steepwithdead | Folkmore

Right, take what time you need. [He offers back easily enough. Though the turtle does trail slightly after Caduceus, just to gaze at the flowers. Being able to bask in this much nature is still a novelty.

He didn't even know this place existed until he moved in with the firbolg. Now he's here occasionally as the other man's shadow if he needs another hand, maybe even two hands when Leonardo does put on his prosthetic.

It is indulgent, woefully so, but he catches himself watching Caduceus primarily. The conversation flows easily between the two. A laugh curls and colors the other man's voice. Leonardo can feel his heart pick up a little at the sound. Living with the man hadn't softened his feelings in the least. It only made the flame burn brighter in a way he couldn't quite quantify.

Maybe when he finally moves back with Donnie, the feelings will simmer and fade. He can simply be a friend to Caduceus. None of the baggage. No chance of hurting the other man. He's done enough damage to people.

But here and now, as he watches the exchange, there is a warm feeling in his chest. An all encompassing admiration, adoration, affection, all things he shouldn't let himself dwell upon.

He blinks as the firbolg approaches, inclining his head to accept the gift of a flower crown. A few loose petals flutter down over him, onto his shoulders, likely at Caduceus himself.]

I- is it? [He questions in kind without meaning to. Leonardo's expression is vulnerable just for a moment. Soft, uncertain, hopeful- before he catches himself. Laughing a little. That vulnerability squashed in favor of a familiar sense of control. It isn't practiced bravado, as much as something more normal. Less painfully raw.] Forgot about this part of things, here, I mean.

[Caduceus is an observant person as ever, of course, but with that sort of expression, he's especially naive and inexperienced about it. People don't generally look at him like that. At least, not exactly like that. Befuddled hope, sure, that's happened. Once in a while he'd pull off some profoundly encouraging line that would hit just right, and someone who wasn't used to hearing such things would take it to heart, and it'd show on their face. He liked those moments. Liked feeling, in a real, tangible way, that his words contributed to their journey, that they might remember in the future and be helped. That's real legacy.

This is... well, not that. But he doesn't know what it is, either. It makes him tilt his expression, curious, inquisitive, confused.]

What is it?

[The fact Caduceus catches that expression isn't a surprise, Leonardo's recovery wasn't exactly smooth. He isn't even sure he could have hidden that if he tried.

He's embarrassingly in love with this man, and he needs to figure that out in his own time. He won't fuck this up.]

Sometimes, people being that kind, or gentle still catches me off guard. I know you and I have- a different dynamic going on, but- [If there is something Leonardo is good at, it is deflection. Side steps of truths as necessary. Keep people looking a direction he needs them to. Caduceus knows him too well by now, but, he isn't lying. He's offering an explanation that is just slightly to the left. A gentle distraction from something he doesn't want to deal with.]

It's just another work in progress. [He continues more quietly, his gaze flicking to the side. His smile is still present, but a little softer all over again.]

[Bullshit detector versus deflection master clash. Caduceus can't get a read on what else it could be, though, so he opts to believe Leonardo, stepping back and tucking his hands into his sleeves so they don't get cold in the autumn breeze, now that his delivery has been made.]

We'll keep working on it, then. Surprise is better than unhappiness. Shall we go?

[He moves to keep walking, as they still have vegetables to acquire.]

One step at a time, right? [He agrees with a pleased flash of a smile. Inwardly relieved Caduceus didn't pick up on the deflection. He won't always get away with that, but, it works for the moment.

He readily falls into step with the other man.] Yeah, those veggies won't jump into our basket on their own unfortunately. Then again, if they did, I might get a little weirded out about eating them.

I think that one did happen before, actually.

[Maybe? He'd heard something like that, anyway. It was a long time ago.]

Weirded out could happen, but I can't stop eating vegetables. I wouldn't have much left to eat if I did.

[He's already meat-free! What's mostly left is... grains?]

[He chuckles a little at that.] You'd have to learn how to photosynthesize to survive, Cad. Just absorb the sunlight and hope it doesn't try to weird you out next.

I'm already partway there, if you think about it.

[He points towards his Legend "halo", AKA the string of vines and florals perpetually present around the back of his head. One reason why he manages to get by in the market as a favoured friend without his own proper flower crown: he's already got one.]

[Leonardo does laugh softly at that. A few petals float down from his flower crown, landing on the fabric of his cowl. Petals are gathering in certain places already as they walk together.] Okay, I can't disagree with that. You're so close to it. Now if only those flowers gave back to you. They suit you, but, they're freeloaders.

Flowers don't exist to feed me. They exist to feed bees.

[He's happy to let them freeload. They bring fun guests around to visit him.]

I think about 85% of the things you say could end up on some kind of greeting card. [He teases lightly back.]

I guess if the flowers bring you bees, the flowers can keep up the good work. If they stop, they're on standby for a trim. [He has no intend to do that, but mimes a cutting gesture jokingly.]

Hmm. Sounds like a less-than-legendary haircut.

[what the heck is a greeting card, though.]

Thankfully, the flowers will be spared. For now. [One day, he'll realize he needs to explain certain things to the firbolg. One day.] As long as they pull in those fat round bees. Those are cute.

I don't do bee discrimination. All bees are good.

[He does enjoy the fat bees, though.]

All bees are good, but fat bees are gonna be my favorite. Sometimes, you gotta play favorites. They probably pollinate the best anyway. [This is such a conversation they're having whilst buying veggies at the market.]

Fat bees do have a distinct look we can all appreciate. I believe the best pollinators are the ones with longer legs, though.

[He has no scientific papers to back this up, just Bee Experience.]

Cause their long legs hold more pollen? [He questions in turn as he wiggles his fingers to mime bug legs moving.]

Yeah, exactly. They've got little hairs the pollen sticks to, and it scrapes off when they land on different flowers. Some even have little baskets to carry the pollen in.

[Very silly, but Caduceus is not a bastion of seriousness anyway. Welcome to Bee Facts 101.]

When you say baskets, are we talking the kind of baskets I'm picturing or like some weird bee orifice? [Leonardo will absolutely believe whatever Cad tells him.]

I suppose the latter? [It's a perfectly normal bee orifice, excuse you.] Some bees have little lumpy cavities on their back legs they can store pollen in. Rather than spreading it to other flowers, they take it home to feed the colony.

Now I'm a little disappointed they don't have little wicker baskets. [He jokes lightly back.] Guess I'm getting my education about bees today. Not a bad thing. Better than not knowing.

Maybe means I can put a flower pot or something in the apartment window whenever I move back there. So I can see a bee or two more often.

You'll want the plants outside, lest the bees get trapped or worse, try to move in. [Especially with winter on the way, those that don't die out will be moving to sleep somewhere warm, which can make for a fun discovery in spring.] Apartment living isn't a thing where I live, but I've heard that balconies are good for little gardens.

I'd treat the bees right, I'd make them little wicker baskets. [He teases gently back, but nods.] It'd be nice to have a bit more greenery around the apartment, even if it's just on the balcony. Maybe I'll broach the topic later.

Donnie got so weird when I brought that plant home, still not even sure why. [Absolutely unaware that his clingy twin was jealous of Leo being friends with anyone else.]

Huh. [Very weird indeed. Caduceus has never had a sibling be jealous of him at all, except perhaps a little with Calliope and Colton when he succeeded in their mission where they didn't.] He didn't tell you? Did you ask?

I tried asking him what crawled up his shell and died, he just... kept dancing around it. Saying I'd kill the plant, or he'd throw it away when I wasn't home. It turned into a pretty dumb fight if I remember right. [He has to think for a second to remember more of the conversation.

His lips briefly press into a thin line as he remembers a little more. He rubs the back of his neck. His gaze drifts to eye the marketplace around them.] Right, this was the argument where he said I was... trusting someone I barely knew and how badly that ended every other time I did. I think it was a little much for a plant, but… Donnie.

[He tries to shake it off, managing a smile again.] We both sulked for two days before we got over it. I don't think we've talked about it since, but, he's left my plant alone, so, win-win, yeah?

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