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[steepwithdead]

"Oh, hey."

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You can also hit up his Counselling Post if you prefer!

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[steepwithdead]

Apparently he didn't find a new favourite after all. Seems you managed just fine.

[Caduceus sounds amused at the assumption. He knows from experience, kids tend to latch quickly to the ones taking care of them, especially if they're lonely and grieving, and young enough to forget. An unfortunate circumstance, but undeniably a happy ending, in at least one way.]

[grabaslice]

I guess I did. Always wish I could give him more, but, y'know, kind of comes with the territory. [He sips at his tea again, just enjoying the fruity flavor and how it suits the noodles so well.]

[steepwithdead]

Nature of your situation, yeah. I think you did good.

[Kid's obviously healthy, happy, and kind. Traumatized all to heck, that much is obvious, but Leonardo could have done much, much worse. Overall, good work.]

[grabaslice]

I'll take it. Thank you. [He hides his smile behind his glass.] I'm kind of excited to see him keep growing up. Gotta enjoy it before he finds me embarrassing.

[steepwithdead]

I feel like you're understating your own excitement. You know, since we met, you've only gotten happier when you talk about him.

[He can see the Proud Papa, it's very clear every time.]

[grabaslice]

I feel like I'm very reasonably excited-? [He questions back. He thought it was about the same level all the time. Then again, he can't quite quantify that shift he had between arrival and settling.]

I'm always happy to talk about him. It's nice finally just... having the title officially, I guess.

[steepwithdead]

[This foolish man. He gets so happy talking about his kid, and surely everyone can see it.]

I suppose the "sensei" title was just symbolic for something that already existed.

[grabaslice]

Occasionally, we called pops that. So... yeah, I guess so. [Admitting that much to someone feels surreal in a way. He just tries to hide his smile behind his tea again.]

[steepwithdead]

[Caduceus thinks for a moment about Leo's prior words on not wanting to be a parent like his father was. There's plenty of questions and lines of thought he could explore, here.

But he doesn't, because this isn't a counselling session. Just some lunch between friends. (Not that he won't counsel during friendly conversation, but the mood's been kept intentionally light.) So:]

I'm glad you have each other, and had each other in that world.

[grabaslice]

[If asked, Leonardo would have a decent enough explanation to go with the reasoning why. Here and now though? He's just relaxed and working on what is left of his noodles. At this point, not much. He has more bun left than noodle. Though there is plenty left in the pot on the stove.]

Yeah, me too. I know he probably would have preferred his mom be around, but, we figured it out.

[steepwithdead]

It hardly has to be one or the other.

[This isn't a competition, you dingus of a man.]

[grabaslice]

Still, kids need their mom. [Not that Leo knows from experience. Mom is such a nebulous concept to him.] Cassandra was a badass who would've been good for Casey.

[steepwithdead]

Kids need a loving parent. "Mom" or "Dad" is the assumed norm, and while it's nice to have as many parents as you can, necessity is care, and love. Not gender.

[Now, Casey wants his mom. Now that he has two. But he was raised with what he needed, as far as family goes. He's talked enough to recognize that.]

[grabaslice]

Yeah, I... yeah. [He can't argue that point, at all. Not that he could.] I'm going to be a broken record and keep just wanting more for him specifically.

I at least had a childhood, as flawed as it was. He didn't get that in the same way. [He sets his tea back down to pick at his bread.] I miss that, you know? That comfort of home. Knowing people are waiting for you.

[steepwithdead]

...Mm. I understand.

[That's a feeling he knows very well. Caduceus takes a moment to lift his bowl, sipping the remnants of the broth, and finally finishing his bowl. It gives him an extra few seconds to breathe his way past the quiet sorrow of missing his family. For that, at least, he is with good company.]

I know it's not the same, but you at least have the two of them here with you. Family, people waiting for you and appreciating your presence... maybe you should start thinking of ways to make this place "home", even temporarily.

[grabaslice]

[He's more picking the bread apart than actively eating it at this point, keeping his hand busy.]

That is the plan. For as long as I'm here, I'm going to try and treat it like home. The hardest part I think is focusing on now, instead of what comes after. It's just hard not to worry about the future.

[steepwithdead]

The future's going to come, whether you worry about it or not. Consider that as part of your training: less worrying, more living. I believe you'll figure it out.

[grabaslice]

[He is eating pieces of the now shredded bread. He has to be marginally a smartass.] Hmmm, sounds fake, better worry more. I'm good at that.

I'll get there. Just gonna be interesting to get there.

[steepwithdead]

I've always heard that the journey is the most interesting part of any experience.

[grabaslice]

C'mon, I've done so much journey! I've had character development! Why not the good parts? [The melodrama! The silliness- He leans back melodramatically in the chair, throwing a piece of bread in the air and catching it in his mouth.]

[steepwithdead]

Sorry, denied. You must keep walking.

[He has people who care too much about him to surrender, even to drama.]

[grabaslice]

[He chews the bread bit he caught in time to huff at Cad denying him so. Caduceus earns Leo sticking tongue out at him.] Cruel, unusual, criminal.

I guess I can keep walking. More journey for me.

[steepwithdead]

You did just admit it was going to be interesting. You don't strike me as someone who'd want a completely boring life.

[grabaslice]

Okay, you got me there. [He laughs easily enough, letting the melodrama drop away for now.] I'd like something a little more sedate but not plodding.

Manageable adventures, not 'oh god, the world is ending' level.

[steepwithdead]

The world's almost ended only a couple of times here so far, so I think you're in a good place for that goal.

[May or may not be kidding...]