But he just arches an eyebrow at Lili, unimpressed by the question, really. As dramatic as it sounds, it... is true. Sometimes in his missions he has to interrogate people, or even kill them. It isn't for the weak of heart.]
I am a knight. [... Lili knows better, actually, so his expression twists into a frown.] ...Was, an honorary knight of Seinegald. Whatever my missions required, I would do. That was my role.
[Even in the face of the arched eyebrow, she doesn't back down. There's just a stern look in response because she thinks that it's a legitimate question. Especially as they sit down and she combats that a little bit-]
And what about that made you cold? Weren't you just serving your country?
[Though admittedly.
Lili can be rather naive about what that might entail outside of the broad "protecting the citizens".]
[... In a lot of ways, it does startle him to realize how naive she can be. For all that she's so devoted to her lands and changing the world and all of those things--well, maybe this is why she's so optimistic still.
Even after what she endured at the hands of other soldiers, though?
He arches an eyebrow at her, crossing his arms as he meets her eyes across the table.]
Were those soldiers who tormented you and your friend not simply following their orders?
[He can't say he's ever done what they did, of course--but even so, it's not like his hands are clean, either.]
[She bristles a bit at that, looking up from the menu to glare at him automatically because that's such a callous way to bring up something traumatizing? Though her gaze eventually eases up because-
She's had time to think about this.]
Some of them were going out of their way to be cruel.
[The ones who grabbed her hair, forced the liquor down her throat, grabbed her just to prove their strength even after she'd agreed to follow directions.]
[She says that, and for a moment, Leon desperately hopes that it's true. That he didn't go out of his way to be cruel when he crushed Jobs' dreams when he killed him, even after he'd been so admiring. That he wasn't unnecessarily cruel when torturing information out of Batista, because he can still remember Philia's face.
... He frowns slightly, tapping his fingers on the table.]
How would you know that? Do not allow your impression of me to taint your opinion, because I have done what needs to be done for the sake of my country and under orders many times before.
[Leon may frown but Lili's voice and gaze are even as she meets his eyes.]
You wouldn't force poisonous drugs down the throat of a slave just for the sake of a laugh.
[Lili is so very sure that he wouldn't.]
Soldiers fight and do what they must for the sake of their country, following orders and the like. The responsibility of those orders fall upon their ruler and commander.
Some then go power hungry and grow pathetic. You are not them.
[...alright, no, he probably wouldn't do that. He couldn't really imagine doing any of that for a laugh--he's never been interested in that sort of thing. He doesn't think he'll ever be that bad.
But nonetheless--he still did terrible things, regardless of his reasons.]
I did not bring this up so that you could attempt to reassure me with platitudes. [Not that...it isn't nice to hear. She's so certain about it.
It's...nice.]
My point is that I am certain that I will be able to handle the situation.
Still though she's just going to level Leon with a look but well, as long as he doesn't deny it then she isn't going to be ruffled. So she's going to sigh before pulling a waitress aside and ordering a pot of tea.
They can talk over tea.]
Well... I already told Stahn this myself but I'd rather no one really had to, much as I hate these things.
[But not enough to wish stabbing anything that looks like someone dear to them on anyone.]
I hope to find an alternative solution to deactivate them.
[They can absolutely talk over tea--Leon won't complain about that. But he arches an eyebrow at her then, and while that might be the sort of thing they'd tell Stahn to try to keep him from looking too sad--]
Do you truly believe that will be possible?
[Between the two of them, they've always been able to be level with each other.]
I'm not going to assume it won't be and give up before I try.
[ . . . and she thinks that's understandable enough. No, it probably won't come true, but Lili's stubborn as hell. She probably won't even find an answer in time before she has to run away from these damned things in a few days, but-]
Would you rather make Kashuu cut down himself? Or make Stahn do the same thing? Or worse - have them cut down each other? All the people who activated their robots are annoyingly soft-hearted.
[Because Leon will say that he's capable of doing it - and perhaps for one of his other friends that might be easier. But for Stahn? Lili can't imagine saying an offensive word about Yona, much less having to actually harm her or cut her down.
At least their tea comes though, which Lili will pour for the both of them.]
[Not............. going to comment, she's just going to sip her own tea.
You do you, Leon. She'll pretend she doesn't notice. Except-]
Order your own milk if you want it.
[Moving on.]
Then I don't want it to be necessary for you to raise your sword against something that looks like Stahn. [Plainly, because she thinks that's pretty obvious.] Don't turn this into a game of semantics.
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[Oh.]
If these robots end up being dangerous, who do you suspect will be their first targets?
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[BRISTLING.
Except that doesn't make it any less difficult.]
But it's - they look and sound exactly the same. Which is the entire problem, but it's not like I could just abuse them...!
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[A sword fighter, at that.]
Then do not allow your blade to waver when it comes to even a situation like this.
[STAB THE BOTS.]
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Are you blind? I don't even have a blade.
[FIRST ISSUE. Though she... is considering perhaps amending that in the future.]
You're too cold.
[Or. Honestly probably acting too cold - she doubts that he would kill a Stahnbot so brutally.]
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Naturally. [Of course he's too cold. He's not going to argue that at all.]
It is my role to be cold.
[He's not going to deny that.
And yet. He really doesn't know if he could legitimately kill one of the Stahnbots, as much as he'd like to say that he could.]
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Where did you get that idea?
[She says as she steps into a cafe they haven't been into before but looks classy enough to suit both of their needs.
But???
Role to be cold???
C'mon, Leon, turn down the emo music.]
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But he just arches an eyebrow at Lili, unimpressed by the question, really. As dramatic as it sounds, it... is true. Sometimes in his missions he has to interrogate people, or even kill them. It isn't for the weak of heart.]
I am a knight. [... Lili knows better, actually, so his expression twists into a frown.] ...Was, an honorary knight of Seinegald. Whatever my missions required, I would do. That was my role.
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And what about that made you cold? Weren't you just serving your country?
[Though admittedly.
Lili can be rather naive about what that might entail outside of the broad "protecting the citizens".]
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Even after what she endured at the hands of other soldiers, though?
He arches an eyebrow at her, crossing his arms as he meets her eyes across the table.]
Were those soldiers who tormented you and your friend not simply following their orders?
[He can't say he's ever done what they did, of course--but even so, it's not like his hands are clean, either.]
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She's had time to think about this.]
Some of them were going out of their way to be cruel.
[The ones who grabbed her hair, forced the liquor down her throat, grabbed her just to prove their strength even after she'd agreed to follow directions.]
You're not the same as them.
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... He frowns slightly, tapping his fingers on the table.]
How would you know that? Do not allow your impression of me to taint your opinion, because I have done what needs to be done for the sake of my country and under orders many times before.
I accepted that that was my role long ago.
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You wouldn't force poisonous drugs down the throat of a slave just for the sake of a laugh.
[Lili is so very sure that he wouldn't.]
Soldiers fight and do what they must for the sake of their country, following orders and the like. The responsibility of those orders fall upon their ruler and commander.
Some then go power hungry and grow pathetic. You are not them.
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But nonetheless--he still did terrible things, regardless of his reasons.]
I did not bring this up so that you could attempt to reassure me with platitudes. [Not that...it isn't nice to hear. She's so certain about it.
It's...nice.]
My point is that I am certain that I will be able to handle the situation.
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Still though she's just going to level Leon with a look but well, as long as he doesn't deny it then she isn't going to be ruffled. So she's going to sigh before pulling a waitress aside and ordering a pot of tea.
They can talk over tea.]
Well... I already told Stahn this myself but I'd rather no one really had to, much as I hate these things.
[But not enough to wish stabbing anything that looks like someone dear to them on anyone.]
I hope to find an alternative solution to deactivate them.
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Do you truly believe that will be possible?
[Between the two of them, they've always been able to be level with each other.]
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[ . . . and she thinks that's understandable enough. No, it probably won't come true, but Lili's stubborn as hell. She probably won't even find an answer in time before she has to run away from these damned things in a few days, but-]
Would you rather make Kashuu cut down himself? Or make Stahn do the same thing? Or worse - have them cut down each other? All the people who activated their robots are annoyingly soft-hearted.
I don't want them to have to face that.
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[He's not interested in making either of them do that, because--]
They may not even be capable of that. [But also, yeah, he wouldn't want to make them go through that. And yet. Here they are.]
But if there is no other way, then I will take care of them myself.
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I don't want you to have to do it either.
[Because Leon will say that he's capable of doing it - and perhaps for one of his other friends that might be easier. But for Stahn? Lili can't imagine saying an offensive word about Yona, much less having to actually harm her or cut her down.
At least their tea comes though, which Lili will pour for the both of them.]
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Pause.
Add....sugar............ don't look at him, don't pay attention to him at all, this is normal, shut up.]
... What we want and what is necessary are unlikely to overlap in this instance.
[If it poses a threat to Stahn, Leon will kill it. That's just how it goes.]
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You do you, Leon. She'll pretend she doesn't notice. Except-]
Order your own milk if you want it.
[Moving on.]
Then I don't want it to be necessary for you to raise your sword against something that looks like Stahn. [Plainly, because she thinks that's pretty obvious.] Don't turn this into a game of semantics.
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[He'll drink it without...it's fine... leave him alone.
Regardless, he just arches an eyebrow at that. Stop acting like he likes Stahn, it's not like that!!]
You are acting as though that would cause me problems. It is not as though he is particularly important to me.
[The lies are off the charts here.]
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A really long silence as she sips her tea.
And then:]
You're kidding, yes?
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... Are you mocking me? Stahn--he is the sort of person I hate the most! [Cl...early...]
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[She said the exact same thing to him but she's also pausing because she knows that Leon doesn't actually.... hate Stahn...]
Is this an incredibly long ruse that I never expected you capable of - or are you being an idiot?
[Said with absolute seriousness.... like.... what...........]
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But.
He has to hold onto it. It's what he's been saying from day one, and he doesn't know what he'd say if that was gone.]
Shut up.
[Ah yes, good comeback.]
I don't have to explain myself to you.
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