Catch-all; Mandricardo

[momming]

Comments

[duranduel]

[He sighs.]

You know, I'm...not going to say that, like, you're totally prepared or super strong and can take on anythin'. Like, it's obvious that all of us are like...a fish out of water with this place.

But you being worried that you might fail is like...normal. That means you care about what you're doin'. So...you shouldn't beat yourself up over it. And you shouldn't see it as actin', either. You're doin' your best, and you want to do your best, y'know?

[momming]

[ There's a pause, before she smiles-- a little tremulously. ]

You're surprisingly good at pep talks.

[duranduel]

Ha. Well, if my words help you out...then I'm glad.

[There's a pause.]

[And then he moves to pull her into a hug.]

[momming]

[ Otome just. Kind of slumps into it immediately, arms coming up to wrap around him. And, muffled. ]

I just... want to get everyone home safely. That's... all I've ever wanted.

[ So why is it so hard? ]

[duranduel]

You always look out for others, Otome. And...we are gonna help you do that, okay?

[He closes his eyes, raising a hand to brush through her hair.]

You're not alone.

[momming]

[ He gets a soft, shuddering breath in response and her grip tightens. Then, quietly but sincerely... ]

Thank you. If... anything happens to me, I know everyone will be in good hands.

[duranduel]

...Hey. Hey. Don't you dare talk like that.

[His grip tightens on her, unconsciously.]

I wanna make sure you get out of here, okay?

[momming]

I know. I'd like to go home, too.

... I just also know there's no real guarantee right now. [ And she lifts her head. ]

It'll be all right, though. I don't want to leave the people here, either.

[duranduel]

[This is all...really gloomy, huh...]

...Tell me about home. Who do you got waitin' for ya?

[momming]

... [ she winces a little. ]

Technically, no one. But I have an aunt and uncle and a little cousin, Koharu. We're pretty close.

[duranduel]

Ah...your parents?

[A little carefully - he wonders if they're gone.]

[momming]

Mm, I lost them some years ago.

[duranduel]

...I'm sorry.

I know what it's like to lose a parent. My father, he...well. It's hard, moving on from that.

[momming]

... It is. I'm sorry about your father, as well.

[duranduel]

...It's fine. It was a long time ago.

[And a sigh.]

I'm glad you have people to go back to, though. Do they know about your...fighting for humanity thing?

[momming]

Ah... not the whole thing. Just that I'm working as a doctor to keep the crisis under control.

[duranduel]

...

Are you like...um. Well. I don't share their secret, but there was someone who told me that they had something that gave them abilities, and allowed them to fight to save people.

[momming]

I'm not too far from that. I'm able to use magic back home with a phone app, for example.

[duranduel]

With...with a phone?

[momming]

Yep! It's used to summon demons and if you fight the ones running around, you can gain their abilities.

[duranduel]

...

[Just. Trying to comprehend.]

Wow, the modern era really is advanced if it makes summoning work like that...

[momming]

Technically it was the Anguished O-- ah, sorry, Saiduq. A... capricious individual created the app.

[duranduel]

[you mean my box man]

So anyone could use it? Or does it need, like, people who can do magic?

[momming]

[ I do mean your box man! ]

Anyone who downloads the app can use it, but if you can't prove your strength to the demon you summon, odds are it will obliterate you.

[duranduel]

[yikesarooni]

And...you had to go through that?