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[He's staring at the first text when the second one comes in. Because... why is she so relieved over something like that? He knows, in a way--but he still doesn't think she has any reason to care that much. The fact that she's taken him on as some sort of... cause she must save doesn't mean anything.
It doesn't mean anything.
Or at least, that's what he'll keep telling himself when the second text comes in, and then he's just puzzled.]
For now, yes. [He's also not ready to go back to sleep, but he doesn't know why she's asking.]
It doesn't mean anything.
Or at least, that's what he'll keep telling himself when the second text comes in, and then he's just puzzled.]
For now, yes. [He's also not ready to go back to sleep, but he doesn't know why she's asking.]
Nightmares make me hungry|
[ . . . nah.]
I'm interested in your compan|
[ . . . nope.]
[Lili agonizes over her return text for minutes, putting her phone aside and covering her face with her hands. What can she say? That she's worried? That she wants to confirm for herself that he's alright, just as she had crawled over to Tetora's side after her nightmare when her protector had gotten stabbed? That she's still entirely, incredibly frightened of the idea of Leon not existing?
No, she can't say any of that.]
I am going to the Shopping District if you are doing nothing else.
[ . . . yeah.
If he wants to join her.]
[ . . . nah.]
I'm interested in your compan|
[ . . . nope.]
[Lili agonizes over her return text for minutes, putting her phone aside and covering her face with her hands. What can she say? That she's worried? That she wants to confirm for herself that he's alright, just as she had crawled over to Tetora's side after her nightmare when her protector had gotten stabbed? That she's still entirely, incredibly frightened of the idea of Leon not existing?
No, she can't say any of that.]
I am going to the Shopping District if you are doing nothing else.
[ . . . yeah.
If he wants to join her.]
[Was that...an invitation?
He blinks at it for a long moment, trying to figure that out for himself. No matter how he looks at it, it's an invitation, isn't it? There are quite a lot of mixed feelings there--he's not sure if he's ready to see Lili again after everything they saw and said that day, and he's definitely not sure if he wants the company.
On the other hand... he's not going to fall back asleep here and now.
And...he doesn't want to sit here with his thoughts and stare at the ceiling for the next few hours. Stahn should still be asleep at this hour. It's fine. So he gets up, and gets ready, and grabs Chal to start heading towards the Shopping District--at least...if they meet up, it'll mostly be by accident, right? Totally not him responding to her invitation, he's just going for a stroll.
In the same place.
...And then it strikes him that he never sent a return text.
Oh.
...Oops.]
He blinks at it for a long moment, trying to figure that out for himself. No matter how he looks at it, it's an invitation, isn't it? There are quite a lot of mixed feelings there--he's not sure if he's ready to see Lili again after everything they saw and said that day, and he's definitely not sure if he wants the company.
On the other hand... he's not going to fall back asleep here and now.
And...he doesn't want to sit here with his thoughts and stare at the ceiling for the next few hours. Stahn should still be asleep at this hour. It's fine. So he gets up, and gets ready, and grabs Chal to start heading towards the Shopping District--at least...if they meet up, it'll mostly be by accident, right? Totally not him responding to her invitation, he's just going for a stroll.
In the same place.
...And then it strikes him that he never sent a return text.
Oh.
...Oops.]
[The one saving grace is that if nothing else, Lili is absurdly prideful.
This prideful includes the fact that even though Leon doesn't text her for like five or ten minutes with a response, even though she's starting to think 'oh, he isn't interested in going with me', even though she honestly has no obligation to go to the Shopping District if she's just going to continue to be lonely-
She said she would.
So she does.
Even though she kind of wanted to see him.
At least it's what gets them to cross paths on accident, though admittedly she's stepping out of a store that was still open and she was mindlessly perusing and was honestly considering going back to her apartment now that she sufficiently wasted them and-
Lo and behold, one (1) Leon Magnus.]
.... Oh.
[Hi.]
This prideful includes the fact that even though Leon doesn't text her for like five or ten minutes with a response, even though she's starting to think 'oh, he isn't interested in going with me', even though she honestly has no obligation to go to the Shopping District if she's just going to continue to be lonely-
She said she would.
So she does.
Even though she kind of wanted to see him.
At least it's what gets them to cross paths on accident, though admittedly she's stepping out of a store that was still open and she was mindlessly perusing and was honestly considering going back to her apartment now that she sufficiently wasted them and-
Lo and behold, one (1) Leon Magnus.]
.... Oh.
[Hi.]
[..... Oh.
He wasn't really expecting her to come once he realized that he failed to send her a return text confirming his intentions. He'd been trying to figure out if it was worth...trying to get in touch with her again, or if he should just call this a lost cause due to his own incapability in talking to people, when--
Well.
There she is.
Uh.]
... Good morning.
[YEAH. NAILED IT.]
He wasn't really expecting her to come once he realized that he failed to send her a return text confirming his intentions. He'd been trying to figure out if it was worth...trying to get in touch with her again, or if he should just call this a lost cause due to his own incapability in talking to people, when--
Well.
There she is.
Uh.]
... Good morning.
[YEAH. NAILED IT.]
Good morning.
[ALSO NAILED IT.
That said Lili definitely hadn't really been expecting to see him again and so she fusses for a moment, trying to figure out what to say?! Why didn't she plan out anything to say. (Normal people don't need to plan out what they're going to say, Lili....)
So instead she just glances over him to make sure that he's fine, he's safe, he's not injured and-
Uh.
"It's good to see you"???]
... I hadn't expected you.
[no, apparently the truth felt like coming out instead]
[ALSO NAILED IT.
That said Lili definitely hadn't really been expecting to see him again and so she fusses for a moment, trying to figure out what to say?! Why didn't she plan out anything to say. (Normal people don't need to plan out what they're going to say, Lili....)
So instead she just glances over him to make sure that he's fine, he's safe, he's not injured and-
Uh.
"It's good to see you"???]
... I hadn't expected you.
[no, apparently the truth felt like coming out instead]
[... Uh.
Yeah.
About that.]
... It isn't as though I intended to meet up with you, but--
[But he totally came here to meet up with you and he totally forgot to text you to tell you.
What an embarrassment.]
--regardless. [AHEM.] We are here, so we may as well not waste our times. [...] What were you doing?
Yeah.
About that.]
... It isn't as though I intended to meet up with you, but--
[But he totally came here to meet up with you and he totally forgot to text you to tell you.
What an embarrassment.]
--regardless. [AHEM.] We are here, so we may as well not waste our times. [...] What were you doing?
[But....?
????
(But he totally did, Lili, why are you so bad at understanding people.)
Yet she seems to find that agreeable enough that he's... willing to join her? Uh. Well she was considering going home since she was alone but--]
... Perhaps finding a place to eat?
[at
shit o'clock in the morning
yeah why not]
????
(But he totally did, Lili, why are you so bad at understanding people.)
Yet she seems to find that agreeable enough that he's... willing to join her? Uh. Well she was considering going home since she was alone but--]
... Perhaps finding a place to eat?
[at
shit o'clock in the morning
yeah why not]
[Look... even if it's shit o'clock in the morning, you don't turn down food after almost starving in an awful shithole. So honestly, even though it's totally going to throw off his entire eating schedule, he's not going to argue with that.
He's a stick, he could afford to eat more anyway.]
Fine. We may as well make this outing less of a waste of time.
[Rude.
But also like, try not to make it so obvious that you literally came here because she asked you to, Leon.]
He's a stick, he could afford to eat more anyway.]
Fine. We may as well make this outing less of a waste of time.
[Rude.
But also like, try not to make it so obvious that you literally came here because she asked you to, Leon.]
[Shut...up...........
He's just going to follow along, but not!! Because he wants to!!!]
I "came along" for my own reasons. Do not read too far into it.
[He came along because.... he wanted to get out of the apartment too....so basically the same reasons.]
He's just going to follow along, but not!! Because he wants to!!!]
I "came along" for my own reasons. Do not read too far into it.
[He came along because.... he wanted to get out of the apartment too....so basically the same reasons.]
I wouldn't want to anyway. There's no point if you don't tell me yourself.
[They're not so different but she's also not so presumptuous as to think she can read Leon's mind?!
.... read Leon a little bit, sometimes (and not well) but not enough to figure out his reasons for things, no.]
[They're not so different but she's also not so presumptuous as to think she can read Leon's mind?!
.... read Leon a little bit, sometimes (and not well) but not enough to figure out his reasons for things, no.]
i know you probably dont want to speak with me after the ca
[ No. Assuming he was out there at all to begin with, she was fortunate to have avoided running into Leon out in the darkness. What she did run into was the irrefutable fact that nothing lasts and friends are important. No beating around the bush this time. She is all tenderness and all business.
He matters. ]
are you all right leon?
[ No. Assuming he was out there at all to begin with, she was fortunate to have avoided running into Leon out in the darkness. What she did run into was the irrefutable fact that nothing lasts and friends are important. No beating around the bush this time. She is all tenderness and all business.
He matters. ]
are you all right leon?
[He wasn't really expecting this text. But, well... it's been a difficult time, admittedly. While he's in physically better shape than he was, he's... not really all too pleased about things on the psychological side of things, and for a long moment, he wavers back and forth on even answering this.
He doesn't want to talk to people.
But on the other hand.... it's cruel to remain silent when it's a question like that.]
I am fine of course.
[Of course. Like it's a foregone conclusion.]
He doesn't want to talk to people.
But on the other hand.... it's cruel to remain silent when it's a question like that.]
I am fine of course.
[Of course. Like it's a foregone conclusion.]
[....... Oh.
That's...a surprising response, actually, and he's thrown off completely by it. He's not sure how to respond for a moment, and he just blinks at her--and then he clears his throat awkwardly and looks away.
... Why does she care about his own opinion that much, anyway?]
... Yes, of course. [???] Regardless, I am here now. Where are we going? [What are they getting to eat......]
That's...a surprising response, actually, and he's thrown off completely by it. He's not sure how to respond for a moment, and he just blinks at her--and then he clears his throat awkwardly and looks away.
... Why does she care about his own opinion that much, anyway?]
... Yes, of course. [???] Regardless, I am here now. Where are we going? [What are they getting to eat......]
[ . . . . why are you thrown off, Leon. Lili blinks as she watches his reaction and manages to completely ignore that she pulls almost the exact same move sometimes? Well, at least he's still asking a question and she glances around.]
A tea place - I'm sure there's still one open. Help me look, would you?
A tea place - I'm sure there's still one open. Help me look, would you?
[ What does it mean that she wasn't expecting much more than that?
It won't stop her, of course, but it does make her wonder. ]
that's great to hear!!!
( ･ᴗ･̥̥̥ )
have you been in the city this whole time?
some of us went on a field trip i
was just checking in
i'm glad you're safe.
It won't stop her, of course, but it does make her wonder. ]
that's great to hear!!!
( ･ᴗ･̥̥̥ )
have you been in the city this whole time?
some of us went on a field trip i
was just checking in
i'm glad you're safe.
...Fine.
[He'll help... sort of.
Probably.
He'll even actually do it, keeping his eyes peeled for...something. Anything? A place.......... that would serve as a peaceful place to get tea... which is when his eyes fall on one, a small tea cafe tucked away, and he tilts his head in that direction.]
Over there.
[It looks...peaceful.]
[He'll help... sort of.
Probably.
He'll even actually do it, keeping his eyes peeled for...something. Anything? A place.......... that would serve as a peaceful place to get tea... which is when his eyes fall on one, a small tea cafe tucked away, and he tilts his head in that direction.]
Over there.
[It looks...peaceful.]
[... It'd be easier if he was just.... here the whole time, wouldn't it have been? But of course things couldn't be that simple.]
No. I was there as well.
But yes. I am safe.
[Is... she? He keeps waiting for her to tell him, but she hasn't yet!!! But he doesn't want to ask!!]
No. I was there as well.
But yes. I am safe.
[Is... she? He keeps waiting for her to tell him, but she hasn't yet!!! But he doesn't want to ask!!]
[Good eyes, Leon. Lili was probably still getting distracted, rather amazed by how many stores were truly open despite the time of night.
Is this truly what the future is like? Do aliens not need sleep?
Yet she glances over when he finds the tea shop and makes a small, affirming noise.]
Ah. Nicely done.
[And over to the peaceful place they go!!]
Tea is to your liking, isn't it?
Is this truly what the future is like? Do aliens not need sleep?
Yet she glances over when he finds the tea shop and makes a small, affirming noise.]
Ah. Nicely done.
[And over to the peaceful place they go!!]
Tea is to your liking, isn't it?
Tea is acceptable.
[That answer comes surprisingly easily... but he likes tea, especially with cream and sugar, so yeah, tea's to his liking. Even as they wander their way that way.]
It is familiar enough to me from my world as well.
[Even if it reminds him of Marian too, he's been slowly able to shake the connection a little bit, day by day, though it's definitely a slow process.]
[That answer comes surprisingly easily... but he likes tea, especially with cream and sugar, so yeah, tea's to his liking. Even as they wander their way that way.]
It is familiar enough to me from my world as well.
[Even if it reminds him of Marian too, he's been slowly able to shake the connection a little bit, day by day, though it's definitely a slow process.]
i'm not delicate
thats the point
thats the problem thats why im asking if youre all right
[ His words sting but she's not angry, just sad, suspecting now that she really is the very last thing Leon needs. ]
i hurt people
i'm pretty sturdy now
it's been weeks since we fought together
i just wanted to know if anyone had hurt you but im sorry you're right
it isn't any of my business
thats the point
thats the problem thats why im asking if youre all right
[ His words sting but she's not angry, just sad, suspecting now that she really is the very last thing Leon needs. ]
i hurt people
i'm pretty sturdy now
it's been weeks since we fought together
i just wanted to know if anyone had hurt you but im sorry you're right
it isn't any of my business
So at least some things are consistent through the worlds.
[There's... really no denying her relief at that though. It's nice. After all the different things that she's encountered, it's better for some things to be familiar, isn't it?
But she'll hold the door open for him after she enters the tea shop - giving a nod of acknowledgement when the owners welcome them and tell them that they can sit where they please.
Despite the fact that it's dark outside, she still picks a spot near a window.]
[There's... really no denying her relief at that though. It's nice. After all the different things that she's encountered, it's better for some things to be familiar, isn't it?
But she'll hold the door open for him after she enters the tea shop - giving a nod of acknowledgement when the owners welcome them and tell them that they can sit where they please.
Despite the fact that it's dark outside, she still picks a spot near a window.]
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