☽ 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

[bufudine]

[Same dream, then? Nevertheless, Serph isn't going to go out of his way to mention the eating.

Serph hadn't been there to see what caused Minato's wound, so he can't comment on that particular situation. But if there's one thing that he's certain of, the dead should never feel guilty for dying. They've struggled for survival, struggled for life. They do what they can to ensure each other's safety, but there will always be people who fall.]

Sometimes comrades die.

[It's... naive, to think that people won't die.

He closes his eyes for a moment, remembering all the people who died in the Junkyard, before opening them and levelling an even stare at Minato.]

The life of the dead is carried by the living.

[messianic]

[...the life of the dead is carried by the living, huh...?

His tone is a little humorless when he responds to that, expression just that hint of sad.]

I would rather not place that burden on any of the living, preferably.

It doesn't seem fair.

[He almost wishes that nobody would have to mourn his death.]

[bufudine]

[A burden? Serph had originally thought that Minato takes too much on his own shoulders. It seems that applies to matters of life and death, too.

Serph's voice is calm and even, his focus still on Minato as he carefully watches Minato's reaction.]

Do you live your life, expecting not to die?

[messianic]

[...it's an ironic question, but Minato doesn't dwell on that much. He just shakes his head slowly.]

No. Dying is an inevitability--and that doesn't make it sad, either. It's because of that we have life.

But I don't want anyone to have to regret my death.

[But he knows already that it's rather too late for that.

SEES regretted his death too much.]

[bufudine]

[Serph doesn't immediately say anything to that, instead wandering over to pick up the fallen ping pong ball from under the table. Rising, he continues the conversation.]

We only control how we live our own lives. Not others'.

[It was Jinana and Lupa's choice to die. It was everyone's choice to die following him.

Serph flicks the ball at Minato's forehead.]

No regrets.

[messianic]

[...heh. He lets the ball hit his forehead, but catches it on hte way down, offering Serph a faint smile.]

I don't have any regrets.

I just hope everyone can learn to live their life that way as well.

...They deserve it.

[A good life, lived to the fullest, without regret.]

[bufudine]

[It doesn't sound like it, to Serph. Perhaps Minato doesn't regret the things he's done in his life, but... Hah. Well, Serph won't push.

And besides, he agrees with the rest of Minato's words. Something strikes him as strange about the phrasing, though, but he can't figure out what. He just shrugs it off and steps forward to place a hand on Minato's shoulder and offers him a small smile.]

[messianic]

[Minato's small smile is relaxed in return, and he offers a nod.

And then--]

Thank you for taking care of Tiir-san.

[bufudine]

[Hmm? He didn't really do anything. Aside from eat a good friend right in front of his eyes... Serph nods anyway, accepting the thanks.

Speaking of Tiir... isn't Minato a human, by Tiir's standards?]

I'm surprised he seems to be on good terms with you.

[Please indulge his nosiness curiosity.]

[messianic]

[...oh cute. Minato nods quietly, faintly amused by that.]

I was just persistent. And maybe a pest.

...But I'm glad he doesn't hate me anymore.

[bufudine]

[Hate. Of course. Well, he's glad things seem to have worked out for them. Hopefully it'll work out for the other humans Tiir surely interacts with, too.

Serph nods, accepting that explanation.

...He isn't entirely certain he wishes to broach the topic of devouring. It certainly isn't one he will bring up unnecessarily and in Serph's mind, if Minato doesn't address it, then it is unnecessary to speak of it. His gaze flicks to the ping-pong table.]

[messianic]

[Minato really doesn't see the need to address it either, so instead he focuses on the gaze, and brightens a little despite himself.]

Have you ever played ping-pong, Serph-san?

[bufudine]

[Serph tilts his head. What's ping-pong?]

Is that why...?

[He mimes a small ball hitting him in the face.]

[messianic]

[...blink. Oh. Yes. He nods simply, tossing the ball up and catching it.]

Yes, it's a game. You just hit it back and forth and try to score points on each other.

[bufudine]

[Oh, a game? Signless has taught him about games! Serph nods.]

I'd like to play.

[And then Minato and Serph played ping-pong! Balls hitting things they shouldn't be hitting may or may not be involved.]