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[ Add is surely minding his own business somewhere, perhaps deeply invested in something he's working on, in the inn when 9S just pops up behind him like the most enthusiastic jumpscare. ]
There you are! [ As though it's hard to find one of a dozen-odd people in this tiny place. He'll get right onto business— ] What's your friend's name?
[ He's been ever so curious. ]
There you are! [ As though it's hard to find one of a dozen-odd people in this tiny place. He'll get right onto business— ] What's your friend's name?
[ He's been ever so curious. ]
[He's examining some of the local flora around the grove today, crouched down by some flowers with a dynamo handy. He stands up when addressed, though, smiling reflexively.
luckily this isn't a hard question to figure out because there's only 1 person he arrived here with and that person happens to forget his own name a lot, so. definitely not the first time he's had this kind of conversation.]
You must mean the swordsman in white and red. It's Elsword. I'd appreciate it if you could remind him next time you meet.
luckily this isn't a hard question to figure out because there's only 1 person he arrived here with and that person happens to forget his own name a lot, so. definitely not the first time he's had this kind of conversation.]
You must mean the swordsman in white and red. It's Elsword. I'd appreciate it if you could remind him next time you meet.
Elsword, huh... Got it.
[ 9S does wonder why the guy forgets like that, since to his understanding human memory doesn't work quite as an android's does, but then... Everything they knew was fragmentary or false.
Which begs a question. Well, several, but 9S picks the most pressing of these. ]
Is he okay? Forgetting like that and all...
[ 9S does wonder why the guy forgets like that, since to his understanding human memory doesn't work quite as an android's does, but then... Everything they knew was fragmentary or false.
Which begs a question. Well, several, but 9S picks the most pressing of these. ]
Is he okay? Forgetting like that and all...
[add just barely holding back a dry laugh like haha is he okay. definitely not, but]
It's not unusual for his condition. Regular reminders are helpful to him, but he's more focused on remembering details about other people than he is about himself. His stubborn selflessness can be quite a nuisance.
It's not unusual for his condition. Regular reminders are helpful to him, but he's more focused on remembering details about other people than he is about himself. His stubborn selflessness can be quite a nuisance.
It's improper for a doctor to reveal details about his patients. Did you try asking him yourself?
[that probably sounds way more passive aggressive than he actually intends, sorry, it's a habit. but it's not like he can't say anything...]
Mm... the human body is quite resilient, but there are limits to what it can adapt to without breaking down. For example, a large surge of external power may cause positive changes to physical strength and regenerative properties, but that same power may simultaneously have a negative influence on emotional response and mental recall. Any change to one's physical makeup can have any number of positive or negative changes that need to be balanced accordingly. Achieving that balance is quite difficult when the imbalance is caused by something outside of one's control.
Speaking purely in hypotheticals, of course. [it's not breaking patient confidentiality if he never says its about Elsword specifically!!!!]
Kuku, even my own medicines have their sideeffects. It's no different from rewriting a machine's code—everything is connected, so altering one line can lead to errors in unexpected places. It takes patience and a delicate hand to mold the human body. Repairs are also the same.
[that probably sounds way more passive aggressive than he actually intends, sorry, it's a habit. but it's not like he can't say anything...]
Mm... the human body is quite resilient, but there are limits to what it can adapt to without breaking down. For example, a large surge of external power may cause positive changes to physical strength and regenerative properties, but that same power may simultaneously have a negative influence on emotional response and mental recall. Any change to one's physical makeup can have any number of positive or negative changes that need to be balanced accordingly. Achieving that balance is quite difficult when the imbalance is caused by something outside of one's control.
Speaking purely in hypotheticals, of course. [it's not breaking patient confidentiality if he never says its about Elsword specifically!!!!]
Kuku, even my own medicines have their sideeffects. It's no different from rewriting a machine's code—everything is connected, so altering one line can lead to errors in unexpected places. It takes patience and a delicate hand to mold the human body. Repairs are also the same.
[ That's a lot to take in, and 9S is silent for a collection of moments thereafter as he processes this. ]
Sooo... You're saying he's been modified. Well, not saying. Hinting.
[ He calls it like he sees it. ]
Something involving magic, I'm guessing. He doesn't have a plug-in chip like you.
[ 9S taps his own head, right about where he detects Add's little bit of technology. His best approximation are the chips units like him can add or remove to varying effect. ]
Sooo... You're saying he's been modified. Well, not saying. Hinting.
[ He calls it like he sees it. ]
Something involving magic, I'm guessing. He doesn't have a plug-in chip like you.
[ 9S taps his own head, right about where he detects Add's little bit of technology. His best approximation are the chips units like him can add or remove to varying effect. ]
[Karte had been sort of? subtle about its break-in to Elsword's house. Leon is absolutely not this. Leon simply trundles out the front door, stomps toward the inn, somehow manages to open that door don't ask questions, pads upstairs to the rooms...
Bonks his head into Add's door, then paws at it with his claws out until Add opens it. Scrrrrtch... scrrtch...]
Bonks his head into Add's door, then paws at it with his claws out until Add opens it. Scrrrrtch... scrrtch...]
[... well. even if there was another cat in the Grove, it'd be hard to mistake the sound of an actual lion scratching at the door. He's tempted to just ignore it, but he can almost feel the depth of those scratch marks on his door. Ugh...
After only a minute, the door creaks open—again, it's Leon, so he knows better than to try and tell him to shoo, he'd just push his way through anyway. He lets the miniature lion inside, clicking the lock shut behind him.]
I thought Elsword said he moved...? Ah, whatever. It's not like it matters...
[Leon is Leon, so none of this is all that surprising. Add sighs, sitting down his bed. He's finally gotten his room cleaned, at least, so it's not a mess anymore. The bed looks a little too made, like he's falling back into bad habits.]
What do you want this time? Go back to your master if you want treats, I don't have any on me.
After only a minute, the door creaks open—again, it's Leon, so he knows better than to try and tell him to shoo, he'd just push his way through anyway. He lets the miniature lion inside, clicking the lock shut behind him.]
I thought Elsword said he moved...? Ah, whatever. It's not like it matters...
[Leon is Leon, so none of this is all that surprising. Add sighs, sitting down his bed. He's finally gotten his room cleaned, at least, so it's not a mess anymore. The bed looks a little too made, like he's falling back into bad habits.]
What do you want this time? Go back to your master if you want treats, I don't have any on me.
[Leon immediately takes this as an invitation to hop onto the bed, which sinks slightly underneath his bulk, and then worm his way onto Add's lap. Surprise! You never expected to be cuddled by an actual lion did you, Leon has definitely never ever done this before, nope.
Anyway, he does this to Add's hand.]
Anyway, he does this to Add's hand.]
[Add just lets this happen too, yeah. Maybe if he knew Elsword was just through the wall, he'd make a fuss and yell about it... but what's the point in doing that now? No one is going to come in and bother him.
Instead... he shifts himself further back, before Leon's weight is fully upon him, so the artifact actually has room to lay down. Then, while Leon is occupied with his hand, he plants his entire face down in the middle of the fluff.
... he kind of wants to scream into it, but that might upset Leon. He settles for a long, drawn-out groan.
his coat is going to be covered in fur after this, but that's just a sacrifice he'll have to make.]
Instead... he shifts himself further back, before Leon's weight is fully upon him, so the artifact actually has room to lay down. Then, while Leon is occupied with his hand, he plants his entire face down in the middle of the fluff.
... he kind of wants to scream into it, but that might upset Leon. He settles for a long, drawn-out groan.
his coat is going to be covered in fur after this, but that's just a sacrifice he'll have to make.]
[Leon makes biscuits on Add to calm him. You seem upset, buddy, couldn't possibly have anything to do with everything that just transpired could it? Nah.
Lions don't purr, so this is what Add gets in terms of raw affection. Eating Add's hand lovingly and making very painful biscuits on him. Those scratches are scratches of love.]
Lions don't purr, so this is what Add gets in terms of raw affection. Eating Add's hand lovingly and making very painful biscuits on him. Those scratches are scratches of love.]
[The giant paws are making him sore and his hand is definitely soaked in cat-slobber, but there's something to be said here about masking one pain with another. He'd rather deal with this than the alternatives.
He lays his other arm across Leon's back, turning his head only enough so he can breathe. It's not like he needs his right eye to see, so it can stay buried in fur.]
You have it so easy. No expectations, no responsibilities... I wish I could just lay around all day. No work, no one bothering me...
[... maybe a little bothering would be okay. But he can't have that, because he has too much research to pour over, too much work to do. Not only does he have to cure Elsword, now he has Nene to worry about too. And he hasn't made even a little progress...]
... plant matter in the blood samples, if it's already that integrated... [mumble mumble deep sigh]
He lays his other arm across Leon's back, turning his head only enough so he can breathe. It's not like he needs his right eye to see, so it can stay buried in fur.]
You have it so easy. No expectations, no responsibilities... I wish I could just lay around all day. No work, no one bothering me...
[... maybe a little bothering would be okay. But he can't have that, because he has too much research to pour over, too much work to do. Not only does he have to cure Elsword, now he has Nene to worry about too. And he hasn't made even a little progress...]
... plant matter in the blood samples, if it's already that integrated... [mumble mumble deep sigh]
[Why don't sharp biscuits and eating hands calm you! You should not be thinking about work! There is a large cat demanding your undivided attention and you're dividing it!!
Leon releases Add's very wet hand and huffs loudly, sticking his snoot right against the man's cheek before his tongue plaps wetly onto Add's cheek. Enjoy the giant, rough cat tongue scraping the skin off your face—]
Leon releases Add's very wet hand and huffs loudly, sticking his snoot right against the man's cheek before his tongue plaps wetly onto Add's cheek. Enjoy the giant, rough cat tongue scraping the skin off your face—]
[well the big lick certainly grabs his attention. Add makes a startled squawk, leaning back and away from the lion face very quickly.]
Watch it! What's gotten into you?! [a scowl, hand hovering over his beslobbered cheek, because his hand is also beslobbered... he's not hurt, really. he knows in part that he's overreacting, but if the bandages on the other side of his face got wet and damaged and fell off...
at this stage, they're not completely necessary. he'd be fine with much less, a simple eye patch would do... but what it wouldn't do is cover up the scars—long, ugly scratches running up to his missing eye that refuse to simply heal. scars that make him feel ill every time he has to look at them, he doesn't even want to think about what the others would say.
eventually, he rubs his cheek dry with his other sleeve... sneezes, because everything is covered in white and red hair, and now that's up in nose and his eyes are watering and that is definitely from allergies and not the verge of a mental breakdown because he still doesn't have time to have one of those]
Ugh, I'm such a mess... I-I should clean this up. Move, Leon. [trying (in vain) to stand up, please Leon he needs a different distraction he's having an emotion]
Watch it! What's gotten into you?! [a scowl, hand hovering over his beslobbered cheek, because his hand is also beslobbered... he's not hurt, really. he knows in part that he's overreacting, but if the bandages on the other side of his face got wet and damaged and fell off...
at this stage, they're not completely necessary. he'd be fine with much less, a simple eye patch would do... but what it wouldn't do is cover up the scars—long, ugly scratches running up to his missing eye that refuse to simply heal. scars that make him feel ill every time he has to look at them, he doesn't even want to think about what the others would say.
eventually, he rubs his cheek dry with his other sleeve... sneezes, because everything is covered in white and red hair, and now that's up in nose and his eyes are watering and that is definitely from allergies and not the verge of a mental breakdown because he still doesn't have time to have one of those]
Ugh, I'm such a mess... I-I should clean this up. Move, Leon. [trying (in vain) to stand up, please Leon he needs a different distraction he's having an emotion]
[Just have the mental breakdown, dude, what's Leon gonna do tell Elsword?? (He's absolutely gonna tell Elsword when he tries to drag the man back here by the scruff later. Dwbi.)
Leon cannot speak with Add, but he chuffs and presses his nose into Add's cheek. He loves you... Elsword also loves you even if it's not obvious. He's not moving, though, instead making soft rumbles in the back of his throat that he thinks are comforting, but they sound more like little growls. Lions don't purr sorry—]
Leon cannot speak with Add, but he chuffs and presses his nose into Add's cheek. He loves you... Elsword also loves you even if it's not obvious. He's not moving, though, instead making soft rumbles in the back of his throat that he thinks are comforting, but they sound more like little growls. Lions don't purr sorry—]
Leon, please. Would you stop that? [There's a tired frustration in his voice. He tries to block the lion's nose with a hand, knowing that there's little he can do to overpower him. Once Leon decides that Add needs attention, it's usually Elsword who has to come in and break them up...
and Elsword won't be coming today. Add sinks forward, his hand sliding away as he gives up the fight—it returns to Leon's back, tangling into the tufts of his mane. He holds on like it's the last thing keeping him together.]
... I know it's only because you're worried. I'm sorry. Just... don't be so rough with me.
and Elsword won't be coming today. Add sinks forward, his hand sliding away as he gives up the fight—it returns to Leon's back, tangling into the tufts of his mane. He holds on like it's the last thing keeping him together.]
... I know it's only because you're worried. I'm sorry. Just... don't be so rough with me.
[...oh. Well. If Add insists... Leon will at least listen, for once, and curl up halfway off of Add. He can move if he wants to now, but only because he said something. Leon's love is very forward, like a certain someone's.
He still wants to give little lion kisses, though. He knows his tongue is rough (everyone tells him this) so instead of going for the full tongue-scrape experience, he bleps and pushes the tip of his tongue against Add's chin. Soft kiss. Soft love. Thank you.]
He still wants to give little lion kisses, though. He knows his tongue is rough (everyone tells him this) so instead of going for the full tongue-scrape experience, he bleps and pushes the tip of his tongue against Add's chin. Soft kiss. Soft love. Thank you.]
[This might be the only time Leon has ever listened to Add...
... he could try to get up now, if he wanted to. Clean up and go back to work, like he'd planned, like he should... the thought lingers in his mind, but it fades with each blep-kiss planted on his chin. He's too tired now... his work would be sloppy, so what's the point? He'd only make more mistakes...
Instead, Add pulls his legs up onto the bed, curling up so his head can rest against Leon's side. If he lays like this, he can hear his heartbeat, his slow, deep breaths... he can imagine Elsword is with them, just on the other side of the wall of fur.
It's usually Add stuck underneath Leon, but he does make a pretty nice pillow when it's the other way around.]
... a quick nap is fine. Dynamo, set an alarm for twenty minutes...
... he could try to get up now, if he wanted to. Clean up and go back to work, like he'd planned, like he should... the thought lingers in his mind, but it fades with each blep-kiss planted on his chin. He's too tired now... his work would be sloppy, so what's the point? He'd only make more mistakes...
Instead, Add pulls his legs up onto the bed, curling up so his head can rest against Leon's side. If he lays like this, he can hear his heartbeat, his slow, deep breaths... he can imagine Elsword is with them, just on the other side of the wall of fur.
It's usually Add stuck underneath Leon, but he does make a pretty nice pillow when it's the other way around.]
... a quick nap is fine. Dynamo, set an alarm for twenty minutes...
[Leon's ears flicking at "twenty minutes"... you can't even make it to half an hour? Come on.
But, he'll be a good pillow for now (and yes thank you he will hit the snooze button with his butt if he can, or his hindpaws, or something). He will not make biscuits, he will not try to eat Add's hand or roughly lick his face even if the temptation to groom him is here. If only he could purr to really coax Add to sleep...
This will do for now. Leon makes another little chuffing noise, content, before lights out.]
But, he'll be a good pillow for now (and yes thank you he will hit the snooze button with his butt if he can, or his hindpaws, or something). He will not make biscuits, he will not try to eat Add's hand or roughly lick his face even if the temptation to groom him is here. If only he could purr to really coax Add to sleep...
This will do for now. Leon makes another little chuffing noise, content, before lights out.]
[The foggy edges of the river glow a soft, ominous green, pulsing like a heartbeat.]
[The glowing grows more insistent, strobing.
...
Several minutes pass.
A shadow flickers within the fog.]
...
Several minutes pass.
A shadow flickers within the fog.]
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