[ The botanical gardens being nearby meant getting there was no trouble, but he finds himself stopping where he knows Leona's sleeping space is before he realizes it.
Shit. He feels awkward looking at his back and a bit annoyed- but if he walks away now, it'll feel like he's lost somehow.
Part of him is angry Leona didn't even make an attempt to reach out. And perhaps a little hurt. Even if some part of him does realize that it's Leona actively giving him space for his own comfort and not out of malice, it still...
He could at least try??
He sighs and goes to look for somewhere to sit. He came all this way and like hell is he running away. He can just do his reading here. ]
[ Vil's scent hits his nose, it's soft and with a touch of Leona's own scent. Ah, that is wearing off. He should really- no. He can't. Vil probably doesn't want that any more.
So why is Vil sitting down? ]
... ?
[ give or take about ten minutes of the both of them awkwardly being in each others presence... Leona is the first to sit up and scoot over. He'll shove the books away from Vil's hands and put his head in Vil's lap.
Pay attention to Leona only. Books are for squares. ]
[ He isn't expecting Leona to move towards him, though he does see him shifting. He expects him to get up and leave, which he'd have done himself but-
He couldn't bring himself to.
So when there's suddenly a Leona on his lap, he looks surprised and... narrows his eye. But rather than push him away, he sighs and places a hand on his head, near his ears. ]
[ The question is almost phrased in a way that makes him defensive. So his shoulders tense and...he very quickly decides to reevaluate himself. Not a move that he would normally make.
But he's being driven mad not being near Vil. ]
Didn't think ya wanted t' be near me.
[ After the foul things both of them said after all... ]
[ He's feeling defensive tooβ after the kinds of things Leona said, which he usually does not. To think so much bothered him that he didn't say before...
And yet, he allowed Vil to keep going. It makes him feel badly for it, even though he knows Leona Kingscholar is hardly so weak that he can't take warranted criticism.
He's just not sure how well he can handle something Vil is realizing he barely understands, and hasn't tried to.
He should be angrier but it's like touching him makes it all melt away and he's... becoming aware of what this could mean. ]
I was giving you space, too.
[ Yet he ended up here. ]
... your hair's messier these days. At least let Ruggie brush it for you.
[ It's an attempt. Vil had begun to look after Leona's hair lately too. Among other things. ]
[ Sure, he meant what he said. But it isn't like he really enjoyed having to say it. The both of them had their heads so far up their asses. There was really no excuse for their poor behavior.
Laying in Vil's lap is the most comfortable he has been in days, though, and that isn't exaggerating things. This is incredibly annoying. He knows what he wants, and he knows who can provide it. ]
Ruggie don't brush it right.
[ Vil does. Vil brushes his hair in the exact way that he likes. ]
You're a housewarden... if you're not going to do it yourself, get someone to help. You have the magic for it too.
[ It's not like most don't use their magic to dress up on time and groom themselves. But there's something nicer about doing it manually...
His fingers move over his bangs. ]
... better than someone who "can't think beyond his next selfie", isn't it?
[ That hadn't actually hurt him to hear- little does. It just felt bad coming from Leona, who knows that Vil isn't so vapid even if he's concerned with his looks. ]
[ But he preferred Vil to do it, is what he is saying without saying it. He just frowns when Vil brings up the insult he had used. His ears even flatten against his head a little bit.
[ It's been days. He doesn't like how his scent is fading. Leona is simple, really. Even if they were angry with one another a few days ago... well, Leona just needed a little bit of space.
[ That simple word alone is enough to melt him, even if he hates admitting that it does. But there's no denying he was hurt by him, was upset by him, is still mad about them fighting-
And most importantly, he missed him. He missed him so much.
He's quiet for a while, even if his face is going visibly red. ]
[ After some time, he ends up carefully shifting out from under Leona's head, urging him to sit up. It may look like he's unhappy, but-
He simply wants to look at him as an equal, first. ]
You really hurt me, you know. Everyone looks at me and makes things up about me. I don't care what they think.
I care about what you think of me, and to hear you say the same thing everyone else makes up about me- it hurt.
[ He isn't speaking in past tense. ]
... but I was cruel to you too. I shouldn't have said those things about you as a prince with no direction. [ Even if he is kind of overly privileged. ] Because I know even when you act like you don't care, you're still thinking... you think a lot about everyone.
[ Well if they're going to actually talk about it.... he does sit up to look at Vil as his equal. ]
You struck a sore spot for me, calling me those things that you did. That's like that shit my brother says 'bout me.
[ Though, Falena does try to say those things with a softness and concern that Leona just simply doesn't understand. He refuses to understand it, really. So having Vil say the words nearly verbatim, he did get very much defensive.
He understands that perhaps spatting those words he said at Vil were not in good taste. ]
I hurt you, and you forgive me, Queen?
[ Calling him Queen to, you know, warm Vil back up to him. ]
[ Just because they needed to cool off didn't mean that Leona wanted to fully leave the other. Though this sort of thing is tough for him. Sitting here and listening to the consequences of his own actions.
If only life were as simple as Leona's brain wants to make it. But he says this all from a place of privilege. ]
[ It's good enough... but also not enough. And yet...
He looks up at him, cheeks warm, as he lifts his free hand to hold Leona's head in both his own. ]
... if I could do the same, it would be because I may be in love with you, Leona Kingscholar.
[ He says it plainly. ]
Don't feel like you need to say it back. I know.
[ His gaze is firm now. ]
And I'm frightened about just how much you can hurt me with that. I'm trusting that you won't. And if you can't... I'll trust that you'll try to respect my feelings enough.
Itβs natural, isnβt it? After the two of them so plainly spending time together. Being intimate together. It was natural for them to develop those sorts of feelings. Leona just doesnβt know how to convey those words yet. Itβs his first time.]
You could hurt me just the same.
[More confirmation. Leona feels the same. Leona loves him too. Itβs just taking time to say it.]
β¦youβre an asshole for makinβ me fall for ya this hard, Schoenheit.
You're supposed to fall for me. I'm the fairest one of all, aren't I?
[ Murmured against his mouth, before finally giving him a smile... something he hasn't in days. But that confirmation is all he needs- emotionally, perhaps. It doesn't mean he won't be a shit about it verbally. ]
You're the most insufferable prince in existence, Leona Kingscholar.
[ But before he can say anything, he leans in to capture his mouth in a kiss that's both affectionate and tender- softer than most kisses they've had. He doesn't hesitate in keeping it going until they're breathless, before whispering- ]
[ He presses back in the kiss with just as much intensity, groaning a little. He wants to get them both somewhere private, and soon. Thereβs no way they could manage to be quiet out here. ]
Likewise. You may be the fairest of all, but yer a pain in my ass, and yβhave a real habit of nagging me.
[ He wouldnβt have this any other way, though. Perhaps the real lesson here is that their relationship isnβt linear, and there will always be a problem to solve or an argument to get through. Itβs fine, though.]
[ It's fine. He doesn't know how this is going to go, and he can't predict the outcome.
But maybe that's fineβ because being with this insufferable prince is supposed to be that way. And who knows what might happen if they walk together. ]
Get used to it, Kingscholar. I'm not going to stop wanting better for myselfβ or anyone that is important to me.
[ This does include Pomefiore too. He touches his nose to his. ]
... we should leave before curfew. Do you suppose Yuu will let us borrow a space at Ramshackle for the night?
You really must be in a better mood for not calling them a herbivore.
[ He can't help but tease, though he smiles wryly and shakes his head. ]
No... let's go to Ramshackle. We did clean it up to my standards, so it will be usable. I'd rather not be looked at by anyone but you tonight. So you'd best have all your attention on me, Kingscholar.
They can get away with having their named used, sometimes.
[ He shrugs at the notion. He certainly didn't make any special notions for that prefect, nope. Not at all. ]
I would be a fool to look anywhere else.
[ Nudging him in the direction of Ramshackle then, and once they get there. Well. Grim and the prefect are obviously there. But Leona's expression says, "If either of you say anything, you're dead".
There are probably rooms sequestered away from the one Grim and Yuu are using. So Leona will travel back to those. ]
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Shit. He feels awkward looking at his back and a bit annoyed- but if he walks away now, it'll feel like he's lost somehow.
Part of him is angry Leona didn't even make an attempt to reach out. And perhaps a little hurt. Even if some part of him does realize that it's Leona actively giving him space for his own comfort and not out of malice, it still...
He could at least try??
He sighs and goes to look for somewhere to sit. He came all this way and like hell is he running away. He can just do his reading here. ]
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So why is Vil sitting down? ]
... ?
[ give or take about ten minutes of the both of them awkwardly being in each others presence... Leona is the first to sit up and scoot over. He'll shove the books away from Vil's hands and put his head in Vil's lap.
Pay attention to Leona only. Books are for squares. ]
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[ He isn't expecting Leona to move towards him, though he does see him shifting. He expects him to get up and leave, which he'd have done himself but-
He couldn't bring himself to.
So when there's suddenly a Leona on his lap, he looks surprised and... narrows his eye. But rather than push him away, he sighs and places a hand on his head, near his ears. ]
... blew off enough steam?
[ Hmph. As always, he needs to do the work. ]
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But he's being driven mad not being near Vil. ]
Didn't think ya wanted t' be near me.
[ After the foul things both of them said after all... ]
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And yet, he allowed Vil to keep going. It makes him feel badly for it, even though he knows Leona Kingscholar is hardly so weak that he can't take warranted criticism.
He's just not sure how well he can handle something Vil is realizing he barely understands, and hasn't tried to.
He should be angrier but it's like touching him makes it all melt away and he's... becoming aware of what this could mean. ]
I was giving you space, too.
[ Yet he ended up here. ]
... your hair's messier these days. At least let Ruggie brush it for you.
[ It's an attempt. Vil had begun to look after Leona's hair lately too. Among other things. ]
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Laying in Vil's lap is the most comfortable he has been in days, though, and that isn't exaggerating things. This is incredibly annoying. He knows what he wants, and he knows who can provide it. ]
Ruggie don't brush it right.
[ Vil does. Vil brushes his hair in the exact way that he likes. ]
So I just didn't bother.
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You're a housewarden... if you're not going to do it yourself, get someone to help. You have the magic for it too.
[ It's not like most don't use their magic to dress up on time and groom themselves. But there's something nicer about doing it manually...
His fingers move over his bangs. ]
... better than someone who "can't think beyond his next selfie", isn't it?
[ That hadn't actually hurt him to hear- little does. It just felt bad coming from Leona, who knows that Vil isn't so vapid even if he's concerned with his looks. ]
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He has a hard look on his face for a moment. ]
Y'know I was just mad when I said that.
[ He was...very mad. ]
... I prefer you to do it.
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He knows- even without having said it, that that is what Leona meant. He knows, and yet...
He sighs and looks down at him, meeting his beautiful green eyes that he can never get enough of. ]
... what now? What do you want of me?
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He can feel Vil searching for answers.
He can feel himself doing the same. ]
You.
[ Simple enough, right? ]
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And most importantly, he missed him. He missed him so much.
He's quiet for a while, even if his face is going visibly red. ]
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He simply wants to look at him as an equal, first. ]
You really hurt me, you know. Everyone looks at me and makes things up about me. I don't care what they think.
I care about what you think of me, and to hear you say the same thing everyone else makes up about me- it hurt.
[ He isn't speaking in past tense. ]
... but I was cruel to you too. I shouldn't have said those things about you as a prince with no direction. [ Even if he is kind of overly privileged. ] Because I know even when you act like you don't care, you're still thinking... you think a lot about everyone.
And I don't want us to hurt each other like this.
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You struck a sore spot for me, calling me those things that you did. That's like that shit my brother says 'bout me.
[ Though, Falena does try to say those things with a softness and concern that Leona just simply doesn't understand. He refuses to understand it, really. So having Vil say the words nearly verbatim, he did get very much defensive.
He understands that perhaps spatting those words he said at Vil were not in good taste. ]
I hurt you, and you forgive me, Queen?
[ Calling him Queen to, you know, warm Vil back up to him. ]
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At that nickname, though, he lets out a small huff. ]
... only if you forgive me, Prince.
[ He looks up at him, squarely, as he places a hand on the side of his face. ]
I see a king inside you, though. It's why I want better from you... but that's on you. And I won't force you to walk a path you don't want.
[ He knows Leona hates messing with feelings this way, but this is important. ]
... do you want us to try again?
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[ Just because they needed to cool off didn't mean that Leona wanted to fully leave the other. Though this sort of thing is tough for him. Sitting here and listening to the consequences of his own actions.
If only life were as simple as Leona's brain wants to make it. But he says this all from a place of privilege. ]
My scent is fading on you.
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[ He falls silent for a bit again, before looking at him and extending a hand to touch the side of Leona's face. ]
... you should probably take care of that, shouldn't you? Though...
[ He tugs Leona's face close until they're touching foreheads. ]
You should tell me why, too. Why you want your scent on me. Why do you want me to be yours?
[ Say it in words this time, Kingscholar! ]
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Being asked to do so is stressful.]
I ainβt usually the person to go to if ya want feelings said plainlyβ¦
[But they're forehead to forehead right now and Leona has fucked up enough things in the last stretch of days.]
I care, yβknow, about you. I want my scent on you so that people know who claimed you.
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He looks up at him, cheeks warm, as he lifts his free hand to hold Leona's head in both his own. ]
... if I could do the same, it would be because I may be in love with you, Leona Kingscholar.
[ He says it plainly. ]
Don't feel like you need to say it back. I know.
[ His gaze is firm now. ]
And I'm frightened about just how much you can hurt me with that. I'm trusting that you won't. And if you can't... I'll trust that you'll try to respect my feelings enough.
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Itβs natural, isnβt it? After the two of them so plainly spending time together. Being intimate together. It was natural for them to develop those sorts of feelings. Leona just doesnβt know how to convey those words yet. Itβs his first time.]
You could hurt me just the same.
[More confirmation. Leona feels the same. Leona loves him too. Itβs just taking time to say it.]
β¦youβre an asshole for makinβ me fall for ya this hard, Schoenheit.
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[ Murmured against his mouth, before finally giving him a smile... something he hasn't in days. But that confirmation is all he needs- emotionally, perhaps. It doesn't mean he won't be a shit about it verbally. ]
You're the most insufferable prince in existence, Leona Kingscholar.
[ But before he can say anything, he leans in to capture his mouth in a kiss that's both affectionate and tender- softer than most kisses they've had. He doesn't hesitate in keeping it going until they're breathless, before whispering- ]
But you're mine. That's my claim on you.
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Likewise. You may be the fairest of all, but yer a pain in my ass, and yβhave a real habit of nagging me.
[ He wouldnβt have this any other way, though. Perhaps the real lesson here is that their relationship isnβt linear, and there will always be a problem to solve or an argument to get through. Itβs fine, though.]
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But maybe that's fineβ because being with this insufferable prince is supposed to be that way. And who knows what might happen if they walk together. ]
Get used to it, Kingscholar. I'm not going to stop wanting better for myselfβ or anyone that is important to me.
[ This does include Pomefiore too. He touches his nose to his. ]
... we should leave before curfew. Do you suppose Yuu will let us borrow a space at Ramshackle for the night?
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[He touches his nose back, flicking to the sunset. Heβs never been one to care about the curfew.
He has a bit to make up for.
Heβs going to treat Vil right tonight.]
Unless you wanted to try going back to Savanaclaw.
[A snort of amusement. ]
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[ He can't help but tease, though he smiles wryly and shakes his head. ]
No... let's go to Ramshackle. We did clean it up to my standards, so it will be usable. I'd rather not be looked at by anyone but you tonight. So you'd best have all your attention on me, Kingscholar.
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[ He shrugs at the notion. He certainly didn't make any special notions for that prefect, nope. Not at all. ]
I would be a fool to look anywhere else.
[ Nudging him in the direction of Ramshackle then, and once they get there. Well. Grim and the prefect are obviously there. But Leona's expression says, "If either of you say anything, you're dead".
There are probably rooms sequestered away from the one Grim and Yuu are using. So Leona will travel back to those. ]
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