[ POINTING TO THAT BOX SHE KNOWS HE SAW. Otome may stay on the couch, though-- everything's been exhausting lately, and she can only imagine that Leon's equally, if not more, tired. ]
Still, Leon sounds more blasé than anything; he seems unbothered. By this part.]
The robots appeared to be drawn to those who were... [He makes a bit of a face] ...important to their human counterparts. Did you experience this as well?
... Yes. Thankfully, after I made it a point to not let it out of my sight, it focused all of its [ homicidal ] attention on me, so I don't think it was able to do much damage.
I'm sure they tried very hard. [ With a very faint snort, and more concern than that, because-- she doesn't like thinking about Leon being hurt. Or even attacked. ]
[ Look, she's not going to reach out and touch him, because odds are he'll flinch back. But Otome keeps her eyes on his face, and speaks quietly. ]
As I said... it isn't easy, and I know you could have handled it, but... well. To see someone important fall, due to your hand, even if it isn't actually that person--
Really, I had a hard time watching my own robot get destroyed. [ That scream... she winces slightly now, thinking back to it. ]
[.... He doesn't like to think of Otome dealing with that, just as much as he doesn't like the look on Stahn's face when he'd done it. His expression tightens, and he glances at her--but he's not able to meet her eyes, looking away quickly again.]
That is why... I should have handled it. [He should not have let Stahn do it.
He should not have put Stahn in a position where he had to.
Leon's the hardened knight, not Stahn.]
It... is not as though I like him. [There's something incredibly weak about that protest, though.]
It's not about whether someone requires protection or not. I know you and a lot of my friends are extremely capable, but I wouldn't be able to sit still if I knew something dangerous was happening.
Because he wasn't able to face Stahn's face like that. He wasn't able to lift his sword against someone who looked like Stahn,not again, and so he'd let Stahn put himself into danger because of his own inability.
...]
I am a coward.
[Isn't that what it boils down to? He was too frightened to do anything, and too weak to work through it. Somehow, it's easier to admit to Otome than he'd thought it would be--but perhaps it's because there's something about her even now that reminds him of...well, the only actual piece of home he ever had.
He'd talked to Marian like this too. So even though Otome is different...it's reassuring.]
[ That face... has she ever actually seen Leon make a face like that before? It's almost as surprising as hearing him make an admittance that declares some sort of vulnerability. Otome had since learned to read the truth between his words - and it's usually always there, in his mannerisms - but for Leon to outright state it like that?
... She won't take it for granted; she's touched. And also more than a little concerned. ]
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[ POINTING TO THAT BOX SHE KNOWS HE SAW. Otome may stay on the couch, though-- everything's been exhausting lately, and she can only imagine that Leon's equally, if not more, tired. ]
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Progress!!
He doesn't even bother to argue that he doesn't like sweets, he just doesn't have the energy right now.]
Thank you, I suppose.
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... So, how exciting was your yesterday?
[ Because it probably was. ]
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Still, Leon sounds more blasé than anything; he seems unbothered. By this part.]
The robots appeared to be drawn to those who were... [He makes a bit of a face] ...important to their human counterparts. Did you experience this as well?
[So because Stahn had two... it was a Fun Time.]
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Except to traumatize one of my friends.
[ POOR LOP. ]
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... Yes, that was my experience as well. Stahn's robot counterparts seemed very fixated on me.
[CAN'T...IMAGINE WHY...]
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...Yes, well. [After that lengthy, awkward pause, he's just clearing his throat.] They did not harm me, in the end.
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[Not saying they didn't try.]
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[He seems unbothered in that aspect, at least.]
They were mostly ineffectual, to be honest.
[It was what came next that was the hard part.]
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[ UNLESS YOU'RE HIRO. ]
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But Otome's right on the money, of course, which is why Leon glances away.]
... I could have handled it.
[Which, of course, implies that he didn't.]
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[ Yeah, she caught that. ]
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...Yes.]
... He would not allow me-- [... no, that's not right at all. Leon still could've stepped in. But he didn't.]
... In the end, I allowed him to do so, yes.
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[ Look, she's not going to reach out and touch him, because odds are he'll flinch back. But Otome keeps her eyes on his face, and speaks quietly. ]
As I said... it isn't easy, and I know you could have handled it, but... well. To see someone important fall, due to your hand, even if it isn't actually that person--
Really, I had a hard time watching my own robot get destroyed. [ That scream... she winces slightly now, thinking back to it. ]
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That is why... I should have handled it. [He should not have let Stahn do it.
He should not have put Stahn in a position where he had to.
Leon's the hardened knight, not Stahn.]
It... is not as though I like him. [There's something incredibly weak about that protest, though.]
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... I think that's enough to make a situation like that less than pleasant.
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[Right either... but no, she's giving him an out, isn't she? He should take it, instead of constantly undermining his own words.
He clears his throat.]
... Stahn is the one who is softhearted, not me. I don't require his protection.
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It's not about whether someone requires protection or not. I know you and a lot of my friends are extremely capable, but I wouldn't be able to sit still if I knew something dangerous was happening.
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...And yet that is what I did.
[But then...he's not a good friend, is he? He's...whatever he is, and he let Stahn handle it all on himself, couldn't do anything to help.]
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[ There's nothing judgmental about her tone. But maybe it's something Leon needs to voice. If not... there's no obligation. ]
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Because he wasn't able to face Stahn's face like that. He wasn't able to lift his sword against someone who looked like Stahn,not again, and so he'd let Stahn put himself into danger because of his own inability.
...]
I am a coward.
[Isn't that what it boils down to? He was too frightened to do anything, and too weak to work through it. Somehow, it's easier to admit to Otome than he'd thought it would be--but perhaps it's because there's something about her even now that reminds him of...well, the only actual piece of home he ever had.
He'd talked to Marian like this too. So even though Otome is different...it's reassuring.]
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... She won't take it for granted; she's touched. And also more than a little concerned. ]
Because you didn't want to fight them?
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