☽ 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]

[...

He smiles wryly.]

You know... you have a tendency to apologize for what isn't your fault.

[messianic]

[...ha.]

I let you down. I am sorry for that.

[...he died.]

...And I couldn't help her, even. It's a shame.

[Yeah that's what he's dwelling on. He let Tiir down and he couldn't help Alice.]

[contemptibility]

[Grief flickers across his face.]

I believe I was the one who let you down.

[Like always—doesn't he?]

And forget about that human. She seemed to be well enough, from what I could see.

[messianic]

[A quiet sigh, and he shakes his head.]

You saved me from him. Just because he'd already gotten me...

That was my fault. I should've been more aware.

[But Minato can never seem to manage to be cynical about people--]

I hope so, though.

[contemptibility]

[He just smiles grimly at that.]

... Thank you, but if I recall correctly, saving someone requires the person in question to be saved.

[...]

I'm hardly about to berate you for not being able to defend yourself. If even I had difficulty with that human, then you wouldn't have stood a chance either way.

[messianic]

[...ha.]

Ouch, Tiir-san.

[but it's in good humor, really.

Though he becomes more serious in a moment.]

...I really appreciated what you did for me, regardless of the outcome. So thank you.

[contemptibility]

I believe in... 'saying it like it is'—isn't that how it goes?

[But as Minato becomes serious, Tiir's smile dims.

... If only he was so willing to give himself points for effort—but he isn't and has never been.]

Don't thank me for something like that.

[messianic]

[...heh.]

I wanted to thank you because I'm grateful. You don't have to accept it if you don't want to.

[...Mm...]

I hadn't even realized how dangerous he was...

[contemptibility]

... You seem to be grateful for the strangest of things.

[He tilts his head to one side.]

Why did he attack you to begin with?

[messianic]

[...ha.

Minato shakes his head slowly, expression a little wry.]

He thought I was going to hurt her. I was going to heal that girl, but...

[He pulls out his Evoker, holding it in his hands carefully.]

You don't have guns in your world, do you, Tiir-san?

[contemptibility]

Oh? Is that what that's called?

[He'd received some kind of injury—that much he knew, but in the heat of the moment, he hadn't exactly had time to figure out the weapon.]

[messianic]

Yes.

[He toys with the Evoker for a moment, shaking his head.]

They shoot bullets. They're weapons, intended to kill.

[Yeah. But he points his at his head.]

He must have thought I meant to harm her with my Evoker.

[contemptibility]

Like arrows, then? How troublesome.

[Though he doesn't seem particularly concerned—troublesome or not, he's dealt with worse—and appears more so confused.]

That would be a reasonable conclusion, yes. Though, ah... I recall you and Yukari using yours to summon magic?

[messianic]

[...ah. He nods quietly.]

It's a little complicated, but ours don't shoot bullets. They're not real guns.

[A faint shrug, and he's not sure how Tiir will like or dislike this, but he owes Tiir the truth anyway.]

We can only summon our Personas when we are in danger of losing our lives. So...

They're meant to evoke the feeling of dying.

[contemptibility]

[... what.

Tiir stares for a few moments, before muttering to himself.]

That's—no, I suppose the Alpha Stigma's trigger isn't all that different...

[...]

One would think that in a battle, the feeling of dying would be readily present without having to point a weapon at your head.

[messianic]

[...ah. He nods quietly.]

It's...a little odd.

But it's not that bad, truly. It just reminds us how important life is. It works out.

[At least...it reminds him.]

[contemptibility]

[He still doesn't fully understand why you would need to mock-shoot yourself for that, but whatever makes Minato happy.]

... Somehow, I feel like you don't need the reminder.

[messianic]

[...awww. He offers a quiet smile at that.]

...Maybe not.

It's a precious thing, isn't it? Being able to live life.

[He's just...thoughtful now.]

It makes me feel lucky.

[...this place is like a second chance, only he's not sure what to do with it.]

[contemptibility]

[... Ha.

He tosses the ball up and down, watching it as it rises and falls. It's funny, because while a part of him wishes that he'd never been born—another part of him also knows that he's glad to be alive.

Because as cruel as the world is, there's still kindness within it, and however worthless his own existence is... he enjoys living, really.

Isn't that why he fights so hard to survive?]

... That's right, isn't it?

[He catches the ball, holding it still as he smiles softly.]

Life truly is...

[messianic]

[..........ah.

Ah.

He wasn't expecting it from Tiir. He knows Tiir lives his life despite his hardships. He admires him for it.

But it still lifts his heart to hear it, brings a smile to his face as he swallows back the sudden catch in his throat.

...It is always uplifting to hear; it is all he has ever wanted from the world.]

...It is. Thank you, Tiir-san.

[Thank you for not giving in. For living your life to the fullest--

And he doesn't say it, he can't say it, but every single person who does so makes his death worth it.]

[contemptibility]

[A slight tilt of his head]

... Again with the gratitude. Why are you thanking me for that?

[messianic]

[For a moment, he is quiet, trying to think of what to say--how to say it. Nobody has ever really asked before...]

Because...

Because if everyone treasured their life like you do-- [I would be alive. My friends would not be scarred--]

My world would not have nearly ended.

[contemptibility]

[...

To be honest, Tiir doesn't understand, but Minato seems sad, so...

He tosses the ball to the side, before reaching out to hold Minato's hand—the one that isn't holding the Evoker. Then, he smiles.]

But it didn't end, right? So there's hope.

[.. The hope that Tiir doesn't have for his own world sometimes, truth be told.]

[messianic]

[...ah.

He clasps Tiir's hand in his own gently, and the smile he offers is still a little bittersweet--but more sweet than bitter.]

You're right. There's always hope, even when everything seems impossible.

That's...what that taught me.

[contemptibility]

[With his free hand, he pokes Minato's forehead.]

There you go. You look better when you smile, you know.