[ hope izumi's enjoying his late, late, late night, because that's being interrupted. some part of leo considers that maybe it's better to seek izumi out later, when he's less of a mess. unfortunately, umite is Far, and he's... pretty tired, actually.
at least navigating in the dark is easier now. so here he is, at the base of sena's treehouse, looking pretty worn. the bleeding's stopped, but he's still a little scratched up on various parts of his body, and he's so weirdly cold--
--leo does feel terrible for this. even if their sleep has been pretty light as of late for various reasons, this still isn't ideal. he gathers the last pieces of energy he has, and calls out: ]
Sena!
[ with how tree-hugger sena is, maybe he already knows he's coming.
[ it takes a while for sena to get used to the forest again, which is something that he shouldn't have undergone in the first place. he was so prepared to have a good night's sleep again, but even he can tell that someone's coming from far away.
only this time, it isn't a threat. ]
...Leo-kun?
[ he quickly descends from his treehouse, quickly catches leo if he ever feels like collapsing from all the injuries he'd gotten. either way he's got him.
being part-snake, sena can see more clearly in the dark, but he can't tell what's wrong with leo until he carries him back inside his place, laying him down on a "bed" that's just composed of surprising comfortable leaves and cotton, and turning on the makeshift fire lamp. ]
You've got so much explaining to do. Where have you been?! [ he tries to sound admonishing, but if izumi sounds a little panicky there, leo's probably imagining it. ]
[ mmmmmph. he doesn't collapse completely, no, probably standing upright out of sheer stubbornness and a need to show a bit of strength to sena despite... being in a bad enough state to have to seek him out, but he can't stop leaning into him slightly when he's finally there.
leo's wounds aren't life-threatening or anything, just a fair amount of fresh-ish scrapes with some splinters around the wounds, plus some bruising and dried blood. guess who probably didn't treat any of it! when they settle down and the light turns on, though, his eyes squint just the slightest and he looks away as naturally as he can away from it. if izumi's standing near the lamp, he'll spare him some glances, but they're short as possible and unfocused.
for all the injuries he has, leo doesn't seem to be in pain. just-- tired. ]
Sorry, sorry, I...
[ even he has the sense to sound sheepish here, and the edges of his words even carry a slight bit of a shame, honestly, as he adjusts his sleeves over his wounds. ]
... Um, the castle. You hear about a lot of stuff, so you probably know about the baby-eating one, right? It doesn't actually do that. But I guess it's not around anymore, so it's not like anyone'll gossip about it now... [ how casually he drops that in before he quickly moves on. ] Did I wake you up?
[ of course sena's heard all about the castle. it's eerie, even for someone who isn't easily frightened like him, so he'd rather avoid it as much as possible. not like it needs any backup from a treehugger anyway, since it can defend itself via voring, baby or otherwise.
but now he stands corrected, eyes widening at leo's words for a moment before he lifts a hand up to
pinch this stupid koto-face's cheek hard. never mind the scratches and splinters, izumi's going to hurt him a little anyway for being dumb so idk what leo's expecting, really. ]
Even if you didn't come here, I would've woken up anyway from that blast, you strings-for-brains! What were you thinking?! And what the hell do you mean it doesn't actually eat babies? Did you go inside yourself? Huh?!
[ he could potentially nag leo's ear off until sunrise, all while treating his wounds, but it should be apparent how worried he is. and if it were anyone else that stumbled onto his home tonight, he would've yelled about the same thing too, so... ]
[ aaaHHHH GOD he knew izumi would nag him before he went in, knew he'd nag him after he went in... he didn't even hear anything yet. but leo also can't say he doesn't deserve it, especially with how worried sena seems, and how late it is. weird as it is, this is also some normalcy in the face of the mess that he just witnessed, so. That Helps.
it's still fucking horrible though. he's gonna whine. he doesn't have a right to. STILL. UGH. ]
That's some gross bedside manner you have, Sena! Injuring the injured, emotionally and physically... Seriously, don't use my strings as an insult, how would you like it if I called you scales-for-brains!
[ binch
too bad sena's smart so it wouldn't even fit, except when he's being dumb, which is Sometimes. here, though? leo is definitely the only Dumb one. what was he thinking? he wasn't thinking. he knows he wasn't thinking. does he regret it? not really-- ]
I did go in, okay? [ raising his hands now because he is not going to just Take It a second time ] Don't pinch me again!
Then stop giving me reasons to pinch you again, stupid. Now stay still.
[ seriously though. if leo wants proper bedside manners, he should go to shinobu for that. luckily leo's wounds don't look too serious, so he'll start by disinfecting the cuts on his skin with some clear water. izumi works gently and quietly, brows knitted in deep thought, but he hasn't quite calmed down yet.
so he resorts to putting a series of herbs and flowers in a mortar and crushing it all into a paste, channeling his cranky energy into it. this does seem like a typical weekday for the both of them, but it really had to result in a castle imploding after market hours... could it be that this is foreshadowing for centuries to come?!
ya sure why not.. ]
Start from the beginning. Why did you go down there in the first place?
[ (mumbles) ur stupid. but mmmmmm yeah, okay... the least he can do is be a good patient if he's not going to be brutally attacked, so he'll do as requested and remain still, in a rare leo tsukinaga moment.
it's easier for him now, anyway. that little outburst actually drained him a little more... it was just so simple to get into butting heads with sena. easier than thinking about how to explain the castle, try to navigate all of its everything now that he wasn't in the thick of it.
oh, well. he hums a little in thought, tries not to wince when his cuts are touched. sorry, sena. ]
... I dunno.
[ that. is a horrible answer, he knows, so he elaborates before it's another reason to get pinched: ]
I can't really explain the feeling I got... It's like when you wake up and there's a certain thing you wanna eat, or a certain song you wanna play. [ his analogies are Simple Things this time. ] Maybe it was telling me to go there? So I did. Now, I feel like maybe it was asking for help. I was just one of the ones who listened.
but hmm. somehow that explanation kind of makes sense when it came from leo? maybe he heard something in the castle that nobody could understand the first time because of his inherent koto powers... whatever they are. good to know that he can behave and be coherent for once. ]
The energy that castle gave out was terrible. Even I didn't want to stay around for that long, y'know? I can only hope you brought someone else with you.
[ did he...... or izumi going to pinch him again while he's still making a balm for leo. vote now on your phones. ]
So what did you find in there? Some treasure, I hope.
he's just gonna skirt that first question with an awkward look. yeah, there were people there, but he didn't bring them. or anything.
not even a weapon. to explore spooky, baby-eating castle.
anyway, he absolutely hesitated, so: ]
I'll tell you if you don't pinch me, because you know I didn't. Bring anyone, I mean!
[ he'll protect himself This Time. also this is just an excuse to sort through how he can say what he has in his head, because... he knows izumi's not going to like it. it's evident enough from the way his brow furrowed somewhat at the word "treasure", then quickly moved back to spit out that disastrous deal. ]
figures. maybe leo should've brought his braincells instead of a companion along with him for the ride. but instead of pinching him, he's going to scoop up some of that medicinal paste and apply that to one of his cuts without warning. it doesn't sting as much, but it should have the same effect as pinching the hell out of his other cheek.
if anything the sting is a good thing here, since it should numb the pain for a while. ]
Of course I know you didn't. Why did I even bring my hopes up.
[ huffs! ]
Anyway, as I was saying - what did you find inside?
[ don't make him hurt you while healing you, bitc ]
[ fook, he does twitch slightly when that paste goes down. technically that's within the limits of their little wager, and... what izumi has to do, so it's not like he can complain... too much. he knows he's helping.
with the return back to that question he was kind of avoiding more than the rest, though, he... still has to pause.
leo's not sure how long it'll really take for him to put to words what he saw in there. he loves the world, but that's... a darkness he'd probably never come to terms with, even if he knew it existed in some forms. there were always hints of that unfairness... sena's memories and his own abandonment proved that enough, but...
he sighs a bit, focusing on some spot on the wall instead. ]
... It was... The remains of people trampling over others, I guess. Cutting them down and using other lives as a ladder to reach the top of a mountain they shouldn't climb, reach a goal they shouldn't have.
[ how vague.
but he can't help it. that is really what it was. he didn't think about it too deeply then, in the moment, but now it's all that's on his mind. ]
Sena. I don't wanna say it, but... this world can be really cruel, huh? People like that are really the worst, aren't they...?
[ sena raises a brow at that vague description, his hands still busying themselves with leo's wounds as he mulls over it. why so unclear about it, as though sena couldn't handle the truth? leo had seen what happened in that dream and more, so it should be apparent that sena can hear him out... if he isn't losing his mind, that is.
that question did make him fall silent though, as he focuses on treating this banged-up instrument. in the dimming orange light, his expression softens in a melancholic way as he tries to find the right words to put it. ]
That's human nature, I suppose. But it isn't exclusive to humans; if anything, us demons are capable of being more ruthless than them because we follow a different set of moral codes.
[ he should know. if only it were easy to write out his cruel tendencies because he's a scorpio ]
There's always going to be terrible shit brewing in the shadows, and one can only remain peaceful for so long. But the least you can do is fight for what you think what's right. [ he cups leo's face to make him look straight into his eyes, but also to apply one last rub of the medicinal balm on the cut on his cheek. ] As for what it is, that's for you to find out.
[ intense as fuck scorpios and their complete lack of respect for personal space... he won't waver under the forced eye contact, but it sure does help him to get shit together. that, and sena's words.
it feels kinda weird, that he has to be reminded of something like that, like he'd just been born yesterday or something. this was just so far removed from his normal. all their normals? but sena does have a point. ]
That's a new flavor of nagging! Yeah... That was more like an encouraging speech a parent gives before sending their kid off into the world. You should speak like that more often, Sena! I feel refreshed!
[ stop this
as lighthearted as it is, it's not a lie. ]
You're right. Mmmm, for the most part. I don't really agree with it being human nature. Or demon nature... Or any kind of nature. Guys like that are terrible, I think, because they're the exception, not the rule. And if you're thinking you're part of 'em again, I'm gonna join in on the pinching tonight too.
[ yes, he's been reminded of the very dark cruelty behind everything... but there's the other side of it, too. people like izumi, as much as he tells himself otherwise.
binch.
he should just say it like it is, then. ]
Anyway... You got something to write on? I needa get something down before I forget! Don't worry, it's relevant!
[ at this rate they're going to pinch each other so hard that they'll wake up from this worldhop
ugh, why does leo continue to be sweet after all the medical abuse sena's putting him through? sena can only give him a Pointed Look at the parent-like speech he just gave.
still, it's nice to have someone counteract his pessimism every once in a while. ]
Don't get used to it. I can bite back, you know.
[ now that he's done treating leo, sena gets up for a moment to ruffle through some stuff he'd gathered in a makeshift dresser, then comes back with a piece of parchment. shame that it's not a song even though that'd be a fresh breath of air for once, but now he's a bit curious. leo can be a bit scatterbrained after all, hence the strings for brains. ]
[ in the space all alone, whispering what the fuck
but, yeah, strings-for-brain is right. he sits himself up all ready to write in sena's bed, smiling at that "bite back" comment, until the realization that he forgot to ask for something to write with strikes......
...... and while he could just ask for that too, he'd spent way too long racking his brain to bring a memory on a certain something up to the forefront of his mind, clear as can be. memories are fickle, he's not gonna risk it.
so guess who's gonna use the medicinal goop on his cuts to draw on the parchment? this guy. genius! good job, me! resourcefulness is a strong weapon! finish it quick before sena smacks you! that's what telling himself.
it's very crude due to being made from balm and leo's shitty memory, but there's an insignia on the paper, the constant motif he spotted on books, boxes and paper in the castle. ]
If you ever see this, be careful, okay?
[ who knows if they're even still around. whatever, precautions. the thought of sena being in the position of those demons he saw makes his heart ache, so, moving on-- ]
There was real dark magic kind of stuff in the castle, all about living longer than you should and bringing... um, people back to life. Stomping on the things that make it all precious!
[ some real switch shit right there. that's sure a tangent though, let him get back on track. ]
But, yeah, they had these symbols on them. I dunno if they're still around or even if there's more of 'em out there, since one of the demons they played with was angry enough to spirit-skewer them all with an arrow. Just be on the look out, I guess? And don't drink any of the stuff they make, it's seriously gross.
[ this wins the prize for shittiest, most concerning explanation ever ]
[ WHY MUST LEO KEEP TRYING HIS PATIENCE EVEN AT HIS MERCY ]
Eugh, at least tell me if you need a brush and ink too! What the hell is wrong with you?
[ then again why didn't sena provide him with them in advance... because he's stupid enough to think that leo would've brought some with him along! that's what he gets for having faith in him.
he shoves the basin of water towards leo, urging him to wash his grimy hands, before snatching the parchment from his hands and holding it up against the dim lamplight with two fingers with a thoughtful hum. ]
Immortality is one thing, but...
[ no, he can't think about bringing back the dead. that'll just undo everything he's gone through. and like, that's ethically bad? who'd do something like this to their brethren? ]
I'll keep a lookout for these. If anything, I should commend you for having the foresight to remember this emblem with everything that happened to you, but how did you know that the stuff they made was gross, huh?
[ don't make him forcedrink you with water either!!!! ]
[ OOOHH thank you not wife, thoughtful as always, don't worry about the extra questions at all just keep praising him for his one (1) braincell moment, and don't make him drink the water he's using to wash his hands now.... ]
Why d'you think? You're too smart for spoonfeeding, Sena -- also, you have that face you get when you're about to go off about me doing something stupid, so. If you have an answer to your question, you don't needa ask it. Trust your gut!
[ stop making it worse
maybe izumi's faith in leo's good decision making skills is really way too high. not that leo isn't aware of that dumbass decision he made, which is why he has the sense to at least look somewhat uncomfortable about the whole thing and be Extra.
he honestly considered just. leaving that part out. but with how open they've been recently, that felt wrong.
anyway, he'll stop being dramatic. still a moron, though, he knows- ]
... I just lost my mind for a bit, that's all. I already heard you yelling at me for it in my head in the castle.
[ apparently thinking about izumi calling him a fucking idiot for drinking stuff he shouldn't was not deterrent enough from dark voodoo magic.
[ squiiiiiiiints. so he really did drink it... the disappointment this not!wife is feeling rn is immeasurable. ]
That's sweet and all, but if you die in your sleep anyway, I'll kill you.
[ he'd never do that leo but... ya.
really, sena should lower his expectations a little, but look. he's throwing leo a bone here for his hard work despite all the dumbassery. isn't that enough? maybe he should pinch his dumb face again to REALLY teach him a lesson... but at least leo bothered to think about him in times of duress, so he can't continue to be too harsh. especially to a patient.
still, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried. on top of the search for these maou, they've got demon trafficking to worry about as well? jeez, and he thought he could finally get some sleep tonight.
and speaking of sleep, sena settles in to sit besides leo with a sigh. ]
Well, you're free to go home now, if you like. It's super late though, so it's up to you if you wanna stay.
[ oh-- let him scooch over a bit to give him some space. ]
Only Sena would offer a sleepover after threatening to end me in my sleep!
[ and only leo would accept it... he knows he wouldn't!!! it's just funny. also he'd be dead so it's not like it matters anyway. uhhh, not that he's going to die or anything... right...
right! ]
... Mm, as long you're sure it's fine, I'll stay. I know I'd knock out somewhere in the forest on my way back to Umite, anyway.
[ so it'd be like, a technical sleepover either way.
if he was being completely honest, the biggest draw to this entire exchange would be his own want for sena's company for the time being. he'll... keep that close to the chest, instead. that's mushy. ]
[ leo stop raising so many hypothetical death flags challenge
and, well. the nightmares may be over, but there's a more sinister evil looming over their little country. of course it's natural to stay with someone to feel guarded. but for leo to come straight to izumi instead of an actual doctor like shinobu... sena can't help but feel honored about that. just a tad. ]
Well... The bed could probably hold the two of us. I can just shrink, but you're so tiny anyway that it wouldn't matter much.
[ STOP
so yeah he's going to lie down, scooch back to make some more space for leo, and... pat the space beside him. just two bros sharing a bed, nothing to see here. ]
[ transform into your snake form so he can roll over and squish you, snena, then we'll see who's fcking TINY
leo tucks himself into the space offered to him with absolutely no problems since this is just two bros sharing a bed, yeah, but after he's settled in... he is absolutely going to make it a point to take up more room than he normally would.
how grateful he is for sena's hospitality. the treating of his wounds.
he will starfish here until morning, this is his gentle offering. ]
How's this for tiny? [ ugh he's stretching his arms more, where is this energy revival coming from ] Underestimating the person you're sharing with is how you get your half of the bed reduced to a "ow, that's gonna be stiff in the morning, stop pushing me against the wall!" quarter, you know!
[ stop. no. are they ever going to get to sleep?
no?
okay ]
Edited (god words are so hard) Date: 2020-05-16 05:35 am (UTC)
[ he totally can, but he's suddenly hyperaware of how in close proximity they are with one another. sleepovers are practically misnomers in modern times, but right now he's serious about getting some shut-eye?? maybe he should've let leo pass out in some dirt path somewhere, after all.
after a couple of shoves, he gives tf up and poofs into his garden snake form, slithering onto leo's chest to eye him down before curling around himself and rest. ahh, this is more like it. sena prides himself for being a good host at times, so... leo wins the bed just this once. ]
[ hahahahaHA sucker. leo can't help the slight tired but bright laugh that escapes at... well, not really his victory, but with sena's actions. with no one else there to fight him for the bed, he's free to go back to taking up the not!tiny space that he usually does, taking care not too shift too much to avoid disturbing the friendly neighborhood snake.
he'll leave some room in case sena does ever feel like shifting back. and, in the resulting silence, leo'll just offer this: ]
G'night!
[ mmm, it kind of seems like he wants to say something more? and he does, after a little bit, he's just a little more awkward with this one. ]
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5/8, after baby castle burning
Date: 2020-05-09 06:35 am (UTC)at least navigating in the dark is easier now. so here he is, at the base of sena's treehouse, looking pretty worn. the bleeding's stopped, but he's still a little scratched up on various parts of his body, and he's so weirdly cold--
--leo does feel terrible for this. even if their sleep has been pretty light as of late for various reasons, this still isn't ideal. he gathers the last pieces of energy he has, and calls out: ]
Sena!
[ with how tree-hugger sena is, maybe he already knows he's coming.
ugh, this is the worst-- ]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-09 09:27 am (UTC)only this time, it isn't a threat. ]
...Leo-kun?
[ he quickly descends from his treehouse, quickly catches leo if he ever feels like collapsing from all the injuries he'd gotten. either way he's got him.
being part-snake, sena can see more clearly in the dark, but he can't tell what's wrong with leo until he carries him back inside his place, laying him down on a "bed" that's just composed of surprising comfortable leaves and cotton, and turning on the makeshift fire lamp. ]
You've got so much explaining to do. Where have you been?! [ he tries to sound admonishing, but if izumi sounds a little panicky there, leo's probably imagining it. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-09 07:28 pm (UTC)leo's wounds aren't life-threatening or anything, just a fair amount of fresh-ish scrapes with some splinters around the wounds, plus some bruising and dried blood. guess who probably didn't treat any of it! when they settle down and the light turns on, though, his eyes squint just the slightest and he looks away as naturally as he can away from it. if izumi's standing near the lamp, he'll spare him some glances, but they're short as possible and unfocused.
for all the injuries he has, leo doesn't seem to be in pain. just-- tired. ]
Sorry, sorry, I...
[ even he has the sense to sound sheepish here, and the edges of his words even carry a slight bit of a shame, honestly, as he adjusts his sleeves over his wounds. ]
... Um, the castle. You hear about a lot of stuff, so you probably know about the baby-eating one, right? It doesn't actually do that. But I guess it's not around anymore, so it's not like anyone'll gossip about it now... [ how casually he drops that in before he quickly moves on. ] Did I wake you up?
no subject
Date: 2020-05-10 12:25 pm (UTC)but now he stands corrected, eyes widening at leo's words for a moment before he lifts a hand up to
pinch this stupid koto-face's cheek hard. never mind the scratches and splinters, izumi's going to hurt him a little anyway for being dumb so idk what leo's expecting, really. ]
Even if you didn't come here, I would've woken up anyway from that blast, you strings-for-brains! What were you thinking?! And what the hell do you mean it doesn't actually eat babies? Did you go inside yourself? Huh?!
[ he could potentially nag leo's ear off until sunrise, all while treating his wounds, but it should be apparent how worried he is. and if it were anyone else that stumbled onto his home tonight, he would've yelled about the same thing too, so... ]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-10 04:51 pm (UTC)it's still fucking horrible though. he's gonna whine. he doesn't have a right to. STILL. UGH. ]
That's some gross bedside manner you have, Sena! Injuring the injured, emotionally and physically... Seriously, don't use my strings as an insult, how would you like it if I called you scales-for-brains!
[ binch
too bad sena's smart so it wouldn't even fit, except when he's being dumb, which is Sometimes. here, though? leo is definitely the only Dumb one. what was he thinking? he wasn't thinking. he knows he wasn't thinking. does he regret it? not really-- ]
I did go in, okay? [ raising his hands now because he is not going to just Take It a second time ] Don't pinch me again!
no subject
Date: 2020-05-11 02:58 am (UTC)[ seriously though. if leo wants proper bedside manners, he should go to shinobu for that. luckily leo's wounds don't look too serious, so he'll start by disinfecting the cuts on his skin with some clear water. izumi works gently and quietly, brows knitted in deep thought, but he hasn't quite calmed down yet.
so he resorts to putting a series of herbs and flowers in a mortar and crushing it all into a paste, channeling his cranky energy into it. this does seem like a typical weekday for the both of them, but it really had to result in a castle imploding after market hours... could it be that this is foreshadowing for centuries to come?!
ya sure why not.. ]
Start from the beginning. Why did you go down there in the first place?
no subject
Date: 2020-05-11 03:25 am (UTC)it's easier for him now, anyway. that little outburst actually drained him a little more... it was just so simple to get into butting heads with sena. easier than thinking about how to explain the castle, try to navigate all of its everything now that he wasn't in the thick of it.
oh, well. he hums a little in thought, tries not to wince when his cuts are touched. sorry, sena. ]
... I dunno.
[ that. is a horrible answer, he knows, so he elaborates before it's another reason to get pinched: ]
I can't really explain the feeling I got... It's like when you wake up and there's a certain thing you wanna eat, or a certain song you wanna play. [ his analogies are Simple Things this time. ] Maybe it was telling me to go there? So I did. Now, I feel like maybe it was asking for help. I was just one of the ones who listened.
[ this is a not!baby-eating castle. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-11 03:53 am (UTC)but hmm. somehow that explanation kind of makes sense when it came from leo? maybe he heard something in the castle that nobody could understand the first time because of his inherent koto powers... whatever they are. good to know that he can behave and be coherent for once. ]
The energy that castle gave out was terrible. Even I didn't want to stay around for that long, y'know? I can only hope you brought someone else with you.
[ did he...... or izumi going to pinch him again while he's still making a balm for leo. vote now on your phones. ]
So what did you find in there? Some treasure, I hope.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-11 04:14 am (UTC)he's just gonna skirt that first question with an awkward look. yeah, there were people there, but he didn't bring them. or anything.
not even a weapon. to explore spooky, baby-eating castle.
anyway, he absolutely hesitated, so: ]
I'll tell you if you don't pinch me, because you know I didn't. Bring anyone, I mean!
[ he'll protect himself This Time. also this is just an excuse to sort through how he can say what he has in his head, because... he knows izumi's not going to like it. it's evident enough from the way his brow furrowed somewhat at the word "treasure", then quickly moved back to spit out that disastrous deal. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-11 04:22 am (UTC)figures. maybe leo should've brought his braincells instead of a companion along with him for the ride. but instead of pinching him, he's going to scoop up some of that medicinal paste and apply that to one of his cuts without warning. it doesn't sting as much, but it should have the same effect as pinching the hell out of his other cheek.
if anything the sting is a good thing here, since it should numb the pain for a while. ]
Of course I know you didn't. Why did I even bring my hopes up.
[ huffs! ]
Anyway, as I was saying - what did you find inside?
[ don't make him hurt you while healing you, bitc ]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-11 05:01 am (UTC)[ fook, he does twitch slightly when that paste goes down. technically that's within the limits of their little wager, and... what izumi has to do, so it's not like he can complain... too much. he knows he's helping.
with the return back to that question he was kind of avoiding more than the rest, though, he... still has to pause.
leo's not sure how long it'll really take for him to put to words what he saw in there. he loves the world, but that's... a darkness he'd probably never come to terms with, even if he knew it existed in some forms. there were always hints of that unfairness... sena's memories and his own abandonment proved that enough, but...
he sighs a bit, focusing on some spot on the wall instead. ]
... It was... The remains of people trampling over others, I guess. Cutting them down and using other lives as a ladder to reach the top of a mountain they shouldn't climb, reach a goal they shouldn't have.
[ how vague.
but he can't help it. that is really what it was. he didn't think about it too deeply then, in the moment, but now it's all that's on his mind. ]
Sena. I don't wanna say it, but... this world can be really cruel, huh? People like that are really the worst, aren't they...?
no subject
Date: 2020-05-12 01:17 am (UTC)that question did make him fall silent though, as he focuses on treating this banged-up instrument. in the dimming orange light, his expression softens in a melancholic way as he tries to find the right words to put it. ]
That's human nature, I suppose. But it isn't exclusive to humans; if anything, us demons are capable of being more ruthless than them because we follow a different set of moral codes.
[ he should know. if only it were easy to write out his cruel tendencies because he's a scorpio ]
There's always going to be terrible shit brewing in the shadows, and one can only remain peaceful for so long. But the least you can do is fight for what you think what's right. [ he cups leo's face to make him look straight into his eyes, but also to apply one last rub of the medicinal balm on the cut on his cheek. ] As for what it is, that's for you to find out.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-12 04:49 am (UTC)it feels kinda weird, that he has to be reminded of something like that, like he'd just been born yesterday or something. this was just so far removed from his normal. all their normals? but sena does have a point. ]
That's a new flavor of nagging! Yeah... That was more like an encouraging speech a parent gives before sending their kid off into the world. You should speak like that more often, Sena! I feel refreshed!
[ stop this
as lighthearted as it is, it's not a lie. ]
You're right. Mmmm, for the most part. I don't really agree with it being human nature. Or demon nature... Or any kind of nature. Guys like that are terrible, I think, because they're the exception, not the rule. And if you're thinking you're part of 'em again, I'm gonna join in on the pinching tonight too.
[ yes, he's been reminded of the very dark cruelty behind everything... but there's the other side of it, too. people like izumi, as much as he tells himself otherwise.
binch.
he should just say it like it is, then. ]
Anyway... You got something to write on? I needa get something down before I forget! Don't worry, it's relevant!
[ it is not a song.... ]
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Date: 2020-05-12 02:34 pm (UTC)ugh, why does leo continue to be sweet after all the medical abuse sena's putting him through? sena can only give him a Pointed Look at the parent-like speech he just gave.
still, it's nice to have someone counteract his pessimism every once in a while. ]
Don't get used to it. I can bite back, you know.
[ now that he's done treating leo, sena gets up for a moment to ruffle through some stuff he'd gathered in a makeshift dresser, then comes back with a piece of parchment. shame that it's not a song even though that'd be a fresh breath of air for once, but now he's a bit curious. leo can be a bit scatterbrained after all, hence the strings for brains. ]
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Date: 2020-05-12 05:15 pm (UTC)but, yeah, strings-for-brain is right. he sits himself up all ready to write in sena's bed, smiling at that "bite back" comment, until the realization that he forgot to ask for something to write with strikes......
...... and while he could just ask for that too, he'd spent way too long racking his brain to bring a memory on a certain something up to the forefront of his mind, clear as can be. memories are fickle, he's not gonna risk it.
so guess who's gonna use the medicinal goop on his cuts to draw on the parchment? this guy. genius! good job, me! resourcefulness is a strong weapon! finish it quick before sena smacks you! that's what telling himself.
it's very crude due to being made from balm and leo's shitty memory, but there's an insignia on the paper, the constant motif he spotted on books, boxes and paper in the castle. ]
If you ever see this, be careful, okay?
[ who knows if they're even still around. whatever, precautions. the thought of sena being in the position of those demons he saw makes his heart ache, so, moving on-- ]
There was real dark magic kind of stuff in the castle, all about living longer than you should and bringing... um, people back to life. Stomping on the things that make it all precious!
[ some real switch shit right there. that's sure a tangent though, let him get back on track. ]
But, yeah, they had these symbols on them. I dunno if they're still around or even if there's more of 'em out there, since one of the demons they played with was angry enough to spirit-skewer them all with an arrow. Just be on the look out, I guess? And don't drink any of the stuff they make, it's seriously gross.
[ this wins the prize for shittiest, most concerning explanation ever ]
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Date: 2020-05-14 02:10 am (UTC)Eugh, at least tell me if you need a brush and ink too! What the hell is wrong with you?
[ then again why didn't sena provide him with them in advance... because he's stupid enough to think that leo would've brought some with him along! that's what he gets for having faith in him.
he shoves the basin of water towards leo, urging him to wash his grimy hands, before snatching the parchment from his hands and holding it up against the dim lamplight with two fingers with a thoughtful hum. ]
Immortality is one thing, but...
[ no, he can't think about bringing back the dead. that'll just undo everything he's gone through. and like, that's ethically bad? who'd do something like this to their brethren? ]
I'll keep a lookout for these. If anything, I should commend you for having the foresight to remember this emblem with everything that happened to you, but how did you know that the stuff they made was gross, huh?
[ don't make him forcedrink you with water either!!!! ]
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Date: 2020-05-14 04:24 am (UTC)Why d'you think? You're too smart for spoonfeeding, Sena -- also, you have that face you get when you're about to go off about me doing something stupid, so. If you have an answer to your question, you don't needa ask it. Trust your gut!
[ stop making it worse
maybe izumi's faith in leo's good decision making skills is really way too high. not that leo isn't aware of that dumbass decision he made, which is why he has the sense to at least look somewhat uncomfortable about the whole thing and be Extra.
he honestly considered just. leaving that part out. but with how open they've been recently, that felt wrong.
anyway, he'll stop being dramatic. still a moron, though, he knows- ]
... I just lost my mind for a bit, that's all. I already heard you yelling at me for it in my head in the castle.
[ apparently thinking about izumi calling him a fucking idiot for drinking stuff he shouldn't was not deterrent enough from dark voodoo magic.
but he didn't mcdie, so it's fine ]
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Date: 2020-05-14 10:09 am (UTC)That's sweet and all, but if you die in your sleep anyway, I'll kill you.
[ he'd never do that leo but... ya.
really, sena should lower his expectations a little, but look. he's throwing leo a bone here for his hard work despite all the dumbassery. isn't that enough? maybe he should pinch his dumb face again to REALLY teach him a lesson... but at least leo bothered to think about him in times of duress, so he can't continue to be too harsh. especially to a patient.
still, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried. on top of the search for these maou, they've got demon trafficking to worry about as well? jeez, and he thought he could finally get some sleep tonight.
and speaking of sleep, sena settles in to sit besides leo with a sigh. ]
Well, you're free to go home now, if you like. It's super late though, so it's up to you if you wanna stay.
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Date: 2020-05-14 06:45 pm (UTC)Only Sena would offer a sleepover after threatening to end me in my sleep!
[ and only leo would accept it... he knows he wouldn't!!! it's just funny. also he'd be dead so it's not like it matters anyway. uhhh, not that he's going to die or anything... right...
right! ]
... Mm, as long you're sure it's fine, I'll stay. I know I'd knock out somewhere in the forest on my way back to Umite, anyway.
[ so it'd be like, a technical sleepover either way.
if he was being completely honest, the biggest draw to this entire exchange would be his own want for sena's company for the time being. he'll... keep that close to the chest, instead. that's mushy. ]
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Date: 2020-05-16 02:03 am (UTC)and, well. the nightmares may be over, but there's a more sinister evil looming over their little country. of course it's natural to stay with someone to feel guarded. but for leo to come straight to izumi instead of an actual doctor like shinobu... sena can't help but feel honored about that. just a tad. ]
Well... The bed could probably hold the two of us. I can just shrink, but you're so tiny anyway that it wouldn't matter much.
[ STOP
so yeah he's going to lie down, scooch back to make some more space for leo, and... pat the space beside him. just two bros sharing a bed, nothing to see here. ]
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Date: 2020-05-16 04:59 am (UTC)leo tucks himself into the space offered to him with absolutely no problems since this is just two bros sharing a bed, yeah, but after he's settled in... he is absolutely going to make it a point to take up more room than he normally would.
how grateful he is for sena's hospitality. the treating of his wounds.
he will starfish here until morning, this is his gentle offering. ]
How's this for tiny? [ ugh he's stretching his arms more, where is this energy revival coming from ] Underestimating the person you're sharing with is how you get your half of the bed reduced to a "ow, that's gonna be stiff in the morning, stop pushing me against the wall!" quarter, you know!
[ stop. no. are they ever going to get to sleep?
no?
okay ]
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Date: 2020-05-17 02:13 pm (UTC)Move over! I can't breathe, dammit!
[ he totally can, but he's suddenly hyperaware of how in close proximity they are with one another. sleepovers are practically misnomers in modern times, but right now he's serious about getting some shut-eye?? maybe he should've let leo pass out in some dirt path somewhere, after all.
after a couple of shoves, he gives tf up and poofs into his garden snake form, slithering onto leo's chest to eye him down before curling around himself and rest. ahh, this is more like it. sena prides himself for being a good host at times, so... leo wins the bed just this once. ]
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Date: 2020-05-20 03:07 am (UTC)he'll leave some room in case sena does ever feel like shifting back. and, in the resulting silence, leo'll just offer this: ]
G'night!
[ mmm, it kind of seems like he wants to say something more? and he does, after a little bit, he's just a little more awkward with this one. ]
... And thanks, Sena.
[ gross
but he means it. ]