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[ 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. ]

Wait... that was your first?

[ he pauses, staring back at her with his full, undivided attention. Apollo has lived long enough that his kisses are merely a show of affection, and they come to him easier than breathing. He loves someone, he'll kiss them. Doesn't matter if it's platonic or romantic - the gesture is enough.

Yet when Momo says that, he can feel a shiver roll down his spine. She deserved something better, more intimate than a show of affection for the cameras. ]

Momo, I'm... [ He isn't sorry, because it was a heck of a kiss, but he sure feels like crap. ] I had no idea. If I did, I would've - [ he swallows, ] I wouldn't have kissed you in front of a crowd. Not with everyone watching like that.

[ Momo sighs audibly and rubs her forehead. ] Finally, someone who understands the importance placed upon a first kiss.

[ But then she realizes how absurd the whole situation is, and can't help but smile gently, shaking her head. ]

It's no use dwelling on what's passed. It happened, now we have to move forward from here.

Of course I understand, [ he laughs, the relief reaching his eyes as he relaxes. ] It's an important milestone. But look - you losing it to me just makes the urgency of the second that much more important.

[ Shame that Momo likes him, the mortal who has to stay exclusive to another mortal. He has to pretend to be neutral, like the mere thought of suggesting someone else for her to date wouldn't break his heart, but -

He wishes things could be different. That she and Max would be okay with sharing him. There's a lot of Apollo to go around, after all. ]

Where do you want to go? [ He pauses, ] With us, with finding a boyfriend or girlfriend... with anything?

With-- I--? [ Momo is a little flabbergasted by the sudden change in topic. She didn't expect Lester to actually care about her thoughts and feelings on the matter, besides being sorry for being the one to take her first kiss. ]

I'm not sure... I cherish our friendship, I know that. And I would like to... find a boyfriend. Or... a girlfriend, I suppose. [ She'd never really thought about same sex relationships, but she doesn't really see anything wrong with the idea. ]

I guess I just don't really know how to go about doing it.

[ She looks up to Lester, eyes curious and slightly pleading. ]

How did you and Max meet? How did you know he was ...the one?

[ That's a good question.

Lester pauses, blinking back surprise and feeling blood rush to his cheeks. The honest answer - the real answer - is that Max isn't the one. Lester loves him. He loves the guy with his whole heart, and he loves being with someone so bright and energetic (literally).

But as for 'the one,' the soulmate that he'd spend the rest of his life with...

Neither of them are alive anymore. ]

We met when I first got here. Honestly, I don't remember the exact circumstances, but I do remember how smart and funny and sweet he was... and you know me. I didn't think he was single, or that he'd even be into me.

It took like... two months? For me to clue into it. [ were Momo anyone else, he would've held off, but she deserves the truth: ] I don't know if he's 'the one,' or if he'll ever be the one, but you won't know any of that if you don't try.

[ Momo listens intently, taking in every drop of information Lester shares. She smiles kindly, then looks away, down at her food, cutting it into small bite sized pieces before skewering one with her fork and eating it. ]

You're right. Of course you are. I just have to... put myself out there more. Though I'm not entirely sure how to do that.

[ He's going to hate himself for this, he can already tell, and yet... ]

Well, that, I can help out with. [ He grins, finally reaching for his plate and tearing off a piece, like the exact opposite of a gentleman. Gods never were much for manners. ] First, is there anyone at school, or your internships, or even in the imPort community that you think is cute?

[ Besides him, he means!! Besides him! ]

Otherwise, there's always imPress, or Mindr, or all sorts of dating apps designed to find 'the one.'

[ Momo keeps looking down, feeling her cheeks turn hot at the thought of Lester helping her find a date. ]

N-Not really. I suppose I've been too busy with my studies to really think about those sort of things.

[ She doesn't know the other students at her school here as well as she knows her classmates back at U.A. ... If they were there, Momo knows who she would name as being cute. Alas, those people are very, very far away. ]

Fair enough.

[ Apollo can't say for sure how he feels - honestly, he wants to say that he should be her date, but mortals need to be exclusive. Instead, he rests an elbow on the table, setting his food aside for the time being. ]

If you want to keep focusing on your studies, then you should. You're young, [ a testament to her strength, ] and you've got plenty of time to find someone.

Th--that's true, too. [ Lester is beginning to make her feel better but altogether she's still super embarrassed by this whole conversation. ]

Isn't it perhaps better to wait until I port out and return home? Any relationship formed here is ill fated to end prematurely.

Yeah, but any relationship you'd pursue, here or back home, could end prematurely. [ he tilts his head, ] We - mortals - aren't given long to live.

Wherever we are, we're still given this small, finite stretch of time... so why not take that chance?

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