Catch-all; Rita Mordio

[momming]

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Week 0, Sunday

[momming]

[ Here's a face she hasn't seen before at Toasted-- and Otome hesitates to approach at first, because she seems very focused on her notebook, but gradually she clears her throat. ]

Hello. Am I intruding?

[overlimit]

Hm?

[rita glances up from her note-writing. she holds a pen in one hand and a sandwich in the other.]

Not really. Sit down if you want to.

[momming]

[ She sits! ]

You seemed pretty engrossed. What were you working on?

[overlimit]

Organizing some of the information we got out of those Dorm Heads earlier today.

Week 1, Friday (post-investigaton)

[momming]

[ Here we are at this place again-- Otome has to remind herself to eat, a little later in the day, so here she is. And there's Rita. ]

Oh-- hello, Rita.

[ Start off simple. ]

[overlimit]

[rita's just grabbed a hot dog and was about to take a bite when she stops to acknowledge that greeting.]

Oh. Uh... Otome, right?

[momming]

You remembered! It's been a while, hasn't it?

Week 2, Monday

[momming]

[ Hi, Rita. Incoming hug? Incoming hug.

There are no actual words yet. ]

[overlimit]

[incoming what???

???

it takes a few moments for her to comprehend that she is being hugged, and start squirming.]

H-hey, what are you doing!?

[momming]

Sorry-- [ And she does let go, of course. ]

I just had a strange urge to do that...?

Week 2, Saturday

[overlimit]

[otome gets a text from rita!]

Sorry. I was wrong.

[momming]

[ a text, sent a little later. ]

It's not a bad idea to be cautious. Though I admit, that hurt a little.

[overlimit]

I had a few other reasons.

And I kind of want to talk about that. Can we meet?

Week 3, Monday

[momming]

[ immediately chucks Rita into this because I can't do this from work--

Honestly, all it takes is a glance and Rita will experience the following:

She'll feel the alarm, the worry, the relief and the grief as Otome runs at full speed towards a dark-haired young man and a little pigtailed girl standing beside him, who looks more than a little nervous.

"O-oh, Mom..." She backs up a little. "I-I'm so-- sorry, I--!"

But then Otome drops to her knees in front of her and pulls her in close, hugging her tightly and causing the little girl's voice to crack in shock. "M-Mom??"

"I'm so glad you're safe..." Otome's voice trembles, thick with emotion. "I thought you might have been caught by a demon, or in the Void...!"

Still held tightly against her chest, the little girl's lower lip trembles as Otome continues.

"Where were you? If you were gone... I don't even know what I'd do... you can't just run off any time you want anymore. You'll always be with me... okay?"

The little girl lets out a thin sob and finally throws her arms around Otome's neck.

"O-Okay...! I'm sorry, Mom...!" ]

[overlimit]

[rita gives a sort of startled jolt when she snaps back to reality, looking around as if to physically confirm that she is here and nobody's touching her.]

Ack... another one. These are getting really...

... You have a kid?

[momming]

... Had. It's a little complicated.

[ But boy have her eyes gone dark. ]

Week 4, Monday

[overlimit]

[hi otome, rita's here checking out the new rock climbing area! her general emotional state is mostly anxiety and irritation, but right now she's also just kind of perplexed?]

There's a moat here, too? [the heck is a lazy river]

[momming]

Oh, a lazy river!

[ She's savvy. Also perplexed by this choice, but still. ]

[overlimit]

It's a what?

Week 4, Saturday

[overlimit]

[rita's walking by the empty classrooms, probably trying to get some distance from Everybody's Emotions, because god damn. when she finds otome, and stops. and lingers in the doorway.]

... Sorry.

I get it now. I mean, why you're like that.

[momming]

[ It's best she stay away honestly, because Otome is blotchy-eyed from crying and she looks broken and exhausted, so just imagine how all that feels!! ]

You don't have to apologize. You were right. [ Well. Sometimes one gets the shitty lot in the mg. ]

[overlimit]

Well, sometimes being right sucks.

[yeah she's just, full of frustration and guilt right now.]

I just... wish I knew what the hell to do with the information we have.

Week 6, Sunday

[momming]

[ Wherever Rita is, Otome will run into her! ]

... Does the burden feel a little lighter now?

[overlimit]

[she pauses, tensing for a moment... and relaxes.]

... Yeah.

Guess that probably goes tenfold for you, huh.

[momming]

Incredibly.

... Of course, I still need to try and make things right as much as I can. I don't expect to be forgiven-- even with the whole truth out, I did kill people. And lie.