realpolitik | minato

[Things Minato didn't think about: that it'd be pretty small in there with two people. They both squish in, and Minato clears his throat a little when it means he's pressed up close and personal with Juni.

He is not upset by this turn of events, but--he's not taking advantage, right...? Especially when she brings up Childe.]

Ah... Yeah. Right. [Juniper is so ripped. Wow. She's so strong. His heart is beating so hard.] We need to pick a filter that shows off your cuteness a lot then for him.

[ She tips her head to one side. ]

Filter...?

[ She's looking at the screen, and at all the buttons, and all the options, and blinks at Minato. Help!! But it's only then that it really dawns on her how pressed together they are. ]

Ahhh, but he's already seen so much of my cuteness, though! We should make you look extra cute, Mimi. Make him feel sorry that he couldn't come along, hehe...

[ A most diabolical plot indeed. And to that end, she moves a hand to pat her thighs. ]

Come, just sit in my lap!

In your--

[Lap?

Lap???

Juniper's lap..........

Minato's silent for a moment, but--if he takes too long, they'll have to put more money in for their pictures. So he clears his throat, cheeks a little red, and nods.]

O... okay. If you're sure.

[He shuffles closer and... carefully gets into her lap, leaning against her a little as they shift enough to frame their faces by the picture frame.

Ahem!]

Let me... show you the filters and how all of this works. See, these buttons here add cute stickers, and these buttons add special filters to your picture.

[ Wah, his twinky self fits so nicely in her lap, just like she knew he would! Honestly, this is way more comfortable than just being squished up against each other. Peering around him, she dutifully watches the little photo booth tutorial, and soon enough her curiosity bids her to reach around Minato's frame to start tapping and pressing and whatever she needs to do to make their pictures super cute! ]

Ohhh... I like the sparkly filter! Or the one with the flowers! Oh, or this one! Hehe, it's making a little bunny nose and ears float on your face, Mimi! I love it!

[ It is also adding a bunny nose, whiskers, and another pair of bunny ears on Juniper's head. It's fine because it'll be cute! ]

[He does fit so very well in her lap. Minato is trying not to think too hard about it, but that is easier said than done in his little bisexual disaster brain.

So half his brain (or more than half...) is focused on how very toned her thighs are beneath him, and he's thus only partially focused on the actual screen.]

Oh... bunny ears, huh?

[MINATO, FOCUS.]

They are pretty cute, it's true... I don't wear them as well as you, though.

[Still...]

I like that we match. Let's take one of the pictures like that.

[ Juniper, for her part, is trying not to overstep any boundaries, even for how playful she's being. She already has a pretty good idea from Childe that he wouldn't be offended - that memory of how much he liked seeing Juniper and Minato kiss still feels fresh in both of their minds - but it's been a long time since she's gotten to see Minato... Even though she's read his parting note to her many, many times during their time apart and mulled over it quite a bit, who knows if his heart is still doing little bunny hops?

So she'll tackle today the same way she always has: by being earnest and true to her heart. ]

Don't say that, Mimi! You'll be like a cute blueberry bunny!

[ Juniper and her fruits... ]

I'd be happy to match with you, hehe. And Ajax will like that too, I bet. Let's go for it!

[Juniper and her fruits...! It's cute, though... if it's coming from Juni, Minato is pretty sure he's okay with being a blueberry bunny.

So he nods, overly firmly and solemnly.]

Let's do it. It'd be nice... to have pictures for all three of us to keep.

[It's just a picture, not a battle plan...!! But it's just sentimental enough to work for Minato.

It's fine, though, he's gonna hit the button and they'll have their picture taken a few times in quick succession--and then a few strips of those photos are printed out for them.

Oh no....... they're really, really cute.]

[ They sure are really cute, especially as Juniper decides halfway through the photo-taking to wind her arms around Minato and rest her chin on his shoulder with a big smile! She's since let go out of respect, of course, but... It was nice.

She's peering more around his shoulder instead when the pictures come out. ]

Ohhh! They came out so cute, Mimi! I love them! I'm going to cherish these forever!

[ Wah... Her Dandelion Heart feels so full! ]

[It's nice to feel her face so close to his again... he briefly, but-far-too-eagerly considers kissing her, and then their time in the booth is done and he catches himself, clearing his throat a little.]

I'm really glad you like them... I'm happy too. I'm glad we decided to do this.

[He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, lingering for just a moment...... and then he straightens and moves to get out of the booth.]

Well... anyway. With that done, wanna keep heading towards the shrine?

[ She watches and sits in that lingering silence as something seems to pass between them... By the time she thinks to hold onto him it's far too late, and he's already easing off of her and getting out of the booth, leaving her fingers attempting to grasp at empty air.

She'll just have to get out, too. ]

Mm, I really want to see the shrine!

[ Juniper will reach out again, this time for his hand again. That's still okay, right...? ]

[Of course, it absolutely is. She reaches for his hand and he reaches out to meet hers in return, squeezing her hand gently in his own.

That much, at least, he's comfortable with.

But admittedly, he's a little quiet as they approach the shrine, because his thoughts just keep replaying back that moment--pressed close in that booth, their faces right there...

... It'd be okay, wouldn't it...? To just... reach out, and see if that's what Juniper wants too?

--then the shrine is there, and Minato blinks, coming back to himself.]

Um--let's start with the fortunes and the actual shrine, and then we can spend some time at the playground.

[ His hand is so warm in hers, and were it not for the fact that there's so many different sights to see along their journey to the shrine, she might have been lost in her own thoughts and feelings, too. So maybe it's a good thing, that she instead finding herself in awe at every turn.

When they reach the shrine, Juniper is just looking up and all around her; she may not be familiar with the religions of Minato's world, but... Even as an outsider, she can tell that this is a precious, revered place. Part of her is also trying to match what she sees with what she remembers from Minato's memory, and... Naturally, there are a few spots she'd forgotten, but... ]

Mm, I... This is incredible though, isn't it, Mimi? I saw this place before, in your memories, and now I'm... I'm standing here! Right here! With you...

[ It's nothing short of amazing, to be here in the flesh, and with Minato. ]

[Ah... the way she puts it isn't something he'd ever really considered. But she's a lot like Liz in that way, isn't she?

She's always, constantly making him see life in a new way. So he smiles, because he can't help but smile, and squeezes her hand gently in his own.]

It is... it's really amazing. When you put it like that... I really like thinking of it that way.

[He's quiet for a moment, tilting his head to one side before:]

It makes me think that... now that I've brought you here to the place you saw in my memories before, you've... really entered my life for good. It wasn't temporary.

[Now he can believe in it, if that makes sense.]

[ Ah... She missed this feeling. After being apart for so long with only short messages to go on, Juniper had almost forgotten what it was like to actually have Minato around, to be there to hear his calm, heartfelt words. His aura really is so different from the sort of volatile energy that she and Childe often display, but... in the best way possible. She has always appreciated Minato for that, from the very moment he welcomed her to that shared house and he offered her his help.

She also very much missed the feeling he gives her, when her heart is like a little rabbit's foot thumping in her chest. She's very forgetful, but she still remembers what he'd called it before: ]

Ahaha... doki! But I was never planning on being temporary, Mimi...

[ Whether as a friend, or as someone hoping for more... She was never going to write herself out of his story. Not by any means. Not for as long as he'll have her. ]

Let's go get our fortunes! I'm feeling really lucky today!

[Oh... oh no, that's so cute. She remembered the word...! And she used it in just the right context.

Minato rubs the back of his neck sheepishly in response, thoroughly charmed. Her good cheer, her chipper responses... ugh, he's so weak to them.]

Ah...

[Juniper was never intending on leaving him behind, huh...? He was so used to that, so used to people passing out of his lives, that maybe he wasn't being fair. But... it still makes his heart flutter to know that she's planning on sticking around.]

... Right. Fortunes. [Focus, Minato!]

They're over this way, but we should pray first, okay? It's polite.

[ He sure has been rubbing the back of his neck quite a bit during their time together... Juniper isn't entirely sure that it means, but she can only hope that she's not making him feel uncomfortable - or that if she is, that he can tell her. She may be headstrong and open about her feelings, but... She can understand boundaries, too.

For now, though, she quickly finds herself more concerned about accidentally offending the deities of Minato's world. ]

Oh! Of course - I wouldn't want to get into trouble with the spirits or gods!

I'll follow your lead, Mimi...

[She's so cute. Minato has a... rather disdainful outlook on gods, especially given his otherwise mild demeanor, but it's still polite and nice to visit the shrine properly! So he'll show her how to pray and make her offering, and when they've successfully accomplished that, then he tugs her gently towards the fortunes.]

Alright--now it's the moment of truth. Are you ready?

[ She'll match his every physical move dutifully, and pray... Although she's not really sure who she's praying to. But she knows what she's praying for, and that's for Minato's wellbeing and happiness.

And now comes the time for fortunes! She nods and squeezes Minato's hand again... ]

Mm, the moment of truth...! Let's see what fate has in store for us!

[Minato exchanges a few yen coins for both of their fortunes, and then nods to her.]

Go ahead and pick yours.

This is a very, very important choice, Juni-chan. Be careful.

[ She looks at him, wide-eyed. So the fortunes of this realm hold much weight...! Oh, it would be so dreadful if she got a terrible fortune... It would put such a damper on this date (?) with Minato... ]

I'll do my best, Mimi! I won't let you down!

[ With a very serious nod, she draws in a deep breath, closes her eyes, and then reaches to draw her fortune before she holds it out at Minato, her palm open and facing up. ]

H-How did I do...?

[... He takes it obediently, lips twitching in amusement at how seriously she's taking it (even knowing it's his own fault).

And so, he'll open it up for her, eyes scanning the fortune before both of his eyebrows arch.]

... "Great blessing". That's the best fortune you can pull. It says... you'll have particularly auspicious luck with romantic relationships.

[ The entirety of her being seems to brighten and perk up when she hears "great blessing", right up to the very tips of her fuzzy bunny ears, which twitch at attention. ]

"Great blessing..." Wow!

[ Great blessings... and in romantic relationships!? That addendum has her blinking for a moment, cheeks flushing, because of course the first thing that comes to her mind is the very person in front of her. She doesn't need any more luck when it comes to her and Childe, but - ]

Oh. I-I wonder what the gods mean by that? Maybe Ajax and I will find treasure soon? Or—

[ maybe the real treasure was the Minato they both romanced along the way!! ]

Haha, how mysterious! Now it's your turn!

[Or...

He wonders if it'd be too arrogant to wonder if she's thinking about him when she cuts herself off.]

I wonder...

[Instead, he'll focus on pulling his own fortune, offering it to her in response to read it... since she let him read hers first.]

Here's mine. Wanna see what it is?

[ It wouldn't have been arrogant at all, especially when it would have been the truth. Juniper can feel her cheeks growing ever warmer as Minato trails off and then pulls his own fortune; she can't seem to keep herself from staring at his face, and watching his hands as he pulls his own fortune.

At his prompting, she reads it out for him in kind, just as he did for her. ]

It's...

[ ... ]

Hey, it's the exact same fortune, Mimi! "Great blessing" and good luck with romance! We match!

[ What could this MEAN!! ]

... Really?

[That throws Minato off, without a doubt. He blinks blankly for a moment, staring at her--and then shifting his gaze to the temple around them, and then back to Juniper.

This is... he's not a religious sort (of course not, not with what he's seen), but he also can't deny that there is... something a little like fate that runs through what happens in their world--their worlds, even.]

The chances of that happening are... [Mindbogglingly small.

... Does that mean the Universe is telling him something? He thinks... that that's exactly what that means.

... A slow breath in, and Minato squares his shoulders. He's been through a lot since that TV show filming, and he likes to think he's gotten braver. But even more than that... he likes to think that he's learned how precious and important it is to not let things pass you by.]

... Juni-chan... is it okay if I give you a kiss?

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