destinystrings

Who: Open to anyone!
Where: Everywhere at first, but leading up to the Virgo District.
Summary: There's an odd feeling in the air, in the wake of the Scorpio incident...
Warnings: Secondary, small plot event
The city was in a sort of rebuilding lull after the Scorpio incident. People swept debris off their porches as Wand operatives did their best to calm the demon population- the post-battle issues would probably have lasted quite a long time, if not for an odd intervention.

The twenty-seventh of October was an oddly quiet night in Hinoto-Ri. The silence seemed to scrub the streets clean, even if only metaphorically. A soft, humid rain drizzled down over the city like a blanket, lulling those who were still awake and patrolling. Yet, there were not nearly as many demons as usual; something unheard of for the town, and too suspicious to leave be, especially in the wake of Skorpios.

At about eleven, the rain picked up, more of a downpour than anyone could have expected- and there was a sound. No, more than that- it was music.

At first, the tune was simply an irritation, but as the minutes ticked on, it wormed its way much deeper. Like a fading echo, it pushed through the rain from parts unknown, calling out with it's last, faint breath. Yet never did it cease. The song begged to whatever persona users would heed it, beckoning them softly to follow it...whatever 'it' was.

Anyone who heard the melody would find themselves lured to the same place- a small row of shops in the Virgo district. The rain was harsh, yet could barely whisper over the song's intensity by then...

[ OOC: The half of this log set on the 27th is just a mingle, to ponder over what could be happening- feel free to make ridiculous theories, or what have you! The half set on the 28th will go up tomorrow, and will kick off the event proper. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He glances up from his snack when he hears you, a slightly too wide smile springing to his lips as he starts to reply.

"They have a nice sort of spicy flavor! Maybe it's...from..."

He trails off, his smile slowly vanishing as his eyes flick back and forth between your face and a point in the air slightly above your head. His body language shifts significantly, his posture becoming tense and guarded.

It is only when he both hears the other voice -- and hears it trail off -- that Minato really pays attention to who's speaking. And then he just stares in silence for several long moments. His sister had spoken briefly of this... other him, but hearing about it was altogether different than seeing.

He doesn't seem all that sleepy anymore, when he breaks the silence. "... hello."

It's not much, but he's... even more at a loss for words than usual. How does one address ... another version of oneself?

His features even out, assuming the smooth regularity only found in someone forcing themselves to be still, although the calm mask is betrayed by the way his eyes dart around constantly, looking at everything but you.

"You're the other one."

The skewer in his hand is empty of scorpions, and he fiddles with it for a few seconds as he stares very intently at nothing in particular, studiously avoiding your gaze.

"...so, uh...I'm not dead. Just throwing that out there."

As he says this, his voice is very deliberately even, almost as if he's desperately trying to mask his feelings on the matter.

He nods at the first statement, but the second one confuses him... Not dead... what does he mean by that? Does this other him mean he's not dead here? No, that seems too obvious.

"... You mean back -- ah, home?"

Did he not die at the end of the school year, then?

He focuses on the empty skewer spinning through his fingers as he works his way through the reply.

"Yeah. I...I couldn't become the Great Seal."

With a sharp movement, he embeds the pointed end of the skewer in his palm in the pad just below his thumb, then jerks it out sideways, digging a furrow through his hand. He tilts his hand upwards to let the small trickle of blood flow down his wrist, staring at it as he talks, his voice dreamy and a small but genuine smile on his face.

"You did, though, didn't you? I can smell it on the both of you - a world where I didn't fail."

Minato's eyes widen, and he takes a step forward at that stabbing, his hands out of his pockets and ready to grab it away before he stops short at the words, looking up at the other's smile.

"... what happened?"

And if he failed, then how does he know about the seal?

But wait, that's not important right now, and Minato quickly pulls his attention back down to his other self's hand. "Whether you failed or not, you shouldn't hurt yourself like that."

"I never become the seal, because every time I die I wake up at the beginning of the year again."

He blinks in honest confusion at that last bit, his eyes almost - but not quite - meeting yours.

"What do you mean, hurt myself?"

That sounds -- dying only to wake up at the beginning of the year... Minato can't even imagine that - and the implication that it happened multiple times. And more than that, he doesn't really want to think about it now. It's easier to be distracted by his other self's confusion, which is also troubling, but in a different way.

He points to the other's bleeding hand. "You just hurt yourself with the skewer.."

Did he not... notice? Didn't it hurt? Or... was he like Chidori, and this was his way of dealing with things?

He blinks again and finally meets your gaze.

"Huh? I did this?"

From the look in his eyes, he is absolutely serious. He literally does not realize he did it.

His own eyes widening a bit, Minato nods once, slowly.

"You did. ... do you want me to heal it?"

Not bleeding everywhere is probably the first priority, but... Minato finds it disturbing that the other doesn't even seem to know what he'd done. To hurt himself so unconsciously... what does it mean? What does that say about him?

He brightens up a bit at that, eagerly asking questions.

"Oh! You have healing spells? All Eurydice has is Recarm!"

He considers the offer for a moment before nodding firmly, his eyes fixed just above you at the spot where a Persona will usually manifest.

"Feel free!"

"Mm. ... diarahan."

It is probably a bit of overkill for healing a small wound, but... all the same Minato calls forth Messiah to heal the other's hand. The persona reaches out its own hand in gesture as it casts the spell in question. When the hand is healed, Minato lets Messiah simply fade away, still watching closely.

"... your persona is Eurydice?"

"Uh-huh. Dunno why."

He looks thoughtful for a few seconds before shrugging and changing the subject.

"Y'want some scorpions?"

He draws out another skewer from the paper sack and offers it to you.

Minato stares at the scorpions for a moment, debating. But --- aw hell, why not.

"Sure. Thank you." Tentatively he takes the skewer, eyeing them a little warily. Clearly they're edible, but... Well, a deep breath and then he takes a bite and ...

...

They're not bad. He doesn't eat the stinger, though.

hush

Uhh...hey. Sandy knocked the power out for like a week.

Yeah - I saw on the Sandy post. Glad you are okay and have power back!

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