(no subject)
Who: Leo & other people
When: October
Where: Various places
What: This is a catch all log for October things
Rating: G?? Most likely.
When: October
Where: Various places
What: This is a catch all log for October things
Rating: G?? Most likely.
estinien;
it's most likely not all that serious, but he can't stop thinking of everything he does with a political mindset. they're at war here, after all, even if he's among alleged allies. once more, leo grimaces at the fact that he's fighting a war that has nothing to do with him, that he's playing on someone else's terms, that he's essentially (and practically) a disposable pawn on a chessboard. it doesn't sit well. it's been two months, but it still doesn't feel any better to think about. so leo chases the thought away before his mood sours and knocks on the door.
it's three firm raps. then he takes a step back and waits. ]
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"Alberic needs assistance in the Observatorium." (name shortened for my sanity)
"Svara is terrorising Camp Dragonhead again." (of course this one gets a normal name)
"Nidhogg's eyes are burning holes into Daniffen's Collar, I must break into the Vault and steal the Eye and then run around Coerthas with it." (he regrets this one)
"The Warrior of Light thinks we should talk to the dragons, and while that is a fool's idea, I like pissing off the Holy See so I'm willing to try it." (some regrets were had, but in general it went somewhat okay.)
"Also the Warrior of Light says we need this evil dragon eyeball to blow a hole through a barrier, so I need to go where there are computers and robots." (he's going to regret this one eventually)
In the end, he wasn't in his room. But he was coming up the stairs at the time of the knock, preparing to stuff his new clothing in the chest for storage. He stops when he sees Leo, raising an eyebrow. ]
Waiting for someone?
[ He might have forgotten the letter, actually. He probably dismissed it as something that was sent out of some weird form of politeness, never to be acted upon. ]
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Yes, but it seems like that person isn't waiting for me.
[ it has been a little while since their exchange, after all. he turns to face the other fully, clasping hands behind his back. ]
I was wondering if you were still agreeable to that lunch we talked about.
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He absolutely remembers this, and doesn't at all frown slightly as he definitely doesn't try to remember.
Okay, he does, and he doesn't remember for but a split second before he lets out a brief laugh. ]
Ah, you were serious about that? I would be given those often, and very rarely did they mean anything. [ No, Estinien, you just fucking rejected them all. ] If I said yes, that should be your answer.
[ If he's honest, it's good timing. He's hungry. ]
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Were you shopping? I should have called before showing up here uninvited. What poor manners.
[ it's a lunch date leo. ]
Are you in the mood for anything in particular? This is my treat, after all.
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I was. I've grown tired of others harassing me about wearing armour all day, so I've caved and [ lifting up the pile. ] bought something that is supposedly more suitable.
[ That he might not ever actually wear, who knows—ah, but this is a lunch outing... maybe he should actually change into them already. ]
Have you experienced military rations before? As long as it's not that offensive, I'll be overjoyed.
[ Not that he complains too much about Ishgard's food problem—the city has been under siege for a thousand years—but man, he cannot get enough of the actual food. With real taste. ]
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[ he eyes estinien a little more, at the pile of clothes, and squints a little frown. ]
You don't wear your armor to sleep, I hope.
[ just imagining that is already a little painful. leo knows the feeling of keeping armor on most of the day, but... to sleep in one is almost torture. anyway. he'll take some steps down the stairs, pondering their choices. ]
I've had my fair share of shocking cooking. [ just. cooking assignments in the camp should not be random. at all. ] So I suppose you'll be happy with anything we can buy from a restaurant. How about the Rookery?
i love leo.... so much...... i'm sorry i'm so slow
[ It's... he can't say it's safe here, because there are so many unknowns; Ishgard he knew, he was familiar with all of the crannies and dark corners of the city in the sky, and he knew the highlands even more. Where there were dragons, he still felt more comfortable than he ever could here. However, he knows there's no reason to be decked out in armour here.
If he were sleeping among the stars in Coerthas, as safe and familiar as it is to him, that would be an entirely other story.
...and he'd have to sleep on his face, considering his normal armour is similar to a porcupine. ]
I've heard of it. Good things, mostly. [ His stance shifts, and he's leaning a hand on his hip. ] If you'll allow me a moment, I'll go shove these away.
[ Yeah, he's just planning on shoving them all into a disarrayed pile in the section under his bed. If he's just going to wear them, and thus rumple them up, later what's the point of setting them up nicely?? ]
elise;
the park is beautiful. it's something they would have never find in nohr - flowers in full bloom, green as far as the eye can see. it's a stark contrast with their depressing home, and leo can't help but think elise would much prefer a life here instead.
they come to a small clearing in the deeper part of the park, with a fountain trickling in the center and benches lining its edges. leo stops and places a stack of books on one of the bench before turning to elise. ]
We'll practice here, hopefully without disturbance.
First, why don't you show me what you can do so far?
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she skips towards the bench and comes to a stop somewhat gracelessly, leaning forward with her hands behind her back for a second. ]
Sure! I can do the reaaaaaally basic heal spells, 'cause I tried to learn those first, but I can also do...this!
[ well, he saw her play splash tag once. this time she aims the wavery jet of water at the fountain, frowning with concentration. ]
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We won't go into healing spells, since I know you've probably grasped them well enough on your own. [ she's a healer after all, he trusts her to at least master that part. ]
Have you tried doing anything in the other elements? Like this, for example.
[ casually, leo snaps his fingers, striking up a tiny little flame where they join. ]
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[ that's not what leo meant. ]
But no, I was mostly focused on learning healing stuff! It's still kind of weird to do this stuff without a tome, and I thought maybe it'd be better for someone else to be around before I messed around with fire?
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It's something you'll have to get used to. I took some time to adjust myself, and even now it still doesn't feel quite natural.
Why don't you try it now? Visualize a flame in your mind. Focus heat and mana on your fingertips.
ozymandioooooooooooo;
while leo knows perfectly well that these are times he must put down his pride at least a little bit if he wants to survive, it's much harder to put into practice. of course, the amount of jobs that he wouldn't mind doing and would not make him feel like he's lowering his station. it's been few and far in between. leo would never admit his state of poverty to anybody, though.
this one particular job seems deceptively easy. he didn't believe it at first - who would pay someone else to go on a tour? with food and lodging all paid for? there must be a catch somewhere?
the catch isn't even a catch, technically. only when leo arrives on location that he realizes he needs another person to claim that amount of colle. there's half a mind to go back or call on elise, corrin, or niles to come, but... he scans the area first, setting eyes on a striking man who seems to be here all on his lonesome as well.
carefully, he approaches the stranger and steps up next to him with a subtle angling of his head. ]
Hello. You're not here with anybody else, by any chance?
[ this sounds like he's hitting on you but he's not ok??? ]
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Or, perhaps he's more aware of those around him than he is letting on, for when he's spoken to, he returns just as casually the incline of his head towards the other as he responds. ]
Hello. I am not. Might I assume the same of you?
[ Concerning misinterpretations of being hit on: you're good, Leo-- Ramesses is incredibly full of himself, but it does not extend into making those sorts of assumptions when approached by others. AKA, this isn't the thirsty gold King Servant. Make this approach with another Archer-class Heroic Spirit variant of similar gold description, however, and you could end up having the Night you really never even wanted, nevermind actually tried to ask for. ]
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You would be correct. I didn't expect company to be required of this job.
[ he's watching people milling about in pairs, threesomes, even groups of more than that. here he is, standing with a man he doesn't know, wondering if they would be able to get along for a few hours for the sake of money. ]
It would be to both our benefits to team up for this. How would you like to tour these sights with a complete stranger?
gil;
it only reminds him of the fact that he couldn't be part of citrine - purely for financial reasons, at that. it reminds him that he's a commoner here, that this is the first time in his life that leo struggles for money, of the fact that he couldn't afford something. it's all trivial and superficial in the end, but it doesn't change the fact that his pride is a little injured.
today is the same as well. this time the loud, obnoxious man has stationed himself in front of the library of all places, right at the entrance. clicking his tongue, leo walks up to him and levels a flat stare. ]
You're in the way. Please move.
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You're in my way. Please refrain.
[...and then he turns from him and continues to chat at approximately five hundred decibels above the level of a normal person. Leo only appears to have made the situation worse.]
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You should be the one refraining from such inappropriate behavior in a public place. Take it elsewhere.
[ at least of all three, the librarian has the decency to look a little flustered. leo is standing his ground right here, scowling and this close to plugging up his ear to block out that voice. he's not the only one bothered - with the raised volume there are even more onlookers glancing in their direction.
and gil still hasn't moved from his current position blocking the entrance. he has books to return?? ]
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[Uh-oh. This seems to be escalating an alarming rate. At least the poor worker makes a getaway in the calamity, but Gilgamesh seems... upset. With his prey escaped, he has only Leo to focus on, and there's a lot of rage building in his tone and in his expression that suggests it was foolish to draw his ire.
But surely he wouldn't start a fight in a public area. Surely.]
What is the purpose for your ruckus rousing, mongrel? I've no issue taking those books off your hands and clobbering you over the head with them.
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I see you're having trouble making the distinction between your behavior and others', or you're projecting.
[ who's making a ruckus? it certainly isn't leo. ]
You're welcome to try, but I don't guarantee you'll succeed. You'll just be making more of a fool of yourself than you already are.
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I am a Queen, and one of utmost distinction. Likely I'd sweep you away with the wind before you could so much as blink a traitorous lash.
[Gilgamesh leans in, which is most unfortunate because his breath stinks of too much wine and his grin of too much bravado. If he can't have a date for the evening, he'll settle for target practice for the day—or at least a few minutes until the crying starts.]
If you're critiquing my good standing as a man, then I accept your challenge. You may duel me for the rights to enter this building.
[...yes, he's being entirely serious.]
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he takes a step back simply to get away from that face, face scrunching in distaste. his grip around the books tighten in precaution - because as piss drunk as gilgamesh comes across, there's no telling how much danger he actually poses. ]
Your good standing was compromised the moment you decided to make a spectacle of yourself. Don't worsen it.
[ he doesn't want a fight right here - the library could get damaged. there are onlookers. if anything, he'd much rather stomp gilgamesh's face in where there is no danger of collateral damage... ]
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[So that says plenty about just who Leo's dealing with here. The diplomatic option doesn't seem viable, unfortunately.
Gilgamesh just smiles, seeing Leo back off, and makes a shooing motion with his hands... as if he's addressing some errant dog rather than an actual person. It would appear he has little respect for others and even less for his own dignity, though of course he'd argue to the contrary.]
If you're too cowardly, however, I understand. You may flee with your tail between your legs, as your kind so often does. Heh.
K109;
Her weapon is placed neatly into her storage trunk, tucked under a spare set of linens, and then...
And then, realising she's again left to her own devices, in a place so far from home, Nishiki lets her guard diminish somewhat. There's no one else in the room with her but Koji, a fact that's neither comforting nor discomforting, but she finds herself reacting to it regardless. Sighing, her posture loses some of its ironclad durability, and she ends up looking very small and uncertain. Hands curl over the back of her neck before moving to her face, swiping at her cheeks and over her eyes as she wills herself, breathe.
She misses Soramaru, of course, but she knew she would whenever they ended up going their separate ways. She had imagined differently - his world slowly closing to her, until the day he wakes up and she's simply gone, unwilling to let their time together become something bittersweet and ruinous - but she had imagined so many different things in her life.
She misses her own language, the customs she's used to. But there's no use fixating on that. Nothing can be done about it, except possibly reaching out to others like her.
Maybe she even misses the Kumou shrine, but that would have always been transient. Having her time there be cut short means that her memories will always be something warm, something cherished.
This? This is just work. She can start there.
Nishiki is just able to rebuild her expression as the door creaks open, turning to see - oh. All signs of the uncertainty of moment's ago is gone from her face, but she still manages to look small and slight against the wide, airy room.
Eyebrows jumping, she asks without heat, ] Did you follow me?
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it was a fortunate thing, joining corrin's army, because he didn't have to suffer any of that on the astral plane. they had plenty of provisions for a group of people at war. here, they're at war still. he's a common soldier, a pawn (a queen now, but that means little), being packed up into rooms with others he didn't know, privacy surrendered.
what's worse is, even if he were at war back home as well, leo never had to share a room with a woman. ]
I assure you, I don't have that kind of hobby.
[ kriemhild makes the first move - trotting over to leo's bed and hopping onto it, purring softly while eyeing the newcomers. leo remains at the doorway for a moment longer, staring at the woman he'd met merely hours ago. he watches her carrier curl on the bed that had been vacant up until now - laslow's bed, the one that left without taking anybody with him - and makes the connection.
but even though he makes the connection, he still can't help but feel a little shocked. uneasy, almost.
eventually he does come in, closing the door behind him. the walk to his side of the room is short, and he leaves his coat on the headboard before turning to peer at nishiki again. ]
From the looks of things, I see we're to share a room. [ can you tell he's uncomfortable. sharing a room with a lady... ]
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Nishiki doesn't seem especially affected by his pronouncement. ]
Yes, it looks that way.
[ Although not turning her back on him - she's a bit pathologically suspicious, even now - Nishiki does look away, ostensibly to shoo Koji off her bed. ]
I hope that doesn't bother you, but... I'm very quiet. [ To put it mildly. ] If you prefer, I can be undetectable.
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at least it manages to make him relax a little, taking his seat on his bed and allowing kriemhild to crawl onto his lap. ]
The one whose comfort to worry about is yourself. Does the thought of sharing a room with two men not bother you?
[ there's the other occupant in the room, who is not here at the moment, but the signs of his presence are there. leo glances at his bed for a second, then back at her, gauging her almost empty expression. ]
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No. I've kept worse accommodations.
[ He may have felt the rooms unfit for someone of his stature, but Nishiki has never slept in a bed so comfortable.
She does get what he's implying, of course, but skirts around it. ]
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[ but, you know what. it's not a topic he really feels comfortable talking about. in the end it's all up to nishiki to voice her discomforts if any surfaces. meanwhile...
meanwhile he'll just have to get used to the idea of having a woman in the room. surely it can't be that difficult - elise used to fall asleep on his bed sometimes in the past. it's not the same thing, however. ]
There's little we can do, I suppose. Feel free to request privacy if you need to.
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It's an unexpected display of courtesy, almost startling. For a moment, her expression is less schooled, surprise making itself clear. ]
I... [ She looks away, and then back. ] -- Thank you, Leo. That's kind of you.
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for now, he turns his attention to the unfriendly snake that has made itself a home in the center of the bed, and the way nishiki simply accepts the slight. ]
You're its master. Can't you simply command it to move?
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I didn't realise what he was at first, and reacted defensively to his presence.
[ In layman's terms, she tried to kill it, because that's kind of how she responds to things. Nishiki looks disaffected by this confession, slender shoulders rising in what could be a shrug. ]
I don't think he's eager to do more than the bare minimum for me, now. Not like your companion. [ She nods toward Kriemhild. ]
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Kriemhild has the advantage of looking rather harmless. [ anyone would react defensively towards a snake, he thinks. he doesn't blame her there. ] I'm sure with time, yours would warm up as well.
For the time being, I don't believe carriers are supposed to be dangerous. You can probably move him.
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(That may not have strictly been what Leo meant, but Nishiki has all the grace and compassion of your common variety angry gorilla in certain situations.)
As Koji slithers under the bed, pointedly avoiding Nishiki's watchful, mismatched gaze, something occurs to her. ]
Leo, may I ask you something?
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What is it?
[ finally she's asking questions, he thinks. ]
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Do you think there's a reason why your carrier is so different from mine?
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[ he looks down at kriemhild, then over at the dark space under the bed where her carrier has slithered into. was this mean to be a loaded question, simply because it was a little unexpected. ]
Personalities differ, I presume. I've come across mechanized carriers as well. They are very varied.
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For him: a soft, affectionate cat.
For her: a contentious snake that hides in dark places.
It's difficult not to look at Koji and remember the Orochi's scales trailing down Soramaru's neck like a malicious, thriving rash, and maybe that's why she's so careless with her carrier.
With a sigh, she breaks those thoughts away. Nishiki can't imagine anything more dull for Leo than her getting caught up in her own plaguing notions. ]
Yours resembles you, at least somewhat. I mean, I think so.
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right now he's content just watching her despite the fact that it makes her uncomfortable. that statement does make him look back down at kriemhild, brows furrowing as he tries to find similarities between them
he's got nothing. ]
How so?
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As for his question? Nishiki wouldn't call her hesitance shyness, but there is a certain tinge of something to her reluctance; possibly, she's second guessing her reasoning when he seems so casually bewildered by it. Then again, it's an opinion. Not necessarily shared, but he's interested in her thoughts regardless.
What an odd young man.
... ] Vanity, prettiness, [ that's more of a fact than an opinion, with Nishiki only qualified to measure it in clinical terms - the sum of Leo's features come together like a painting, ] fluidity, observation, self-appreciation, and an underlying ability to inflict harm. That's how.
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the frown smooths back into an expression of amusement soon enough. ]
I don't know if I should feel flattered. Perhaps not, because you're not complimenting me.
[ there's a refreshing feeling nonetheless. leo relaxes and leans his back against the headboard, a pillow cushioning him. ]
Are you going to say that the snake resembles you?
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Surprisingly, her face quirks into a smile: her smile, slight but inarguable. ]
Definitely not.
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[ he doesn't mean to, but there's a smile on his face anyway, mirroring hers. ]
I don't know. Shall we throw you off the bed, to verify?
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Looking over her left shoulder, and then her right - what if someone saw?
...
Leo saw. ]
- no.