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]

[IT SURE IS this is a normal persona protag thing.]

... Oh. I didn't know you speak cat, too.

[He is truly awed... did you have a robot teach you that.

Are you also an android??]

That's pretty impressive.

[messianic]

... No, I've never tried.

[So here this small cute girl is far more intense than he is, and that's probably how it should be.]

You must be really skilled, though, if you've known all your life.

[dynamighty]

And if you've been walking like a model most of your life, I'll start calling you Minato-sama.

[ Promptly. ]

[messianic]

[...yeah, fair. Instead, straight-faced, he just offers up:]

Sorry, I was only offered a model contract once, and I never actually did it.

[So.

Yeah.

Erika is right.]

If you're willing to teach me, I'll do my best to learn.

[constellates]

Mm.... maybe a little? Thank you for saying so. [she hums a happy little note before giggling]

But I do not get to practice a lot. So I worry that I am not as good as before.

[purrtagonist]

It took years of study to perfect the language. Training under waterfalls, isolating myself from society to focus on my work, that sort of thing.

[BONDING THROUGH MORE DRY HUMOR. . .]

[also is it just Minato or is the cat giving Akira a very human-like flat look]

So far, the only practical use it's had is knowing this guy's favorite food.

[the cat suddenly meows in irritation as the deadpan expression on Akira's features breaks out into a grin, and he reaches out to gently scratch the creature's ears]

[dynamighty]

... Hold on. You were already offered a modeling contract and you turned it down? So why did you say yes to me?

[messianic]

[Hmm....]

I know someone who can speak dog, but I don't think she had to train under waterfalls. Sounds like you got the raw end of the deal.

[SORRY, AKIRA.]

Isn't that a good thing to know, though?

[Whatever, Minato. The cat and protag combo are cute though, okay!! He approves.]

[messianic]

[He tilts his head thoughtfully at that, but he thinks it does explain a lot.]

Is that why you're here now? To practice?

[Makes sense, he thinks.... unless Anya's taking up a career in this.]

[messianic]

[Because Tanaka's really creepy--]

I like your reasons for doing what you do more.

[Easy as pie, really.]

[purrtagonist]

It is. He's fond of sushi, by the way. Especially fatty tuna.

[there's a twinkle of mischief in his eyes as Morgana hops up onto Akira's shoulders and starts kneading his paws into his hair. IN REVENGE. Akira just laughs lightly and tilts his head to the side, fully accepting this punishment]

Speaking of food, do you want something while you're here?

[dynamighty]

Huh.

[ But hadn't he agreed to it before she'd even explained any sort of reasoning to him? Maybe high schoolers are just really perceptive, because Yuri is downright uncanny when she wants to be, and Momoka's always been good at being perceptive. Is this something she's going to grow into, then? ]

Well, their loss is my gain, so I'm not about to complain about it... I guess I'm kinda amazing if I can scout you just by a glance, too.

[ Erika, please. ]

[messianic]

[Yes, how would he ever know that Erika's motivations were going to be purer than shady-ass businessman Tanaka... it's a true mystery.]

Well, it's not like I ever actually did any. I might've just been in the [wrong] right place at the [wrong] right time.

Still, I'll do my best.

[messianic]

Hm... If I end up with fatty tuna, I'm not sure I'd want to share though.

[Minato pls????

He watches them play out for a bit before he just shakes his head, faintly amused. IT'S NOT LIKE HE CAME HERE FOR THE STUNNING COMPANY OR ANYTHING.]

Sure. What would you recommend?

[purrtagonist]

The house blend special.

[he answers without hesitation as he reaches up to brush his knuckles against that cat's fur. oddly enough, he isn't trying to push him off his shoulders. HE LOVES THIS CAT, OKAY. . .]

You pay for a plate of Boss's famous curry, and get a mug of house blend coffee in return. It's worth the value.

[messianic]

Sounds like a good deal to me.

[Curry and coffee is an interesting combo, but Minato likes both of those things, so he certainly isn't going to be complaining.

Instead, he ducks his head a little to hide a smile at the cat+human shenanigans.]

When you put it like that, I don't know how I could pick anything else.

[purrtagonist]

One house blend special coming right up, then.

[and now Akira shoos the cat off of his shoulders, muttering a small you're not even supposed to be down here during business hours as the creature hops down onto the ground and disappears underneath one of the chairs. then he busies himself with making Minato a cup of the special house blend. the curry is already made, simmering in a pot in the kitchen, so at least it won't take him long to serve that up too]

Morgana-- [he says, after a few moments of silence] -- is a Persona user, too. He actually can talk.

[at this point, he trusts Minato enough to tell him a little more about his team, so. . . plus, no one else is in the shop, so they're cleared to talk about protag things]

[messianic]

[He...actually takes that in stride relatively easily. When they've got a dog on their team, why not a cat...? It seems only fitting, really.

Hm...]

So he's part of your team?

[A cute kitty cat partner!! That's pure.]

Do you mind if I ask what his Persona is?

[He's gotta know. What Persona a cat would have.........]

[purrtagonist]

Remember when I told you to keep an eye out for a cat bus?

[amusement flickers in his eyes, but fades quickly as he pours the freshly made coffee into a mug]

Zorro. His Persona is actually pretty cool. . .

[messianic]

[??? ?? okay but he's a cat and not a bus, clearly, Minato doesn't understand--

But.

First he's too busy being delighted by the fact that Morgana's Persona is Zorro.]

... Oh. That's perfect.

[How good??]

[purrtagonist]

Isn't it? Our group has a nice theme going on.

[slides the fresh mug of coffee towards Minato and then busies himself with fetching a plate of curry]

Arsene. Zorro. Captain Kidd. Carmen. Goemon. The list goes on.

[a beat, and a thought occurs to him]

Have you read any of their books?

[dynamighty]

You'll do fine! I've worked with people way shyer than you.

[ Not a lie. ]

But for now, try walking from here to the back and then back here again. Imagine you've got a big audience.

[messianic]

[Hm...]

I'll do my best.

[And his best seems to be...a casual stroll, mostly. At least he remembers to keep his shoulders back and his head up, that's pretty good for him, his posture isn't bad like this!!!

... But yeah that's about it.]

[messianic]

[Thankfully, Minato's academics are high enough for this. He nods in thanks for the coffee with a quietly murmured:]

Thank you.

[And then, consideringly:]

I remember reading about Arsene... Arsene Lupin, right? The gentleman thief.

[Heh. Fitting.]

Zorro...the outlaw who aids the helpless. Captain Kidd was a pirate, right...? And Goemon's obvious too. [That's just basic history stuff.

His brow furrows a little as he thinks.]

Carmen...

[That one's harder for him to place.]

[purrtagonist]

Carmen. From the novella and opera of the same name.

[BUCKLE UP MINATO YOUR ACADEMICS ARE ABOUT TO INCREASE EVEN MORE]

She was a femme fetal who lived a life of freedom without regret. I still have the book, if you want to borrow it sometime.

[Akira you've got to turn it into the library??? anyway, one plate of hot curry, coming up!]