vatheon | ☽ A Game of Ping Pong

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[... There's a slight shift in Tiir's demeanour, as his smile freezes, and one can practically see the moment where he tries to cover up that change.]

Ah... that's right. With the power of this world, then...

[Even the dead can be brought here, huh? While logically, that's what it would take for Minato and Lafra to meet, and Tiir would love to see his friend again...

It'd also mean having to face the friend he failed to save.

He shakes his head lightly.]

Perhaps one day, yes. It'd probably be for the best.

[...He nods, understanding. Lafra is dead too then.

But there's that little bit that stands out to him--]

It'd be for the best? What do you mean?

[...]

If he can be happy here, at least... well, it's not as preferable as finding peace in our world, but it's better than nothing, isn't it?

[It's not like he has that chance at home anymore.]

[...Oh.

And Tiir...Tiir looks so terribly sad.

And that's why Minato tucks his Evoker away and steps forward and envelops Tiir in a hug. Without a moment's thought--just an automatic reaction.]

Maybe so. But he's in your memories, no matter what. I think that would put him at peace too.

[Tiir freezes.

He's never been the one to—

Why—

He's not—

He blinks and stares at Minato, confusion and surprise written all over his face.]

W-What are you doing...?

[He's never been the one who needed comfort—]

[...He tilts his head at that, but does release Tiir after a moment.

And a quizzical look.]

Giving you a hug...?

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.]

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

So, simply--]

You sounded like you needed one.

[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...

[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.

[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...

[...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?

[He blinks.]

... However, as I said, I don't need any.

[It seems like a simple enough idea to him.]

[That makes Minato offer a faintly amused smile--though it might be a little sad around the edges.]

Whether you need it or not...

I'll offer it anyway. Because I want to.

But...

[He continues to stare. He doesn't ask for comfort, and so people don't offer it—that's how it's always been for him.]

I don't need it, so that seems to be a waste of your energy...

Something like that...it's never a waste, Tiir-san.

That much I'm sure about.

[And he shrugs then, tilting his head at Tiir.]

And sometimes life isn't about what you need. It's about what you want too.

[...]

What I want is what I need, however. That hasn't changed because of this place.

[He tilts his head at that, curiously.]

What about if you have what you need? Then what do you want?

[A light shrug]

I don't have everything I need, however, and I don't expect that I will for a long time, if ever in my lifetime—so that isn't relevant.

[He watches Tiir for a long moment, tilting his head curiously.

And then, quite honestly--]

Why are you so against offering comfort yourself?

... Ah? I wouldn't say that I...

[It's never occurred to him explicitly that he is, in all honesty. It's always seemed logical to him, because—]

... I simply don't need it.

[Because he's okay. He is, isn't he?]

[He just looks at Tiir quietly, expression every so slightly sad. He gets it. He really does.]

Don't you?

It's impossible to be okay all the time. ...Even if you think you need to be.

[He shrugs.]

I've done well enough so far. There's no need to worry about it, Minato.

[...Just a simple, honest look.]

I'll always worry, Tiir-san.

Because you're important to me.

[... He's touched. He really is.

And so, he smiles.

—But he'll never fully understand that. An existence like his, after all...]

And I've told you—you don't need to. You should save your concern for another.

☽ A Game of Ping Pong

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject