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

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.]

[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]

[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.

[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.

[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]

[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.]

[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?

BUT IT WAS ME, ORACLE

[necromomicon]

[So at some point, midway through their conversation, the door is opening and Futaba is running in in alarm.

And then she realizes, wait, shit, there's actually a person here, so she's immediately running around behind the counter to hide behind Akira.]

What are you doing, Akira?! Who is this guy, and why are you telling him about Mona and Personae?!

HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED

[messianic]

[Okay that's a lot to happen in quick succession.

Minato blinks, looking up from his coffee as a...girl runs in? Yelling about Personas and Mona and everything?

...And then she's gone.

Oh.

Minato is too slow to react to all of that, you gotta give him more time.]

... Hello.

[Nailed it.]

a question she asks herself all the time.

[necromomicon]

[at being addressed, she hides behind Akira even more, only peeking one eye out to look at him with a suspicious squint.]

... Who are you, anyway?

[messianic]

[So suspicious...

Which is fair, he thinks, he's kind of a weirdo here.]

Arisato Minato, second year at Gekkoukan High.

[That... answers the question, right? Right. He did great.]

Kurusu-san invited me to come for coffee... [Is that okay...]

[necromomicon]

That doesn't explain anything.

[She looks him up and down.]

.......

You... Emo-Nishima.

[messianic]

[....... what.]

I--

[... ???]

Who?

[Alright no he's confused, even his powers of "rolling with the situation" can't handle this.]

[necromomicon]

Gimme your phone.

[she's still hiding behind Akira and only peeking out just a tiny bit.

this is incredbily awkward.]

[messianic]

[Oh...okay....

here, have an incredible outdated 2009 phone

I'm not going to attempt to explain this time paradox, don't expect too much from me]

Here.

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

[. . .]

[. . .]







You're still bugging Leblanc?

[necromomicon]

I've gotta make sure Sojiro's working instead of flirting! And anyway, that's not the point!

[purrtagonist]

[ELECTRONIC VOYEUR]

You don't trust me?

[:( :( :(]

[necromomicon]

I trust you! I don't trust this guy! What's with this Emo-Nishima, and why are you telling him about us?!

[purrtagonist]

[. . . EMO-NISHIMA. . .]

Relax. He's a Persona user, like us. He's helped me out of some tough situations.

Trust your Leader not to make rash decisions that would hurt the team, okay?

[necromomicon]

... Fine. But I don't like him.

[glaaaaare from behind Akira.]

When did you meet him?

[purrtagonist]

What? Why? Be nice, okay?

[:|||]

A couple of weeks ago. He appeared in Mementos while I was split up from you guys and helped me find a way out.