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[Cool Dog lifts its head and eyes the two of them in turn, for a moment, then puts its chin back down on the arm of the couch and closes both of its eyes.

Gladion continues to chew on that, attention rising for a moment in the middle there as well to meet Dog's.

Hm, he says. Hell of a choice of "real friend" - who barely talks to him, who hasn't told him much of anything about himself. But maybe that's just what Leo expects from a friendship. Or, from Gladion's friendship.

Which...well, hey. Rather this without pretense than empty promises. Gladion's expression stays solemn and resolute.

Figuring out what I want to be, though, that rings relatable.]

That's a never-ending project. [He glances back at his tailoring. What can he even say about all that? And that's just about the least heavy of all the...monster topics.

Back at Leo...and thoughts jump from clothes to appearance to, ah.]

How's arachne?

[If either of them communicated properly, there would certainly be less confusion. The solemn look to Gladion's expression isn't quite what Leo expected. It actually makes him hesitate a little.

He did try to make a promise to Gladion he'd be less... in the other teenager's face. More open in general, opposed to the easier option of being abrasive Faceman. He's openly now a little self-conscious. ] Sorry, is- uh, the friend thing too much? I just thought, you know...

[The safer topic is within reach, he's gonna just tentatively grab onto that to give them both an out.] Spider-y. Having an exo-skeleton is weird, but means its harder to really get a good bite on me. My brother has tried.

[His ears flick back in...confusion is a bit strong of a word. But yeah, maybe it's confusion, mild and muted. Leo's obvious nervousness puts him a little off-center - sure, this is Leo holding back again, but there's something else about this that feels important enough to frustrate that he can't...quite pick it out by name?

(It's the sense that Leo genuinely wants his approval. Gladion can identify what having the power to disappoint or inconvenience or intimidate someone looks like. Feeling that someone wants to get in closer like this is almost completely unfamiliar.)]

It's not. [As in, not too much. Although that thought, oh so this just doesn't mean much, is wobbling wildly now with doubt. Then...what? He feels pinched in some kind of contradiction. And reluctant to be harsh in trying to sort it out - and, really, he can be better by now than to turn his own uncertainties into accusations - but also not keen on trying to lie and say it's nothing when obviously Leo has seen something in his face.

Augh! This is stupid and awkward!!! Gladion has glanced away for a second, or perhaps two or three, resisting the siren song of his own stupid distraction bait until it's been just a little too long to back out of Saying Something. His small, pensive frown persists, becoming more pensive without becoming more frowny. There's seriousness in his face as always, but not...severity.

"I'm not sure why you consider me 'real friend' material" (insecure, ew) -> "You're not very selective huh" (this is an insult. behave) -> "Your lack of standards for your 'real friends' worries me" (noble but uncool) -> ???? ]

It just feels more like I should be asking you that.

[yay.]

[The longer the silence goes on, the more awkward Leo feels. He sinks into his chair wonder if he's like make things weird.

Well, yeah, of course he has, duh.

Maybe Gladion really just kind of tolerates him after all. Wouldn't be a surprise, really. Outside of his brothers who really wants to hang out with him? If there is one thing Ryslig has taught him, its the fact he's kind of irritating to people. He's not really a hero, or a cool ninja. He's just kinda here.

No magic, just one of his brothers, and apparently he's dead in the future.

Things are complicated and weird. Leo never wanted any of that.

He fiddles on the wrapper of his snack, sticking and unsticking his claws to it. Then Gladion speaks and its a genuine relief that takes some of the tension out of Leo completely for a solid moment. He brightens briefly before its snuffed out again as Gladion continues.]

...Huh-? Why?

[How can he...elaborate...

There is not a graceful way to elaborate.

Gladion is trying to remain as stoic as ever, but his gaze darts once. Or twice.]

You don't expect more from your real friends?

[Someone unobservant might take this, terse as it is, as a judgment. But while he keeps his voice stern, there's a sharp edge missing from it.]

[Uh-Oh, called out. He is also avoiding meeting Gladion's gaze for a long moment.]

Well, to be honest.

I've never had friends who weren't my siblings? [April counts as his sister forever and ever, thank you.] I've always just made it up as I went along.

[Well.

Um.

He does remember what sounded a lot like a lifetime of isolation, on the basis of not (quite?) being welcome in human society. And this bustling family of his, in the meantime, which kept any of it from sounding relatable at all.

So this isn't, exactly, new information. But. He doesn't know, it hits a little different right now, and (Silvally please stop staring at him) suddenly he feels a lot more and a lot less escapably awkward about it!]

...Sure, that makes two of us, [if Leo acts surprised about this then Gladion may have to bite HE KNOWS HE'S NOT SUBTLE] but, still? You're hardly pressed for options.

[He's stern and cool and unaffected!

(A mumble is creeping up into his voice. Might Gladion be...perhaps....embarrassed??)]

Oh, same hat I guess. [Have some slang, poke-grandpa. Leo laughs a little nervously, on the verge of shoving the food wrapper into his mouth to silence himself.

This is so awkward, ohmigosh.]

I mean, I picked you though? Like... if I wanted to, I could've left you alone after the fight we had. I still picked you?

[He pauses with another nervous kind of laugh.] Sorry, that's weird isn't it-?

[????????]

It's not. [In a reprise of how he said that like thirty seconds ago! Stop That. Calm Down. (He'll take his own advice EVENTUALLY.)

And, you know what, this is awkward enough that Silvally can't just lie here pretending not to be paying attention anymore. Dog intervention! It rolls off the couch with a slightly alarming thump and wanders over to loaf up on the floor, not quite between the two but close enough. Forming a bit of a triangle. Hello fellow weirdos are we feeling strange today? It chirps and yawns.

...Thanks, buddy.]

Alright, [Gladion sort of sighs, because what else is he gonna do? Ask but why the hell did you do that? like some kind of nerd baby?? No! He's gonna cope with reality! Leonardo, for some unfathomable reason, actually wants to have something here! Okay! Fact established!

Man, what.

Mired in awkward, failing to take that anywhere, crossing his arms so he can pretend he's not COMPLETELY at a loss as to what to do with this information:] Alright.

[Silvally is scooting slowly and subtly towards Leo.]

Uh, alright. Cool, we're friends.

[What is he supposed to say to that kind of reaction? Leo has absolutely no idea. He will assume this is good? Hopefully?

Oh shit, its Cool Dog. Play it cool for Cool Dog. He briefly looks at Silvally, wiggling his fingers in greeting.

The two sit in silence for what feels like a long time, Leo not sure what to say.

He flicks his attention back to Gladion. Time to change the topic! Cake!]

Uh. I wasn't... sure what flavor you liked for cake. So I kinda got basic bitch chocolate. I didn't know what your Cool Dog looked like either, so I kinda drew a normal dog and trains? Well, icinged it? Iced it? Dunno how you say that.

[This is...yeah, good, he guesses? Even more awkward coming off of the active thought of he's going to run into Mother before too long, then, and then things will get difficult, which is still this big, looming uncrossed bridge.

But. Uh.

....YEAH, UH, CAKE]

I'm not picky. Neither is Emmet, as long as it's sweet. And Ingo doesn't usually go for modern, processed stuff, but he usually makes exceptions for gifts. [That wasn't exactly the question. But it does give him some time to consider the cake again, dredge back up his original questions, and apply the new information to answer some of them. That's, uh. That's a lot of effort actually? He blinks in the cake's direction, kind of fighting the urge to pull back under a veneer of grouchy stoicism, even though success just leaves him stranded in a sort of wasteland of awkwardness instead of pulling back a curtain to reveal a Relaxed Gladion.] And, uh. This is for...

[What...occasion? Just a spontaneous congrats on the dog thing? He still thinks something Ingo did is a way more likely cause.]

Okay, cool, cool, cool- I am glad. I didn't wanna like get the wrongest flavor ever. [The reassurance has Leo buoyed back to something closer to his normal level of comfort and confidence.] Maybe next time I can get a more... fruit-y cake that'd Ingo would be more into.

You know, cake reasons. I know you guys moved, and I just wanted to get you a cake? Also, see your Cool Dog.

And you know, hang out reasons.

[So many reasons!!]

Edited 2023-03-05 19:43 (UTC)

[Next time????????

actually hang on-]

If you really want to do something he'd like, bring a recipe and ingredients. Or ask him to show you something he knows how to make. He likes teaching...and learning. [Although now that he's said that, he feels a little twinge of...jealousy? Maybe?? Which is stupid, be mature.

Silvally has scooted closer...and closer....close enough to sit up a little and rest one big foreclaw on the arm of Leo's chair.......

(Gladion is furiously spinning mental gears about what Hanging Out activities he can offer this turtle.)]

Ohoho- now that is a good idea. [Leo mimes taking notes with his clawed hand.] I'll shoot him a message later and see what his sched is like.

[Leo has noticed Cool Dog's approach. He is trying to not stare at Cool Dog.] Figure next time we can play basketball or something, you know? Or skateboard? Do you like skateboarding? Man, what if we taught Cool Dog how to skateboard?

Mm...not really, [he says, instead of volunteering that well he's never tried it. That's Max's thing, he can't steal Max's thing, also (more excuses)...

There is

a second

foreclaw on the chair.

Helloooooo it's staring at your arms Leo. Don't mind it it just wants to have a look.]

So, we're definitely playing b-ball or skating then. I can find you a cool board with skulls on it. [Gladion has not said no, he has signed himself up for it.

Leo gazes at Cool Dog, arching an eye ridge to some degree.

He offers out a spikey arm to be sniffed. Maybe gnawed on. Leo never knows with animals. Mayhem, April's own weird dog thingy could do either on a whim.]

[wait what (browfurrow)] Shouldn't I at least check to see if I'm any good at it before you "get me" anything...

[Ohoho yes Silvally will gently tap its beak on that thank you. And perhaps. If that is well received...perhaps chew on it a little. Gently. Click click click it makes such a satisfying click against its upper jaw...]

Doesn't hurt to have a board even if you're iffy about skating, I mean, great wall art too if you wanna put it up! [Leo is now carried away and Gladion will have to handle the consequences.

Leo grins a little at the chewing. He seems a bit too delighted about the gnawing.] Dude, your dog thingy is chewing on me!

[That...makes perfect rational sense. Gladion feels this weird, nagging discomfort about it, though, which he will simply put in his pocket and figure out later.]

Not a dog, or a thing. [Sounding faintly exasperated but not actually heated about this.] But yeah, it likes to do that.

Doggy thingy and I are bffs now. [He says this brightly, undeterred by actual logic being presented to him.]

Also, we could teach your pokemon to ride a skateboard, Glads. That would be epic, we both know it. Skate or die for cool dog thingy.

[Its eyes flick up to Leo's face, staring intently. (Its beak continues to nibble away.)

Gladion opens his mouth to counter that, and finds that he's not really sure how to. Which means he doesn't have a reason.

Hm.

He closes his mouth.]

...Alright.

[The lack of an actual argument is weird, Leo has to peek at Gladion to gauge what his expression is.]

We'll find you a helmet and everything, we can like decorate it with sick stickers if you want? Same for the board if we can't get one with a cool design initially.

[He's very gently patting Silvally's neck, trying to not upset the ever mysterious dog thingy.]

[His expression is "clearly trying to look Confident and Unbothered while thinking pretty hard about something"! He's even looking awt Silvally to avoid eye contact, for gods' sake.

(Silvally is profoundly unbothered.)]

Alright, [he repeats unthinkingly, though to his credit there's sort of a note of intrigue in here that makes it sound less like "whatever you say" and a little more like "okay, i'm with you so far". And, with a different note of gentle warning:] Don't get too invested in this ahead of time.

Why? I mean, we can def find you a board, Glads. [Leo does not understand the hesitation, much less a warning.] I mean, I got a board for my twin. I can get you one easy. Just gonna take a little bartering.

I got my connections, my dearest Gladion. Trust in me.

[He shrugs! It's out of his hands now; continuing to press it feels like it'll just generate more misunderstandings to wade through. In the meantime, there's Weird Shit here to interrogate.]

Bartering. You don't just...buy one? [That wasn't even what he was questioning but now he's questioning this!!]

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makesascene - 2023-03-31 23:32 (UTC) - Expand