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

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persona 3: minato arisato

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

[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Minato has been scarce since the start of the month, even more quiet and withdrawn than normal.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.]

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[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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?

[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.

[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.]

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.

I'm no Fool. I'm not like any of you; so what the hell is supposed to be my excuse for being empty?

[Seito's lip twitched, and he could feel his hands curling at his sides. Dammit, he just... wanted to punch him, but that would probably make him feel he was right or something stupid!]

You're an idiot then. You have every reason to hate me.

...That's not the point. [He isn't entirely sure where he's going with this yet. He's working on it.] You aren't a Fool, but you could have been. And I'll bet there are worlds where I actively sought the end.

What I'm trying to say is I think we have a lot in common. I'm sorry about how everything turned out, but in the end...we chose these fates of our own free will. ...I'm not making much sense. [It's been a long day of jumbled thoughts and feelings. Trying to figure out what he needs to say isn't easy. Especially not under these circumstances.]

[Seito was silent, glaring down at him like he just wanted to turn on his heel and walk off. It was unsettling to see him like he was now; it almost was if he was a Shadow himself, instead of just being stained by the fog before it retreated. In times of intense emotion, like now, his eyes glowed; add to it the darkness around them, and...]

[After a moment, he let out a breath, glancing away.]

...nothing you do makes any sense.

[He sighs. He's not sure he can really get through to Seito as he is now. Maybe letting Minako work on him a little more will be best.]

If you can't find any other way to make sense of my saving you, I guess you can call it repaying you for saving me on Halloween. But that's not my real reason.

Then again, maybe I'm just insane.

[Seito smirked at that.]

That is the only thing you've said I agree with.

I shoot myself in the head on a regular basis, so I probably qualify. Never once had any issue with it.

[Funny, how he used to be so guarded where Seito might be able to hear. Now he feels like he can say almost anything right in front of him. They both know where they stand, it's not like there's much that will change anything.]

I've never had any problem with the concept of death.

[Seito hesitated a moment, looking like he wanted to say something. He bit his lip, glancing side long at him.]

...neither have I.

[He let out a frustrated noise, resting down on the cold roof beside him. Silence hung in the air between them, before he finally continued.]

...I know what I have coming for me back home.

You too, huh... [They really are pretty alike. Of course, the circumstances are different. Minato was surrounded by and contained death for most of his life. Something else must have happened to Seito.]

Adachi-san told me. ...I know exactly what's waiting for me, too. There's something calming about knowing it's unavoidable.

I guess that means he's already captured me, hunh?

[Part of him knew that fleeing from Adachi and his Team wasn't going to get him very far, and the fog deity overwhelming him just confirmed it. There was... no way his emptiness would be able to last.]

[Somehow that was comforting.]

I'm okay with that.

[A nod. He won't mention Seito will get the death sentence, he figures he knows that much.]

People here come from different times... I keep wondering if it's possible to use that to change someone's fate.

Doubtful, and even if it could, it would just create a new reality, and not affect us at all.

[Pessimistic? Maybe a little, but it was him.]

What about changing a future that hasn't happened yet? The split has already occurred...

[If he can spare Minako some of the torment to come... If he can at least keep her from lashing herself to that door, or spare her Erebus...]

Do you really want to try?

[He glanced at him side long.]

If it can spare Minako-chan my fate? Hell yes.

[No one else should be subjected to that. That was the whole point of his sacrifice. He doesn't care if it's another world, he wants to save her.]

[Seito turned away from him then, his face a complete mask. It was impossible to read anything that was going on in that head of his, even if his eyes seemed to glow slightly -- that could mean anything. When he finally did speak again, his voice was soft, barely audible.]

How far are you willing to go to save her?

I don't know.

[His own voice is devoid of emotion. There's a hell of a lot he's holding back, and it's so easy to slip into old habits.]

I want to save her, but...she must have signed the same contract I did. I don't know if I should even try to interfere.

Tch... contracts.

[He frowned in irritation.]

What were the restrictions?

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

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