[Visual] Arcana IV - memento mori (it's still the 5th somewhere)

[onelastpromise]

[March fifth. Graduation Day.

Minato has been scarce since the start of the month, even more quiet and withdrawn than normal. It isn't really characteristic of him, since he's usually on the go, always doing something. Finally he's been missing all day on March fifth.

The last day of his life.

With everything that's happened, he can't escape thinking about it. He's never been very good at dealing with his own troubles. He tends to shut down when he can't escape.

It's late at night, and the video opens to his cobalt blue dragonfly making distinctly worried kazoo noises. The last time this dragonfly made a video, Minato was sick and passed out in the woods. This time when it gets its jeweled eyes out of the way, Minato can be seen awake, but staring blankly at the sky. It's still cold, and he's underdressed for the snow he's laying in. He's been like this for a while if the dragonfly is resorting to using the orbs.]

Comments

video;

[notsogrimreaper]

Hm?

[Ryoji is confused to see the feed at first. Isn't that Minato's dragonfly? His confusion is pushed away with concern, however, when he sees Minato sitting out in the snow, probably freezing.]

M-Minato! Hey, what are you doing? It's snowing, y-you shouldn't be outside!

[If Minato doesn't head back in, Ryoji will be heading out to find him, and then Minato will be sorry... or maybe not. Ryoji recognizes the look on his friend's face.

He could probably use some company.]

video;

[onelastpromise]

[Minato only really responds by shifting his position a bit. Who knows if he was paying attention enough to hear. He doesn't look outright upset or anything, but...

The dragonfly continues buzzing piteously. Its human isn't responding, how does it fix this? Minato looks so blank and unreadable, like he did before he moved back to Iwatodai. It's easier to hide than to let go.

He'll be hard to find, there's no indication of where he is....just snow. A pretty flat place, if sloping downward.]

video ->action;

[notsogrimreaper]

[He’s not about to get anything out of Minato, and Ryoji knows it. He sighs heavily and looks at the dragonfly.]

Just hang on, okay? I’ll come find him.

[He scrambles around his house, trying to find a jacket for himself and one to hopefully fend off the cold Minato might get, and then rushes out into the snow, searching the area. It’s only thanks to the fact that desperation somehow equaled meticulousness that Ryoji manages to find his friend.]

action;

[onelastpromise]

[Up on the roof of his own house. He certainly didn't make himself easy to find.

He blinks a bit when Ryoji comes into his view.] Ryoji-kun...? What are you doing here?

action;

[notsogrimreaper]

[No, he didn’t, and Ryoji is panting when he finds him, the worry evident in your eyes.]

Your dragonfly was worried and sent out an SOS. No wonder, you’re out here in the cold without any proper clothing… What’s going on?

action;

[onelastpromise]

[He's been out here for hours, if the paleness of his skin is any indication. He glances up at Ryoji, then back down, sighing and retreating a bit. He hasn't felt this small and disconnected in a long time.]

It's Graduation Day.

action;

[notsogrimreaper]

Graduation…

[Ryoji forgets for a moment, but it’s easy to tell from the sharp inhale that he remembers soon after.]

...I’m sorry. It must be hard to remember that time.

action;

[onelastpromise]

Not so hard as the month before it. The waiting, while no one else knew anything.

[Even Aigis hadn't remembered until a few days before she approached him. It was hard, knowing what was coming. Not being certain they'd remember the promise. Worrying about how his death would affect them.]

action;

[notsogrimreaper]

I’m… so sorry. I’m not sure if it would have been better or worse if you didn’t remember what had happened.

[He slowly sits down beside Minato, tugging his scarf tighter and burying his frown in its bright folds.]

[Video]

[wantedittobeagame]

[...shit, that didn't look good. Adachi near panicked when he saw the dragonfly, wondering how far he would need to be carrying Minato back this time. When he saw that he was still conscious, however, he ended up just... staring in mild surprise.]

Kid? You okay?

[Video]

[onelastpromise]

[There's a brief moment where Minato doesn't move, and it's up in the air whether he heard or not. Maybe he really is frozen? But no, he moves. He just...rolls over so his back is to the orb. He's on the roof of his house right now, not that that's easily recognized.

The dragonfly flies over and tugs at Minato's hair a little, but he just brushes it away gently. He's not in the mood to socialize. The dragonfly buzzes some more. His human is acting strange someone help.]

[Video]

[wantedittobeagame]

[What the... Adachi stared at the orb for a long moment, before he finally let out an annoyed noise.]

Oy, kid! Answer me!

[Video]

[onelastpromise]

[That gets a confused sound. When did Adachi get on his roof? He rolls back over and- oh. Why is his orb on?

The strange part is how blank Minato looks. Like he doesn't feel anything...or maybe doesn't want to.]

When did my orb turn on?

[Video]

[wantedittobeagame]

[Adachi gave him an exasperated look in return.]

Your dragonfly turned it on...

Are you okay?

[Video]

[onelastpromise]

Oh.

[That's it, no feelings on his dragonfly doing something for once. Just quiet recognition. He shifts so he's on his back again.]

I will be. [Future tense. At least he's not lying this time.]

[Video]

[wantedittobeagame]

[...yeah, he could tell the kid was being honest at least.]

Do'ya want some company?

[Video]

[onelastpromise]

[He sits up, abruptly.] I don't know. I don't...what time is it?

[Has he even eaten today? He's totally lost track. He's just been hiding from everyone. It's already dark. How long has he been out here?]

[Action] Oh why not.

[allthepuppets]

[There was the faint crunch of feet in the snow, approaching with all the utmost care and need to be as silent as possible. The owner comes into Minato's view after a moment, staring down at him with cold yellow eyes that hadn't been able to go back to normal after that little incident from before. He just stood there, staring down and not saying a word, though it looked like he wished he had some kind of weapon in hand.]

...I hate you.

[...all that build up, that wait while he stared down at him, and that was all Seito had to say.]

[Action] ILU

[onelastpromise]

[He doesn't respond, not until Seito is in his field of vision. He doesn't look guarded or too alert today...just tired, and vaguely sad. Conflict...he doesn't want it. Not today of all days.]

I know.

[He isn't sure it will ever change. But he doesn't regret anything he's done.]

[Action] Hehehehee

[allthepuppets]

[Seito's eyes narrowed at that bare response, and for a moment it looked like he was going to kick him. Somehow, he managed to keep himself from doing that, though the temptation was obviously there.]

I could kill you easily right now.

[It'd make him feel better; the fact that Minato had risked his life to save his was still pressing against his mind, nevermind what Minako did. Just killing him would make things so much easier.]

[Action]

[onelastpromise]

[He's honestly surprised Seito doesn't kick him. He doesn't think the other teen is going to try to kill him again, not today, not after what happened last time.]

I know. But I don't think you will.

[Minato isn't sure how much he'd defend himself today. He doesn't want to die, but....but it's Graduation Day.]

[Action]

[allthepuppets]

[God, it would be so easy... he doesn't even need a weapon, he could just start grinding his head against the roof, break a few ribs, stop on him until blood was gushing everywhere...]

[...the sad part was, he couldn't even really entertain the mental image as much as he used to. Damn them.]

Why did you save me, if you're just going to lay around like this?

[Action]

[onelastpromise]

[There's a sigh. He figured he'd have to explain his actions eventually, but he really doesn't want to.]

Did you know? The vast majority of the universe is empty space. I wonder what that means for people like you and me.

[Action]

[allthepuppets]

[Seito raised an eyebrow at that. He had no idea about Minato's past... or what he'd ultimately become. He almost wanted to say he didn't care.]

...dunno. Before I would say the universe is just as empty as I am in that case.

[...now he wasn't so sure.]

[Action]

[onelastpromise]

The Fool is represented by the number zero. It has nothing. It's empty, so it can be anything. Unlimited potential.

[He sits up then, sighing.] I know you hate me, and I think I know why. I know better than to hope it will ever change. But I don't hate you. I can't.