Catch-all; Taichi

[momming]

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[momming]

[ you really can't because ]

What's wrong? Did you and Yamato-kun have a fight? Are you in trouble?

[goalsides]

what? no! no everything's fine, we're fine, that's fine
i just need to do something but i can't let anybody else know
for reasons

[momming]

And that something specifically involves our dorm?

[goalsides]

it feels kind of tasteless to do anything to spring and winter right now...
i promise it won't even involve you specifically
it'll be fine
let's just say it's not something i'd usually do but i'm doing it for the greater good

[momming]

[ Taichi we only have seven people in our dorm and one of them killed a man.

There's a very long pause and then-- ]

Fine, then. I'll let you in.

[goalsides]

you're the best i promise it'll be fine
thank you thank you thank you


[and then, about ten minutes later:]

i'm outside

[momming]

[ And the door instantly opens. From the look of things and the general drowsiness she's emanating, Otome was maybe resting, but it's fine. ]

Come on in.

[goalsides]

[...immediately, she will get a wave of guilt.]

...you could've just told me now wasn't a good time, you know. I can come back later.

[he has his backpack hiked up over his shoulder but he's gripping on the strap a little.]

[momming]

[ She shakes her head with a little smile. The worry is still there, but more powerful than that is just her affection. ]

No, it's all right. Besides, you're already here, aren't you?

[goalsides]

[she's an expert at being a mom i hate it here and so does he. his bag rustles a little.]

Yeah...but you still could've said something earlier. [a beat.] This'll be fast, but then maybe I can make you some tea or something? Byleth has a tea set around here somewhere I think, she's brought me here before.

[there's no stove, but okay taichi.]

[momming]

I suspect that, whatever reason you might be here for, it won't be a good idea if you linger.

[ Don't prove her right. Please don't. ]

[goalsides]

You are probably right. [yikes.] Uh. Sorry in advance, I definitely wasn't here and I need you to stay down here for like five minutes.

[momming]

...

[ She just goes to sit on the couch. ]

[goalsides]

[and he will dart up the stairs.

it is eerily quiet for a while.

and then he heads back down.

at least she can tell he sort of feels a little bad.]

...thanks. I'll make it up to you.

[momming]

[ She is so concerned. And a little regretful. ]

Am I going to be disappointed, Taichi-kun?

[goalsides]

Probably. You can ground me later if you want.

[momming]

That probably has to remain the right of your mother.

[ She's just going to sigh. ]

[goalsides]

To be honest with you Otome-san, I've seen you a lot more than I've seen my actual mom recently.

[which. there's a certain kind of weird feeling attached to that but he ignores it.] But I get your point.

[momming]

... [ There's a thin trickle of sadness that accompanies her words. ]

Hopefully-- no, we'll find a way to get us all home soon.

[goalsides]

...yeah. Of course we will. [there's confidence in that, even if there's a lingering sense of worry there, too.] I don't doubt it. We're all too stubborn otherwise.

[momming]

...

[ She pats the cushion beside her. ]

We will. Until then, tell me about your home. Anyone special in your life?

[goalsides]

[otome...he was going to make a quick getaway, but he also can't really say no to her so...he has a seat.]

I mean of course there is. I have my parents and my sister to get back to. Agumon, too.

[momming]

I meant a little more romantically, though Agumon--

[ She's kidding. ]

[goalsides]

[it gets a laugh, at least, small though it may be.]

As much as I love Agumon I don't think it'd really work out. [teasing. but...hum.] I haven't really thought about romance that much. We've been sort of busy.

[momming]

Understandably... it always helped our group to talk about it, though. Or to joke about it, just for something else to focus on for a little while.

[ They had teenage boys too, after all. ]