Leo & Shiro parent/child

C-support
Leo: …And here, these will be your quarters from now on.
Shiro: [smile, closed eyes] Aw, nice! Close to the mess hall and everything!
Shiro: [surprised] Uh… what’s all this stuff?
Leo: I had it prepared for you in advance, of course.
Shiro: [frown] I can see that. That’s… wow, are you sure you gave me enough books, Dad?
Leo: [smile] Oh, don’t worry – that’s just for the next week while you settle in. I’ll assign you more going forward.
Shiro: [surprised] More- week- if you stacked them all up, they’d be taller than ME!
Leo: I wouldn’t recommend it. They’d topple over.
Leo: I understand you’ve already been tutored in mathematics and philosophy, so I’ve focused on history, geography, and economics.
Leo: Oh, and it would be remiss not to include some classic Hoshidan and Nohrian literature, of course.
Shiro: [injured] Y-yeah… wouldn’t wanna miss out on that…
Leo: I’ll meet with you each night and you can give me a progress report. I know it’s not the close tutelage you’re used to, but…
Leo: [frown, sweat] Unfortunately I have many pressing responsibilities here.
Shiro: [smile, sweat] Right, of course. I bet Aunt/Uncle Avatar would be lost without your strategies.
Leo: [embarrassed] I wouldn’t go that far.
Leo: Of course, do let me know if this curriculum is too simplistic. I’ve modelled it on Elise’s to compensate for your isolation.
Shiro: [smile, sweat] If Aunt Elise can handle it, I should be fine.
Leo: [smile] Excellent. I’ll let you get settled in.
Leo: [smile, sweat] Er… I’m glad you’re here, Shiro. I’ve missed you.
[Leo leaves]
Shiro: [smile, sweat] You too, Dad.
Shiro: [injured] Oh, boy…

B-support
Leo: [frown] … This isn’t funny, Shiro.
Shiro: [smile, sweat] It’s a little funny.
Shiro: [injured] Okay, okay, I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to write!
Leo: So instead of writing the task I set you -a basic description of a recent historical event!- you opted for stick figures dancing.
Shiro: They’re supposed to be screaming. Because they’re on fire.
Leo: Why would they be on fire?
Shiro: You told me to write about the pacification of the Ice Tribe! I figured there’d be fire involved.
Shiro: Y’know, fire melts ice, so…
Leo: [frown, closed eyes] Did you even read any of the books?
Shiro: [sweat, injured] I skimmed them?
Leo: This is pathetic.
Leo: [angry] I set you a simple task, and not only do you fail to complete it, you made no serious attempt.
Shiro: [upset] Well, maybe if you’d TOLD me I was a prince-
Leo: You shouldn’t have to be a prince to do what you’re told!
Shiro: Look, I tried, okay?! The amount of reading you set was impossible!
Shiro: No-one could fit that amount of study in alongside everything else that’s happening!
Leo: [frown] I did. Xander and Camilla did.
Shiro: [frown] Were you fighting a war at the same time?!
Leo: At times. I’ve been fighting and killing for Nohr since I was far younger than you are now.
Shiro: [surprised] …What?
Leo: Look, here, I’ll help you plan a schedule. If you wake up at dawn, then train for two hours before breakfast-
Shiro: [frown] Dad, how young WERE you when you first started fighting?
Leo: A few years younger than Elise. I spent time along the Chevois border pacifying the rebellion and honing my magic.
Leo: I don’t see how any of this matters.
Shiro: [injured] I’m sorry. I didn’t realise Grandfather forced you to grow up so quickly.
Leo: Save your pity. I wasn’t forced to do anything – I involved myself by choice.
Shiro: [surprised] What? Why!?
Leo: The court was a nest of vipers at the time. All the adults stood to gain from us children killing one another.
Leo: Getting away was a blessing. I volunteered.
Shiro: [sad] But… you were just a little kid.
Leo: [smirk] Tell that to the Chevois.
Leo: [frown] Anyway, all this has nothing to do with your lack of discipline.
Shiro: [frown, sweat] Okay, okay! I’ll do my best, alright?
Leo: See that you do. You’re an exemplary fighter, but weapons alone aren’t enough. Not even Raijinto.

A-support
Shiro: [frown] …So? How is it?
Leo: [frown] It’s an improvement.
Shiro: [happy] Yes!
Leo: -But you still need to apply yourself more. It’s littered with spelling mistakes, your handwriting is shaky, and your understanding of Nestrian economic theory is limited.
Shiro: [upset] …Oh.
Leo: Next time, try and- Shiro?
Leo: [worried] Are you feeling illl?
Shiro: [very upset] Damn it! I… I did the best I could, okay?!
Shiro: I’m just not as smart as you, or you when you were my age, or Father, or-
Shiro: This isn’t even fair! I didn’t even know I WAS a prince until recently, how am I meant to measure up to you!?
Leo: [surprised] Shiro…
Shiro: You’re a genius, Dad! Everyone knows that! You’re the smartest person in this whole army, in all of Nohr!
Shiro: And Father- he’s not much in the parenting department, but he’s a peerless samurai!
Shiro: I don’t measure up to either of you, on anything! And-
Shiro: And I’ve been telling myself it’s all your fault for leaving me in that Deeprealm, but-
Shiro: [eyes closed, upset] I guess you could already tell I wasn’t worth the trouble.
Leo: [upset] Shiro! That’s enough!
Shiro: [surprised] Whoa! D-Dad? You almost never get into hugs…
Leo: Just- don’t say things like that, okay?!
Leo: [eyes closed, upset] No, that’s not right-
Leo: [eyes open, upset] I’m so sorry I made you feel that way. I… I’ve really messed this up.
Leo: [sad] Do you remember I told you about when I went to the Chevois border?
Shiro: Yeah… you were even younger than I am now, and you were already accomplishing stuff.
Leo: That’s not how I saw it at the time.
Leo: [frown] I was starting to grow and come into my own, but my every accomplishment was compared with Xander.
Leo: [frown, sweat] I… realise now that he probably felt the same pressures I did. But at the time, part of me hated him.
Leo: To my shame, part of me still does.
Shiro: [sad] Dad…
Leo: What I should have realised long ago is that it shouldn’t matter to your family how well you measure up to some arbitrary standard.
Leo: [sad] To be honest… I have no idea what a normal amount of study looks like. I should have found that out before pushing all this on you.
Leo: I’m so sorry.
Shiro: [smile] It’s okay, Dad. Really.
Shiro: I didn’t get why all this was so important to you – I thought it was just something else you didn’t like about me.
Shiro: But... I get it now. All these books mean a lot to you, huh?
Leo: [smile] I suppose they do. History, strategy, the natural sciences… I’ve always enjoyed losing myself in them. Seeing me, my family, Nohr, as part of something greater.
Shiro: I like the sound of that.
Shiro: I’ll try again with the books, Dad. I don’t know if I’ll ever be an amazing scholar, but…
Leo: You don’t have to do anything but try, Shiro. I’m already very proud of you.
Shiro: [embarrassed, smile] Thanks, Dad.
Leo: [embarrassed] Oh- I should probably let you go-
Shiro: [smile, closed eyes] Nothing wrong with a family hug every now and then.
Leo: [smile] That’s true – we’ve got lost time to make up for, after all.