leo valdez. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
commandertoolbelt) wrote2021-06-13 06:48 pm
commandertoolbelt) wrote2021-06-13 06:48 pm
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I'm not even trying to argue with her most of the time, but I still say something wrong somehow. We've had a total of, like, two conversations that didn't turn bad, and one of them was just about pranking someone in the dorm.
[ he is sulking. i'm sorry, caleb. ]
[ he is sulking. i'm sorry, caleb. ]
[It's okay. He frankly doesn't care if Leo likes Beau or not, but his comment at trial about every conversation between them going wrong was too familiar.]
. . . All I mean is that I don't know that you're really saying the wrong thing or doing anything wrong. She butts heads with people.
. . . All I mean is that I don't know that you're really saying the wrong thing or doing anything wrong. She butts heads with people.
I guess I just don't know what to do about it. We're supposed to all be working together to figure this place out and find a way home, but if we can't do that...
[ he shrugs, helpless. ]
Talking around each other all the time isn't going to help anyone.
[ he shrugs, helpless. ]
Talking around each other all the time isn't going to help anyone.
[Caleb is walking out in the snow; by this point in time, he's trying to avoid other people. But he isn't paying enough attention to avoid crossing paths with Leo when he's focused on getting to class. Once they make eye contact, a memory plays.]
[ ah… that feels like something leo shouldn’t have seen. part of him is curious, of course - he knows from their conversation last week that caleb has been through similar experiences as he has, and his mom and dad…
but he also knows how hard it can be to talk about that stuff. so leo sidesteps that entirely. ]
That was a friend of yours? She had some sweet tats!
[ it doesn’t have to be awkward if they don’t let it become awkward. ]
but he also knows how hard it can be to talk about that stuff. so leo sidesteps that entirely. ]
That was a friend of yours? She had some sweet tats!
[ it doesn’t have to be awkward if they don’t let it become awkward. ]
[Leo. You're a good boy. He's a little stunned and sad after seeing this memory again, but then he glances at Leo, trying to deflect.
The tattoos are maybe not. . . so sweet. He absently scratches at his forearms, where he has a number of scars scattered lightly, in a similar pattern to the one she had in tattoos. But he tries to smile anyway.]
I'm not such a fan of them. Not a tattoo guy. [He sighs.] But yeah, she was my friend, a long time ago.
The tattoos are maybe not. . . so sweet. He absently scratches at his forearms, where he has a number of scars scattered lightly, in a similar pattern to the one she had in tattoos. But he tries to smile anyway.]
I'm not such a fan of them. Not a tattoo guy. [He sighs.] But yeah, she was my friend, a long time ago.
Yeah, they aren’t for everyone, I guess.
[ he does notice those scars, but. paired with caleb’s words, leo thinks it might be better not to ask too many questions. he’s been nothing but patient and understanding with leo; he owes it to caleb to give him his space. ]
I can respect being able to go back and talk to someone like that, though. [ especially considering how nervous caleb obviously was? ] I don’t know if I’d be able to do that.
[ he does notice those scars, but. paired with caleb’s words, leo thinks it might be better not to ask too many questions. he’s been nothing but patient and understanding with leo; he owes it to caleb to give him his space. ]
I can respect being able to go back and talk to someone like that, though. [ especially considering how nervous caleb obviously was? ] I don’t know if I’d be able to do that.
[ he lets out a long exhale. ]
Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. It was like that with Frank, too.
Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. It was like that with Frank, too.
Oh, I know someone who can do that! Can you turn into a dragon, or is it still like lifting weights?
[ back at the dorm, leo can be found in the game room. he is... learning how hard it is to play with one functional hand, which means he's just emanating frustration.
but he looks up when he hears caleb and offers a small nod. ]
Come for a distraction?
but he looks up when he hears caleb and offers a small nod. ]
Come for a distraction?
Well, you came to the right place. Pick a controller, pick a game, and we'll figure it out. Just - not a fighting one? I'm over that genre by now.
[ snort. ]
Okay, how about that one? [ throws dart it's luigi's mansion, why not. ] As long as you're not scared of ghosts.
Okay, how about that one? [ throws dart it's luigi's mansion, why not. ] As long as you're not scared of ghosts.
Wow. We have got to stop this same hat thing. Did you melt them down, too, or was this like a Ghostbusters situation?
Must be nice. All we've got is Piper's charmspeak, and that just made the eidolons angry.
[ through the whole conversation, there's been a low thrum of restlessness coming from leo. not unusual, with the way he never stops moving, but it's a little louder than normal. there's a quick pulse of uncertainty before leo continues: ]
Hey, um - I wanted to ask you something, actually. Nothing to do with ghosts, though.
[ through the whole conversation, there's been a low thrum of restlessness coming from leo. not unusual, with the way he never stops moving, but it's a little louder than normal. there's a quick pulse of uncertainty before leo continues: ]
Hey, um - I wanted to ask you something, actually. Nothing to do with ghosts, though.
What do you think about "a life for a life?"
A life for a life? In the abstract, or in a specific case?
[His confusion and curiosity only grows, hearing that.]
. . . I think it's a bit trite. People who have been hurt will always want vengeance, and I can't pretend I have been different in that regard. But it is no trade. Death won't undo what has already happened.
[His confusion and curiosity only grows, hearing that.]
. . . I think it's a bit trite. People who have been hurt will always want vengeance, and I can't pretend I have been different in that regard. But it is no trade. Death won't undo what has already happened.
[ he nods, a small thread of relief coming through. but again, leo hesitates. ]
...What about in Molly's case?
...What about in Molly's case?
[There's a little spike of grief and anger there, but.]
I did want to kill the person who did that to him. But there's a difference between what I want and what I think is justice. I don't believe vengeance is justice. Used to, but not for a while now.
Anyway, Caiman is dead, and I don't feel happy about it, or satisfied.
I did want to kill the person who did that to him. But there's a difference between what I want and what I think is justice. I don't believe vengeance is justice. Used to, but not for a while now.
Anyway, Caiman is dead, and I don't feel happy about it, or satisfied.
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