blackadder boy didn't care that he had lost, because clearly something weird was going on here. This was like some cheating that he would do at... pretty much anything.
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''Something else,'' he said slowly, the wheels of his flabbergasted mind turning. Perhaps another game would help in testing if the blind boy had something peculiar going on about him. Andy thought back to his time in the air. A part of his thought process wished he had had more time to look around before being interrupted.
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''You know, that ain't a bad idea. I saw a hoops game nearby. Why don't he try that?'' While not the same thing as target shooting, throwing the ball into through a hoop required a similar visual coordination. For a moment he almost reached for Hideo's hand, but then gave the hatterene a look. No. She could do it. Andy didn't want to scrub off whatever magic was on the other boy.
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Turning, he led the way, his ghostly entourage following him. Epitaph handed off the stuffed pysduck to the phantump who lovingly snuggled it. The gengar looked slightly unsettled that he had made another living being happy. Weaving through the crowd with an occasional glance back to make sure he hadn't lost anyone, they were soon in front of another stand.
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''Two tries please,'' he said, once again paying himself before turning his attention towards Hideo. ''This time you can go first.'' This was less about scouting his competition and more about seeing just how many times lighting could strike for the younger trainer. If he aced this, Andy would do whatever it took to make it into something profitable.
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For the both of them of course.

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''Andy,'' he said shortly and sharply to the ginger, Zac Ramsay. As he recalled, the man was a gym leader, but there was something about him from this brief interaction that seemed a little … off. Did he actually intend to build a tower to the mythical 'heaven' or literally the stars, colloquially known as the heavens? Really either was insane.
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''Get him a mouth guard, he has a bad habit of taking dicks to the face.'' angelo vestri's quip distracted him from his completely logical observations, and from his worry that Doug was involved in this. The last thing he wanted was for him to run out of oxygen at however many thousands of feet up and die, even if he was being a wuss about some stinky megalopolan.
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He noticed John Sullivan looking at him for a moment, but averted his own gaze, unsure of just how the older teen felt, still. Now he didn't want to feel like he was letting him down again, even if the goal was absolutely stupid. With a frustrated huff, he drew a pokeball and beamed out he own heatran. The molten frog looked a little perplexed at the scene before turning his gaze to his trainer.
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''Lend them your vomit or whatever it is you do and build on this project, for now at least'' The heatran blinked a couple of times, then looked around again at what was going on, then back to Andy. ''Heatran...'' And it lumbered away to join the others. The Galarian boy wondered if it couldn't believe what was being attempted here either.
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Which suddenly reminded him!
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Drawing his rotomphone, he typed furiously to Aedan Quigley:
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yo. u want to go to space?

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The urge to facepalm had to be resisted at the worker's reminder for Hideo to actually open their eyes. The Galarian feared they would be found out fairly quickly at this rate. It seemed it wasn't suspicious enough for any serious scrutiny. Craning his neck, Andy looked to see if the other boy actually did. It would also be a lie if he said he wasn't curious about what his eyes looked like.
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The green eyes looked somewhat... unusual, at least to him. It made him wonder if he kept them closed because someone had mentioned this to him at some point. It was obviously that they were unseeing, like dead eyes but less glossy. Suddenly he remembered the champion from the aftermath of Mauville, and his face sank into a hallow frown.
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Hideo's actions quickly pulled him away from getting too absorbed in such foul revelry however. After his eyes he didn't hold the gun properly either, and Andy thought he should have gone up to coach him some more like some seeming older brother just trying to help. This pang only grew when the buzzer sounded and Hideo missed the first shot.
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Man. I don't want him to feel terrible about this. But then, a ding. And another! What? And another. And another. ''What the fuck...'' Andy mumbled under his breath. He gawked as a blind kid was acing this shooting gallery and as he kept going Andy's mouth just kept falling more and more agape. He and Epitaph exchanged stunned glances.
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The gengar couldn't believe it either.
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''Drifblim!'' His pokemon cheered the apparent expert marksman, his other two joined the chorus. ''Phantump! Phan!'' The little stump twirled in the air. ''Duuaahh'' The duskull growled a creepy, but none the less enthusiastic, encouragement as well. Since this was their first encounter, none of them knew Hideo was blind.
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The music stopped and the preteen was having the time of his life.
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What in the good fucking shit...'' Andy blinked as the giggling boy rejoined him. Does he have a mudsdale shoe up his ass or has he been fucking with me this whole time...? At first he didn't say anything to Hideo, casting a suspicious glance at the hatterene before looking back to the boy. He swung at him, stopping somewhere around six inches from his face.
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Hideo didn't flinch.
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This prompted a slew of other faux assaults to see if he got any involuntary reactions from his young friend, but not one occurred. Once again he and Epitaph exchanged perplexed gazes before he returned his attention to Hideo. If he was faking it, he was very good. There had to be some trick. There had to be. Was it the hatterene? What if it wasn't?
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''What age can you buy lottery tickets here?''

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''Slap it down!'' With an anchor shot the dhelmise pounded a donphan into the dirt. Having never encountered a dhelmise before, Andy had to admit he was very impressed with its power. It definitely matched the pokemon's imposing height. Meanwhile his frillish was having issues with a gligar, spraying a water pulse at it through the air.
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''Frill!'' With a faint attack the flying creature doubled back to deliver a nasty slap to the frillish, sending the jelly fish spiraling backwards onto the dirt. ''King Louie,'' Andy called from his perch. ''Willow! Help his majesty out!'' The trevenant's mono eye swung to the offending, flying pest.
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''Treeev.'' A shadowy portal similar the once from whence they all came appeared under the tree, and after falling into it, the pokemon sprung from under the gligar through his phantom force to hammer it down to the ground. Before the adolescent could demand a finishing move however, the ground nearby the boy and his anchor erupted.
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A graveler sprung up through the air towards the teenager. Perhaps the pokemon had just gotten lucky in his digging, or perhaps he sought to strike at the head of this concerted defense. As the rock monster reared back in the zenith of his now falling attack on the trainer, he froze in mid-air. Its eyes widened in confusion. A dark smoke appeared around Andy.
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''Gengar!'' Flowing out of the boy's shadow onto the opposite side of the ship's wheel that made up dhelmise's head, the white, glistening gengar grinned maliciously at the offending creature. Using poltergeist the graveler's attack had been halted and now the poor thing hung there waiting to be batted from the dig site like a baseball.

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While obviously a big fan of ghost pokemon, the pysduck was a pokemon that he had always found endearing. Perhaps he wouldn't even mind owning one. None the less, it was just a game, and obviously they weren't shooting real psyducks. It was just a play one some manner of real life hunting. Psyduck probably tasted amazing as well. He couldn't remember if he had had any.
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What was more concerning as they came to stand before the booth, was exactly how this was going to work. Andy had been so preoccupied with just getting the other boy to this point that he had overlooked the obvious issue with a blind person using a gun. It was just a BB gun, but still... While nothing ergonomically prevented this from happening, how was he going to see the target?
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''Is there a reason for that I wonder?'' A smart response to his friend's musing perhaps, but he was starting to become a little anxious. Even his eyes were closed. Would the attendant say anything, he wondered. ''Alright. I'll uh, give it a shot.'' Would Hideo get the pun? It was fairly cringeworthy. He could feel his gengar squirm a little around him.
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''Two attempts please,'' he said, unhitching himself from the younger boy and stepping up to the counter proper. With the exchange of some pocket change, the carnie handed over the BB gun and explained the rules. ''Alright kid. At the bell you can start shooting. Give it a pump before each shot to charge the rifle with a little air. There's twenty targets. When you hear the buzzer, time's up. Got it?''
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''Got it.'' Taking the faux weapon in hand, he readied up, leaning on the counter and giving it a preemptive pump. Having experienced an actual firearm with Moana Reyes before, he handled this toy with plenty of confidence. The attendant rang the bell, and a little psyduck appeared somewhere on the back of the stall, slowly moving from its spawning point to one side or the other.
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DING!
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The first was moving slowly enough but Andy would find out they got faster and faster. Much to the worker's surprise, Andy's gengar and duskull both materialized to observe their trainer's attempt with the other two. After thirteen more dings, the buzzer sounded and hesitantly the Galarian lowered the BB rifle. It wasn't bad for a first try, but of course he would have preferred twenty ducks.
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''Pretty decent, kid.'' The last thing he wanted to be known as was 'the pretty decent kid.' Fishing a stuffed psyduck off the shelf, he handed it across the counter to him. It was immediately handed off to Epitaph, who eyed it with some suspicion for some reason. ''Maybe you'll do even better on your second crack at it, eh?''
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''Second shot ain't for me.''

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Sprout came back to him, but it was curious why he wouldn't have stayed with Hideo if he was comfortable. What was more curious was how soothing his young friend was to what was essentially the spirit of a dead child haunting a stump. It was decided it was probably for the best not to mention that fact to the boy. Although if he ever died himself and had the misfortune to come back as a ghost pokemon, he was looking for Hideo.
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At the pulse of regenerative light, the drifblim waved his arm in amazement. The pain was gone! Andy ducked a bit to avoid being brained by the flailing appendage. The pollen puff was icing on the cake and the balloon spun in place happily that he was finally back to one hundred percent, and so quickly too . His trainer also couldn't help but crack a genuine smile.
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''Drifblim! Drifblim!'' It was going to hover over and give out hugs until Andy put an arm out to block the movement. ''Don't get carried away Zepp. They can just as easily undo that healing.'' The drifblim deflated a little, but still waved his four arms in gratitude, still not realizing that the other human couldn't see it. Hideo hadn't forgotten Andy in light of the pokemon's joy.
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''Yeah. I'm abfab, just a little annoyed.'' And then he moved right along to why he was in the sky in the first place. ''Oh yeah. I saw and know exactly how to get there.'' With all the excitement he had almost forgotten. Much like what the dance lessons some days before, he offered to guide Hideo, but this time he tapped his elbow thinking arm in arm might be more appropriate given the festival and the many people that were crammed in it around them.

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Perhaps a minute or so was spared to wait for Remiel Calcifet before Andy grew impatient and went looking for his less coincidentally murderous friend. For the briefest of moments he considered using drifblim once more, but he didn't wish to draw the ire of some other confused patron. Not to mention his balloon pokemon was still nursing his dragon-mauled appendage.
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''Drifblim...'' It whined. The youth patted the wispy tuft on top of his inflated body. ''I know, Zepp. Remi should be fixing this, but we'll see if one of Hideo's pokemon can do something.'' With a hand pressed against its back, he guided his injured blimp through the crowd back to where he had left the other boy. Hopefully no one else had distracted him from waiting with their presence.
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''Yo.'' It hadn't taken him long to navigate the sea of people. Of course he halted immediately at the sight of the pre-teen snuggling his phantump. Hopefully he hadn't gotten any splinters. ''Wow. I see you two have gotten along smashingly.'' He didn't get to revel in the moment for long. ''Drif. Drifblim.'' Desperate for relief, his pokemon nudged him.
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''I was getting there Zepp. Geez.'' Though it was hard to be mad at the creature's saddened gaze. ''There was a ... misunderstanding. Someone thought Zeppelin was carrying me away and set their bastard dragons on him. Can any of yours cure the poor lad?'' The drifblim hovered a little closer to the kid. ''Drifblim! Drifblim...'' Andy patted the him again.

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Was he too smart for lies, or just smart enough to lie? The boy didn't know. Lies came often he found. Telling the truth only made people mad. Sometimes it seemed like that was what adults saved the truth for; when they wanted to make someone mad. Yet that was all grown ups said they wanted. The truth. Being grown didn't make any sense.
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He didn't want to grow up.
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''I'm sorry, mummy.'' He mopped at his face with his sleeve. She made a good point. His grandfather would have harsh words if he saw his grandson bawling. Blackadder boys were made of sterner stuff, every bit as cunning and vicious as their namesake. Or at least that was the family he wanted to be part of. Hang everyone else.
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When his mother asked if he had eaten, the child merely shook his head, looking up from under his pout. He wasn't all that hungry, but he could go for a snack. Perhaps a tart, or a scone with a bit of Earl Grey would hit the spot. Yet he didn't ask, thinking that if he did so, he would more or less guarantee that he wouldn't get it.

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After the initial assault, the offending lizard seem perplexed. When it abandoned him via phantom force Andy's eyes narrowed. Did that mean...? Either way he seemed content to have freed himself from whatever was going on there, and briefly wondered if something was going on down below. Team Rocket was back, would they attack this festival?
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''Drif! Drif!'' His pokemon began to attempt to flail while also carrying him. It made the bottom fall out of his stomach. ''Zepp! Zepp, what the hell?'' Trying to overcome his own panic, a little dreepy projectile had circled back and was gnawing at one of the drifblim's appendages. ''Oi! Piss off you little blighter!''
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He had forgotten that these were entirely another pokemon. Attempting to swat at it caused his balloon mount to spin and panic. It was a good thing the dragapult had abandoned its attack. He couldn't imagine trying to deal with both of these at the same time. So intense was the moment at this altitude, that he didn't notice the ambassador's appearance until he spoke.
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''Looking around! What are you doing?!'' It was then after the dreepy ceased his pestering, that a moment of perception allowed him to notice the dragapult again. ''Are you trying to get me killed!?'' The prince warned that he was scared people. Andy crossed his arms over his chest despite being carted around. His drifblim stabilized but didn't move.
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''Good. If the bastards can't love me, let them fear me,'' he jeered. ''Giratina's gooch, a lad can't do anything fun around here without someone meddling.'' His altitude was beginning to decrease slowly. ''Drifblim...'' The boy looked up at his ponderous steed. ''Alright Zeppelin, let's go dirt side in a flash.'' His attention returned to Remiel.
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''Let us continue this bitchfest on the ground.'' A portal appearing under him, Andy utilized his own phantom force to emerge back within the crowd, much to their surprise.

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''Sounds like a plan.'' Looking around, he only saw other people though. The festival was packed, especially near the stage. ''I tell you what, I'll have a look about and see if I can spot all the games. Sprout here can get me back to you in a flash if you don't mind having him along, eh?'' The little phantump did a spin as it hovered in the air, not realizing it would go unseen.
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''Phan! Phantump.'' It hovered up by the little ribombee to wave at it, hoping to join its company. ''Don't let anyone steal my shiny little Sprout, Hideo. I hear some people are freaks about shiny pokemon.'' The stump quickly hovered behind the younger boy as if to hide. ''Tump! Phantump!''
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''Heh. Meet back up with you soon.'' His eyes were cast up to his drifblim. ''Zepp, lets crack on with it. High as you please.'' The balloon pokemon lowered slightly as he had before to wrap his appendages around his trainer. ''Drifblim.'' Andy slowly lifted off from the ground and over the crowd, drawing the eyes of the audience again.
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Epitaph disappeared into his shadow, and Monocle just disappeared as it desired, one of the abilities of duskulls. Up and up he floated, until he had a commanding view of the festival. The Galarian boy was no stranger to heights thanks to his yanmega, Ravana, being his first ever pokemon, but now that he was floating along so slowly, he started to really think about it.
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''Maybe ditch some of the altitude Zeppelin? I think I see the game stand Hideo was talking about.'' He squinted, but noticed something else stirring from the sea of people and pokemon. There was a dragapult coming right at them. Blinking, Andy wondered what that was about? Was it Spectress with some urgent matter? He couldn't really tell dragapults apart yet.
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Then a dreepy came rocketing at them.
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''Arceus' asshole! Fucking evasive maneuvers!'' With a tailwind to guide him, the drifblim juked the first rocket and then the second. ''Driblim!'' Why was he being rocketed all the sudden. ''What the fuck is your problem!?'' he yelled at the dragapult. He hadn't expected any rogue pokemon to be in attendance.

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He saw Hideo's smirk disappear, and felt the smallest tinge of regret. It seemed that his friend still wasn't quite used to him at higher levels of intensity. Part of him wondered what he would think if he saw him at his worst, as Doug had. Would it end up the same? Was that even his worst? Probably not. Even so, he had meant everything in jest here. Adults always spoke with empty words.
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Maybe he's not old enough to get me, he mused even though the boy was only two years younger than himself. But then the journey from pre-teen to adult was one that was rife with many changes. It's good of him to try to be so diplomatic, I guess... Perhaps Hideo would make a better politician than he would a ranger.
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''Chastity police?'' Hideo was just a kid. There was something about this 'Mr. Ki' Andy couldn't quite put his finger on. But what was it? Then he made an excuse to leave anyway. The mention of both a 'date' and a male pronoun put the pieces together. Had he set off the stranger's gaydar too? Maybe that was why he was trying to get a rise out of him.
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''Good luck with your cow, weirdo.''

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As expected, his guest was quite impressed. Part of it was to indulge his pride, showing off like this. No matter where you went, there were always people of limited means. It was odd, as really he didn't feel as if he were better than Aedan, as a human being at least. If he did he wouldn't have bothered inviting him here in the first place. But here the other boy was oohing and ahhing and running into him.
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''It's the guest room. I just stay here. All this place was my uncle's. Now aunt just kinda wallows in it.'' And even then he didn't stay here all the time. Typically he used his camp more than anything, which while nice for a camp, wasn't all of this. The conversation they held, especially Aedan's particular attention caused the gengar to stir slightly. Casting a half lidded glare he rolled over to face away from them.
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''Kinda,'' he admitted honestly to the ginger's query, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. He didn't have a ton of pokemon yet. Turning to saunter towards the balcony, he waved for Aedan to follow him. Pressing the swooping, curled handle down, Andy stepped outside but didn't quite go all the way to the railing before looking around. The immediate lack of his bug pokemon caused a crease of concern on his face.
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''Rav?'' He noticed the winged shadow on the floor almost as soon as he called her name, and turned to find Ravana lighted on the side of the house, not far above the door. ''Yanmega,'' she greeted cheerfully, wings rising and falling slowly. Andy gustured to further direct his friend's attention. ''This is Ravana, my oldest pokemon. She's often how I travel.''

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Part of him could tell that despite what he was saying, Hideo was really not enthused about climbing the stairs. Really, a big part of the idea was to show his friend his epic rich boy room, where the practicing would also take place. Alas, it now occurred to him that showing anything to a blind person was a bit of a moot point...
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''Aye. This house is voluminous, but there's only really two floors and the cellar. And there's no damn good reason to go back down there again.'' Glancing over his shoulder at the fine staircases, he returned his attention the kid. ''You know, we could do just as smashingly at cutting a rug out on the patio, eh? How's that sound?''
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Andy could at least attempt to be accommodating at times.
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''Might get a tad hot out there though, mate.'' But then he remembered that Hideo was only eleven. ''Right. Suppose you don't really have to worry about sweating too much eh?'' That was a burden Andy would have to bear for the most part. While his guest did have his guide animal, he still knew the house better than any of the three standing there.
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''May I?'' Brushing his fingers against Hideo's he offered to guide him through the massive structure.

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