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]

[ For a few seconds, Otome just... stares, and she knows it's rude, but the mask is most certainly odd. More importantly, though, the build of this person, the color of his hair through the natural holes of his mask...

And when she sees the glimpse of his eye, she takes a step forward, and oops, she's most certainly crying-- ]

Leon!

[penitentials]

[And just like that...she recognizes him.

Leon freezes, eyes widening a little behind the mask, but... he's not strong enough to leave Otome.

Especially not when she's crying. Hesitantly, he steps forward, head ducked a little as if to hide his face behind the mask a little bit more, and, somewhat gruffly--]

...Otome...

[mombastic]

You're--

[ Another step, and really, she's trying to figure out how to hug him without bonking into that mask, and the outfit is certainly new, but... ]

Are you all right? Were you hurt??

[ Important things first. ]

[penitentials]

I'm...fine.

[He's still a little stunned and disoriented that he's here, of course, but he's gotten better at handling weird situations lately. He blinks.]

How long was I gone?

[She still seems so frantic.]

[mombastic]

[ ... That he doesn't know is more than a little concerning, and Otome's expression doesn't really look any lighter as she looks him over. ]

For the night... and since then. It's been several hours.

[penitentials]

That is...all?

[Yeah, he's pretty blindsided by that.

Months and months of changes--all in a night?]

I... I see. I apologize for worrying you, then.

[mombastic]

... Come inside? I think this might have to be an off day for the both of us.

[ He doesn't know how long he was gone. She definitely has questions. ]

[penitentials]

... Very well then.

[He's too weak.

After everything... he really does just want to go home with Otome, doesn't he? He sighs a little, but it's equal parts wry and amused by himself.]

Lead the way.

[mombastic]

[ She will. And get some tea brewing while she guides him over to the couch. ]

... How long has it been for you?

[penitentials]

[Judas won't argue as he takes a seat, at least--he just sighs, crossing his arms. She's not going to like this at all...]

That is a complicated question to answer. Do you want the technical span of time, or how long I, personally, experienced?

[mombastic]

You... personally.

[ AND WHY THE MASK? ]

[penitentials]

[Sorry about the mask, mom.]

... A handful of months then, most likely, all told. [It's hard to be entirely sure when timeline hopping is involved, but that seems closest to right.]

[mombastic]

Months?!

[ ... Yeah, she's not happy. ]

What happened?? You're sure you weren't hurt, or attacked? If you're in any danger at all--

[ She doesn't have demons anymore, but she could still bring the pain. ]

[penitentials]

I'm not. [A beat, and he amends--] Any longer.

[Mom is so fierce.]

It is... I am afraid, a rather long and convoluted story, but I am fine now. [He's way dead again.]

[mombastic]

... I see. [ Bringing a mug of tea over, she pauses to set it on the low table in front of him, frowning. ]

It sounds like you've been through a lot. Did you end up returning to your world?

[penitentials]

...Yes, in a way.

[He'll reach out and take the tea, and--well, now he's significantly more candid about the whole thing, so:]

As you know, I was dead back home, and that is where I returned. But it seemed as though I still had some part to play, if incidentally, so I was unfortunately revived.

[He's not unhappy he's alive right now with Otome, but he wasn't happy to be revived by Elraine, that's for sure.]

...She had demands for me, apparently.

[mombastic]

Demands...

[ Otome takes a seat beside him, and folds her hands together neatly in her lap. There's a lot here she doesn't understand, but better to hear the basics first. ]

Were they-- well, no, I suppose they wouldn't be called demands if they were reasonable.

[penitentials]

[... He just shakes his head, crossing his arms a little more tightly, hands clenching into fists.

It's through careful effort that he's able to keep his breathing and his tone steady.]

... They were not reasonable. And I refused.

I do not know if she was incapable of reversing what she had done in bringing me back to life or simply thought I would later change my mind, but she left me alive then.

[So in a way, he did return home.]

[mombastic]

And the mask?

[ ... Leon, really, please explain the skeleton mask. Otome can't hug him like this. ]

[penitentials]

[He blinks.]

Ah.

[And, remarkably calmly and simply:]

I was known as a traitor as Leon Magnus, naturally. I could not wander the world as myself with that in mind.

[mombastic]

... But here, you're not a traitor. You're my family, and I couldn't be happier to have you back.

[ She can understand his reasons, although this method seems a little... odd, but he's got nothing to hide here. Not with her. ]

[penitentials]

...Well. Naturally...that is true.

[He hesitates a moment later, uncertain--and then he reaches with both hands and pulls off the mask, setting it aside gently. The last time he'd been unmasked, it had been by Elraine.

Now...

... Well, he feels a little naked, but Otome will see the same eyes and the same hair (if cut a little shorter and parted the other way now) and the same face.

He hasn't aged a day.]

[mombastic]

[ He really hasn't. Not physically, but there's something about him that seems... older. He's had more experiences, possibly experienced more grief and pain, and lived in a world that didn't know the truth about him.

Otome's already blinking back tears when she reaches for him, to draw him into a hug. ]

I'm so sorry... I couldn't be there for any of it.

[ Some parent. ]

[penitentials]

[And finally, he doesn't pull away. He's grown a lot, after all, even if not in age. Otome's hug feels like coming home, like warmth and safety, and he doesn't have it in him to pull away from that.]

I would not have wished that upon you for anything. Don't be sorry.

[He just shakes his head against her shoulder.]

I succeeded. There is nothing to worry about.

[mombastic]

There was no doubt in my mind about that. [ Firmly, as firm as she holds him and just... soaks in the fact that he's here, and he's changed, but he's still safe and solid here with her. ]

But I wasn't sure if I'd see you again... and there's not much I can do from a world away.

[ Except panic. ]