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

[discard]

[Leon definitely is ignoring the glares and scowls. This is more like home, honestly--being the center of attention, having people be jealous of him for something or other... it's so familiar. Besides, he'd rather it be him than Otome.

Otome deserves better than this clowns.

So he huffs under his breath, clearly unimpressed.]

... Let's go. [Please.

He really, really wants to extract Otome from this situation.]

[mombastic]

[ Otome hums quietly in agreement, before she bids her students goodbye for the day, and turns to head down the hallway. Leon will follow, she knows, if there's anything she's learned about living with him. He's not someone who'd be too far away. ]

[discard]

[And, of course, Otome's right. Leon's right behind her, following immediately. He knows that...she might not be happy with how he treated her students back there, but he's prepared for that. Even if a scolding from Otome would hurt, he knows...

What he did was necessary. Otome...deserves so much better than to be fawned over and her attention demanded by people like that.]

[mombastic]

Leon...

[ And yep, there she goes, though she's waiting until they're outside before she says anything. ]

I'm not sure what they did to aggravate you, but I don't think taking that sort of tone was very kind.

[ And she knows how he is, truly, but he'd actually been getting better. At the very least, he didn't seem to be that rude without being provoked first. ]

[discard]

[And...there it is. Leon's brow furrows a little--he doesn't understand how she can be so oblivious to what they were doing, but... on the other hand, even if he still thinks he was in the right, it does sting to be scolded by her. One of his main motivations has always been to please Otome and make her proud after everything she's given him, so... this does hurt a little.

He covers that up as he always does, huffing and looking away.]

They were wasting your time with questions they didn't truly need the answers to. Surely that much was obvious enough.

[mombastic]

And you didn't think I could handle it myself? [ The way she always had? Otome does prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt, but the instant things hit flirtatious territory, she usually shuts them down immediately. ]

[discard]

That isn't--

[He frowns, frustrated with himself more than anything. His inability to get across how he feels about this is... well, honestly frustrating.]

You should not have had to handle it yourself.

[mombastic]

... Were you worried?

[ Leon the fiercely protective bristling cat... ]

[discard]

I-- [Jealous, more like, really...... he knows she can handle herself.] --Don't be ridiculous. It wasn't anything like that. What reason would I have to worry? You are more than capable of handling yourself.

[He doth protest too much though, either way.]

[mombastic]

I see. Well, it'd be strange to think of you as jealous...

[ oh him. ]

[discard]

[Leon opens his mouth.

All that comes out is a strangled noise, and then he closes his mouth again.

Mostly, he just looks panicked at that before he manages to find his voice again.]

D-don't be ridiculous! I do not get jealous!

[pay attention to him, mom...]

[mombastic]

If you were lonely, you really could have said something. Do you want to spend the evening together in the living room?

[ she'll spend time with him! They can both do their work out there. ]

[discard]

I'm not--!

[aaaaaa

He just scoffs finally, crossing his arms and looking away.]

...Do what you want. I have things I intend to do tonight.

[(Cook mom a meal that will dazzle her, mostly, so he can get her attention without having to be pathetic enough to ask for it.)]

[mombastic]

Oh? Well, if you're busy, I can just move into the office to work there...

[discard]

[MOM NO

He flinches, before frowning.

Ah....]

...As I said. Do what you want.

I...certainly have no intentions of stopping you, but...

[mombastic]

But...? [ very gentle prompting here. Use your words, Leon. ]

[discard]

[Words are hard, mom.]

Perhaps... remain in your office only until dinner.

[And maybe he can dazzle her and she'll stay out in the living room with him then.]

[mombastic]

... Well, I do think a certain someone wouldn't be too happy if I didn't come out to eat...

[ Right, certain someone? ]

[discard]

[Hmph...]

... Well. It is important to gain proper nutrients. Is that not what we've learned in class?

[But he's a little relieved even so]

[mombastic]

Very true, and I'm glad you've been paying attention. I'll make sure not to work through dinner.

[discard]

I...would appreciate that.

[He can admit that much, if awkwardly. Now that he has a plan, he'd hate for it to be blown because Otome couldn't pull herself away from her work to focus on dinner.]

[mombastic]

Then consider it done. Shall we head home?

[ So he can fuss about some more? ]

[discard]

...Yes.

[And fuss he will! Though mostly he does wait until she goes into her office before he starts puttering around the kitchen.

He has to make something that will dazzle her with its UMAMI, so he needs to make sure that it's something really good.

Which means.

That he tries really hard to make it something good.

He's admittedly stuck on a student's budget, and so it's nothing remarkably fancy--but he does manage to cook it up and make it look rather nice as well.

And he'll make sure the plates are set before he finally clears his throat and calls out--]

...Dinner is ready.

[mombastic]

[ And she'll walk out then, stretching tiredly after some time spent hunched over a desk-- only to stop short, offering a few rapid blinks. ]

This is...

[ strangely fancier than usual? ]

[discard]

[On the one hand--it's good she noticed something's strange about it.

On the other, he can't tell if that's a good response or a bad one.

And he's not actually prepared for her to ask him about it, so he just shuffles awkwardly in place before he quickly adds:]

It will get cold if you simply gawk at it.