[ It's 10:00 PM on the dot, and Okarun is doing as Okarun does: sitting and waiting for Ayase Momo. He knows that a little guy like him wouldn't exactly scare off any creep who was aggressively creepy enough to lurk around a girl's place of employment to bother her, but Momo shouldn't have to deal with that kind of harassment at all, let alone by herself, especially not after a long day of customer service (which he knows doesn't really suit her, but she's trying her best). It's not like he's just jumping at any excuse he can get to see her.
Paranormal magazine in hand, he reads by the incandescent street lights as he waits. A small plastic bag hangs from his wrist. ]
[ She's still stuffing her uniform into her bag as the elevator down to the cafe opens on street level and she steps off of it. ]
Jeez, I better be able to get that stain out, what a pain in the—
[ Momo stops mid mutter, blinking for a moment when she catches sight of a familiar figure even in the dim evening light. She smiles a bit to herself, a private sort of expression that belies the warmth she feels swell in her chest when she sees him. She crosses over to catch his arm in hers, her lips turned up into a different, wider smile by the time she does. ]
[ Naturally, he perks up the moment Momo appears. If he had a tail, it would be wagging. Lifting the magazine so she can get a better look at it, he taps at one of the articles under a photo of the swirling dark depths of space. ]
It's a recent finding! Amateur scientists have recorded sounds coming out of black holes. Some people are speculating that it could be evidence of an alien civilization, so I wanted to research it in case we ever encounter them.
[ Very prudent, given half the aliens they've met have tried to steal his junk and/or assaulted Momo. Unacceptable.
Squeezing her arm a little closer to his side, he holds up the bag he's been carrying and offers it to her. ]
I brought this for you in case you're hungry. It's just a conbini onigiri, but they're pretty good.
[ Some people might be put off when Okarun gets like this, but time and time again, Momo finds she doesn't mind. It's actually kind of interesting just how much Okarun seems to know about the occult, and lately it's pretty fun finding things herself that she wants to share with him.
Like that stupid tsuchinoko skin. That was supposed to be fun. She wanted to ask questions, but is instead being offered an onigiri and she just kind of stares. There's a flush to her cheeks as she reaches out to take it, half mumbling a thank you. How is it that something like this gets her all messed up? She glances at Okarun and offers a smile.
And her stomach rumbles. Yeah, hungry is an understatement. ]
But he is for Momo. That's why he's here now, waiting for her with a tasty little snack. Her stomach grumbles and he waits for a moment, smiling quietly as she opens the onigiri. It's cleverly wrapped up with a separate sheet of nori and a little furikake seasoning packet. Like he said, they're pretty good, but he's already eaten and is content to watch her--no wait, he was supposed to be keeping an eye out for creepers!! Right.
A glance in their general area turns up nothing unusual, so he relaxes without lowering his guard completely. Once they're set to go, he clears his throat and awkwardly extends his arm. ]
Ayase-san. Did you want to keep holding on to my arm? I--I don't mind!
[ Momo sets about handling the onigiri, sprinkling the furikake on it without saying much. Her face is flushed from either embarrassment or maybe the cool air, but she's not going to clarify, not even if she's asked.
She'd let go of Okarun's arm in order to prep her snack, but even as she takes her first (big) bite and is chewing, she glances over at him as he stumbles over his words. Something in her facial expression softens even as she swallows that first bite, a little bit of rice still on her cheek.
Without even saying anything, she shifts her snack to one hand and reaches out to tangle her fingers with his, like it's the most natural thing in the world. Even better. ]
[ Well. His fingers are technically an extension of his arm so he wouldn't protest her twining their fingers together even if this wasn't actually the ideal scenario.
It's kind of wild, actually--Ken from just a few months ago would hardly recognize himself now, walking home with the cutest, nicest girl he's ever met, holding her hand like they're a couple or something.
His stomach flips and flutters at the thought of him and Momo being a... a couple??? Is that even possible? Would she want that? But she's the one who grabbed his hand when he'd offered his arm to be gentlemanly. He knows it's a bad idea to get his hopes up but god how could he not hope?? ]
Ah, yes! Ready.
[ Squeezing her hand, he starts them off down the street, doing his best to keep his eyes peeled for weirdos while giving Momo the majority of his attention. ]
[ When it comes to the pair of them, Okarun has always ALWAYS been the better one at communicating when it comes to words. When it really comes down to it and there's a misunderstanding, Okarun is the one that's rational and is the one that wants to talk it out. Momo is the one that lets her feelings get all messed up and tangled, running wild with assumptions. She can't help it sometimes, especially when Okarun is involved.
Maybe it's because for the first time, her heart feels so very very vulnerable. It's not like with her last craptastic boyfriend. It didn't feel like this. Okarun, she's realizing, embodies so much that she finds admirable, attractive even. Maybe it's that, that has her feeling so out of sorts.
But what she is good at is showing how she feels, in subtle ways. Fingers brushing, holding hands, bumping into him and being physical. Her jealousy too, though it's a far more negative manifestation of the way Okarun has her heart pounding in her chest. In fact, she's so focused on how loudly she can hear her heart beat in her ears she almost misses his question. ]
Huh...? Oh. It was ok, I guess. You know. Work...
[ She shifts closer, perhaps under the guise that it's a little chilly out. ]
[ He honestly doesn't even mind when she acts jealous over him. It's a little extreme sometimes, but it means that she cares. For a guy who'd been so desperate for friends growing up that alien abduction seemed preferable to the loneliness, it's a huge improvement.
He nods in understanding--work was work--but he shakes his head at her question. ]
Not too long. I don't mind waiting for you, anyway. I could have waited five hours and it wouldn't have felt like too much.
[ Dammit, it's when he says stuff like that her brain feels like it's turning into some kind of unproductive goo. She just stares at him, suddenly all too aware of how warm her hand is, holding his. ]
Jeez. Definitely don't do something like that. Or let me give you a call or something.
[ Five hours? She sidesteps, bumping into him to purposefully jostle him a little. ]
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Paranormal magazine in hand, he reads by the incandescent street lights as he waits. A small plastic bag hangs from his wrist. ]
no subject
Jeez, I better be able to get that stain out, what a pain in the—
[ Momo stops mid mutter, blinking for a moment when she catches sight of a familiar figure even in the dim evening light. She smiles a bit to herself, a private sort of expression that belies the warmth she feels swell in her chest when she sees him. She crosses over to catch his arm in hers, her lips turned up into a different, wider smile by the time she does. ]
O~ka~run! Whatcha reading? Anything good?
no subject
[ Naturally, he perks up the moment Momo appears. If he had a tail, it would be wagging. Lifting the magazine so she can get a better look at it, he taps at one of the articles under a photo of the swirling dark depths of space. ]
It's a recent finding! Amateur scientists have recorded sounds coming out of black holes. Some people are speculating that it could be evidence of an alien civilization, so I wanted to research it in case we ever encounter them.
[ Very prudent, given half the aliens they've met have tried to steal his junk and/or assaulted Momo. Unacceptable.
Squeezing her arm a little closer to his side, he holds up the bag he's been carrying and offers it to her. ]
I brought this for you in case you're hungry. It's just a conbini onigiri, but they're pretty good.
no subject
Like that stupid tsuchinoko skin. That was supposed to be fun. She wanted to ask questions, but is instead being offered an onigiri and she just kind of stares. There's a flush to her cheeks as she reaches out to take it, half mumbling a thank you. How is it that something like this gets her all messed up? She glances at Okarun and offers a smile.
And her stomach rumbles. Yeah, hungry is an understatement. ]
no subject
But he is for Momo. That's why he's here now, waiting for her with a tasty little snack. Her stomach grumbles and he waits for a moment, smiling quietly as she opens the onigiri. It's cleverly wrapped up with a separate sheet of nori and a little furikake seasoning packet. Like he said, they're pretty good, but he's already eaten and is content to watch her--no wait, he was supposed to be keeping an eye out for creepers!! Right.
A glance in their general area turns up nothing unusual, so he relaxes without lowering his guard completely. Once they're set to go, he clears his throat and awkwardly extends his arm. ]
Ayase-san. Did you want to keep holding on to my arm? I--I don't mind!
no subject
She'd let go of Okarun's arm in order to prep her snack, but even as she takes her first (big) bite and is chewing, she glances over at him as he stumbles over his words. Something in her facial expression softens even as she swallows that first bite, a little bit of rice still on her cheek.
Without even saying anything, she shifts her snack to one hand and reaches out to tangle her fingers with his, like it's the most natural thing in the world. Even better. ]
Ready to go when you are.
no subject
It's kind of wild, actually--Ken from just a few months ago would hardly recognize himself now, walking home with the cutest, nicest girl he's ever met, holding her hand like they're a couple or something.
His stomach flips and flutters at the thought of him and Momo being a... a couple??? Is that even possible? Would she want that? But she's the one who grabbed his hand when he'd offered his arm to be gentlemanly. He knows it's a bad idea to get his hopes up but god how could he not hope?? ]
Ah, yes! Ready.
[ Squeezing her hand, he starts them off down the street, doing his best to keep his eyes peeled for weirdos while giving Momo the majority of his attention. ]
How was the rest of your shift?
no subject
Maybe it's because for the first time, her heart feels so very very vulnerable. It's not like with her last craptastic boyfriend. It didn't feel like this. Okarun, she's realizing, embodies so much that she finds admirable, attractive even. Maybe it's that, that has her feeling so out of sorts.
But what she is good at is showing how she feels, in subtle ways. Fingers brushing, holding hands, bumping into him and being physical. Her jealousy too, though it's a far more negative manifestation of the way Okarun has her heart pounding in her chest. In fact, she's so focused on how loudly she can hear her heart beat in her ears she almost misses his question. ]
Huh...? Oh. It was ok, I guess. You know. Work...
[ She shifts closer, perhaps under the guise that it's a little chilly out. ]
You weren't waitin' long were ya?
no subject
He nods in understanding--work was work--but he shakes his head at her question. ]
Not too long. I don't mind waiting for you, anyway. I could have waited five hours and it wouldn't have felt like too much.
no subject
Jeez. Definitely don't do something like that. Or let me give you a call or something.
[ Five hours? She sidesteps, bumping into him to purposefully jostle him a little. ]
Got it?