AGE PLOT SHENANIGANS

[microbrobotics]

WHO: Everyone and anyone!
WHERE: De Chima, various
WHEN: Around 6 PM EST, March 25th
WHAT: Age plot kickoff!
WARNINGS: Cuteness.

[ LET'S GET THIS PARTY OFFICIALLY STARTED! Opening events so we don't do too much comm flooding (although people are welcome to make their own posts for the event). You're welcome to toplevel with your character if you'd like to have them show up somewhere else for this plot.

Current toplevels:
Spring Festival in a De Chima city park
De Chima #1
De Chima #1, later (Minato)

The age plot will run from March 25th through Sunday, March 29th. More deets available at the plotting post. ]

Comments

[orangehoodie]

[If Ken were older and not actually eleven, it might've occurred to him to try comforting Hiro. But it doesn't. Ken doesn't actually see the direness of the situation; his biggest concern is Minato's state of mind, but as far as he's concerned, Minato won't be alone, so it isn't that big of a problem. They'll protect Leader, after all. And it wasn't like anybody was about to die from this. He completely misses the little wince, and even if he did, he wouldn't really understand. Isn't this still a smaller mistake than what he made?

Fortunately, Koromaru is more sensitive to such things so he's wiggling in Hiro's arms to bark up at him in concern and try licking his face. He's still a baby but he still has all his memories, and he has no blame for Hiro at all. And also does not like seeing him upset. Ken watches them, then raises his hands to observe them.]

... It does sound fun. I-- I think right now I'm about how old Minato-san and the others usually are. I wonder what would've been different, if we were our friends' age.

[microbrobotics]

[ Thanks Koro, you're the best. Hiro can't help but laugh when he's got a tiny puppy licking at his face. By the time Ken asks his question, Hiro's brightened a bit to be wistful rather than bitter. His childhood kiiiiind of sucked. A lot. ]

I dunno about you, but if I'd sure have been a lot happier. Some people talk about having friends all through school, and ... yeah, that never happened for me. You?

[orangehoodie]

I... [He hesitates. He doesn't know about Hiro's past, but he was pretty happy until a couple years ago. Sure, it wasn't easy, and he knew his mother was always working to support them, but he had been happy. It just took losing it all to realize how much he had had.]

It used to be that I just wanted to be older faster so I can help my mom out more, but lately it was... Adults will say they believe you, but a lot of the time they really won't. But you can't do anything as a kid, so I wanted to be older for that.

[microbrobotics]

[ He gets that part, for sure. As much as he was glad for Tadashi's sheltering, there's still times when he really hates being a kid. He's so done with childhood in general. ]

No kidding. I mean, sometimes you can use that against them? But mostly it suuuuucks.

[orangehoodie]

You're lucky if you can, you know? I use a spear to make up for my height in battles, but during practice I just whack myself in the shin all the time. I still can't hit as hard as anybody else, either. And, [he sighs,] I have less stamina than anybody else, but Nemesis takes a lot of energy to cast any spells.

[microbrobotics]

At least you can cast spells. And use weapons.

[ He brightens a bit ... ]

Man, you'd probably be awesome with a spear now. Even more reach.

[orangehoodie]

... Maybe I can try. Backyard? [You put a friendless eleven year old in a teenage body and give him a friend. What else could've possibly happened?]

[microbrobotics]

[ Clearly this is the best combination. ]

Yeah! C'mon, I'll go clear some space.

[orangehoodie]

[Ken's already making sure Koromaru is safe in Hiro's arms as he gets himself to his feet.]

If you have anything you don't mind breaking, I could use this chance for training, too.

[microbrobotics]

Totally. There's some junk in the garage I'm not using - I could even make it fly around for you.

[orangehoodie]

That's perfect. I don't get a lot of practice against projectiles, but I should be able to hit them. We just have to make sure the doors closed so Minato-san and Aragaki-san don't come out and get hit.

[microbrobotics]

Yeah, yeah, I'll lock 'em in. No problem.

[ He rushes off to go get supplies. ]

[orangehoodie]

[If Shinjiro or Tadashi heard what they were up to, the latter would probably try to stop them. The former might just call them stupid. But with neither of them there and Minato kept safely away, Ken finds nothing wrong with their plans. Either way, he's suddenly excited and there's no stopping him. Koromaru has every intention of following so he lets him tag along, making his way to follow Hiro so he can help him carry the stuff.]

[microbrobotics]

[ There's nothing wrong with this plan, okay. Just because they're both still kids on the inside... He grins down at Koromaru as he floats a nice pile of junk around him like a halo. ]

You bringing something too, huh boy?

[orangehoodie]

[He barks! Of course he is. He's not going to let Ken show off all on his own. He circles around until he finds something he likes -- a wrench -- and hops on to the pile Hiro's floating. Persona or not, puppy or not, he still has some of his physical abilities left. Jumping is no problem.]

You haven't seen Koromaru in action either, have you? I guess he's going to give you a show.

[microbrobotics]

Oh yeah, you mentioned him using weapons. Gotta admit I didn't quite believe it.

[ He floats the pile, puppy and all, outside and into the backyard. ]

[orangehoodie]

Well, I won't blame you. But he's one of our best. He defeated a Shadow by himself before he even had his Persona. You'll be impressed.

[Ken follows him out, empty handed, and makes sure the door is shut securely behind them to avoid any interruptions of children fourteen and under. Once they're there, Koromaru hops down to the ground and sets down his wrench, distracted for the moment by the size of the yard and proceeding to run around in circles.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Pfffft. Hiro's more of a cat person typically, but Kormaru is just that cute. ]

Really? By biting them to death?

[orangehoodie]

Eh, erm, maybe... He was really on his own, so I don't know the details. He doesn't have Cerberus here, though.

[microbrobotics]

Cerbrus? ... Is that his Persona?

[orangehoodie]

Yeah. [A yip of agreement! Koromaru has finished one of his laps and stands in front of Hiro waiting for praise. Didja see that Hiro??]

It suits him, I think. I read up on these things so I know a little. Guardian dog of the underworld... Koromaru was always protecting the shrine, too.

[microbrobotics]

[ He sure did. Leaning down to pet that puppy, aww yes. ]

Symbolic I guess? You think he knows what it means?

[orangehoodie]

If he heard what I just said, he probably does now. But even if I didn't... I think he might.

[He makes sure Koromaru is sitting there before he steps out into the yard, finding a spot like he did the last time he was out here, with enough room that he wouldn't hit anything or anybody nearby.]

I don't know how much the others would've told you, but it makes sense that Koromaru, who stayed to protect the shrine after his owner died, would have a Persona like that. Our Personas are a reflection of ourselves... Cerberus really is Koromaru, and I think he's pretty proud of it.

[microbrobotics]

[ Huh. Cool. He opens his mouth to reply ... and then a thought occurs to him. ]

So what's yours mean?

[orangehoodie]

[Oh. He makes a flicking gesture with his wrist, pauses to think.]

How much do you know about the story of Narcissus?