maskormenacelogs | [ muffled shoji meguro playing in the distance ]

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[ muffled shoji meguro playing in the distance ]

WHO: MINATO and SASHA
WHERE: A local arcade in Heropa.
WHEN: Afternoon of 3/24.
WHAT: Social link get.
WARNINGS: tba.

[ The cast is still a hindrance, but Sasha's been able to get around it for the most part. Just another two or three weeks and it can come off. She's sure she can survive until then. Maybe. At least she doesn't have to wear the darn sling anymore, allowing her to move her shoulder and arm to a degree.

She doesn't feel like stopping by the library again today, having gone a couple of days ago to borrow a book (or any) about or written by Carl Jung. She's borrowed The Undiscovered Self for now, but hasn't actually opened it, distracting herself with much more enticing activities, such as visiting the arcade. She hasn't been able to play any of the games the arcade offers in over a month and though she has to steer from any machine that requires both arms, she's able to find her way to the dance game.

Only requires her legs. Can't be too hard.

And it isn't, but it gets tricky to keep up with the pace that grows faster with every round she completes. She starts missing her cues entirely or stepping on the wrong arrows, much to her chagrin. ]

way

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[Minato, meanwhile, is owning a fighting game, deftly manipulating the joy stick and button combos to victory. It's very similar to a game he'd used to play at Paulownia Mall at home, so it hadn't taken him long to pick up.

The game is set up right next to the dance platform, and he glances over at her comment, carelessly letting his character die so he can respond.] It takes practice, [he offers helpfully.] I was terrible for a while.

[His screen flashes INSERT 3 QUARTERS FOR CONTINUE but he ignores it.]

[ Sasha isn't at the point yet with video games that she can split her attention between the game and someone else. Distracted, she turns her head from the screen, forgetting the game continues without her and she can't see which arrows she's supposed to be hitting on time. She almost doesn't overhear the noise it makes whenever she misses her target completely, the noise in the arcade one loud mixture of button mashing, explosions and yelling. ]

They should be easy enough if you want to — ahh!

[ Her head snaps back in the screen's direction as the level wraps up. Her embarrassingly low score prints along with TRY AGAIN? ]

Ahhhh, I got distracted!

[He doesn't wince at her failure, or obvious consternation. He just turns to face her and props his hip against the machine he'd been playing on, a look of reserved concern crossing over his features.]

Sorry. [Since the distraction was probably his fault.] Although, should you be exerting yourself if you're injured...?

[ Although she's half-certain she can't get her coins back, Sasha still positions herself in front of the machine and poking a finger into the slot where the extra change slides out of. She digs as far as she can before yanking her whole hand back, not wanting to get her finger stuck in a gaming machine of all places. ]

Aww...

[ Her head sinks. ]

This? [ She peeks at Minato from beneath her bangs, lifting her cast. ] Ehh, it's not that bad.

... it was in a sling for a while and it was the worst. I couldn't do anything. I don't want to be that bored again.

Boredom is awful, [he says in solemn agreement. Minato doesn't take to boredom well either. If he's forced to sit idle, he listens to music; if he has a long stretch of time where he absolutely can't do anything, he sleeps. Even if that means sleeping for absurd hours.

His innate instinct to help has him saying nonchalantly,] I could heal you if you'd like. I'm another imPort.

[ Her head is turned away for a second, eyeing the screen of the machine, and then it swerves in Minato's direction so fast she might accidentally rip it off her own neck. ]

... you can do what?

[ She asks quietly, staring at him with wide-eyed confusion as if he's said something potentially dangerous or creepy instead. ]

[He stares back placidly.]

I have an ability that can heal you. You'll still have some scars and bruises, but you should be able to use your arm.

[Minato is just the sort of person to offer to heal random people whose name he doesn't know, too. He's healed plenty of civilians without knowing them already, since he's been here.]

[ Jean had the ability to heal, but if he had tried to mend her bone or her concussion back during the assault on the base she has no recollection of it. Sasha isn't familiar with the process either and while she's still slowly learning how each and every superpower functions, she can't help some major apprehension. ]

... how does it work? It's not... um, going to do anything... weird, is it?

[ Her main concern? Pain. She doesn't want to relive the agonizing pain of her bone snapping back into place now. ]

[Well, shooting himself in the head and then summoning something tends to weird people out, but Minato can tell that's not what she's asking.

Straight forwardly,] I wouldn't consider it weird. It's meant to be combat magic; it's instantaneous, so you can return to fighting without interruption. As for how it works exactly, I'm not sure I could really explain... [He always gets a little stymied trying to explain his abilities.]

[ Oh, magic. A wonderful power from what little she knows about it. It seems capable of everything. ]

Really?

[ It sounds too good to be true, but who knows when it comes to imPorts and their superpowers? She's seen people fly without needing propulsion, lift debris like it was a pillow... so who's to say this isn't legit? ]

You'd do that for me?

[ A stranger, is what she means to say. ]

[It's much more defined for Minato, but he can certainly appreciate how boundless it can seem to those unfamiliar with it. Plus, for all he knows, some people that use magic don't have boundaries with it.

He's quiet for a moment, interpreting her minor disbelief correctly. It's a little sad to him that so many people can be unfamiliar with doing basic kindnesses for each other, but he can't say he wasn't once one of them.]

Yes, of course, [he ends up saying plainly. Then he smiles faintly.] I'll have to ask you to do something for me in return, though.

I don't have anyone to do multi-player with on this game, so once your arm is better...

[ Her curiosity gives away to gratitude not too long after he brings up her joining him on the game. Her cheeks glow a faint pink and she nods enthusiastically, laughing softly. ]

Deal.

[ She looks at her cast, unsure what to do next. ]

This is all very kind of you to do, you know. [ She wanted to believe people had good in their hearts, more-so than evil or monsters, or whatever Dr. Crane believes. ] Thank you.

[Exactly the kind of response he'd been hoping for. He's encouraged.

Minato sticks his hands in his pockets and walks the few steps over to the side of the DDR machine.] You're welcome. But I like to help where I can, so please don't think too much of it. [He can't help being modest; it's only polite.]

We'll have to go somewhere a little more isolated, though, [he admits.] I have to summon something to do it, and it takes some space.

[ That brings back some of her concerns to the forefront of her mind. How isolated and how much space is necessary? It ends up sounding somewhat dangerous if that's the case.

Still, she follows after him, morbidly curious enough. ]

Summon?

[ Like a weapon, perhaps? She flexes her good hand, thinking about her own powers. ]

One of my powers is summoning, too. A bow and arrow.

Something like that. I'll have to summon a representation of my soul, called Persona, but even if it's alarming, please don't be scared. It's part of me, so it won't do anything I wouldn't do.

[Minato explains as he leads her out of the arcade. He's gotten better at giving simplified explanations over the past couple months he's been here.

As for where...] Since I live in De Chima, it's probably easiest to go to a park, if that's alright? [It's not incredibly isolated or anything, but Minato doesn't mind either if footage of him summoning ends up online somewhere. It's hardly a secret, he just doesn't want to alarm civilians.]

Persona? I think Dr. Crane had been talking about that a while ago.

[ It piques her interest because half the time she doesn't fully grasp what Crane is saying and he isn't always the best at "dumbing" down his words for the confused. Minato seems like the kind of person who would explain it in smaller words. ]

... okay.

[ She picks up the pace so she's walking adjacent of Minato. ]

What is it like? A Persona?

... Mm, Dr. Crane's understanding isn't totally relevant, but it is a little bit. [Minato's masterful at containing his inner skepticism that Crane's understanding isn't downright harmful, actually.

It's certainly true that Minato will use smaller words.]

Persona is the part of yourself you use to face the world, that protects you. As long as you want yourself to be protected, [and what an interesting qualifier he has to place here,] it's like an extension of yourself. Mine is just more literal than yours.

[ Her face screws up in confusion, repeating Minato's words in her head and trying to parse them that way, but it doesn't work. ]

Like a... mask? I'm not actually sure I understand it.

[Hmmm.]

There's parts of yourself you keep hidden, aren't there? [Although really, some people are so open that maybe there aren't. Still, for most people, there are.] But you have to show something else, in order to hide. Your "persona" -- that's what you're showing.

[If that implies Persona-users are all people that are hiding something personal, well, it's basically true.]

[ Her face falls temporarily, though she's just as quick to recover and laugh it off, pretending Minato didn't somehow nearly see right through her. She waves a hand as her soft laughter dies off. ]

I guess people do that!

So, um, a Persona would still be a good thing? Because it protects.

[He notices but tries to reassure her in his own way, without pressing. The park is visible ahead of them now.]

Of course. It's healthy to keep some of yourself back. There's no reason to be reluctant to. It prevents you from being hurt, whether intentionally or accidentally. If there's someone it's safe to "let down the mask" for, that's your decision.

I didn't realize it could be real... it was just something I heard Dr. Crane talk about and read a little in a book.

[ Sasha takes a quick look around the park, noting this particular area is surprisingly empty for the time of day. Only in the distance she can hear barking and someone whistling to their dog. ]

Right here?

It seems like it's unique to my world, as something more than theoretical.

[If there is anyone around, they're distant enough that Minato is alright with it. Given his method of summoning, he's finally cottoned on to the idea that he shouldn't just do it in a street full of people with no warning. Unless he has to, of course.

Speaking of which...]

This is fine. [Plainly,] It'll look like I'm shooting myself in the head, but this isn't a real gun, so don't worry.

[ That makes the most sense to Sasha, so naturally she won't be able to comprehend it entirely until she sees this Persona in action or however it's supposed to function.

She comes to a still near Minato, eyeing him long and hard for a moment before the warning processes. ]

... e-excuse me?

[ Her throat and chest tighten, panic edging its way down into her shoulders and stomach. ]

What are you going to do?

[Maybe he should've given her more warning. Minato's really trying not to alarm her with all this-- he is legitimately just trying to do a good deed-- but he still isn't tapped in enough to the normal perspective to understand why what he does can be alarming.

He unholsters his Evoker and holds it out for examination, keeping it pointed at himself just to reassure her.]

This is an Evoker. I'm going to shoot myself with it, but since it isn't a gun, there aren't bullets. It's something psychological about needing to feel mortality in order to manifest my Persona... I'm not clear on it.

[ With surprise to no one, it has the opposite intended effect on Sasha. She raises her hand, alarmed. ]

A-Are you sure?!

[Minato just gives her a perplexed look. Of all the people to have introduce you to how Evokers work, Minato is probably the worst.]

Yes. I've done this hundreds of times.

[ It's increasingly difficult not to see the worst outcomes for this, whatever it is. Her hands begin to sway back and forth nervously. ]

What if this is the one time it doesn't work? Does it ever backfire? How do you know it won't mess up?

[ She doesn't want to see anyone's head blown off or have bits and parts of brain matter sticking to her face if it happens. Can't blame a girl. ]

[He withdraws and holsters the Evoker.

He's honestly confused, though, and it's not hard to read in his expression. Still, Minato's patient.] It won't. There aren't any bullets, so even if you fired it at yourself, nothing would happen.

[ She takes a step forward when she catches sight of the Evoker, still alarmed but ultimately confused by what Minato's just told her. ]

... but then, how does it...?

It's a mental trick, [he explains.] Persona are all psychological. It's just that they manifest in reality, too.

It's not something I totally understand. [Minato doubts anyone does.]

[ She still doesn't get it and she's still highly concerned this could go awry, but... ]

Alright... show me.

[Minato waits a second just to make sure she doesn't change her mind, but he's not the type to hesitate when summoning-- that's the whole reason he was made leader.

He unholsters the Evoker again and brings it up to his temple in one smooth draw, pulling the trigger almost before it's in place. There's the familiar shattering of glass, and he braces himself from the kickback easily as Helel -- otherwise known as Lucifer before the Fall -- shimmers into existence.

Helel isn't around long; he raises his hands briefly in mute spell casting, Diarahan, and a warm blue light encapsulates Sasha for a few moments before fading along with the Persona.

Minato calmly reholsters his Evoker.] Better?

Wait, I change my ―

[ The rest of her protest goes unheard following the shattering of glass that sounds so close, yet when Sasha's head snaps from side to side, she sees nothing of the sort around them. The hairs on the back of her neck rise as something catches her attention out of her peripheral vision; the Persona.

That's a Persona, isn't it?

Her heart begins to pound fast, trying to process the fact Minato's somehow "shot" himself in the head and his skull is still in one piece. No blood or brain matter anywhere. She's also trying to process the existence of this Persona and whatever it's doing that startles her enough that she backs away a few steps.

But nothing happens. She's engulfed in the warm light and then it's gone. She surveys herself immediately, seeing she's still in one piece. ]

A-Ah...

[ When she raises her arms without thinking, she notes the lack of soreness in the arm in the cast. Sasha's attention falls to it and she gasps, flailing it a bit. ]

N-No way...

[For a second Minato wonders if he's forgotten to give her the Persona can be dangerous, but none of mine are reassurance. He honestly can't remember. Persona had never been frightening to him in the first place, not even later after he'd learned they'd been responsible for accidental deaths. So this reaction he can't sympathize with either, not really.

Still, he'd gone through all of this legitimately to help her, so he's attentive.] ... I'm sorry I can't heal you completely, but I hope this is enough. [Falling back on politeness is always acceptable, he's learned.]

It... it doesn't hurt.

[ She flexes it again, mainly for herself, but to show Minato as well that there's no unease in doing so. She doesn't flinch at all. ]

I can't believe it. Just like that?

[He smiles slightly.] Just like that.

I can't do it forever or I'll get tired, but just one person is no problem.

That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!

[ She nearly screams this, catching some attention from nearby dog walkers who cock their head in Minato and Sasha's direction before continuing on. Kids these days.

Sasha bounces on her heels excitedly, adrenaline still coursing through her. ]

That is such a cool and useful superpower! The Porter has a weird way of deciding who gets what, though...

[Oh. Well.

He's not expecting the enthusiasm (and definitely not at this level) but it's certainly better than unnerving her. Minato's reminded of Hiro's reaction to Persona.]

It didn't give me it, [he clarifies.] I've always had this power. It would be strange if someone not from my world showed up with it... [Minato blinks just thinking about it. He'd feel obligated to at least consider them for SEES; having the potential was the original uniting factor, after all.]

Why would it be strange?

[ Maybe for reasons that she would find it strange if someone ever appeared with titan shifting abilities and wasn't from her world? ]

It's very rare at home, but it's also very personal. Your Persona reveals a lot about you. I'd feel a little badly for them; I'd have to make sure they were handling it okay.

[Since not handling it okay leads to, you know, accidental homicide.]

Is it hard having a Persona?

[ At least it's accidental. ]

...Not for me. But for some, it's very hard. It means you can't close your eyes to who you are.

Is that a bad thing?

[ Sasha takes this into deep consideration. It would be nice, wouldn't it, to have that sort of confidence in yourself. She's never had the galls to drop her current speaking mannerisms in favor of her localized accent. In many ways, she isn't being true to herself. ]

[Softly,] It depends on if you like what you find.

[Minato has never had any trouble being himself, total and upfront and uncompromising on it. But he'd also never cared; others' opinions had been a distant, vague thing, something he could never pin down and never control and so he didn't try. That haze of apathy meant that Minato doesn't feel like he can truly take much credit for his easy control over Persona. There's never been anything for him to struggle with, there; if he's a good person or a bad person, it doesn't matter. Who he is has never mattered.]

[ Her eyes widen a touch, processing Minato's words slowly but clearly.

Again, she doesn't know if she'll ever have the confidence. However, with the way things are going back home she isn't sure she will like herself in the near future. She doesn't want to accept the blood of someone else on her hands.

She opens her mouth to say something, shifting her arm when she notes the weight on the formerly broken one. ]

[ She looks down at the arm still wrapped up in the cast. ]

O-Oh... it's stuck on there.

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[ muffled shoji meguro playing in the distance ]

baby baby baby baby baby

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