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[ She turns, and all the trepidation she had felt melts away in the face of that warm smile. She smiles back and waves. ]

Oh, no. I only just arrived myself. It's good to see you again.

It's good to see you too. [ He gives her a quick hug, because that's how you greet friends, pulling back and turning his attention back towards the menu. ] Have you been here before?

I like pretty much everything, so - [ he leans in, conspiratorially: ] You can't go wrong. Not with anything.

[ The combination of that hug and the lean in just makes Momo all flustered again. Lester has to know how he is playing with her heart! She can't take it!!!

But, she was raised to be ever so polite, so despite her massive blush she just places a tight smile on her face and shakes her head. ]

I haven't, no. But it looks wonderful. Shall we go inside?

Of course. After you -

[ Because "ladies first," and Apollo is nothing if not a gentleman. He holds the doors open as they walk in and get seated by one of the waitresses. She asks for their drinks, and Apollo asks for a water before looking back at the menu.

He's been here a thousand times (or what feels like it), so he's not really looking - but he's gauging Momo's reaction. Was this place okay? It's not too fancy, but it's not a simple sit-down place either, so was it... maybe too much?? ]

[ Momo orders a cup of Earl Grey tea because she is nothing if not predictable. She glances over the menu, showing no particular reaction to the options listed or their prices. She comes from a wealthy family, so money really is no object to her. She would feel just as comfortable in a Michelin-rated restaurant. ]

What do you recommend?

I know I said everything, but I usually grab a crepe. Something on the more savory side. [ He brightens, taking her lack of reaction as a good thing. Apollo hadn't goofed up this time! ] If you like Nutella, though, the sweet crepes are just as good.

It really depends on what you're feeling, I'd say.

Edited 2018-12-29 04:04 (UTC)

A crepe sounds lovely. [ She tends to favor sweet over savory, so when the waitress returns to take their order, Momo orders the nutella and strawberry crepe with whipped cream. ]

Thank you for meeting me. I did worry, when you were gone without a word. I thought... I thought maybe I had done something wrong.

[ And given that their last meeting was the fateful kiss... She'd thought the worst. ]

[ He orders something savory - a spinach and pesto crepe - and hands over his menu. Once the waitress leaves, though, he frowns. ]

What? No, of course not.

[ He could see how she'd come to that conclusion, but... ]

I was ported out. Didn't really have a choice in the matter. [ he draws in a breath, ] I'm... I'm so sorry I worried you like that.

Yes, of course. I see that now.

[ It's not her first experience with someone porting out all of a sudden, after all. She still remembers Midoriya torturing himself looking for Bakugo after he disappeared. ]

It's alright. I'm just glad you're back.

[ She pauses, unable to hide the hint of jealousy in her voice when she says, ] Your boyfriend must be glad as well.

[ wait.

She mentions his boyfriend, and Apollo can't help staring at her, trying to discern if he'd said something wrong at any point in time – ]

Yeah, but so was my roommate and - [ "my son." ] my relative. He's not the only one who matters to me. Or even the first person I saw when I came home?

[ She tries her best to make her face as impassive as possible, cold and polite, giving nothing away. ]

I'm not sure I know what you mean. Surely he's the most important person in your life.

[ The most important person in his life... As it stands right now, that would be Will, and Andy as a close second. His son, and the person he proudly calls his older sister. He can't remember the last time he's placed a lover above his family. Which means... as much as he loves Max... maybe it's not enough by mortal standards?

Apollo swallows, staring back at Momo with blank horror. ]

Um... yeah, I think that's how it's supposed to be, but... [ he's already in this deep, he might as well commit, ] that's not how it is for me. My family. They're more important than anyone else here.

[ There's a dawning realization in Momo's eyes, and her face softens. She looks down, laughing slightly. ]

Yes, of course they are. If I had known...

[ If her parents were here, it would be the same for her. More so than her teacher or her classmates, they are the people she is closest to. ]

Who of your family is here?

[ whew, crisis averted. Apollo laughs, placing a hand over his heart - ]

My sister and my son. [ beat. wait, hold on- ] My son from, uh, the future.

[ Momo's eyes widen. ] Oh, wow. I imagine that must have been very strange, meeting him for the first time.

[ You could learn all sorts of things about your fate, from a child from the future. ]

Are your relatives demigods as well? Or... I suppose your son would be a quarter-god...

Usually, yeah, children of demigods are legacies. [ Though that's a whole different tangent, and one Apollo wouldn't want to purposefully lead Momo down for no good reason. ] But Will's pretty special.

He's a demigod, [ and gods, Apollo is beaming like such a proud parent - ] and also one of the best healers you'll ever meet.

Ah, that's wonderful!

[ He seems so proud of this Will person. She supposes the parental instinct is there even if you've only just met your son from the future. ]

Right? [ He holds up a couple of fingers, still in Proud Parent mode, ] So if your hero business gets you injured, call one of us up and we'll patch you right up.

[ there's an implied 'please, but Lester moves on - ]

So um, as you can imagine, I saw them first. Then Quatre, then the boyfriend, and now you.

Oh, are you a healer as well?

[ That's amazing. He's like a much better looking Recovery Girl!

-- and now she's thinking about kissing him again.... silly Momo!!! ]

Well. Of course. It was silly of me to decide what your priorities should be.

Only of the mortal variety. [ his expression is apollogetic, ] My son's a magical healer, though.

[ her phrasing does give him curious pause . . . ]

But just so we're clear, you're anything but silly. I think it's great that you worry about your friends.

[ she can't be into him, right?? look at him. he's ugly as sin! ]

[ Apollogetic. get it? ]

[ She blushes a little at the compliment, which any sane boy would take to mean that she is in fact into him. ]

Well. I think I would worry about you even if we weren't friends.

[ oh.

Apollo sits up straighter, the ramifications of that blush finally hitting him like a ton of bricks - and now he's turning a bright red. If he were a god, maybe he would have a better control over his feelings, but he feels sixteen, and someone being into you is good! Strange, and kind of weird, but good!!

He fidgets, trying not to look her directly in the face - ]

Oh. Thanks. Um, just so you know - [ and like that, all his confidence is gone, ] I'd worry about you no matter what.

[ Great, now neither of them is making eye contact... That is, until their server comes back with their crepes and Momo is reminded that they are in a public place-- a restaurant, seated across from each other, like a date, even though it's not a date, but even if it isn't a date they should probably still look at each other.

She glances up, murmuring a soft "thank you" to the server. ]

This looks delicious.

[ She takes up her fork, says a quick, "itadakimasu," and takes a bite. It is delicious, as it looks, but Momo's expression doesn't change from its resolute shyness. ]

Thank you, by the way. For saying that. And for... the kiss, earlier.

[ Saved by the crepes. Apollo says his thanks as well, finally reaching for a glass of water and taking a sip to try and focus on the here and now.

They're not on a date (though they could be). They're not dating (though they could be). The worst part about being mortal, he's starting to realize, is how deeply and quickly he's committed himself to someone. ]

Oh, of course. [ If he were Phoebus Apollo, in all of his radiant glory, he might've forgotten... but Lester Papadopoulos thought it was pretty nice. He swallows, reaching for his crepe and cutting off a small piece. ] I couldn't let those jerks win. It didn't feel right.

Well, if I had to give my first kiss away to anyone, I'm glad it was to someone kind like you.

[ Even if they are just friends and Lester doesn't think of her That Way. ]

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