[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.
[He'll stop talking about it if she stops bringing it up too. It's too awkward--he can't admit it and she can't accept his attempted denials, which means they'll be running in circles forever if they keep it up.
Lili just shakes her head then as she sips her tea. When she speaks again, it's after some rumination. Leon might not be lying to her maliciously - it's probably more likely that he can't even admit to himself how much Stahn means to him.
It's not like she doesn't understand. Yona is someone so vitally important to her that she can't deny it anymore but - others like Kashuu or Atsushi or even Otome.... that's harder. Regardless, she thinks that it's frustrating that lies are still exchanged between them.]
[He's not sure he's going to like this proposal, honestly, especially after what the subject matter has been, but he just holds his tea cup in his hand as well and meets her eyes, because it's not like he's afraid of her proposal, that would be ridiculous.
Except Lili's just going to be incredibly honest.]
There are too many lies floating around this place. I obviously don't expect you to tell me everything about yourself - or anything at all, really. [That would imply that they're friends, even though Lili will undoubtedly recklessly ask later.] Just... If I don't have to think about lies from you, that would be one less issue.
And of course I won't lie either.
[Though in her head she doesn't lie a lot in general.]
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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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Just don't lie to me.
[LIKE HONESTLY.
Keep your tsun to yourself, Leon...]
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[Ugh. He frowns at her over his own tea cup.]
Don't presume as though you know me.
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Absolutely not. You don't get to pick and choose when we know each other.
[Just because she tried to pull the same thing on him...
But she's not interested in doing the back and forth.]
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[This is just getting worse and worse.
But he can't deny that she knows him, and that's aggravating in and of itself.]
Don't misunderstand!
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[ULTIMATUM. She just huffs then, fixing him with a pointed look.]
Just stop spouting mistruths and we won't have to talk about it - it's more annoying than anything to hear you try to convince yourself.
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[He'll stop talking about it if she stops bringing it up too. It's too awkward--he can't admit it and she can't accept his attempted denials, which means they'll be running in circles forever if they keep it up.
So.
Awkward silence instead.]
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Lili just shakes her head then as she sips her tea. When she speaks again, it's after some rumination. Leon might not be lying to her maliciously - it's probably more likely that he can't even admit to himself how much Stahn means to him.
It's not like she doesn't understand. Yona is someone so vitally important to her that she can't deny it anymore but - others like Kashuu or Atsushi or even Otome.... that's harder. Regardless, she thinks that it's frustrating that lies are still exchanged between them.]
I have a proposal.
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[He's not sure he's going to like this proposal, honestly, especially after what the subject matter has been, but he just holds his tea cup in his hand as well and meets her eyes, because it's not like he's afraid of her proposal, that would be ridiculous.
He can at least hear her out.
Probably.]
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Except Lili's just going to be incredibly honest.]
There are too many lies floating around this place. I obviously don't expect you to tell me everything about yourself - or anything at all, really. [That would imply that they're friends, even though Lili will undoubtedly recklessly ask later.] Just... If I don't have to think about lies from you, that would be one less issue.
And of course I won't lie either.
[Though in her head she doesn't lie a lot in general.]
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