Two worlds, one family--

[mombastic]

[ It's strange to be in a world with not one set of memories from another world-- not two, but three, not that Otome can really discuss this with anyone. It's difficult enough, when she wakes up these days, and can't remember if she's in her own home, or her apartment. If she needs to call Fumi to check on preparations for the day, or...

But no. This is her world. And not a school day, so she's stuck trying to focus not on what she's missing or what she's lost, but on what lies ahead.

What that actually is, she doesn't know, but she's out and about today, and there's a strong breeze. Maybe today will be a good day for clearing her thoughts. ]

Comments

[mombastic]

Mm, I do. It's just not as easy to say it, but you do have your own ways of showing it.

[ She's never doubted it, honestly. ]

[penitentials]

... You are, as ever, far too patient.

But I am grateful for it.

[He huffs a faint laugh.]

I like to believe that I have grown some over the past few months, however.

[mombastic]

I can imagine. It sounds like you've truly been through a lot.

[ That she can't imagine. ]

[penitentials]

... It does not matter now. What matters now is that... I am perfectly well.

[A beat, and he adds hesitantly--]

And that I am content.

[mombastic]

... You don't have any regrets?

[ Had he seen his friends again? Had he had a chance to see what family he'd treasured? Was he really okay with everything now? ]

[penitentials]

None.

[He hadn't seen Marian again. He hadn't even gotten to see Stahn again, though he was able to see Rutee.

But... he was able to save Stahn.

Meet and protect Kyle.

Help right his own wrong.

... How could he regret that?]

I was able...to do many things I wasn't able to do when I was alive.

[mombastic]

... Then I'm glad.

[ So if he'd had regrets back then, it sounds as though he was able to take care of them properly. And that is a lot better than she ever could have hoped for someone she cared about disappearing without so much as a warning. ]

You've worked hard, Leon. I'm very proud of you.

[penitentials]

[... It's strange. It's really strange, because he'd thought that he'd grown up, and was more of an adult, but... still, hearing Otome say this makes his throat tight and makes it hard to swallow.

He takes a moment, breathing in slowly, before he shakes his head gently.]

I was just...fixing what I had messed up before.

There's nothing to be proud of, there.

[mombastic]

There aren't a lot of people who would be willing to fix their mistakes-- for a lot of reasons, and I'm not saying that's wrong...

But to do that requires tremendous strength of will. So I believe there's definitely something to be proud of.

[penitentials]

... Otome...

[She's still...far too good to him, he thinks. But it's nice that she never changes.]

Well, I suppose you were not wrong before, so... it could not hurt to believe you now.

[mombastic]

Even if the same amount of time passed for me... I would always believe that, so don't worry.

[ He's a good kid!!!! ]

[penitentials]

I know.

[After all of this time, how could he ever think anything else of her? She's never doubted him, never let him down... she's been the most stable force in his life for a long time now, and honestly--

He just smiles a little to himself, tinted wry, and shakes his head.]

I do not know what I did to deserve having you here, truthfully.

[mombastic]

I wouldn't say that anyone should have to do anything to deserve being cared about. [ Even Yamato, despite his... more abrasive qualities, had people who wanted to stand by his side and remind him that he was still a kid. Maybe knowing Yamato had made it easier to understand Leon, but that hadn't been hard. He'd just been a boy who had been forced to act like a hardened adult all too soon. Otome was there to make sure that he got to experience the other opportunities he'd missed. ]

But I guess if I had to say you did something... it's that you existed.

[ Isn't that enough? ]

[penitentials]

[... It's enough.

It's enough, and it's strange, and honestly, it's also--]

...Sappy.

[But he's smiling. He's smiling and he's not trying to hide it, expression peaceful and content, because he's back with his family now, and that's all he could have ever asked for.

It's still an odd sensation, but...isn't it enough to just accept being happy?]

[mombastic]

[ It's only because he's smiling that Otome can pretend to look offended, drawing back to fold her arms over her chest with a very loud huff. ]

You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to live with me, for the record!

[penitentials]

I had no idea, truthfully.

[But he doesn't mean her sap.

He means that she would give him a home. That she would give him a family. That she would look after him when he was low, and share with him his joys when he was high. That she would always be there for him, and never let him down--

He didn't know he was getting into that.

But...]

It has been an enjoyable experience learning, however.

[mombastic]

[ Welcome to being adopted, Leon. Otome will never abandon you. ]

Then I'm glad. You do seem much happier, overall...

[penitentials]

[He snorts softly at that, but...well, he is.

He can't deny that.]

I have been incredibly lucky. No matter how you look at it...I'm lucky. I am grateful for that.

[mombastic]

I can't imagine a better person deserving that luck, then.

[ Especially after everything he's been through. ]

[penitentials]

I can think of a few.

[Stahn, Rutee, Otome herself... they are all first in his estimation of who deserves nice things.]

But I suppose even so, this worked out for the better.

[mombastic]

I'm sure those people were able to gain their own happiness, as well. That's just sort of how it works, even if it takes longer for some than others.

[ Even Yamato was happy, and that had taken years. ]

[penitentials]

They have.

[HE SAW TO IT HIMSELF.]

... As they very well deserve, of course. And I am content enough with that as well.

[mombastic]

Mm! I'm glad, then. You've definitely worked hard, haven't you?

... Actually, are you tired? Do you need to rest??

[ says the person who ran around looking for him-- ]

[penitentials]

I'm fine, Otome.

[Calm down...]

If anything, I am more concerned about you. I shall have plenty of time to rest now, but you...have fretted, haven't you? I apologize for worrying you.

[mombastic]

It wasn't anything you need to apologize for. It happened without any warning for you, didn't it?

And you're back now, so I'm perfectly fine.