[IC] [Snek] Continuations

[pyrighteous]

Comments

[pyrighteous]

Hunter's not here right now.

[ He tilts his head. ]

Are you ... jealous of him?

[neonleon]

Why would I be jealous of him?

[pyrighteous]

Well. No reason, really. He is a pale imitation. But that's beside the point.

I was more referring to the fact that he's replaced you.

[neonleon]

He has not replaced me. You don't know what you're talking about.

[pyrighteous]

Of course. You know your brother better than I do. The fact that he's attached to ... Hunter in such a short amount of time means nothing. Your brother is quite the personable type, after all.

[neonleon]

[He's not. Donnie is not nearly as personable as Leonardo or Mikey are, even Raph can usually fare better. Belos can feel those thoughts as they drift by.]

When someone clicks, he warms up fast.

[Not helped by the fact Donnie is desperate for not only friends in his interests his own age, but of authority figure that can compliment him as well.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Belos ... smiles just a little, seeing those thoughts. Unsurprised. ]

Mm, of course. And Shirou?

[neonleon]

No idea. Haven't spent much time with the guy.

[pyrighteous]

So ... a copy and someone you barely know. Both suddenly a part of the family.

[neonleon]

I'm gonna point out again, he was here for a little bit before me alone.

[But what can he do? After April, they all agreed to a full round-table brother interview process to see if anyone else could be the same level as April.]

[pyrighteous]

Right, right. And that was all the time it took to start replacing you.

[neonleon]

Dude, you are obsessed with the replacement thing. What gives?

[But it's there, the thought and words digging under his skin, like the unpleasant feeling of scratching at a scab.]

[pyrighteous]

[ He arches a brow. ]

Do you really want to hear my story, Leonardo? It's hardly relevant.

[neonleon]

Not really.

I just wanna know why you're insistent that he's replacing me.

[pyrighteous]

It's simply a pattern. I'm all too familiar with how little it takes to have a brother turn his back on you.

[neonleon]

Joke's on you then, I'm irreplaceable.

[But he can feel it. The thread of insecurity he's had for years, he's the least favorite brother, Donnie literally tried to train Leo out of his Leo-ness years ago, they were all annoyed at him right when the Krang showed up.]

[pyrighteous]

[ A rippling shrug. Oh yes. He feels that thread too. He knows just how to play on it. ]

I thought so as well. My older brother basically raised me when our parents died.

[neonleon]

[Leo's easy once you know what to look for.]

Unfortunate for you. We've been inseparable our whole lives.

[pyrighteous]

Oh? You've never been separated from them?

[neonleon]

I- I mean, sure, we all do our own stuff sometimes.

[But even Belos can hear Leo's own voice in the distance, a memory.

Casey, please!

A shiver goes down Leo's spine and he shakes it off for now.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Oh? Belos gestures and brings the memory forward. ]

What's this?

[neonleon]

[He goes stiff, the memory being pulled forward. The moment playing out, Leo desperate to do what has to be done and taking the beating for it.]

[pyrighteous]

[ Belos watches it play out, a quiet ... compassion in his face? Or something that just looks like it. ]

Ah. Thrust into an inhospitable demon realm, even.

[neonleon]

For the sake of saving the world? Yeah.

[pyrighteous]

I was the same.