[As he's been telling Stahn, and as he now seems to have had to tell Otome--it's fine.
There has to be a way to make sure that everyone gets home safely, or this will all have been for nothing, and Leon can't accept that. Otome and her friends, Stahn and his friends...they all have to get home safely.]
We shall all continue to fight, until the proper solution presents itself.
[ ... considering how she'd more or less kicked him out when he'd worried about her, she wouldn't be at all surprised if he said no, but there are some things better accomplished in person. ]
[The word escapes him before he can even think about it--but he's startled by it, to be sure. And part of it is because she did send him off when he'd gone to see her before, and for Leon, he's very much a "once burned, twice shy" mentality.
But... he doesn't really want to show that.
And... it's Otome, too, right?
He recovers as quickly as he can, clearing his throat.]
That is--you may, if you wish. It is not as though I am particularly busy at the moment.
[ ... Ah. She can't help but wince, slightly. Yeah, this was completely her fault, and after she'd done everything she could to convince Leon that she wasn't ever going to hurt him. At times, even Otome regards the colony with a sense of irritation; a lot of things can go wrong with a simple effect. ]
I do wish. I'll be there as soon as I can.
[ And honestly, this is true, because he'll get a knock in about fifteen minutes?? ]
[ He sure did. So Otome's only slightly sorry that she's ruining this very dignified meeting by stepping forward and pulling him in for a hug. Sorry, Leon, please bear with it. ]
I know you said it wasn't necessary... but I'm so, so sorry I put you through all of that. You didn't deserve any of that, and yet you did so much to look after me, didn't you?
Suffice to say, Leon isn't expecting it in the least. He stiffens immediately, eyes wide, and opens his mouth as if to say something--but nothing really comes out.
Give him a moment, hugs are still...very very strange for him.
(But even if he's stiff and uncertain, he doesn't pull away.)]
[ That's fine, because Otome also isn't pulling away this time. She of course remembers everything; nothing in her memory is patchy, even if the way she'd felt had been... well, almost forced on her, unable to be shaken off on her own.
And Leon, poor Leon, had tried so hard to reach her. She can only imagine what else he's had to deal with while everyone's been acting strangely, and the thought makes her tighten her arms around him with a shaky sigh. ]
It's all right if you're hurt, or angry. I know I haven't made it easy.
[He frowns a little then, to himself--but ultimately, he slowly begins to relax, at least a little.
Because in the end, it's still Otome, and at least.... Otome still cares about him. Not that he was that concerned, but...admittedly, it was impossible to not worry at least a little if that was the case. For someone like Leon...
But here Otome is, naturally concerned about him and apologetic, and he knew that she wasn't herself at the time.
This only makes it all the clearer.]
... You were not yourself, just as Stahn was not himself, and the others...
[He shakes his head slowly, eyes fluttering half-shut as he accepts the affection, a little bit, for what it is. It has been strange and exhausting for him to try to help the others like this, as it doesn't come easily to him--so in a way, it's nice to just accept the comfort that Otome's offering.]
It's a lot to handle, I know. Especially when nearly everyone was affected, it seems like. Even when we tried to continue as normally as we could, it was pretty much impossible. I'm grateful to Karl for even trying.
[ Stahn, too, had sought her out to help, and she hadn't... really...
Otome's sigh is soft and tired, but at the very least, it's not defeated this time. ]
And to you, of course, for caring about me-- even when you had your hands full. [ For Leon to send someone else to help her is rare... the last time had been Kogami, hadn't it? ]
So if there's anything I can do, to make it up to you... please let me know, okay?
I do not need you to "make it up to me", or any such nonsense...
[He shakes his head quietly, and finally gathers himself enough to pull away--but it's a gentle motion, not at all aggressive. It's just time for him to separate himself from her hug, that's all.]
That you are back to yourself... that is enough for me.
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[As he's been telling Stahn, and as he now seems to have had to tell Otome--it's fine.
There has to be a way to make sure that everyone gets home safely, or this will all have been for nothing, and Leon can't accept that. Otome and her friends, Stahn and his friends...they all have to get home safely.]
We shall all continue to fight, until the proper solution presents itself.
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[ ... considering how she'd more or less kicked him out when he'd worried about her, she wouldn't be at all surprised if he said no, but there are some things better accomplished in person. ]
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[The word escapes him before he can even think about it--but he's startled by it, to be sure. And part of it is because she did send him off when he'd gone to see her before, and for Leon, he's very much a "once burned, twice shy" mentality.
But... he doesn't really want to show that.
And... it's Otome, too, right?
He recovers as quickly as he can, clearing his throat.]
That is--you may, if you wish. It is not as though I am particularly busy at the moment.
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I do wish. I'll be there as soon as I can.
[ And honestly, this is true, because he'll get a knock in about fifteen minutes?? ]
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But.
That's okay. He's okay!!! He's fine. Nothing is wrong here, everyone was just not themselves before but he. Is. Fine.
...Yes.
He opens the door, pauses for only the briefest of moments, and then steps back.]
... Come in. [Nailed it.]
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I know you said it wasn't necessary... but I'm so, so sorry I put you through all of that. You didn't deserve any of that, and yet you did so much to look after me, didn't you?
So, additionally... thank you, Leon.
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Suffice to say, Leon isn't expecting it in the least. He stiffens immediately, eyes wide, and opens his mouth as if to say something--but nothing really comes out.
Give him a moment, hugs are still...very very strange for him.
(But even if he's stiff and uncertain, he doesn't pull away.)]
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And Leon, poor Leon, had tried so hard to reach her. She can only imagine what else he's had to deal with while everyone's been acting strangely, and the thought makes her tighten her arms around him with a shaky sigh. ]
It's all right if you're hurt, or angry. I know I haven't made it easy.
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[He frowns a little then, to himself--but ultimately, he slowly begins to relax, at least a little.
Because in the end, it's still Otome, and at least.... Otome still cares about him. Not that he was that concerned, but...admittedly, it was impossible to not worry at least a little if that was the case. For someone like Leon...
But here Otome is, naturally concerned about him and apologetic, and he knew that she wasn't herself at the time.
This only makes it all the clearer.]
... You were not yourself, just as Stahn was not himself, and the others...
[He shakes his head slowly, eyes fluttering half-shut as he accepts the affection, a little bit, for what it is. It has been strange and exhausting for him to try to help the others like this, as it doesn't come easily to him--so in a way, it's nice to just accept the comfort that Otome's offering.]
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[ Stahn, too, had sought her out to help, and she hadn't... really...
Otome's sigh is soft and tired, but at the very least, it's not defeated this time. ]
And to you, of course, for caring about me-- even when you had your hands full. [ For Leon to send someone else to help her is rare... the last time had been Kogami, hadn't it? ]
So if there's anything I can do, to make it up to you... please let me know, okay?
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[He shakes his head quietly, and finally gathers himself enough to pull away--but it's a gentle motion, not at all aggressive. It's just time for him to separate himself from her hug, that's all.]
That you are back to yourself... that is enough for me.
[A beat, and he adds, awkwardly--]
It is...less troublesome for me, naturally.
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[ She's forever going to be bemused by that. ]
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[Demanded, more like, honestly.]
...Hmph. I was simply...unconvinced by what you told me before, that is all. You were too much unlike yourself.
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... Though I'll have to apologize to him, too. [ oops. ]
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slow
pause
He slowly arches an eyebrow at her.]
Is that so...
[WHAT IS HE TO YOU, MOM]
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... Leon, you don't have to look at me like that!
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I suppose Karl seemed very willing to be around you, odd effects aside...
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[ LEON... ]
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[Yeah, he's not so sure about that, but--]
It is not as though it matters either way. What you do with your relationships is your own business.
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[ She'd kind of... not handled Karl checking on her very well. ]
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As I thought.
He messed up such a simple task. How utterly unsurprising.
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[ Well. Largely Otome's fault, anyway. ]
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[Huff!!]
Regardless, he had a simple task and that is all there is to it.
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