Updated Leona Facts Part 36: Downplaying (pt1)
Ace realizes that, despite the things that Leona says, he actually does look out for others, and Ace is not the only person who has noticed how Leona will downplay the effort he puts into helping those around him: when Skully compliments Leona on his efficient delegation, on how he “that you took everyone's strengths into exhaustive account when reallocating” tasks, Leona downplays his contribution, saying, “There's nothin' ‘exhaustive’ about it. I just dumped all the hassles on other people.” Skully responds, “Such modesty.”
Cater also notices this about Leona during a birthday interview where Leona says his hope for the next year is to win a national spelldrive championship.
Cater says, “it's supposed to be what YOU want...Sounds like you go above and beyond to make sure everyone on the team gets what they need to succeed. You really care about them, don't you?,” but Leona claims he is “just doin' the bare minimum.”
When Leona reveals he is going through the phantom cages one by one in Tartarus due to the danger of Grim getting caught by his unique magic were he to handle them all at once Jamil observes, “You seemed truly worried about Grim a minute ago. And here I thought you couldn't care less.”
Leona claims he isn’t worried at all and just doesn’t want to deal with the fallout of turning Grim into sand on accident, but Jamil looks unconvinced.
Ruggie has also noticed Leona’s downplaying: when Leona claims he is only looking to get refreshments for his dormmates during Halloween because “their brains are in their stomachs” Ruggie responds, “Can’t you jus admit you wanna do something nice?”
After reuniting with Jack towards the end of Spectral Soiree Leona teases him for being a “little lost pup” and Ruggie whispers, “C’mon, Leona. Would it kill you to be honest with the guy and tell him you were worried?”
After being told that he should confer with someone whom he deeply respects and admires with his Port Fest struggles, Jack goes to Leona for help.
At the end of the event Jack credits Leona for giving him the advice that led to the success of their performance. Leona says that he didn't do anything at all.
In Book 7 Leona claims that he barely pays attention to other dorms, but in Book 6 Leona provides detailed evaluations of Azul and Riddle's strengths and weaknesses to Jamil, as well as an evaluation of Jamil himself, which seems to resonate.
Idia in particular seems to take what Leona says at face value: he agrees that Leona does not seem to pay attention to others (“I never took you for a guy with his finger on the pulse of the community, Leona”), and when Leona asks if Ortho has a point to make after complimenting Leona in Book 7 Idia responds, “Talk about a complete lack of modesty,” in a complete opposite evaluation of Leona to characters like Skully, who might be more perceptive.
Leona’s claim that he barely pays attention to other dorms was possibly another example of Leona downplaying himself, intentionally giving others the impression that he is not anything more than he seems to be, a point he might have in common with Trey (more here ▶︎ and here ▶︎)
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