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[...Which means that he has no idea what the second one could possibly contain, and the face he makes when he opens the gift and holds it up to see is horrified and priceless.

And then he clutches it in his fist in irritation, not caring that it drags along the floor, and goes to look for Stahn.]

Stahn!

[THIS IS STUPID IS THIS A JOKE.]

[surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly), stahn's been hanging out in his room, semi-reading and semi-dozing off. but the sound of leon's voice yelling like that is enough to call his attention.

he can casually gloss over that tone as he swings the door open... and honestly, he doesn't even notice that leon is clutching the worse of the capes in his hand, because leon is wearing the other one, and that's enough for his expression to light up happily.]

Oh! [he must like it then, right?] It looks good...

[maybe even better than he expected, since he wasn't sure if it would fit or be the right color or style. he tried, but it was hard to do without leon there.]

[... Oh.

It throws him off a little, when he realizes that Stahn's talking about the actual, proper cape that he got him. Ah... um... well...

He clears his throat, a little embarrassed, and--]

Yes, well--it isn't as though it is perfect, but it will do.

[The fact that he's wearing it makes it obvious that he likes it, but hey. Such is the Leon life.

... This is too embarrassing BACK TO THE POINT OF THIS. He shoves the other cape at Stahn's face a little.]

What is the meaning of this?

[it's probably not very hard to miss that stahn is lighting up even more at leon's words; he knows that it means leon really does like and appreciate it. and for stahn, that means his effort was completely worthwhile.

so maybe he's just beaming a little bit, because he's so happy that this worked out.

(even if it's a bit short-lived, as the more garish cape is being shoves in his face)]

Ah... that...

[he backs up a little, letting out a weak laugh and ruffling his hair.]

Kashuu picked that one out. I knew it wasn't something you'd be crazy about but... he really wanted you to have it, and he wrapped it and everything! He was just trying to be nice... [even if stahn helped with the bedazzling, he knew leon wouldn't like it. he's not that oblivious.]

[Sorry, Stahn. They could've had a cute moment, but it's been ruined by the cape. The cape with a rose on it in sparkly beads, which Leon is immediately going to shift the cloak to show Stahn.

Kashuu would not have known to do a rose,not unless everyone had some uncanny sort of flower language agreement.

No... this is entirely Stahn and he knows it.]

And why is this here?

[Leon's never been a fan of the rose of seinegald thing. He doesn't understand it, he doesn't get what about him is so rose-like, and he almost finds it to be insulting. The fact that it's usually sighed by fawning young women does not endear him to the nickname further.]

Ah...

[he repeats that utterance. he knew this was going to be bad, even as he'd suggested it.]

Kashuu asked about a crest or a symbol but... that was all I could think of. I told him you wouldn't like it, but... [well, that clearly didn't mean much.]

[.... A crest or a symbol and Stahn came up with roses....... incredible.

Leon pinches the bridge of his nose at that (he can already feel a headache brewing from his exasperation with this entire situation) and--

Sighs.

Technically he could've used the crest of Seinegald since he's a knight of the king but...when Leon thinks of a country's crest being disrespected via the way of bedazzling, he knows he will never be saying so.

God.]

You are impossible.

[Sometimes so much so that Leon doesn't know what to do with him.]

Do not tell people about that title ever again.

I didn't really tell him... it's not like Kashuu knows that much.

[stahn's not that dumb, especially when he knows that leon doesn't like it.]

I asked him to help because I wanted to make sure I could find something to replace the cape that got ruined. [talk about taking the wind out of stahn's sails when he was really excited to get leon a nice gift.] He knows a lot of good stores.

[why does leon have to make everything about the worst part of the situation? why can't he just focus on the nice things instead of kicking stahn like a puppy?]

[Sorry, he's here to ruin the mood as ever. But now things are somber and they were cheerful a moment ago, and Leon just pauses before he shakes his head. Either way...the fact of the matter is that he does appreciate the cape and everything about it. That was thoughtful of Stahn, to get him one since his other was ruined, and...well.

Well.

Leon pauses, before he huffs out another sigh (embarrassed, maybe, or frustrated with the situation), and then he tucks the offending article under his arm.]

I should have known it was Kashuu's idea.

[Punk.]

As for the rest-- [He does hesitate at that, before he clears his throat.] It...will do.

["I appreciate it"--wait that isn't even remotely the same.]

Still... he did want to do something nice.

[or he wanted to troll leon, but stahn is 2pure, so he really doesn't see it that way. either way, hearing leon's words of "appreciation" does bring back a small smile to stahn's lips.

that's what he really wanted out of all this anyway.]

I'm glad it'll work. I wasn't sure if it would be enough. [he's a little more subdued after their exchange, but it's probably clear enough that stahn really did put a lot of thought into trying to do this for him.]

And... sorry. [about the cape. about getting hurt. about kashuu.]

... I am not so certain of that.

[But that is only muttered, and then he's firmly shaking his head, crossing his arms and inspecting Stahn for a moment.]

You do not have to apologize for this. Now that I know that Kashuu was at fault, I will take up the matter with him.

[That's all there is to it.

(He's choosing to ignore the other implications; he doesn't want to get into arguing about Stahn's actions back there again.)]

If nothing else... it is better that my uniform is complete again. [He's grateful for that.]

[it's probably for the better that leon ignores it, but stahn still felt it was the right thing to do just to say it anyway. he does sincerely mean it, even if he would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant getting leon out of harm's way.

—words that don't need to be said right now. instead, he'll smile a little wider and nod his head.]

Yeah. You look a lot more... you again this way. [and that's surprisingly important to stahn.]

[Well, that's...true..... he supposes he wouldn't look very much like himself out of the uniform, but he's not really sure how to deal with Stahn's apparent fondness in response to something so simple.

Why are you so weird, Stahn.]

Not that that is any of your concern, but--I suppose that is true, yes.

[Hmph!!!

(it's embarrassing)]

I am admittedly somewhat surprised you were able to find something that is this close to a match.

[he can't help but to be weird about these things. leon being leon-like all the time is important, even if it means they end up arguing a lot.]

I was pretty surprised too... I wasn't sure there would be anything close at all. But Kashuu knew a bunch of places to check, and the first place we went to, we found that. [he grins.] I wanted to make sure it was as close to your old one as possible.

[he's really proud of himself, okay.]

[So in the end...he does owe Kashuu, a little.

And he owes Stahn as well.

What a strange, disconcerting feeling. He doesn't really like feeling like he owes people, even if he appreciates the gift at the same time.

(It's complicated, receiving gifts when you're Leon Magnus.)]

...As I said, it isn't perfect. [Leon will never be able to be gracious in his entire life (oh wait)] But It is close enough for something like this.

[It isn't as though anyone around would know it's not perfect.]

It's not perfect but... I think it's pretty good.

[let him be proud of what he did, okay!] If you can use it, then it's not a waste. That's all that matters.

[he's not going to try and push leon into being verbally appreciative or thanking him. he doesn't need any of that.]

[It is pretty good... but Leon isn't going to admit that out loud.]

Obviously, I am getting some use out of it.

[Seeing as how he's, you know, wearing it.

...and his uniform feels more complete this way, at least.]

I see that!

[he's just happy about it, okay!]

Now we're even. [so leon doesn't have to feel like he owes anything to stahn for his gesture.]

[.... Even, huh. He supposes.....]

... Very well then. We are even.

[Some...how.

But accepting that makes him feel better, so...he'll accept that.

Cue...awkward silence. Thanks is hard.]

[fortunately, stahn isn't feeling awkward at all. with his worries aside about how poorly leon would take all of this (really, it wasn't so bad), he's feeling pretty relieved and quite satisfied.

there's no tension for him now that the worst has passed, so it's easy for stahn to smile brightly and move things along.]

Have you eaten yet?

[And now Stahn is moving right along. Oh....... huh.

Leon blinks, but--this is for the better, he thinks. It's time to move on, and call it good with that.

He can handle that.]

No, I haven't. [He supposes they do have to eat dinner...at some point...] What do you intend to get for dinner? [Did Stahn already have ideas....]

I didn't really think about it. I was reading, so I didn't think about how hungry I was!

[oops. reading is probably being generous, he did start to doze because he had to wake up relatively early for work and it caught up with him. minor details.]

Are you in the mood for something?

[He just crosses his arms at that, because he's going to be difficult as per Leon norm--]

Do not order in anything even remotely spicy ever again.

[Last time they got take out it was a bit too much for Leon's tastebuds.]

I know, I know! I didn't know it would be spicy last time, honestly!

[it's not like he was trying to sear leon's tastebuds. he had no way of knowing it would be spicy.]

Why don't we just look at a menu and you can pick out what you want instead... [then it can't be his fault if things go wrong.]

[It's the woes and struggles of not being familiar with all of these weird foods...alas.

But Leon just huffs faintly at that.]

Fine. I will.

[Now it'll be Leon's fault when things go wrong, but he accepts that.

It's just dinner, guys, chill.]

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