[CLOSED] Probably starring Leon as the hamster from Bolt

[mombastic]

Who: One mediator doctor (mombastic), one prissy knight son (discard), one blue-haired failure (gaian) and a partridge in a pear tree
When: IC forward-dated to when Karl gets back from his canon update
Where: Otome's apartment, where no doors will be broken today
What: Leon discovers Karl in Otome's apartment for completely understandable reasons and reacts appropriately. Of course.
Rating/Warning: Hopefully none??

---

[ She's a little tired.

Not as drained as she'd wound up when she'd first tended to Karl's wounds, understandably, but Otome's grateful that work hasn't needed her today (because that also involved avoiding tree roots to the best of her ability). He's not completely recovered, anyway, and she'd rather keep an eye on him until he's back to normal.

Well. Normal for Karl, anyway.

For now, she's merely grateful he's alive - hopefully behaving himself by staying in bed - and she can take a breath as she sinks down on the couch and closes her eyes for a few seconds.

Things will be fine. They just need to calm down first.

Famous last thoughts. ]

Comments

[discard]

[HERE COMES THE PRODIGAL SON--

Okay, no, he's just coming to check on Otome and also bring her a new meal he's been trying to make!!! It's nothing special, he just thought it'd be a good idea that's all.

But he is a good boy.

So he'll knock.

Knock knock.]

[gaian]

[Karl's, uh, not in bed, but he's still in the room (because the only way to get out while avoiding Otome would be jumping out the window, and even he knows that that's a fantastically bad idea in his state??). Does that count?

He's grateful to Otome for... yeah, saving his life, though he also feels guilty that she's given him her bed for this. Right now, mostly, he's just restless, and staying in bed sounds like torture to him even though his lighthead-ness is probably disagreeing as he paces around the room.

AND THEN SUDDENLY A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.]

[mombastic]

[ Well. Her patient - who is totally being a good patient and staying in bed - should be resting now, and Otome blinks towards the door, a tad surprised... but up she goes, and Leon will be greeted with her usual smiling face. ]

Leon! It's good to see you.

[ Well, at least she's always happy to see that grumpy expression. ]

[discard]

[Well, this all seems normal so far.

Leon just nods to the greeting, and steps inside quietly, without much fuss. This is becoming normal, after all.]

Otome, good day.

[HI MOM.]

Am I interrupting anything? [It's the same question he always asks, really, more out of politeness than anything.]

[gaian]

[And then, thanks to a spell of dizziness, Karl trips over something in Otome's room (it might've been air, who knows).]

Damn it...!

[That's more out of general frustration over his current state and being moodier overall, rather than any actual harm done, but.

NOTHING TO SEE/HEAR, CARRY ON WITH YOUR PERFECTLY NORMAL DAY.]

[mombastic]

No, of course n-- [ And Otome pauses, tilting her head... before she frowns unhappily. ]

... Ah, so he's not resting at all, is he...

[discard]

[.......... Okay so nothing is fine at all.

Leon's brows immediately draw together.]

"He"?

[gaian]

[Wow, Leon, Otome's allowed to have guys in her apartment??

Anyway, Karl is (momentarily) flopping onto the bed now because his head is spinning, so look, he's resting now. Sort of.]

[mombastic]

[ She just normally doesn't, Leon's bafflement is perfect understandable-- but Otome sighs softly, before she heads towards her room, beckoning Leon to follow. ]

It's a bit of a long story, but I'm taking care of someone right now.

[discard]

[...... Yeah that seems like a bit of a long story.

He follows uncertainly, eyes narrowed.]

Who, exactly, are you taking care of?

[gaian]

[No, Otome, stay away!!

Karl knows he's probably at least mildly in trouble because he obviously wasn't resting, and so, resigned to his fate, he remains on the bed. This way, he's at least not presently doing anything Otome will lecture him for, right...?

... Also, is that Leon? Actually, Karl's going to sit up now, even if it makes his head swim more.]

[mombastic]

[ Well, when Otome opens the door, the sight of Karl is probably answer enough. But just in case it isn't, she's propping her hands on her hips and-- ]

Karl. Didn't we go over that you're still in no condition to be pushing yourself?

[discard]

[What a happy reunion this all is!!

Leon remains in the doorway, expression flat and incredibly unamused.]

Oh.

It's you.

[Looks like he's still unhappy with Karl himself!]

[gaian]

[When Karl spots Leon at the doorway, he waves and smiles, as if Leon isn't being a dick.]

Hey, Leon. I hope you're doing well today.

[Aaaaand then he looks at Otome with a guiltier look.]

Yes...

[And, uh, he has no excuse.]

[mombastic]

[ Otome is just going to gently rest a hand on Leon's back - please don't wreck him - but her expression is just as displeased. Which is actually pretty rare, for Otome, but then again, she'd fought way too hard to keep Karl alive only to have him threaten his own recovery.

She's not mad, she's disappointed. ]

Then, I'd like an explanation. Or am I not worth listening to?

[discard]

[Leon just crosses his arms and frowns (it's a pout, he's definitely pouting), but he shuts up, at least. This is Otome's deal, clearly, and...

Well, Leon also has no desire to answer Karl's statement as it is.

Good luck, Karl.]

[gaian]

[Karl's looking increasingly like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, except he's typically not in this kind of situation to begin with, so he as no idea how to handle it.]

N-No, that's definitely not it...! I just... I'm sorry. I don't have an excuse.

[mombastic]

[ ... Well, Leon probably doesn't need to actually look around the place and see all of the bloody things she's still in the process of taking care of, so even if Otome doesn't look all that mollified, she clears her throat and speaks in the tone of one who Will Not Be Disobeyed. ]

Let's move into the living room. You can rest on the couch, but I'd like to explain to Leon what's happened, and I'd rather do it somewhere I can keep an eye on you.

[ Because clearly you don't listen if she leaves you on your own. ]

[discard]

[Leon's still really unhappy about this situation for the record!!!

But.

Well.

The promise of getting to learn later about what's going on here is enough to placate him for now.

He just immediately turns on his heel to go to the living room. You guys are on your own.]

[gaian]

[Karl makes a face for a split-second, because he's not five years old, thank you—but he knows why Otome has decided he needs supervision, so he doesn't protest.]

All right.

[Slowly, he gets up from the bed, before making his way to the doorway.]

[mombastic]

[ You did this to yourself, Karl!! And for as wearily exasperated as Otome as right now, she's at least still sticking close to support him through any more bouts of dizziness and making sure he gets to the couch safely.

Okay. This is fine, probably. ]

Leon, would you like anything? Tea, water?

[discard]

No.

[Immediately.

And then there's a brief pause.

And more quietly:]

... Thank you.

[HE IS TRYING... to be politeish.]

[gaian]

[Everything is fine.

... But aw, Leon. Karl's going to smile softly at that, because even if he figures Leon will never like him, it's sweet to see him being nice(ish) to Otome.]

[mombastic]

[ This is but one sign that Leon cares, and honestly, it makes Otome very happy just to see faint signs of it, that he's finally grown comfortable around her.

... Not so much around Karl, but she'll just let that slide. Leon isn't aggressively hissing or anything, so it's probably fine. ]

Well then, to explain this... I found Karl collapsed outside. He'd lost a lot of blood, and I didn't think I could stabilize him long enough to get him to the hospital so I brought him here for emergency treatment. He's been recovering since then.

[ This is the Abridged Version, but it hits all the main points well enough. ]

[discard]

[Leon definitely has no intentions of liking Karl, good thing you know that, Karl!!!

Leon just leans against the wall, arms crossed as he watches Karl move, much like a suspicious cat in someone's house, watching a stranger.]

...Hmph.

[Thanks for that input, Leon.]

What happened, exactly? [That's to Karl. Why were you bleeding...]