(insert inappropriate nicki minaj lyrics here)

[hoboagogo]

WHO: Shinjiro Aragaki, his pet snake Soba, and ANYONE!
WHERE: A big old Park in Heropa for the most part! Anywhere else will be specified.
WHEN: EARLY AUGUST, Pre-Swear-In.
WHAT: Open + Catch-all log for August! If you'd like a different or specific starter, just drop me a line here or at soozaphone
WARNINGS: None anticipated!

-----

It's bright, sunny, and hot outside in Florida today. For once, the near-daily, intermittent rain showers seem to have subsided, leaving fairly clear skies across the town. It's a great day for people to go running, biking, eat some ice cream, walk a dog, or for kids to play on a jungle-gym (desperately using this last week or so before school starts-) or even just sitting outside to read a book.

Or, for Shinjiro, it's a pretty good day to take a three-and-a-half meter python outside and let her bask in the sun and get some air back on her home turf-- as opposed to the more forested and (slightly) cooler climate of Virginia.

So he's staked out in a less-populated area in the large, green park-- away from walking trails and doggy-bag sites, just to minimize the chances of her lunging for someone's child or yappy dog or something. Back against the trunk of a thin tree, he'll spend most of the day hanging out and flipping through a book, or the network-- when he's not grabbing the massive snake by her tail end and dragging her back towards himself anytime she starts to slither too far.

And when he's not trying to desperately untangle her lengths of muscle and scales from a parkbench she's wedged herself into. (If she's not entrapped him to it with her.)

Or hopelessly staring up into a tree that she's climbed, once he realizes he'd gotten too absorbed in reading things, only to find that she's gotten herself up on a branch and has no plans of slithering back down anytime soon. But if you're lucky, she'll just be coiled up in a patch of grass in the sunlight, head slightly lifted as she stares out at where more people are hanging out, and tongue flickering in and out patiently.

Whenever it is that anyone happens over, though, it's a fair bet that he'll be cursing at the snake and doing his best to keep her relatively contained. Or at least away from eating someone's dog. (The pigeons, though, are fair game.)

Comments

Closed to Kotetsu- Late July

[hoboagogo]

[He's still not sure how he feels about working on his powers with Kotetsu. It's easier with Jaime- his best friend here, someone that he feels comfortable talking to, in knowing the whole situation. With Kotetsu... it's more complicated.

He knows the man has had similar issues in the past- controlling his power, that fear of accidentally losing it and hurting others. But it was ultimately different, and that nagging doubt always lingers in his mind, no matter how positive the older man stays about it all. And it wasn't as thought either of them had wanted to share their uncomfortable pasts with one another. It had all just been a side effect of that attempted-immunization against those memory-altering lightning strikes.

But on the other hand, Shinjiro has been trying to make attempts to improve, and sometimes that means doing shit he might not fully feel up to, or even believe in-- just in case. Just in case he's wrong and it works this time, despite the cynical grumbling in the back of his mind that none of it will make a difference. After all, trying hadn't worked before. It hadn't saved Ken's mother. And it wasn't guaranteed effective here, either. He can't help but think, darkly, that it's just a bullshit filler to make himself feel better. 'Sure, things went to shit, but he's trying'.

(Trying doesn't mean a damn thing, if the end result is always the same, after all.)

This session had gone the same as the others. Meeting in a secluded area, Shinjiro summoning Castor as many times as he's able, before slumping to a seated position on the ground- breathing heavily, one hand at his chest, and waiting for his regeneration to help ease that faint, exhausted ache all over his body that came from calling the Persona over and over. Half the time it went fine, as always. The other half--

Well, at least he'd used the evoker-- it was just that the Persona had a tendency to preempt specific orders, just attacking when called forth. (Acting on subconscious, likely, rather than waiting for an actual, conscious decision of what to attack and how.) And it's frustrating-- if not devastating. But in the back of his mind, Shinjiro can't help but know that it only takes one fuck-up to ruin it all.

But those thoughts stay in him for now, as he moves to tuck the evoker back into the holster at his waist, looking up to Kotetsu through slightly-damp bangs.]

....A little more, or are we calling it a day?

[earnedmystripes]

[Things he's learned since starting this training up with Shinjiro: powers in his world are absolutely nothing like he'd ever expected. The first time the teen had placed the evoker to his forehead, Kotetsu had damn near had a heart attack thinking history was about to repeat under his own watch. And the Persona itself...even when he'd talked with Ken about Shadows and Persona, somehow he hadn't understood the full implications, of an actual creature residing within their bodies.

Not that it changes much, in the sense of Kotetsu feels about all of this--and he's not exactly afraid, either. It's just...unexpected. And handling it is different than he thought it was going to be. But working off his gut and adapting to situations as they change is what Kotetsu does best, in his line of work. And in the end, the principles, he finds, are more or less similar.

He offers Shinjiro a hand to help him up, pressing the button on his helmet to open his faceplate so his friend can talk to him face-to-face.]

Nah, I think we're good for today.

[He takes a couple moments to catch his own breath, from running around jumping and dodging Castor's attacks, then smiles.]

I really think you're getting smoother at it, for what it's worth. You just gotta relax more. If your powers're anything like mine, once you start getting all tense and agitated, it's even harder to wrangle things under control.

[hoboagogo]

-Right. Relax.

[It's sarcastic when he says it- maybe a bit more bitingly so than he'd meant. But he's tired and irritated with the situation, to the point that wishing that Castor had never come back to him here in the first place. It had been so damn simple for a full year here- Shitty little powers that he had more trouble getting to start than he'd ever had with controlling or stopping them. None of the migraines and headaches, or that constant apprehension. (But then he had to port out and back, and drag the Persona back in with him.)

Though, jaded as he is to Kotetsu's encouragement? He doesn't have any better ideas. And even if he'd had Persona Suppressants here... at this point, he's not sure if he'd take them. If he had to, absolutely. But otherwise...]

It's hard not to get agitated when he's an asshole. [Shinjiro finally responds properly, dusting himself up a bit, before reaching up to adjust the scruffy ponytail his hair is pulled into.]

Like back home, there were times he'd try and come out without me even calling him.

[And one time that he succeeded. But that can go without saying.]

[earnedmystripes]

I know, it sucks.

[Kotetsu takes the sarcasm in stride, because he understands the frustration. He's been there, if not with such severe consequences as Shinjiro suffered. All of which makes him all the more motivated to help his friend through this as best he can.]

But this is a safe place. No one's gonna get hurt here, so it's okay if you mess up or lose control.

[If he can just ease Shinjiro's fear of his powers, build his confidence, he's sure things will improve. Kotetsu thinks the first step to that is helping him realize that not mastering control immediately doesn't mean he's failing, or that the whole endeavor is pointless. He squeezes Shinji's shoulder, reassuringly.]

It takes a lot of courage for you to even be out here doing this with me. I hope you know that.

[chromatose]

[Ludger almost doesn't notice him at first as he wanders through the park with a tote over his shoulder, a significantly overweight cat trotting along at his heels. He'd been trying to use the park as a shortcut to an area of town he hadn't yet explored, or visited restaurants in, but at some point or other he'd taken the wrong path and gotten himself lost. It's so humid that he's started to think that turning back would be the best bet. Rollo's been whining at him almost non-stop for the past hour or so.

Curiously enough it's Rollo himself who stops first, staring up into a tree just off the path. Ludger pauses, glancing first up, then over, and spots Shinjiro who seems to be staring about where Rollo is. What in the world?]

Did you lose a cat up there or something?

[hoboagogo]

[He glances over at the approaching footsteps and the voice- and definitely recognizes that two-toned hair from their conversations on the network.]

Ah- Hey, man. [A short, acknowledging nod, before he looks back up into the branches, trying to figure out a good strategy for this.] It's something like that. Soba crawled up there, and I'm trying to figure out how to get her down.

[At the mention of 'Soba', he points up to one side of the tree-- where Ludger may or may not see the golden-brown and black mottled snake curled around the trunk and a branch. Maybe snoozing, but really, it's hard to tell since she has no eyelids.]

I always forget how quick she can get herself in places.

[chromatose]

[Ludger looks up again, scrutinizing the branches. Below, Rollo's ears twitch, and he hisses and ducks in behind his legs. With a rustle of leaves, he spots a head... and a foot of- wait, two- no, that must be at least--

...That... is one huge snake.]

I... is that your pet!?

[ktfod]

Shinjiro mentioned something about a park earlier today, and he figured he knew which one. So he's not surprised when he sees him there.

What he is surprised about is the fact that Soba's there... Though it makes sense, it's a pretty nice day, sun's out, a little humid, weather made for her, still... A snake that big in the park? Is Shinjiro sure that's a good idea? Especially without him there too just incase something happens...

Akihiko will make is way over, smelling a little ripe from the gym and from the run over here, but he's got that sort of brisk refreshing look he's usually got after a work out. With him, as he walks thankfully, is two ice cream cones he stopped to get at the outskirts of the park, one for either of them, though when he gets to the tangled up mess of a boyfriend he sees over here, he's not sure how to... give it to him.

"Uhh-- hey?"

[hoboagogo]

Damn bro, and that ice cream looks good, too- especially since he's been hanging out here in the heat with a huge snake tangled around him. She seems fairly settled for the moment- at least, not slithering and sliding around. But the place she's settled with his tangled around his chest and one arm, squeezing fairly securely so she doesn't lose her hold.

"-Hey, Aki." A nod. As though this is the most normal thing in the world. He lifts up his slightly-free hand, as though trying to gesture for Akihiko to have a seat.

Hey, he can handle his pet snake. He just--might be stuck a little bit as she decides she wants to stay right here.

"You off for the day?"

[ktfod]

It does right? He started to walk past it and couldn't. Plus the weather is hot, hence Shinjiro bringing Soba out at all, so perfect for ice cream. Though again the issue of getting said ice cream to Shinjiro is there. Looks a little tied up at the moment... Akihiko could definitely eat both if he has to, but...

He'll move to sit, giving Soba a long glance before looking back to Shinjiro.

"Yeah, woke up early to hit the gym and headed hear after. You mentioned coming to the park but I didn't think I'd see you this early in the day." A small smile, you CAN sleep in sometimes, bro. You can. Even if you shouldn't all the time and should run in the morning with him more.

[debauchewy]

When Shinjiro looks up into the tree again to make sure Soba is still there, he'll be looking at not only Soba, but a man in rather bright clothes with makeup and pink hair. He's sitting perched on a branch with his hands gripping it on either side of where he's sitting. There's a sort of amused smile on his face, currently looking to the large serpent before he glances down with a more bored expression to the boy below. He got up there somehow without Shinjiro noticing and has been sitting up here for quite a while watching this serpent to see what it does. A snake that large in Virginia? And in a park? Definitely mischief. It doesn't at all seem like a pet. It anything it could've been ready to attack the young man under the tree. But now he's not as sure.

Stare.

you need to buy those pants

[hoboagogo]

At least in the tree, she can't get into trouble. Or at least- that's what Shinjiro had thought. After all, how would he know that some technicolour-disaster of a clown would have shimmied up into the branches to stare at him? But the sound of a low, rasping hiss up above him definitely catches his attention, and has him sit up straighter and glance back up above him- directly to where Soba's puffing up and twitching her tail, letting out that rasping noise at the man a few branches away.

"-The hell are you doing?" At least he manages to keep most of the surprise from his voice. Though his eyes had widened slightly, and he's still clearly puzzled looking. Because really- what?

From the man's tattooed face, he'll glance down at where the snake is still hissing and curling, neck coiled up into that telltale 'S' shape-- and then back at Hisoka again. At least this is one person that Jaime hasn't forewarned. "She's probably got a nasty bite- I'd watch out."

I really really do.

[debauchewy]

A fond smile at the sound the serpent makes, only for it to fade at the voice and he looks down.

"I think I'll be just fine. How nasty would you say, has she bitten you? Perhaps I'd like to find out."

[beautstrength]

[ Does Reika go for jogs in the park? Why, yes. A nice, brisk, hopefully not over-heated jog, but she also knows when to take a break. So she's headed for a tree further away from the trails to catch her breath under some much-needed shade when she thinks to look down.

... And very quickly steps back, because yes, that sure is a massive snake coiled there. ]

Oh!

[hoboagogo]

[-Ah, shit. Shinjiro glances over at the voice, immediately looking to her and then glancing down- though it looks as though the snake hasn't bitten anyone or gotten too far. Just curled back from where Reika had been stepping, lifting her head a bit in curiosity.

Thank god he has one tame-ass snake.]

-Ah, careful. She's usually pretty gentle, but you don't wanna go stepping on her.

[Which could be avoided if Shinjiro didn't take his huge pet snake out into a public park but hey, who's counting. He takes a few steps forward, and bends down to cup a hand under Soba's smooth scales, tugging her back a little.] You alright?

[beautstrength]

My apologies-- [ To the snake, apparently, before she looks at Shinjiro. ]

Yes, I'm fine. It was my own fault for not watching my step.

[amadaman]

It was Koromaru who first found Shinjiro (as usual, because that nose is useful) and Ken was just following, but it's Ken who speaks first for once because he sees what Shinjiro is staring up at. Oh... oh.

"Do you want me to get her for you? I can reach that branch."

[hoboagogo]

"You can?" Sorry, Ken. he doesn't mean to sound so disbelieving. But then again, kids tend to be able to climb trees pretty damn well. (After all, he'd climbed up and fallen out of plenty when he was around Ken's age. Usually while trying to get up higher than Akihiko....)

"Sure, you can try. She's heavy, though. You think you got it?"

[amadaman]

"It's worth a try."

He can get up there easily, at least. But rather than make his way toward the tree, Ken takes a few steps back, head tilted and searching for just the right branch, close enough to Soba but not so close that she'd get frightened. Koromaru will sit down by Shinjiro's feet and watch, tail swishing idly back and forth as Ken finally finds a good spot, bounces on his feet a couple times, then dashes forward. A step, two, three, then he kicks off the ground... high enough to curl his fingers around the branch he was aiming for and swing himself up, high bar style.

Who climbs trees anymore.

idk sometime maybe TODAY!!

[dormition]

Minato ambles the four houses down to De Chima #001 at the time he'd agreed to meet Shinji, and lets himself into the house. (At his point he has his own house key, this one, and Nonah #005, as well as his work keys and a key to Shinji's car.) It's warm enough that today he's left his jacket behind, exposing the Evoker at his belt, the purpose he's here for.

He's hugely relieved that Shinji is willing to practice summoning now. It still feels wrong to him to have a teammate uncomfortable with his Persona, with himself, and not do anything about it. Like a cat with its fur standing on end. It's hard to tell from his reactions, of course, but he's eager to help here.

The second he walks in and sees Shinji in the kitchen in one of his new outfits, he pauses, before nodding appreciatively.

"You look good, senpai."

Minato would think so, since he'd veritably forced those clothes on him.

[hoboagogo]

"Ah?" A glance down at himself, as though he needs reminding of what he even had on. He still hadn't quite clued into Minato's powers being the reason he'd so easily taken all the clothing and put it on... and ended up going home with more than a couple outfits. (Minato'd had more success than Akihiko in this endeavor, but it was likely a combination of sticking to his style, and that "people will wear whatever Minato gives them" thing.)

But he then rolls a shoulder, as though letting the compliment roll off of him. He's never been very good at responding to those. "Ah, yeah." A nod.

Really, he tends to be distracted on days he practices with his Persona. That that constant uncertainty that sits in his gut like a lump, as well as the frustration of feeling like he's not made any real progress- it all sort of weighs on him, settling in and dragging down. After all- Sure, he's managed for the past three months or so, but so had he when he'd first joined SEES. It wasn't indicative of anything.

"You want coffee or tea or anything before we head out?"

[dormition]

Shinjiro-san looks good in henleys, what can he say. They suit his personality. Part of being a good leader is giving people things that suit them; Minato tries.

As for not counting the lack of incidents so far as positive progress... Minato can't say he understands this kind of self-doubt or fear at all. All of his own flaws are of an entirely different nature. He's afraid of the future, not the past-- and he doesn't care enough about himself still to perceive anything as awful. But that doesn't prevent him from empathizing to the extent that he can, and wanting to help. He approaches this the same he does any other Social Link that needs his help, except it's not just that anymore, is it? It means more to him than any normal S. Link ever had. Those had meant something, definitely, especially compared to the creaking void of relationships before he'd come to Iwatodai.

But his friends now, the ones he knows here, they all feel like his. Independent of Persona, even his teammates. Minato cares about this because he cares about Shinji, and though he hasn't fully parsed that difference, he feels it.

"No, I'm alright. We can go. What did Akihiko-san think of your new clothes?"

Minato makes idle gossip by habit as they turn to go.

i'm sorry you have so much of me // FORWARD DATED: THE 11TH

[amadaman]

[Whether Shinjiro got taken out on a surprise date by Akihiko or he avoided people doing anything for the date altogether, or if he even remembers that he told Ken his birthday, at some point on the 11th when he's home, Ken shows up on his front steps looking shifty as hell but with a Koromaru who is practically glowing with excitement. What's with these two? Koromaru immediately bounds over to Shinjiro, proudly showing off the white backpack secured on his back, while Ken shuffles with an incoherent mumble to the kitchen. He's got something in his arms but that hardly matters, right, with a fluffy dog shoving his butt against your hand so that you definitely have to pay attention to the bag he wants you to look at.

If Shinjiro relents to his demand for attention, the bag has a piece of masking tape on it with "please open it" written in Japanese. Ken's handwriting is recognizable: careful to be neat but still just so awkward with the balance of his kanji, giving away the fact that he's still learning how to form them comfortably.

And when Shinjiro opens the bag he'll find a second baggie inside that has some slightly lopsided but still carefully made shiba shaped cookies before Ken got too horrified of the idea of someone eating these cute cookie puppies and switched over to the paws that came in the same cookie cutter kit instead. There's a note stuffed into the baggie with the cookies that says in the same handwriting: Happy Birthday.]

[hoboagogo]

[Even though he'd answered the door, Shinjiro had barely been able to acknowledge Ken before getting a hopping, bounding ball of fluff at his shins and heels, Koromaru yapping and frantically wagging his tail, definitely drawing his attention away from Ken.]

What's gotten into you? [But it's asked fondly as he crouches down to reach out and scratch the shiba's ears, eyes trailing down to the little doggy backpack. He'd seen it before, sure- and thought it was a great idea, to tuck all the doggy bags or collapsible dog bowls in, or any other supplied Koromaru would need while about. But the note is new, and it doesn't take him long to figure out that it's the reason Koro is so happy to shove his butt at him. (Though, maybe he wanted scratches right above the base of his tail, too. Dogs loved that.)

But he rests a knee on the carpet, the metallic purr of the zipper being peeled open easy to hear in the quiet household, followed by the distinct sound of cellophane rustling. His brows crease a bit, that silent amongst these two and the dog lapsing a little bit longer

'Happy Birthday.' He'd.. had an idea that Ken was going to do something, since he'd asked for the date of his birthday. Or, more likely, would have just passed it along to someone else. Sure, there a little uneven or burnt on some of the corners... but really? he's not even noticed.

More than anything, he has no idea what to do with the fact that Ken Amada had not only wanted to do something for something as simple and stupid as a birthday for him-- but that he'd put this much thought into it. (They're definitely homemade-- and as much as he pretends, it's no secret how much he loves that damn dog sitting in front of him, tail beating at the ground in a steady cadence.) His fingers tighten over the small baggie for a moment-- not hard enough to break or crumble them, but an unconscious increase in grip- and after a second, he glances up.]

...You make these?

[He's at a loss of what else to say. 'Thank you' would be the appropriate line... but it feels so canned and cliche that he feels it would sound obligated, or just reactionary. But... one step at a time. He'll look back down at the gift, so as not to stare down Ken too much.] ...They look good.

[amadaman]

[Ken hid away in the kitchen madly texting his panic at Jaime until he heard the cellophane, when he gave up on the message he accidentally sent mid-sentence and poked his way out. He's watching nervously, holding back a fidget, wondering if Shinjiro might even dislike it until the guy looks up and he almost bolts like a rabbit. This isn't easy. But he he keeps his ground, knowing that this is important.]

... Yeah. I, um, practiced. I found the cookie molds online, so.

[They look good, Shinjiro said. That makes him happier than he'd ever admit.] They turned out better than the others.

Happy... happy birthday.