[getting all of the swamp sludge clean? kind of a project. stahn just has way too much hair for that. so he's in the shower for a long time.
like.
"if this wasn't cerealia, all the hot water would have been gone a half hour ago" long.
he'll emerge eventually though, and definitely worse for the wear. sure, he's got much more comfortable clothing on, but it's plain to see that stahn's hair is a tangled, knotted disaster. one that clearly has a comb stuck in it midway through, because he can hardly reach all of his own hair comfortable when it's this bad.]
Leon... Can you pull this out for me? It's... stuck... [there are so many regrets right now.
but hey, at least stahn's not asking him to actually comb it.
(and it's probably pretty obvious that stahn isn't thrilled with this situation either.)]
snails through the swamp gunk one thread at a time
[Leon had a slightly easier time of it--his hair is significantly shorter and easier to work with, and even if he's still trying to erase the general feeling of being covered in slime, at least he's not in the situation Stahn's in.
Which is... honestly a mess.
Leon arches an eyebrow at that, but things are a little more comfortable between them these days (even if they still bicker like crazy), so he's not going to argue something as obvious as that.]
Sit down.
[You're too tall and he's not standing up from the couch to deal with this!!!
[he was expecting an argument, honestly. something along the lines of "if you're unable to care for your own hair, then why do you insist on keeping it as such an unruly length?"
naturally, stahn likes his hair too much to cut it, and he'd argue back on that one if it comes up. but he's surprised (and not in a bad way) when leon asks him to sit without fighting the request. instead, he grins brightly before taking a seat next to him on the sofa.]
Thanks, Leon. You're really saving me here! [this is giving him such a literal headache; the tugging and pulling of the comb from trying to work out the knots has been making his scalp hurt, and he's barely made any progress because with hair as thick as his, it's almost endless. he's lucky isn't he? because he knows this isn't something leon would want to do, and even just accepting his request to remove the stuck comb serves as a good reminder that they're great friends.
even if they bicker a lot. stahn doesn't mind the bickering, because at least it feels more normal, even with the undertones of all their tragedies still simmering beneath the surface.]
[Even Leon can be too tired to argue, incredibly. How that can be so is hard to believe, but... here they are. Admittedly, the fact that they just got out of tramping through a swamp, virtual or not, probably has a lot to do with it.
He frowns as he reaches for the comb, tugging a few times very lightly. Yeah this is... tangled really good.....]
... It would be easier at this point to cut it off--
[But as if Stahn's ever going to go for that, so he just starts working at the strands of hair tangled around the comb as best he can.]
[there is an immediate, vehement refusal that comes with that suggestion. regardless of how seriously leon may or may no mean that.. nope.
absolutely not. even if his hair is a disaster, he's not cutting it off. at the very least, stahn's keeping his head steady (and being grateful that leon doesn't have scissors right now).]
Naturally, Stahn is going to refuse that immediately. Still, Leon's going to take a second to consider how satisfying it would be to chop off Stahn's hair for a moment (it's really a good thing he doesn't have scissors right now) as he focuses on detangling.
Argh.]
I fail to see why you are so attached to this unruly mess of hair as it is.
[But such is Stahn.... and it's true that some people seem to think it's cool for some reason (not Leon though nothing about Stahn is cool!!! Leon knows).]
I didn't ask for your opinion about my hair. This is how I like it, that's all.
[it's not even about being cool or fashionable, or whatever. this is just how he likes it. he's attached to it being this way... nobody asked you, leon!!
(but help him anyway, because he needs so much help right now.)]
[That's the great thing about Leon!! He's entitled enough to think you should listen to his opinion even when you didn't ask for it!! Isn't he a good friend.
(No. Shut up, Leon.)
He's making progress, he feels, but it's...definitely slow going with how tangled this comb is.]
... Well, I suppose you can't be blamed for the swamp, if nothing else.
[It's not like either of them had the time to prepare for that]
Ughh... it was the worst. I didn't like that game at all..
[he did not have a good time. bad things happened and he got covered in slimy swamp goo. he didn't mind helping people, but he did get turned to stone, had to use a panacea bottle on someone, and just generally didn't enjoy how things went.
and that's really obvious right now. he had a bad time.]
[Yeah, he can tell. He's quiet for a moment as he continues to work at that tangled hair, frowning to himself. Things don't usually get Stahn down like this, but... man, he must have had a shitty time.]
Is that so... and what did you experience in it?
[Leon didn't exactly have fun either, but...he seems to have gotten off a little more lightly than Stahn.]
A couple of huuuge monsters tried to get me. One of them almost ate me! I would have been monster chow if I didn't have Dymlos with me. I helped someone who got hit with Paralyze... that part wasn't so bad.
[but remembering the worst part:]
Then I got stuck in a room with someone and when I tried to help get her out... I got turned to stone. [again. like the last time, remember that, leon?] It got the room unstuck but... I still feel...
[sluggish? tired? something. that sensation is never good, he was so disoriented when it wore off.]
[The monsters don't bother him, really. Obviously at this point Stahn can handle monsters--they all can. Helping someone, that's incredibly Stahn-like too.
It's not until he brings up that he got turned to stone that Leon's fingers tighten in Stahn's hair, almost painfully so, maybe.]
You did what.
[His tone is low, but... yeah he's not!! happy about this!!]
Let me guess. You were more than willing to risk yourself without any thought to your own safety in order to help this random stranger, even knowing that it was merely a game and they would be fine either way.
[... ... ... why is he so angry about it? Leon pauses, and slowly reins in his temper, returning to a more gently approach towards getting this comb out of Stahn's hair.
I couldn't just... not help. I was stuck too, but...
[he sighs a little. he really doesn't get what this makes him an idiot.]
She was defenseless, I couldn't just let her risk things when she didn't know what was happening. It wasn't real anyway, right? [it's not like he feels good about having been petrified again. that feeling is honestly awful and kind of scary, even if he bore it with a smile while it happened.] I'm okay, Leon.
[stop doing that! his scalp hurts a lot already and the way leon is tugging isn't helping. why is he getting so mad about this? this is what he's always done...
is leon really that worried that something bad will happen to him?]
I told you... I won't let that happen. You can trust me, I'm... not going to let things get like that. I won't let Hugo win. I'll get back to everyone... I'll make sure everyone can live peacefully...
[but he swallows hard, and not just because his scalp is throbbing. leon's really worried. he has to be, right? does he really not believe in stahn's ability to stay focused, even though he knows how important this task is to him?
leon left that job in his hands, and he's not going to forget that, despite all the pain. their friends... they need him there, and stahn knows that. so he can't die here. he won't. and if he can find a way for leon too, he will. there's too much to be done for him to die so easily.]
[... Stahn says that. And Leon does trust Stahn--he trusts Stahn's words, at least. But... how can he trust that Stahn won't fling his life away to save someone? There's no guarantee that he won't get himself into trouble trying to help these people, and they won't even know them after they manage to make their way back to their own world. It seems so pointless--
But he knows better than to say that.
Instead, he just loosens his fingers on Stahn's hair again, frowning to himself; it's fine, since it's not as though Stahn can see his face right now anyway.]
... Be certain that you do.
["Please don't die."
But he's just going to fall silent at that; he can feel the strands start to give, and now he can start to edge the comb out of his ridiculous mullet.]
[when leon's grip loosens, it's almost immediate the way stahn brings his fingers to his scalp in an attempt to rub out the pain.
there's an inaudible sigh he lets out, one that's probably only noticeable by the rise and fall fo stahn's shoulders from that angle. maybe it's better they can't see each other's expressions, because now stahn is... unsure what he feels about that. he feels frustrated that leon would get so upset at stahn for doing something he's always done... but he's also sorry for causing leon that kind of worry, too. he knows what leon's words are really meant to mean; he's not capable of misunderstanding that.
and yet in some way, it's also nice to hear leon being concerned about him to that point. it feels... real. it's a reminder that leon, the very same leon he was hurting over and missing so badly back home is here, and carrying on with the same care as ever... in his own, leon magnus sort of way.]
I won't stop trying when people need it, but... I'll be careful. [he finally says, quietly. he's not sure if that's an apology, or a declaration, or an assurance. he's not sure if he's saying it for leon's sake, dymlos' sake, or his own at this point.
[It doesn't really help as much as Leon would like it to, but... he supposes it's a start. He doesn't know that Stahn will really be able to stop himself from doing something dangerous when the time comes, but...
Leon can't ask that of him, either. Because Stahn is that way, and if he wasn't constantly helping people, he wouldn't be Stahn anymore. It's what made Stahn into the person he is. It's... what made Stahn Leon's friend (best friend?).
He frees the comb, and for a moment he just blinks at it--but he feels like they aren't done with this conversation, and Stahn's hair is still a matted disaster, so instead he just starts working at the tangles with said comb, somewhat carefully.]
... Fine. See to it that you are. It isn't as though it matters to me what you do with yourself, so long as--
I won't, Leon. I promise... I'm not going to let you down. [not with that. not with anything at all. leon left a lot of responsibilities in his hands. he has so much to accomplish for the sake of leon's sacrifices, for avenging him, for saving the world and making sure that hugo's plans don't ever come to pass.
there's just too much, and the last thing stahn wants to do is die before he can accomplish those things. if there was an afterlife, there's no way he'd ever be able to face leon in it if he were to fail. he can't fail leon. he can't fail his friends. he can't fail his family, the swordians, or the whole world.
stahn falls quiet again, his head dipping a bit—probably not the most helpful thing when leon is trying to work on his hair (and doing more than stahn could have ever asked for, honestly. see... leon's a pal when it really counts. this is why stahn trusts him so much). but he can't help himself; this is one of those topics that causes stahn to get a little too caught up in his own head and think way too much...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action; backdated to after the intro log because slow af
like.
"if this wasn't cerealia, all the hot water would have been gone a half hour ago" long.
he'll emerge eventually though, and definitely worse for the wear. sure, he's got much more comfortable clothing on, but it's plain to see that stahn's hair is a tangled, knotted disaster. one that clearly has a comb stuck in it midway through, because he can hardly reach all of his own hair comfortable when it's this bad.]
Leon... Can you pull this out for me? It's... stuck... [there are so many regrets right now.
but hey, at least stahn's not asking him to actually comb it.
(and it's probably pretty obvious that stahn isn't thrilled with this situation either.)]
snails through the swamp gunk one thread at a time
Which is... honestly a mess.
Leon arches an eyebrow at that, but things are a little more comfortable between them these days (even if they still bicker like crazy), so he's not going to argue something as obvious as that.]
Sit down.
[You're too tall and he's not standing up from the couch to deal with this!!!
(But he will deal with it, at least.)]
we'll get back up-to-date soon.... probably...
[he was expecting an argument, honestly. something along the lines of "if you're unable to care for your own hair, then why do you insist on keeping it as such an unruly length?"
naturally, stahn likes his hair too much to cut it, and he'd argue back on that one if it comes up. but he's surprised (and not in a bad way) when leon asks him to sit without fighting the request. instead, he grins brightly before taking a seat next to him on the sofa.]
Thanks, Leon. You're really saving me here! [this is giving him such a literal headache; the tugging and pulling of the comb from trying to work out the knots has been making his scalp hurt, and he's barely made any progress because with hair as thick as his, it's almost endless. he's lucky isn't he? because he knows this isn't something leon would want to do, and even just accepting his request to remove the stuck comb serves as a good reminder that they're great friends.
even if they bicker a lot. stahn doesn't mind the bickering, because at least it feels more normal, even with the undertones of all their tragedies still simmering beneath the surface.]
i have faith... SOMEDAY
He frowns as he reaches for the comb, tugging a few times very lightly. Yeah this is... tangled really good.....]
... It would be easier at this point to cut it off--
[But as if Stahn's ever going to go for that, so he just starts working at the strands of hair tangled around the comb as best he can.]
ONE DAY maybe possibly
[there is an immediate, vehement refusal that comes with that suggestion. regardless of how seriously leon may or may no mean that.. nope.
absolutely not. even if his hair is a disaster, he's not cutting it off. at the very least, stahn's keeping his head steady (and being grateful that leon doesn't have scissors right now).]
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Naturally, Stahn is going to refuse that immediately. Still, Leon's going to take a second to consider how satisfying it would be to chop off Stahn's hair for a moment (it's really a good thing he doesn't have scissors right now) as he focuses on detangling.
Argh.]
I fail to see why you are so attached to this unruly mess of hair as it is.
[But such is Stahn.... and it's true that some people seem to think it's cool for some reason (not Leon though nothing about Stahn is cool!!! Leon knows).]
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[it's not even about being cool or fashionable, or whatever. this is just how he likes it. he's attached to it being this way... nobody asked you, leon!!
(but help him anyway, because he needs so much help right now.)]
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(No. Shut up, Leon.)
He's making progress, he feels, but it's...definitely slow going with how tangled this comb is.]
... Well, I suppose you can't be blamed for the swamp, if nothing else.
[It's not like either of them had the time to prepare for that]
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[he did not have a good time. bad things happened and he got covered in slimy swamp goo. he didn't mind helping people, but he did get turned to stone, had to use a panacea bottle on someone, and just generally didn't enjoy how things went.
and that's really obvious right now. he had a bad time.]
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Is that so... and what did you experience in it?
[Leon didn't exactly have fun either, but...he seems to have gotten off a little more lightly than Stahn.]
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A couple of huuuge monsters tried to get me. One of them almost ate me! I would have been monster chow if I didn't have Dymlos with me. I helped someone who got hit with Paralyze... that part wasn't so bad.
[but remembering the worst part:]
Then I got stuck in a room with someone and when I tried to help get her out... I got turned to stone. [again. like the last time, remember that, leon?] It got the room unstuck but... I still feel...
[sluggish? tired? something. that sensation is never good, he was so disoriented when it wore off.]
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It's not until he brings up that he got turned to stone that Leon's fingers tighten in Stahn's hair, almost painfully so, maybe.]
You did what.
[His tone is low, but... yeah he's not!! happy about this!!]
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Owowowowowow!! Leon! [why is he so mad?]
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[Yeah, he's mad!!]
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....I'm okay now, isn't that all that matters? [he didn't think leon would get so mad about it.]
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[... ... ... why is he so angry about it? Leon pauses, and slowly reins in his temper, returning to a more gently approach towards getting this comb out of Stahn's hair.
...]
You are still such an idiot.
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[he sighs a little. he really doesn't get what this makes him an idiot.]
She was defenseless, I couldn't just let her risk things when she didn't know what was happening. It wasn't real anyway, right? [it's not like he feels good about having been petrified again. that feeling is honestly awful and kind of scary, even if he bore it with a smile while it happened.] I'm okay, Leon.
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One day, you won't be, if you keep this attitude up.
[And that scares Leon more than anything else, even if he's not ready to admit that.]
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[leon, you know the motto, don't you?]
I won't let anything happen. [you know, except he already did.]
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There are a few more somewhat sharp tugs on Stahn's hair as he works at the comb.]
If something happens to you here, what then? Who will return to stop Hugo? Who will be there to handle everything that you left behind?
[That Leon left behind too, but in a more permanent way; he's not going to be able to go back and fix things.]
You can't die. You have to survive to return.
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[stop doing that! his scalp hurts a lot already and the way leon is tugging isn't helping. why is he getting so mad about this? this is what he's always done...
is leon really that worried that something bad will happen to him?]
I told you... I won't let that happen. You can trust me, I'm... not going to let things get like that. I won't let Hugo win. I'll get back to everyone... I'll make sure everyone can live peacefully...
[but he swallows hard, and not just because his scalp is throbbing. leon's really worried. he has to be, right? does he really not believe in stahn's ability to stay focused, even though he knows how important this task is to him?
leon left that job in his hands, and he's not going to forget that, despite all the pain. their friends... they need him there, and stahn knows that. so he can't die here. he won't. and if he can find a way for leon too, he will. there's too much to be done for him to die so easily.]
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But he knows better than to say that.
Instead, he just loosens his fingers on Stahn's hair again, frowning to himself; it's fine, since it's not as though Stahn can see his face right now anyway.]
... Be certain that you do.
["Please don't die."
But he's just going to fall silent at that; he can feel the strands start to give, and now he can start to edge the comb out of his ridiculous mullet.]
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there's an inaudible sigh he lets out, one that's probably only noticeable by the rise and fall fo stahn's shoulders from that angle. maybe it's better they can't see each other's expressions, because now stahn is... unsure what he feels about that. he feels frustrated that leon would get so upset at stahn for doing something he's always done... but he's also sorry for causing leon that kind of worry, too. he knows what leon's words are really meant to mean; he's not capable of misunderstanding that.
and yet in some way, it's also nice to hear leon being concerned about him to that point. it feels... real. it's a reminder that leon, the very same leon he was hurting over and missing so badly back home is here, and carrying on with the same care as ever... in his own, leon magnus sort of way.]
I won't stop trying when people need it, but... I'll be careful. [he finally says, quietly. he's not sure if that's an apology, or a declaration, or an assurance. he's not sure if he's saying it for leon's sake, dymlos' sake, or his own at this point.
but it's the right thing to say, isn't it?]
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Leon can't ask that of him, either. Because Stahn is that way, and if he wasn't constantly helping people, he wouldn't be Stahn anymore. It's what made Stahn into the person he is. It's... what made Stahn Leon's friend (best friend?).
He frees the comb, and for a moment he just blinks at it--but he feels like they aren't done with this conversation, and Stahn's hair is still a matted disaster, so instead he just starts working at the tangles with said comb, somewhat carefully.]
... Fine. See to it that you are. It isn't as though it matters to me what you do with yourself, so long as--
["you don't die"]
--it doesn't cause trouble later.
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I won't, Leon. I promise... I'm not going to let you down. [not with that. not with anything at all. leon left a lot of responsibilities in his hands. he has so much to accomplish for the sake of leon's sacrifices, for avenging him, for saving the world and making sure that hugo's plans don't ever come to pass.
there's just too much, and the last thing stahn wants to do is die before he can accomplish those things. if there was an afterlife, there's no way he'd ever be able to face leon in it if he were to fail. he can't fail leon. he can't fail his friends. he can't fail his family, the swordians, or the whole world.
stahn falls quiet again, his head dipping a bit—probably not the most helpful thing when leon is trying to work on his hair (and doing more than stahn could have ever asked for, honestly. see... leon's a pal when it really counts. this is why stahn trusts him so much). but he can't help himself; this is one of those topics that causes stahn to get a little too caught up in his own head and think way too much...
and that hardly ever works out well for anyone.]
I'm not going to make trouble for you, Leon.
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