[If this had been a verbal conversation, Azul probably would have been audibly struggling for a second with his response to that.]
That's different.
[Is it though? Is it really?]
Besides, what happened at the gala... it had nothing to do with you back there, so there was no reason for you to feel obligated to help.
[A lie he can get away with telling, because it's not like Leona had actually heard Azul talking to himself before walking up on him having the stupidest pity party imaginable, right--]
[It might be hard to tell what tone Azul is asking this with because of being text rather than voice, but given how fast he replied rather than the pause like before, it seems that Azul is in fact paying very close attention now...]
[There's a bit of a lengthy pause. Leona doesn't even say this to Ruggie, and that's the person closest to him. Almost as if saying the word itself makes him allergic.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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That's different.
[Is it though? Is it really?]
Besides, what happened at the gala... it had nothing to do with you back there, so there was no reason for you to feel obligated to help.
[A lie he can get away with telling, because it's not like Leona had actually heard Azul talking to himself before walking up on him having the stupidest pity party imaginable, right--]
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[He's not going to mention him overhearing everything.]
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Azul is typing...
... Azul is still fucking typing until finally settling on--]
Why do you even care? Like I said, it had nothing to do with you.
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... What?]
You actually think that we are friends?
[It might be hard to tell what tone Azul is asking this with because of being text rather than voice, but given how fast he replied rather than the pause like before, it seems that Azul is in fact paying very close attention now...]
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[Well, that reaction is pretty telling.]
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and then
Leona's phone starts ringing, Azul's name on the caller ID, and should he choose to answer...]
... Do you actually mean that? That you consider me a friend here?
[His voice is quiet, and somehow manages to not convey any particular emotion just yet.
Apparently Azul wants to actually hear Leona say it. Can't be satisfied with just seeing the words being vaguely implied in text.]
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I don't say words I don't mean.
[Does he really need to hear Leona say it?]
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[He knows. He knows that, and yet...]
But can you... just humor me this one time, and actually say it anyway?
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[There's a bit of a lengthy pause. Leona doesn't even say this to Ruggie, and that's the person closest to him. Almost as if saying the word itself makes him allergic.
Then, there's a sigh.]
Weren't we friends?