seasonality ✦ tsuyukusa

[commandertoolbelt]

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[commandertoolbelt]

[ he is unsure of how to feel at being pet so he just will focus on his breathing, stopping the fire. ]

I promised her when I was little that I wouldn't use it at all, at least until I met my dad. But I broke that promise because I thought I could protect her from this goddess that came to threaten us. If she knew that, maybe she'd understand.

[branches]

[It's fine it's as much for Tsuyukusa to feel like he's accomplishing anything tbh.]

... Yeah. At least you were trying to do something good.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ he takes another deep breath, and this time it comes out a little shaky. ]

Doesn't change that she died, though. Doesn't change anything. Gods.

[ talking about this... isn't helping. his skin is probably still hot to the touch, but he focuses on his breathing and runs a hand through his hair. ]

...What happened with you?

[branches]

... Do you mean with my dad or with Otome?

[He will allow the subject change because talking about Leo's doesn't seem to be helping.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ well he meant otome, actually, but. ]

Whichever.

[ just talk, tree!! ]

[branches]

[Well talking about the bad murder he did seems unpleasant right now so... maybe after.]

The area we lived in was near a human temple. It wasn't a problem really because they had a barrier and left us alone. But... there was this girl there, a holy child, some sort of vessel of Teiten's power or something.

Because she was holy, no one treated her like a normal kid. They all kept her at arms length. So she would sneak out to play with me because I didn't care about that. But the whole time, apparently... she was jealous of me, and Byakuroku. So she made the priestesses think Byakuroku was trying to corrupt her.

That's why they came into the forest. I tried to drive them off, but just managed to get myself badly hurt. And because he had to protect me, Byakuroku couldn't fight properly. And that's why he died.

[commandertoolbelt]

...That doesn't sound like it was your fault any more than Gaea coming after me and my mom was mine. Someone else made the decision to attack, not you.

[branches]

[He hums a little like he thinks it's still a LITTLE his fault.]

So I guess both Byakuroku and your mom has no reason to be upset, right?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ well, mood, because leo feels the same way even if he's tried to convince himself otherwise. so his hand flexes, open and shut, before hesitantly seeking out tsuyu's, like he's still afraid of burning him. ]

...Yeah. I guess not.

[branches]

[Whatever he's being brave right now so he takes it easily.]

... I just told Otome the truth. And I think she just... wasn't really surprised. So she sort of cooperated with me, even though she did fight back. I didn't... I was convinced of that wrong logic until the vote came in. Then I realized what had happened.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ then leo will hold onto him tight for now. ]

They tried to talk to me first, too. [ just. a soft comment, as he listens. ] But I - I thought we weren't supposed to vote for someone who'd been controlled like you. It's not like it was your fault, so why... why you?

[branches]

... Well we didn't find out who killed you.

[He seems... ashamed.]

I should have just confessed so we could focus on your case but I... I just couldn't.

[commandertoolbelt]

...It's not like it's surprising that they'd want to prioritize Otome.

[ he sighs. ]

And it's still not your fault, if you were being controlled. It just... sucks that they forgave Sieghart's killer, but still voted for you. No offense, but I didn't want to see you this quickly after waking up outside the dorm that night.

[branches]

[Since this is after everyone arrived I can says this bc he learned from Bradley after the cyoaers arrived;]

Sieghart was killed by Kaine? I didn't think we forgave her so much as never caught her.

[commandertoolbelt]

...No, we were specifically told to drop it because she'd been controlled. That we weren't going to hold it against her. It's come up a few times, at least in our dorm.

[ so. leo doesn't really think it's fair. ]

[branches]

Well I guess there just wasn't anyone else for people to vote for. I... I really don't have any idea who killed you. I'm sorry.

[Squeezing his hand a little.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ his expression sours. ]

It was the same thing as Byleth and Otome - they had to kill someone to save others. And I guess I was the one they picked.

...I'm pretty sure it was Lux that did it, in the end.

[branches]

[Is Leo trying to skirt around Manwol. What a nice boy.]

But it was two people, right? Who was the other one?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ maybe so. he bites his lip, clearly unwilling to say. ]

If Lux is the one who did it, then she's the one that matters, right?

[branches]

[Squinting. On the one hand. Leo is probably keeping it from him for a good reason. To protect him. On the other hand unfortunately that just makes him think of Bon doing the same and how much it infuriated him.]

You can tell me, Leo. I can handle it.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ hhhhhhhhh ]

...She was working with Manwol.

[branches]

[Tsuyukusa five seconds ago: I can handle it
Tsuyukusa now: HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH]

... Manwol?

But why would she.... why would she pick you? After what I....

[commandertoolbelt]

[ well! leo feels horrible! ]

They didn't tell me why they chose me, just that they had to one of three people. The other two were... probably whoever was sleeping somewhere weird.

[ and of course, he was dead, so he has no idea who they were. ]

[branches]

... That was me and Yamato.

[So obviously Manwol vetoed killing Tsuyukusa.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ ...exhales. ]

Well, that's it, then. Manwol wouldn't hurt you, and there's no way Lux would let it be Yamato. So of course it was me.

[ can't say he isn't still salty about it, but. at least it makes more sense now. ]