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[discard]

"I am not interested in speaking with you. Stop pestering me."

[ Wow, what a friendly person you're trying to contact on this fine day!! ]

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Comments

[mombastic]

It's not that I attract it... it's just as a doctor, when dangerous things happen, I have to be there to help the injured.

[ And maybe that she attracts it. A little. ]

[discard]

And you attract it.

[Just saying. He's refusing to accept anything else, okay, he's seen for himself.]

You have no room to speak right now, so do not even try.

[mombastic]

[ ... Leon, are you reprimanding her? ]

Then if you'd like to keep me out of trouble, you're welcome to walk me back.

[ YEAH SHE'LL JUST ROLL WITH IT. It'll keep Leon from wandering off on his own, too. Even with his sword. ]

[discard]

[... Tch.]

Fine. I will walk you back. But it isn't for you. I'm doing this so that you do not get into any further trouble, and put me to the trouble of healing you again.

[For his part, Chal's happy. Now Leon won't be lost anymore................. yay.]

[mombastic]

If it helps, I don't mind a scrape or two, so even if that happened... you won't have to waste your healing spells on me. [ But she's going to start walking again, yes. ]

[discard]

[... Whatever, Otome, whatever. He'll walk alongside her, huffing.]

The things I choose to do are never a waste.

[mombastic]

[ ... Oh, that's cute. ]

I mean that you won't have to choose that at all if I'm careful.

[discard]

[And, immediately:]

I am beginning to suspect you are incapable of being careful, when it comes to your own health.

[mombastic]

That's entirely not true! I'd rather not be scolded again.

[discard]

If you are doing so solely because I will scold you again, I fail to believe you've learned anything at all.

[So there!!]

[mombastic]

I didn't say it was the sole reason... I really won't be of any use to anyone if I don't take care of myself.

[discard]

[...Hmph.]

Well.

At least you are aware enough of that.

[He's satisfied with that though. It's better than nothing, and it sounds like she's legitimately taking it seriously now.]

[mombastic]

Believe it or not, I am-- [ Wait, no. She's not. ]

... I was a mother, so I'm aware of how important it is to monitor health.

[discard]

[...okay even that gets him to pause. ?? ?????

He blinks.]

... Either you are or you aren't. I wasn't aware that motherhood was a state that could change.

[... right? Moms don't just...stop being moms, do they? It's not hard for him to imagine Otome as a mother, but...?]

[mombastic]

Honestly, neither was I. But a few things happened... well, to make a long and really complicated story short, I'm not right now.

[discard]

[This is scaring him, Otome. He doesn't like to think that... well, a mom could just stop being a mom for some strange reasons that she won't tell him (it's not like alternate worlds are his first thought, okay).

He looks uncomfortable for a long moment, shifting in place, before he focuses on the path in front of them instead.]

... I see.

[He doesn't have the same mom issues that Rutee does, but on Rutee's behalf it's hard to not bristle a little. He knows why Chris abandoned her, better than anyone, but he also knows that Rutee... well, it's something that has made life hard for her.]

[mombastic]

... [ There's a pause of her own, something like wistfulness crossing her face - that he won't see - and then Otome sighs, softly. ]

I'll explain it some other time, if you're interested.

[ Koharu, at least, is happy. ]

[discard]

[Is he...? Well, it'd be a lie to say he isn't interested. He's curious. He wants to understand.

But...

He's a little nervous to understand, too.]

... Do what you want.

[he'll listen, if she tells him, some other time. But he has enough family-related issues that bringing it up himself is a touchy thing.]

[mombastic]

Mm... I believe I will.

But for now, homeward bound!

[ COME ALONG, LEON. ]

[discard]

Of course.

[Off they goooooo HOMEWARD BOUND.

At least things start to look familiar as soon as they get into the Residential District.]

[mombastic]

Well, what do you think? Do you trust me from this point?

[discard]

[Don't use words like that.]

If someone like you can still manage to get into trouble from this short distance, I doubt there is any point in trying to help you.

[So.

That's a yes.]

[mombastic]

Very true! Then thank you for your company, Leon.

[ Even if you're dishonest. ]

[discard]

[Ugh!]

There's no need to thank me for that. [He doesn't even have a tsun thing to add, no, that's... all he says... okay, Leon.]

[mombastic]

Maybe not, but taking it back would be very strange of me.

[ So deal. ]