middaeg | [open] your ambiguous true face is hidden in the magic hour

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[open] your ambiguous true face is hidden in the magic hour

Who: Momo and you!
When: Throughout Aguril
Where: Around and about...
What: Catch-all feat. Lunasa + Antler Fruit, Forget-Me-Nots, and Darkness and Frost quest things (plus some closed prompts)
Warnings: Potentially raunchy discussion in Lunasa and Antler Fruit prompts, and Violence (tm) in the Darkness and Frost prompt.

[a: don't do the fashion crime if you can't do the fashion time (lunasa)]

[While Momo isn't exactly dressed in a not-extra way when he's out and about during Lunasa, what with the pinstriped dress shirt and useless fashionable suspender aesthetic because why not, the fact that he has modelling as a more permanent side job here now means he has to get involved in Lunasa things one way or another. And as far as he's concerned, it's better to have a little fun with it than just get set up with a bunch of local models. He figures Yuki will only have the patience for a little of it, though the single red string trailing off Momo's finger (coincidentally, it's chosen to tie itself around the finger he wears his repeat ring on, the left middle) somewhere off into the abyss of the city may be a dead giveaway to some people that Momo's oft-mentioned partner isn't directly present.

As such, anyone who comes near the right modelling locations may find themselves being propositioned by more than just the locals, as Momo taps shoulders (or just takes arms in cases he knows someone well enough or they look relaxed enough that he can assume he won't get hit for it) and starts trying to guide people towards the hell of designers and glitter and flashiness.]

Have you tried out a little modelling yet? You'll get some cute clothes out of it, I promise! [Or just. Good useful clothes for if anything fancy happens. He may have to change his tactics with some people...]

--

[b: pursuing the elusive hornyfruit (antler fruit, 18+ characters only)]

[Considering Momo tends to favour trap tactics initially when fighting things out in the Wilde anyway, something that involves having to keep an animal still long enough to pluck fruit off its horns seems pretty ideal. And the pay is good, and the jury is very much out on how long Momo is going to hold out before he makes one or more horny puns. Maybe they should be offering extra hazard pay for that part.

As it stands, though, it's still out in the Wilde and that still means Momo is going to have to pick up interested parties to help him out in the collection process. Out of habit he'll favour adults, in large part because of the nature of the quest, but other than that he's not particularly picky as long as his company has some idea what they're doing. Most of his supplies are concealed under his very covering clothing since he'll be drawing on magic much more here, but on occasion he can be seen tapping at things under his clothes as if to make sure they're still in the right place.

On final approach, behind some trees from which clear sounds of the deers' presence can be heard and one or two of them even start to be visible in a clearing nearby, Momo finally cracks while peering out to check how many there are around.]

Wow, I guess they really are as horny as advertised. [In reference to the giant "branches" of antlers hanging with fruit that are visible even from here, but he's still grinning like he knows he just made the worst joke in the world and isn't at all sorry.]

--

[c: animal crossing cheat codes (forget-me-nots)]

[Another particularly handy aspect of having focused primarily on distraction and protection magic in his early months is that thorny plants aren't a huge concern. He covers up habitually when travelling to the Wilde anyway, because Cwyld is like that, but some of the plants here are remarkably good at getting through gloves and he doesn't really want to learn if these prickly bushes are like that the hard way. So he's gathering the seeds with a layer of pink around his hands - a shield to prevent giving himself dead arm for the duration - and a nostalgic sort of smile on his face, courtesy of the fumes. He's dropping his own seeds into vials similar to those used to collect plant samples with a bit of soil, and while he knows time is of the essence, he'll spare some for anyone else who comes collecting.]

Are you here for seeds? If you've got something to transport them in I can get you some real quick, might as well carry as many as we can.

[He was told about the time limit when he came out, but at worst he can leg it back to the city after he helps.]

--

[d: tattoo responsibly (darkness and frost)]

[With the amount of time Momo is spending in the Wilde and on the outskirts of the city this month, of course he hears the warnings about the screaming and the creatures. And initially he classes it as a general danger, something to be wary of but that he's not necessarily more at risk of than anyone else.

Unfortunately, he is as yet blissfully unaware of the creatures' targets of choice, and he happened to get an enchanted tattoo not at all long after he arrived in this world. And spends a solid chunk of time in Dorchacht for the open spaces.

Initially, it's just that the screams seem to come remarkably close a few of the times he's near the borders of the Outer City or in the Wilde - but in the case of the former he's generally in the company of the Wilders and others helping out beyond the walls. It's not until he ends up having to chase a Shade a little further out from locals that can muddle his scent than is entirely ideal that one of them bursts from the trees, giving off its eerie screaming. On the one hand, it spooks the smaller Shade enough for it to hightail it back into the deeper Wilde for the moment. On the other, it's much bigger and more vicious than what he was just dealing with, and Momo barely gets a shield up before it crashes into the pink dome, trying to stomp through it and screaming all the louder. It's rare to see Momo look legitimately afraid of something, but he definitely does for the first few moments of holding it out of the shield.]

What the fuck...? [The cuss slips out in his absence of care for pretense in this kind of situation, and while the flayed creature's screaming is probably attraction enough for help, he does call out to anyone who might've seen fit to follow him.] Stay back! And if you have any idea what this thing is I could use the update!

[Unless whoever came to assist fills the target criteria for the nuckelavee as well, it's likely to remain very obviously focused on trying to get through that barrier to stomp and/or chew on Momo. Otherwise...well, it's going to turn its attention to the target that doesn't have a shield in front of it.]

--

[e: wildcard]

[[Feel free to hit me up at

reviseleviathan for other plans! Momo will also be doing his usual Out of the City duties besides the ones that involve getting attacked by weird revenge horses. Also feel free to tweak prompts slightly as needed to suit any plans we might've had for certain quests!]]

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[That makes Momo laugh and wave a hand, as if he shouldn't be so hard on himself about it.] That's not it! Learning how to craft like that still seems to take real time, even with magic. I've been here for a good six months now and I haven't even touched conjuration, so I definitely couldn't make anything like that...the craftiest I can be is with illusions! And those are mostly based on stuff I've already seen, so it's kinda just copying something but it's not real.

[It's still fun to use, but it's decidedly his oldest magic class that could be used to "create" anything and it's definitely not anything like what it would take to craft something magically.] So don't be hard on yourself about stuff that takes time to click, you know?

[six months...that was a while. Styx feels like he wants to be heartened by that fact, but at the same time...mmph.]

'm really not all that smart, man. Don't think I'll even hit where you are now after a whole year.

[but that was fine too, wasn't it? not everybody was talented in the same ways. chuckling softly, he rubs at the back of his neck without really thinking.]

Guess it's not bad to have something to shoot for though, even if you're never gonna reach it...keeps you busy, yeah?

[Momo would make a "not with that attitude" kind of comment, but Styx kind of makes it for him so he just jumps on the opportunity to add a bit more, clapping his hands together.]

Of course it's better to aim high, even if you're not confident in yourself! If you expect low and aim low, then all you're going to get is something low, right? But shoot for the moon and you'll still land among the stars! Achieving something, even if it's not quite what you held yourself to, is always better than achieving nothing.

[Momo's terrible self-worth means he's had to try to teach himself these lessons more of late, but his juniors have struggled with it as well, so it's easy enough to advise on.]

[Momo's definitely got the right strategy where Styx is concerned - he's so uncertain of his own thoughts and feelings that it only takes the smallest push from someone else to influence his opinions. while usually that's something people have manipulated him for, in cases like this...]

You really think so? Even if it's, uh, you know...real shitty?

[his horrendous attempt at an umbrella sprinkler from last month comes to mind...but so does the memory of all those kids enjoying splashing around in the aftermath thanks to the other man's words. you can practically see him teetering on the edge of positivity in his expression alone.]

[Momo waves a hand as if to say the quality doesn't matter at all.] Everyone starts somewhere! But it's still something and not nothing, and the more you do it the more you'll learn! Some people just take a little bit longer than others, but that's no reason not to keep trying, since not trying at all just makes it certain that no improvement happens.

[He's very much one of those people who throws himself hard at anything he does, even if he doesn't consider himself very good at it. Not being a natural talent has never stopped him from trying, so he basically takes that same attitude with everyone else too.]

Mm.

[he nods, understanding the concept behind things - and even having told other people the same! but it was so difficult to apply that idea to himself when his entire life he's been told the opposite.]

Just kinda feels like...you do bad enough that even the nothing's better than that sometimes, you know? 's scary.

[and if you start at such a low point, and improve as slowly as he does...is it ever really worth it? he just can't let go of that apprehension no matter how optimistically it's been delivered.]

[Momo kind of knows the feeling, though he only gives it away in the slight, knowing quirk of his mouth before he nods understandingly. And then gives Styx a bracing clap on on the shoulder, because he's just a physical kind of person and this almost sounds like grounds for someone needing a hug.]

Yeah, it can be hard to keep pressing on if you feel like you're going to fail, or like you're starting so much lower than others. But even slow progress is progress. You might not notice it as easily yourself, but at the same time, you have to be understanding with yourself. You're not hurting or inconveniencing anyone by taking time to get better at something. So it's okay to give yourself what space you need to improve.

[Things it would've been nice if he'd said to himself six years ago, when he was utterly convinced he had to get good at performing immediately or he'd be ruining Yuki's life. There are still times he doesn't quite feel content with his skills, but he's in a vastly better place now than he was then.]

[Styx jumps at the sudden touch, just a little, as if he wasn't expecting anyone to want to lay their hands on him; he recovers quickly enough though, eyebrows contracting sheepishly as he hopes that Momo doesn't notice.]

's hard sometimes, though...not that that's any big discovery or nothing, haha. Always feels like I'm letting people down.

[getting in the way, dragging everybody down...he's been outright told that so many times in his life. it's hard to get over.]

Guess there's no magic pill for that part, huh? Just gotta do it...

[That's actually a bit worse than he thought, because Momo hasn't met a lot of people who are so down on themselves that they're actually averse to contact. He's good enough at reading people to pick it up, but also tactful enough to not mention it immediately.

His grip does tighten a bit, though, as if to say he has no intention of removing his support.]

Sometimes you do just have to move forward and hope that you're gonna be in a better place at the other side of it. It can be hard! But I think being in a place like this could help you too. There are so many people coming from so many different places that I'm sure you can get a lot of different perspectives and support.

[Momo feels like most of the Mirrorbound he's met have been supportive, so it's more a matter of meeting the right ones. But he does think that mindset often comes of one's circumstances or environment, too, so a change in that could help.]

Anyway, I believe you can do it! Cute juniors like you make me want to give you all my support. [He pokes his own cheek in an intentionally cutesy manner, to lighten the mood a bit.]

[it's...nice, honestly. Styx has friends now, damn good ones, but neither of them are particularly tactile people. even with the slow improvements the band has made in his outlook the only person at home who touches him is his auntie. he can't help but appreciate it quietly, maybe with faint embarrassment over dwelling on such a trivial gesture, as Momo spoke.

...and then his thick skull completely destroys what is honestly a very meaningful speech to the drummer.]

Oh...sorry, 'm not a junior or nothing. There's just the one me.

[he...thinks. he's probably not named after his father, right?]

[That makes Momo pause, and then laugh uproariously (but in good humour, at least), waving his free hand after a moment or two as if in apology. He can definitely see how it might not've been taken completely at face value, because he's had more than a few people here assume he was a teenager and not on the way towards 30.]

Sorry, I forgot people here aren't used to that! Back home, I call the younger people in my industry my "juniors", because seniority in the workplace is really important where I come from. But here I've just kinda ended up calling anyone younger than me that, because I'm too used to it but there's not the same kinda weight on workplace seniority.

[Which means he's just going to use his "advanced" age to tease people in general rather than abuse his senior role for delightful and entertaining shenanigans against his juniors.]

[he'd look more than a little baffled by the sudden outburst of laughter, staring with a sort of blank apprehension at Momo until it becomes clear that he's not laughing at him. or...he's fairly sure that's not the case. regardless, the man looks pretty happy, and that makes Styx happy too! so at length he smiles along with him, even though he's still got no idea what was so funny to begin with.]

...ohhh.

[it was sort of like the stuff that went on in high school, only more professional. he supposes? the drummer had never actually been to high school himself, but...it seemed to make a little more sense now. he feels a familiar wave of idiocy washing over him at making such an obvious mistake, but it barely registers anymore.]

So it's kinda like they're your kids, yeah? 's nice. Uh, you know, having somebody looking out for you 'nd all.

[Momo grins in an affectionate sort of manner, seemingly glad that Styx drew the connection.]

Yep! That's actually how I usually talk about it, like Yuki and I adopting a ton of good kids. It makes me proud to see them improve, like I'm sure it is for parents too! So it's a good comparison.

[Unfortunately, he had one or two people here react very badly to him framing it like that, so he's hesitated a bit to do so lately.]

I guess it's confused some people when I've said that, though? Since Momo-chan's powers of looking young must be a bit too strong!

[He winks and makes an intentionally cutesy pose with one hand beside his face. The way he deliberately presents himself probably doesn't help with the age misjudgements.]

I mean, guess your hair's kinda white? But you don't look that young, dude.

[this is honestly meant to be encouraging, but Styx is just too dim to understand that essentially calling the guy old-looking really isn't any better...or that Momo is just kind of joking around in the first place.]

You can have kids real early too, if you want...[and sometimes when you didn't.] Maybe 's just 'cause you work so much?

[like, you know. people might wonder how he has so much time for all these kids. (Styx, why are you trying to answer this seriously)]

[Momo flops a bit dramatically towards Styx at that first comment, as if thankful to hear it, so apparently the old implication doesn't bother him.]

Tell that to the people who've asked me if I was old enough to drink...it's always Mirrorbound, for some reason? Though the locals don't seem to mind as much in general...

[Not so much in the way of age limits for most things here short of the red light district, and Momo comes there to schmooze with entertainment high-fliers often enough that a chunk of the establishments recognise him anyway.

But he straightens up again before long, rubbing the back of his hair.] Anyway, I work even more at home and I have a good pack of kids there too! So maybe those people just need more hardworking parents as role models!

[Dramatic fistpump. Momo is just going to take that serious answer and roll with it plus his usual dramatic flair.]

Edited 2020-10-20 13:40 (UTC)

[there's a little more for Momo to rub when it comes to his hair than usual, most likely, because Styx won't be able to stop himself from instinctively patting the guy on the head when he flops over. it just seems like a better thing to do than go 'there there'...as if he had the brain capacity for complex platitudes like that in the first place.]

Maybe! Lotta people don't get parents to begin with.

[like him, although he'd been blessed enough to at least have an auntie. she'd busted her ass her entire life for everyone, not just him, so he understands the general concept...but he can't help but think that maybe an actual parent is something completely unique to itself. maybe he's not the only one here with that subtle degree of separation.]

You just gonna start picking up the ones who don't get it? Or, uh, guess you could work more instead.

[but he thinks the first one might be the better course of action...and safer.]

[Momo is weak to being patted on the head, so he is entirely fine with letting Styx do that before he unfolds himself from his dramatically upset shape. But he rebounds very quickly to enthusiasm, as always.]

I'd rather do the first thing! Since working too much means I might have less time to look after everyone properly...my pack back home is smaller than what I could gather up here, so I do kinda need that extra time to keep on top of things!

[That's his excuse, at least, though he still works much more than he reasonably needs to here.] But you're right, not everyone gets the love they deserve, so I want to make sure everyone gets that opportunity! Just like I do with my job back home.

It's real nice of you, honest.

[maybe this was a little too personal for him to say, or too weighty for a fashion show's backstage, but...he can't help himself. laughing bashfully, he rubs at the back of his neck and continues to speak.]

Uh, back home, my neighborhood...don't really got that many parents that stick around, yeah? I dunno. Probably stupid, but I always kinda wondered if maybe we were all just kinda waiting for somebody else to notice we were lonely.

[...no, that was stupid. Styx had always been the only one who ever seemed to feel lost in his neighborhood; how many times had the other kids laughed at him for crying, or for how obviously he appeared to be out of place? laughing again as if to chase his dumb words out of the conversation, he shakes his head dismissively.]

[Despite Momo's own generally positive family experiences, he gets it. A lot of his juniors come from disordered or broken homes - whether from abuse, neglect, disowning or just constantly getting into fights with a shitty parent. Even Yuki's parents might as well not exist, which is perhaps why he did so much to unbreak Momo's family behind his back after his going into the entertainment industry brought out every discontent he'd never realised his family had into raw relief and forced him out of his house.

So he squeezes Styx's shoulder reassuringly, and then claps it a few times, as if encouraging him. Even if Styx thinks it might've been out of place, Momo doesn't seem to mind.]

I don't think it's stupid. There are a lot of people out there who've come from rough backgrounds like that. I work with some of them, who want to be able to reach out to people feeling that way. But even the ones who respond by getting rough, or grouping up with delinquents...isn't that another way to make themselves feel less lonely?

[Even if it's not particularly healthy, it's understandable they'd reach out for that kind of belonging given the circumstances.]

[he doesn't jump when touched this time, even smiling broadly as Momo pats him repeatedly. something about the other man's encouragement has allowed him to ease up a little...or maybe he's simply adjusted to the way that his companion seems to be the touchy feely sort. it's the way that he himself would like to be if he wasn't so afraid of bothering anyone, after all.]

Yeah, 'course! Most of the gangs back home seemed real tight.

[and none of them had ever possessed room for Styx...although one group had at least allowed him to tag along. he'd been so grateful for that as a teen - how could he have known how it would end?]

If you don't get a family you just gotta make one, right? That kinda thing.

That's right! Found family is important too, especially when all you have is each other.

[Momo manages not to make that sound like a personal experience, even though that was very much where he and Yuki were for a while until it developed into something more. It was the two of them against the world, after they'd essentially had any remaining family or friends turn away from them, trying to build themselves up from the bottom.

But by this point, Annette has finally finished playing around with her outfitting, and beckons them over with one leg. "Alright, young ones, all this emotional support is very sweet, but let's get this show on the road, shall we?"

Her tone is very subtly humourous, and Momo claps his hands together enthusiastically.] Oh, of course! I couldn't think of leaving anyone waiting.

[it was a lovely sentiment, but at the same time it was exactly why Styx worried about his auntie back home - or he had when he'd been there. he loved her dearly, and she had friends and was still perfectly capable of taking care of herself...but her blood relations were all in another country. with such a fuckup for a 'son', how bright could her future really be? it felt that sometimes, no matter how hard he tried, he would just continue to fail her.

thankfully just around this time their fashion maestro of the day calls for them, jolting the drummer away from wandering down quite a dangerous path. his face flushes instantly despite Momo's enthusiasm, guilt creeping in like cold water down his neck.]

S-sorry, miss! Didn't mean to...just got kinda swept up in stuff.

[it's clear he doesn't have a lot of even remotely deep conversations with people.]

[Annette hums in almost joking disbelief, but doesn't remark on it, instead scuttling around behind the two forms she had set up to display the outfits, two suits given the theming of the festival. The smaller one is made of lighter, more delicate fabrics, and has a lot of fine embroidery through it of vinework and flowers, metallic and colourful over the black base suit. The larger, heavier one is similarly a black base, but worked of a suede-like leather, creating a softer and more refined look than leather often provides. Rather than embroidery, it has a mix of metal and glassy-looking "shards" in matching shifting colours to the smaller suit's embroidery worked into it, creating a rather striking garment.

"Since Monster and Witch pairings are becoming a much more frequent thing in these last years, I thought I might try my hand at something for a Witch pairing with one of the larger kinds of Monster. But I haven't had many of them through today, so I'll call it luck that little Momo managed to catch a particularly large Witch."

Momo laughs and waves a hand.]

Well, you did say you needed someone big, you didn't say it had to be a Monster! Besides, I thought I saw someone who could use a little sparkle in his day.

[He gives Styx a good-natured wink. Given the poor self-esteem the man has shown throughout this conversation, he's thinking he made a good call on that one.]

[that...was for him? they were really going to let him wear something that fantastic? for all of the chatter they've had, all of the glitz and glamour he'd witnessed while being led backstage, actually seeing the outfit he was intended to don somehow manages to hit him the hardest. he's so entranced by the thing that, for a brief moment, he barely realizes that his companions are talking around him. oops.]

Huh..?

[why is he being winked at..? the big idiot has to retrace what had previously just been pleasant white noise in his memory, returning it to the actual speech it was. having done so (and probably looking very stupid in the meantime) he smiles shyly at Momo, shaking his head a little bit.]

Oh, well...guess I don't really sparkle at that much, so 's probably right.

[normally that attention was something he didn't like, but this was...kind of exciting, honestly. he was actually growing eager to try the clothes on, doubly so if it meant showcasing something meant for monsters - people who were also way cool in his mind.]

It's really killer, dude. Makes me glad 'm so tall!

[for once, possibly ever, in his life.]

[Momo claps his hands together cheerfully, as if he's pleased Styx likes it, and Annette also looks like she might be somewhat relieved he's not turning it down for being too much. It's definitely extra in a very different way to everything they passed on the way in, that was more fluorescent dyes and feathers.]

I'm glad! Liking the outfit means you'll get to sparkle all the more in it, since part of that sparkle is you being happy with it!

[He stresses the word happy and winks at the same time, as if it's a very big thing for him. Momo likes to see everyone enjoying themselves, and if they're not then he'll do his best to change that in a mood-appropriate manner.]

Anyway, since I've worked with Annette before, it might be easier for me to sneak off and change and then she can help you sort your suit out? I think you might need help getting that on anyway.

[He's not wrong - the embroidery on Momo's version of the suit means it's still fairly flexible, but the larger version having inlays means incautious or unfamiliar handling could be a bit of a risk to the details.]

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