[ Aw, he's rubbing the back of his neck again... She hopes she isn't being too much by asking of this, but even as she's turning and lowering herself a bit so that he can climb on, there's a determined glint in her eyes. ]
Ahaha, all aboard then, Mimi! I promise it'll be a smooth journey down! I've carried around a tiny dragon knight in a cage before, you know!
[ She says like this is just so normal, but... that's life adventuring in the Feywild! ]
[ She hums thoughtfully as she rights herself, arms tucked beneath Minato's legs to make sure she has a secure hold on him before she starts down the shrine steps. ]
A tiny dragon knight is like the size of a pseudodragon!
[ Wait. That's not helpful either. ]
I mean— Just picture a fully grown dragon, but tiny— [ HELP. ] Or, um... You know what, Sir Talavar had this sword on him, but when he gave it to my friend Cleo it was like a dagger for her!
[ This is the best way she knows to describe the size. By describing sizes relative to weaponry... ]
But he was heavy! And so was the cage. And you're much more fun to carry!
[ If he thought she was enthusiastic up until, well... She's definitely Activated now, given the opportunity to say more about her grand adventures in the Feywild. Her ears perk up with Minato's curiosity, all her attention poured into answering and regrettably not at all on how nicely he fits in against her. ]
He was imprisoned by the evil hag, Skabatha! We wanted to set him free so he could go back to Queen Titania in the Summer Court— [ yeah, that Titania, ] —but the only way to get him out of his cage was to find this little goblin girl named Jingle-Jangle who keeps many, many keys! So I had to carry him around until we found her!
[ In case it hadn't been clear before, during the show... Juniper's adventures very much sound like the stuff of fairy tales, on account of her being very inextricably tied to the Realm of Faerie. ]
[ If she hadn't been scurrying down a very long set of shrine steps, she absolutely would have comically skidded to a halt just now. But as it is, they are incredibly lucky that they aren't just tumbling down the rest of the way and sustaining a considerable amount fall damage - though she does still stop amidst their descent, turning her head as much as biology will allow to look back at him with a big, loud gasp. ]
Queen Titania... is one of your Personas!? You have the Summer Queen, the leader of the Seelie Court, the Queen of the Fae, the mightiest archfey in the realm as one of your summons!?
[ SUCH POWER AND MIGHT, TO COMMAND AN ARCHFEY... Juniper is in absolute awe. ]
[Oh my god. Okay, yeah, they explained Personas very poorly to poor Juni, didn't they?]
Ah--no, it's not exactly like that.
It's most like... my Persona of her is a manifestation of peoples'--um, like their understanding of her? Their thoughts and stories and everything that people tell about Titania.
[ Please hold. Her brain would be making dial-up noises right now, if she knew what those were.
To be fair, not even the best explanation of Personas might have been enough, but it's also been quite some time, and Juniper's memory is unfortunately a very leaky bucket. ]
So... it's not the same Titania as the archfey, but... [ blink blink ] Still! She must be a powerful Persona! And she's your Persona! I would be so delighted to have even a manifestation of Queen Titania at my side...
[ But... Ah. Her wild magic remains as volatile as ever, even if she's learned how to use it to her advantage more.
Juni starts going down the steps again. ]
You really are amazing, Mimi. To think that I'm carrying around someone who can summon a Queen Titania Persona... Heh! I'm a lucky bunny!
[ Juniper knows that she can be a bit Much in this regard, but... With people like Ajax, and like Minato... She can't help but feel like they don't get to hear how amazing they really are all too often, at least not in such a heartfelt way. She was lucky enough to have grown up surrounded by guardians who were always so supportive and kind, so how could she betray that upbringing by doing nothing less than pouring that love out to those she cares about?
All to say, she hums, sing-song, when he buries his face into her hair, against her neck, feeling her heart fill up at all of this warmth. ]
Ah... You would really let me, Mimi? It wouldn't be too much trouble, would it?
[She's so sweet. When she asks things like this, right after being so kind and so loving... it just makes Minato really, truly want to make sure that she understands just how much she means to him in return.
So while his voice is soft, it's firm, too.]
It isn't any trouble... but you know, even if it was, it'd still be worth it for you.
[ It has always, always been that gentle but firm nature of his that has drawn Juniper in... He truly is so special, and what he says is such a perfect demonstration of it that Juniper can't help but stop on the steps again, while warmth washes across her face. ]
Mimi...
[ She hums thoughtfully, and then: ]
Ahh—I made a mistake! Because I'm carrying you, I can't just turn and kiss you for saying something so moving!
Of course not! My constitution is incredible, Mimi! I would carry you down and then back up and then back down again if I really want to, but that would take away from our kissing time!
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Ahaha, all aboard then, Mimi! I promise it'll be a smooth journey down! I've carried around a tiny dragon knight in a cage before, you know!
[ She says like this is just so normal, but... that's life adventuring in the Feywild! ]
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He...considers that for a long moment.
And then carefully, he climbs onto her back.]
How big is a tiny dragon knight in a cage?
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A tiny dragon knight is like the size of a pseudodragon!
[ Wait. That's not helpful either. ]
I mean— Just picture a fully grown dragon, but tiny— [ HELP. ] Or, um... You know what, Sir Talavar had this sword on him, but when he gave it to my friend Cleo it was like a dagger for her!
[ This is the best way she knows to describe the size. By describing sizes relative to weaponry... ]
But he was heavy! And so was the cage. And you're much more fun to carry!
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She's so enthusiastic about it, and it's cute... it's so cute.
You know what's also good? The muscles of her biceps around him.
.... ... .... No, Minato, focus!!]
I... see. Um--I'm glad to hear that. Really.
[...]
Why were you carrying him, anyway? Out of curiosity.
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He was imprisoned by the evil hag, Skabatha! We wanted to set him free so he could go back to Queen Titania in the Summer Court— [ yeah, that Titania, ] —but the only way to get him out of his cage was to find this little goblin girl named Jingle-Jangle who keeps many, many keys! So I had to carry him around until we found her!
[ In case it hadn't been clear before, during the show... Juniper's adventures very much sound like the stuff of fairy tales, on account of her being very inextricably tied to the Realm of Faerie. ]
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He tilts his head thoughtfully, chin pressed a little to her shoulder as he does.]
Huh... Queen Titania?
Sounds like it was a pretty exciting adventure.
[...]
You know my Personas? Just like Kotone's? Well... one of them is Queen Titania.
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Queen Titania... is one of your Personas!? You have the Summer Queen, the leader of the Seelie Court, the Queen of the Fae, the mightiest archfey in the realm as one of your summons!?
[ SUCH POWER AND MIGHT, TO COMMAND AN ARCHFEY... Juniper is in absolute awe. ]
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Ah--no, it's not exactly like that.
It's most like... my Persona of her is a manifestation of peoples'--um, like their understanding of her? Their thoughts and stories and everything that people tell about Titania.
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[ Please hold. Her brain would be making dial-up noises right now, if she knew what those were.
To be fair, not even the best explanation of Personas might have been enough, but it's also been quite some time, and Juniper's memory is unfortunately a very leaky bucket. ]
So... it's not the same Titania as the archfey, but... [ blink blink ] Still! She must be a powerful Persona! And she's your Persona! I would be so delighted to have even a manifestation of Queen Titania at my side...
[ But... Ah. Her wild magic remains as volatile as ever, even if she's learned how to use it to her advantage more.
Juni starts going down the steps again. ]
You really are amazing, Mimi. To think that I'm carrying around someone who can summon a Queen Titania Persona... Heh! I'm a lucky bunny!
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So he ducks his head, tucking his face against her neck, where she can probably feel the way his face burns a little bit.
Still... his lips are curved into a smile.]
... Do you want to see her?
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All to say, she hums, sing-song, when he buries his face into her hair, against her neck, feeling her heart fill up at all of this warmth. ]
Ah... You would really let me, Mimi? It wouldn't be too much trouble, would it?
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So while his voice is soft, it's firm, too.]
It isn't any trouble... but you know, even if it was, it'd still be worth it for you.
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Mimi...
[ She hums thoughtfully, and then: ]
Ahh—I made a mistake! Because I'm carrying you, I can't just turn and kiss you for saying something so moving!
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I don't think it was that moving, but... you can always kiss me when we get to the bottom of the stairs?
[It's said a little teasingly. But only a little.]
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[ Of course! He is such a genius! Spoken like a true Max Academics (?)!! ]
Oh! The kiss can be my reward for successfully carrying you down these shrine steps! Brilliant!
[ With renewed vigor, she begins her descent once again! ]
I'm all fired up now!
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He chuckles softly, face still tucked away into the crook of her neck, and then he nods.]
Yeah, let's go with that. It'll be a nice reward.
Even though you're not having any trouble at all, are you?
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Of course not! My constitution is incredible, Mimi! I would carry you down and then back up and then back down again if I really want to, but that would take away from our kissing time!
So don't worry - I have a lot of stamina!
[ 👁👄👁 ]
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Minato......... pauses thoughtfully at that. His cheeks are a little red. And he really can't help but poke at that:]
Your... stamina, huh? I guess at this point it must be... pretty amazing.