LogFAQs > #911965699

That's not to say he allowed his attention to be divided, but it was more because Leone needed very little supervision or input in this state. He seemed content to talk to himself in mostly incomplete sentences as long as Lawrence was in front of him. Bizarrely it reminded Lawrence of when Leone was a baby, or perhaps a small child. He could sit there playing games, telling stories, and working through his active imagination... and Lawrence only needed to be there to look over him, whether Lawrence was really giving him direct attention or not.

It was a nostalgic time, but it was brief. Eventually, Leone sobered up.

"Are you feeling better now," Lawrence asked him.

Leone nods. He seems more clear, more cognizant. Well, he says that he's doing better but he looks very sad. It's true that he's more sober but it's hard to say that he's really feeling BETTER. Just different. More sad. More serious.

Lawrence lets out a sigh. "Um, listen. Jen... she...?"

He couldn't form a complete sentence now. This time, it was Lawrence who was having difficulty speaking. And yet he phrased those few words as a question and his intent was very clear. Since Leone didn't say anything, he thought maybe his intent wasn't as clear as he had imagined.

"I didn't see her come back with you," Lawrence goes on.

There was still no response. "And I thought that if she... was here... she probably would have stayed by your side, and visited you in the hospital."

Leone's look suddenly became a more dark and meaningful glare. "Just as you visited me in the hospital?" It was more accusatory. A rhetorical question meant to imply anger, and the assertion that Lawrence probably hadn't bothered to come and see him.

"I did," Lawrence says, defensively.

And, looking at him, Leone knows that is probably actually true. In fact, he knew that anyway before he said it. Lawrence was definitely the type of guy who would go and visit his sick brother in the hospital, and watch over him. He didn't know why he said that.

Well, yes he did. Leone was mad about other things, and so he was lashing out in ways that felt easier. Lawrence probably had come to see him very often. The nurses probably knew him on sight. It was likely just a coincidence that Lawrence had needed to step out right around this time when Leone finally woke up. "But, still, he's also the type of guy who would join the city council... work for the city council... seeking out corruption and trying to put a stop to the thieves' guild... while also being a member of that same guild..."

Leone almost didn't realize that he had said that last part out loud, until he looked up and saw Lawrence was staring back at him. "What do you think about that?"

"I know you know that the world is more complicated than that," Lawrence replies, somberly.

That was probably true as well.

That's because, Leone wasn't mad about that either.

"She is dead," Leone says suddenly and firmly. Yeah, he was pretty mad about that.

Lawrence must have sensed it. "I'm sorry."

"You should be," Leone tells him. Although he doesn't know where that's coming from, yet, he doesn't think it's a lie either. It feels more like his thoughts are still forming in his head. He knows that he blames Lawrence, for sure, and so he feels fine saying it.

"I really am," Lawrence reiterates. "She would have-"

"What?" Leone places his finger on the gun, still sitting on the desk. He slowly spins it, causing it to rotate around his finger. It makes a soft whirring noise as it scrapes against the wood while spinning. "What, you're okay with that?"
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~* and now I only see your dull imposter ~*
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