seasonality ✦ tsuyukusa

[commandertoolbelt]

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

Then I'm going to tell you to shut up, because you would probably kick anyone who said that same thing to you.

[branches]

You don't know what I did.

And I wouldn't. There's lots of people I'd say could rot for all I care.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ just a little flare of frustration. ]

I can't know if you won't tell me. What I do know is that I don't want to lose someone else that I care about.

[branches]

[After a long pause;]

Byakuroku's death, and my own, both of them were at least partly my fault.

The priestesses only came to kill him because I would play with their holy child. My tree was broken then, and I only was able to stay alive because of the ward my brother gave me. When I got fed up with him keeping things from me, I tore it so I could remember what happened. And he'd lost his powers so he couldn't make a new one.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ reading this sends a tidal wave of emotions crashing through him, full of sadness and regret as he thinks of -

he shakes his head. ​]

If that means you don't deserve another chance, then I don't either. And gods, Tsuyu, after the whole chivalry test thing - maybe it was different for you, but mine was all about how "a life for a life" isn't the answer.

So, sorry, but I'm not accepting that. You still deserve to live, whether it's in this - weird video game thing you guys have going on or not. I'll help you find a way, if I can.

[branches]

[He shakes his head.]

Mine was that I shouldn't be so quick to leap into a fight, I guess.

But Amatsuki is being destroyed. That's why I need the wishes to be real. So I can keep this real body. Otherwise I'll just go home and then be deleted.

[commandertoolbelt]

...Do you have to go back?

[branches]

[Just looks at Leo like he's stupid??? Where else would he go???]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ the aura turns defensive ]

Hey, I'm just saying. If it's being destroyed, then why not go somewhere that isn't?

[branches]

I don't know what would happen. For all I know, I only have this real body at school? And besides, I don't have anywhere else to go.

[commandertoolbelt]

I'd say you could come to my world, but we kind of have to deal with the prophecy first...

[ thoughtfully... it's frustrating, though, not having a real answer to offer. seems like he never has one, in this place. ]

I don't know. But if there's really magic and stuff out there, there's got to be a way. I want to help you find it. Maybe I can talk to Kon? It's his world too, so maybe he'd have some idea.

[branches]

Why do you want to help so badly? Why do you care? I never asked for your help, anyway.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ there's just a spike of confusion. ]

Why wouldn't I? And why would you have to ask at all?

[branches]

You just said you have your own stuff to deal with, the prophecy and all! And you probably have friends at home waiting for you?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ ???? ]

Yeah, and? That doesn't mean you don't matter to me, too. I can try to do more than one thing at a time, you know. It's called multitasking, and I'm great at it.

Besides, if they knew you, they'd want to help, too. [ pause. ] Probably.

[




a longer pause ]

If they knew it mattered to me, they'd probably help.

[branches]

[He thinks about this for a moment and probably would protest more if Leo hadn't amended. Instead, after a long pause;]




What did you mean when you said you liked me?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ as he reads the text, apprehension bubbles up in the pit of his stomach, and he keeps his eyes trained on the phone instead of tsuyukusa. ]

I... meant that I like you. You're my friend.

[ it sounds stupid and explains nothing but leo isn't entirely sure what he means to say here. but... after what happened with catra and adora today, he doesn't want to leave it there. and despite his hesitance, it's still alpha week, so he has just enough courage to mumble something. ]

And maybe a little more than that.

[branches]

[When Leo says the first thing out loud, Tsuyukusa's embarrassment, disappointment, it's so clear even as he looks away and tries to act like that's fine and normal and whatever!! But then Leo mumbles the addendum, and he looks back, shifting to surprise, accompanied by a blush, eyes wide.

And then he has to look away again. But he takes Leo's hand and taps out;

ME TOO.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ okay, so like. of course he sort of knew that already? he'd guessed? but having tsuyu actually say it - sort of - is something different entirely. his face heats up, the tips of his ears turning a little red, and suddenly leo's glad he hasn't gotten his powers back yet. ]

O-Oh. That's... good? Good.

[ ...he has no idea where to go from here so the vibes are just aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ]

...But if I had to say it out loud, you do, too. Once the curse wears off, at least.

[branches]

[Yeah it's sort of sinking in now?? Hello?? What does this mean though??? He nods, but then gets overwhelmed by tsun and has to turn entirely away from Leo because wow it really is important these flowers get watered RIGHT NOW.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ leo considers this a victory of some sort ]

...I really should have guessed this was you.

[ the flowers, that is. ]

[branches]

[He huffs a little, but there's some gratitude that Leo is letting him disengage for now.]

They're for the tiefling tattooed. Caleb said he'd want a memorial that was rude.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ it's been a rough day, he doesn't mind letting things go tonight. ]

Oh, okay. Yeah, that sounds like him.

[ honestly leo would be surprised if anyone but beau or caleb got the revival item, but. i'm not going to spoil tsuyu believing molly just grew out of the ground. ]

Though we could have just made something with the 3D printer like what everyone else got this week.

[branches]

[If anyone corrects him on this I'll kill them. Molly is his reanimated plant friend now.

Anyway he looks at Leo in confusion and taps "A what?"

YOU THINK TSUYUKUSA KNOWS WHAT A 3D PRINTER IS?]

[commandertoolbelt]

...Do you just not check out anything that isn't the garden?