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[steepwithdead]

"Oh, hey."

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[grabaslice]

[There is a little judgment there, but Leonardo can amend he doesn't know the circumstances to say much.]

Fair enough. I'm not exactly a boat-faring guy, but, yeesh. The situation sounds messy. I'm glad you caught up. If it were me, I would've had a couple of thoughts about going home by then.

[steepwithdead]

Oh, I had a couple. And then a couple more. But we were too far out to sea to turn back and drop me off again, so I had some time to settle.

[grabaslice]

[He releases a little laugh at that, arching an eye ridge at Caduceus.] Ah, the cope or else method. Not my favorite method, but, it does the trick when you have nothing else.

[steepwithdead]

"Cope or else" is the acclimation method for the Mighty Nein, I'm afraid.

[grabaslice]

No offense meant, but that is a little funny and a little sad. [There is no derision or mockery in his voice. Just an easy kind of amusement.]

[steepwithdead]

It can be both of those without offense. Although since I'm one of them, that means you need to cope or else here, too.

[grabaslice]

Oh, I can absolutely cope, or else. One of my main skills. [Joke about his trauma? Never, who do you think he is??]

[steepwithdead]

Good to have that confirmed.

[The good news is Caduceus is the least messy one to cope with. Which is great because it's not like he has a wide spread of friends here, either.]

[grabaslice]

You're one of my favorite people so far, so, coping is working out here. [He is just casually saying that now. Given the situation he's found himself in, it rings all the truer.

Caduceus had come when Leonardo asked, and was cooking food for him, for them to eat together. He invited Leo into his home.

It was hard not to be fond of that.]

I guess... after we eat, I can pack a bag for when I go back with you. Not like I have too much yet.

[steepwithdead]

Ah, thanks. [Always nice to be liked. He can't deny that he greatly enjoys Leonardo's company too, so.] The feeling is mutual. And bring as much or as little as you like. It isn't as if that house lacks room.

[It does in fact have... lots of room. Rooms. MANY.

Always, speaking of food, it's done, so he'll rise, serve, and bring the plates over, one with just the pasta-veggie mix, the other with Leo's chicken.]

[grabaslice]

[The sentiment absolutely does make his heart do a little flutter, but he tries to not let that show, beyond his smile shifting to something pleased and a little shy all at once.] It's more like I don't have much. Slowly been buying things for myself, but this is mostly Casey's space we inherited.

[Leonardo makes a point to adjust his seat so it's actually properly facing the table. Glad he set utensils out already, even with the gentle disapproval he got from the other man earlier.]

[steepwithdead]

Well, that just means everything will still be here, for whenever you and Donatello are ready to move back again. The other bedrooms in my place are fully furnished.

[And he made sure the guest room would be set up just-in-case, so he didn't have to give away any of the Nein's claimed rooms if he happened to have someone else staying a while.]

[grabaslice]

Okay, good point. [He offers back with a bit of a smile.] It's not really leaving as much as... taking a break for a bit and being able to come back all the same.

[steepwithdead]

An extended visit. It's not like I'm forcing you to call my place home or anything.

[The Xhorhaus was kind of an extended visit for all of them- and even for him, here, it isn't home the way the temple is. It's where he lives.]

[grabaslice]

We'll call it the world's longest sleepover. [The joke is juvenile, a little silly- but it feels right. Better.] Probably with slightly less pillow forts than what I'd usually prefer.

I'd say 'maybe I should clean', but, I'm pretty sure that's when you'd throttle me. [He does actually dig into the food in front of him. Leonardo quickly learns, yes, he is very hungry. Damn.]

[steepwithdead]

Call it whatever you like, I'm easy.

[#unintentionaljokeshedoesntget]

I wouldn't throttle you. But I'm told I'm good at judgmental looks, so you may regret it very quickly.

[His looks can make people want to throttle themselves, does that count.]

[grabaslice]

[He snorts a little at that. The accidental innuendo is cute. Leonardo is aware he's doomed.] We'll stick with sleepover until proven otherwise.

I'll do my best to avoid the judgmental looks, but I've gotten many of those looks in my lifetime.

[steepwithdead]

In that case, I won't hold back.

[Only when it's earned, though. (It might get earned a lot.)]

[grabaslice]

If you did, I'd be disappointed. [Sure, it'll suck to get judgmental looks depending on the situation, but...

He fiddles with fork absently. This time in the correct thread!!!] I like knowing I have the real authentic Caduceus reaction. That I'm worth correcting when I'm messing up.

[steepwithdead]

You should know, I am a terrible liar. [Concerned about phrasing there, though...] I wouldn't put my worth in the words of others, however.

[grabaslice]

I've noticed, but, still- [He's going to poke at his chicken Parmesan.] Yeah, I, know. I'm just... trying to keep getting better, I guess.

It's hard not to feel a little lost when the only brother I have left decided to just drop me. So, I'm- [He sighs.] I'm not great with my words right now.

[steepwithdead]

[Caduceus hums a thoughtful noise, allowing the quiet to hang between them for a moment, to let some of the tension ease, Breathing room is important in difficult conversations. It's brief, then,]

This is temporary. It feels like it's taking forever because you're used to a life with no space to breathe. You need to re-learn how to breathe, Leonardo.

[grabaslice]

[He fiddles with his fork, expression settling onto something tired and resigned.] I don't know if it was easier when I didn't have to think or not. At least I had a clear purpose, even if I didn't achieve it.

[steepwithdead]

[Caduceus quirks a brow at that.]

Of course it was easier. That's what makes it so desirable. Most things worth pursuing aren't easy.

[grabaslice]

Be nice if a lot of things were easier. [He muses with a sigh.] Not the case, though.