The bed seems a bit too intimate. He decides to compromise by bringing some more pillows to the couch, along with a couple of plushies from the arcade, and a certain quilted blanket. There, all set!]
[ it doesn't take long for him to get up to that floor. he might be lazy but he's not slow when he wants to go places. and he also thinks if he makes hiyori wait too long, he'll get a tongue lashing... which will make the cuddling less fun.
anyway. he knocks on the door. hopefully it's the right one. ]
[It might make the cuddling more fun, depending on one's perspective!
... we can assume he also sent a room number at some point. Just to involve a "wrong door" situation.
When he hears the knock, he thinks briefly about Rinne's knocking habits. How he used to bang out the beat of different Eden songs. It triggers a pang of sadness, just like every other reminder about Rinne. But at least it's been a couple weeks at this point, so there are no tears. He gets up from the couch and opens the door.]
Took you long enough! ♪
[It really didn't take that long.
He pushes the door open winder, letting Leona see into his Rank 8 room. A one-bedroom with elegant furniture, white with decorations in bright, sunny colors. He's been here (and shopped here) long enough to accumulate many possessions, from houseplants to a couple of fancy tea sets. But there are also items belonging to Jun strewn around—pieces of exercise equipment, or a sweatshirt. The couch has the aforementioned blanket, pillows, and stuffed animals on it. There are multiple pairs of shoes and an extra set of slippers by the door. Jun's slippers.]
Welcome to my humble abode! Or I guess I should say "our humble abode." Just call it the House of Eve...♪
[ ough. he sounds cheery? upbeat, optimistic... and it came with that chiding that he thought would happen regardless of how on time he was. what does time mean anyway? days and nights go by and leona is still cognizant of the fact that the only thing that truly matters are the people who abide by the rules of the resort. so to be stepping into hiyori and jun's shared place feels nice. it's different. he's not sure if he'd want this to become routine. ]
I don't think I'm gonna call it either of those things.
[ but he does find it very interesting (to put it mildly)--- it looks like a nice room. decorated well. it makes him wonder if he should put any effort into his own. after kicking his sandals off, he takes slow steps towards the couch while his eyes wander and linger on the things that probably belong to each of its inhabitants. ]
Pretty cute though, if that's what you were aimin' for.
[ and then he sits down on the couch, immediately sinking into it. ough. ]
He watches Leona look around his space. It's bright, sunny, lived-in. During Rinne's first visit, he remembers telling him he didn't plan to decorate. That he saw no point because he wasn't going to be here long. But that was eight months ago and he's still here, no closer to getting out than he was before, while Rinne himself is gone, and his chest aches as he thinks about that now.
Still, not every change has been bad since then. He used to live inside this room alone, after all.]
Yes, yes, that's exactly what I aim for! ♪
[He sits down on the couch, too. Still smiling, despite all the crying he's done this past week. Or perhaps because of all that crying. He doesn't want to be sad and gloomy all the time. He wants...
To be someone who's warm like the sun. That's who he is.]
I guess you can start by resting your head on my shoulder. I'll show you my special technique for keeping warm. But we can also use this nice blanket!
[He thumbs at the one behind them, draped over the back of the couch. It's hand-knit, and it looks soft. He shifts on top of the cushion, lifting up one corner of the blanket to show the hand-sewn letter "H" there.]
It was a precious gift from someone we're both fond of, so we should definitely make use of it ♪
[ if the objective for an idol is to spread joy and happiness and focus on other people and not themselves... that sounds pretty awful to him. but if they can choose how they do it, then maybe it's not as bad as he thinks. they all have different ways. could leona be like that? replace the word idol for something more realistic, like a leader or prince, then. maybe. maybe he gets it. but at the same time, he really doesn't want to. it's always been about him. ]
Your special technique? Sure, whatever.
[ leona doubts there's anything special about it. he's not sure how exasperated he can look or sound before hiyori will get the hint. then again, he's also the one that wanted this. maybe there's something to it? he's got more questions than answers.
so as he leans to his side, towards hiyori, he does take a look at that blanket as best as he can. it doesn't look like it was made at the resort. someone really spent time knitting something? or maybe they had it custom made by someone else... either way... ]
... you sure they're not gonna care if we use it?
[ maybe it's someone who's no longer with them. or maybe it's someone that leona has a very soft spot for. either way, there can't be too many that they're both fond of. ]
Hm? Why would they mind? They made it for me, after all.
[He grabs the blanket from both ends, pulling it over the edge of the couch.]
And you're Jun-kun's friend, too, after all.
[There's the answer to that mystery.
He drapes the blanket over himself, then tries to place it over Leona's shoulders as well. Leona leaning towards him is a good start, but they need to be touching for his "special technique" to work. So he motions him closer, nudging against his side and patting his own shoulder.]
Come on~♪ Just lay your weary head to rest right here.
[ well, that shoulder does look like a good place for him to place his head on. he can't deny hiyori that. but it's that sense of distrust coming from someone who, genuinely or not, has that outward appearance of optimism continues to give leona some pause. so when he slowly (and still with SOME apprehension) places his cheek against hiyori's shoulder, leona is definitely more than just a bundle of nerves.
his tail and ears are both very, very still. ]
Yeah, I guess he's a friend.
[ but he would still consider jun more of a junior than anything else. someone who could use solid guidance from a semi-reliable senior. ]
So... now what.
[ if hiyori does anything underhanded, he'll be real angy. ]
[Now that Leona's done as asked, those fuzzy lion ears are right there. One of them even brushes the side of his face, producing a ticklish sensation. It's awfully tempting to pet them. But for now, at least, he behaves.]
Just a moment~♪
[He closes his eyes. Instead of reaching for Leona's ears, he reaches for Leona's hand beneath the blanket, laying his own on top. And then, he starts to hum: a soft lullaby that Jun once sang for him.]
...~♪
[Leona will feel a gentle warmth start to emanate from Hiyori's hand. It spreads to Leona's own hand, palm to fingertips, before traveling up his arm. Slowly, he'll start to feel it everywhere—everywhere Hiyori's body is touching him, everywhere beneath the blanket. And if he opens his eyes—if he looks at Hiyori in curiosity or shock—he'll find there's a bright, sparkly glow coming from him. A "blindingly radiant" glow!
It disappears after a moment. The warmth, however, remains.]
Well~? What do you think?
[Hiyori smiles at him innocently. Not bad for a guy who can't do magic, right? But it's not magic, it's his Aura!]
[ it's magic. well, it's a kind of magic. that's the first thing he recognizes; it's not dangerous by any means and yeah it's soothing and whatnot. whether the song is a component or not, he can't really be sure--- but it's certainly not something he'd expect from hiyori. he frowns as his thoughts are the ones that sort of override the natural instinct to go full belly up (or turn into a liquid) like a big cat might. is he as warm as the sun? no. does leona loosen up? maybe a little. still...
opening his eyes, he squints. yeah. okay. ]
Don't think it'd save you from gettin' mauled.
[ and leona is literally right there? a living heater isn't going to keep hiyori from getting chewed on, if that's what he's asking for... which he kind of is. does he think a parlor trick of any kind of spell is going to protect him from a real apex predator???
sniff. ]
Where'd ya learn a lil' trick like that?
[ he's not jealous! he's got plenty of ways to heat himself or someone else up. but leona also isn't moving for now... why waste a perfectly good sun lamp... ]
[He frowns for a second, sounding a tad miffed. Leona's initial response doesn't amuse him; he'd hoped for more amazement, and more awe, more gratitude for sharing his warmth! But Leona doesn't react badly, and he can tell he's at least a little surprised. Hiyori's voice regains cheer as he explains:]
Weiss-chan showed me. She said it's not magic, but something called "Aura!" Where she comes from, everyone has one, because it's basically like a soul. And she said my Aura was unusually bright! ♪
[He smiles with self-satisfaction, nudging his shoulder against Leona's.]
[ if hiyori really wanted to impress leona... well, this wouldn't be the way to go. but curiosity will keep him from mocking him any further--- the last thing he wants to do is ruin THIS good thing. but he can also feel the disappointment, the brief frown enough to give leona enough of a hint. ]
So it's not magic. [ call him skeptical, but what else would it be? it might not be referred to as magic but it's definitely got a similar vibe. even more interesting it if draws from the soul or something like it. does it mean hiyori's draining himself like a solar powered heater? hm. ] Could've fooled me.
[ he's shining enough that leona has to keep his eyes narrowed. it adds to the level of disbelief. ]
Guess it does. [ the prince snorts. ] Is all of you this bright?
That's what she said! But she also said I can use it to heal cuts and bruises and things, which sounds an awful lot like magic to me. And Esikko-kun said it was "most certainly" magic, for whatever that's worth.
[So it's all a matter of who they believe. Magic or not, though, he's proud of himself and his sparkly glow!
Which does continue down his body, outlining his entire figure, and now Leona's, too. As Leona looks pointedly down, he frowns, catching onto the meaning.]
Yes, as a matter of fact it is, because I'm someone who always shines brightly from head to toe! Just like idols are supposed to do! ♪
[He stubbornly plays dumb, pretending he didn't notice the innuendo. That's what he does when he doesn't like something: he pretends it doesn't exist! Out of sight, out of mind!
And the glow also fades after another moment. The warmth, however, remains, and he stays snuggled up against Leona's side so they can continue to share it.]
[ there's no such thing as enough healing magic. if that's what hiyori excels at, with whatever power he draws upon, then that's fine. leona's not going to belittle that. but if he thinks he should be amazed by a little warmth and sparkles and the kind of flair that truly makes sense given their disposition, then hiyori will be left wanting.
shame he won't react to leona's remark but he sort of expected that. ]
Mm. So you're sayin' if I stole ya away, then I wouldn't need a heater or a lamp for a while?
[ he might play dumb, but leona's going to play... something.
either way, he curls an arm around hiyori's waist while he continues to nestle in closer. he's comfy. ]
[He doesn't stay frowny for long. A smile returns to his lips and he teases back:]
I suppose so. But keeping the sun all to yourself sounds awfully greedy. I guess I should've expected that, though, since lions love basking in the sun all day~♪
[Though in truth, he can't keep the personal heater thing going indefinitely. If he uses his Aura for too long, he'll run out of energy according to Weiss. But he hasn't come close to hitting his limit yet, so for the time being, they stay warm and toasty and comfortable.
Comfortable despite the strong arm grasping his waist. That's certainly new.
But he's at least somewhat used to the feeling, since Jun's gotten much more physically affectionate in recent months. And Jun's arms are similarly strong, thanks to all that muscle training! But Leona's still different: bigger and bulkier, and with two fuzzy ears that remain tantalizingly within reach. They're nearer than ever now, those ears are, now that Leona's pressed even closer to him, and his eyes glance towards them for a second before he finally shoots his shot.]
Speaking of lions, I have a question! Remember that thing I asked about your ears?
[ if the sun beams down across his back as he looks down upon the rest of the world, of his kingdom, then all will be right with everything. he can make the best decisions, make sure everyone's cared for equally, and with the light that touches every square centimeter of the savanna he'll never miss a thing. so maybe in this case, greed is a very good thing for him and for everyone else.
shame he won't have that chance but that's... he's still trying to cope, okay!
good that hiyori is comfortable with having someone being physically affectionate with him. leona's tempted to smother him right about now. ]
Yeah, I do. [ how could he forget. it was inevitable. ] You gonna do somethin' about it?
[ he could force grumpiness but he's been weakened by the aura... sigh. ]
[He appears excited when Leona says that first thing.]
That sounds just like my philosophy! When I smile, it makes my fans smile! And when my fans are happy, I'm happy~♪
[Let's just ignore the fact he doesn't really have fans here. Unless Charlie counts—he's certainly been a real kiss-up. Or unless Leona himself counts. As for the comment about his hears, Hiyori perks up even further.]
I guess I could pet them, since you're urging me to do so! ♪
[Is that what Leona's doing?
Either way, the hand resting on top of Leona's lets go. It moves all the way up to Leona's head, blanket falling down his arm, fingers brushing through hair. Until, at last, he reached an ear. His palm rubs against the back of it, his fingers tracing gently over its shape. As he thought...]
... it's soft! ♪
[Soft and fuzzy. Not a human ear, but a real lion ear! He seems pleased by this obvious revelation, continuing to pet it.]
[ don't ask him if he's a fan. he might not like the answer he hears. instead, just focus on how leona continues to stay pretty calm and chill when he tilts his head in so he can press his nose against hiyori's shoulder. that he's not masking his actions: he's taking in deep inhales. does he smell like the sun? maybe if he's being particularly generous he could describe it as such.
anyway, he knows what's going on. leona's asking for it. so when he feels hiyori touch his ear, he tries not to jump. something about being always sensitive thanks to the suit being a presence in his life at the resort... he can't help but swallow a noise every time he's touched. ]
Did ya expect somethin' different?
[ grumbling though he's anything but gruff at the moment. his tail audibly smacks the unoccupied side of the couch. ]
[Hiyori smells faintly of citrus and rose blossoms. It's not his natural scent, but the body lotion he rubbed on. He avoids the lotions and fragrances on sale in the Nest that say stuff like Guaranteed to drive your lover wild with desire, since he doesn't want to drug anyone. But as long as there's no suspicious tagline, he's more than happy to shop for beauty products!
Clearly the purchase didn't go to waste. He can tell Leona's breathing in his scent—one of those things that reminds him Leona is a lion man. That, the thud of Leona's tail against the couch (which draws his attention for a second), and the presence of those fuzzy ears he's currently petting.]
No, not really. But that makes them even more fun to touch! ♪
[His hand ventures over to the other one, scritching behind that ear like he would when he's handling Mary. But Leona's ears are bigger than Mary's. They're soft, they're fuzzy, they're cute! Why, the last time he got to pet a pair of ears like this was back during the Springtime game, when Jun-kun sprouted a pair.
... when Jun-kun...]
Say, Leona-kun.
[His fingers continue petting, but he halts his voice, waiting for acknowledgement.]
[ he reminds him of the greenhouse. occasionally a few varieties would be planted for potion-making reasons but he wouldn't usually lay in those. annoying to smell like flowers when walking around campus or going back to his own dorm. but it was still nice to reminded of something as simple as whatever hiyori was wearing.
both ears twitch as leona opens one eye, stares at the guy, and then sniffs again. this one more out of irritation from the silence being broken constantly... he just wants to nap here. ]
What.
[ he's waiting for a personal question to come up. he can't help but naturally draw out curiosities from talkative people... ]
[ the beastman pauses. he goes still, breath catching in his throat, before he moves so he could sit back up. a chill runs down his spine. whatever warmth he was indulging in before has left his body and frankly, out the room as well. ]
Well, yeah. But why would ya disappear?
[ he's glaring. if what he knows about hiyori and jun's relationship is true, based on what the latter had said, don't they both have reasons to keep themselves safe??? ]
[Whoops. He's still keeping his Aura going, so it technically is still warm, but he drops his hands away from Leona's head and lets his smile fade.]
I'm not planning to, but neither was Rinne-senpai.
[Meaning anyone could disappear. Him, Jun, Leona, Vil, anyone. He doesn't like it—it fills him with despair, being this helpless. But he doesn't even sound upset; he's calm, all things considered, because he's been thinking about this for so long.]
Everyone keeps telling me it has something to do with your "energy," and how many people you have sex with. But Rinne-senpai had all those partners, and Jun-kun and I only have one. We're still here, so I'm not sure what to think. I just know I need to make some plan in case the worst case scenario happens.
[Though the true worst case scenario would be Jun disappearing instead of him. His heart would break.]
[ a reasonable thing to be anxious about. how could leona stay so calm despite being one of those types that would plan for circumstances, even the ones beyond his control? probably something to do with accepting his fate. knowing there's magic out there that not even he can fight against, and putting in any effort to push back would just get him killed. survival of the fittest means surviving. ]
Mm. He got unlucky. Or he pissed the wrong person off. Don't think either of you would be willing to stir the pot so much that you could end up bein' someone's lawn ornament or house decoration, yeah?
[ leona folds one leg over the other, reclining into the couch. ]
Well, whatever happens around here? I got you. Whether you like it or not.
[There's a lot he has to bite down on. If he wanted to get into it, he could point out that Rinne, at least, was playing the game, giving the House the energy it seeks. He's ignored the rules this whole time—not only that, but he's plotted against the House with other people here. And he's no better about pissing people off. He's always had a knack for it, and at least a few people here have threatened him after he mouthed off to them. Leona himself has probably been irritated with him before.
But he doesn't say any of those things. He doesn't want to spend any more time worrying about all the reasons he might disappear. And so he chooses to focus on those last words. They earn a small smile, easing some of the tightness in his chest.]
... Mm. Thanks.
[It's all he says, before he leans against Leona's side this time, instead of waiting for Leona to lean on him again.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[And now to awkwardly sit on the couch and wait.
... should they cuddle on the couch?
The bed seems a bit too intimate. He decides to compromise by bringing some more pillows to the couch, along with a couple of plushies from the arcade, and a certain quilted blanket. There, all set!]
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[ it doesn't take long for him to get up to that floor. he might be lazy but he's not slow when he wants to go places. and he also thinks if he makes hiyori wait too long, he'll get a tongue lashing... which will make the cuddling less fun.
anyway. he knocks on the door. hopefully it's the right one. ]
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... we can assume he also sent a room number at some point. Just to involve a "wrong door" situation.
When he hears the knock, he thinks briefly about Rinne's knocking habits. How he used to bang out the beat of different Eden songs. It triggers a pang of sadness, just like every other reminder about Rinne. But at least it's been a couple weeks at this point, so there are no tears. He gets up from the couch and opens the door.]
Took you long enough! ♪
[It really didn't take that long.
He pushes the door open winder, letting Leona see into his Rank 8 room. A one-bedroom with elegant furniture, white with decorations in bright, sunny colors. He's been here (and shopped here) long enough to accumulate many possessions, from houseplants to a couple of fancy tea sets. But there are also items belonging to Jun strewn around—pieces of exercise equipment, or a sweatshirt. The couch has the aforementioned blanket, pillows, and stuffed animals on it. There are multiple pairs of shoes and an extra set of slippers by the door. Jun's slippers.]
Welcome to my humble abode! Or I guess I should say "our humble abode." Just call it the House of Eve...♪
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I don't think I'm gonna call it either of those things.
[ but he does find it very interesting (to put it mildly)--- it looks like a nice room. decorated well. it makes him wonder if he should put any effort into his own. after kicking his sandals off, he takes slow steps towards the couch while his eyes wander and linger on the things that probably belong to each of its inhabitants. ]
Pretty cute though, if that's what you were aimin' for.
[ and then he sits down on the couch, immediately sinking into it. ough. ]
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He watches Leona look around his space. It's bright, sunny, lived-in. During Rinne's first visit, he remembers telling him he didn't plan to decorate. That he saw no point because he wasn't going to be here long. But that was eight months ago and he's still here, no closer to getting out than he was before, while Rinne himself is gone, and his chest aches as he thinks about that now.
Still, not every change has been bad since then. He used to live inside this room alone, after all.]
Yes, yes, that's exactly what I aim for! ♪
[He sits down on the couch, too. Still smiling, despite all the crying he's done this past week. Or perhaps because of all that crying. He doesn't want to be sad and gloomy all the time. He wants...
To be someone who's warm like the sun. That's who he is.]
I guess you can start by resting your head on my shoulder. I'll show you my special technique for keeping warm. But we can also use this nice blanket!
[He thumbs at the one behind them, draped over the back of the couch. It's hand-knit, and it looks soft. He shifts on top of the cushion, lifting up one corner of the blanket to show the hand-sewn letter "H" there.]
It was a precious gift from someone we're both fond of, so we should definitely make use of it ♪
[Take a wild guess who that might be.]
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Your special technique? Sure, whatever.
[ leona doubts there's anything special about it. he's not sure how exasperated he can look or sound before hiyori will get the hint. then again, he's also the one that wanted this. maybe there's something to it? he's got more questions than answers.
so as he leans to his side, towards hiyori, he does take a look at that blanket as best as he can. it doesn't look like it was made at the resort. someone really spent time knitting something? or maybe they had it custom made by someone else... either way... ]
... you sure they're not gonna care if we use it?
[ maybe it's someone who's no longer with them. or maybe it's someone that leona has a very soft spot for. either way, there can't be too many that they're both fond of. ]
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[He grabs the blanket from both ends, pulling it over the edge of the couch.]
And you're Jun-kun's friend, too, after all.
[There's the answer to that mystery.
He drapes the blanket over himself, then tries to place it over Leona's shoulders as well. Leona leaning towards him is a good start, but they need to be touching for his "special technique" to work. So he motions him closer, nudging against his side and patting his own shoulder.]
Come on~♪ Just lay your weary head to rest right here.
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his tail and ears are both very, very still. ]
Yeah, I guess he's a friend.
[ but he would still consider jun more of a junior than anything else. someone who could use solid guidance from a semi-reliable senior. ]
So... now what.
[ if hiyori does anything underhanded, he'll be real angy. ]
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Just a moment~♪
[He closes his eyes. Instead of reaching for Leona's ears, he reaches for Leona's hand beneath the blanket, laying his own on top. And then, he starts to hum: a soft lullaby that Jun once sang for him.]
...~♪
[Leona will feel a gentle warmth start to emanate from Hiyori's hand. It spreads to Leona's own hand, palm to fingertips, before traveling up his arm. Slowly, he'll start to feel it everywhere—everywhere Hiyori's body is touching him, everywhere beneath the blanket. And if he opens his eyes—if he looks at Hiyori in curiosity or shock—he'll find there's a bright, sparkly glow coming from him. A "blindingly radiant" glow!
It disappears after a moment. The warmth, however, remains.]
Well~? What do you think?
[Hiyori smiles at him innocently. Not bad for a guy who can't do magic, right? But it's not magic, it's his Aura!]
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opening his eyes, he squints. yeah. okay. ]
Don't think it'd save you from gettin' mauled.
[ and leona is literally right there? a living heater isn't going to keep hiyori from getting chewed on, if that's what he's asking for... which he kind of is. does he think a parlor trick of any kind of spell is going to protect him from a real apex predator???
sniff. ]
Where'd ya learn a lil' trick like that?
[ he's not jealous! he's got plenty of ways to heat himself or someone else up. but leona also isn't moving for now... why waste a perfectly good sun lamp... ]
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[He frowns for a second, sounding a tad miffed. Leona's initial response doesn't amuse him; he'd hoped for more amazement, and more awe, more gratitude for sharing his warmth! But Leona doesn't react badly, and he can tell he's at least a little surprised. Hiyori's voice regains cheer as he explains:]
Weiss-chan showed me. She said it's not magic, but something called "Aura!" Where she comes from, everyone has one, because it's basically like a soul. And she said my Aura was unusually bright! ♪
[He smiles with self-satisfaction, nudging his shoulder against Leona's.]
It suits me, doesn't it?
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So it's not magic. [ call him skeptical, but what else would it be? it might not be referred to as magic but it's definitely got a similar vibe. even more interesting it if draws from the soul or something like it. does it mean hiyori's draining himself like a solar powered heater? hm. ] Could've fooled me.
[ he's shining enough that leona has to keep his eyes narrowed. it adds to the level of disbelief. ]
Guess it does. [ the prince snorts. ] Is all of you this bright?
[ looks down. ]
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[So it's all a matter of who they believe. Magic or not, though, he's proud of himself and his sparkly glow!
Which does continue down his body, outlining his entire figure, and now Leona's, too. As Leona looks pointedly down, he frowns, catching onto the meaning.]
Yes, as a matter of fact it is, because I'm someone who always shines brightly from head to toe! Just like idols are supposed to do! ♪
[He stubbornly plays dumb, pretending he didn't notice the innuendo. That's what he does when he doesn't like something: he pretends it doesn't exist! Out of sight, out of mind!
And the glow also fades after another moment. The warmth, however, remains, and he stays snuggled up against Leona's side so they can continue to share it.]
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shame he won't react to leona's remark but he sort of expected that. ]
Mm. So you're sayin' if I stole ya away, then I wouldn't need a heater or a lamp for a while?
[ he might play dumb, but leona's going to play... something.
either way, he curls an arm around hiyori's waist while he continues to nestle in closer. he's comfy. ]
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I suppose so. But keeping the sun all to yourself sounds awfully greedy. I guess I should've expected that, though, since lions love basking in the sun all day~♪
[Though in truth, he can't keep the personal heater thing going indefinitely. If he uses his Aura for too long, he'll run out of energy according to Weiss. But he hasn't come close to hitting his limit yet, so for the time being, they stay warm and toasty and comfortable.
Comfortable despite the strong arm grasping his waist. That's certainly new.
But he's at least somewhat used to the feeling, since Jun's gotten much more physically affectionate in recent months. And Jun's arms are similarly strong, thanks to all that muscle training! But Leona's still different: bigger and bulkier, and with two fuzzy ears that remain tantalizingly within reach. They're nearer than ever now, those ears are, now that Leona's pressed even closer to him, and his eyes glance towards them for a second before he finally shoots his shot.]
Speaking of lions, I have a question! Remember that thing I asked about your ears?
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[ if the sun beams down across his back as he looks down upon the rest of the world, of his kingdom, then all will be right with everything. he can make the best decisions, make sure everyone's cared for equally, and with the light that touches every square centimeter of the savanna he'll never miss a thing. so maybe in this case, greed is a very good thing for him and for everyone else.
shame he won't have that chance but that's... he's still trying to cope, okay!
good that hiyori is comfortable with having someone being physically affectionate with him. leona's tempted to smother him right about now. ]
Yeah, I do. [ how could he forget. it was inevitable. ] You gonna do somethin' about it?
[ he could force grumpiness but he's been weakened by the aura... sigh. ]
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That sounds just like my philosophy! When I smile, it makes my fans smile! And when my fans are happy, I'm happy~♪
[Let's just ignore the fact he doesn't really have fans here. Unless Charlie counts—he's certainly been a real kiss-up. Or unless Leona himself counts. As for the comment about his hears, Hiyori perks up even further.]
I guess I could pet them, since you're urging me to do so! ♪
[Is that what Leona's doing?
Either way, the hand resting on top of Leona's lets go. It moves all the way up to Leona's head, blanket falling down his arm, fingers brushing through hair. Until, at last, he reached an ear. His palm rubs against the back of it, his fingers tracing gently over its shape. As he thought...]
... it's soft! ♪
[Soft and fuzzy. Not a human ear, but a real lion ear! He seems pleased by this obvious revelation, continuing to pet it.]
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anyway, he knows what's going on. leona's asking for it. so when he feels hiyori touch his ear, he tries not to jump. something about being always sensitive thanks to the suit being a presence in his life at the resort... he can't help but swallow a noise every time he's touched. ]
Did ya expect somethin' different?
[ grumbling though he's anything but gruff at the moment. his tail audibly smacks the unoccupied side of the couch. ]
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Clearly the purchase didn't go to waste. He can tell Leona's breathing in his scent—one of those things that reminds him Leona is a lion man. That, the thud of Leona's tail against the couch (which draws his attention for a second), and the presence of those fuzzy ears he's currently petting.]
No, not really. But that makes them even more fun to touch! ♪
[His hand ventures over to the other one, scritching behind that ear like he would when he's handling Mary. But Leona's ears are bigger than Mary's. They're soft, they're fuzzy, they're cute! Why, the last time he got to pet a pair of ears like this was back during the Springtime game, when Jun-kun sprouted a pair.
... when Jun-kun...]
Say, Leona-kun.
[His fingers continue petting, but he halts his voice, waiting for acknowledgement.]
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both ears twitch as leona opens one eye, stares at the guy, and then sniffs again. this one more out of irritation from the silence being broken constantly... he just wants to nap here. ]
What.
[ he's waiting for a personal question to come up. he can't help but naturally draw out curiosities from talkative people... ]
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His hand stops moving, cupping the back of one ear. He speaks softly, a smile on his lips and a sad look in his eyes.]
If I disappear like Rinne-senpai, you'll watch out for Jun-kun, won't you?
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Well, yeah. But why would ya disappear?
[ he's glaring. if what he knows about hiyori and jun's relationship is true, based on what the latter had said, don't they both have reasons to keep themselves safe??? ]
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I'm not planning to, but neither was Rinne-senpai.
[Meaning anyone could disappear. Him, Jun, Leona, Vil, anyone. He doesn't like it—it fills him with despair, being this helpless. But he doesn't even sound upset; he's calm, all things considered, because he's been thinking about this for so long.]
Everyone keeps telling me it has something to do with your "energy," and how many people you have sex with. But Rinne-senpai had all those partners, and Jun-kun and I only have one. We're still here, so I'm not sure what to think. I just know I need to make some plan in case the worst case scenario happens.
[Though the true worst case scenario would be Jun disappearing instead of him. His heart would break.]
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Mm. He got unlucky. Or he pissed the wrong person off. Don't think either of you would be willing to stir the pot so much that you could end up bein' someone's lawn ornament or house decoration, yeah?
[ leona folds one leg over the other, reclining into the couch. ]
Well, whatever happens around here? I got you. Whether you like it or not.
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But he doesn't say any of those things. He doesn't want to spend any more time worrying about all the reasons he might disappear. And so he chooses to focus on those last words. They earn a small smile, easing some of the tightness in his chest.]
... Mm. Thanks.
[It's all he says, before he leans against Leona's side this time, instead of waiting for Leona to lean on him again.]
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