[well... it's definitely not the question he was expecting to get from otome so suddenly.
but all the same, he's not entirely surprised that leon would have told her at some point what had happened between them. leon may be pretty secretive—but otome has a way of pulling things out of both of them that is pretty unmatched.
still, there's not much reason stahn can think that it needs to be brought up. he made a promise, and he kept it. it was something he believed staunchly in, and something he knew leon was counting on too. but what's done is done, so... he definitely seems to be a bit puzzled by the sudden inquiry, even if stahn remains pretty nonchalant about it otherwise.]
Mm... [though he's not really sure what to say.] Is... there something wrong with that?
[he's not really consciously thinking he disappointed her somehow in doing so, but his confusion about why she's bringing it up is apparent.]
[ She wasn't ever about to turn her nose up at any promise, let alone a promise that these two had made with each other. So Otome says this with a reassuring smile, because the last thing she wants Stahn concerned about is that she's somehow troubled by it. ]
It was just a little surprising to hear that you'd kissed.
he should have expected that she'd bring that part up (though admittedly—he's not sure he expected that leon would actually tell otome that much). but he doesn't, and it's—
well, it's embarrassing enough that his cheeks flush a bit. his hand shifts a bit to ruffles his hair, and he'll admit the other part of this to her.]
I was pretty surprised too. I— I didn't think I would do something like that either. [which is true. he'd wanted to convey the feelings he'd come to understand to leon before it was too late, but stahn tripped over his words so much that actions were the only way to really make leon understand him.] It felt right though, like I needed to.
Mm, well... I can't say I'm too surprised. [ beyond the initial "come again", anyway. ] You two were practically joined at the hip.
[ When Leon got more honest about things, anyway, and even when he wasn't... it wasn't difficult to tell that he'd cared a great deal about Stahn and his well-being. ]
And I imagine if words weren't enough, there are other ways to express what you're feeling. [ Like locking lips, yes. ] I don't think the way you follow through on impulse is wrong, Stahn.
[leave it to otome to be completely understanding of how he feels and why he feels that way. and leave it to her, of course, to say he wasn't wrong for what he did.
...and maybe that she wasn't surprised.
in retrospect, it was pretty obvious, wasn't it? stahn needed until things were really down to the wire to understand what his heart wanted above all else... but the signs had been there. he cared about leon in ways other people couldn't ever really understand. their friendship, their relationship—it was very unique.]
I'm... not so good with words a lot of the time. But I wanted—I needed Leon to know that. If I left without him knowing it... I think I really would have regretted it.
[and he doesn't want to live with any more regrets. he'd had enough about not being able to do more for leon, both at home and in cerealia, so of course...
he had to follow his heart.] ...He never got mad about it.
[about the kiss. about the display of his feelings or his intent. so to stahn, that meant that his decision had to have been the best one.]
Leon would be the first to let you know if he didn't approve of something.
[ He'd never been shy about stating his dislike of anything (even if that dislike wasn't true), so that he had even told Otome about it in the first place was the first sign that Leon hadn't been against it-- and that it was something he felt he could be honest about). ]
He was taking your promise very seriously, too. He may not admit this much, but he really was doing his best-- well, he's still doing his best, but whatever happens from here on out... I'll be your ally. [ Which probably also isn't surprising, but Otome still feels like it's worth saying. ]
[he's glad he can always count on mom for support. of course, in the past... a lot of her support had been over things that were difficult and painful, and stahn is eternally grateful for everything she did for him.
because he may not have been able to fight so hard for leon's survival, or confess his feelings, or dig up strength when things were really bad at home without remembering all she'd done for him. it matters, it all matters.
just as it matters to hear that leon has been taking it seriously. they've both been doing their best... so it'll be okay.]
Thanks, Otome. [sincerely.] I think we'll be okay now. We still have things to work out, but... it's better now.
Mm, I agree. [ And she can't help it, she's just going to reach out and stroke Stahn's head. Or try, although it's not too impressive with how she actually does have to reach a bit. But it's motherly instincts at work; she can't not have that sort of contact with him. ]
The two of you are strong, after all. And you've only grown since the last time I saw you.
[as ever, stahn still dips his head in order to give otome that leeway.]
A lot happened... and I guess a lot changed too. For all of us.
[it's not like stahn's the only one who has grown and changed, even if it's probably more obvious in how he lacks a certain naivete than before, or how his sunshine is still a bit more muted than it was when they first met.
(of course, his spirits are a lot better than they were towards the end of their time in cerealia, but he still isn't totally recovered from that and all that happened in the latter half of his journey back home.)]
You're not wrong. [ said very ruefully, because honestly, that's true. A lot's happened since she said goodbye to Stahn, battles unlike anything she's ever had to fought before, for all that the world seems entirely peaceful now. Otome herself doesn't seem to have changed, or at least not in entirely obvious ways. ]
Are you all right, though? Did you get a chance to express things?
[he nods, and nothing seems particularly hidden or dishonest about his response. he's definitely come a long way since cerealia—he's had a lot of time to think and recover. he can handle situations a bit more healthily because he has more support, and that makes this all much easier for stahn.]
Yeah... I mean, I think so. It's still kind of hard sometimes, but I'm doing my best. [he's just not always good at expressing all the things in a way that's conducive to being understood.]
It's never really something that becomes second nature, especially when it's something you're still trying to adjust to. Even I have problems talking about things that bother me.
Well, it's the things that cause the most difficulty that tend to be the most important. Unconsciously, we recognize that, and we kind of act to avoid burdening the people we care about with it. But at the same time, I think we both would want to know if someone we cared for was having problems.
[her words make a lot of sense. of course they do—it's otome. she's smart and she understands these things. of course she would have a good grasp on this sort of thing.
much better than he does, especially.]
Yeah. I... definitely want to know that. I can't help anyone if I don't know something is wrong at all.
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but all the same, he's not entirely surprised that leon would have told her at some point what had happened between them. leon may be pretty secretive—but otome has a way of pulling things out of both of them that is pretty unmatched.
still, there's not much reason stahn can think that it needs to be brought up. he made a promise, and he kept it. it was something he believed staunchly in, and something he knew leon was counting on too. but what's done is done, so... he definitely seems to be a bit puzzled by the sudden inquiry, even if stahn remains pretty nonchalant about it otherwise.]
Mm... [though he's not really sure what to say.] Is... there something wrong with that?
[he's not really consciously thinking he disappointed her somehow in doing so, but his confusion about why she's bringing it up is apparent.]
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[ She wasn't ever about to turn her nose up at any promise, let alone a promise that these two had made with each other. So Otome says this with a reassuring smile, because the last thing she wants Stahn concerned about is that she's somehow troubled by it. ]
It was just a little surprising to hear that you'd kissed.
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[yeah.
that.
he should have expected that she'd bring that part up (though admittedly—he's not sure he expected that leon would actually tell otome that much). but he doesn't, and it's—
well, it's embarrassing enough that his cheeks flush a bit. his hand shifts a bit to ruffles his hair, and he'll admit the other part of this to her.]
I was pretty surprised too. I— I didn't think I would do something like that either. [which is true. he'd wanted to convey the feelings he'd come to understand to leon before it was too late, but stahn tripped over his words so much that actions were the only way to really make leon understand him.] It felt right though, like I needed to.
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[ When Leon got more honest about things, anyway, and even when he wasn't... it wasn't difficult to tell that he'd cared a great deal about Stahn and his well-being. ]
And I imagine if words weren't enough, there are other ways to express what you're feeling. [ Like locking lips, yes. ] I don't think the way you follow through on impulse is wrong, Stahn.
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...and maybe that she wasn't surprised.
in retrospect, it was pretty obvious, wasn't it? stahn needed until things were really down to the wire to understand what his heart wanted above all else... but the signs had been there. he cared about leon in ways other people couldn't ever really understand. their friendship, their relationship—it was very unique.]
I'm... not so good with words a lot of the time. But I wanted—I needed Leon to know that. If I left without him knowing it... I think I really would have regretted it.
[and he doesn't want to live with any more regrets. he'd had enough about not being able to do more for leon, both at home and in cerealia, so of course...
he had to follow his heart.] ...He never got mad about it.
[about the kiss. about the display of his feelings or his intent. so to stahn, that meant that his decision had to have been the best one.]
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[ He'd never been shy about stating his dislike of anything (even if that dislike wasn't true), so that he had even told Otome about it in the first place was the first sign that Leon hadn't been against it-- and that it was something he felt he could be honest about). ]
He was taking your promise very seriously, too. He may not admit this much, but he really was doing his best-- well, he's still doing his best, but whatever happens from here on out... I'll be your ally. [ Which probably also isn't surprising, but Otome still feels like it's worth saying. ]
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because he may not have been able to fight so hard for leon's survival, or confess his feelings, or dig up strength when things were really bad at home without remembering all she'd done for him. it matters, it all matters.
just as it matters to hear that leon has been taking it seriously. they've both been doing their best... so it'll be okay.]
Thanks, Otome. [sincerely.] I think we'll be okay now. We still have things to work out, but... it's better now.
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The two of you are strong, after all. And you've only grown since the last time I saw you.
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A lot happened... and I guess a lot changed too. For all of us.
[it's not like stahn's the only one who has grown and changed, even if it's probably more obvious in how he lacks a certain naivete than before, or how his sunshine is still a bit more muted than it was when they first met.
(of course, his spirits are a lot better than they were towards the end of their time in cerealia, but he still isn't totally recovered from that and all that happened in the latter half of his journey back home.)]
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Are you all right, though? Did you get a chance to express things?
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Yeah... I mean, I think so. It's still kind of hard sometimes, but I'm doing my best. [he's just not always good at expressing all the things in a way that's conducive to being understood.]
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[ SHE REALLY DOES. ]
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[he's come to terms with that part too, at least. he's definitely improved, but it's a work in progress.
...though it's definitely significantly easier with some of the worst hurdles having been overcome already, at least.]
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much better than he does, especially.]
Yeah. I... definitely want to know that. I can't help anyone if I don't know something is wrong at all.
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So, if you ever need a listening ear, you know where to find me.
[ She'll be here!! ]
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[she's the best mom.]
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[ It's a duty she takes seriously. ]
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[she's the best mom, it's okay.]
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[ For the record. ]
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[though it's probably inevitable, if only because leon is leon. there'll definitely be some kind of stupid conflict at some point.]
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[ tactfully not saying BECAUSE YOU'RE DATING CAPTAIN DIFFICULTY. ]
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[how2relationship, we just don't know. even if stahn is hoping they don't run into too many roadblocks.
though he is indeed dating captain difficulty, so that's kind of a loaded hope.]
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[ It was just how things were. ]
STARES INTO THE SKY, WHEN DID I LOSE THIS NOTIF
[is he laughing a bit awkwardly? of course he is.]
I don't even know what would be left for us to argue about at this point, though.
IT'S FINE
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