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[Darin is absolutely gobsmacked by this concept. He rubs his chin, ideas clearly popping in and out of his mind.]

What if I mounted one in the helmet too. I could have two feeds, one that directs me, and one that shows what the helmet is looking at!

Oh, yes!

[ She opens her left hand and creates a second camera. ]

This way, you can be devious and play tricks on people!

Edited (icon) 2018-11-02 20:47 (UTC)

Yes! Perfect! Oh man, Momo this is going to be so great! I knew you'd be able to improve on my design!

[Darin eagerly adds to his blueprints.]

I don't know what I'd do without you!

[ She places the two cameras carefully onto his work bench, then goes over to her own work area, pulling out some blue prints of her own. ]

I think it'll be a fantastic costume, no matter what. Sort of puts my idea to shame.

Speaking of... Do we have any wire mesh around?

Yeah, we should have plenty.

[Darin makes his way over and peers over her shoulder to look at her blueprints.]

What are you going to go as?

[ She points to a small sketch she's drawn, of a figure in a white linen dress with long sleeves, and a tall black mass of hair with a white stripe running up the side. ]

Frankenstein's bride! She is a well-known figure from a horror story... Do you know of her?

Edited 2018-11-10 17:38 (UTC)

Nope, unfortunately I'm not as up-to-date on this world's horror lore on account of I'm terrified of all things supernatural.

[Fun fact: Momo, your master and dear friend is super easy to spook. Like a giant child.]

That said? You're gonna rock this costume! You'll look amazing! Though..."Bride" of Frankenstein? You ah....you planning on going with a "Mister" Frankenstein?

[He gives her a bit of a sly glance. He may be over-protective, but Momo's in the springtime of her youth! If she has a date, he won't freak out! ...Much!]

She's not exactly supernatural... More science fiction than fantasy.

[ She blushes, hiding her face quickly by busying herself with her bag. ]

N-No!! I'm just going as myself. No "mister" anything!

...Really? I should check it out then.

[But Darin leans in with a grin.]

Oh? Really? No groom?

[He elbows her lightly, teasingly.]

I hope you know if you did have someone in mind, they'd have to meet my approval first! Not just anyone could date my adorable and precious apprentice~!

[Darin, you have literally no room to talk.]

I'm sure you can find the books at any local library. And there have been many movies made in the series. "Young Frankenstein" is a quite funny one!

[ The kind of classic comedy that transcends language. ]

Oh, Darin, no! There isn't-- I mean there was one boy, but I don't think he even likes me like that... It was only for charity...

Ooooooh?

Only for charity?

Care to explain~?

[ Momo's cheeks turn as red as her costume. ]

It was--! I--!

Ohhh, I shouldn't have said anything...

Edited 2018-11-18 18:07 (UTC)

Hey, come on now! It's only me! I won't tell anyone~!

So, what happened? Who's the lucky guy~?

It-- I... Ohhh, Darin-san, it's really nothing.

[ Her words are in complete opposition to the way she's slumped over her workbench, avoiding eye contact completely. ]

At the swear-in ceremony last month, there was an auction for charity where people could bid on an imPort and get a kiss if they won. I... put myself up for auction, because I thought it was for a good cause.

[ She takes a deep, shuddering breath, and then says in a very small voice: ] ...It was my first kiss.

W-Whoa! You sold off your first kiss?! That must have raked in thousands, right??

[Darin might not realize just how important a young maiden's first kiss is.]

[He walks over and leans on her workbench, concerned.]

...Do you wish it was different?

Fo-four hundred and fifty dollars.

[ But that's not really the point. ]

I just wish it had been something more special. I-I mean--! It's not that Lester-san isn't special! [ He is a demigod, after all. ] But I wish my first kiss had been with someone who wanted to kiss me because they liked me. Not because it was for charity.

[Darin crosses his arms in thought. This was a really delicate subject, and he had to handle it with care. He couldn't just say something like 'well it doesn't count!' because that was stupid and of course it counted. Plus that would be completely dismissive.]

Well, how does this Lester guy feel? Maybe he bid on you because he does like you?

[ Momo is quick to shake her head no, her gaze still averted. ]

He's in a relationship already. With a boy named Max.

Ah.

[Well, there goes that line of reasoning. Darin runs a hand through his hair, awkwardly. He couldn't figure out girls his own age, let alone the heart of a maiden ten years his junior!]

...Do you feel like...like maybe you aren't special enough? Is that it?

[ Oh, Darin. You're trying. But... You do not know how to talk to girls.

Momo looks up at Darin finally, her eyes beginning to water. ]

...Do you think I'm not special?

Momo...you're the most amazing girl I think I've ever met.

[Darin walks over to his own workbench and brings his chair over to sit with her.]

This isn't about your power, either. You could be powerless for all I care, but do you know what I truly admire about you? You have possibly the biggest heart and the sharpest mind I think I've ever seen. At your age, when you should be out there having fun or figuring out what you want to do with your life, you're out there putting everything towards your dream. You put that dream, which I might add is to help and save others before your own wants and desires of the moment.

Do I think you're special? Momo, you're one of the first people to make me realize I have a purpose and a meaning in this world. That I can be so much more than what I thought I could be.

[He reaches out to take her hand comfortingly.]

I admire you.

[ Maybe she was already feeling emotional. Maybe her period is coming up. Maybe she's been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe she's just a teenage girl. Who knows why teenage girls do the things they do?

Darin takes her hand and she absolutely just bursts out sobbing, her free hand coming up to cover her face as she cries helplessly, wordlessly, tears dripping down her face and over her fingers and onto her blueprints. ]

Hey, come on.

[Darin reaches his arm across her shoulders and pulls her in closer for a hug.]

Listen, Momo. You're special. You're undeniably special. And someone is going to see that and they're going to look at you in a way no other person ever has. To them, you won't just be a hero. You'll be their entire world.

[Darin feels like a huge jerk now for teasing her earlier.]

You know, if I were your age, I'd probably be crazy about you!

[ Clearly embarrassed by her outburst, Momo does her best to stop the tears, wiping her face on her sleeve. She still has hiccups of a sob, but she does her best to make her face into something presentable for present company. ]

Oh, Darin-san... Thank you. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me.

Hey...don't be sorry. Don't ever be sorry. I know a little thing or two about doubting yourself.

It's okay to feel that way, sometimes. As a budding hero, you have to keep your best face forward. You can't show any weakness. You're a symbol.

Sooner or later, the person you want to be becomes a mask. You don't even realize it when it happens. And when you do, suddenly it all becomes about keeping up this facade so you don't disappoint the world around you.

[He gives her a somber smile.]

I want you to know...you don't have to act around me. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to be anything but Momo. I'll never fault you for it and I sure as hell won't turn you away.

[Because if there's anyone who knows anything about masks and facades, it's the guy sitting next to her.]

To me, you'll always be Momo first. Anything else will always be second.

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