vatheon | In which Minato, Serph, and Squall have a three way

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In which Minato, Serph, and Squall have a three way

Who: The Holy Triforce of Lineface: Squall, Minato, and Serph
When: February 15th, in the afternoon
Where: The park
Style: Action
Status: Closed

[The Defense Force, in some ways, reminded Squall of Balamb Garden. Except it was way smaller, wasn't a mercenary institution, didn't have students, and was more of a loosely organized thing.

Okay, it wasn't much like Garden at all. But it did share one thing with Garden: it was a group of fighters that he held a leadership role in. Except, this time, he wasn't just out of the blue saddled with the title of Commander, told good luck, and left to run the whole damn thing by himself. He had volunteered this time.

And this time, he wasn't by himself.

Minato and Serph were his "coworkers" in a sense. He'd been in Minato's position before: given something that you obviously weren't able to handle by yourself. Maybe that was what compelled him to help. Serph was also someone who offered assistance and between the three of them, they were able to work out something that resembled organization.

With the Defense Force in order, they found themselves with more free time. Squall had been the one to suggest that they get together to spar. He was, admittedly, curious to see what the two of them could do and it would only be to their advantage if they were familiar with each other's capabilities. With the time and location arranged, Squall arrived at the park ten minutes early and waited for them to show up.]

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[Serph quietly follows. When they arrive at the shop, he can smell... interesting scents from the store even before he enters.

Giving a small nod in thanks to Minato, he steps inside, where the smell of delicious food grows stronger. He'll stand aside for Squall to enter, but for now, he's just taking in the smells and the atmosphere. It's somewhat obvious he's fascinated by it all, given his rapt attention while outwardly remaining :|

It's all very new to him!]

[Entering in after Serph, Squall is also hit with all the sites and smells. He's only been to one of these places once before, after all.

The establishment is doing pretty well if its nearly full state is any indication. The three of them are seated and left to figure out what they wanted to order.

...

He doesn't know what's in most of the dishes. Luckily, Squall isn't a picky eater, so he'll just select something at random and eat it without complaint. In his line of work, he very often didn't get to choose what to eat.]

[Minato however is totally in his element here.

ALL SOCIAL LINKS HAPPEN WITH RAMEN

ahem.

he orders and then turns his attention to the others.]

You both seem really used to fighting.

[Serph, too, is getting something chosen at random. Like he'd even know what tonkotsu ramen is. What the hell is pork bone, anyway?

He gives a small nod.]

It is the way of my world.

[The unfortunate way of the Junkyard.]

'Sparring' is not usual for me.

[On the other hand, Minato doesn't seem as familiar with fighting as they, but he'd been quick on his feet and quick thinking at least. And really, that has more than made up for whatever lack of experience he has, in Serph's mind.]

I'm a mercenary. My job is fighting.

[Well, in all technicality, SeeD could do more than just be hired guns, but that was the main thing people went to them for.]

My school is dedicated to it.

[Blink. Blink.

If Minato were anyone else he would be feeling inadequate right now.

He's a Persona protag, so he doesn't. He's quite confident enough.]

I see...

The way of your world, Serph-san? Do you mind if I ask what you mean by that?

[He's leaning his arms on the table, quite at ease in the bustling shop.]

We are commanded to fight each other in a war to reach Nirvana.

[Serph says it all in his calm, matter-of-fact manner. He doesn't feel bitterness or resentment about things were and how things became like some of the others. That's just how things had been.]

Fighting is all I knew before I arrived.

[But he's learnt more since then. He knows about food that aren't people now!!]

[In some ways, Squall was similar. Fighting was his life, what he learned to do for the past ten years. He gets told what to do. Who to attack, who to defend, who to kill. And he carries out those orders.

Nobody asked him about himself, so he's not going to volunteer those details. Instead, the server has come with drinks and he's going to just sip his tea.]

[don't worry, Squall, you're next.]

Nirvana...?

[...release from suffering, wasn't it?]

Is it possible to reach Nirvana?

[Serph nods. He has to believe there is a place with no suffering; he refuses to think that there isn't a place of peace for him to lead his people to. It may be a little naive to say this, having been in Vatheon for such a short time and knowing there's a reason a Defense Force has been put together, but...]

Vatheon comes close. The island is much like what we envisioned it to be.

[He closes his eyes for a moment.]

I wish to bring everyone to a land without fighting, if they want it.

[There had been some who preferred the Junkyard over Nirvana and... that was okay, though it had saddened him to hear it. p.s. that wish extends to people in Vatheon, too.]

[This Nirvana place sounds like a pipe dream to Squall. He doesn't think that's a very realistic concept. As long as there's people, there will be disagreements. Those disagreements could very well escalate into fights and conflicts.

But he supposes there's nothing wrong in wanting something like that.]

[Minato nods quietly, considering this--and then with quiet confidence:]

I am sure you will be able to do so, Serph-san. I'll be rooting for you.

[And a glance to Squall!]

You said you teach fighting at your academy?

[SHUT UP SQUALL DON'T (mentally) RAIN ON SERPH'S PARADE!! :TTT

Serph nods in acknowledgement of Minato's encouragement. It's not needed, but it's nice to hear, regardless. However, his attention goes to Squall when Minato asks the question, interested to hear the answer. ...Even though he has no idea what a school or academy are.]

[WHY ARE YOU EVEN LETTING WHAT I THINK AFFECT YOU?]

That's right. It's a mercenary school - students are taught fighting, strategy, magic, everything they need to know. Most students pick a field to specialize in and emphasis is placed on teamwork. After graduation, students are employed by the school and contracted out to clients.

I was enrolled when I was six, shortly after it was established.

[Really, he's one of the students that was there the longest, if only because of how young he was when he started.]

[...since he was six. Whoaaaah.

Blink. Blink.]

Ah, it's no wonder you're both so good at what you do.

[Good at fighting? Maybe so, but he takes no pride in it. Serph turns his attention to Minato.]

What about you? You have fought for some time.

[Perhaps not as long as he and Squall, but the signs are of combat familiarity are still there.

And, you know, the whole shooting in the head thing.]

[Good only because it's the only thing he knows, really. Squall can fight an army, but put him in a graduation ball and he has no idea what he's doing.]

I've never seen Guardian Forces like yours.

[Why can you use yours? :T]

[...oh.

whoah.

suddenly the center of conversation. He takes a bite of his ramen, blinking.]

Oh, you mean my Personas?

[But--]

I've only been fighting for a short time, relatively. Just a lot in a short time, so we learned out of necessity.

[Serph hasn't touched his ramen, not yet. Or rather, he's poked and prodded at it using a fork without eating a single bite. As nice as it smells, the conversation between his coworkers is much more fascinating. That, and how can he properly appreciate the food when his attention is elsewhere?

Minato's what now? Did he hear that right? Purse Owners?]

Did something change?

[It sounds like Minato's world had been a peaceful world, before something happened.]

[Something must have. Which wouldn't surprise Squall in the least. Minato seems like the type of person to have a gentle disposition and fights because he has to. He's seen it a lot where he comes from, ordinary, peaceful people who pick up arms to fight for a variety of reasons. They weren't like him - they didn't spend the majority of their lives learning to fight. In some ways, Squall admires people like that a lot.

It's why he respects Rinoa so much. She's normal. She was scared. But she still picks up her weapon and fights when most other people can't. She fights not because it's her job, but out of necessity.

And it sure looks like there's been a good amount of necessity where Minato comes from.

He waits for the answer of the question by taking a bite of his ramen, wanting to enjoy at least some of it before it goes cold.]

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In which Minato, Serph, and Squall have a three way

Spoilers: Ten is an insult to her Chinese heritage and doesn't use chopsticks properly

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And then Cal totally forgot it was her turn SORRY GUYS

NO WORRIES

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New thread time? New thread time

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