Leorio Paladiknight

Leorio has set up a donation booth at the Hunter Association entrance. There's a collection box, some cookies he bought on sale, and a poster he drew himself (it's ugly, looks like a stick figure bleeding). He's in a suit, his tie is already crooked at 10 AM. He's sweating a little. He prepared a speech, but he lost it. He's improvising.

Without his knowledge, his friends each have something planned. Gon brought strawberries. Killua is lurking around pretending to be bored. Kurapika wrote a check. And even Hisoka is passing by, probably just to watch him stress out.

Dialogue 1 — Leorio and Gon (the squished strawberry) Gon: (bursting in like a tornado) "Leo-san! I brought strawberries for the fundraiser! Look, I washed them myself!"

Leorio: (catching the basket mid-air) "Gon, it's not a food drive, it's a fundraiser— Fine, put it there, that's nice."

Gon: "Killua says strawberries are romantic! Is that true?"

Leorio: (sigh) "... Look, ask your dad, he's the one who knows about romance. I just know how to stitch a wound."

Gon: (serious) "But stitching a wound is romantic too, right? Because you're taking care of people."

Leorio: (speechless) "... Go help Killua, he's pacing in front of the entrance."

(Gon runs off. Leorio looks at the strawberry basket.)

"... Little brat. He's gonna make me cry one day."

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Dialogue 2 — Leorio and Killua (the discreet donation) Killua: (drops an envelope on the table, without a word)

Leorio: (lifts the envelope, feels the weight) "What's this?"

Killua: (hands in pockets, looking away) "Money."

Leorio: (opens the envelope, eyes widen) "Killua, there's an extra zero here. How many missions is that?"

Killua: "Two. Three. Dunno. Alluka said to give."

Leorio: "Alluka?"

Killua: (red) "And me too. Well, I said what I had to say. Bye."

(He turns to leave. Leorio grabs his collar.)

Leorio: "Wait a second."

(He rummages in his pocket, pulls out a homemade badge.)

"Here. It's lame, I made it in a rush. But it entitles you to free consultations for life. At my clinic. For you and Alluka."

(Killua takes the badge. He looks at it for a long time.)

Killua: (very low) "... It's ugly."

Leorio: "I know."

(Killua puts the badge in his inside pocket, near his heart.)

Killua: "... Thanks."

(He leaves fast. Very fast. Leorio pretends not to notice.)

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Dialogue 3 — Leorio and Kurapika (the silent check) Kurapika: (places an envelope on the table. Not the same as Killua's. Thinner.)

Leorio: "Kurapika. You didn't have to come."

Kurapika: "I came for Gon and Killua."

Leorio: "Mmh."

(He opens the envelope. It's a check. The amount is... significant.)

Leorio: "Kurapika. This is too much."

Kurapika: (calm) "The Kurta had a tradition. On February 14th, we gave healers what they couldn't ask for."

(Silence.)

Leorio: "... Guess that tradition hasn't died out."

Kurapika: "No."

(Leorio puts the check in his drawer, without looking at it.)

Leorio: "Are you eating at least somewhat properly?"

Kurapika: "... I'm trying."

Leorio: "That's not what I saw at your last check-up."

(Kurapika doesn't answer. Leorio pulls out a small pouch from his drawer.)

Leorio: "Here. Vitamin supplements. Neutral taste. Put them in your tea, no one will know."

(Kurapika takes the pouch. His fingers tremble just a little.)

Kurapika: "... Thank you, Leorio."

Leorio: (grunts) "Yeah, yeah. Come back in three weeks for the check-up. And bring Gon, I need to make sure he's growing normally."

(Kurapika smiles. A real smile. Leorio looks away.)

Kurapika: "Okay."

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Dialogue 4 — Leorio and Hisoka (the intruder) Hisoka: (appears behind the table, too close) "Doctor~. Can I make a donation too?"

Leorio: (jumps, almost knocks over the collection box) "What the— Hisoka! What are you doing here? This is a fundraiser for kids, not your playground—"

Hisoka: (places a wad of cash. Thick wad.) "For the sick little ones~. So sad."

Leorio: (looks at the cash, looks at Hisoka, looks at the cash) "... Where did you steal this?"

Hisoka: "A mystery~."

(He also places a business card.)

"And this is for you. For when you want to... examine my heart."

Leorio: (takes the card, tears it in half, throws it away) "I only examine people who actually have one, Hisoka."

(Hisoka laughs. Really laughs. He seems delighted.)

Hisoka: "That's why I love you, Doctor~."

(He disappears as fast as he came. Leorio stands frozen.)

Leorio: "... I am not paid enough for this."

(He takes the cash anyway. The kids are more important.)

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

Dialogue 5 — Leorio and Cheadle (official recognition) Cheadle: (approaches the booth, serious face) "Doctor Paladiknight."

Leorio: (instantly straightens his tie) "Doctor Yorkshire."

Cheadle: "I have reviewed your grant proposal for the pediatric hospital."

Leorio: (tense) "And?"

Cheadle: "The budgetary section was a disaster."

Leorio: "... Ah."

Cheadle: "But the medical section was impeccable. And the letters of recommendation from your patients..."

(She pauses.)

Cheadle: "... were the most moving I have ever read."

Leorio: (speechless) "..."

Cheadle: "Grant approved. Congratulations."

(She places an official file on the table and leaves. Leorio stares at the file.)

Leorio: "... Damn."

(He puts his hand over his eyes. He's shaking a little.)

"Damn it all."

(Gon comes running back.)

Gon: "Leo-san! Why are you crying?"

Leorio: "I'm not crying, I have an allergy— Go get Killua, we need to celebrate."

Gon: "With the strawberries?"

Leorio: (smiling through his fingers) "Yeah. With the strawberries."