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[notsolomon]

This is William Twining. I shall reply to your message at my earliest convenience. Thank you. ***BEEP***

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[babermetrics]

Yeah . . . couple o' things.

[He shifts closer on the couch—not too close, not touching, but like, intimate conversation level.

First things first:]

. . . Sorry about that whole future husband thing, first off!

[notsolomon]

Oh, that?

[Well that was something he hadn't expected to be brought up again. He'd hoped that Leon would just forget it. And he's had enough time to think about it that William's been feeling guilty for a variety of reasons.]

It isn't anything to apologize for. It's just the thing he does. He's just never done it in front of other people before, so I became a little flustered.

[babermetrics]

I just didn't mean to make things awkward! I mean, I definitely figured that if a guy's saying stuff like that, you're—together, or something! . . . So you never told him you're not into dudes even though he was calling you that?

[He'd known from context already that that had to have been true, but damn, he's still surprised. How long had that Kaz guy been dropping hints William hadn't picked up on yet?]

[notsolomon]

...you have seen how he is with nicknames. You let him know it gets under your skin and it just encourages him. So I figured it was better to ignore.

[And after a certain point, it had become a little funny, like a shared joke.]

I see no reason to state my preferences out loud. It's not something one really needs to do back home.

[babermetrics]

Well, yeah, I mean everyone figures everyone's straight unless they "come out" or whatever, but it's different if a guy's actually hitting on you . . . you've gotta learn how to let a dude down gently, man. Not that I'd know! I've never been hit on by a guy! I think!

[MAYBE HE WAS JUST, SOOOOO STRAIGHT, HE DIDN'T NOTICE! YEAH!]

If he actually calls me Lion-O I'm gonna seriously wreck him. Like, I can't be held responsible for that shit, y'know? Just a warning!

[notsolomon]

...I do not think he was hitting on me Leon. Just being himself is all.

[At least he was pretty sure Kazuya wasn't hitting on him. He felt like he should know by now. Dantalion and Sytry did it all the time back home, then again he was never sure if they were serious Because of his incredibly wishful thinking/very poor gaydar

Damn, he sure hoped Leon was just delusional here. Otherwise what kind of shitty friend was he to not notice something like someone being interested in him?]

Don't hit him. He's pretty durable, so he likely won't feel it.

[babermetrics]

You really don't think a guy talking about how you're his future husband isn't even a little interested? Is this some weird cultural thing or what? So like, what if I came up to you all, "Yo William, lookin' forward to our honeymoon night!" or something? You wouldn't think for a second that maybe I wanted the D?

—I mean, I don't, that was just an example!

[Now he kind of feels like he needs to compensate for this whole conversation by very heterosexually beating in Kazuya's face over that dumb nickname. Dammit. He huffs and sits back against the couch, arms crossed.]

[notsolomon]

...I would assume you were pranking me. Or be deeply concerned for your mental welfare.

[Leon had gone on and on enough about his interest in women that William wouldn't have been able to take that any other way.]

But, no it's never bothered me before. Largely because of the context in which it sprang up in.

[babermetrics]

Heh . . . I'm kinda flattered, actually. So what kinda context was it that made you so sure it wasn't him flirting with you? 'Cuz I'm not so sure myself.

[notsolomon]

...we suffer from a very similar problem is all. He's probably the first person to have really understood it.

[Should he just say it? Talk about reincarnation and all of that? Hmmm, decisions, decisions.]

[babermetrics]

Yeah? What kinda problem? This somethin' I know about?

[He sobers a little, relaxing against the couch and watching William. Maybe they should be having drinks . . . ]

—You want a beer?

[notsolomon]

...not really. It's complicated. It isn't something I have talked about much since coming here.

[He deliberates over the offer for a moment and then nods.]

Sure.

[babermetrics]

[He gets up and heads for the fridge, calling out behind him:]

Hey, if you wanna talk about it, it's cool! I won't freak out, I promise! I mean . . . I wanted you to come over for that kinda thing . . . 'cuz there's stuff like that that we haven't talked about.

[notsolomon]

...I think I might as well talk about it. Otherwise, with my luck you'll find out in an unfortunate way.

[Solomon had been quiet though, so perhaps there was no danger. Maybe CERES had done something to him. But still, if he couldn't tell Leon, than who?]

[babermetrics]

This sounds kinda serious . . .

[He comes back around the back of the couch from the kitchen, setting an open Asahi down in front of William, then flopping back down next to him, beer in hand.]

[notsolomon]

It is. And it's probably just as weird as anything else I have told you about me.

[But he's going to take a swig of that beer before continuing on.]

...what do you know about reincarnation?

[babermetrics]

Uh . . . not a lot? I never really thought about it before.

[Well, this isn't what he expected. He sips his beer, watching William attentively. Hmm . . . ]

[notsolomon]

[That could either be a good or a bad thing he thought to himself.]

Well, you know that ancestor I told you about? The one that is the cause of all the trouble?

[babermetrics]

Yeah . . . ?

[Wait, there's really only one place this can be going. Leon sits up even more, frowning thoughtfully.]

So, what, you're his reincarnation? Is that it?

[notsolomon]

Yes it is. I even have memories and reams that surface from that time. And as far as many demons are concerned, I am him.

[It's a complicated thing, because in some ways he's not as vexed by this as he was a year ago, though the annoyance still surfaces.]

[babermetrics]

Man, that's crazy . . . I never thought a lot about this kinda thing. Memories, huh? Of the past? That's totally freaky! I gotta say, if some rando told me this, I wouldn't even believe them!

[But he knows William better.

And he's not bothered; it's weird, yeah, but not weird in a way that affects him, that he knows of. It's just interesting. He leans forward a little, his attention got.]

That's why you can summon demons or whatever?

[notsolomon]

Yes. He died before he could undo the contracts, so they still exist. It doesn't make me very popular with some of them. Some of them really hated him and other demons loved him deeply.

Having those feelings projected at me all the time, it's troubling.

[Because how do you respond to that? At all?]

[babermetrics]

Yeah . . .

[He hadn't thought about that aspect before, and as it sinks in, he frowns, looking a bit offended on William's behalf.]

What the hell, you're you! Even if you used to be someone else, you're you now! Tell those guys to screw off! You don't need any ancestor to be cool, man.

[notsolomon]

I've told them that often enough. Some of them are better about it than others. It's just hard... when his memories are floating around in my head too.

[Sometimes as dreams and sometimes like childhood memories that had been forgotten until recently.]

Hah, but did you know that when I smell herbs, those memories sometimes come forward? And his personality does as well. Though Kevin tells me it hasn't really happened here. But I tend not remember much. So if I ever seem like I am acting off and it isn't because of this place, that might be why.

[babermetrics]

Wait, are you saying he, like, possesses you?

[Okay, now he's getting why this might be a big deal, or something he'd want to know. That's pretty freaky to think about—both from William's perspective and Leon's. He blinks, trying to fit this into his head.]

. . . What's he like? I mean, I've gotta know what to look out for!