(no subject)

[dormition]

WHO: Minato and Tetsuo!
WHERE: Nonah #005 probably?
WHEN: Today!! Gasp.
WHAT: Parole check in.
WARNINGS: None.


[ Minato belatedly realizes he should perhaps do his job. He's only heard encouraging things about how Tetsuo's been doing from Ken, who surely of anyone would know, given their past history and the fact they're living together again... but his conversation with Mr. Edgeworth had pointed out to him that he should be more proactive.

All the insanity of the occupation this month had put that off, but Minato is here finally, letting himself in and seeking out Tetsuo. If he's not here today, well, he's just going to try a different day. That's the sort of person Minato is. ]

Comments

[dormition]

... We don't actually have to follow the rules, you know.

[ He's wondering if that'll appeal to Tetsuo more, selling this as being rebellious somehow. ]

[iamtetsuo]

I know that!

[...it's reflexive, instead of thought out; he catches himself after saying it to actually hear what he said. DID he know that? Did he really?

But he said it... and that means he'll have to stand by it.]

[dormition]

[ Okay, well, that's progress, even if he'd only made it by hitting on Tetsuo's contrariness. ]

Then, would you like to be friends? You don't have to look so nervous when I check in.

[iamtetsuo]

...Sure...

[This is the weirdest corner he's ever backed himself into. They were, kinda before. Maybe. But .. didn't this... change stuff??



Then again, if it doesn't... hm.]

[dormition]

[ Minato certainly seems to think it doesn't change anything at all. Point of fact, he's been treating Tetsuo as a friend for a while now, so of course formalizing it causes no alteration in his behavior or demeanor. ]

So, as your friend, how've you been?

[ Head tilt. He is genuinely interested in the answer. ]

[iamtetsuo]

...

[Unfortunately, there's a loaded question he doesn't even tend to answer honestly for his friends.]

Okay, I guess.

[dormition]

[ He decides to try the 'relentless' tactic. ]

What's bothering you? [ Because something clearly is. ]

[iamtetsuo]

It's nothing.

[He's a horrible liar.]

[dormition]

I want to help, [ he says plainly. ]

[iamtetsuo]

You can't.

[Also plainly. And it's true; this, at least, is something they have no control over. You know, if there was something bothering him.]

[dormition]

[ Minato won't refute that, especially when he doesn't know what the issue is. But... ]

I can listen, [ he says patiently. ]

[iamtetsuo]

[...and he shrugs, shifting a little to get comfortable. He's gonna be here a while, isn't he? But he also doesn't give up easily, especially when it means admitting fear...]

There's no point to discussing anything. It's fine.

[dormition]

How about we trade, then? I'll tell you something and you tell me something.

[iamtetsuo]

...

Okay, but I'm not saying anything important for something that doesn't matter, or anything like that.

[dormition]

Right. It should be equal.

[ Minato spends a few long moments sitting there and thinking his over, assuming he'll need to go first on this trade.

Slowly, ] A couple of my friends from home showed up, who I haven't seen since I died. I'm scared that I'll lose them again. That everyone I know here will disappear... because there'll be no other chance for me to see them. [ This is a real fear of Minato's, a pernicious one, and one with no solution that anyone can do anything about. He sounds remarkably calm and quiet about it, as always. ]

1/3

[iamtetsuo]

[Somewhere in the background soundtrack, there's a record screech as every one of Tetsuo's thoughts comes grinding to a halt. While Tetsuo knew Minato some; he knew the guy was always honest, and that for the life of him he couldn't figure him out or predict him in the slightest...

He didn't think Minato would go this far. For some reason.]

2/3

[iamtetsuo]

...


[And so begins the internal debate.

Tetsuo's face clouds, shoulders hunching as high as possible, and he looks to the side. Now and then he shoots a dark, almost betrayed look in Minato's direction. He lets the silence stretch for a while...]

[iamtetsuo]

Bastard... [Muttered, under his breath.]

[Tetsuo starts to say something, pauses, starts again, pauses again. And then, in a dark mutter...]

I don't care what happens to America, but ... Where I come from, World War III already happened. It hasn't here. Not yet.

[And guess who's gonna be at ground zero, when it does.]

[dormition]

[ Minato waits through this patiently, even accepting the dark look and muttered curse without reaction.

He's sure this is a worry of similar magnitude to what he'd admitted-- that's why he'd gone that far-- but Minato can't quite understand it yet, doesn't have all the details. He glances at him. ] Why do you think it will?

[iamtetsuo]

You've heard it, haven't you? Stuff about countries starting to pick sides...

[But that's dancing around the issue. He sighs, then forces himself to clarify. He has to. He said he would.]

America bombed Russia. Where do you think Russia's gonna retaliate, some random city somewhere or one of the ones we're shunted to?

[dormition]

[ Hmmm. This doesn't seem like the whole story either, though. Minato still feels like he's missing something.

He shifts to face Tetsuo fully, so he's sitting sideways on the couch with his elbow propped up on the back, head set in his hand, watching him with serious, calm eyes. The perfect listening expression. ]

Have you been somewhere that was bombed before?

[iamtetsuo]

...it happened before I was born. I'm from Neo Tokyo. That's a city built on the bay, next to the Old City.

When I got here, no one had ever heard of it. Thought I was losing my mind... but then I found out why. Tokyo... it's just a bunch of ruins full of ghosts to me. I guess it still exists in this world.

[dormition]

[ Now this makes more sense. He'd figured there had to be personal experience in there somewhere. ]

It's fine where I'm from, too, [ he says, mostly as a way to stall as he thinks of his real response. ] You're scared of that happening again?

[iamtetsuo]

[Tetsuo looks down further.]

World War 3 started when Tokyo went away. When it starts again... I'll be at ground zero this time, won't I?

[dormition]

It might not. No one really wants a war like that, not even the Russians.

... But, if we are, it's just something that we'll face.