middaeg | [open] going it alone is tough, let me help out

Entry tags:

[open] going it alone is tough, let me help out

Who: Momo and you!
When: First half of Juril, up until the event.
Where: Various places (but mostly Aef, the Outer City and Northern Outpost)
What: Quests (A New Look, Cheerful Buns, Out of the City and Branching Out) and catch-all.
Warnings: None yet.

[a: muffled "i'm too sexy" playing in the bg (a new look)]

[Momo's picked up some modelling work here before, since as it turns out, a combination of industry experience and being in the habit of taking care of your appearance makes it considerably easier to get work like that even when starting over somewhere new. But this seems more of a potentially regular deal, and while his primary job at the moment is still radio, it can't be a bad idea to get his face out there more. Especially now that Yuki is here and he might need to use what little sway he's managed to build here in the last few months as it was always intended to be, for his partner.

As it stands, since they want modern fashion he turns up to the fittings in what he arrived in, a bright orange horror movie hoodie with a sleeveless turtleneck under it, slim black jeans and lace-up boots. He is also visibly extremely used to this kind of setting, chatting easily to the designers when it comes to consultations and helping people get details just right for the modelling part, regardless of what the garment might happen to be. He gets around quite a bit checking on everyone who's doing the modelling work and waiting to have pictures taken, just...walking up and starting to straighten things about their outfit gently without much regard for personal space.]

Have you done this type of work before? If you need any quick tips, Momo-chan is here for you! [He offers a cheeky little wink, but the offer is sincere enough.]

[b: are you bready to roll (cheerful buns)]

[While Momo is by no means opposed to complimenting whoever he's breadmaking with, the specific aspect of complimenting bread offers some promising opportunities, and he did a bit of food prep work way back in the day when he was desperately picking up every part-time job available to keep himself and Yuki afloat. So he's quite enthusiastic about this particular job, even if people working with him may become somewhat less enthusiastic when he settles on his particular method for getting the bread to rise.]

What round and shapely buns you have! It's real proof of your quality, you know! [It's rapid-fire puns time and he is not slowing down any time soon. Nor is he particularly apologetic when he grins at whoever has had the bad luck to end up working alongside him in particular.]

I hope I'm not making you want to leave...n. [Save yourself before it's too late.]

[c: a prickly reception (branching out)]

[Momo's still helping out with the Northern Outpost where he can, considering it was one of the first things that started getting established after he arrived here. The Yarglweed is certainly a problem, but being an Abjuration-class Witch has its advantages, and Momo has an idea of how he can deal with it a bit more easily.

About twice the trigger distance away from the nearest Yarglweed, to make sure he's safe while he's setting up the spell, Momo can be found with a series of small symbols drawn around each wrist, running his hands closely over himself. It leaves a faintly pink-tinted barrier where he's gone, almost flush to the skin so it doesn't impede getting close enough to the plants to remove them. Impact barriers are much easier for him to make than something that needs to block magic or Cwyld, so this feels like a fairly straightforward solution.

If anyone else comes by looking like they're helping out with the plants, he'll raise a hand to them.] Want me to cast this on you as well? I just need a second to check I haven't missed any spots on me.

[Considering he looks very much pink at the moment, he probably hasn't, but better safe than sorry.]

[d: out of the city (medical and entertainment)]

[As per usual, Momo can also be found in the Outer City every so often. While he's still restricted to standard healing for the moment rather than healing Cwyld, he's gotten more effective at it since he started, able to be left alone with patients that have more straightforward injuries or ones that can be patched more simply before being sent along to him for a proper heal. Though he's wearing a black medical mask and very concealing clothing when he's working on medicine, his hair is hard to mistake, as are the hot pink eyes that crinkle with a smile at the corners when he spots any other Mirrorbound around.]

You need a hand with something or did they send you to help out over here? [He knows there's a variety of Mirrorbound that come out to do this with a variety of experience levels, so he might as well make sure.

Alternately, he can often be found entertaining the Outer City locals instead, currently doing some fast (and decidedly modern, potentially recognisable as a more mixed Contemporary style to people familiar with it) dancing along to a band offering a high-energy and raucous backing track. A bunch of the children who've seen him out here before are clapping him along, and a few of the adults look rather curious about the dance style, murmuring to each other when he does something that looks more like a handstand than a dance move.

But Mirrorbound won't be left off their feet too long, and he'll end his solo dance by spinning out to offer a hand to anyone who's been wallflowering too long.] I need a partner for the next one. Want to give it a shot?

[e: wildcard]

[[If you'd like to plot anything else, hit me up at

reviseleviathan or by PM/Discord! Momo would also up for doing the fighting variant of Out of the City, or if you want to plot for another quest entirely that could also be an option. In terms of non-quest things, he's studying Evocation and Enchantment primarily this month so he'd be open to study partners for that.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Momo puts his (floury) hands on his hips as if he's offended at the very implication he might not be innocent. It's probably a good thing the apron he's wearing wraps around so much, otherwise he'd be walking home with giant flour handprints on his clothes.]

Of course I am! Momo-chan is the most innocent, pure maiden you could ever hope to meet! [He even makes a couple of stereotypical fantasy maiden poses as he says that, like faux swooning and clasping his hands as if fawning over something.] It's not my fault if I'm taken the wrong way sometimes...

[Granted, he doesn't get up to nearly the amount of questionable shenanigans here as he does back home, so he has at least a tiny bit of ground to say it here.]

[ The comment about being a pure maiden is something, and Sougo is definitely grinning at the theatrics of it all regardless of how easy it is to take Momo seriously right now. ]

Even if you're taken the wrong way, if you say you're innocent then I believe you.

[ It is absolutely impossible to tell if he is sincere or not in saying that.

Though the grin drops away as he stands up. ]

I'm not sure if I want a wingman or not exactly though...

[ It least he looks more thoughtful than troubled as he considers this, finally forcing a small, sad smile. ]

Ah, though if you ever meet a monster who needs a bond, then I don't mind if you give them my name. I don't want anyone else to have to reach that point.

[ Even if it's less explosive for monsters lacking bonds. ]

Good! The world needs more kids like you! [A.k.a. more people that don't roast Momo for being horny on main when he decides to be, because boy have his juniors roasted him about that before and most of them will have no part of his claims of innocence.

In any case, he drops the comedy once Sougo's mood gets more serious, frowning a little worriedly instead. The indecision about having direct support combined with the diversion to focusing on others at risk doesn't quite sit right with him.]

I do want to make sure you get a bond this time, so keep me updated. I'll try to point people your way, but I want to know that you're thinking of yourself, too, not just others who might end up in the same situation.

[ Momo is in a lot of luck on that front, because Sougo will either be oblivious to any and all horny on main behavior, or convincingly act so oblivious it will be impossible to tell if he's really that naive. He walks a fine line, and weaves back and forth between genuine and feigned ignorance so often that it can make it hard to track when it's real or not.

As far as the concern Momo shows him, Sougo nods a couple of times. Considering what happened the concern is understandable, but his lesson was learned in about as painful a way as possible. ]

Mm, I didn't mean to say I was going to wait until someone else was in the same situation to form a bond.

[ A small smile now. ]

Just that I don't mind taking on more than one to help people out.

[Momo smiles too once he confirms that he's not going to leave it too long again, this one more reassuring. Dusting his hands off a bit, he reaches over to clap Sougo on the shoulder bracingly.]

Well, that's basically how I got my first bond, so I can vouch for it! Sometimes people find their way to you, sometimes you gotta go looking. And sometimes you need a second pair of eyes to go looking.

[He winks cheekily, in an effort to lift the mood back up a bit.]

[ Glum doesn't fit Sougo well either, even when he's feeling genuinely down. He's spent so long forcing himself to be cheerful regardless of his mood that it's easy to fall into the natural pattern of trying to push himself back into a more upbeat state.

It's a double edge sword where you get the "fake it until you make it" factor going on, but you also get the tendency to not talk out his problems.

Still, there's nothing particular helpful to either of them staying gloomy right now, so it makes sense to joke back at Momo. ]

You really like playing matchmaker, huh?

[ Despite the innately accusatory nature of what he's saying, his tone doesn't imply any kind of accusation is going on here. ]

Of course! Since I have to be careful about my relationships back home, I get my matchmaking kicks by doing it to other people.

[He grins in a mischievous sort of way, despite his attempts not two minutes ago to claim that he was pure as the driven snow. He genuinely enjoys seeing people in happy relationships, so while he does it partially out of not being able to do romantic stuff himself at home, it's also just something he likes facilitating.]

[ It sure doesn't prove that innocent claim at all, though Sougo isn't reflecting too deeply on the mismatch of that claim and the admission happening right now. Though he will help keep the mood lighter by letting the conversation stay on this instead of what happens to him a second time if he doesn't do a good job finding a bond. ]

Ah! That's right, you're an idol...

[ And dating isn't exactly looked at favorably in that field.

There's no comments about how hard it may or may not be though, considering Sougo has never dated himself. It certainly doesn't seem that hard to go relationshipless to him. ]

Yep! Back home I kind of think of romantic stuff as "like seeing fireworks on a work day" - it's a beautiful thing to watch, even if we can't be involved personally as idols.

[Momo sounds pretty accepting of it, but that's mostly because he's been in the industry long enough for him to have gotten used to hiding things. And there was only really one person he's that interested in, who he's already discussed that with here.]

It doesn't seem to be a thing with entertainment work here, though, so that's a big difference.

[ Sougo nods along, again like he understands. He does not... He's never been much of a shipper type by nature, and while he wants friends to be happy, and would be happy for them to find love, it's not a priority of his to be the one to find that for them.

It's honestly sheer dumb luck instead of actual knowledge and understanding that lands him at the next question he asks. ]

Does that mean you're able to date someone here then?

[Momo nods, starting to finish the shaping of most of his current crop of rolls.] It'd be fine here, yeah. Yuki and I actually...talked about that not long after he arrived here, so I guess I'm already dating someone here.

[It's not been long at all at this point, so Momo's still kind of getting used to the fact that he's dating Yuki now. Still, he seems quite happy with the development, if a little shy in his pleasure.]

[ Sougo tries to recall if he's heard the name Yuki before or not, though certainly it has been awhile since the two of them talked about Momo's life back home. It definitely sounds like this is a guy from his world regardless, and someone that just maybe that pesky idol career kept him from being able to start a relationship with.

Either way, this is a lot more fun to talk about than Sougo's need to not explode which has been safely covered, so he'll lean his forearms on the table and grin up excited at Momo, 100% invested in this right now. ]

That's great! There's a lot of cool stuff they set up around here for couples to do too.

[ He would know having seen many things he's thought probably weren't made with him in mind. ]

Yeah, they seem to be really into couple stuff here. [Presumably because of Bonding, but he imagines that would be a hell of a time for people in pointedly platonic Bonds. Momo is pretty capable of going with the flow even where his platonic Bond is concerned, but others might make more of a fuss about it.]

We probably would've done that anyway since acting like a married couple was part of our act back home, but it's nice to be honest about it.

[Instead of never being sure how much was the act and how much was actual feelings. Momo had said he loved Yuki in various forms prior to it happening here, but it usually had to be rolled in with similar sentiments towards their fans.]

[ Pointedly platonic is exactly what Sougo is aiming for in his Bonds too! This does not, however, mean that he won't still hop in on those couple intended activities with either a shocking lack of awareness or a commendable amount of willful ignorance.

That's for the future Sougo who has managed to actually secure some Bonds though.

As for that confession, give Sougo a minute to try to sort this out. ]

Eh? Were you always kind of a couple then?

[ That is the real question, bud. ]

[Momo looks a little self-conscious at that, blushing a bit. Back home he'd always just assumed it was the act, because that was an entirely legitimate explanation there, but every time it was mentioned here he became more and more aware that there was probably a reason they landed on that kind of act.]

I mean...we started doing that kind of act pretty early on. It's not that uncommon for idols to flirt a little for fanservice, you know? We just took it a little bit further than most. I never would've said anything more than that if Yuki hadn't.

[Which somewhat implies Momo had feelings he was keeping to himself, he just didn't think Yuki returned them.]

[ Sougo nods along as if he knows, but considering his obsession has always been with history rather than current trends he really doesn't know. It sounds believable enough for what little understanding of idol culture he does have though.

Though, huh... ]

Would you have been able to be happy if he never had though?

[ He's never been in a position like that, and has been maybe a little too ready to admit to his own feelings for the woman he liked in the (recent) past. It sounds kind of difficult to play at a relationship that you actually want for real though. ]

I would have been happy if he was happy. [It's very hard to read Momo's expression as he says that, but he does sound certain of it. Considering he's willing to do just about anything if it's to make Yuki happy, he would have held his feelings down forever and gone his own way if he had to. It would have taken time, and he might not have been happy for himself, but he's never cared that much about being happy for himself instead of others.

Continuing this topic risks brushing up against Momo's lack of self-care, however, so he shifts it subtly, with a seemingly easy grin and a tease to his voice.] You're full of romantic questions, though. Do you have some situation Momo-chan needs to dish out some of his patented romantic advice for?

[ There's a small smile and a nod at that. It's an idea that Sougo can theoretically get behind at least, even if it does still sound a little bit lonely. It's nice the two of them realized that wasn't necessary though.

Though his expression shifts to mild surprise at the turn around on him. ]

Eh? I don't think so.

[ He can't think of any friends of his that seem like they're struggling romantically. At least, if they are they haven't filled Sougo in on this particular struggle, or he hasn't noticed them having problems. Which admittedly, would be on brand for the romantically oblivious Sougo.

Either wya Sougo does look thoroughly distracted from Momo's more delicate and personal emotions. ]

[Momo takes the opportunity to press a bit, because he rarely lets a romantic topic slip without at least a little bit of shenanigans.]

Are you sure? A cute young man like yourself seems like he'd be a real target for romance! Or even friends your age might be having woes of the heart, you're at that brink of blossoming into a fulfilled, functional adult...

[Momo even makes a "flower" with his hands and a blooming motion to drive his point home. Clearly Sougo should be surrounded by romantic shenanigans.]

[ Sougo smiles uncertainly at the theatrics of it all. He isn't really sure he wants to correct Momo's assumptions, and let him know that he was the school weirdo when he was still a student, and that after school he was focused a lot on his super hero shenanigans, and his interactions outside of fighting were almost entirely with friends or family. ]

Ooooh... Not really?

[ To being a target for romance, and also for having friends with woes. ]

No one has told me about any woes like that at least.

[Momo pouts a bit at that, like it's ruining his fun.] Then maybe Momo-chan really does need to start hiring out wingman services...you'd think people would want to take a chance more somewhere like this!

[But mostly he's just being a ham and looking for opportunities to be nosy. As it is, he lets out a breath, deflating a bit, before putting his hands around another of the buns.]

Oh well. For now, I'll just have to pour all my love into these buns instead!

[ The only response that pout is going to get is an entirely unconcerned laugh. If Sougo has realized he's a potential target for Momo's meddling it's not clear by how laid back he's acting about all of this.

Then again, he also doesn't think this is something that Momo would seriously meddle with anyway. He's now seen Momo get serious about his concern with things, and there's an edge to it that isn't apparent during this particular portion of their interaction.

As for his second bit of pouting, Sougo leans onto the countertop, all big grins now. ]

Doing stuff like that is supposed to make food taste better anyway.

[If another festival gives him the opportunity, Momo may well do some romantic shenanigans for people, but that's a thought for the future.

For now, he lovingly shapes one of his doughs back into a bun.] I'm sure they already taste amazing! But we need to make sure they're even better and cuter than they are now, so I guess our work just never ends.

[ When the world is a mess, you have to learn to make your own fun. Sougo can sort of appreciate that, even if he's not exactly the type to meddle in people's romantic lives.

Or even realize that they exist until they go from subtext to just full on text.

Sougo will actually move to help here instead of just stand and talk though. ]

Doesn't it end when we take them out of the oven?

Shh, don't ask questions about my exaggerating or it ruins the effect! [He's not even being faux offended about that, he's just laughing. Hopefully the brighter mood helps the buns too.]

You're all on my side, right, since you're all good kids? [He addresses this to the buns as he finishes shaping another one. There is, unsurprisingly, resounding silence in answer.]

[open] going it alone is tough, let me help out

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)