languor

leon burch (sloth) is an omega level mutant with the ability of mental manipulation. they’ve been in new york for thirteen years where they spend most of their time as a therapist/government agent. when i think of them, i think of constant scribblings, tricks of the eye, bookshelves full of unread books. they are affiliated with the seven deadly sins.

“You know, the appeal of Halloween has always been odd to me. I mean, who even thinks of something like this?” A giant event full of people dressed in varying costumes and masks. Maybe he was simply deprived of it as a child, and struggled to see the fun it it, but it seemed more stressful than anything. 

location: the satanic soiree participants: ciarán o’connell & open ( @c23starters· )

ciarán had made himself at home on one of club nyx’s couches, his feet resting on the table and his arms folded behind his head. the belt of his costume had come undone, revealing the boxers and white t-shirt underneath, but he was simply too relaxed or perhaps too drunk to care. “please tell me you’ve brought me a drink,” he smiled, not bothering to open his eyes to see who’d chosen to join him. “i’m absolutely parched.” 

location: satanic soiree participants: cassia song & leon burch ( @leonxburch· )

“well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise,” cassia smiled as she approached leon running her hand along his arm as she came to a stop next to him. “and what are you supposed to be?” she asked, her eyebrow arched as she looked him up and down. she could have ventured a guess, but she really didn’t care enough - not that she’d actually tell him that. 

“It’s been lovely, thanks for asking!” There’s a sarcastic grin on her face, and she rolls her eyes. Having a conversation about anything that isn’t to do with work, is almost impossible with Leon. Her nose wrinkles at his words of encouragement. “I’m trying, but Maxine is a tough nut to crack. She’s a typical lawyer… Stoic and private. I’m almost certain that if I ask if she wants to get drinks, she’ll say no. It’s worth a try, though, I suppose.”

“it’s been a tad lighter than i’d prefer,” cassia admitted with a sigh. she made great care not to offer up too many details - after all, one could never be too trusting. that and she wouldn’t be doing a good job if she revealed too much about her doings. “i will say i’ve had some interesting cases though,” she smiled. 

“It’s always straight to business with you, Leon. It’s okay to talk about the weather sometimes, before jumping in.” He’s always been the most practical one — the responsible leader. “I think she trusts me, yes. She allows me in her office while she’s reading cases, so I’d say there’s a fair amount of trust between us.” Honestly, she thought things would be a little juicier after the Brotherhood attacks in June. “I’ve found nothing exciting yet. I’m sure something will come up, though. She’s a lawyer, and us lawyers are nothing if not shady and secretive. Well, in my case that’s true, at least.” 

         “other than you? you think you can beat my record?” not that said record exists yet, but… sora is confident enough that she can beat anyone here. with her eyes closed, even! “i guess we’ll see who comes out on top.” as it happens, her confidence isn’t entirely misplaced. the ride is harder to manage than she expects, but with a little influence cast out, she manages to keep herself from flying off for long enough to break the current record. with a few claps from the person managing the bull, she slides off and grins in leon’s direction. “your turn!”

“They’ve really taken the whole spy deal personally. Major trust issues,” they start talking, always a tad bit more around Leon. Mori almost wishes they could’ve stepped in sooner and really fucked things up but the brutal torture and live stabbing? Ezra could probably tear a rift in the group all by himself, “Swear you’d be a millionaire if the Brotherhood lot actually got therapy. Suppose there wouldn’t be a Brotherhood if they got therapy though.” 

Santiago nods solemnly at Leon’s point, because it’s a good one. He tries to imagine any point in his own life where he felt the most physically and mentally capable, and it feels like opposing curves. Then again, he’s also never been anything like, say, invulnerable. “Honestly? You should,” Santi encourages with an unavoidable amusement. “But maybe that’s the freelancer in me talking. Still, though, imagine the fascinating things you might hear…” He trails off, then pauses and corrects himself, “Sorry, that’s probably a bit callous to say. I’m not trying to imply you should offer your services just to get the insider gossip.”

         “a girl can dream, can’t she?” she chirps, offering a sly smile. it’s true that there’s almost nothing she can do to get leon to cooperate with her scheme, but the thought alone is amusing enough. it’s a shame that the mind isn’t her area of expertise. things would be very different, then. handing over her things, she continues, “oh, i’ve never done anything with this machinery before… but training had something similar. you have to learn to fight in every environment, remember? even unstable ones.” especially unstable ones. “i was always good at that. even before linda took us in.”

Cassia was an asset in a way Santi was not. But, Santi was harmless, so Leon saw no point in severing the odd friendship they had formed. Cassia’s entire job was tracking people. Her purpose was to learn secrets. And, while she was tight lipped most of the time, even a morsel of news about her cases could be enough to hand off to Linda as needed. “How’s the case load these days? I hope you aren’t running yourself too rampant around the city?”

“Cissy,” Leon says simply as he walks past, book in his hand. He settles a bookmark between the pages of the book, and snaps it shut. “How have things been? The lawyer, does she trust you?” Typical Leon, all business, all the time. Well, at least with the other sins. He could turn it on as he needed to. But the sins? Well, Leon didn’t figure it was worth wasting his energy to pretend to be anything but himself with them.

        “i’m sure you would, leon. and i’d like to see you soaked in the dunk tank. sometimes we have to settle for being realistic.” but even as she speaks, sora is already hoping for the chance. it would be humiliating! “if you’re so insistent on me showing you how it’s done, i guess i could give it a whirl. but i should correct myself… it’s easy to explain. all you have to do is hang on. not so easy to do once you’re on the ride.” unless, of course, you can manipulate the fabric of reality. it’s a walk in the park, then! “you’re going to have to hold my things, i hope you know.”

if there was one thing lai was grateful for, it was her lack of want to be the leader of the group. sora’s jealousy made her seem nothing short of miserable ( and nothing short of genuine when making fun of leon – five doing so in good fun, one doing so out of genuine spite ). leon seldom seemed to have the time for the same fun and games everyone else did. everything had to be about work ( and, while that was their destiny – their genuine purpose – being unable to discuss anything outside of it… what a sad existence ), that was his cross to bear. so these moments ? moments of shared amusement, even if coming about via swindling leon ? rare. cherished. and a reminder: thank god she was not the ‘leader’ of the sins.  “ yes, yes – she just seems too stubborn to not have a strong resistance. ” physical strength had nothing to do with it ! – though she would be lying if she said that that, combined with her alias, did not somewhat influence her view of ren after all those years. “ ever met anyone you couldn’t break ? ” that was the truly interesting question ! and, for all the shit they gave him, and for all the deception they pulled, she trusted his honesty. “ god, and that is not something you would assume just meeting them. ” they had an undeniable air of intimidation ( not to mention their assignment with the brotherhood )… yet managed to actually hope for the best for them all ! “ do you know much about their strike ? ”

~

“You know, that’s fair. Some of you are real pushovers,” He jokes. Two in one day! Clearly, Lai had caught him on a good day. Of course, what was there not to be eat least moderately excited about? They were taking all the right steps towards success, there was nothing and no one to be mad at. Linda had to be at least moderately pleased with their progress, so what else was there to do but take this as a small victory amongst the chaos? He could let himself have a moment of respite after all these years. 

“Not yet.” He has no doubt that person is out there somewhere. There are just too many mutations in the world for someone to not have immunity to his powers. But, he’ll have to continue hoping he never comes across that person, because he doesn’t have the desire to find out what it’s like to not have any easy time winning a fight with someone. “I’m sure there’s someone out there, but I’m not going to make any attempts to meet that person.” Mori was nothing short of ice cold to the eye. They had a way of carrying themselves that made them seem like the biggest asshole of them all. In reality, they probably were the most caring. Well, comparatively to the other sins. None of their emotions were entirely intact. “Not much. Just that the Brotherhood’s actions have fallen on their shoulders. Which, is fair, they’re meant to keep things in check.” It was not something he would voice, but he didn’t fully agree with the strike against Mori. But, disagreement was not an option. Linda knew what was best for them, anyway.

         “i wouldn’t say it’s sunshine and roses. more like coffee and cigarettes. still better than smoke and flames. or worse, children. thankfully, my students are mostly adults right now…” it’s a perk of being a combat instructor. more often than not, xavier’s isn’t in the business of weaponizing child soldiers. not like the government. not like her. it’s their loss. children are easier to mold into a proper image than those that grow up to choose their own path. “oh, you and your furniture,” she teases, nudging at him. “you know, they should throw these events more often. i could get used to you following my lead for a change.” the remark is treated a joke, even if it’s anything but. “but, i still think you should go first. it’s easy. all you have to do is hang on.”