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]

[Whaaaat]

I know someone with an eye patch.

He's not a villain at all.

[wait why is that the issue here]

[purrtagonist]

[oh my god]

Someone's out there breaking the stereotype?

[gasp]

I feel like the whole world just got turned upside down.

[messianic]

[ok but]

Isn't that what you and your team are always doing...?

[he calls foul here??]

[purrtagonist]

[DAMN. he breaks out into another grin]

You caught me.

We all tend to like the villains better than the heroes, anyway.

[messianic]

[Pffff]

You're heroes, though.

[Joker pls]

I know you're trying to protect people.

[Minato is in fact as stupidly sincere as ever.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . aw, Minato. he still really likes that stupid sincerity. it's why he finally came around to trusting him in the first place]

Yeah. Although we don't do it just to be hailed as heroes.

[that's a more secondary thing]

[messianic]

[Too bad he's not really a villain in disguise. Alas]

You do it to help people, right?

[Isn't that really the basis of any of them using their power?

(Aside from Strega but fuck 'em)]

[purrtagonist]

[a nod]

And to give the weak courage. But we've talked about this.

It's like how you fight to protect people, too. Just in a different way.

[messianic]

[They sure have, and it's casual and good.]

Right.

[A nod.]

And to be able to enjoy really good coffee and curry.

[Even if Futaba's arrival kind of derailed that he still enjoys it.]

[purrtagonist]

[GOOD PROTAGS WITH GOOD TEAMS WHO JUST WANNA DO GOOD THINGS]

If only coffee and curry could save the world, huh?

[messianic]

Nobody said it couldn't.

[A firm nod!]

I have faith in good coffee and curry.

[Also Minato's a glutton who likes food.]

[purrtagonist]

Does that mean you want a second helping? The coffee refills are free, but unfortunately, the curry isn't.

[messianic]

[Hmm...]

I should probably stick with just this... I don't have anyone to roll me home if I eat too much this time.

[purrtagonist]

[omg]

[now picturing this in his head

[. . .]

[SNRKS]

You'll just have to come again sometime.

[messianic]

[It could happen, you never can tell with eating contests with possible eldritch abominations!!!]

I think I can manage that.

[A faint smile and nod.]

It isn't like you're that far away.

[Just like...a couple of years away?? Roll with it.]

[purrtagonist]

[yeah, like, a few years AFTER YOU DIE]

[nevertheless, Minato gets a smile and a thumbs up. I feel like my bond with Arisato has grown]

[> Fool Confidant Rank 3???]

Maybe next time Futaba won't barge in with a sudden interrogation, too.

[messianic]

[MINOR DETAILS.

Regardless, Fool rank 3 get!! Now we can fuse Jack Frosts with greater force. Hell yeah.]

I don't mind it so much.

[Honestly:]

I feel like I've gotten to know you better because of her, too. [Nothing like seeing some of a leader's compatriots, honestly.]

[purrtagonist]

. . .

Did your Confidant rank up, too?

[HE HAS]

[LITERALLY NEVER ASKED ANYONE THIS]

[BECAUSE]

[HE KNOWS HOW CRAZY IT SOUNDS]

[BUT]

[Minato went to the Velvet Room, so maybe. . .?]

[messianic]

[Alright.

That's...

That's pretty funny to be asked out of the blue, even though it's true. He supposes it's a Velvet Room thing--Igor did mention his bonds being his strength. Minato puzzles over Confidant only briefly, because in the context, it's obvious. He snorts softly under his breath, and nods.]

Yes. Our Social Link has ranked up as well. I suppose it makes sense for it to be mutual...all things considered.

[purrtagonist]

[yeah, it is kind of funny to talk about it out loud like this. it was always something he had just. . . ignored, before]

Social Link?

[not Confidant? interesting. . . he wonders if it's because Minato's circumstances are slightly different than his. rubs the back of his neck again with a light laugh]

I guess it's something only people who have been to the Velvet Room can really understand. . .

[messianic]

[Seriously, what good would "confidants" do someone like Minato... he's still the least shady person here, okay.]

Right, my bond with another person. That's your "confidants", right?

[...]

It's a little strange, though, to think of relationships like that... no matter how long it goes on, it's still hard to get used to.

[It's kind of nice to have someone else to talk about it with, though.]

[purrtagonist]

Ah-- right.

[leaning against the counter again, hands slipping into the pockets of his apron]

Human relationships are all too complicated to be synthesized into a simple ranking system. But for purposes of the Velvet Room. . .

[ehn]

[it works]

[messianic]

Right...

[ehhh... they try.]

Well, I suppose at least we're able to meet more people and help them, when it matters.

[Even if it's still weird.]

That's what really counts.

[purrtagonist]

[heh]

I bet you'd make a good phantom thief.

[he says casually. it isn't a specific invitation to join them, since he knows Minato has to put his own team and his explorations of Tartarus first, but. he really would be an excellent addition to the Phantom Thieves]

[messianic]

[That's cute, Akira, wtf.

Minato blinks, but then he smiles a little, shaking his head.]

I don't know about that. I'm not very sneaky.

[Just cheesily sincere.]

Besides... I can leave that sort of thing to you, so it's fine. I'm not worried at all.

[Akira and his team will fight their fight, and Minato and his team will fight theirs. It works fine.]