#asmo om

as they continue to squabble over your head, you begin to eat your lunch, thinking you’re in the clear. but before you know it, they’ve made up and are once again trying to convince you.

“why not?” mammon asks after you say no yet again, and you sigh.

“look, after shopping the other day, my poor wallet’s feeling kind of light. so i need to hold off until my next paycheck.” which won’t be very much, unfortunately. between your new student council duties and other extracurriculars, you’d had very little time to work.

“aw, don’t mind,” mammon dismisses. “i’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“i’ll pay for you,” asmo offers, and you stiffen.

“no, really, it’s fine. i’ll just sit this one out.”

“don’t be like that.” asmo waves a hand. “you know i’m good for it.”

“look,” you say thinly, “i don’t feel like you guys get it.”

“get what?” mammon asks.

“what it feels like to not have money always at your fingertips.” a long silence follows your words, and you soldier on. “look, mammon, even when you’re ‘poor’, you always have the security of food on the table and a roof over your head. i wasn’t that lucky, and even now i still have to think about saving up, about my next paycheck, about spending responsibly.”

“you grew up economically disadvantaged?” asmo asks. “i never knew that.”

“i never mentioned it. and you can say poor. in poverty. whatever. but yes. my family wasn’t lucky enough to come from money, or be around for centuries to establish ourselves as money-making celebrities like you guys. we lived off of food stamps and shitty houses with cheap rent and even though i’m not living like that anymore i can’t just forget it all. i can’t just do whatever i wish with my money and be carefree.”

“but we’ll always support you,” mammon says, and you give him a sad smile.

“and that’s very kind, but it’s something i can’t accept. i can’t just live off of you guys for free and leech off of you. even if it’s not and issue to you guys,” you continue, heading off asmo, who looks like he’s going to open his mouth, “it’s an issue to me. and i ask that you guys understand that and be more mindful. i’m not saying i can’t ever go out, or we can’t talk about money, i just ask that you’re a bit less pushy when i say no to stuff and understand where i’m coming from.”

“we can do that!” mammon exclaims, passion surprising you.

“yeah,” asmo agrees, nodding vigorously. “we’re sorry. let’s just stay in tonight and watch a movie.”

“you can still go out-”

asmo cuts you off, expression softening. “we already told you, mc, it’s more fun with you. we’re willing to stay in if it means staying with you. you’re much better than karaoke anyway.”

you laugh, relieved. relieved that they aren’t looking at you pityingly, are understanding, and aren’t making it a big deal. “thanks guys. but only if i get to pick the movie.”