Work Text:
Ryoutaro was settling down into bed for the night. It was another rough day. His body ached. He was very ready to pass out. But, right as he was getting comfortable, there was a voice in his head.
"Oi, Ryoutaro?"
"Momotaros?" Ryoutaro mumbled. Why was he being bothered this late?
"I know it's late and I'm supposed to let you sleep and all but..." Momotaros paused briefly. "I have a question."
"What is it?" Ryoutaro asked.
It was one thing to be being asked a question this late at night, but to also be holding this entire conversation basically in his head was another thing. Ryoutaro had no idea what to expect. Momotaros wasn't one to really ask questions from what he had seen. Just what could he want to know?
"This is weird I'm sure but, what am I? Not as in what I am physically, no. But like... internally."
"I don't understand."
"Ugh... like how you're a guy. Am I a guy?" Momotaros questioned.
"Uh... I don't... really know. Why is it bothering you?" Ryoutaro was very confused by the conversation. Part of him wanted to go see Momotaros and talk in person now but it was far too late to attempt something like that. He was just going to have to deal with it like this.
Momotaros sighed. "I don't know. It just... has been bothering me. When I'm acting as you I don't really like the whole guy thing honestly. Is that weird?"
"You're an imagin. You're not human so maybe... you just feel weird because of that?" Ryoutaro offered.
This was not something he had ever expected to deal with. Was the imagin possessing him really questioning his gender identity right now? Was that what was happening?
"That's a different weird." Momotaros defended, sounding offended Ryoutaro thought it was as simple as that.
"Then... maybe you aren't a guy. Do imagin have genders?"
"I think so. The ones I've talked to before seemed to have a good sense. I think. I don't know. What does that have to do with me?!"
"I just wanted to know. Um... so if you had to say what you were, what would it be?"
"That's what I don't know! You're not being very helpful Ryoutaro." Ryoutaro could almost see Momotaros crossing his arms and pouting as he spoke.
"Can you describe what you feel at least?"
"I... what does a guy feel like?"
Ryoutaro paused. "I don't know how to explain it. Sorry... I'm trying to help but..."
Momotaros sighed. "Maybe I'm just crazy. I'll stop bugging you."
"Wait!" Ryoutaro didn't want that. He didn't mean to make Momotaros think that way. He really did want to help him.
"You can't figure it out either. Just... let it go." Momotaros sounded defeated. Not like him.
"I can't tell you what you're feeling but... do you maybe just want to be yourself? You don't have to put a gender to you if you don't want to. Would that help?" Ryoutaro offered. It was the last thing he could think of at this point to try to help.
If Momotaros hadn't sounded genuinely distressed by this situation, maybe he would've just let it go. But, Momotaros wanted to know. It was causing him stress to not have an idea. Ryoutaro didn't want that.
"I... don't need to be a guy?" Momotaros asked, sounding a bit perplexed by the thought.
"No. You can be anything or nothing at all." Ryoutaro replied.
"That... that's it, Ryoutaro! I'm not a guy. I'm nothing like that."
Ryoutaro found himself smiling. "That's good that we figured it out. Do you mind if I go to bed now? We can talk more in person tomorrow."
"Okay. I have things to think about now. Goodnight." A pause. "And... thanks."
Ryoutaro kept smiling as he shuffled around, trying to get comfortable on his bed again. That was a strange late night chat, but it had ended well. If he remembered, maybe he'd try and find something better to explain gender concepts to Momotaros tomorrow. But for now... he was tired.