realpolitik | Minato | Open

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Minato | Open | 088

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.]

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You think so? [She can't help but laugh just a little because "lucky" isn't a word she would use to describe what just happened (she's still getting used to being an idol and being someone people would love to be around), but the thing about the way Minato's presenting himself is that it makes him almost weirdly sincere?

Maybe that happens when you're stoic like this.] Thanks...I practice when I can in front of audiences to make sure I'm ready. There's this club here and I'll be performing there soon, but that's still a while from now. I've never been here before though so I wasn't really sure what to expect.

[He's lucky, Rise!! A cute and genki lady idol who's breaking into the industry...? And he got to sing with her, which is pretty nice no matter how he looks at it.

He nods quietly in response (of course he thinks so), but then tilts his head thoughtfully at the rest.]

Hm... would it make you feel more comfortable if you knew the area a bit better? I wouldn't mind showing you around.

[It's nervewracking to go to a new place without having to also perform for tons of people, he thinks; maybe it'd be less so if she knew the area a bit better?]

[The offer surprises her, but absolutely not in a bad way. People...prior to what's happened to her never really thought to offer this kind of kindness to her. Is this what being an idol does? It's nice, she thinks, and though her smile isn't as bright and perky it's there and it's genuinely grateful for Minato to offer such a thing.]

I think I have some time to spare before my manager and I have to leave...and this place does seem pretty different from what I'm used to. [She laughs then.] A personalized tour sounds great! I'd be honored if you have time.

[It might just be a protag thing, but you deserve nice things either way, Rise!!

Minato's oblivious to her thoughts, of course. He's just glad that she seems to be willing; maybe it'll help, even if just in her feeling a little more familiar with Iwatodai later. It's hard being somewhere new by yourself, right?]

I have time, so it's no problem for me.

[Rise's the busier one here, right?]

We can start with Paulownia mall and then go from there, if that sounds good to you.

[Thank you, protag-kun. The thought is appreciated and she finds herself more excited now than she was before. (Not that she wasn't excited since that's just how Rise functions now, but this is a better idea.)]

I think that sounds perfect. [But she pauses then.] I never got your name, by the way.

Oh, right. My name's Arisato Minato.

[He's a bit too lackadaisical for any proper bowing or anything, hands still tucked into his pockets as they are, but he does nod his head to her.]

It's nice to meet you. I hope we have a good time together.

[It's nice though, and she knows Minato is older so instead she does bow a little in response.]

It's nice to meet you, too, Minato-san. [Yep. Skipping right over the family name and into the first name. That happens when you're Rise and you sing karaoke together.] I'm Risette. [Even though she doesn't entirely seem sure of that? There's a pause...and she shakes her head.] Or...I will be. My name is Kujikawa Rise.

[There. She can settle with that and quickly she smiles again.] I'm sure it'll be fun! I'm ready when you are. [Minato will take the lead and Rise will follow. She's comfortable enough with that, at least.]

[That's fine... he doesn't seem to mind. She's cute though--what a perky and cheerful girl. He imagines she'll probably do well as an idol; it'd be hard not to be endeared by her.]

Well, for now then, is Rise-san fine?

[He'd usually go with last name, but considering she already jumped that hurdle, this seems fine.]

Anyway, let's go this way first. There are some interesting shops over here, and an arcade.

Of course! [She claps her hands in delight before immediately settling down again, falling in line and walking right after him. Her eyes are wide with that sort of child-like wonder that comes from new sightseeing and new ideas, allowing herself to turn this way and that once they're out of the karaoke lounge and back outside.]

How long have you lived here? You seem comfortable.

Oh, does it seem that way? That's good to hear.

[He'll admit with a slight shred of sheepiness:]

I've only been here a few months myself, so I'm glad it seems like I've adapted.

[Nothing like Shadow fighting to get you in shape in your new home, apparently??]

Wait, really? [She never would have guessed honestly. Minato's quiet and at ease and she assumed it was because he was used to this town and everything it had to offer.] What brought you here then? If you don't mind me asking.

No, I don't mind.

[He never really does, after all.]

It's nothing special. I just transferred high schools here.

[The fun and exciting life and times of a Persona protag...which Rise will see for herself in a few years, it's fine.]

Your reasons for being here are a little more exciting than that.

[There's a nod of understanding with that because okay, he's older, and okay, transferring doesn't seem too terribly far-fetched.]

Doesn't sound so bad. I don't think I'll be here for very long but this is a nice place to start out before going somewhere else. [She looks pleased then.] I can't wait to start traveling more, you know? There are so many little places like this that I wouldn't have even thought of coming to...and if it means meeting nice people like you I think I can handle that. Inoue-san says that when the promotions and everything start there won't be a lot of downtime though.

[Which. Is exactly the reason she's out with Minato right now anyway. Who knows when she'll have to be pulled away?]

It sounds pretty amazing.

[Of course, he's traveled around a lot for lack of a place to live, but that's different. This will be Rise traveling around, seeing the world and showing off exactly what she can do.

It sounds exciting.]

You'll just have to do your best to dazzle people wherever you go, right? [The life of an idol sounds hard...but also thrilling.]

Hm... but that's probably true. I guess you won't have a lot of time, so we'd better slack off as much as we can right now.

[Minato???]

I hope so! [It's better than being an idle idol, really. She grows more serious then, giving Minato a curious look before deciding it's safe to tell him the next part of her story.]

I don't know how to slack off that well. I've never had a reason to, and I've never really had a chance to spend time with people like this. But you can teach me, right? [There's another smile.] It sounds like a pretty important skill to have.

[That sticks out to him a little. "I've never really had a chance to spend time with people like this", and he wonders... does she not have a lot of friends?

... Hm.

He has more tact than to just flat out ask that, instead nodding simply.]

I'll do my best to teach you how to slack off. I'm pretty good at it. [Thanks, Minato.] It's a skill you'll probably need, because I bet you'll be working hard as an idol.

[Thanks for that, Minato. His honesty in the matter causes her to laugh all the same, pleased to hear something like that and finding herself more relaxed than before.]

Probably. Inoue-san's shown me the schedules for the next couple of weeks and it looks like a lot of work, but I don't mind so much as long as there is a little bit of downtime. [Like. An hour a week. Ah to be young and not burnt out yet.] Since I'm just starting I have to work extra hard, but I'll take all of the valuable skills I can get.

[She looks like she's definitely relaxing and enjoying herself a bit more, which is definitely Minato's goal here; if she's enjoying herself, this entire excursion is totally worth it, right?

(It's a social linking evening, apparently.)]

Huh... you really will be working hard. [He's not interested in that life, thanks, Rise. He's satisfied with his own nonsense, he doesn't want to work even harder.

(Her work ethic is impressive, though.)]

In that case, I think we should have extra fun. [Which is why he's going to nod to the weirdo antiques store.] Have you ever been in a place like this?

[Is it weird for her to say "my parents wouldn't allow it", because that's her first thought. She's curious though and even without a verbal answer she's approaching to peer into one of the windows.]

Everything in our house is so modern and new. I think all of this would be so out of place. [But she's already leading the way, clearly invested in discovering new things. That's what this is about. Starting over. Starting new.] What do you think is great about something like this? [Even if Minato doesn't think it's great, she's interested to see how he responds anyway.]

[Maybe a little, but only because Minato has no idea how that sort of thing goes. Still... Minato tilts his head a little, and then offers a faint smile.]

It's just interesting. You never know what you'll find in a place like this.

[He'll open up the door for her, so she can poke around the antiques store--and true to form, there are all sorts of strange, bizarre and sparkly oddities.]

I feel like... it says a lot about the people who owned them before, too. Sort of like a way to get to know them, if that makes sense? [It's a sappy protag reason, but it's there, tone a little hushed in honor of the general atmosphere of the store.]

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Minato | Open | 088

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cal im so sorry this is late, you're free to ignore it

shhh ty you are always fine and welcome in my inbox

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