realpolitik | Minato Arisato | Akira Kurusu

Entry tags:

Minato Arisato | Akira Kurusu | 090

[He's exhausted.

It's been an intense couple of months, and it feels as though the situation will only get worse somehow--worse and worse, and Minato has no idea what to expect. Strega is still out there. The Dark Hour still exists. The Arcana Shadows are gone, but...at what cost?

What was Ikutsuki rambling about, before the end?

Junpei's exhausted and depressed, the entire dorm dark and quiet and respectful of his mourning, and Minato's still shaken too from how close it was--how close he came to losing yet another teammate, and friend.

So he hops on the train. Akira probably won't mind a visit, right...? They get along well enough, and he thinks Akira would probably understand if Minato just needs a day away from the oppressive atmosphere of how much everyone has lost over the past two months.

He pushes open the door to the cafe quietly, but... well, the silence is almost more stifling over here, and his brow furrows a bit, even as he glances at Sojiro behind the counter.

UM...]

Is Akira around...?

[Now would probably be a good time to get interrupted before Sojiro tells this punk he doesn't really know well that Akira's TOTALLY DEAD.

(Minato probably should've texted first.)]

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[It's something that will help Akira and his poor suffering, at least a little. Minato stands and goes to fetch it, bringing it back to wrap up that ice pack. He can't help the way his gaze flickers to that injury again--but he just keeps a relatively calm expression on his face.]

Well... I'll take hope from the fact that the Dark Hour still doesn't exist in this time. Somehow, it's gone, and that's what really matters.

[Even if he has no idea how this ended up coming about after they fucked it up so badly.

Maybe someone else got rid of it in the interim? It's possible.]

[hands the ice pack to Minato so he can wrap it in the towel, watching his expression carefully]

I believe in you.

[he says earnestly]

I believe that you and your team will figure something out. Do you doubt that?

[that last question is asked kind of quietly, almost like. . . he's testing to see if Minato is ready to talk about this again]

[Minato will hand the ice pack back to Akira directly, instead of trying to put it on his injury; the last thing he wants to do is cause any pain.

And he offers up a wry smile at that.]

This wasn't exactly the deal we made, but... you're resting and taking care of yourself, so if you want to talk about it, I don't mind.

[Akira resting and recovering was Minato's main concern, so it's fine if they skip the video game portion of that plan.]

... But... [What a hard question.] ... No, I'm sure we will. It's just strange to be directionless after being so sure for so long about what we had to do.

[you know. . . oddly enough, for however determined Akira is now, he can empathize with that feeling]

Yeah. It is strange. [he replies as he takes the ice pack and gently reapplies it to the injury] I can say that from experience, because it happened to us, too.

[he scoots across the bed some more, until his back is pressed against the wall. this way, he can slouch and relax while he ices his calf]

There was a period where we all got so swept up in our popularity that we didn't realize our enemies were setting us up for a fall. We were manipulated into targeted someone they wanted to kill. And when the assassination was carried out, they blamed his death on us.

[a small shrug]

The whiplash in public opinion after that was. . . rough, needless to say. But we got cocky. And because of that arrogance, we lost our way.

[but they found it again, as Minato saw earlier. why can't SEES be the same?]

[Minato just casually climbs onto the bed too, scooting until he's sitting next to Akira. It's comfortable enough for their purposes, and the conversation they're having.

So, quietly, he nods to himself. It honestly does sound....similar. Not the same, of course; SEES doesn't fight for the same thing, and they remain secretive. But they were still overconfident, and that hubris blinded them from seeing what Ikutsuki was up to. No matter what excuses Minato could make, that's... just the fact of the matter.]

... Huh. I didn't know something like that happened... [They're really!! Really bad at keeping up with each other's lives, aren't they!!]

... But you found it again, right? That's what you mean. [A beat] Even if it meant pulling off some really reckless plans.

[He really does appreciate that encouragement, even if he's being deadpan about it. He has to embrace that, right? SEES will find what they need to do again--and he has to support the team while it happens.]

That's because I decided to send you pictures of everything you're missing about 2016 instead.

[like 2016 memes. and pictures of phones. and other junk that doesn't exist in 2009 yet because Akira's probably kind of a jerk about the time difference sometimes, I guarantee you]

[TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, he didn't want to worry Minato too much, so he never told him. not like he's worrying him now]

And we did.

We used the traitor to lead us to the one behind all the mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns. Right now, we only have a name, but--

[they're going to steal the fuck outta his heart]

[Yeah that sure is a thing Akira does, and Minato just snorts vaguely at that, because obviously he doesn't understand 2016 memes at all.

He can send Akira vintage memes in return though??]

That's fine too, but... I wouldn't mind if you updated me a bit more on what's going on. [Not that... Minato has done the same in return, oops, he probably still hasn't said anything about Shinji.]

... But that's enough, I guess, right? With the name--you can figure it out and stop him.

[And then... the Phantom Thieves can put a stop to the mental shutdowns.]

[PLEASE DO MINATO HE PROBABLY LOVES VINTAGE MEMES]

I wouldn't mind you returning the favor, you know.

[maybe then Minato would have been Prepared when arriving at Leblanc after Akira's fake death]

Half of a name isn't enough, unfortunately. We need his full name. Then, we need whatever location he considers distorted. And after that. . . we need to know what the distortion is.

It's a lot of legwork, but we've done it before.

[they can absolutely do it again]

[VINTAGE 2009 MEMES--nobody wants that.

Still... that's fair, Minato knows he needs to return the favor. He just sighs, shaking his head.]

Guess I didn't think about it. [They're both kind of like that--leaders who are used to just being the support for everyone else.] But... I'll try.

[To keep Akira in the loop more.]

After all, I need to let you know when we figure out what we're going to do from here. And... you should let me know too. When you find everything you need to take that guy down.

[a true meme connoisseur would!!]

Is it a deal?

[Akira likes deals, and he tilts his head towards Minato with a smile]

[Yeah, he's going to just point that out:]

You're a big fan of deals, aren't you?

[A thoughtful pause, and then--]

It's a promise. How about that? I'll keep you in the loop. [And promises are far more serious to Minato than deals.]

In this world, you give some to get some. Right?

[aka yes. there's also a flicker of surprise in his expression when Minato phrases it like a promise, not just a deal. because that definitely takes this into new friendship territory]

. . . all right.

I keep my promises as well as I keep my deals, too.

[In this world, Minato gives and doesn't expect anything in return, but he doesn't think that needs to be brought up. Akira lives his life in his own way, and he thinks that there's nothing wrong with that, either.

It certainly makes him a successful Phantom Thief if nothing else--but he just smiles, inclining his head a little in a nod.]

A promise, then. I promise that I'll keep you in the loop, and... because it's a promise and not a deal, I'll just hope you tell me when things happen to you, too.

[But there's absolutely no obligation, and Minato seems perfectly fine with that.]

... Not that I doubt your promises at all. You seem like you'd keep them, no matter what.

[GOD]

[this friendship is going to be the death of him. there's something warm, something nice, something comforting about it being a promise and not an obligation born out of a deal. but, you know. . . it seems all of his Confidants go this way, right?]

[people are brought together by a mutual sense of aesthetics, and it's through those aesthetics that they forge blood vows that cannot be broken]

[he lifts a hand. drops it on Minato's head. and ruffles his hair]

I wouldn't be able to call myself a man of my word if I didn't.

[... Really.

Minato blinks as Akira ruffles his hair (and messes it up from its style a fair bit, not all of them are rocking the "messy bedhead" look here), and then peers at him through strands of hair.

He just lifts a hand to tidy his hair back into its proper style, though, more amused than anything judging by the glance he gives Akira.]

You sound old when you say it like that.

[Thanks, Minato.]

...So. A full name, a location, and the type of distortion...? That sounds like a lot of work.

[THANKS MINATO]

At least I won't have an old man mustache when I do grow old.

[he's never going to let that go]

And it is. But we've managed before, so we'll manage now.

[HEY]

I am not going to have an old man mustache.

[GOD!!!!

He can't nudge Akira with his injuries as they are, so he returns the favor with the hair ruffling, trying to muss up his hair gently.

There!!

(They can get back to talking about serious things in a minute, apparently.)]

[oh my god]

[. . .]

[you know he isn't even going to bother to fix it. he's tired?? he's tired]

I suppose this hairstyle goes along with my aesthetic.

[it doesn't exactly, he's usually so neat and stylish and put together, but whatever!! his hair is a curly mess most of the time anyway]

[Minato just snorts softly in return, nodding easily in response.]

Definitely. It's the Akira Aesthetic.

[Why are they like this.]

I was helping.

Oooh, I like the sound of having an entire aesthetic named after me. It makes me feel important.

[what happened to their important serious conversations???]

[It's a mystery... protags are just being protags.

But Akira seems relatively relaxed like this, so Minato can't really mind.]

There, there, Akira. You're important.

[It's said so dryly though, it's not that sincere.]

[he is relaxed!! and he's resting, so. thanks Minato, you got your way]

. . .

Why do I get the feeling I'm being patronized?

[And, perfectly straightfaced:]

It's a mystery to me.

[Why!! Would you ever!! Feel that way!!!]

[presses the ice pack against his face]

[...............................

He doesn't actually flinch or react but.

Eventually:]

Oh no.

It's cold.

Spare me, Akira.

[Minato why are you like this]

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