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[ascatic]

Leon

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[ascatic]

[ a thoughtful hum, and the sugars are taken care of--- until someone comes by and messes them up again. ]

You consider that a favor? I would think, kind and pleasant as you are, that it wouldn't be a favor to not be around others who could use your company.

[ he rubs his chin absentmindedly, his tail slowly swaying behind him. ]

But I digress... Minato is more cat-like than some cats.

[floret]

...I don't... really know what to say, I guess. If I thought Minato would be happy to have me... keeping tabs on him or whatever, I'd do it.

[ he's starting to feel kind of short of breath, and stupid, and like this was definitely a mistake. he's the one who brought minato up in the first place, so it's not like he can be upset that they've ended up just talking about minato when that's not why he came here. after all, why did he come here? (it seems like he often ends up talking about minato when he talks to someone who knows them both... that probably wouldn't make minato particularly happy, either. he can't help wondering whether minato ever talks about him.) (probably not, or at least not often; everyone mostly knew minato first.)

anyway, was there really anything he'd hoped they would talk about instead? there's the elephant in the room, of course. but he's the only one who knows it's there. (so, really, it's just an elephant in HIS room.) he knew he couldn't talk to minato about it, but maybe he shouldn't tell leon either... maybe there's no point telling anyone. he's not even sure whether he wants to talk about it in the first place. what is there to say? I finally managed to talk to my mom after more than six months of not being able to get in touch, and I'm being a stupid baby about it?

ahhh, this whole thing was a bad idea. he came all the way out here... he should've stayed home and just not bothered anyone, especially not his boss. of course it's too late to have not done it at all, but is there any way to salvage this? he flounders around for the quickest solution, then makes a furious effort to project the image of a person who is stable and appropriate and in no way about to burst into tears. ]

...You know, I should get home, actually! Probably. And... maybe find out where Minato is. Sorry about this. Thank you. Good night!

[ascatic]

[ he could call it his sixth sense, bestowed upon him along with the black furry ears and the tail that coils up behind him in suspicion, but... no, it's not that in the slightest. it's a sudden discomfort welling in his chest, like something is wrong, but he can't put his finger on it. some kind of internal conflict? some kind of unspoken thing that is laid out before him, invisible but there, present but not? but being filled with questions won't help him, both ears perking. ]

No, no. Jamie. [ warm, but stern. not his 'boss' voice. ] Let me get you a mug of tea... there's some left, and it's still fresh.

[ but he won't move to go get it until he finds it within himself to make that face--- of gentle concern, almost a puppy-esque face. not pathetic, not wanting sympathy, but in hope that Jamie won't just leave so suddenly. especially as he really just got there. ]

Besides, it will make closing down for the night go quicker knowing I have company.

[ loneliness. Leon knows it well. ]

[floret]

Ahhh...

[ the air rushes out, and he can't meet leon's eyes for longer than a second before he has to look down.

he tries to answer, but his voice won't cooperate, so he just nods quickly. he sinks abruptly into the nearest seat that's not stacked on a table and tries (as hard as he's ever tried to do anything) to keep it together, but he can't do that either, and the tears start flowing--silently, thank god--almost at once. ]

[ascatic]

[ he's quicker than a cat, moving to the counter to grab the still warm teapot and a mug, along with a box of tissues in a cat cozy. those tears are falling fast, and seeing them makes his heart ache. not just out of sympathy for an employee and young person that he's come to care for, but because of some guilt of making him feel this way? ]

Here... please, use these.

[ a few tissues are pulled out for Jamie as he moves over to his side, slipping a chair out so he could sit by him. just in case.

his ears sit low and flat against his head. ]

[floret]

[ yargh and now leon's upset!! none of this is how he wanted it. (he actually doesn't know how he did want things to go; it just definitely wasn't like this.) he really, really wishes he weren't crying right now, but the more he tries to stop, the worse it gets.

he takes the tissues, curling his fingertips around them, and suddenly more than anything else he just feels so... heart-crushingly grateful. he doesn't throw himself into leon's arms or anything, but... he leans. ]

Sorry...

[ ...he mumbles it, in a very small voice, and what he means is thank you. ]

[ascatic]

[ another twinge, but he swallows down that unease down and away. the most important person, despite his discomfort, is Jamie and he looks awfully miserable. the lean gets him to carefully wrap an arm around Jamie and give him a half-hug, something as friendly as he can give without seeming... well, like anything else. because he is a friend AND an employee in that order.

honestly, all of his employees are like that to him.

some more than others. ]

You don't have to apologize. If there's anything I can do...?

[floret]

[ Leon can probably feel the tension start to drain into that half-hug--and though the whole Crying Thing doesn't quite run its course so easily, Jamie does calm down (and blow his nose) after several long moments. ]

No, it's...
This is... good.
I mean, if it's good with you...
You're kind of the closest thing I have to family... here in the city. So I just...

[ he laughs weakly, then blows his nose again and squeezes his eyes shut. ]

I'm being weird...
I just need a second.

[ascatic]

[ with Jamie's crying ending, Leon can let out an internal sigh of relief. to be honest, he doesn't know what can really offer other than two cat ears that listen and hear. words never seem appropriate, and if anything he worries his general silence might dissuade Jamie from sharing things... ]

Take all the time you need.

[ family.

his cheeks turn pink. ]

If it would make you happy... you could always pat my head.

[ and ears. ]

[floret]

[ he laughs again! --still weakly, but with more life in it. and then he reaches up... and lays his hand on leon's head, with one furry ear between his thumb and forefinger... and rubs a little. the way kitty likes it.

man...
that really does feel so nice.

he sighs after a moment. (he doesn't stop petting though.) ]

I don't know if you want to hear this.
It's okay if you don't.
I'm not really sure how much I want to talk about it...
I mean, like, you always hear "oh it's so important to process your emotions and get things out in the open et cetera et cetera," but honestly, has it ever been proven that people feel better when they do that? Instead of just keeping it to themselves?...

[ascatic]

[ ... darn, those rubs actually make him want to doze while making weird rumbling noises in his throat and chest. but he perks up, albeit somewhat awkwardly by sitting up in his chair and swallowing down his nerves. he's been doing that quite often recently but sometimes one just needs to remember where he is...

also super glad he didn't meow. or nya. but his tail is limp and droopy, mirroring how relaxed he is. ]

You should tell me how much you want and what you want, no matter the subject or time or place. You know my ears are always here for you, and my doors are always open...

[ they twitch as he opens one eye lazily, peering at Jamie. ]

... but it is important to talk about things, as long as you're comfortable to do so. That, or pet your cat.

[ BUT WHICH ONE DOES HE MEAN ]

[floret]

[ he sighs. again. but he's still petting. in fact, he'll move a bit closer so he can lean against Leon a bit while he does so. (This is totally normal and appropriate) ]

...since this last December, I haven't been able to get in touch with my family. Calls or e-mails or really anything. And it was lonely and horrible, and with everything going on here in the city, I got so scared that my memories of them were fake somehow, or that we'd be cut off forever... and, you know, at the very least I felt guilty and awful knowing how worried and upset they must be.
And someone else on the app told me something like that had happened before, where they couldn't get in touch with people, and when contact was restored the people outside didn't think anything was strange at all. Like, they hadn't noticed anything was wrong, even though logically they should have. So that made me feel better, but also kind of worse? Because, you know. It's not like I want them to be sad and worried, but... it sort of feels bad, the idea that I could just be gone and it wouldn't matter and no one would care...

...Ahh, now I'm just rambling...

[ascatic]

[ it's the most normal and appropriate thing Jamie's ever done. besides, he's not really paying attention to that: he's listening, with those feline ears, to every word. ]

Your family cares, I'm sure of it. Odd things have been occurring here, and we don't know every exact detail to how it affects the world outside of the one we find ourselves in now. But in the end, your memories of them aren't fake. They may be different or separate of a life that we may have lived prior to being here, but... they aren't fake. You are still part of their life, after all.

[ he sighs gently, his right ear flicking. ]

And if you were gone, I would care. I would miss you. I am sure I am not the only one. The Jamie I know is very important to me. I am sure your loved ones feel the same way.

[floret]

[ the fact is, Jamie already knew that Leon would care, and would miss him--after all, if he hadn't known that, there's no way he would have texted Leon in the first place, much less come here and tell him all this.

but it's still really nice to hear it. ]

Well...
That's the thing. Earlier tonight, my mom called me.
And she'd definitely noticed. And she was so mad...
I mean, we were both just really surprised at first, obviously, because it finally worked after so long, and I guess we were both crying, and she was yelling, and then she put my grandmother on the phone, and she was crying and yelling... and I was trying to explain, but obviously it didn't make any sense... and then she said I had to come home right now, and something about plane tickets, and then there was some kind of weird static, and the call dropped. And when I tried calling back it was just the weird static. So now I guess it's back to not working? And I was so happy to hear their voices again, and to know they're still out there and haven't forgotten, but it was... just kind of awful, and now I know they are upset and worried, and there's nothing I can do, and it's just... awful!

[ and he's crying again lol ]

[ascatic]

[ is this a lol moment

also, he's happy he can at least reinforce those feelings. ]

Then I am glad that you had a chance to talk to your family, albeit briefly, and that they are just as worried for you as you are for them. You are fortunate to have someone on the outside to contact when it is possible.

[ he does his best to give Jamie a one-armed hug. ]

When things settle down, I am sure contact will be easier. We just have to do our best to assist those who have direct control of the situation... or, at least, not get in their way.

[ but even he's not convinced with that course of action, as he bites his lower lip in thought. ]

[floret]

[ what happens, to a sleek leather catsuit, if someone weeps on it ]

I know you're right. And there isn't anything I can do right now, and that's... just how things are. But I can't imagine. It must be so terrible. Because at least we know all about Retrospec, and we can see the way things change, and... everything, but... for people on the outside... to think that for so many months, I just haven't... and they... I mean, can you even imagine??

[ he pauses for a nose blow ]

But I do know, I know I'm fortunate. And I'm so glad...
I mean, that's why I couldn't talk to Minato about it... That's why I thought maybe I shouldn't tell you. Should I not have? I don't want to make you sad. Did I make you sad?

[ascatic]

[ idk, if i ever get one i'll let you know ]

I can't, nor do I have someone I can directly talk to out there.

[ a sad smile, but one born from simply acknowledging the facts: he has no living family. it's fine though, as he grabs another tissue to replace the one Jamie's using when he's ready to take it. ]

No. I may not always have the right answer, but I do have better ears than most. [ wiggle wiggle. ] And you will not make me sad--- the sad thing would be if you did not feel that I could be a reliable listener for your troubles.

[ another pat, and then: ]

We will get through things together. I promise.

[floret]

...Yeah.
I think you're right.

[ he might've just needed someone to tell him that.
and maybe it needed to be Leon, in particular... or at least, it's better because it was Leon. (since he trusts Leon implicitly, and can't think of anyone he knows whose shit is more together, and that kind of thing.)

also, no one's ears are softer than Leon's. ]

Thank you.
I hope you'll get to meet them someday. My family.
I mean, you know, if you want to. I know they'd really like you.