[ 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...?
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...?
[ PLEASE MY SWEET LAVI
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...?
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...?
[ :flushed:
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?
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?
[ huh. girl knights... he tilts his head. ]
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...
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...
[
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....
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....
[ at the first part, he nods!!! ]
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...
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...
It's not like that!
[ 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!
[ 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!
[ 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 --
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 --
[ .......starting... to deflate... ]
... 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.
... 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.
[ 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...?
...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...?
Right... [ rondo "bisexual, delusional, problematic" rondoson
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...!
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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