Leon

Leon, Tanner’s close friend, is a 20 year old human who means well, but more often than not finds himself lured in by their other friend April’s shenanigans. He’s chipper, go-with-the-flow, and quick to crack a joke– but he’s also the first to snap under pressure. He wishes to be handy with a gun like Tanner, and have the eagle eye like April, but with an old revolver and a trigger-happy finger, he’s often left to rummage around the house in an attempt to find the newest hiding spot his friends have stowed his handgun away in.

## Description

Leon has a limp from a hunting injury. He can get by without a cane, but it surely helps him to have it on hand.

## Relationships

### April and Tanner

Tanner and April have known each other for most of their lives. They both grew up outside of Lystrike, a couple of hours off aways in a more populated (though still rather rinky-dink) town.

As for **Leon**, he was born and raised in Lystrike. It’s a very boring town growing up, because there’d be maybe five other kids close to his age and none of them he could really click with. He’s a social butterfly for sure, but there was no real connection with many people his age in town.

Leon wouldn’t meet April and Tanner until he reached his teens; His father would take the time to drive him out to the closest big town’s fall festival one year, which happened to be in April and Tanner’s hometown. They’d all be around fourteen or fifteen at this point.

Now, around this point, April was more withdrawn than normal. She was going through a lot at the time and wouldn’t go out very much. Tanner’s family would take him to the festival by chance the same day Leon’s dad took him, but April would miss their initial encounter.

Even in their slightly more populated hometown, it’s very obvious when someone out of town is visiting. Especially someone of a similar age. Thus, Tanner without his close friend and Leon the socialite he is looking to find people to connect with while he had the chance, it was bound to be that they’d meet each other.

Tanner is not much of a talker, especially not to strangers, but Leon with his funny quirks and his desire for friendship made their initial meet up feel rather natural. They would click pretty well, even if Leon did most of the talking. Tanner would spend a couple of hours directing him to the best parts of the festival, as he knew this yearly occasion like the back of his hand.

It was only a two or three hour connection before Leon had to go, but it would make Leon’s whole week! Even if he had no real way of maintaining contact with Tanner, he’d say he’d love to come back next year. Leon is definitely someone Tanner would remember come time for the next festival to take place.

That encounter by itself wouldn’t be notable enough to tell April about it, but the next fall when April had time to come out of her slum, she would be there alongside Tanner at the festival once more. Tanner, remembering Leon, would go pretty much every day with April while the festival was around (which spanned a week.) And sure enough Leon would be there again.

All three would be together for the first time. April would love his energy, and the fact that Leon took to her bluntness rather gracefully, which is usually a hard hump for many to get over.

Leon this time would have a dingy little cellphone device that he would use to keep in contact with Tanner and April after he inevitably had to leave.

Their initial friendship would be sparse. For a couple of years it’d be mostly Leon prompting calls every now and then, when the timing was right and the service was clear. Yes, even in a world full of magic, cell service still manages to suck out in the middle of nowhere.

As they all approached their twenties though, things between them picked up more and more. Leon couldn’t leave town for festivals any longer due to his father’s poor health, so he’d call more often. April would become fed up with her home life, and spend a lot of time trying to convince Tanner to drive them out of town for road trips. He would oblige once, and they would make plans to go on a drive to Lystrike where Leon resides.

It feels far from home to April, and she loves it. She is more occupied by the location than she is with Leon or even Tanner, so a lot of hanging out during this time tends to exclude April. This is kind of a reoccurring theme with her, as they decide to visit Leon a few more times afterwards.

Eventually, fate would find that Leon’s father would pass away, and his mother had already been deceased for some time, and so he was kind of left by his lonesome but with a house now in his name.

Ape and Tanner would later go down to visit to make things a little less lonely for him. April would be the first to suggest that maybe, they could all live together. She wants out of her house, loves this weird little town, and feels happier here overall. Leon is honestly totally down, but Tanner isn’t as sure.

Now at this time, Tanner and April have been in an on and off relationship of sorts, so it’s hard for him to choose what he wants here. He has a fine life back in town, but he knows how much April dislikes it there. But out here, it’s so isolated and barren and he isn’t sure if that’s what he wants in life. Plus, what sorts of jobs could he even take around here that he’d be happy with?

Funny enough though, the helping factor in this is actually Frigus. He does tag along with them when they go to meet Leon pretty often. He would be the one to mention the old job board in the middle of town has had a listing for a job very in line with Tanner’s interests. Which would be hunting, more specifically the job would be population control.

It’d take a lot more convincing from all angles, but Tanner eventually caves, and decides "*why not*"*.* The bills are cheap, the house is already paid in full and Leon isn’t going to be able to use a 2 bedroom + basement house to it’s fullest. So again, why not?

And so the occasional visitors would eventually become permanent residents of Lystrike! April can feel like herself here, Leon is no longer lonely, and Tanner gets to do work he enjoys. Plus, they all go on road trips to shitty concerts and other events on the occasion, when the quiet town of Lystrike gets a little too boring.

### Frigus

Leon had never seen a talking animal before Frigus, so he’s definitely shocked at first. But, Frigus is as much of a chatter-box as Leon, if not more, so they go together really well.

## Trivia

* Leon has an acoustic guitar, and can play the flute and harmonica rather well too.

## References

1. ↑ https://creaturefeaster.tumblr.com/post/692481312017268736/does-leon-still-have-a-limp
2. ↑ https://creaturefeaster.tumblr.com/post/695592119930339328/how-did-tanner-meet-frigus-and-what-way-april#:~:text=Leon%20had%20never%20seen%20a%20talking%20animal%20before%20Frigus%2C%20so%20he%E2%80%99s%20definitely%20shocked%20at%20firet.%20But%2C%20Frigus%20is%20as%20much%20of%20a%20chatter%20box%20as%20Leon%2C%20if%20not%20more%2C%20so%20they%20go%20together%20really%20well.
3. ↑ https://creaturefeaster.tumblr.com/post/693535243277352960/do-any-of-your-silly-little-characters-play-any#:~:text=Leon%20has%20an%20acoustic%20guitar%2C%20and%20can%20play%20the%20flute%20and%20harmonica%20rather%20well%20too.