he does his best, she'll always give him that much. [break][break]

he's right; she knows he is. and through the internalized strife, and trauma, and grief that she still holds, she knows of the rationality that she should be maintaining. after all, she was the one who looked to do the part (it's faux; rationality powered by her own emotions, and bias, and anxiety and panic that she's allowed to fester without a break. it's never gotten bad, it's only when she speaks about her own kin - and that's arguably worse). [break][break]

emotionally drained and internalized, she doesn't have the strength to move her arm away when it's nudged down, though she reluctantly tries to raise her other hand, to press the back of her fingers against the corner of her eyes. really, she must look like a fool (she feels like one). then she wears a small smile, and shakes her head at his words. really, he shouldn't be the one apologizing. why was he apologizing? [break][break]

she'll compose herself shortly after, she won't let it take too long. and just as quickly as those tear appeared, they had gradually come to a halt as she slowly raises her head more, fingers moving from her eyes to tuck locks of gold behind her ears. "mhm.." she hums, and tired, emerald eyes maintain their gaze upon the plate, before they move to the side, and offer the man a glance. [break][break]

and she moves instinctively, to be honest. instinctively enough to raise her hand to gently rest upon the top of the man's head as he's leaned down, and her smile grows gradual. "ah, yes.. arceus knows that i desperately need the help." there's no hint of sarcasm in her words, "however i'd say it's.. slightly embarrassing for me to be counselled, as the elder sister~.."

Leonidas Stone

☉

no amount of denial can cover it up; shambles is a compliment to a mind that took so long to recover. it still takes days for her to pick up the pieces, still takes time for her to recover from the shocks. for a little while, she thought herself to be the slowest of the family. there was a time she held herself with such confidence, under the bravado that she was self assured, and knew what she wanted to do (thought that she knew what she wanted to do). isn't it pitiful, to know how fragile and flimsy that self-found confidence is when the very foundation crumbles and caves in at the seams? [break][break]

alex was understanding of it. mother was understanding of it, their youngest sister was understanding of it, ana was understanding of it, and she knew that leonidas, too, would be understanding of it. no one faults her except herself (and what she thinks the ghost would think, and it's worse when you know that the person can't be here to tell you their real thoughts. it never gets easier when you know what they would think, and yet your own insecurities pollute what your mind already knows. [break][break]

it's a type of torture. [break]
self-inflicted torture. [break][break]

and she wonders when she started to be like this. trauma truly does things to people. so she's contemplating his words, and she still can't help but to think where he gets this confidence from (it runs in the family, it looks like. the family she truly and so dearly loves, but never knew how to put into words or actions). to some degree, she knows that he speaks the truth, and understands that her actions were only self-destructive, and wouldn't help to fix anything, or anyone. [break][break]

so she takes a deep breath, steeling herself. she's trying to steel herself, and it's so difficult when she feels tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, and the older sister can only pause as she blankly stares down, towards the counter, and the very slight tears run their course down her cheeks - no matter how few in numbers. ah, how long as she kept this bottled up? how long as she kept herself steeled and how long as she internalized it? [break][break]

"i-i--" she starts, stammering. daphne's voice is quivering, and she's trying desperately to maintain her composure. and there you go again, daphne, being weak - and this time in front of your younger brother no less. how pitiful and pathetic do you have to be? she'll ask herself time and time again, putting utensils down so she can gently press the back of her wrist against her eyes. press away the few tears that seep through as a result of his words of reassurance. [break][break]

"i-i know.." she doesn't want to say such a short - such a crude - thing in response to his speech (it makes it feel like she wasn't listening, or she's trying to gloss over his words, but it's the exact opposite). "i-i apologize, again--" because she's crying, and she shouldn't be. it'll be brief. "i have.. plenty of regrets" that cannot be counted on one hand, or be listed out ".. one of them being a distant sister, and making you face this after not seeing each other after so long~.."

Leonidas Stone

☉

how do you tell your sibling that you've nothing for distaste, and hatred, and anger towards yourself, for something that you could have avoided - something that you could have fixed? how does she tell him that she's a coward, and that she was far from strong, lacking in the confidence that her brothers and sisters so greatly boasted? how does she say that the years have been cruel, so much that se's found herself running from what is devon, running from what her family's legacy has lived up to; how does she speak of the burden and the weight on her shoulders - to inherit an empire that she never wanted? [break][break]

how? how does he speak so confidently, as though she's so certain that everything is alright? oh, no, daphne you know. you know your family has been somewhat estranged, for no seeming reason, since father died and since alex took up the mantle. you always knew that mother wished for nothing but for her siblings to come together again, and till knowing this, here you are, till waiting for your siblings to come to you, when you should have been coming to them. you came back to hoenn (to this wretched region you love to hate, and hate to love) time and time again; because you were born, and raised, on the soils by the waters. [break][break]

how do you hate everything you've ever known? [break][break]

how he's so assured is beyond her, but it's something shared amongst the family (she was like that, once, before she started questioning what it was she wanted to do). the distortion has adjusted her age, made her older, but never wiser. if you ask her, she still suffers all the same, like she's still in her later twenties. [break][break]

inspiration oozes from his tone, and she wants nothing than to nod - to agree - with all the same gusto in the world. she'd want nothing more than to enjoy their meal, but the image in her head haunts her (it's the everyday, the mall things, that keep her going and keep her from her head). daphne is no soldier, and no fighter, and no strong trainer; she's only a woman with pokemon to keep her company, living her life day by the day. [break][break]

she was not made for a war. [break][break]

was her breath always so shaky? he speaks no lies, to some degree, and she knows this deep down. it's when the unpleasant image intrudes its way into her head (and eventually flash before her eyes) does she hesitate. since young, she's always been cold, and distant, even to her own siblings and parents. she's only ever known to wear a pleasant smile, though mellow, for formalities sake. [break][break]

"leo." [break][break]

she appreciates it, she does. every last word he speaks, she knows comes from a good place (but that will never ease the turmoil in her own heart, nor will it cleanse her of the nightmares that make her wake in a cold sweat asking herself "why, why, why"). yet while his smile burns, with all the passion and bright determination in the world, she can only return a somber, sullen, light tug of her lips in return. ah, he sounded like alex. ".. i appreciate it." her gaze lowers to her food, knife teething through as she pierces her fork through the layers of sauce and food. [break][break]

she's never been good with words. that's never changed. [break][break]

"i'm nowhere as self-assured as you, or any of our other siblings, however~" she never has been, and thinks that she never will be, but has found something for herself to be confident in "mm.." she hums, hands still as she maintains a stone gaze at her food. then he brightens her smile, though with an apologetic tone "i apologize for being such a downer~. i just have.. no pleasant memories of the war."

Leonidas Stone

☉

she remembers. [break][break]

remembers the nights she spent in hoenn, the same day where she watched alex's body wash upon the shore. she remembers standing there, in awe, after the flames and smoke had settled on that horrific, terrible day (the scars still haven't healed, and at some point, being in devon became a glaring reminder of her incapability). but she didn't know what to do; not as the next heir to devon, and everything shes ever read and studied had become moot when she watched a second head die to a cause that could have - should have - been prevented. then she asks herself, having lost count of the nights; why didn't she do anything? why wasn't she more careful? [break][break]

why couldn't she save him when she was right there?[break][break]

a string in her chest twangs, eyes narrowing, and there's a little hint of reluctance as the word form within the back of her throat. the image is still fresh in her mind, so very clear, and the bitter guilt starts to gnaw at her stomach, once again. she shouldn't be like this, should she? not when her precious little brother is here, and not after he's taken the time out of his day to visit her after so long. [break][break]

daphne's been here long enough, in this headspace. it was about time for her to leave it. it's why sh left hoenn for as long as she did, isn't it? it's why she spent so much time recuperating, looking back on what she's done, what she's enjoyed doing; it's why she spent so long developing a business of her own, and she's naive to think that it was a product solely of her own work (and not of her name, nor the weight it carries. although she can also attribute that same first name of hers to the majority of troubles she's faced in the past while). [break][break]

"mhm.." she can only hum, emerald eyes fixated, gazing upon the food on her plate. it' still letting out steam and smoke, the lasagna is still fresh, but she takes a moment to pensively eye it. it's the only other thing she can look at here, anyways. the other logical place to look at is at the man across the table, and there's something in her mind telling her not to. [break][break]

"... maybe we'll never know." wouldn't she like to, though? it was bad enough to know of the sighting that happened just a while ago, but to be faced with what alex.. would have wanted, or what he could have been happy with, or what he was proud of? what is there to be proud of? ah, yes, the little sister of the time who was looked down upon by silph, fell into grief and despair after her brother died, and was too incompetent despite her valiant efforts? no, she failed herselef, failed the company, failed the family legacy--[break][break]

she failed. [break][break]

the weight of the word is heavy on her shoulders, but she's trying to mask it. leo is here, so mask it, daphne (you know how he is, and you imagine that he'd be just as worried if he knew what you saw). [break][break]

mustering a smile is too much effort, so he only gets a poor attempt. a poor mockery of her usual vigour. ".. i think i would beg to differ."

Leonidas Stone

☉

the train of thought is short lived, and her lips curl into a small smile with the image of a familiar, platinum-haired woman walking her way. "ana~" she chimes, the rare raise of her lips and her eyes are more prominent as she opens her arms to return the hug. yes, ana. her precious little sister. [break][break]

when she pulls back, slightly, her brows are furrowed, and the smile is slightly more anxious. "i'm alright, alright. perhaps.. a little anxious" she raises a hand to her lips, letting out a quick chuckle "it's not every day i get to spend time with family" or spend her time, in general, nowadays.

ANA STONE

☉

it's nice (and a little odd) to see that he was enjoying her food. what, considering how her track record of cooking wasn't.. exactly clan, or the best, and consistently horrible. not that he would ever tell her. she does know to some extent, but it's cute how her little brother doesn't want to hurt her feelings. [break][break]

and so she hums, glancing to the side as she takes another small piece of lasagna in her fork. her eyes linger on it for a little while, before she carefully brings it up to her lips. "i like to periodically check in with the family~" her lips curl into a smile as she takes a bite, raising a hand up to cover her mouth as she chews. then swallows, and she brightens up a little more. who'd know that she was able to actually make something good? [break][break]

"if your venture wasn't much related or of interest, then what i've turned to is probably far from the mark." granted she's always been fickle, if only because it was so hard to find a purpose. "although between the two of us.." eyes fall down to the plate, and her smile falls somber "i think you'd have been the better one to take over devon in alex's absence."

Leonidas Stone

☉

a miracle indeed, and even she was surprised at how it turned out. like.. it actually turned out half decent. it turned out pretty good, and edible, for arceus' sake. of course, she didn't know that until she took a small piece and bite of the lasagna herself, and you could practically feel the pride that radiated from hr body, along with the small glitter in her green eyes as she let the taste settle against her tongue. [break][break]

and her smile only broadens at his approval, after his short moment of.. realization? she chuckles softly after she finishes her bite, slicing off another piece of the food with her knife to take in her fork. "oh? it was so good that you missed what i said?" she jests, of course, even if the sound of that brings more of a smile to her lips. [break][break]

rather than repeating herself, though, she only shakes her head slightly and starts to cut off another piece. "nothing important, only business~" she takes another bite, humming with a broadening smile on her lips "i take it that the hard work has paid off? considering that your company's name has made it to my ears."

Leonidas Stone

☉

"ah, i see. so now you understand the stress that father had to go through~" daphne snickers, very softly, cutting the piece of lasagna out for him to put on the plate. the food.. should be alright, right? daphne is never one for presentation, but it doesn't look like something a gastly tried to puke up, right? it looks edible enough, right? if not, either mother has betrayed her or she's just as bad as she thought she'd be. fingers crossed. [break][break]

"so you say~.." she says with a smile, carving out a second piece of lasagna to put onto her plate, that time "but i'd try to make time. things have finally started to lighten up, that is.. around my own business." especially after the tragedy that was supply chains after what happened in hoenn, which is partially her reason for coming back. but enough business talk; he was here to spend some time with her, and she was more than happy to have some family around again. [break][break]

when placing her own slice of lasagna down onto the plate, she finds herself absentmindedly (and expectingly) watching a man as he takes a bite of the dinner she's prepared. she probably watches a little too intently. [break][break]

"how does it taste?"

Leonidas Stone

☉

she can understand that; life moving quickly, that is. hell, she grew a few number of years just because she found her wonderful way into a pocket of space-time that.. aged her up. though it took some time for her to adjust to her new age, it.. thankfully wasn't anything too difficult to her. considering she went from her late twenties to her early thirties.. it should be alright. [break][break]

though with this change came a myriad of questions, and plenty of things she was honestly ready to explain.. [break][break]

holding the bundle of silverware in one hand as the other reaches to open a cupboard and grab two plates. when she rises back up, she's reaching over the counter to place the plate and utensils down for the two of them, respectively. then she hums, with a small smile maintained to her lips "it sounds like you had a good time there~" she chimes, moving over to hook the leg of a stool nearby to tug closer, then she lifts herself to be seated. [break][break]

"if not a little fast paced." she says with a chuckle, reaching over to grab the knife and to begin cutting a piece of the steaming lasagna. "... the feeling is mutual, too. if you didn't come to visit me in hoenn, i had half the mind to come see you in unova~" if she had the time, considering how she had her hands full with devon back then, and nowadays with her own brand.

Leonidas Stone

☉

the garchomp sits idly, only to huff softly at a man when he's tugged over. the poor man probably remembers what daphne's cooking was like, but if this garchomp is going to be subjected to it (when daphne does decide to cook something for herself and her pokemon), then he was going to need a taste of it too. imagine his surprise when he isn't being pulled for that, and instead just to hide some.. bags and presents. the dragon eyes the bags before nodding his head, and stomping his merry way into another room. [break][break]

all as daphne moves to the kitchen, oven mitts on hand as she lifts the tray up to bring to the countertop. the smile reaches her eyes when her cheeks raise, and the woman hums softly as she starts to gently wave the steam from the lasagna away "mhm, her food was always delicious~" she tugs the mitts off her hands "on another note.. i was surprised when i heard that you returned to hoenn." she tugs one drawers under the counter, plucking forks and knives from their containers "did unova treat you well?"

Leonidas Stone

☉

her smile broadens at his reaction. her fingers hook between the spaces of his, and her grip tightens, slightly, as she nuzzles closer against his shoulder and chest letting out an idle hum. "i wonder~.." [break][break]

the hum trails off, almost as though she were actually thinking on it. "i can go back to work? and continue to say 'five more minutes' every five minutes~"

Calix Nikolau

☉

he moves from the steak to her, and she has to take a moment to process it as a large hand takes her fingertips in his, and viridian eyes turn up to gaze into the deeper hue of sapphire. she tries to wear a small smile, hoping that she can dissipate the concern that surfaces in his tone, and on his face. it probably doesn't work. [break][break]

"no, no.. that isn't it" she repeats herself, a little verbal tick of hers "it's just that.." her lips press and form a thin line as she's pensive with her words, and she curls the tips of her finger around his "i am.. just worrying too much, don't think too much on it~" she tries to chime, pressing against his hand in an attempt to lower it. [break][break]

"... i just want you to stay safe."

Calix Nikolau

☉