[It's saddening to hear what her parents have gone through, and he can understand why she'd be worried. But at the same time, lingering on it is what's going to eat her, and he gives an understanding sort of hum.]
That must be a lot on your mind. I know it's difficult, and worrying...but any way home would be ahead of us somewhere. For now, even if it seems impossible, hope to see them again, hold onto that love. There's so many of us here doing our best to figure out how to solve this - I believe in that, and that we'll be reunited with our important people one day.
[Even though he's not laid out his own situation in as many words, there's a depth of feeling and sincerity to his words that says they're close to the heart. That it's also what he's using to drive him forward for now. Nothing has said there will never be a way back, and so he has to continue hoping for one and let that drive him.]
[... One day. Konoha cannot help but want to protest, to say that she didn't know how much time she had, and that this itself was made everything so painful. If her parents were younger, perhaps, or-
"If". There were too many ifs. And so she quiets, temporarily defeated. But not for so long that she can't help but to ask,]
... Is there someone you need to get back to, Momo?
[Momo often keeps things close to his chest, but this particular one comes up with everyone eventually, one way or another. He can hardly talk about his partner without being asked if he's here too, so the question brings a soft laugh out of him.]
Ah, am I that obvious? [There's a little levity in his tone, that gives way to affection for the person he's thinking of.] My partner, Yuki. We haven't been separated for this long since we met, so it's been weird getting used to not having him around, and he'd be worried about me being gone.
[That's only a fraction of the issues at hand with him being separated from Yuki, but he doesn't want to weigh Konoha down with his own worries on top of her own.]
[She was about to protest, assure him that he wasn't "obvious", she was just stupid and assumed everyone probably had someone to get back to, but... instead, she just bites her tongue and listens. Twiddles her thumbs on the side of her metal talk box. And just, latching on to anything to talk about...]
Eight years. Closer to nine with the time I've been here added. [The answer is immediate, lacking any need to recall. Yuki - Re:vale - entering his life changed it irrevocably.] Six to seven since we started being around each other almost all the time, but even during the early days I saw him pretty often.
[At least a few times a month, so now that he's been here for several months, the feeling of absence is more and more acute.]
[When she had let herself fantasize... She had daydreamed about having that with someone in the romantic sense. In recent months, with a specific someone... But then she had shoved it all down, because... It was selfish. She couldn't leave her parents, and she couldn't ask him to stay, so. It's just fantasies.
But it feels like it would hurt a little different. Missing a lover, missing your parents.]
What do you do when you get lonely here... ?
I tried to go into the city, but. It just made me feel more alone. No one there understands the things we do... or eats what we do...
I usually do go talk to people in town, or see if I can bother another Augmented to hang out! Even if we don't have an understanding now, talking to people, learning things, trying to help create more of that understanding...for me, it's helpful.
[But Momo is also a city-dweller who's used to being around large numbers of people, so it doesn't feel isolating for him. All things considered, while this world is different from his own in many ways, it's not to as intense of a degree as it would be for someone like her.]
So maybe getting to know other Augmented could help you...but you could try chatting to people outside the city, right? There's farms out there, and I bet they don't see a lot of visitors. Something more familiar can help settle those kinds of feelings.
[Even when she says it, though, she knows... If it were back home, she knew basically everyone. But it was different there. Her entire village could fit into the hotel. The entire highway post town, what she considered a bustling settlement... perhaps one of Karteria's districts. It's... different.]
But I guess I'm more of a coward here than I ever was at home.
[Not that it's wrong or bad to be a coward... she thinks she has decent enough reason. It just...]
Of course you can! [He gives a warm laugh at that, because he's absolutely never the type to turn down company. Basically the exact opposite of it, if anything.]
I love being around people, so I'd be happy to hang out when you need. I get why it'd be harder here...it's a big, packed city, there's a whole new culture to learn and everything. It's a bit overwhelming for anyone, right?
[Even him, but not for the reason of crowds - having to relearn the local social norms from the ground up when he's used to working the ones he knows in his favour has been an interesting time.]
Sure, sure! There's that big park near Patho-Gen HQ, or the one with the Peacock statue, but there's a couple of other smaller ones here and there too if you prefer that.
[It's a bit of a pros-and-cons situation, since smaller ones usually have less foot traffic, but are harder to get some quiet on the off chance they do end up busy. The larger ones are more popular, but have more spots out of the way.]
Well, we'll play it by ear, then! Whenever you want to hang out, just let me know.
[He's not always in the city, but he's also not usually out for days at a time unless the expedition teams are pushing for something in particular, so there's a good chance he can make some time.]
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That must be a lot on your mind. I know it's difficult, and worrying...but any way home would be ahead of us somewhere. For now, even if it seems impossible, hope to see them again, hold onto that love. There's so many of us here doing our best to figure out how to solve this - I believe in that, and that we'll be reunited with our important people one day.
[Even though he's not laid out his own situation in as many words, there's a depth of feeling and sincerity to his words that says they're close to the heart. That it's also what he's using to drive him forward for now. Nothing has said there will never be a way back, and so he has to continue hoping for one and let that drive him.]
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"If". There were too many ifs. And so she quiets, temporarily defeated. But not for so long that she can't help but to ask,]
... Is there someone you need to get back to, Momo?
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Ah, am I that obvious? [There's a little levity in his tone, that gives way to affection for the person he's thinking of.] My partner, Yuki. We haven't been separated for this long since we met, so it's been weird getting used to not having him around, and he'd be worried about me being gone.
[That's only a fraction of the issues at hand with him being separated from Yuki, but he doesn't want to weigh Konoha down with his own worries on top of her own.]
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How long has it been? Since you met...
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[At least a few times a month, so now that he's been here for several months, the feeling of absence is more and more acute.]
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[When she had let herself fantasize... She had daydreamed about having that with someone in the romantic sense. In recent months, with a specific someone... But then she had shoved it all down, because... It was selfish. She couldn't leave her parents, and she couldn't ask him to stay, so. It's just fantasies.
But it feels like it would hurt a little different. Missing a lover, missing your parents.]
What do you do when you get lonely here... ?
I tried to go into the city, but. It just made me feel more alone. No one there understands the things we do... or eats what we do...
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[But Momo is also a city-dweller who's used to being around large numbers of people, so it doesn't feel isolating for him. All things considered, while this world is different from his own in many ways, it's not to as intense of a degree as it would be for someone like her.]
So maybe getting to know other Augmented could help you...but you could try chatting to people outside the city, right? There's farms out there, and I bet they don't see a lot of visitors. Something more familiar can help settle those kinds of feelings.
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[Even when she says it, though, she knows... If it were back home, she knew basically everyone. But it was different there. Her entire village could fit into the hotel. The entire highway post town, what she considered a bustling settlement... perhaps one of Karteria's districts. It's... different.]
But I guess I'm more of a coward here than I ever was at home.
[Not that it's wrong or bad to be a coward... she thinks she has decent enough reason. It just...]
Could I bother Momo to hang out... ?
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I love being around people, so I'd be happy to hang out when you need. I get why it'd be harder here...it's a big, packed city, there's a whole new culture to learn and everything. It's a bit overwhelming for anyone, right?
[Even him, but not for the reason of crowds - having to relearn the local social norms from the ground up when he's used to working the ones he knows in his favour has been an interesting time.]
I wouldn't call that cowardice.
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[It takes her a moment, fussing with the Syntrofos in her hand, but eventually...]
Mmm. It's... really overwhelming.
... And all the paths and the streets are really hard. Maybe we could meet on grass somewhere... ?
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[It's a bit of a pros-and-cons situation, since smaller ones usually have less foot traffic, but are harder to get some quiet on the off chance they do end up busy. The larger ones are more popular, but have more spots out of the way.]
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[Big smile... if she does that, she'll sound more happy, and more sure. She wants to be that.]
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[He's not always in the city, but he's also not usually out for days at a time unless the expedition teams are pushing for something in particular, so there's a good chance he can make some time.]
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I appreciate it. Really.
[So as long as he knew that...]
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[Not trying to find a way around the thanks is progress for him, but regardless, it's a sincere response.]