LOCKED TO destage

[diamondo]

[Winding up in a world full of animal people who wanted nothing more than to decorate their houses and make friends was kind of surreal at first. Okay, maybe "kind of" isn't really the best way to describe it. It was really surreal. Mondo hadn't handled it very well at first and he'd been stuck working for a raccoon named Tom Nook for more time than he really cares to recall. In fact, he should still be working for the raccoon, since he showed up in town without a single Bell to his name and Tom Nook not only gave him a (really cramped) house, he also taught Mondo how to work to earn Bells. This didn't answer any of Mondo's questions, like why Bells were currency or how he'd gotten here, but he'd settled in as best he could.

Mondo's not the sort of person to handle being in one place for too long, and after awhile the friendly villagers just started to piss him off. So he hopped on the last train of the night and didn't look back. He's spent some time chatting with a cat, but when the train pulls into the next station, Mondo gets off. He doesn't look any different than he did in Prayer's Pass, with his pompadour still perfectly maintained and long dark coat thrown over loose-fitting clothes. His hands are shoved in his pockets and when he steps out of the station and gets a look around, he balls his fists.]

Shit, it looks exactly the same...

[Well, to the town's credit it does have different fruit in the trees and the houses are in different places, but it looks almost identical to the town he just left. Part of him is tempted just to hop back on the train, but he spent the last of his Bells getting that ticket, so it looks like he's stuck here for now. With a groan, Mondo begins to walk, looking for the town hall or whatever (he never bothered learning what it was called), so that he can hopefully find a way to get out of here quickly.]

Comments

[destage]

[It takes a good while for her to speak up--she shivers a bit when he starts to hug back, but she relaxes soon enough. And honestly, she's content to stay like this for a while, really.

Still, she gently move her head so she can speak into his ear, softly.]

You aren't alone either. Even if our feelings aren't the same...I'll stand by you. I promise.

[...she means feelings in the case of him not having a crush on her while she does; she really, really hopes this doesn't become another mistranslation...]

[diamondo]

[He's content to stay like that but when Sayaka speaks up it finally occurs to him that he completely missed the point of what he was trying to say. Mondo pulls back so he can get a better look at her.]

Ah, shit, no, hang on. What I was trying to say before I managed to get distracted was that I definitely like you too! I mean, it took awhile to work out my feelings 'cause I didn't want to say that and then have it turn out that it was only 'cause of the shitty situation we were in or 'cause we're the only uh, humans here or something dumb like that, but I really like you, Maizono!

[...wait a minute.]

Oh fuck, now's the worst possible way to admit that, after everything I just said-- shit, I'm really fucking bad at this...

[His voice is a little on the loud side, but at least he's not yelling!]

[destage]

[...You know, up until that last bit, Sayaka was genuinely kinda stunned, and...honored, really. She understands, though, as shown by the way her eyes kinda go soft at that. He was nothing if not honest, at the least.

...And then came that last bit and she couldn't even attempt to hide a cheeky grin.]

Oh, shush. Do you think I'd honestly want it any other way? I think your honesty is one of your best points.

[...One of her hands are gonna sneak around to try and find one of his and intertwine their fingers together.]

I'm...really, really glad you feel the same way, though. That makes me happier than words can even say...

[diamondo]

[Mondo's kind of grinning as well, but he's also bright red. This is really embarrassing...]

Y-Yeah, well I really picked an awful time. Fuck I wouldn't have blamed you for storming out after something like that!

[But Sayaka doesn't seem upset and Mondo is touched when she laces their fingers together. Her hand seems so small in comparison to his own.]

I... yeah. I'm so glad you're here, Maizono. I... I'm really bad at this...

[He's trying so hard.]

[destage]

[Okay, that gets a small huff.]

I wouldn't do that! I mean, if I was really upset, I would've told you. I promise you that.

[...hmm. Well, she doesn't want to be too bold, admittedly, but...]

...I've never done anything like this before, so...I guess I'm bad at it too. [She giggles, softly.] We can learn though, right? And just...follow what we feel is right.

[...She might be taking a slightly bold approach here, moving her face a little closer to his before stopping, biting her lip.]

Is...it okay, if I...you know, do that..?

[diamondo]

[It's nice to hear that she would have told him, but Mondo really wouldn't have blamed her for walking out after hearing that. It's been a secret he's kept for so long and it's awful. It feels kind of good to get that out in the open though.

He's also surprised to hear that Sayaka hasn't dated before. He supposes that makes sense, since idols are supposed to be "pure" or whatever, but it still comes as a shock.]

Yeah. We'll figure it out together!

[Then she leans forward and Mondo manages to turn a shade of red that would rival the ripest tomato.]

A-Ah, you really want to-- do that? Now? With me?

[He's really bad at this.]

[destage]

I-Is that alright? Should I have waited?

[Look, if you're bad at this, she is bad times infinity. ...And going kind of red herself and looking away.]

I'm so sorry, I didn't realize that I wasn't supposed to do that..!

[She'll just. Shrink a bit, don't mind her.]

[diamondo]

Ahh, no, it's alright! I just-- I'm really bad at this, I don't...

[Mondo really doesn't know how to respond and it's obvious. He's having difficulty finding the words he needs, and after a moment he gives up with a sigh. Instead he reaches out to take Sayaka's hand cautiously, to make sure that she won't pull away.]

Maizono, I... I'm okay with it. I was just surprised, that's all.

[destage]

[She was honestly very tempted to bolt off again, honestly--but when he grabs her hand, she's definitely prevented from doing that. And she goes a little more red in the face, don't mind her...]

A-ah--really?

[She had looked to him when she did that, but now she just turns away again, a bit of a nervous smile on her face.]

I...I wasn't sure--I just didn't want to mess up, because this is my first time...well, doing this, and...

[...She doesn't want to trail off anymore. Taking in a breath, she'll go back up and take the wheel, pressing her lips against his.]

[diamondo]

[Mondo doesn't get a chance to say anything before Sayaka has moved in to kiss him, but he doesn't mind. It spares him from saying anything else dumb or stumbling over his words. Of course this comes with a new problem: Mondo has never been kissed. He's not really sure what to do, so he just sort of awkwardly returns the kiss as best he can. He knows better than to try to deepen it immediately, but after a moment he pulls back. If he was red before, then he's breaking into new colors Crayola really should start making.

Once again he fumbles over his words a bit.]

I-- Shit, I'm... I'm really glad that you're um... interested? I... fuck, I'm really bad at this. That was really nice.

[...To understate it horribly.]

[destage]

[It might've been fairlybrief, but damn that felt good. It actually takes her a little bit to respond--her eyes are sort of in that half lidded state of bliss, and she has to stop herself from going in for it again, pulling her head back and snapping back into reality.]

Ehehe...I'm glad that you're...well, okay with this too. You aren't bad at this at all...I...

[...you can practically see the shoujo hearts rising from her, dear god.]

...Hee hee...I...I'd really like if this...were, um, a regular...arrangement. Could we...well...?

[She's not really nervous admittedly, but she's having a hard time finding words for some reason. She's having a really stupid moment, hang on.]

[diamondo]

[Oh no, she's cute.]

A regular arrangement? You mean like, dating?

[...]

Of course-- of course I'd like that! I'd like nothing more, actually!! It'd be... That'd be fucking amazing, holy shit.

[His voice is a little on the loud side again, but Mondo looks genuinely thrilled with the idea.]

[destage]

[She was about to confirm that yes, that was what she was asking for, but then he just gave her the best answer she could've ever hoped for. She just...kinda stares for a moment.]

I...oh my gosh, thank you! This makes me so happy, I could just--

[...you know what, screw everything--she's gonna untwine her hands and promptly just hug around him like a goddamn leech, giggling like a schoolgirl who got her senpai to notice her. It's a surprisingly firm hug! ...But she's still a stick, so...]

[diamondo]

[Mondo certainly doesn't mind the hug and he's quick to return it. He knows better than to hug too tightly, since he's much bigger than she is. The last thing he'd ever want is to hurt her!]

Shit, Maizono, you're making me so happy, I don't... I don't even know what to say!

[destage]

Well, you--

[...she was about to say 'well you started it' but then again, uh. She was the one who started it. That was just her inner child trying to be obstinate.

Still, she honestly doesn't know what to say either. It's...not like she's honestly ever had a boyfriend before. Though, if there's one thing she's good at, it's going on her instincts...

Well. Have another quick little kiss, Mondo. ...She has very little idea of what to do here, but she's trying, dammit.]