☽ A Game of Ping Pong

[messianic]

Characters: Minato and you!
Location: In a building just off of the center plaza
Time: All dayyyy
Style: Whatever works!
Status: Open open open!

[It is the strangest thing, to remember dying and then wake up as if nothing had happened. It left him strangely restless, and so he'd skipped out on Welcoming Committee duties, he'd drifted a little away from his social life for just a brief period of time--

He'd died in that strange place, that place that wasn't Vatheon.

But...he'd woken up alive, headphones around his neck and not pressed into Tiir's hands. Was something that vivid really just a dream? So he wandered, in search of something to expend his restless energy on.

And he's found himself at a ping pong table. At first he considers that lack of an opponent a problem, bouncing the ball on the table idly. But then he decides to play with the wall (it doesn't seem to bother him that he can't ever win that way).

So there is the click! click! click! of a ping pong ball being hit back and forth coming from an otherwise quiet building into the plaza. He might be getting a little into it.

Further inspection reveals a whiffed shot--don't get hit by the ball!]

Comments

[contemptibility]

Not that it's unwelcome, but... why?

[All things considered, the 'why' is fairly obvious, but Tiir still has trouble wrapping his head around the idea.]

[gorges]

[So very intense.

But the ball gets past her this time, and shrugs before going to get it.]

'Course they were. They thought it was rude for drawing on your face or somethin'.

[She serves the ball, starting it off with a rough swing.]

[ashihara]

[She hits the ball once more but now? It's starting to feel like she's not sure if she can keep up with the conversation and pay attention]

I've...[had issues to deal with] been well also. I'm afraid that there hasn't been much, Vatheon is a rather quiet place at most.

[rainbowarch]

[Tap! The ball goes high, but it still bounces on the table. It's so tiny and lightweight. Cielo has to struggle to not hit it too hard.]

The best leader!

[Nope, not going to hide how much he adores Serph.]

[twiceinhabited]

I don't think I'm that good, yet.

[There are better players than her, anyway.]

[tsundyne]

[Yukari's smile fades into a frown.

There's...something about his answer that she just doesn't like. Even if he is so calm and collected, she can tell he still worries. He worries about everyone else.

He worries about others, even when it's just a dream.

And even if there isn't anything wrong with this in and of itself, she can tell he hasn't left any room for himself.

She's able to hit the ball back, but it hits the net, and it unfortunately doesn't make it over. It doesn't seem to bother her though. She just watches it bounce for a moment, obviously with other things on her mind.]

...Well, I--I might not be the best person for it.

[She is pretty selfish herself after all, even now--]

But I'm not gonna lie to you. And that much is a promise.

[Honesty is just too important to her. But still, she wonders if it's enough...]

[messianic]

[He blinks at that, tilting his head just a little bit further.]

What do you mean?

[He still doesn't sound too surprised (this is Minato, his lineface is pro), so he's mostly just curious. He wants to know about Ruca because Ruca is his friend.]

[messianic]

[It should be fairly obvious, but Minato doesn't mind spelling out the obvious.

So, simply--]

You sounded like you needed one.

[messianic]

[Oh--

Sweet he got a point. But that serve is tougher to return, and he almost hits it too far.

Whew, this is intense.]

Huh. I'm sorry that they got mad at you, then.

[Minato stop. No Minato no.]

[messianic]

[These two and their issues.

But this time it's Minato's turn to miss the ball, and he sighs a little, tilting his head.]

How about a break?

[It's hard to talk and play at the same time. But then he responds, nodding quietly.]

Yes, it really can be, can't it? But then those crazy things happen...

[messianic]

[Oh cute. Unfortunately, Minato is short, so the ball bounces off at a rather high angle and he can't reach it. A blink.

And he goes to retrieve the ball, returning a few moments later.]

He seems like it. Would you mind telling me more about him and your team?

[messianic]

[He hits it back lightly this time, noting to take it easier.]

But you picked it up fast. Have you played games like this at home?

[messianic]

[It doesn't seem to bother him either, that the ball didn't make it across, and he just quietly lays down his paddle, shaking his head. That's the game. They're both too distracted to play now.

But he tilts his head at her, clearly honestly confused.]

Why do you say that?

[He honestly doesn't understand. He thought Yukari was the best person for this; he knew she wouldn't lie to him when he asked, and he could trust her to see things in him that maybe other people who didn't know him as well wouldn't see.]

I know you won't lie to me. And I know you're...the best option for this. So...thank you.

[contemptibility]

[He stares, before glancing around as he tries to think of something, before he looks back at Minato.]

... But I'm fine.

[He's going to insist that until the day he dies, for the record.]

You're the one who...

[messianic]

[A blink. And he tilts his head.]

Yes. I'm the one who died.

[He doesn't seem too bothered by it now that he's got Tiir to focus on.]

But that doesn't mean you haven't had to deal with hard things as well.

[ashihara]

I don't see why not. I believe that a break would be good for me as well.

[She said as soon as the ball drops to the ground. Note to self, never play ping pong while talking.]

I must say, even though that Vatheon can be quiet, those who live here can be a bit...lively. [Like that boat party incident.] Although I don't think I have been here for that long to see anything that might be worth mentioning.

[contemptibility]

[His expression still somewhat bewildered—]

... I'm the one who survived, though.

[Maybe, at least, though he doesn't voice that thought.]

Compared to you or Lafra, I'm far more fortunate...

[rainbowarch]

[That is no excuse Cielo is a shorty too! But whatever, it's "let's talk about Serph time."]

Serph is the leader of our Tribe, the Embryon. [He pauses to return the ball. It bounces off his paddle with a ping] We used to number in the hundreds, but now it's just me, him, and Gale here.

[And then, Cielo is pretty sure most of the Tribe is dead.]

[twiceinhabited]

[Now it's easier for her to hit.]

Yes. Sometimes, the spirits would teach me games if father's too busy.

[tsundyne]

...It...really means a lot to hear you say that.

[Despite his confused look, she does seem relieved. And she's past the point of caring much about the outcome of their game, so she places her paddle down, too-- sighing.

For once not because she lost.]

It's just that I'm still learning to not be selfish myself.

[Heh. Kind of. She has come a long way, thanks to him, thanks to SEES. But...

...Just don't tell anyone else.]

[banditking]

On land! Where they always live!

[it seems so simple to him!]

[demonicbookworm]

I mean...

_{[he doesn't look at Minato at all.]}

... he is the person I used to be in... my past life.

_{[Did that sound weird enough?]}

[messianic]

[He just nods at that.]

That's true. The people here are incredible, aren't they?

[He tucks his hands into his pockets, musing.]

Would you like something to drink?

[messianic]

[...he shrugs a little.]

Maybe. Maybe not. But I don't think of it as a comparison.

[He's never seen problems as a comparison.]

Doesn't...everyone deserve some comfort sometimes?

[messianic]

[it's totally an excuse, Cielo is tougher than the Japanese teenager.

But let's talk about Serph time sounds good. He nods, considering that, and returns the ball as well.]

What happened? Where'd everyone go?