[Khalid did tell him before that he'd take him out on a date. Specifically, for dinner, once Leona was up for it. It took a bit of time for Leona to finally get his bearings (honestly, it was just him wanting to be idle for a little longer) before he finally reached out to the older man. Sure, he'd see Khalid sometimes when the older man suddenly stops by his home. And...apparently makes himself comfortable there like he already lives there.
But that's neither here nor there.
So, he does send him a message one day when Khalid is out somewhere:]
[ He has been in and out of Leona's place on and off. Acting like he owns the place. Though when Leona wakes up he... Backs off of that. Mostly because he doesn't want Leona to get the impression that Khalid is just invading his home for the hell of it or anything like that. He also figures Leona will want some space.
[ He's still grinning. Now that they are hand in hand, they are going to go scale a mountain. Sorry about your luck there, Leona. It's the only way. It's not so much as scaling a mountain as it is working their way up until they reach where Azita is resting with her eggs. ]
I was going to wait until a little later to really blow you away, but you've taken me by surprise. So we'll be doing this instead.
[...They're climbing up a mountain. Joy. That wasn't on Leona's bingo card and his ears falls back a little. At least the lion is physically fit to to climb up.]
You could've told me to wait until you were ready.
[Ah, he's...entering a wyvern's lair with her eggs.]
[A soft huff, but he steps closer, crouching down and carefully reaching out. His palm rests on one of the eggs, ears perked forward as if trying to feel...something. Hear something. He does this with each egg carefully before stopping on one, blinking slowly.
[ Yeah, Azita seems to be all right with it. She even releases a low murmur. ]
That's how bonding works. At least that's vaguely how it works back home. Now I wasn't sure if that's how it would be here or if either egg would respond to you. It's just I had a hunch and I ran with it.
[ He pats the other one, the egg that hasn't been chosen or hasn't chosen Leona. it's fine. Maybe this one will take more after the sire. ]
Not really. I don't think you're an unreliable sort. [ A grin. ] So come back here frequently and hold it. Touch it. Talk to it. Maybe pick out some names. There's still a good two to three weeks.
Call it karma since you brought this upon me in the first place.
[ Leona has been teasing him about this thing since way before Azita was gravid. So, really, the only person Leona has to blame for all of this is Leona himself. Khalid is just getting some enjoyment from it.
At least until Leona says that. He raises a brow, but then falls into a smirk. His hand then starts to move up Leona's arm. Claude leans in closer~ ]
[ Azita is now rising herself. She nudges the eggs in such a way that they should be kept warm and safe. Cid had helped Claude with this little cave, keeping the temperatures warm and dry. All the wyvern does is grab a nearby blanket and cover the eggs. They're pretty high up so it's unlikely that they are going to be bothered. ]
It's no surprise to him that the octopus has opened up another Mostro Lounge here, though he is sorely lacking in employees. More specifically, a certain pair of eels who helped run the lounge to some degree without it descending into pure chaos. (Though, knowing them, Leona wouldn't be surprised if they did such a thing without Azul present.)
Hence, it's where Leona can be found, playing a game of chess by himself--coincidentally, at the same time Azul has made his post. Guess who just happened to be lurking nearby and made himself comfortable, anyway?]
[Its true, the Leech twins are a big part of Azul's success with the Mostro Lounge back home. They may not be thought of as the face of it like Azul, but their work could not be underestimated or ignored.
It will truly be a test of Azul's capabilities to do this without them--he has already had to concede that for the time being, the Lounge here can't be a restaurant since he does not have the twins to help him in the kitchen, or to move about waiting tables and watching for any trouble out on the floor while he made deals in his office. So he needs to go smaller scale, a club setting that he can still manage even if he ends up with fewer employees than he had before back home.
As he finishes making the post to the network and the camera is off, he turns and spots Leona, raising an eyebrow at the game of chess he's playing by himself.]
As was I, but due to a number of irritating circumstances, I couldn't do so until now.
[Having to make enough money first to obtain the deed to this building, getting it set up and ready for a business, sowing the seeds here and there of his talents among the public ahead of time in an environment he wasn't familiar with... the stress of the kidnapping and Leona's coma last month... a lot of things he had to deal with and figure out on his own without Jade and Floyd by his side.]
I was still able to sell my potions and such to people here without it until now, but having an actual business location will make things much easier. Not to mention that I'll potentially be able to make more money now even from those who have no need for my magic, heh...
[He smirks a little at the thought, before the smile fades and he tilts his head at the chessboard in front of Leona.]
[not really. It's none of Leona's business how Azul handles what he does here. If anything, it's more impressive how Azul just keeps on chugging along.
Not necessarily. I'm mostly just curious, wondering what it is you get out of playing with yourself like that rather than with another player as an opponent.
[... Is Leona testing his own skills and critical thinking, perhaps? Making a move, and then logically deducing what the best move to make would be for an imaginary opponent to respond with? That's the only thing Azul can think of, but still...
After a moment, Azul gets up from his seat at the counter, and is now coming over to actually take a proper look at the board. Curious to see which side of the board appears to be winning right now, Leona's side or the side with the empty chair...]
[Interesting... judging by the state of the board as is, it really does look like it could easily go either way, rather than an obvious indication of one side having an advantage over the other. He can only wonder what it is that Leona is thinking about while making these moves...
At the invitation to play too, however, Azul's eyes actually light up--probably not unexpected, given that he is an active member of the Board Game Club at their school.]
Sure. If you do not mind a fresh state and having me take over as your opponent, instead of continuing with your imaginary one you've been playing with up to now.
[Azul takes the previously empty chair across from Leona here with a satisfied hum, before he starts re-adjusting the pieces on the board back to where they need to be for a fresh game.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sunsetking) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
escordvi2025-06-14 08:30 pm
Closed to Claude von Riegan
But that's neither here nor there.
So, he does send him a message one day when Khalid is out somewhere:]
You owe me dinner.
no subject
And then he gets it. A message. From Leona. ]
Are you saying you're ready?
no subject
[Time to impress him, Claude. Show him what exactly this archer is capable of when it comes to planning dates.]
no subject
Come meet me at the roost and be prepared to climb a little.
no subject
[But well. He's going to the Roost. Hope Khalid has enough time to prepare everything.]
no subject
Ready, sweetheart?
no subject
[A brow raise but he does reach out to take Khalid's hand.]
Show me what you've got, wyvern boy.
no subject
I was going to wait until a little later to really blow you away, but you've taken me by surprise. So we'll be doing this instead.
no subject
You could've told me to wait until you were ready.
[Ah, he's...entering a wyvern's lair with her eggs.]
no subject
[ He's immediately rubbing his wyvern's jaw. Scratching and rubbing as she makes cooing sounds. ]
See the eggs?
no subject
[But he does greet Azita. It'd be rude not to, though his eyes soon drifts down.]
I do.
no subject
He only grins. ]
Go on and touch them. Let me know what you feel.
[ If Leona feels anything at all. For him, there was just this. Instant connection with Azita's egg. ]
no subject
[A soft huff, but he steps closer, crouching down and carefully reaching out. His palm rests on one of the eggs, ears perked forward as if trying to feel...something. Hear something. He does this with each egg carefully before stopping on one, blinking slowly.
His nose even twitches once.]
...This one feels warmer compared to the others.
no subject
[ Look at Khalid, acting all smug. Even sitting there with Azita like the cat that ate the canary.
He removes a bit of charcoal from his pocket and marks the egg. ]
You better keep coming here then, since that one's yours.
no subject
What.
Leona looks over at him, blinking at him a few times.]
...What?
no subject
You said it feels warmer than the others. I bet if you focus enough you can almost feel its heartbeat, right?
no subject
...Faintly.
[But--]
Why are you letting me take one of your precious girl's eggs? [And she seems okay with that??]
no subject
That's how bonding works. At least that's vaguely how it works back home. Now I wasn't sure if that's how it would be here or if either egg would respond to you. It's just I had a hunch and I ran with it.
no subject
Quite a risk you took there then.
[Especially with trusting him to take care of an egg.]
no subject
Not really. I don't think you're an unreliable sort. [ A grin. ] So come back here frequently and hold it. Touch it. Talk to it. Maybe pick out some names. There's still a good two to three weeks.
no subject
[Two to three weeks...Still a long time. Yet, it also feels much shorter than it should be.]
no subject
[ Pffft. Don't look so panic stricken. ]
I'll walk you through basic care so when it is ready to leave mom, you'll be fine.
no subject
Leona grunts at that.]
Thanks for that.
[A glance back at the egg.]
So. Would that make me a parent and you’re the stepfather or grandfather in this case?
[…He had to.]
no subject
[ Leona has been teasing him about this thing since way before Azita was gravid. So, really, the only person Leona has to blame for all of this is Leona himself. Khalid is just getting some enjoyment from it.
At least until Leona says that. He raises a brow, but then falls into a smirk. His hand then starts to move up Leona's arm. Claude leans in closer~ ]
Well, Kitten, we could just call it co-parenting.
no subject
[How dare?? Leona isn’t to be blamed for that.
Though his ears perked when that hand lands on his arm and Claude leans closer. A slow blink and he looks amused.]
Moving a bit fast, aren’t we?
no subject
[ As for the rest, Khalid just laughs. He squeezes that arm before retreating. The man stands, giving Azita a pat. ]
What can I say? When I want something, I go after it.
[ Wink! ]
no subject
[He shakes his head at him, looking back at the egg.]
Clearly. Can’t say I’m upset about it.
[Because he isn’t.]
no subject
[ A chuckle. Please tell him which?
And then he offers his hand to Leona. ]
no subject
[Does that help?
He takes his hand, though.]
no subject
[ Azita is now rising herself. She nudges the eggs in such a way that they should be kept warm and safe. Cid had helped Claude with this little cave, keeping the temperatures warm and dry. All the wyvern does is grab a nearby blanket and cover the eggs. They're pretty high up so it's unlikely that they are going to be bothered. ]
Ready for a ride?
no subject
Looking forward to it.
no subject
[ He hops onto Azita's back and holds his hand out for Leona again. Grinning with a wink. ]
Let's go get some food.
no subject
[Even so, he takes his hand again and climbs onto Azita?]
no subject
[ And she is going to take off!
Well more like leap off of the cliff and then open her wings. Don't panic, Leona. ]
Closed to Azul Ashengrotto
It's no surprise to him that the octopus has opened up another Mostro Lounge here, though he is sorely lacking in employees. More specifically, a certain pair of eels who helped run the lounge to some degree without it descending into pure chaos. (Though, knowing them, Leona wouldn't be surprised if they did such a thing without Azul present.)
Hence, it's where Leona can be found, playing a game of chess by himself--coincidentally, at the same time Azul has made his post. Guess who just happened to be lurking nearby and made himself comfortable, anyway?]
no subject
It will truly be a test of Azul's capabilities to do this without them--he has already had to concede that for the time being, the Lounge here can't be a restaurant since he does not have the twins to help him in the kitchen, or to move about waiting tables and watching for any trouble out on the floor while he made deals in his office. So he needs to go smaller scale, a club setting that he can still manage even if he ends up with fewer employees than he had before back home.
As he finishes making the post to the network and the camera is off, he turns and spots Leona, raising an eyebrow at the game of chess he's playing by himself.]
... Having fun over there?
no subject
[He takes a piece and moves another.
How does one play chess by himself?]Was honestly expecting you to open up shop much earlier than this.
no subject
As was I, but due to a number of irritating circumstances, I couldn't do so until now.
[Having to make enough money first to obtain the deed to this building, getting it set up and ready for a business, sowing the seeds here and there of his talents among the public ahead of time in an environment he wasn't familiar with... the stress of the kidnapping and Leona's coma last month... a lot of things he had to deal with and figure out on his own without Jade and Floyd by his side.]
I was still able to sell my potions and such to people here without it until now, but having an actual business location will make things much easier. Not to mention that I'll potentially be able to make more money now even from those who have no need for my magic, heh...
[He smirks a little at the thought, before the smile fades and he tilts his head at the chessboard in front of Leona.]
Do you normally play by yourself like that?
no subject
[not really. It's none of Leona's business how Azul handles what he does here. If anything, it's more impressive how Azul just keeps on chugging along.
He finally glances over.]
Is there a problem?
no subject
[... Is Leona testing his own skills and critical thinking, perhaps? Making a move, and then logically deducing what the best move to make would be for an imaginary opponent to respond with? That's the only thing Azul can think of, but still...
After a moment, Azul gets up from his seat at the counter, and is now coming over to actually take a proper look at the board. Curious to see which side of the board appears to be winning right now, Leona's side or the side with the empty chair...]
no subject
[Even so, he doesn't look back up at him, focused on his game.
When Azul comes over to peek, the board seems to be evenly matched. Almost as if trapped on both sides and careful calculations needed to be made.]
Care for a game?
no subject
At the invitation to play too, however, Azul's eyes actually light up--probably not unexpected, given that he is an active member of the Board Game Club at their school.]
Sure. If you do not mind a fresh state and having me take over as your opponent, instead of continuing with your imaginary one you've been playing with up to now.
no subject
[Leona scoffs, finally looking at him. He doesn't miss the light in his eyes either. Maybe they need to find some board games for this octopus?]
Sit down.
no subject
Which would you prefer to play, black or white?