#leo lore

Remember when I said I didn't know how to use the really simple can openers...

Man I did not expect IBS to shake out the way it did for them! I was expecting some kind of turmoil but if I already felt like Rytlock and Leo were divorced, then it became turbo divorced by the end of IBS (even if they still frame it as them "taking a break" from being in a relationship...its over. You know it, I know it, Leo knows it. Rytlock is the only one who doesn't...really. at least not in the same way.

Leo lost his uncompromised romantic love for Rytlock post balthazar reveal, and their relationship had never been the same since. Out of...maybe desperation for their situation they "reconcile" during the later stages of Ls4 because Leo would rather lie and partake in performative acts of intimacy to pretend everything is normal rather than being alone. Rytlock knows how badly he once again fumbled his life due to reliance on Sohothin and wanted what he had with Leo back.

Going into IBS they're in a one-sided loveless marriage thats lowkey eating Leo alive even if he doesn't want to admit it because he'd rather be with Rytlock than not.

It's funny for Leo and Crecia to meet when the reasons for their seperation from rytlock stems from the same place (Sohothin and the consequences that lead from Rytlock having thay damn sword.) Even if they shake out for different reasons. Leo is thrown into a time before he knew rytlock (Back before the undercover flame legion mission) and is slowly gleaning that history over the course of Crecia and Rytlock's banter, and whatever the hell is going on with Ryland. Now theres a LOT to talk about in IBS with Leo, but Im solely trying to focus on the rytleo aspect of it all.

I think its like, hm. Maybe a bit...exasperating seeing Rytlock and Crecia bicker during missions as they do because it reminds Leo of having to interact with Rytlock in PoF immediately post balthazar, but the lack of closure crecia got that forms Differently from Leo's own lack of closure IS made worse by the fact they have a child together.

Leo knew about Ryland, he knows (in the barest sense) Rytlock's children with various women from various legions. This is nothing to him, one night stands are common, and heterosexual couplings resulting in children is just what happens. There was never a reason for Leo to think less or more of Rytlock for this. I mean, if we REALLY wanted we could go into the dynamic that Leo is the first man Rytlock slept with more than once, and hes the only man he formed an actual, longer term relationship with. There is a difference in how their dynamic plays out because of that but thats really off-topic.

Anyways, Leo has no gripes towards crecia in terms of her relationship to rytlock and vice versa, their issues with each other lean entirely in the political/personal sense. Crecia finding out about Rytlock's relationship to Rytlock (but not why it ended. Ish. Is just an exasperated sigh for why hes so forgiving for Leo's faults in not agreeing with things that are going on leading up to the civil war bc shes still grappling with Bangar's decent herself. But is also right in being leds trusting of Leo Because he has been away from the legions for too long (which she tells rytlock.) Leo thinks Crecia is naive for not seeing Bangar's red flags sooner. Ect ect.

ANYWAYS. WHY THE TURBO DIVORCE HAPPENS.

Its mainly 1 thing that becomes 2.

You know that little bit where crecia and rytlock succumb to Jormag's whispers and start attacking the commander while yelling out different lines of dialogue? Yeah that doesn't fly over so well for Leo! It's not that they turned on him, its the why. Out of all the things they could have falled for, Rytlock was able to be magically convinced LEO of ALL PEOPLE would KILL Ryland? Not only that, but they use Sohothin against him...and that does probably the real kicker. Sohothin's flames are BALTHAZAR'S flames, it was like a flashback to being in elona and hearing/seeing all these ghosts screaming in pain because all they could remember were the god's fire. The charred bodies, the desecrated homes, it harshly reminded him of the reason he lost his love for Rytlock in the first place.

Then the nasty dialogue...the "Crecia and Rytlock are truly not in their right minds and have been convinced Leo is the enemy so they start saying some nasty shit."

Rytlock goes way more personal, He yells out that Leo killing Ryland is because he knows Leo is desperate for a peaceful life and a family so he wants to take it away from Rytlock out of jealousy. Crecia goes the route with the legions, That Leo has been gone for so long he's forgotten what his people are even like/ what they truly need. He would choose a dragon over them, they cant be expected to trust him. All that in mind...Then Leo gets shot in the neck by bangar immediately after and stays in EOTN for 3 months in recovery because of how badly is neck/throat was fucked up from it. In such an incredibly bad emotional state, Leo essentially breaks down for the very first time. He admits he cant pretend anymore, he yells fustration over THAT being what convinces the two of them to turn against him, and hes licking mental wounds over what was thrown at him verbally even if they werent true. He tells rytlock he doesn't want to see him for the entirety of his recovery, and that they would talk about Them when things settled down.

Then. The 2nd (literal) bomb dropped.

I lied. I said this to an anon before but I lied a little bit bc I wanted to be nice...but Leo and rytlock were always going to break up at some point and they are definitely never getting back together LMFAO.

Its not surprising, ive never not said that these two weren't made for each other. No matter if it was balthazar or something else, at some point in time it wouldve been realized that they simply do not work romantically together. It was inevitable. Never an "if theyll break up" and more of a "When." So you can imagine how Rytlock committing a war crime right in from of Leo's eyes after Leo told him not to go through with it would...solidify any notion that theyd get back together. LMAO. Another one of Rytlock failing to control his impluses and think before instantly regretting his decisions. He was very lucky that they were on a timer or else Leo would have spent 30 extra minutes chewing him out for that stunt. Mind you, Leo is a soldier who has killed before, it wasnt the killing that was the issue, it was the actual actual war crime aspect of it. Its a bad time, theyre so turbo divorced dude. I didn't think it could get worse after the sohothin thing until that happened and I literally sat there with my mouth open for 30 seconds while my friend went "JAVI. JAVI?????" Bc we both knew it was truly rytleo over party from then on out.

This is getting too long but I want to reiterate that...unfortunately. and fortunately. Even if Leo does not love rytlock romantically, by nature of hoe they met and how much time they spent together (THE RED CHAIN. THE RED CHAIN THEY FORGED TOGETHER AND CANNOT ESCAPE EVER) they will always CARE about one another. Nobody will know Leo as well as Rytlock does, and Leo will always care about what Rytlock has to say/ given advice. This is what makes them so interesting 2 me... as of going into EOD and especially post ryland's death theyve framed thing as seperating and maybe trying again later. Leo pushed for this also for Rytlock to focus on himself and...taking time after he was forced to kill his own son. But we all know theyre not getting back together....I have always wanted for EoD to be more about them finally coming to an amicable reconcile over it being over though. So maybe stay tuned.

Wibfe

Close up of Primmy + bonus under the cut

This is one thing about him that he doesn't and wouldn't like and wants to avoid.

When he has a higher chance that he can reach to that point of a downer-perfectionist and losing his charm and hyper personality(also overplays in himself)?

He is prone to lure attention and love. And acting accordingly to deserve that admiration too (with follow-by-the-book manual in order to be likable). It is two extremes with him: either being a hyper charmer or a stern controller. The basis of this behaviour is love and admiration towards him. And he likes some basic respect.