CALL ME OUT: i'm in psl hell edition

[majinken]

MINAKO ARISATO
persona 3

GENKI SILENT PROTAG. She'll probably strong-arm you into doing something ridiculous, and do so with the cutest smile on earth. She might also poke you with a naginata if you're a punk.

orphean

AKIRA KURUSU
persona 5

THE SASSY PROTAG. a phantom thief with a heart of gold. lives rebelliously and without regrets, though spends most of his time feigning a very unassuming persona. #nailedit

jokered

STAHN AILERON
tales of destiny

A true sunshine protagonist. Country bumpkin, slow on the uptake. Wants to be everyone's friend. Swordian Master of fire, incredibly hot-blooded. A GOOD BEAN. Please love him. He's my favorite and I am biased.

majinken

HAROLD BERSELIUS
tales of destiny 2

The original fabulous Tales science lady. Probably wants to dissect you pretty shamelessly. Loves and adores cute things. Inventor of the Swordians. Definitely the definition of Mad Scientist.

probings

all others are lower priority, but available upon request!

Comments

[orphean]

[well.

if she caught specifically where akira was looking, minako would probably be a bit more dubious about that statement.

there's already an underlying suspicion that exists, because of his charm comments, so pausing in that spot? it's a little suspect. but fortunately, not suspect enough for minako to really think hard on it.


...his excuse sucks, though.]

A cat? You see them at the station sometimes, but I've never seen any in the mall like that...

[purrtagonist]

[and as though that small hitch in his step hadn't occurred]

Maybe it's here shopping for catnip. Or sushi. Is there a place that sells sushi around here?

[it's fine!! focus on coffee first, and suspicious frizzy-haired boy later. or never]

[orphean]

[she'll let it slide for now, but she'll figure it out eventually.]

I'm starting to wonder if maybe you're the cat here, looking for a good sushi recommendation.

[purrtagonist]

[it's only the first in a long line of slip ups]

Nothing wrong with liking sushi.

Although I did promise a friend I'd bring him back some fatty tuna.

[in order to bribe Morgana into staying home instead of piggy backing in his bag, as usual]

[orphean]

Fatty tuna, huh? Maybe I should be asking you to treat me to lunch if you're rolling in that much yen!

[she's kidding, she has plenty of yen on her own.]

[purrtagonist]

My friend has expensive tastes.

[he replies with a breathy laugh. Chagall's ever approaches]

I have to work like, nine part-time jobs just to keep up.

[j/k he's also rolling in the money, thanks Shadows]

[orphean]

Nine? That sounds pretty rough... do you have time for any clubs like that?

[???? please be exaggerating, akira.]

[purrtagonist]

[the funniest thing is that he isn't exaggerating. HE'S JUST. LUCKY HE CAN GO WORK AT THEM WHENEVER HE PLEASES. . .]

[at her question, though? he gives a little, nonchalant shrug]

Only the "go home" club.

[HA]

I'm not really much of a school club kind of person.

[orphean]

Huh! And here I thought you looked like the type that might be in a bunch of them.

[it must be his natural protag aura.

but it's fine, she'll pull open the door to chagall and lead him inside. gotta get coffee while they chat!]

[purrtagonist]

Do I?

[he's calm. casual. and totally nnnnot bringing up the real reason why he isn't a school club person. that's not. . . something you tell someone you just met a week and a half ago]

I guess I just have other hobbies.

[into Chagall's they go! he pauses at the entrance and glances around curiously, waiting for her to lead the way to their seat]

[orphean]

[at least she's not asking. or judging, really. it's surprising, but she knows it's not for everyone!]

What kind of hobbies do you have?

[they may as well get to know each other, as she leads him to a booth; it's fairly busy inside, but there are enough seats available, at least.]

[purrtagonist]

[PHANTOM THIEVERY. . . okay no, he can't answer with that, as true as it may be. he follows her to a booth, slipping into one of the seats as he drops his bag on the ground at his feet]

Eeeeh. . . I'm a bit of a jack of all trades.

[also true!!]

I fish on weekends or in the evenings, and I go to the batting cages near Yongen sometimes. Video games, of course-- that might be more Ryuji's influence, though.

[ONLY A LITTLE BIT, THOUGH he liked arcades even before Ryuji]

Does collecting part-time jobs count as a hobby?

[orphean]

I don't think so. But those sound like some fun hobbies! Though I didn't take you for much of a fisherman, either.

[she has no idea he's a bumpkin.]

You're full of all kinds of surprises, Akira-san!

[purrtagonist]

[well she is absolutely about to learn]

I like to keep myself unpredictable, that's all.

[he kids. and then, more seriously]

There wasn't much to do back in my hometown but fish, or go skateboarding, or hang out at the local arcade. I guess that's why I kind of picked it up.

[orphean]

Your hometown? So you're not just a flashy city boy then, huh. Definitely unpredictable and maybe a little mysterious!

[she's intrigued, tell her more! after she orders them some coffee.

and pastries.

did you really thing she wasn't going to order something to eat, too? she's got a black hole for a stomach.]

[purrtagonist]

I told you, Ryuji's way more of a big city boy than me.

[hey look, pastries go well with coffee, he approves!! even though he's only getting himself a drink. black, just like Sojiro taught him]

What about you? Are you from Iwatodai?

[he isn't about to assume, considering his own background]

[orphean]

That could've meant just about anything.

[minako just can't resist. she'd eat curry with her coffee if it were an option, but it's not that sort of cafe. so.

pastries!!]

I only moved here near the beginning of the school year. I've moved around a lot, so I can't really say I'm from here, either!

[purrtagonist]

[oh-- so she's like him! kind of. sans the "moving around a lot" part. which piques his curiosity, but he doesn't ask]

That sounds adventurous.

[IF ONLY HE KNEW]

How's Iwatodai compare to the other places you've lived?

[although judging by her enthusiasm, he'd venture a guess that she likes it here]

[orphean]

More circumstance than adventure, but, you know! That's life.

[she doesn't really hold bitterness or ill will, despite how many foster homes she's lived in and how not-great her childhood was. it's just motivated her to push down all of the terrible things in her life and try to live brightly and make good fortune where she can.

it's fine, she fine.]

I really like Iwatodai, though. There's a lot to like about it, so it's probably my favorite place out of everywhere I've lived!

[purrtagonist]

[that. actually gives him pause, and the natural follow-up question is dangling on the tip of his tongue-- what circumstances? but this Confidant isn't high enough for him to feel comfortable pressing-- wait, was it even a Confidant? it wasn't like they made any deals or exchanges. it isn't like they share a mutual sense of aesthetics (other than a terrible sense of humor). they're just. . . hanging out. . . truthfully, for the very first time since their serendipitous meeting. eh. . .]

[. . . idly, he thinks he's been spending way too much time with Caroline and Justine and their obnoxious long-nosed master, to immediately think about the contractual nature of his relationships, instead of just. letting things be as they are]

[point being! she seems fine, and this really is only their first time hanging out, so. he won't cross any weird boundaries]

Hm-- [hums thoughtfully as the server finally returns with those orders of coffee and pastries!! Akira draws his cup close, idly tracing the edges with one finger] So if I asked you to tell me your favorite thing about Iwatodai, could you narrow it down?

[orphean]

[it's not a confidant or a social link, but minako definitely feels the potential for a social link to bloom. either way... definitely not soon enough to go talking about her circumstances so freely.

it's not really a secret by any measure, but it's a heavy enough topic that she wouldn't want to spring it on him. she doesn't want to run the risk of earning pity, either. she doesn't need that—even if minako doesn't really take akira for the sort to pity people... but hey. they don't have a bond yet, so she can't really be sure.

which is fine, she'll just work with the direction of the conversation. but... not before her eyes light up excitedly at the pastries (she knows what they all taste like, she works there) amd popping a cream puff into her mouth. yum!!]

That's pretty easy! [honestly, minako doesn't even have to think about it.] It's the people. Nobody is perfect, and not everyone is a good person, but... there are a lot of really kind people here. I've gotten to meet so many of them, and... it makes it really welcoming here!

[purrtagonist]

[. . . huh]

Ah. I like that answer.

[not dissimilar to how he feels about Tokyo, honestly. and as he responds, he pulls his warm cup up to his mouth, takes a sip, and--]

[. . .]

[oh. this is really good. she wasn't lying!! months of Leblanc coffee may have him slightly preferring Sojiro's house blend, but that's just bias]

-- four point five out of five stars, by they way.

[someone disqualify the biased judge]

[orphean]

That seems like a pretty good score, but now I'm pretty curious about what your five out of five star coffee must taste like!

[she'll have to go to leblanc sometime, honestly. once she knows about it. that said—]

Anyway, we have to keep this fair! So you should tell me your favorite thing about Tokyo, since it sounds like we're in similar boats here.

[as she shoves another pastry in her mouth, it's fine.]

[purrtagonist]

[well. . .! fair is fair, so--]

Cafe Leblanc, in Yongen. [he leans back in his chair, taking another sip of his drink. it's smooth, slightly bitter but hearty with flavor nonetheless. he can practically hear those charm notes chiming above his head] Swing by there sometime, and you'll see what I mean.

[and then he lapses into silence again, because her answer was so sincere he sort of wants to give one of his own?? but he can't steal her response, that's copyrighted?? also he's already slightly impressed with her pastry inhaling abilities]

[. . . his eventual answer is dry]

The subway system. If you aren't getting lost there at least three times a week, you're doing it wrong. [a beat] Just kidding; I just didn't want to sound like I was copying you.

[orphean]

I'll have to, if I'm ever in Tokyo!

[though honestly, she doesn't really even know where yongen is. she's not terribly familiar with tokyo aside from the big, well-known parts of the city.

it's fine. in any case?]

Trying to avoid your fate as a stalker and a copycat, is that it? [she's teasing.] I don't think I mind that one though, if your answer is sincere.