Minato | Open | 088

[messianic]

a

[Look, he's a Persona protag. So maybe you're having some difficulty with something--anything from looking for something to dropping things to carrying groceries and who knows what else--and after a moment of observing, he has to come over, hands tucked into his pocket and voice quiet, to ask:]

Is there anything I can help with?

[Protags gotta protag, after all; he just wants to be useful, okay!!!]

b

[Alternatively, he also seems to always find himself in these situations and can't seem to say no.... which is a life skill that would probably benefit him to learn but one he will never quite manage. HE...TRIED....

Probably.

But it's almost Easter and that's why he was dragged into helping with an easter egg hunt, wearing a stupid-ass costume complete with bunny ears and looking very puzzled about it (if you can tell beneath the lineface).

He's also, more importantly, kind of struggling to juggle all of the eggs he's supposed to be painting while more are dumped onto him by other overworked volunteers, and with paint on his face and hands and a paintbrush in his mouth as backup while he tries to paint colorful designs on one of the many eggs in his hands, he...

... Probably has bitten off more than he can chew.

Help.]

c

[if you want to see him shoot himself in the head make up a battle prompt or just tell me and i'll come up with one, it'll be Fun.]

wildcard

[Come up with your own prompt or consider one of these OR WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY.]

Comments

[messianic]

[THINK OF THE CHILDREN she says, completely straightfaced.

He rubs the back of his head woefully, even though it didn't hurt at all.]

Okay, okay... I'll think of the children.

[That is why they're here, after all.

In these ridiculous costumes, painting eggs. Eggs for days.]

Still... I wonder how many of these eggs will be found.

[orphean]

I'm not sure! I guess it depends, right? On how many kids there are and what kind of hiding places the eggs are in.

[but it does raise a pretty good question, in all honesty.]

It would be such a shame if a lot of them don't get found. We're working hard on them, and they're so cute!

[as she holds up the now-finished bunny egg.]

[messianic]

[He nods solemnly at that, because quite frankly:]

Your eggs are very cute. They have to be found so they can be enjoyed.

[Thoughtfully:]

They should be hidden in places that aren't too hard to find.

...The cute ones especially.

[orphean]

You're pretty good at this flattery thing, you know that?

[though it doesn't seem like minako is going to complain about that, beaming a bit as she sets the bunny to the side. she picks up another egg, staring at it with a bit of intensity as she tries to decide what to decorate the next one with.

and once she does, she'll look over to minato's handiwork.]

Don't sell yourself short, either! Yours are pretty cute too, you know! [though there's definitely a bit of aesthetic difference, but isn't that often the case with them?]

b

[stophamatime]

[ what

By most definitions, yes, it's a very stupid-ass costume, but on the other hand, the ears look so...soft.

But Ken is most definitely not going to let anyone catch him staring at the ears (someone has already noticed him staring at the ears), so he quickly refocuses. It doesn't matter if they're soft and cute! Soft and cute is not something a Mature Young Man like himself should be zeroing in on. ]

Um...do you need some help, Minato-san?

[ Because wow, you look soft and cute kind of in over your head here. ]

[messianic]

[All of the above: correct. You know you want to touch the ears, Ken.

Unfortunately(?) Minato doesn't quite catch it since Ken refocuses so quickly; he fumbles with a few of the eggs, somehow manages to not drop any, and shuffles his paintbrushes off to the side.

Aha!]

Hello, Ken-kun.

[sup what up, this is totally normal.]

It's going pretty well, aside from the paint. [(which is like 90% of the task? okay)

he'd...thumbs up...but eggs.... so many eggs.] But if you want to help, I'd appreciate it.

[messianic]

[He Tries... though he appreciates her compliments too. He stuck to geometric shapes and basic designs, but the colors are cute....]

I think pastel colors like this could make most things cute.

[right??]

I've never celebrated before, so it's nice to get to be a part of things like this.

a.

[compliant]

Um...

[ What? ]

...

[ Okay, yes, she has been waiting at this crosswalk for several minutes now, but it's not her fault the lights won't turn! Regardless, Anri doesn't really understand how he's supposed to "help" with that.

Maybe she just looks really, really pathetic. ]

I don't understand what you're asking.

[messianic]

[A protag's gotta try, right.... but it sure isn't her fault that the sign won't change!! In fact, it seems kind of questionable, but Minato's got a solution for that!!!

No promises if it'll work, but hey.

A solution's a solution.]

It seems like the light is being difficult... just one moment.

[He's going to go ahead and, while the other light to the other side of the crosswalk is still somehow on walk (seriously, does this light ever change?) jog over there to hit the button on that side too.

SURELY IF PEOPLE ON BOTH ENDS OF THE STREET WANT TO CROSS THAT WAY, IT WILL WORK??]

[orphean]

That's a good point. It just feels... happy with those colors, doesn't it?

[well, that's one way of describing it. for all the ways she can be damn smart, sometimes her word choices are...

kind of like that.]

I've never celebrated before either, but there's a good first time for everything! And I bet the kids are going to have a ton of fun with this too.

[stophamatime]

[ Well, i-it's not like he has anywhere else to be.

(If he helps, maybe he can touch the ears?) ]

Okay. Should I hold some of these for you, or...?

[messianic]

[This is a great first time, honestly... He's having fun with this, even if there is a bunch of paint everywhere and he has way too many eggs to paint. There's something soothing about being able to participate in a holiday like this--something that he knows was pretty scarce for the both of them, growing up.]

I think you're right.

[It's nice, right?]

Even the ears are worth it. [For all of the kids to have fun and smile at everyone.]

[messianic]

[If he helps, he gets to wear some ears. Which is what's coming next--first, Minato plops some of the eggs in front of Ken in a carton. Then a paintbrush. Then he shuffles the paint to the middle.

And then he reaches over to the pile of supplies, rummaging for a moment before he finds... the jackpot.

Those he's immediately moving to plunk on Ken's head.]

There. Now you're ready to help.

[Sorry, Ken. No half-way volunteering here.]

[orphean]

[it's a lot of fun, probably more fun than she could have anticipated—and minako had already thought beforehand that it would be a good time.]

The ears are the cutest part! You're just a carrot short of being the real deal!

[maybe they should've brought carrots? real talk.]

[stophamatime]

[ Wait.

He tilts his head back, like he's trying to see, and of course that doesn't work, since the ears tilt with him, so he reaches up to poke at them.

...they're soft, all right. ]

[messianic]

[Minako..........]

Minako-chan...

[He needs a moment, he really does.]

...Am I really only a carrot short of being a rabbit?

[messianic]

[They are super soft.

Also super manly??? I mean, they're blue, so he's assuming they're super manly.]

You fit right in.

[A solemn nod.]

Now everyone will know you're working hard to make the children here smile.

[Nobody knows how he says these things with a straight face.]

[orphean]

Hmm, well...

[she pauses for a moment, looking minato over with deep contemplation.

and then after a moment.]

I think it'll depend on how fluffy and cottony your tail is!

[minako, why are you like this.]

[mindandmatter]

Ah...! The power to overcome the obstacles of daily life! The Persona, Chocorabbitus!

[She claims the rabbit and immediately bites its ears off. Some traditions carry over even to the Velvet Room.]

I, Elizabeth, cherish this taste... You know, of course, that having accomplished such a quest for me- even without request... an unrequested quest? An unquest?- Means that you must receive a reward. What do I have that is appropriately festive...?

[messianic]

[... Elizabeth... now Minato's going to have nightmares of rabbit personas. Do they exist, do they not? He just doesn't know.]

Ah... I didn't do it as a request--you don't have to give me anything. I just thought you should enjoy the holiday too.

[It was a pure protag motive!!! It's okay, Liz!!]

[mindandmatter]

Oh, now that simply won't do. I, Elizabeth, am sworn to assist our chosen guest in any way possible!

[She casually pulls out her book from... who knows where, flipping through a series of pages until she finds the one she wants. It's glowing with an unearthly pastel light.]

Ah, here we go... Ahem. "Witness the rebirth of creation! From the light of the creator, I bring you the truth of the origin of all..." Eggy-dolaon!

[A massive orb of light descends from the sky, consuming everything before exploding in a plume of colorful lights.

In its place lies a really tasty looking chocolate egg. It has nuts on it.]

[messianic]

[Minako why are you like this]

It is the fluffiest and cottoniest tail of all.

[Minato why are you like this]

[messianic]

[That...sure what a thing. He's not sure about anything in the world anymore, but at least he got a chocolate egg out of it.

He blinks. And again.

Hesitantly reaches for it, because what if it explodes?

Eggydolaon, seriously?]

...Allow me to eggspress my eggspreciation.

[Why]

But honestly, thank you, Elizabeth-san.

[orphean]

Is it really? Maybe I should be the judge of that.

[who let arisatos. just who let them, in general.]

[mindandmatter]

Maybe it would have been less delicious if you hadn't been stacking so many elemental immunities. Honestly, making me, Elizabeth, resort to such tactics? [She laughs quietly at a joke that wasn't really a joke and only she understands.]

Think nothing of it! The chicken comes before the egg, after all. .. Or does it? Is this one of those... paradigms? Paramedics? No, wait, paradoxes! ... Anyway, you're welcome. You've done plenty for me, so it's the least I, Elizabeth, can do.