[Open]

[messianic]

Who: Minato, youuu and also questfriends eventually, probably
Where: Around Town, Near The Woods
When: Nebulous November Time
What: In which Minato's depressed Aigis is gone, distractions are attempted to be found, and he's way too close to the woods (also, quests)
Warnings: None atm!

---

A - distractions will surely help;

[It never really gets easier when people go home, but Aigis... Aigis was special. There was so much left unsaid, so much that he should have told her before she left, and now the thought that he's lost his chance to do so forever is... honestly really hard to swallow.

It's impossible not to notice that she's gone. Her room (and Levy's, too...) is empty, and while he's grateful for Valvatorez still being there so that he's not entirely left alone again, it's still far too quiet.

So he tries to keep himself busy. It'll be pretty easy to find him, considering he's out wandering pretty exclusively; he doesn't want to go back to the empty house, so he can be found fishing at the dock, head bowed, or listlessly walking through the town, hands shoved into his pockets and headphones on, or picking up skeleton bones to pile them up with a distant frown on his face.

Boy he looks like he's having such a great time.]

B - distractions, take two;

[Eventually, he tries something different when that's not working; he gathers what he has for ingredients, and he bakes. He's gotten much better at baking in this place after the past six or seven odd months here, because it's not like there's much more to do. They're nothing special, since he can only work with what he's got, but there's plenty of honey and some chocolate from his color rewards previously and since pie crusts have color restored...!!

... Well, flour isn't restored yet, but presumably mixing colorless flour and eggs with color to make pie crust and only pie crust makes it suddenly have color...? That's bizarre but Minato's getting pretty used to the town's weird rules, it's fine.

So! Apple pie and chocolate pie it is, sweetened with honey, complete with purple milk for the chocolate pie (does that make the chocolate pie purple-brown...?), and they turn out...pretty okay! However, it's infinitely more pie than he is willing to personally eat, so.

Knock knock, there's Minato at your door with a slice of pie.]

...Do you want this?

[Please take it.]

C - this is the bad option;

[Minato knows better, he really does. But...

It doesn't stop him from standing right at the edge of the woods, close enough to be beneath the shaded boughs, peering into the trees. It's cold, so he's got his hoodie on, hands tucked deeply into the pocket, scarf wrapped tightly around his neck...

But he's looking a bit too intently out there, fingers idly toying with the charm Guren gave him in his pocket, looking perhaps a bit too deeply in thought.

Watch him long enough without interrupting, and he might even take a step deeper into the woods.

(He knows he shouldn't, he really does, but... but what if they're all out there?)]

D - wildcard/quests

[Hit me at kalisona or via PM if you'd like a personalized prompt or to plot! I'll probably toss quests in here too when they're released.]

Comments

C

[inheritance]

[If Minato was hoping to make terrible decisions without anyone noticing, he's severely out of luck. As soon as Izuku notices Aigis' hex code is crossed out, he goes looking for his friend and... finds him about to head into the woods.

Izuku quickens his steps and intercepts him before he can get too far.]

Heading in there alone, Arisato-kun?

[He knows Minato can defend himself if he needs to, but the timing of it just feels way too convenient. It doesn't sit well with him at all.]

[messianic]

[... Right. Everyone in this town is very well-meaning, but...

It does mean it's a little tough to find time to be alone. Not that company is bad right now, necessarily--(or maybe it is...?)

He's not really sure at this point.]

Ah...

[...]

No, not exactly. I mean, I guess I probably shouldn't.

A

[promissum]

[He was in the empty house for only a few moments, but as usual he finds himself perched on the docs. The fishing rod in his hand isn't great at finding his favorite fish, but it's better than nothing, he supposes.

On the other hand, his last remaining roommate seems to be all alone.]

You look down. Care to speak of it?

[messianic]

Hey, Valvatorez-san. [Sorry, Val, he goes back and forth on the honorific.]

I guess it's just...kind of sad how quiet our place is now.

b

[organfarm]

[ The knock is answered with a shouted 'Just a moment!' that's obviously coming from the other end of the little house, muffled by at least one more door. And then after a few seconds, there's the sound of hurried footsteps before Jion throws the door open, looking mildly harried. ]

Oh, hey Minato! What's up?

[ He's wet. He looks like he just dumped a bucket of water on himself before hurrying to open the door ... because that's pretty much precisely what happened. Minato kinda caught him while he was cleaning up after some self-maintenance.

Still, his gaze obviously falls on the pie for a moment before looking back up. ]

Um, sure. I guess? [ Pause. ] This isn't like, uh, a prank or anything, right? I mean, you don't seem like the type do that kinda thing, but you'd be surprised what people get up to once they've been stuck in one place for a while.

[messianic]

[Huh... well. He hadn't really intended to interrupt anything important, so... he just ends up kind of standing there awkwardly, plate in hand.]

Er... no, I don't think so...?

[You usually know for sure about that sort of thing, Minato.]

I mean, if it tastes bad, it definitely wasn't on purpose.

... Sorry if I'm interrupting anything.

a

[expulsions]

[Yeah, he sure does look like he's having fun. Percy happens to find Minato while he's fishing because of course he does. It's not that hard to see Minato sitting there while he's patrolling the area and he approaches with his hands in his pockets.

He doesn't say anything, simply walking up beside him and having a seat next to him while looking pensively at the water as well. Still...this is kind of...obviously wrong. Minato at least shouldn't look like this, so after a moment he speaks up.]

Any luck? The fishing here is pretty hit and miss.

[messianic]

[Yeah... Minato's quiet for a long moment, before he just kind of sighs.]

... Nothing yet... but that's okay. [Is it really.]

It's more to do something with myself today, you know...?

B

[doublecrowss]

[ Akechi was just on his way out to his usual Cafe Morgana visit-- and he always makes sure not to schedule anything else around this time, so the impromptu guest by the door is a little surprising. Someone looking for Lupin, maybe? ]

Arisato-kun, hello! [ He greets upon answering the door, puzzlement masked with a smile. ] I wasn't expecting company at this time.

[ It's only then he takes notice of the proffered slice of pie, so he adds with obvious confusion: ] Oh, you brought apple pie? It looks delicious, thank you. Do you want to come in for a minute?

[messianic]

Akechi-san... hey.

[There's definitely much less general contentedness in Minato's demeanor today. It's not like he's ever particularly joyful or smiley, but... right now, he doesn't look very happy at all.]

Mostly I guess I was just delivering this. You've been a really good friend, so...

[A beat.

He admits, scrupulously honest:]

Also, I made too much.

c

[scooptimistic]

[ Maya's never had to deal with a deep, troubling loss here. But she knows what a hurting soul looks like, and she's seen glimpses of Minato kind of aimlessly shambling around like a zombie.

She'd always had other destinations in mind at the time, but this time, she's immediately hooking her fingers into the back of his scarf to yank him back unceremoniously. ]

Nope.

[messianic]

[ghk.

Minato wasn't taking a very firm step, at least, so he doesn't get particularly choked, but.

He is still yanked back pretty thoroughly.]

Oh...

[...]

Maya-san... what are you doing here?

C

[good_ideas]

[Shiho's seen Guren's colourless hands and knows people have died before in the forest. She can't just pretend she doesn't see Minato standing there looking so quiet and lonely and so worryingly fixated on the forest.

But she hesitates to reach out and touch him just in case he's thinking about something he doesn't want to share. Instead she's walking up, careful to make a lot of noise, crunching leaves under her feet.]

...If you're really thinking of going for a walk, there are safer places, you know?

[messianic]

[... Well. Shiho's not wrong, and honestly... her comment is what gets him to turn to look at her properly, even though he heard her approach.]

... That's true.

[No point in denying it!]

And I know I'm not supposed to go out there alone. It's just...

[...]

I ended up here anyway...

c, you know i'm here for bad options always

[averagemedium]

[...so the appropriate response to finding someone you consider a friend thinking about doing something dangerous is probably to stop them. Ask them to reconsider, something like that.

Ryan, meanwhile, pauses next to him, glancing between Minato and the woods curiously for a moment before he speaks up.]

You know, I hear you're likely to get scolded for going in there alone-- but if it's both of us then we can say you took precautions, yeah?

[messianic]

[... Ryan, you're such a goodbad influence.]

... Ryan-san... I really can't ask you to do that.

[But he's standing right there at the edge of the woods, not moving away, either.]

It's dangerous...

B

[withwisdom]

[ oh! well, this is... ]

Well, I can't say no to a slice of pie. It... it doesn't have anything odd about it I hope?

[ not that she thinks he would do anything intentionally of ill will, but the festival they just went through has her on guard when it comes to food. in general. ]

[messianic]

[... Hm.

Yeah.

That's...a fair point...]

Oh... sorry. I didn't even think about that... It's not from the festival, I just made it myself, so...

[He shrugs a little awkwardly.]

I hope not...?

a

[ditherer]

[and then here's gandharva, popping up regardless of whether he's wanted or not.]

Well, aren't you looking more lethargic than usual.

[messianic]

[Hi Gandharva... Minato blinks blankly, mid-picking up a bunch of bones, and...clears his throat.]

You think so...? I guess I've been a little tired lately...

B

[pursestrings]

[Sup, Minato. Know that Okuyasu already has a hand out and on the plate or whatever this pie is carried in before he actually stops to think about the wisdom of taking a foreign pie just because it's there. Like, it's not Minato, but what if Mr. F made Minato into a shady pie seller for a week or something...?!

How would he know?!]

Yo, this ain't gonna make me weird, is it?

[That is definitely apple, and he's seen what apples do to people. And upon closer inspection of Minato himself...]

You kinda look like shit, dude.

[messianic]

[Minato looks slowly at the slice of apple pie, and then back at Okuyasu, and then back at the pie. Yeah...considering what happened...]

... I guess this wasn't a very good choice of filling.

[Oops.]

It shouldn't do anything weird, I think... I hope not, anyway. I'll feel pretty silly if it does.

[Uh. Dryly:]

Thanks, though.

A

[theshowsover]

Hey.

[Akira approaches him, because he isn't sure why Minato is piling up skeleton bones like that, and something about the whole thing doesn't sit right with him. For one thing, the activity itself is pretty morbid, and for another, his expression as he does it is worrying.

Akira has one hand held up, stopping only a few feet away.]

What's up?

[messianic]

Oh, Akira... Hey...

[Minato makes a bit of a face as he sets the bone down in a pile, brushing off his hands.]

I just thought we should do something about these, you know...? They're everywhere.

D for blankeds and robod angsd

[heartsteals]

[ there's one blue he's much closer to than any of the others; Lupin sees a quest that needs one, and Minato is the obvious choice for that color. Maybe not his first choice for people he'd like to curl up with under a blanket, but not a bad one for that, either, even if picking him completely sucks the romance out of huddling together for warmth. He'll live.

Besides, he owes Minato a visit. Anyone would notice that he's been feeling down for a while - someone as perceptive as Lupin has also noticed that Aigis has disappeared from town, and, knowing Minato, he doubts he's actually talked about it with anyone. Out of politeness, he hasn't pried for the past few days, giving Minato time to think on his own... but it's about time for a friend to step in, he thinks. So today, he comes knocking on Minato's door in the afternoon, a quilt casually hefted over one shoulder. ]

[messianic]

[Thanks for the thought there, Lupin. A few days has at least convinced Minato that wandering around the town like a ghost isn't helping much of anyone, but... it'd be a lie to say he's okay with the state of things at the moment.

It's fine though! Lupin knocks, and Minato opens the door pretty promptly, blinking and tilting his head in some mild surprise.]

Oh... Lupin-san. Hello. What's up?

d for more blankets

[osuni]

[It's a just the perfect sort of peaceful day for Okuni to suddenly descend on Minato's home, blankets and all. Her arms are too occupied to knock, so she settles for the next best thing. just... sliding her head into the nearest open window to peek on in.]

Minacchi!

[she's here to cheer minato up in the ways she knows best, pure chaos]

[messianic]

[This... is such an Okuni thing to do. Minato's in the kitchen, which is also conveniently where the nearest open window is!

He... doesn't jump, but he does blink slowly.]

Okuni-san...

I'm surprised your hair fits through the window. [WOW RUDE]

a

[thriftea]

Minato-kun! I haven't seen you out here this early before.

[Here being at the docks, of course, because Ochako still comes out here to fish every other day; it's why her net is slung over one shoulder as she slides up beside him, but... hmm. The smile on her face quickly shrinks as she takes in his doleful expression.]

Is... everything okay?

[messianic]

[It's not really a surprise that Ochako would be out here; she takes her fishing duties pretty seriously.]

Ochako-san... hey.

[It's said softly; he turns his attention out to the water instead, because it really does feel like she's reading him just a little too well.]

It's... [Well, he can't outright lie to her...]

I guess I'm just trying to adjust to some changes.

c-c-c-combo! b + eventual quest 33

[retrobeats]

[ because every good quest starts with food! even if that food... is of a depression(tm)-baking provenance.......

Michael looks utterly perplexed at the sight of Minato on his doorstep with a slice of purplish-brown (brownish-purple??) pie in his hands, looking between the pie and Minato's face a few times as if to assess the full strangeness levels of this image. ]

Minato? What're you doing here? [ he literally just said, Michael. ] I don't remember ordering takeout.

[ LOOK... ]

[messianic]

[Doesn't the purple-brown cake look...so appetizing...]

... Well, I'd be impressed if you did, honestly--

[NO WEBSITES, NO RESTAURANTS--]

There's real chocolate in here, though. If you want it, I mean.

c!!! jumps in here late i hope that is ok!!

[unghost]

[ Cairngorm isn't too subtle about how they get a hand on the back of his collar - and he's lucky that scarf is protecting his skin from their ice cold fingers. They tug him back firmly, giving him a thoroughly unimpressed and expectant look. He's not dressed like he's going into the forest for supplies - if that were the case, they would have left him be. They know he's more than capable of protecting himself, but there's too many signs here that point to something else. ]

And where do you think you're going.

[ You have some explaining to do young man!!! ]

OF COURSE YOU ARE FINE AND WELCOME

[messianic]

[Cairngorm is a blessing, honestly, doing what's been long overdue in this log all along.

That grip is unyielding, and Minato's yanked back quite firmly; he coughs, stumbling backwards, and scrabbles at the scarf a little. He's hardly choking, but it was definitely a firm pull.

And when he glances back...]

Ah... Cairngorm-san...

[BUT GEM-DAD YOU'RE NOT HIS REAL DAD--]

... I'm not sure how to answer that in a way that won't sound bad...

mirror event; Sinistra

[messianic]

[It's really inevitable that Sinistra's going to get to hear Minato's mirror; just because things are happening in the town is no reason for Minato to stop harassing helping Sin out with small things. So, since it's cold, he's coming over with a mended blanket this time, cleaned and with any holes carefully, neatly stitched up.

He left the mirror at home, but that's not going to last long at all.

Knock knock, Sin!]

[bisection]

[ Oh boy, it's been ... a lot this week. A whole lot. Thanks, brother and potential-future-brother-in-law.

He's tired, but it's mostly over with and he at least can return to his home to recharge on his own for a while. Not that the mirror he'd had helped that much, but smashing it on the ground had finally given him respite.

Despite his desire for solitude, Minato is still a welcome presence. When he opens the door, his usual dour expression lightens. ]

Oh, Minato... what brings you here?

during the event, before mirror smashing

[doublecrowss]

[ In an attempt to leave that blabbermouth of a mirror behind, Akechi has been adopting nomadic practices throughout the week, spending as little time in the same place as possible; it seems to give him a small interval worth of peace, and though the mirror eventually catches up to him, this is the best he can do for now.

(Short of breaking the damn thing, of course. The thought has definitely crossed his mind more than a few times.)

So today he's out and about again, trying to keep himself busy with errands and maybe checking up on a select few. This is how he ends up by Minato's door, knocking a couple of times and waiting for someone to come answer. Sorry, Minato, he doesn't have any pie to offer. ]

[messianic]

[Oh.

Minato's not exactly holed up over all of this; it's not fun, to be sure, but...

It's definitely something he's already has come to terms with, and nothing he can't accept about himself. It's more that he doesn't want to burden anyone else than anything...

But even so, he opens the door willingly, tilting his head a little.]

Akechi-san...? Come in. It's pretty cold outside.

[But he has a fire going!]