[ He'll be rather upset if there ever comes a day when Leona won't let him sprawl across his body and soak in his warmth, admittedly. He won't say it, nor show it, but he would be. ]
[ His hands find their way to the end of Leona's hair, running a strand between his fingers in idle distraction as he considers over the man's words. His curiosity about Leona slowly blooming. ]
Would you mind telling me more? Or are these personal things you wonder about?
Time passin' here... can't say it's the same as it might be outside. But if it is, then my time has a leader has gone by already. Kinda soberin' if ya ask me.
[ not to mention as a prince. then again, how much would they miss him? it's not like his role needed to be filled. no route to the throne, signature spell being a huge liability out in the sands, etc. ]
Then again, I guess havin' no responsibilities has been a blessin' in disguise.
[ and he hasn't become some hedonistic and lazy creature from it all. ]
[ As a currently hedonistic and lazy creature himself, Kleken's rather fascinated by the idea of Leona becoming some sort of king in another land should things go his way. Granted, he has a very skewed view of the man and what his capabilities are. ]
Oh? I hadn't been aware there was an expiration date on that sort of thing. I had always thought one could become a leader wherever and whenever they went, if they were so inclined.
[ He gives a light hum and a soft tug on that strand of hair in thought, tentacles, curling comfortably over sprawled limbs and tapping out their own thinking patterns. ]
Are you perhaps a secret workaholic sort in need of a task worth doing to feel properly motivated?
[ He doesn't quite believe Leona to be, so he puts a teasing note in his tone as he asks the question. But it's a question that'll get him more information to... well. He's not sure why he wants all this information about Leona specifically, but he does. ]
[ he snorts. as he palms over kleken's knees and rests his hands on his thighs, he gives them a gentle pat that turns into some kneading--- not making biscuits like a cat might do, but just. something to idly do while he considers the other's words. ]
There's always an expiration date. Doesn't matter where.
[ in the broad sense, of course. but he should probably specify: ]
I was in my third year at a school for mages. My fourth year is usually one spent out workin' somewhere else. Probably would've done it back home in my kingdom. After that...
[ he graduates or gets kicked out for skipping too many classes. either/or. ]
So yeah. My time in the sun was already pretty short.
[ He listens, quiet and attentive, to the brief explanation Leona provides for him on his situation. They are from different worlds in the end, and how things might function for Kleken don't necessarily apply to other worlds. As well as vice versa- a school for mages isn't exactly a concept he can relate to in the slightest, but there's a way Leona talks about it that feels... ]
[ He needs to know more. To understand this man, who seems so regal and yet so resigned. A large number of individuals Kleken could thing of would be more than pleased with simply holding princehood, but Leona felt rather different in that regard. ]
[ leona knows there are chances in his future. in fact, it's his stubbornness and his unwillingness to accept anything but the path he so desperately wanted that made him break the first time. but if he's learned anything at the golden peacock, it's that... no, he still wants it. ]
But I can't figure that out while I'm here, so until then... I'm stuck.
[ it's not necessarily a bad thing given the company he's had and held. hard to recognize every single factor and look at it as either black or white. ]
So if they've moved on without me, it's pretty unfortunate. Don't ya think?
[ Somewhere along the way, one of his tentacles has wound itself over Kleken's hip and found its way to loop around Leona's wrist, wavering about as if it were a tail and not an unsubtle show of Kleken's attachment to the man. That tentacle has now taken to stroking itself against the back of the beastman's hand, as if in comfort, through no visible sign of Kleken's control. ]
[ Mostly because he has no idea he's doing that, his conscious thoughts still on Leona's situation and its intricacies for reasons he's not particularly sure of. It's not as if he's the meddling sort, not in other people's businesses. ]
That would be quite unfortunate for them. But I would imagine them to be fools as well if they were not prepared for a situation in which you would also come back after an extended period of time.
[ but they need him. even if they won't admit it, even if the rest of the kingdom didn't particularly care for leona's brand of doing things. others need him too. his family, the few 'friends' he has, his juniors...
[ He wouldn't pretend to know the other man's seemingly complicated feelings about himself and his relation to the throne. He hardly has any point of reference for it; he isn't a leader nor does he hunger for that sort of role. He's always been meant for the power and responsibilities laid into the hands of the right hand man, an entirely different role than a 'second prince'. ]
[ But he can see the spark of hunger in the other man that he's seen in others in Umbraton. That, he thinks he knows. ]
they'd do anything for him, his juniors. less so the people who work for the royal family and the court as a whole. so maybe he values that kind of loyalty, despite it being blind and undeserved (to him)... that he misses that particular facet of his life. the best way to lead is to be dependent on those around him, but have them be dependent on him. it gives him meaning. ]
Yeah. Dumbasses.
[ another chuckle and he lets out a sigh. ]
Still... couldn't ask for a better 'pride'.
[ he'll just. quietly tighten that hold he has on kleken. ]
[ He can hear the fondness in Leona's tone, accentuated by the momentary grip on him that has Kleken giving a soft hum in return. Is that a hint of jealousy he feels, over someone being so fond and possessive about what he's declared as his? Perhaps. He can't imagine his own boss ever regarding him in the same way. Granted, he can't imagine anyone regarding him the same way, even here and now, wrapped up with Leona as he is. ]
[ There's also a fainter itch to bring some form of comfort to the man, hindered only by the reality that he's not entirely sure how to. His tentacles, though, take to lazily stroking over Leona's arms and shoulders, the touch almost soothing. ]
[ He smiles at the light joke- though he suspects it's not actually one. Leona seems to take his role as a leader much more seriously than Kleken would have ever thought before, and it continues to add another layer of intrigue to the man. Particularly when he brings up already having a successor. ]
Oh? Have you raised an heir?
[ Perhaps not quite the right terminology, but given they've been discussing princes just earlier, it seemed rather fitting. ]
[ he pauses at that one, hesitating briefly before shaking his head lightly. leona wouldn't say he's raised anyone with intent--- he would rather see others find their own path without his directing. still, it's hard not to have a little bit of input on the future directions of his one junior in mind. ]
Not really. He'll figure things out himself.
[ leona kingscholar having a proper heir would be the biggest scandal/surprise in the world. it'd be even worse if any of his antics here somehow got out to the public, too. ]
Feels like I've got plenty of 'heirs' after bein' a leader for a year.
[ The hesitation is noted for the brief moment it appears, but left uncommented on. He'd been teasing in the end, and the thought that an actual biological heir might exist out there wasn't one that'd slipped through his mind at the tease. Well, now it is, but Kleken is also deathly allergic to any concept of fatherhood and the like, so it's promptly kicked out in favor of other conversation topics. ]
It seems you're just that much of an influential figure.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2025-11-07 12:37 am (UTC)[ His hands find their way to the end of Leona's hair, running a strand between his fingers in idle distraction as he considers over the man's words. His curiosity about Leona slowly blooming. ]
Would you mind telling me more? Or are these personal things you wonder about?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-09 05:21 pm (UTC)[ not to mention as a prince. then again, how much would they miss him? it's not like his role needed to be filled. no route to the throne, signature spell being a huge liability out in the sands, etc. ]
Then again, I guess havin' no responsibilities has been a blessin' in disguise.
[ and he hasn't become some hedonistic and lazy creature from it all. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-12 08:33 am (UTC)Oh? I hadn't been aware there was an expiration date on that sort of thing. I had always thought one could become a leader wherever and whenever they went, if they were so inclined.
[ He gives a light hum and a soft tug on that strand of hair in thought, tentacles, curling comfortably over sprawled limbs and tapping out their own thinking patterns. ]
Are you perhaps a secret workaholic sort in need of a task worth doing to feel properly motivated?
[ He doesn't quite believe Leona to be, so he puts a teasing note in his tone as he asks the question. But it's a question that'll get him more information to... well. He's not sure why he wants all this information about Leona specifically, but he does. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 10:23 pm (UTC)There's always an expiration date. Doesn't matter where.
[ in the broad sense, of course. but he should probably specify: ]
I was in my third year at a school for mages. My fourth year is usually one spent out workin' somewhere else. Probably would've done it back home in my kingdom. After that...
[ he graduates or gets kicked out for skipping too many classes. either/or. ]
So yeah. My time in the sun was already pretty short.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-19 08:10 am (UTC)[ He needs to know more. To understand this man, who seems so regal and yet so resigned. A large number of individuals Kleken could thing of would be more than pleased with simply holding princehood, but Leona felt rather different in that regard. ]
After that, is there no longer a chance?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-22 02:30 am (UTC)[ leona knows there are chances in his future. in fact, it's his stubbornness and his unwillingness to accept anything but the path he so desperately wanted that made him break the first time. but if he's learned anything at the golden peacock, it's that... no, he still wants it. ]
But I can't figure that out while I'm here, so until then... I'm stuck.
[ it's not necessarily a bad thing given the company he's had and held. hard to recognize every single factor and look at it as either black or white. ]
So if they've moved on without me, it's pretty unfortunate. Don't ya think?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-24 08:51 am (UTC)[ Mostly because he has no idea he's doing that, his conscious thoughts still on Leona's situation and its intricacies for reasons he's not particularly sure of. It's not as if he's the meddling sort, not in other people's businesses. ]
That would be quite unfortunate for them. But I would imagine them to be fools as well if they were not prepared for a situation in which you would also come back after an extended period of time.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-30 03:58 pm (UTC)[ but they need him. even if they won't admit it, even if the rest of the kingdom didn't particularly care for leona's brand of doing things. others need him too. his family, the few 'friends' he has, his juniors...
it makes him miss them all a little more. ]
But they are fools.
[ and then he laughs, shaking his head. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-04 09:16 am (UTC)[ But he can see the spark of hunger in the other man that he's seen in others in Umbraton. That, he thinks he knows. ]
Are they your fools?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-10 08:41 pm (UTC)they'd do anything for him, his juniors. less so the people who work for the royal family and the court as a whole. so maybe he values that kind of loyalty, despite it being blind and undeserved (to him)... that he misses that particular facet of his life. the best way to lead is to be dependent on those around him, but have them be dependent on him. it gives him meaning. ]
Yeah. Dumbasses.
[ another chuckle and he lets out a sigh. ]
Still... couldn't ask for a better 'pride'.
[ he'll just. quietly tighten that hold he has on kleken. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-15 08:17 am (UTC)[ There's also a fainter itch to bring some form of comfort to the man, hindered only by the reality that he's not entirely sure how to. His tentacles, though, take to lazily stroking over Leona's arms and shoulders, the touch almost soothing. ]
... How fortunate they are.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-23 11:30 pm (UTC)[ he snorts, rolling his shoulders, finding comfort in the touch of tentacles as he relaxes them once he feels them. ]
But they got a guy who'll be good for 'em. He just needs a little bit of seasoning. Too green 'round the ears.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 08:28 am (UTC)Oh? Have you raised an heir?
[ Perhaps not quite the right terminology, but given they've been discussing princes just earlier, it seemed rather fitting. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-06 07:25 pm (UTC)Not really. He'll figure things out himself.
[ leona kingscholar having a proper heir would be the biggest scandal/surprise in the world. it'd be even worse if any of his antics here somehow got out to the public, too. ]
Feels like I've got plenty of 'heirs' after bein' a leader for a year.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-16 07:36 pm (UTC)It seems you're just that much of an influential figure.