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

[dynamighty]

... Pixie?

[ Huh. ]

I mean, if you want to go that route, but I don't think it'd really bring out your features...

[ what, did he think she was going to shove him into a Tinkerbell outfit? ]

[messianic]

... No, I'd rather not. It was a joke.

[SERIOUSLY... please don't.]

I'll trust your judgment.

[dynamighty]

Got it! Then please take your jacket off and I'll start taking measurements.

[pseudonyms]

[This is what happens when you let Rise pick the music, Minato. Bad things. Bad things like being shoved into an idol routine happen but at the same time she doesn't mind doing a little extra legwork. When the song's over she smiles brightly and blows a kiss, using the time to practice her stage presence before handing over the mic to the couple climbing up on the stage.

Oh, did you think that was the end of it, Minato? Rise has zero problem approaching him once she's off the stage, too.]

Maybe, but you did great out there. Do you sing often? [And do you often get approached by people like this? Oh well.]

[messianic]

Yes, ma'am.

[He sure isn't going to argue with the adorable but fierce middle-schooler. The coat comes off! Now it's just the dress shirt and slacks, and of course his ever present mp3 player and headphones.]

[messianic]

[Rise is still so energetic...and now that Minato is off-stage, he's even more lethargic. His hands find his pockets and stay there, though he tilts his head and listens to Rise politely enough.]

I like to come to karaoke when I can.

[So... kind of? Sort of.]

I just like music. You sang like a pro, though.

[dynamighty]

[ Erika hums in satisfaction and grabs her measuring tape; while she could probably figure it out by staring at him as intently as she'd done to Yuri, boys are a little trickier to guess, so she figures it's better to rely on the more traditional method this time around.

So measuring it is, and she's quiet for the most part, only asking him to raise his arms to shoulder level or to tell him to remain still. When she draws back, she's beaming. ]

Perfect. You're really slender, you know that?

[messianic]

[He remains patient, allowing her to measure as she pleases--though there's really nothing that can be done about his slouch, or the fact that his hands return to his pockets whenever she's not explicitly telling him to move his arms.]

... I work hard on my figure.

[Deadpan.

It's real deadpan.

Though the expression on his face is perfectly level.]

[dynamighty]

... Except for the part where you suck at standing up straight.

[ Erika will tell it like it is. ]

[messianic]

[Trust Erika to be blunt as can be.]

Oh.

[...Hm.]

Is that bad?

[Obviously, Minato]

joker-san!!!!

[messianic]

[They don't meet again until Minato gets a proper day off--and in the life of a protag, that's not exactly an easy thing. But summer vacation brings with it free time, and when he's not being drilled by Mitsuru in lessons and when they're not fighting Shadows, he hops on the train and makes his way to Cafe Leblanc. ...After a lot of getting lost and wandering the streets and doing his best.

Thankfully, this isn't the first time he's been in the city proper, though it's been awhile; he manages to make it work after he takes some time to do so, and he's got his ever-trusty mp3 player and headphones to make the trip less strenuous.

It takes him a bit to find it... but when he does, peering vaguely at his GPS on his phone, he pushes open the door tentatively and peers in, pulling one headphone off idly

Hello, is there a fellow protag in here...?]

pulls down shades I HAVE ARRIVED

[purrtagonist]

[the cafe is empty today. Sojiro isn't anywhere to be seen, having left to buy some groceries and cigarettes while Akira tends to the store. and as for the black-haired, glasses-wearing protagonist? well, he's busying himself with some dirty dishes behind the counter while a black cat lounges on one of the bar chairs]

[he glances up from his work, a pleasant, customer service smile on his features, and starts]

Welco--

[but then he cuts himself off, brows arching in surprise, hands pausing in the hot sudsy water in the sink. sure, he had invited Arisato to the cafe, but honestly? he never expected him to actually show up]

[but that's probably because he wasn't completely sure that their encounters weren't, well. dreams. or something]

. . . huh. So you are real. . .

[THAT'S RUDE JOKER]

[messianic]

[AHA... he really found it. Hell yeah!!!

Minato tilts his head at that comment, though, even as he walks in casually, removing his other headphone and flicking off his mp3 player as he goes.

Huh...]

No, I'm a figment of your imagination.

[Minato, just stop encouraging this.

Being a figment of Akira's imagination sure isn't going to stop him from coming closer and looking around curiously, though.]

[dynamighty]

Of course it's bad! Not only is it bad for your back but no one's going to want to buy clothes if the model looks like he can't stand confidently in them!

[purrtagonist]

[. . . it's such a good thing that Minato has learned exactly how to deal with him after only two encounters. a soft laugh escapes his mouth]

Huuuh. . . I must have a pretty realistic imagination. I suppose this is the part where I imagine myself becoming rich.

[the black cat watches Minato carefully as he meanders about the shop, and Akira nods at one of the empty bar chairs]

Take a seat. Morgana won't bite.

[messianic]

[Whoa, fierce!!!

Obligingly, Minato tries to stand up straight.]

Sorry, I didn't realize. Is this better?

[At least it's an improvement, but who knows how long that will last.]

[messianic]

[It must just be a protag thing, honestly. Minato quirks an eyebrow at that response--though before he responds he turns his attention to Morgana.]

Hello, Morgana. Nice to meet you.

[When you have Koromaru in the dorm...talking to animals is normal, okay...

And then back to Akira.]

Is it working?

[The get rich quick deal]

[purrtagonist]

[WELL I MEAN. . . talking to animals is also a Person protagonist thing, apparently]

Nope.

[he says in a deadpan as he fetches a mug]

How disappointing. Guess I'll have to do it the old fashioned way.

[a beat, and the cat meows, gaze flickering towards Akira]

Morgana says it's nice to meet you in return.

[dynamighty]

Much-- but at this point, we're going to have to make sure you can hold that stance when you're walking.

[messianic]

[The real struggles aren't saving the world, they're making sure Minato stands up straight while walking.]

Hm... I guess i'll just have to try really hard to remember to?

[pseudonyms]

[Minato why!! But at the same time she doesn't seem to mind since he's still keeping an interest (or, enough) and Rise's still at a phase where she wants to chat with as many people as she can.]

That sounds really fun. [She has to wonder if he just comes alone or if he has friends...he was here alone tonight, but at the same time maybe that didn't mean anything? She was, too, after all, but at the same time...well, maybe it doesn't matter. She grins widely when he compliments her and she reaches up to idly twirl one of her twintails between her fingers.] But thanks! I'm just starting out, but my manager says my album should do really well when it's released. I hope he's right.

[...so yeah. There's that.]

[messianic]

[Huh... There's muted surprise at that in the form of a placid blink, and then he tilts his head.]

I guess I was pretty lucky to sing with a real idol.

[Cool... that's pretty cool.]

I think your album will do really well too. [He has firsthand experience of her singing!!] You were great up there.

[constellates]

It is nice to meet you too!

[she's pleased to always meet people ok, whether they're fans or not]

Do you think? Cпасибо. Papa taught me when I was little. [so yes, mother russia] Do you know how?

[TO SHOOT GUNS]

[dynamighty]

Nothing solves that like practice-- so--! [ And she's lowering her measuring tape. ] How's your walk?

[messianic]

Pretty good.

I've been walking most of my life.

[shut up you little shit]