[ oh!! rondo is absolutely enjoying his food, he is chowing down on whatever meal is currently in front of him, enough that when lavi pops up he almost chokes. he pauses, fork raised comically to his mouth, and is about to say something, and then lavi asks that question and by god does it stop him in his tracks.
all of his immediate and obvious bright energy like, freezes. he blinks, almost stunned? before he remembers the bulletin board, and... there's a long, long pause.
rondo looks down at his plate, his expression dropping, brows knitting together immediately as he considers the question, swallowing down the bite of what he was eating too slowly. ]
...
[ how does he even... when he finally speaks up, his voice is very quiet. ]
.... Sir Sazantos is... [ ... ] My mentor. And...someone very dear to me.
[ and then it's followed up with a small, sheepish smile. ] Why do you ask...?
[Lavi waits for the inevitable kick to the head -- the pair of nice solid boots that belong to his mentor, who'd definitely take this moment to scold Lavi deeply for asking a personal question out of nowhere, and then apologize to Rondo on behalf of his stupid, foolish pupil.
but he's not here, so Lavi makes do with the apologetic expression on his face instead, looking sympathetic]
Sorry. My Gramps always says I'm too nosy for my own good. He's actually my mentor too.
[is he dear to him? perhaps! (he is)]
Let's start over. [HE STICKS OUT A GLOVED HAND] I'm Lavi! Nice to meet ya.
it's fine. listen. it's totally fine. if nothing else, rondo recovers very quickly - whatever started to drag him down into the depths of some very Big Feelings is stopped by lavi's apology and, he laughs despite himself when lavi starts over so energetically, almost helplessly coming out of his mouth. that's his kind of way too. ]
Hello. [ the smile on his face spreads back across, genuine and warm, and he reaches out to shake his hand. strong handshake! he's also wearing gloves. amazing. ] I am Rondo, of the Knights Ardante - it's a pleasure.
[ there's a beat, and then he ducks his head. ]
...It's okay. [ because starting over or otherwise, he won't let that sit too long - to lavi's apology, a little belatedly, he's reassuring. honestly this is the exact kind of thing rondo would have done too... it's hard out here for an extrovert. ] It's just...a little complicated, that's all.
Your gramps is your mentor? What does he mentor you in...?
[woah what if we touched gloves in the refectory (flushed). lavi gives his hand a hearty shake before letting go,]
Bookman stuff! [OKAY] We record history, so we go around talkin' to people to learn about it. He's better at it though -- since people like talking to grandpas.
[bookman's not here to kick his ass for that comment. more importantly.]
softly, rondo murmurs: ] People do like grandpas...
[ like this is the thing that makes the most sense. is it. who knows. but!!! oh, okay, he's picking up what lavi is putting down. ]
- So... you're a scholar! A book man... I see. [ that's. okay. ] You must have a lot of amazing stories.
[ but!! as he's about to take another bite of his terrible food, lavi asks that, though, and this time - rondo perks, and nods, enthusiastic. he is so enthusiastic about the knights ardante. ] -- Yes! Of course, anything you'd like. What would you like to know?
[wow... can't believe rondo is exactly on his wavelength about how bookman is a wrinkly old peanut!!! and he's so enthusiastic too!! it's cute. it also unfortunately makes lavi want to bully... but can he truly be blamed if it's one of rondo's skills.... surely not... he's just testing it out.........]
Girls...? The Knights take in anyone who can prove their worth no matter their gender or station, so...yes, there are many! Let's see... there's Eliza - she's one of the captains, she's really amazing. She's so noble! And she's really nice, so much that she kind of feels like - well, I don't have a big sister, but I feel like that's what it must be like to have one...? She's always looking after us when we get injured.
[ it occurs to him as he finishes this sentence that A) he is rambling and B) lavi asked two questions. he can watch, almost comically, as this processes across rondo's face. wait. ]
... I don't...think I've ever thought about that? [ cute girls... ] They're all my comrades in arms, and - I don't really spend a lot of time with the main garrison, anyway...
Of course! I was chosen to succeed the Flameguard, I have to be dedicated... to...
[ there is
another long pause
and then he starts to turn VERY red. lavi might get the sense as rondo is looking down at his plate that he might be 👉👈 like an anime character as he starts to flush. ]
... I... wouldn't say I'd done anything like that, no...
[ LIFTS HIS HEAD UP IMMEDIATELY and with great passion and probably too much volume - ]
I'm not ashamed!! [ i mean his ears are red but that's besides the point ] I don't think there's anything shameful about having any kind of feelings, and caring for that person has always been an important part of my life! I just --
[ mortifying....! but yeah if you lift up his bangs under there it probably says masochist. rondo covers his face with his hands again. ]
...mfft.
[ whatever response he has to say that gets muffled by this pathetic noise. pathetic. eventually, he removes his hands - maybe it's what lavi says at the end that gets him to, very briefly, frown...? a little sad looking, almost? reminiscent of their initial conversation... before he shakes it off and rubs his very warm face. ]
I .... well, maybe... I don't know. We'll see. [ complicated. hmmm. ] Why ask, Mr. Lavi...?
this does get him to laugh, though - embarrassed, but he's able to clear it up after rubbing his cheeks a little bit more. he's too good natured to be offended. as for the knights ardante!! HIS FAVORITE TOPIC!!! ]
Oh! I can tell you, I'd be happy to! But...I don't want to just ramble about me, too much. Perhaps we ought to trade off...? For someone who collects stories, you must not be able to tell your own that much, I bet...!
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all of his immediate and obvious bright energy like, freezes. he blinks, almost stunned? before he remembers the bulletin board, and... there's a long, long pause.
rondo looks down at his plate, his expression dropping, brows knitting together immediately as he considers the question, swallowing down the bite of what he was eating too slowly. ]
...
[ how does he even... when he finally speaks up, his voice is very quiet. ]
.... Sir Sazantos is... [ ... ] My mentor. And...someone very dear to me.
[ and then it's followed up with a small, sheepish smile. ] Why do you ask...?
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but he's not here, so Lavi makes do with the apologetic expression on his face instead, looking sympathetic]
Sorry. My Gramps always says I'm too nosy for my own good. He's actually my mentor too.
[is he dear to him? perhaps! (he is)]
Let's start over. [HE STICKS OUT A GLOVED HAND] I'm Lavi! Nice to meet ya.
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it's fine. listen. it's totally fine. if nothing else, rondo recovers very quickly - whatever started to drag him down into the depths of some very Big Feelings is stopped by lavi's apology and, he laughs despite himself when lavi starts over so energetically, almost helplessly coming out of his mouth. that's his kind of way too. ]
Hello. [ the smile on his face spreads back across, genuine and warm, and he reaches out to shake his hand. strong handshake! he's also wearing gloves. amazing. ] I am Rondo, of the Knights Ardante - it's a pleasure.
[ there's a beat, and then he ducks his head. ]
...It's okay. [ because starting over or otherwise, he won't let that sit too long - to lavi's apology, a little belatedly, he's reassuring. honestly this is the exact kind of thing rondo would have done too... it's hard out here for an extrovert. ] It's just...a little complicated, that's all.
Your gramps is your mentor? What does he mentor you in...?
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Bookman stuff! [OKAY] We record history, so we go around talkin' to people to learn about it. He's better at it though -- since people like talking to grandpas.
[bookman's not here to kick his ass for that comment. more importantly.]
Can I ask ya about the Knights Ardante?
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softly, rondo murmurs: ] People do like grandpas...
[ like this is the thing that makes the most sense. is it. who knows. but!!! oh, okay, he's picking up what lavi is putting down. ]
- So... you're a scholar! A book man... I see. [ that's. okay. ] You must have a lot of amazing stories.
[ but!! as he's about to take another bite of his terrible food, lavi asks that, though, and this time - rondo perks, and nods, enthusiastic. he is so enthusiastic about the knights ardante. ] -- Yes! Of course, anything you'd like. What would you like to know?
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Got any girl knights? Anyone you think is cute?
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Girls...? The Knights take in anyone who can prove their worth no matter their gender or station, so...yes, there are many! Let's see... there's Eliza - she's one of the captains, she's really amazing. She's so noble! And she's really nice, so much that she kind of feels like - well, I don't have a big sister, but I feel like that's what it must be like to have one...? She's always looking after us when we get injured.
[ it occurs to him as he finishes this sentence that A) he is rambling and B) lavi asked two questions. he can watch, almost comically, as this processes across rondo's face. wait. ]
... I don't...think I've ever thought about that? [ cute girls... ] They're all my comrades in arms, and - I don't really spend a lot of time with the main garrison, anyway...
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Really? Never? [woah.......] So what's your type then? What kind of girls do you like?
[stop assigning het]
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there's a long pause. he is like. he is wracking his brain for thoughts relating to girls. he is trying very hard to answer lavi's question.
and then very softly: ]
..... I don't think I've ever thought about that either....
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You're a really dedicated knight, huh?
[don't tease don't tease don't tease don't tease]
What about guys then? Have ya ever rescued a tall, dark, handsome stranger?
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Of course! I was chosen to succeed the Flameguard, I have to be dedicated... to...
[ there is
another long pause
and then he starts to turn VERY red. lavi might get the sense as rondo is looking down at his plate that he might be 👉👈 like an anime character as he starts to flush. ]
... I... wouldn't say I'd done anything like that, no...
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You sure? Your face's tellin' a different story...
[he just POINTS at rondo's cute flush.... horrible]
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[ NOOOO HE PUTS HIS HANDS ON HIS CHEEKS!!! BETRAYAL!!!!!!! as you can see his card describing him as the most bulliable was in fact correct ]
I haven't, I really haven't! I promise, it's not like that at all!
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You can tell me, y'know. I'm part of an Order too, so I'll swear it to secrecy, promise.
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It's inappropriate.
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Is it that scandalous....?
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[ immediately puts his face in his hands ]
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You don't have to be ashamed about it! Love is love. But I get why it could feel embarrassing.
[where did love come from]
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I'm not ashamed!! [ i mean his ears are red but that's besides the point ] I don't think there's anything shameful about having any kind of feelings, and caring for that person has always been an important part of my life! I just --
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... Well, I am sure that person would kill me in cold blood if he were to know about it and also it is highly inappropriate so it is embarrassing.
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Ah. [he nods] No, I totally understand. So that's your type, huh?
[a lot of people also like kanda who would kill people in cold blood if he knew... he eyes rondo a new like he's seeing him in a new light]
I like your passion! I hope one day he does too.
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...mfft.
[ whatever response he has to say that gets muffled by this pathetic noise. pathetic. eventually, he removes his hands - maybe it's what lavi says at the end that gets him to, very briefly, frown...? a little sad looking, almost? reminiscent of their initial conversation... before he shakes it off and rubs his very warm face. ]
I .... well, maybe... I don't know. We'll see. [ complicated. hmmm. ] Why ask, Mr. Lavi...?
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but Lavi's not so much of a bully that he'll harass Rondo to death about this,]
Just Lavi's fine! [don't mister him HELLO they're pals now] And I thought it'd be fun to fluster ya.
[thanks lavi]
But I really am curious about your Knights Ardante, and your... Flameguard? What's that?
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this does get him to laugh, though - embarrassed, but he's able to clear it up after rubbing his cheeks a little bit more. he's too good natured to be offended. as for the knights ardante!! HIS FAVORITE TOPIC!!! ]
Oh! I can tell you, I'd be happy to! But...I don't want to just ramble about me, too much. Perhaps we ought to trade off...? For someone who collects stories, you must not be able to tell your own that much, I bet...!
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Oh, I tell stories all the time. Gramps says it's a bad habit.
[he leans in all conspiratorial...]
But he's not here, so I can say whatever! [can he] What do you wanna know?
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