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Entry tags:
[Open]
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![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
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.]
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
no subject
Mm... that's really not what it is at all.
I guess it'd be more right to say... I was trying to distract myself by baking...?
[DO YOU WANT THE PIE, AKECHI.]
no subject
Trying to distract yourself, huh...?
[ He takes the pie in his hands, giving it a quick inspection as he gathers his thoughts, tries to figure out how to approach this. ]
I've been told that sharing the burden helps. [ He hears it constantly from Akira, who's just like Minato in more ways than one- including that infuriating tendency to keep their troubles to themselves while trying to help everyone else. Some martyr complex, that is.
(Akechi doesn't let Akira get away with it, though, and Minato is just about to get the same treatment. If they want to be relied on, then they'd better start relying on him, too.) ]
I'm willing to lend an ear, if you're willing to talk about it.
no subject
As for the rest...]
You're right about that. [It's said a little ruefully, though; he definitely feels like he's getting a taste of his own medicine here with that advice.]
It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just...
[...It's more complicated than it initially seems, that's for sure.]
I'm still getting used to the idea myself. [That Aigis is really, truly gone.]
no subject
I imagine this must be about a sudden change? If it is, then I can tell you with some authority that just saying it out loud helps negate denial. It's as though words give it a solid shape, so you can start to accept it.
[ He's been through something similar recently, though unlike Minato, he didn't lose anyone; on the contrary, it was about accepting his feelings for, and making room for someone in his lone wolf life. Positive change though it was, it was still hard to deal with.
And speaking of-- ]
I was on my way to Akira's cafe when you came. How about you accompany me? We could share this pie over a nice cup of coffee.
[ And whether Minato wants to talk about his troubles or just talk as a distraction, it's all implied in Akechi's offer. ]
no subject
So the offer is warm, and--well, honestly? Welcome.
So it only takes a moment's pause before Minato nods, accepting.]
... Okay. That sounds nice, actually... thanks, Akechi-san.
no subject
But for now, the not so ugly side of him seems to be winning, so he can act on genuine concern. ]
Not at all. If anything, a warm beverage always makes me feel somewhat comforted, especially in this weather.
[ And so they're off to Cafe Morgana, pie in tow!! And while he's trying to make conversation, this might make for a good topic, so: ]
Although I must warn you, if this pie makes a good match with Akira's coffee, we might have to trouble you to make some more on occasion. The cafe has a very limited selection, you see.
no subject
He dips his head a little, almost sheepish.]
It's not really anything that special, I think... I had to use honey to sweeten it, and I'm not sure it'll be sweet enough that way.
But... I hope it turned out okay.
[Hopefully...!!]
Akira-san's coffee is really good, though, so...
[He's not sure it'll be a good match.]
no subject
(Or maybe this is also part of the friendship package? Hard to tell.) ]
We used honey for Lupin-san's birthday cake, too. I do believe it turned out rather fine, didn't it?
[ Well, it was mostly Akira baking, Akechi only got the recipe, but still! Teamwork counts as "we" right?? ]
Besides, as good as Akira's coffee is, I wouldn't be so quick to downplay your culinary skills like that. You do seem to be a man of many talents, after all.
no subject
Mm, well...
[...]
If you like it, that's good enough for me. It's meant to be enjoyed, after all.
[LET'S NOT...TOUCH THAT MAN OF MANY TALENTS THING that's a Lot and he's not sure what to make of it.]
no subject
I'm fairly sure I will. Regardless of results, they do say it is the thought that counts, right?
[ Trust him, he likes even Akira's shitty coffee just because he puts love into it. The pie is gonna be just fine. ]
Besides, I'm not the only person you've shared some pie with, correct? Surely they must have enjoyed the way it tastes?
no subject
They seemed to like it okay, yeah...
[That's all you're getting out of him, Akechi--he sucks at praise, and also at not downplaying his own accomplishments.]
But all that really matters now is that you enjoy it too. If you don't, you can say so too--I won't mind.
no subject
[ And see, this is going to be a problem. Minato doesn't handle praise very well, whereas Akechi... can't be very honest, even if it's about something as inconsequential as food. That doesn't leave them with many options for this conversation.
Well. Except maybe for one. ]
However, I will admit it would help to know what the occasion is. [ He gives Minato a side glance. ] It doesn't seem like this is much of a celebration, after all.
[ Why, he's going to pry into the original topic, of course! ]
no subject
Akechi's right about that; Minato knows he hasn't been subtle, but...]
I guess I've been pretty obvious, huh...?
[...A small frown, and Minato glances away.]
I...was trying to take my mind off of things. A very precious friend of mine from home ended up going home recently, and... admittedly, things feel a lot lonelier without her.
no subject
I see. I'm sorry you have been feeling lonely.
[ That, at least, is one feeling he can relate to, though that doesn't make him any expert at dealing with it, by no means. ]
I understand it might not make her absence any easier to take, and I do hope I don't come across as insensitive, but perhaps you can take some comfort in knowing your friend will probably be better off this way. Things should be a loss less hectic back home, correct?
no subject
[He doesn't take it as insensitive at all, especially since Akechi is completely right.]
... It's just a selfish feeling at this point, I guess. I know she's better off at home, I'll just...personally miss her.
[And...regret not saying the things he wanted her to know before he lost that chance forever.]
no subject
But that wouldn't be very helpful to share right now, or even empathetic at all. So instead, what he offers is: ]
Feeling selfish is only part of human nature. As far as I'm concerned, it's nothing to be ashamed of.
[ The one part of this deal he can genuinely relate to Minato on. Still not much help, probably, but at least he's honest. ]
She must be an irreplaceable friend to you, though. No matter how short your time together was, surely you must have made some good memories even in this place, correct?
no subject
It's true that they carved pumpkins, and were able to live together again. For Minato, those were very good memories. For her, though...
Was it worth the pain she went through to see him again? Were those brief moments worth the tears she shed when she saw him again and ripped open those old wounds...?
He's not really sure.]
... Right... [It's said softly, Minato's expression growing a little more somber as he contemplates it.]
Regardless, those bonds that connect us can't really be broken apart that easily. I do believe that.
no subject
Yet, what Minato says next does catch his attention, and the change of topic is natural, as the words leave his mouth before he even realizes: ]
Bonds, huh...
[ ... ah, this is hardly the first time he's heard about this, isn't it? No, he's definitely heard it, over and over, like it's trying its hardest to warm its way into his cognition. Into his heart. ]
You really are like him. [ Said with a chuckle and a shake of his head, amused. ] Akira. He's told me about the importance of the bonds he has formed, and how he draws strength from them.
[ His eyes drop to the pie he's carrying, idle and contemplative. Furtive, maybe. ]
I wonder if it's because of the powers the two of you share.
no subject
But even more than that, without those bonds, without the support of his friends... Minato would never have been able to stand up, grasp the Universe, and stop Nyx.
So... there's a small, quiet smile on his face, still wistful, when he nods.]
... I guess that's probably what helped get us started on them. I... didn't always understand the point.
[He was a sad, lost orphan too, after all.]
It was easier, after all, to not open myself up to disappointment...to people not wanting me to be around.
[...]
But without those bonds... I don't think I'd be the same person I am today.