[ For someone so loud, Momo's a good listener: he employs his silence with all the patience of someone who's tread over landmines before and walked out with all his limbs intact.
The one thing that Momo isn't good at is toggling his empathy on and off. It eats at him, to know that Maya had to say goodbye to someone who she cared for; doubly so if it wasn't her choice to do so, if her hands were as tied as his are right now.
His expression doesn't sink from warm-neutral, but he can't help himself. His shoulders pitch forward, tipping his weight just enough that he can bump Maya's shoulder with his forehead. Like an insistent dog. ]
—Still. It always feels like the end of the world, doesn't it? When you think about having to lose someone. [ Momo settles for a second, eyes closed, before he pulls back up. ] I'm sorry.
[ Leave it to Momo to find a way to make that contact happen. She almost feels bad for underestimating him.
But he's not wrong. Maybe because - and she wonders if - he understands. Maya had been so young back then, when she'd had to accept the fact that her father was never coming home. That his life had been cut short because of his dream and that, even knowing that, he probably hadn't regretted a single thing. Even if it had meant leaving his family behind.
And to think, she'd thought she'd gotten used to that. That she was fine. That she was older and stronger and she could protect the bonds she'd formed and found again.
Maya does't say anything until she's finished his second hand, relinquishing it back to him as she twists the lid back on the bottle deftly and sets it to the side. That accomplished, she reaches out to ruffle his hair. Sure, he's older, but it's habit. ]
You don't have to be, but thank you. At this point, I'm something like a pro at it.
[ Her smile's a little pained, but she's trying. ]
[ What is it that people say again, about bright people and the long shadows they cast behind them? It's always trite to think about it in those terms; the reality of things is never that cut-and-dry.
Maya's fingers in his hair and the subsequent half-smile twists Momo's lungs in the cage of his ribs, because her modus operandi is his modus operandi. It's easy for him to identify, and even harder for him to chastise— still, her admission that she's gotten used to the idea of loss feels like muted devastation.
But he smiles, because Maya has the strength to smile. Even if it's misplaced, he has to give her credit. ]
—Don't get too used to things like that. The worst thing that could happen is forgetting to let yourself know when things hurt you.
[ He nudges his knee against her leg, punctuating his point with a gentle reminder that she's not alone. ]
For every time you have to say goodbye, you gotta let someone say hello to you, too. Yeah?
[ She's lucky, really. Tatsuya had it even harder, struggling to set things right in a world that no longer knew what he did until Maya's own memories had awakened. Here, she's finding that there are people who have dealt with worse, and can still reach out to others.
It would be nice if it did hurt a little less, she thinks, saying goodbye and stepping back from loss-- but that probably won't ever be the case, so Momo doesn't need to be concerned about that. ]
Mm, you're right.
[ The reminder helps, too, and she lowers her hand to let it fall back to her side. ]
Maybe at some point, the goodbyes will be only temporary.
[ Hurting, in Momo's opinion, is fine— it's only when people start to lose sight of their value as a consequence of their hurt that he starts to worry.
(He really wishes that he'd thought to get fast-dry polish before he ended up in Chroma. You'd really think he would have.) ]
Haha, come on— you're you. Even Momo-chan can't bear to be apart from diligent dreamboat Maya-san for too long!
[ Overblown, overtheatrical, but sincere. Momo laughs, but it's more of an exhale than an indication that he finds anything about this to be amusing. ]
[ Momo peeks at his nails; even despite all of this, Maya still managed to keep everything between the proverbial lines. Neat and crisp.
Momo's brows lower a little. The unspoken sentiment is what am I gonna do with you? ]
Don't worry about it! You should talk about whatever you want, whenever you want. It's like how you need to cough when you catch a cold, or you gotta blow your nose when you're stuffed up.
[ ??? ok momo ]
Besides, now I have an excuse to say hello more often. ♪ [ A light hum, as he blows on his nails again. ] More ammunition in Momo-chan's arsenal!
[ Just don't ask her for fashion advice, Momo. Ever. ]
I don't think I need you being more dangerous. [ wry, as she lifts her eyebrows. He's sure got a way with words, but it's weirdly endearing. Maybe an idol thing? ]
But challenge accepted. I'll just have to say hello even more than that!
[ Listen, who's the one with the froSTED TIPS HERE...
He literally can't believe Maya is entering the sunshine competition with him, but you know what, he totally can. It's a little conflicting, given that he wants her to Rest... ]
The battle of the hellos...! That's the only kind of war I wanna wage.
[ Otherwise, it's all about the love and peace. Here's a wink, for Maya's trouble. ] —Mind if I ask you for one more big favor, though?
[ Maya has to grin, frown lapsing pretty much immediately-- but she reaches for the bottle again to lift the brush out. Then, she scoops up the newly-dubbed Pyonkichi and with a few swift flicks, draws little lines of polish on his paws. ]
[ Poor Pyonkichi, doomed to live out the rest of his stuffed animal life in Momo's hands. Momo watches as Maya paints those little paws in scarlet, and lets his face wrinkle into a fond grin. ]
Ahaha! I'll take super good care of him, so don't worry. He's gonna be my good luck charm. ☆
Ahh, then I'll have to keep him around for a good, long time. I'll take him to all my live shows, even when I go home someday.
[ So, yeah— sorry, Maya. Here's one animal buddy you're not getting back. ]
Pyonkichi, the bunny idol! He's gonna cry at every interview when someone asks him a question about his mom... "Maya-chan made me, and I'm thankful every single day!"
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
The one thing that Momo isn't good at is toggling his empathy on and off. It eats at him, to know that Maya had to say goodbye to someone who she cared for; doubly so if it wasn't her choice to do so, if her hands were as tied as his are right now.
His expression doesn't sink from warm-neutral, but he can't help himself. His shoulders pitch forward, tipping his weight just enough that he can bump Maya's shoulder with his forehead. Like an insistent dog. ]
—Still. It always feels like the end of the world, doesn't it? When you think about having to lose someone. [ Momo settles for a second, eyes closed, before he pulls back up. ] I'm sorry.
no subject
But he's not wrong. Maybe because - and she wonders if - he understands. Maya had been so young back then, when she'd had to accept the fact that her father was never coming home. That his life had been cut short because of his dream and that, even knowing that, he probably hadn't regretted a single thing. Even if it had meant leaving his family behind.
And to think, she'd thought she'd gotten used to that. That she was fine. That she was older and stronger and she could protect the bonds she'd formed and found again.
Maya does't say anything until she's finished his second hand, relinquishing it back to him as she twists the lid back on the bottle deftly and sets it to the side. That accomplished, she reaches out to ruffle his hair. Sure, he's older, but it's habit. ]
You don't have to be, but thank you. At this point, I'm something like a pro at it.
[ Her smile's a little pained, but she's trying. ]
no subject
Maya's fingers in his hair and the subsequent half-smile twists Momo's lungs in the cage of his ribs, because her modus operandi is his modus operandi. It's easy for him to identify, and even harder for him to chastise— still, her admission that she's gotten used to the idea of loss feels like muted devastation.
But he smiles, because Maya has the strength to smile. Even if it's misplaced, he has to give her credit. ]
—Don't get too used to things like that. The worst thing that could happen is forgetting to let yourself know when things hurt you.
[ He nudges his knee against her leg, punctuating his point with a gentle reminder that she's not alone. ]
For every time you have to say goodbye, you gotta let someone say hello to you, too. Yeah?
no subject
It would be nice if it did hurt a little less, she thinks, saying goodbye and stepping back from loss-- but that probably won't ever be the case, so Momo doesn't need to be concerned about that. ]
Mm, you're right.
[ The reminder helps, too, and she lowers her hand to let it fall back to her side. ]
Maybe at some point, the goodbyes will be only temporary.
no subject
(He really wishes that he'd thought to get fast-dry polish before he ended up in Chroma. You'd really think he would have.) ]
Haha, come on— you're you. Even Momo-chan can't bear to be apart from diligent dreamboat Maya-san for too long!
[ Overblown, overtheatrical, but sincere. Momo laughs, but it's more of an exhale than an indication that he finds anything about this to be amusing. ]
no subject
Maya's own laugh is pretty similar, more shaky noise than humor, but she's touched. ]
Diligent dreamboat, huh? It's got a nice ring to it.
... I'm sorry, though. This wasn't really what you expected to talk about today, I bet.
no subject
Momo's brows lower a little. The unspoken sentiment is what am I gonna do with you? ]
Don't worry about it! You should talk about whatever you want, whenever you want. It's like how you need to cough when you catch a cold, or you gotta blow your nose when you're stuffed up.
[ ??? ok momo ]
Besides, now I have an excuse to say hello more often. ♪ [ A light hum, as he blows on his nails again. ] More ammunition in Momo-chan's arsenal!
no subject
I don't think I need you being more dangerous. [ wry, as she lifts her eyebrows. He's sure got a way with words, but it's weirdly endearing. Maybe an idol thing? ]
But challenge accepted. I'll just have to say hello even more than that!
no subject
He literally can't believe Maya is entering the sunshine competition with him, but you know what, he totally can. It's a little conflicting, given that he wants her to Rest... ]
The battle of the hellos...! That's the only kind of war I wanna wage.
[ Otherwise, it's all about the love and peace. Here's a wink, for Maya's trouble. ] —Mind if I ask you for one more big favor, though?
no subject
But thanks for the wink that she didn't want or need! Casually, both eyebrows arch slightly, and she tilts her head. ]
Ask away.
no subject
But, anyway— ] Mind if I take one of the animal buddies you're making? For keeps.
no subject
[ Maya??? And she's frowning fiercely??
Except then she sighs and gives her head a quick shake. ]
I was going to give one to you anyway, but they're not done yet, so you'll have to wait. Even though you already beat me to asking.
no subject
—I can pretend I didn't ask! Grandpa Momo's memory isn't what it used to be...
[ An exaggerated sound of half-confusion. ] Huh? Did I just say something? I can't remember at all... oh well.
no subject
There. I've put your claim on him.
no subject
Ahaha! I'll take super good care of him, so don't worry. He's gonna be my good luck charm. ☆
no subject
[ Good for you, Pyonkichi, hanging out with an idol. ]
He'll take good care of you too. These little guys are great for when you're feeling down.
no subject
[ So, yeah— sorry, Maya. Here's one animal buddy you're not getting back. ]
Pyonkichi, the bunny idol! He's gonna cry at every interview when someone asks him a question about his mom... "Maya-chan made me, and I'm thankful every single day!"
no subject
Then I'll have to make sure he's finished and good to go before you disappear. I get the feeling you'll be a great bunny dad.
[ Mr. Bunbun would be proud. ]