Minato | Pharos | 029

[messianic]

[It is fair to say that Minato has not seen Pharos in a very long time.

It is fair to say--through struggles and hardships, through battles and The End--that Minato has not seen one of his very good friends since long before.

Pharos was a key player in this drama.

Minato thinks, sometimes, that it's funny that it would be so long since he'd seen him.

But Elizabeth is a power that cannot be matched in the universe, and Erebus can be withheld by more than just a lonely boy's soul--

And so it comes to pass that Minato is not so trapped anymore. But he's also not quite sure what to do.

He ends up in a park, on a bench, watching life pass by him, just for the brief moment.

...And then he ends up asleep on said bench. Whoops. Help him out here, Pharos.]

Comments

[macabre]

I am sure someone once told you that it isn't quite right to sleep on park benches?

[ the voice is near minato's head, pharos having... appeared during his sleep. he is crouched, his hands resting on his knees and a small frown on his face as he stares, bright blue eyes up at his dear, dear, dearest friend.

it has been a long time, he thinks.

he wonders how ryoji is. ]

You will get dirty!

[messianic]

[that is a very familiar voice. And it is that thought that carries Minato to waking, because he usually is quite the deep sleeper.

Then again, Pharos has always managed to wake him, huh?

So his response is automatic, his hand coming up to ruffle Pharos' hair even as he sits up and covers his yawn with his other hand.]

True...It might be a little late for that.

Hello, Pharos. It's really good to see you again. How have you been?

[macabre]

[ pharos smiles, excitement and affection spreading all across his face as he stands up to sit next to minato on the bench. his feet swing under him, slippers kicking the ground noiselessly. he looks alive in a way that usually isn't true for meetings in the dark when a green sickly light is their only friend. ]

I think there is a better story to be found in how you have been instead.

[ he nods, giving a pleased hum and looks at minato expectantly. it is not that he went through something bad, no, but he truly believes anything minato would say would be more interesting. pharos' own life isn't streamlined the right way so anything he could share would be brief and unsatisfactory. that's his opinion, at least, as he directs the question back to his friend. his dear, wonderful friend who he has so sorely missed. ]

[messianic]

[Oh Pharos. It is always peculiar to be asked how he is instead, a slight oddity in his day, but Pharos has always been that way, hasn't he?

Always firmly fixated on Minato and his life.]

I...think I am doing well. [that's what he finally settles on, thinking about everything.]

Humanity must be doing better if I'm here, so...I'm doing very well, in fact.

[macabre]

[ pharos' smile fades into a serene look, his eyes moving across to the park splayed out in front of them. it's beautiful, he thinks, and very well-deserved. his feet keep swinging as he draws a long breath. ]

Humanity has quite a way of fixing itself like that. As if repairing wounds carved into flesh, no matter how deep they are. It takes time and patience and... quite a lot of sacrifice -- [ his eyes dart to minato briefly ]

But I believe that it's very much worth it, in the end.

[ a nod of assurance and while that is... quite more optimistic than pharos is known for, it is fitting that this optimism has blossomed after this time, isn't it? parts of him mirror minato so it is only natural for him to become more positive after minato has survived such a feat. he is very proud of his friend today. ]

[messianic]

[it is both morbid and positive--and Minato can't help but think that that is Pharos right there. He is the epitome of that. The idea the morbidity is not necessarily bad, and that optimism comes in all forms.

So Minato nods, utterly serene.]

Of course it's worth it. I don't regret anything.

[of course he doesn't. He never does.]

But I do hope you weren't too lonely while I was gone.

[macabre]

[ he looks surprised for a moment, mouth falling open just so as he looks at minato and then, once again, the elated affection spreads all across him. if pharos was a different person (thing), he would hug him, tight and fond and happy. instead, he beams. ]

Finding company that matches yours is a very hard task, believe it or not.

[ neither an answer nor a deflect, he continues swinging his legs. ]

What will you do now?

[messianic]

[...that's adorable. It makes Minato smile too, a slight shift in his expression.

But ah...That's a good question, and one Minato hasn't really thought about.]

I'm not sure. It's been awhile since I was last here. [in the land of the living.]

So I suppose I need to start again.

[macabre]

[ pharos nods along as he listens to him, curious about everything concerning his friend. he wonders what it would be like, to be up and walking, to... revive oneself. though, he does realize reviving oneself isn't really an option when you were...

well, what he was, and is, does not really matter right now, he thinks. his thoughts briefly flicker to ryoji again. ]

Unbidden, like a puppet with its strings cut.

[ he smiles, a bit of edge appearing to it. ]

I think you will enjoy yourself.

[messianic]

[Like a puppet with its strings cut...that sounds really morbid, but again, on further reflection it's rather uplifting, isn't it?

It means that he's on his own now.

No fates, no end of the world--just him.]

...I think I will too. I learned a lot of lessons, so it's time to start a new journey.

You'll come with me, won't you?

[macabre]

Of course.

[ pharos smiles, pleased to join him and flattered he would ask. it probably says something about minato and possibly pharos too (though anything about pharos is about minato, the way they are so eternally joined) that death would accompany him even on a fresh start.

pharos is rather delighted by it though. ]

That's what friends are for, aren't they?

[messianic]

[it probably would say a lot--if they could ever really analyze it like English majors, it would likely say a lot about the themes of Minato's journeys.

But they don't and they aren't, and thus Minato is just pleased because that means a friend will be going with him on his new journey.

He tilts his head at that though, more than a little curious.]

I suppose they could be...it is more important that they do what is necessary for their own journeys first though.

[because his friends always leave, don't they? They don't come with him at all.]

[macabre]

[ it's a pity, it would probably make for a very good story.

either way pharos nods but can't help but feel a bit off put by the thought (which is a can of worms in of itself, really, but regardless--) ]

Do you place priority on their journeys over yours?

[ a pensive thought before he looks to minato again, eyes wide and unwavering as is commonplace with him. ]

After you've done so much already?

[messianic]

[...What an odd question, he can't help but think. It wasn't one he had even thought of, when he'd made the statement he did.

As per usual, Pharos had a way of making him think about things that he otherwise had never considered.

At least some things never changed.]

I don't see what the things I've done have to do with their journeys in life.

[Not entirely true--he knows what Pharos is getting at, but still, still.]

I wouldn't say I'm prioritizing, just that I would rather not interrupt them now that they've got their own lives. Besides--I don't need to. I have you for company.

[So he won't get lonely, not with a good friend here.]