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[jivitadana]

Who: Seta Souji [eatsyourscience] and Arisato Minato [jivitadana]
Where: Third Floor, Room 5 and elsewhere non-descript
When: Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Rating: PG and upwards for conversation about violence and death
Summary: Souji and Minato deal with the aftermath of the past events.
The Story:

Everything had settled, like dust coming to rest, snow or leaves falling gently to the ground. It was somewhat quieter all around again, how it used to be before in the Mansion whenever it was free of events. Everyone who had arrived suddenly just as suddenly disappeared. Everything looked like it was back to normal.

Minato had given himself time to process everything over the past week or so, but he wasn't so sure a week was really enough. How could it have been? After everything, how could it have been?

Besides, he lost a day in there somewhere in that week.

But he couldn't remain where he was, in this state or haze of guilt, helplessness, and regret. He also couldn't avoid what was the inevitable for much longer. He had to talk, and he thought he should be the one to initiate it. It was only right and fair.

The communication device was on the sink counter. Minato got himself out of the tub, fully clothed and dripping wet. He unplugged the drain, then spent the next who knew how many minutes watching the water level slowly descend until hardly anything had remained. The rest would dry up on its own. It was after that Minato had sent a simple text message to Souji, intentionally absent of video or sound, just words across a screen that wouldn't ever be enough.

Can I talk to you?

Minato had always asked it of Souji out of courtesy, already knowing the answer before he even asked it of his friend. And yet this time, it was more like a request, not quite a plea, but something close. And if Minato had to live with rejection, then it was all that he deserved. He left the decision up to Souji who should be able to choose who he wanted to talk to and how he should live his life.

Comments

[jivitadana]

Minato shook his head. He liked the way his clothes clung to him, letting him sink like he was heading to the bottom of the sea, maybe to the sea inside of his broken soul.

"I'm sorry. I know it's not really normal."

[eatsyourscience]

"I don't think either of us is really normal."

[jivitadana]

Minato smiled a little at that. It meant they were more alike.

"You could try it with me, if you want."

[eatsyourscience]

Souji chuckled. "Yeah? But we probably don't need to now."

[jivitadana]

Minato nodded, and he meant for later. It was just one way Minato coped, and it was one way where he wouldn't have to burden anyone else with his feelings.

"Mn... you don't have worry about me, okay? Let me worry about you instead."

[eatsyourscience]

Souji shook his head, still with a slight smile. "It only works when it goes both ways."

[jivitadana]

"Okay. But then you actually have to let me worry about you." Minato knew Souji too well, sort of like how Souji knew him too well in return.

[eatsyourscience]

"I guess we'll both just have to get used to it."

[jivitadana]

"At least we'll be getting used to it together." And Minato didn't think they would smother each other with worry or concern. Or, well, Souji wouldn't. Minato, on the other hand, had to not mother hen Souji so much.

[eatsyourscience]

Souji nodded. "Everything will be alright for us."

[jivitadana]

Minato hoped so. That was for the best. "If we're looking after each other, it will be."

He smiled over at Souji again. "... I kind of want ice cream now."

[eatsyourscience]

"...Sounds good to me."

[jivitadana]

"Will you get some with me? Then I can see what kind you like most."

[eatsyourscience]

Souji nodded and stood up.

"I can tell you."

[jivitadana]

Minato smiled as he got to his feet.

"To make it fair, I'll tell you mine too."

[eatsyourscience]

"Did you want to get it from the closet or downstairs?"

[jivitadana]

Minato thought about it. "Ice cream from the closet can't hurt, right?"

Although he wondered if it was going to be a waste if it wasn't that good.

[eatsyourscience]

Souji shook his head, stepping toward Minato's closet to open the door. "It's just like buying it at the convenience store, but with more options." If he wanted a sundae or some other special ice cream dish, though, he'd go to the dining room.

[jivitadana]

Minato nodded in agreement, and thought about what ice cream he wanted. He ended up with a half pint container of mint chocolate ice cream complete with a wooden spoon.

"I like this kind." He showed it to Souji.

[eatsyourscience]

Souji peered at the container and smiled to himself. He reached in for his own half pint: coffee ice cream. He held it up to show Minato.

"My favorite."

[jivitadana]

Minato would remember that. Coffee. From now on coffee would always remind him of Souji.

He scooted closer over to Souji, inspecting the container of ice cream in his hands, his eyebrows furrowing a bit as he looked very serious.

"Hm... I think further investigation of its quality is required. Not to worry. I'm totally qualified."

He winked at Souji.

[eatsyourscience]

One corner of Souji's mouth quirked. He held out the carton in one hand, his other open hand out as well, gesturing toward himself.

"The same for yours. Hand it over so I can check it."

[jivitadana]

Minato obeyed, and carefully took Souji's half pint of coffee ice cream in his own. Just as carefully, he opened it, seeing a very light mist escape from it since it had been so cold.

"Visual inspection's acceptable. But for the real test now."

Minato busted out the wooden spoon the closet had given him, taking it out of the plastic. He scraped off the top of the ice cream near an edge so as not to look like he took so much of it. He tasted it, looking again very serious about all of this.

"Hm... I think I need more to validate the results."

[eatsyourscience]

Souji took the process a step further, holding Minato's ice cream up to smell it before nodding and trying a small taste.

"I concur." He used his wooden spoon to dig a bit more ice cream out of the side of the container.

He considered, then looked up at Minato.

"The quality passes inspection, but there's one last test: how they taste combined." If their favorite ice creams were incompatible, they might as well throw in the towel.

[jivitadana]

Minato nodded knowingly. He scooted closer so they would have less trouble taking both flavors of ice cream. He had no problem at all sharing. This was all for a good cause.

He scooped out the coffee ice cream first, then the mint so as not to get mint inside Souji's pint of ice cream. He did another visual inspection as he waited for Souji to get some ice cream for himself.

When they were both ready, Minato tasted both flavors together. He made a pensive sound.

"Synergy." That was the best word he could come up with at the moment.