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Who: Leon and Stahn, the failure duo, plus Otome the Intervention
When: IC: 4/30ish ; OOC: 1/1
Where: Walking home, residential district
What: Stahn and Leon are stupid and incapable of discussing canon Issues. Otome's here to help.
Rating/Warning: Dumb tales losers

[Things have been tense from the moment they arrived.

No matter what the topic, and no matter what the situation, it always seemed to end in them butting heads. And nothing like how it used to be. They have always argued. It's just how they are. But this sort of...cold, fierce arguing, as though there is no common ground to be found--it's strange for them.

Leon doesn't like it, truly, but he doesn't know how to fix it, either. There's too much to even begin approaching it, and so instead more and more gets shoved under the rug as they try to cope with things that they never should have had to.

He's never been good at this. And while he knows that he's just hurting Stahn further, he can't seem to stop.

And that's why they're standing in the middle of the sidewalk, arguing again. And it's yet another stupid argument, but really it's just the superficial revealing just how frustrated they really are.]

There is no reason for it, Stahn! [Ah yes, there's Leon, being pissy as ever, much like the fussy angry black cat he is.] I don't require your constant presence, regardless of what you might think!

[Ah yes...here they are, arguing over...eating dinner together. That's normal.]

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Eating with other people is always better, but...

[ Otome trails off, gaze distant for a few short seconds. It's difficult to explain having two-- no, three sets of memories, one where she'd had a daughter. One where she hadn't had a daughter, hadn't lived beyond a certain day. And the current memory, where she'd remembered adopting her cousin when her parents had died, but in this world, that had changed, and meals had become bittersweet sensations that clogged her throat and made it hard to swallow.

But none of this is worth mentioning, and she pushes herself to her feet with a faint smile. ]

I'll see what I can order. Do you have any preferences?

[when otome says that, stahn can't help but to arch a brow curiously, but he says nothing. he won't forget it though, the look on her face and the way she didn't finish that statement...

there's something else there. and it's painful, and maybe lonely too. obviously, she's not going to burden them with her troubles after what they've been through today but all the same, it concerns him. so stahn files that away for when they're alone, because it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing to bring up in any other circumstances.]

Hmmm... [he pauses, trying to get back onto the important topic here.] I'm not picky. Maybe Leon wants something, otherwise... Just none of the things I mentioned last time.

[no spicy, no sour, light on vegetables (and definitely no carrots or peppers).]

[Leon's not quite aware enough to process that, but he does look up (finally) when Stahn brings that up. He can't sulk all night, after all, and--]

"Last time"?

[He can't help but arch an eyebrow at that, because now he feels like he's missing something.]

Mm-hm, about that-- [ Oh look, Leon's talking again! Some things still come as a sharp relief.

Although it's strange to be concerned over him not offering caustic or annoyed remarks. ]

Some time ago, we were just discussing food, and preferences came up.

Mm.

[stahn nods on in agreement.] When I first brought lunch to work... Otome helped me decide on where to go.

[well, a lot of people did, and that's why he'd brought so much food, but she came up with the suggestion that suited them best.]

[... .. ..... "Preferences".

His preferences is what he's deriving from this, even if it's not being stated flat outright. Stahn was asking people about food to find something that would fit his taste.

After a long pause, he buries his face in his tea again, though this time it's more out of a mix of embarrassment and uncertainty than anything.

He never knows how to handle Stahn showing that much care.]

Actually, that might not be a bad idea. Would sandwiches work? You'll have to tell me the toppings you prefer, but that way, no one has to try eating something they don't like.

[ If Leon doesn't drown himself in his tea first. ]

I don't mind. You can just get me the same as whatever you like, Otome.

[that probably makes it easier. he didn't get himself a sandwich last time, so he hasn't tried a lot of them, still. he may as well see what kind of things she likes—being willing to try anything once has perks at times like these.]

[Leon might drown himself in his tea first. Farewell cruel world.

... Okay, no, he recognizes that his input is necessary here, but he doesn't really...want anything spectacular out of this. He barely feels able to eat, though their appetites will probably be back by the time dinner actually arrives.]

... I don't want much. Something simple is fine.

[Be kind to his granny tastebuds.]

So nothing too spicy and no vegetables for at least one of us... all right! Give me just a minute, and I'll put an order in.

[ Which she will do as she steps into the kitchen, so Stahn can be... pleasantly(??) surprised with whatever he ends up with. She'll be merciful to Leon, too. ]

[what a pal.

of course, in the meanwhile... stahn is just waiting silently, idly running his fingers through his hair. he lets out a quiet sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. now that it's quiet? he's exhausted.]

[Sorry, Stahn. You're not going to find much of a conversationalist in Leon right now, so they're both just going to be sitting in tired silence for a bit.

But after a long moment of looking into his tea, Leon does speak up. He's had a little bit of time to stew over some of what Stahn said, but there's one thing that's still niggling at him. He doesn't want to start an argument. He doesn't want to dig back into topics that they're already both exhausted by. And he doesn't want to get into an involved discussion or argument when Otome will probably be right back.

So it's just a simple question.]

Stahn.

Then Rutee... she accepted what I told her?

[She accepted that Leon is her brother? It's a simple question, but it's a question that has so many deeper meanings to it. Leon... really had had no idea if Rutee would believe him or not. She honestly had no reason to. But... from what Stahn's been saying, she really did.

And he's not sure how to feel about that.]

[honestly, he wasn't expecting for leon to even ask a question right now, so he's quick to open his eyes back up and look at leon directly for this.

this question... it's an important one.]

Yeah. [it's a simple answer, though there's more to it. the truth is that rutee has never outright said that, but he can tell in the way her resolve has changed. he can tell from the way she grieved against him, and the way she wants to go after hugo now. she wanted to before, but now it feels so much more personal. he was her father, and that man had allowed leon to get wrapped up in it and die.

she wouldn't have that resolve if she didn't accept it. even if admitting it out loud isn't something she's ready to do yet, stahn knows that rutee absolutely will at the right moment.]

It took her a while... and she held it in for so long while she tried to figure it all out. But... she definitely believes in it now.

[It's really strange. He doesn't know why he feels so much relief at that--but he does. The fact that she accepted it...the fact that Rutee accepted that they're related is sincerely important to Leon. That holds too many implications to him to really dig too deeply into it right now, admittedly. For someone who has scoffed at the idea of family for so long (to protect himself, because family has only ever hurt him), it sure is strangely important to him that his sister believes him.

But those are thoughts for another time.

For now, he just nods quietly, falling silent again and once again returning to his tea. But there's slightly less tension in his shoulders now, because... well, he's kind of relieved.]

... I see.

[That's all he needed, really. For now, that's all he wanted to know.]

[ Leon's right in that it really won't take Otome long at all, even though she's pausing in the kitchen to listen for any relapses into arguing-- but no, it seems like things have settled enough, or just that both boys are too tired to pursue anything further.

But she steps back into the room, stretching her arms over her head. ]

We've got about twenty minutes to wait, but they're working on it!

[there's no arguing this time, at least. they're pretty good on that front, and stahn isn't going to try and press the issue this time. leon asked a simple question, stahn gave the answer in the simplest way he could manage answering.

he still feels exhausted, but with otome back in the room, he does his best to try and sit up a little straighter and offers what little he can.]

I can pay for the food. We've caused you a lot of trouble already, right? Let us make it up to you this way. [yeah, he makes that offer on behalf of leon, too. even if stahn's the one willing to pay out of pocket here. he kind of has a feeling his offer may not be one she takes... but stahn would feel bad not offering at least that much.]

[Nope, no arguing, even Leon is too tired to put up a big fuss, and that's when you know they're tired. He doesn't even twitch at Stahn's offer or at him involving Leon either.

There are small battles and there are big battles and there are times when there shouldn't be any battles at all AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES.]

Mmmm... nope! [ A very cheerful refusal, yes. ] I was the one who involved myself, so you don't need to feel obligated about anything.

[ Not about troubling her, or yelling in her home, or anything like that. ]

I kind of thought you might say that.

[he laughs, tiredly (and maybe a bit gratefully that leon isn't arguing), and stahn's shoulders slump a bit.]

I figured I should offer anyway. Even if you did involve yourself, it's just that kind of thing. [they were making stress and trouble for her, regardless. because they hadn't been able to handle things on their own, even if they should have.]

[Finally, he's piping up! Is it to offer up anything of use?]

You did involve yourself. It was unnecessary, you know.

[Of course not.]

Which is why I'm treating you to dinner, to make up for my entirely unnecessary involvement.

[ SHE SAYS... without even batting an eyelash or losing her smile. ]

Leon...

[even though otome can clearly handle herself, this is!! not the time!! to be petulant!!]

[God, Otome is too much for him at literally all times. Leon's too flummoxed to be able to respond to her (she rolls with things so easily), so poor Stahn gets the brunt of his remaining snappishness when he says his name.]

What.

[ Look, she just knows how to roll with the tsun, it's hardly any big trial for her. But she'll just wave a hand casually for now. ]

It's all right, Stahn. I don't mind.

Ah.... okay. All right.

[he's not really fazed by leon snapping at him, since that's pretty tame compared to their recent blowouts, but... hm.

he just doesn't think otome deserves to be treated that way when she's trying so hard for the both of them. but if she insists, he can't argue it, right?]

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discard - 2016-01-05 20:47 (UTC) - Expand

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