MINATO [AU] || OPEN || What's the hook, the twist--

[fractus_animus]

Comments

Welp

[lunateclock]

[He perhaps shouldn't be here. There are a dozen things to do before evening and then half a dozen more to be done before bed--

And he shouldn't be here but surely it couldn't hurt to get a single coffee? He received an employee discount here, even, for the work he did on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights.

It's not a bad deal.

So he gets his coffee and is leaving the shop when a shock of blue hair catches his attention.

A pause. ...]

...

[...it's his own face, isn't it? Looking down at that newspaper.]

.... so now we're ACTUAL mirrors amirite

[fractus_animus]

[ ... He's having a moment kind of similarly, here, but there isn't as much shock as there is wariness.

... Just going to get his food here and (curiously, is that a packed lunch? Looks like a bento actually) begin eating, entirely unbothered.

Seriously, maybe his medication dose was too high or something, this probably isn't really happening. All the same... ]

... Do I have something on my face?

[ It's a deadpan question; inquiring, not so much the insult or snap it could be. If he is annoyed, it is hard to tell. ]

Always have been, brosis

[lunateclock]

[A lax tilt of his head; he tucks one hand into his pocket and responds easily.]

Not at all. I apologize if I stared; you look like someone I know.

[Aka the face I stare into in the mirror every morning.]

... True that. And again with the reflections but not quite, too

[fractus_animus]

[ Well, this is weird. He's just... going to wonder if this is really happening. The newspaper, which he happens to be quite finished with, is casually folded up and ignored.

But then, anyone would've heard the news lately. Apathy Syndrome on the rise, he was certain, was probably the Shadow's work.

Not that it concerned him.

Nothing much concerned him at the moment. As such, he will casually eat his lunch. ]

Right now, all I really want to know is which one of us is the doppelgänger.

[ Because really, the likelihood of someone else sounding like him, looking like him, and all of that? ... Just plain unlikely. ]

Noooot quite. |DDD Just different enough to be reflections

[lunateclock]

[Minato is equally casual, tilting his head and inspecting the other with an air of nothing but curiosity. He doesn't feel threatened, nor is he really concerned.

It's clear something strange is going on here, but well.

Whatever it is can be figured out. For now, he focuses on the statement and his conversational partner.]

It is a little strange--and too similar to be coincidence. I don't suppose your name is Minato also?

As is the usual for us. : |a No one is surprised.

[fractus_animus]

[ ... The air may be a little tense here, even though both of them seem casual and relaxed. Of course that was his name.

... But if this was some kind of trick, or hallucination, could he risk possibly giving himself up? ]

And if it was?

[ ... A question. Though there isn't any inflection of wariness in his tone, the words may portray it. No... he was just being careful. ]

Is anyone ever surprised anymore?

[lunateclock]

[Perhaps on the other Minato's end it is tense. On this Minato's side? Well, he isn't tense at all. He's curious, yes, a little thoughtful, and he senses the other's wariness, but...

Why would he be concerned? It's very strange, but there must be a reason for it, and he would find out. There was no need to rush it.]

I was just curious, since that's my name.

[He's always been honest and open. It's how he is.]

... Prooobably not no. SOMEDAY WE WILL SURPRISE THEM

[fractus_animus]

[ This Minato stiffens somewhat; whatever IS running through his mind is impossible to tell. But there's something off about the way he sounds when he speaks. Something cold and detached about it. ]

Then you should know better, then to go around flashing your real name, if you are me.

[ The unsaid? Is that if he ISN'T and this is some kind of trick, he's not about to be trapped. ]

SOMEDAYYYYY YESSSS /silly titles =/= srs thread

[lunateclock]

[........huh.]

I don't think we're the same person, actually.

[Not only is it impossible, it's pretty obvious right now that they're, well...not reacting the same way.]

SOMEDAY SOMEHOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT ALRIGHT BUT NOT RIGHT NOOW--

[fractus_animus]

We're not? Didn't you say your name was Minato?

[ He lowers his voice. ]

Minato Arisato, right? And let me guess... you know things most people don't, about what happens every night.

[ The Dark Hour. It is evident... whomever this person is... he's nothing like he is. But Minato has no idea how MUCH--he has to find out. Because this could, after all, be a way to indanger him. Or worse. ]

LNSDLKANLS HAHA WHAT EVEN

[lunateclock]

[Ah, hm. A thoughtful pause. How to explain--]

Yes, that's right. You have the same abilities, correct?

[...]

I still think we're different, though.

[Isn't it obvious? This Minato's wariness, this Minato's openness. It doesn't compute. But what he really wants to know is why.]

LMFAO that was random Nickelback lyrics--

[fractus_animus]

... Abilities could mean anything.

[ He is beginning to suspect you don't kill people just to survive, other!self. And he is very much on edge.

He needs... a confirmation. ]

....right sure of course. I knew that.

[lunateclock]

...The Persona you show to the world is different from expected.

[There. A statement with a dozen meanings, and Minato means all of them.

But he is calm.]

[fractus_animus]

[ ... So he IS him. That statement... hits him harder than he'd have liked. Minato's 'professional' lack of emotion was a practiced, necessary tool... one also for his survival before he'd escaped. ]

... And the Persona that some would say comes before all the others... the first mask you obtained... did you get it? Or did someone else ask you to show them?

[ This is important. ]

[lunateclock]

[...ah. He pieces that together pretty quickly and now he isn't sure he understands where his counterpart is coming from.

Natural versus unnatural, right? ...Strega?

...a lot of things click into place.]

My Persona was my own from the beginning.

I take it that isn't the same for you?

[fractus_animus]

[ ... He takes his things, including his coat, which he puts on. The bento box is closed and slipped into a large pocket inside it. The newspaper is also pocketed.

And so, he stands. Then he turns and begins walking in a direction away from all these people; away from Chagall café, outside Paulownia mall. ]

... I'm taking a walk. You can follow if you want.

[ It's an invitation; quiet and calm and neutral, still. ]