expiationlogs | TWAT club meeting mingle

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TWAT club meeting mingle

Who: Scott Summers and members of TWAT (Teenagers With Abilities and Talents) Club. Or any teenager that just stops by really.
Where: Roof of the club building
What: Teenagers with abilities or maybe no real abilities hanging out on the rooftop and eating food. Talking. Doing club stuff.
Warnings: Probably none.

[Maybe you're already part of TWAT club and read the message that Scott sent out to everyone, basically stating that they're having a meeting this Saturday to just hang out and meet new members. Or you saw one of the flyers around town that mentioned about having a meeting. Either way, the meeting is held at the rooftop of the club building, so just come. No food or anything required. He's a good leader like that, yeah. Definitely.]

before the meeting;
[Why did you come early, god.

Well, anyone that is one of those people that like to come early to events, Scott's putting you to work. Maybe it's just helping getting the food out on the tables, or bringing up chairs or tables up to the rooftop. Either way, work needs to be done and setup is still in progress, so pair up with other TWAT members or whatever to get things ready. Thanks, Scott appreciates it. Probably.

Also, if you have your own food or brought a game of some sort, that's cool. He definitely isn't going to say no. Go set that up.]

just hanging out;
[Once the meeting starts and Scott gives some basic speech and welcoming new people to TWAT Club (in which he wasn't nervous at all shut up), people are more than welcome to just eat the pretty decent spread laid out in the tables. Stuff like chips, pizza, rice balls, ramen, probably some mixture of American and Japanese food because he's him and his girlfriend is Kotone, so yeah. There's also a little sign or note in front of the tables that states 'provided by cooking club, so join us. ✨'

Since this is a place filled with teenagers and abilities... Scott probably has encouraged people to show off their powers a little. JUST DON'T BLOW SOMETHING UP it's okay, he's talking about himself too. Of course, he's not forcing anyone to show off their powers and everything, but he sort of hopes people are feeling more comfortable to do so. That is the purpose of his club and everything.

There's also a random cornhole game set up. Don't ask.]

after club;
[Feel like being a nice person and help clean up? Nice. Scott isn't forcing anyone to stay after to do so, but he appreciates the help. It's mostly just taking tables down and clearing out the trash. Anyone that stays can probably take home some of the leftovers. So, that's a nice bonus.

Maybe you just want to sit on the ground and enjoy the evening a little. He's not judging.]

[ooc: TWAT mingle log! Please feel free to post your own top levels and tag each other. :> If your character would bring food or set something up, go right ahead. The more the better, right? Also your character doesn't need to be part of TWAT to join, Scott will just sort of let any teenager in. 'Teenager' being anyone that doesn't look too much like an oldie--]

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[ Nope! No jokes here, only genuine reports on what he's observed about Scott.

"My own shit and stuff" is news to Minato. He's only familiar with post-character development Scott Summers. It's why he stares at Scott with a muted curiosity. And while he'd like to ask what Scott was alluding to, he'd hate to say the wrong thing and risk upsetting his company.

So instead, he adds with a thoughtful expression: ]

...yeah. I think I just got used to it though.

[ It was easier to numb himself to it as opposed to allowing it to be out in the open, like a raw wound exposed to the elements. And before Scott can laser his ass for being a cynic, he's quick to amend his statement. ]

Not anymore though. ...it's nice, having people around.

[He sees that curious look and yeah, he gets it. His old high school self would probably be shocked seeing him now, making a lot of friends, hosting a club. What happened to the Scott Summers that skipped class and didn't care about pretty much anything that happened at school?]

I thought I was used to it.

[Probably not to the same extent as Minato because he really came to Scott with his full chest and claimed that none of his friends would've cared if he died. Yeah, he's not going to ever forget that. It's tempting to flick the front of Minato's forehead, but the mutant holds back this time, because they're still in somewhat serious talk and he doesn't want to say or do something that will break that.

He just really wants to make sure that it's drilled in Minato's head now. Familiarly, he shoves his hands in the pockets of his jacket, voice a notch quieter.]

Then I realized how much I was missing out not connecting with others. Thinking that being alone was better. Don't think I can go back to that now.

[ "Then I realized how much I was missing out not connecting with others."

And that's the truth. Even Minato would readily agree. It's a lesson he'd managed to learn during his final year of life. ]

...it's because you think being alone will hurt less.

[ Minato's gaze drifts downwards. There's a solemn look on his face again. ]

You can't miss something you never had, but... when it comes to loss -- it'll make you think maybe it's best if you never tried.

[ At least, that's how he'd felt each time he was forced to move, to leave behind all the people he'd managed to connect with. Again and again, uprooted, passed around by relatives who would not look him in the eye. And though they'd never said it before, Minato didn't need it to be spoken aloud. A child who would barely speak and could not recall his parents' faces was a stain on each household he'd lived with.

Then they'd lost Shinjiro. And after that, Ryoji.

But by the time December 31st arrived, he'd seen for himself that once you know someone you never really lose them. They're still there, tucked away safely in one's heart.

Minato's gaze flickers back to Scott. There's a faint affection in his eyes, a quiet warmth glowing in his irises. ]

...that's not true though, is it? As long as you remember someone, they'll never be gone. So in the end... it's worth it, I think.

...Yeah.

[Mostly, anyway. For him, he just thought that it didn't matter. He had no goal in life, just always a little pissy at everyone and everything. Maybe because he thought that his parents didn't care what he did, or he just assumed everyone around him sucked, but he's wrong. He can admit that. People don't always suck, especially not the friends he's made here.

But maybe Minato's right too. He just thought that being alone would hurt less. He's never fully experienced loss though, not in the same way as him or Kotone, but... guess he's had close mentors leave since arriving here. And that sucked. A lot. It still hurts in a lot of ways. However, he doesn't regret meeting Dazai or Astralin or the others.]

Yeah, we just have to remember them. [Scott's focus turns a little sharp, a sudden pain spiking in his chest because he knows that applies to Minato. And Kotone. They're both... gone in their world. It almost hurts to breathe for a moment, having that reminder slammed into his mind, but he can't back down now.] Just like you and Kotone will never be gone.

[Maybe easy for him to say right now because Kotone and Minato are still here. He's not sure what kind of state he'll be in if she disappears from this world. He'd never regret their time together, but it's going to be so hard. If remembering her means that she won't be gone, then he'll have to do that.

...Fuck it, guess it's feelings time. Scott shudders a breath.]

Meeting both you idiots has been worth it.

[ The warmth is gone. Instead, it's replaced with surprise. Even though Minato was the one to bring up how once you get to know someone they're never truly gone, he's nevertheless surprised that it's being handed right back to him. It shows, based on how his eyes widen and his lips part a bit, prepared to say respond in turn. But then the expression's gone as he nods, fully accepting Scott's sentiments. ]

Yeah. You're right.

[ He can only hope that everyone else from SEES would feel that way too.

As Scott takes a shaky breath, it's not lost on Minato that this is becoming a common occurrence during their exchanges. He looks to the other teen with a sheepish expression. Scott says meeting him and Kotone's been worth it. If that's the case, why does he sound so devastated? ]

...then let's make the most of the time we have.

[ He holds his hand out to the other. They'll shake on it. They'll make it a promise. ]

That's what everyone's been telling me.

[Of course Minato looks surprised by his comment. At this point, it's not really a shock to see the other teen be taken aback by concepts of people caring or remembering him, because he has a weird relationship with death or something. Because he died so young. He knows (at least he hopes) that Kotone doesn't fully feel the same way, but they both seem to put their lives lower than everyone else's. He hates it so much. At least it's some small comfort that Minato is getting it.

If he has to keep on telling Minato, reinforce it through some means, he will. It's what he'd do for Kotone. Still, he's later going to send all his therapy bills to Minato and the others--]

...Live each day to the fullest. [Scott eventually responds with, that more shaky edge still clinging to him even as he reaches over to shake his hand. It's something Kotone has told him, basically instilled him, because they don't know what might happen tomorrow. Any one of them can just disappear. It's a promise though and Scott almost stares at Minato's eyes through his red lens.

Although, living each day to the fullest can still be something slow, maybe he needs to poke Kotone about that because she's always on the move. That's a talk for him and his girlfriend though.]

Everyone has a point this time.

[ "Live each day to the fullest." That sounds like something Kotone would say too, Minato thinks to himself as he shakes Scott's hand. ]

Yeah. Live each day to the fullest.

[ Because you don't know when your last day will arrive. He keeps that thought to himself though. If that comment sounds like something Kotone would say, it's probably something she already has said to Scott.

Minato's hand returns to his side. He hadn't intended for his time at the club meeting to spiral into yet another session of contemplating why one should treasure their life. The frequency of such conversations will surely lessen, freeing Scott from facetanking JRPG protagonists' feelings or lack thereof.

In any event, there's one method for him to put that sentiment into actual practice. ]

I'll come to your next meeting, whenever it is.

[ ... ]

...as long as it's not during work.

[ He'll try his best! But no promises. ]

[Will it ever stop being bittersweet hearing one of his friends say that? Probably not. This is what he wanted though, right? ...Well, what he wants is for all his friends to be alive and happy back home, but fuck.]

Yeah, you better.

[Scott releases his hand soon after, clearly trying to suck up his feelings and shove it somewhere in his chest. When did he start being all emotional and stuff again? Guess when he really started caring huh? Didn't they talk about that already? Ugh. And yet, he still wouldn't take it back.

This next bit is definitely on him though. Maybe he shouldn't bring it up at all, give both him and Minato a break from all this. It's not like he wants Minato's first experience at his club to be deep ass talks about feelings. He's supposed to have fun and make friends too. All these cheesy shit from your classic 80s movies--]

...Ryoji's here. [He starts, the comment almost sounding conversational, but there's some depth to it as Scott watches Minato.] I know he's from Kotone's side of events.

[So, he doesn't know Minato at all. He knows Kotone would be really upset if it was the other way around, so he wanted to check on Minato about this.]

[ The smile fades from Minato's face at the sound of Ryoji's name. He doesn't look troubled or perturbed by the mention of him. Instead, his expression shifts into one that's more wistful. ]

He is, yeah.

[ He knows already. He'd already bumped into Ryoji during one of his searches for Sha-Ming. Perhaps that's what summoned Ryoji to that particular street: the hand of fate sweeping away one of Minato's companions to make way for another.

Minato's response is dual in meaning. That single answer suffices as a reply to both of Scott's comments.

If Scott's searching for any distress over the fact that it wasn't his Ryoji, he won't find any. Minato maintains his even-tempered disposition. ]

I'm glad there's someone here who remembers Kotone.

[ While they've never explicitly discussed it, he can tell Kotone must have a deep-seated fear of being forgotten. After all, she'd asked him on that March morning whether he thought their friends remembered the promise and headed for the rooftop to see them.

He shrugs, hands sliding into his pockets. ]

...he's the same though, just like the Ryoji Mochizuki I knew.

[ Maybe that's why Minato isn't too fussed about the prospect of a Ryoji who'd never met him. ]

...he's the same, even if he's not.

[ But then Minato's expression twists a bit, a somber smile settling onto his features. ]

It... feels a little unfair to him, that he doesn't know me when...

[ "When I know him so well, because he'd once been a part of me." Minato can't quite finish that sentence though, voice tapering off as he goes quiet yet again. He remembers the sorrow in Ryoji's eyes in spite of a bright smile, the sincere apology he'd offered over not being able to remember Minato.

It doesn't hurt Minato that Ryoji didn't remember. Rather, it stung seeing Ryoji regret not remembering Minato, recognizing that Ryoji must have been someone important to him. ]

[Yeah, there goes that smile. He pretty much was prepared to see that, but this is important. He'll... make it up to Minato if he has to. Although, the other teen doesn't seem as upset as he thought he'd be-- just a 'he is.' It's definitely less upset than how Kotone would react, even though she would hide it behind a bright smile (which is something she's been doing less with him at least). Scott wouldn't consider himself great at reading the other teen, but he usually can tell when he's bullshitting and stuff.

And that's not what is happening here.

He just keeps quiet as Minato gets his thoughts out, his own expression mostly hidden behind his ever present sunglasses, but he feels... relieved? That Minato seems okay-- he's more settled than Scott would be. He just has complicated feelings regarding parallel universes-- like having the same people from different realities, but he doesn't bring that up. Besides, it seems like for both Kotone and Minato, even though they're different realities, the people they know look exactly the same. It's not like him and Kurt, where there are subtle differences in their appearance.

...Scott wonders if that really makes a huge difference or not.]

I'm glad he remembers Kotone too. [Even if it's unfair to Minato, but at least he has Akihiko, Mitsuru, Aigis, and Shinjiro? There's someone that knows her, he gets how important that is. He exhales quietly, hands in his own pockets as he tries to feel normal about all this. Seems impossible.]

Nothing's preventing you from hanging out with Ryoji. [...] And he seems like the type that wants to know you.

[ Perhaps that's simply a point in which Minato and Kotone diverge. Had their positions within Aldrip been reversed, where the majority of SEES members here were from Kotone's timeline, Scott would find Minato not particularly distressed by it. Being forgotten is inevitable. The human mind is a sieve, memories seeping through it and escaping into nothingness.

The heart, on the other hand -- the heart will always remember. ]

...yeah. You're right.

[ In fact, the two of them had decided to make it a point to learn more about one another. ]

This Ryoji is different, but... it feels like he's somehow managed to find me again.

[ The subconscious pull that resulted in their paths crossing yet again in this lifetime; perhaps he shouldn't be surprised that his connection to the other boy was strong enough to conjure this opportunity. After all, he'd spent ten years alongside some version of Ryoji Mochizuki.

Yet there is one problem with this particular Ryoji. One of Minato's hands curls into a fist, nails anxiously digging into his palm. He doesn't know how familiar Scott is with Ryoji. Maybe Kotone's disclosed Ryoji's true identity to Scott, but if not, Minato doesn't want to be blurting out who Ryoji really is.

He's stuck, troubled expression settling on his features. ]

Doubt it's just coincidence. He's still connected to you, right?

[As in, he kind of knows the relationship between Ryoji and Kotone. So, between Ryoji and Minato as well. He understands they have a unique bond, as he existed in them for several years or something. Oh, he definitely doesn't fully get it, but it's fine. The important thing to note is that Ryoji is very special.

Maybe, months ago, Scott would've been jealous, because he's just a mutant with no real ties to them. But he's past that stage. He knows that Kotone loves him and that is unique between them. It's something that he's grasped closely to his heart.

But okay, he sees that troubled face--]

...Okay, what's wrong? [Oh, wait, he should be able to figure this out.] It's because Ryoji doesn't remember, huh?

I guess so.

[ It's as close to a "yes" that Minato's willing to hazard. It's a strange situation even on its face. How could someone from an entirely different universe be connected to him? And yet, here's Ryoji, who's provided living proof of it every time the guy opens his mouth around Minato.

Minato blinks, lips parting slightly out of astonishment. "Doesn't remember," says Scott, which means he must already know more about Ryoji than what Ryoji knows about himself. Minato nods, hand still balled in a fist. ]

...you know, then.

[ Despite the tension in his arm, Minato's shoulders relax a bit. It certainly helps that he doesn't need to explain much to Scott. ]

Did Kotone tell you?

[ ... ]

How much do you know?

Yeah, I know.

[At least he thinks he knows??]

Honestly, it was Ryoji who told me most of everything-- the Ryoji that was here before.

[Scott's going to leave out the whole bit of him being a giant asshole to him at first because he was having very complicated feelings about Kotone during that time. Not his finest or proudest moment, so the mutant prefers to avoid talking about that whenever he can. Everyone is past that now, so it's cool. He's better now too.

Not to mention he'll never forget the disappointment in Kotone's eyes when he explained what happened. It's why he's stuck with 'tell her everything, even if it's stupid,' so he can avoid miscommunications like that again. And it's worked really well so far.]

He explained his connection to Nyx, that he's basically death-- Thanatos. That a part of him existed in you-- Kotone for years. [He lowers his arms to his side, looking just a little tired. Maybe exasperated.] That covers most of it, right? Unless there's something else I'm missing.

[ Okay cool, there isn't much to explain to Scott. If he already knows about Ryoji's connection to Nyx and that his true identity is Death, Scott can... probably gather Ryoji's ultimate fate of being the harbinger of the apocalypse. ]

...yeah. That's basically it.

[ Good enough. Close enough. ]

I don't think he knows.

[ The carefree spring in this Ryoji's step is one that resembles his November demeanor, unburdened with knowledge. It's bittersweet to see him that way. Nostalgic, even, despite the fact that Minato only knew that particular incarnation of Ryoji for a little while.

To tell, or not to tell -- that is the question, isn't it? Minato exhales, eyes drifting shut as he considers this. ]

...he'll find out, eventually.

[ Someone's going to have to tell him, or he'll find out somehow on its own. ]

[Cool. Great. It's nice to be on top of things.]

...Yeah.

[That Ryoji doesn't know about his true identity. He already cautioned Kotone about that, gently suggested that she tell him the truth, but she wasn't ready. He's not sure if she will be, but he can't be the one to say stuff. There's a flicker of disappointment from Scott when he hears Minato's answer as well, that he doesn't plan on telling him right away.]

He deserves to know, Minato. He's going to find out one way or another. [Scott will try with Minato, at least once.] And it'll be better if he hears it from you or Kotone than the council. Believe me.

[Definitely not the same thing, but finding out that him-- or a version of him kills the professor, the one that opened his home to all mutants? From Jerry and the council? That sucked.]

[ Scott's right. It's best to tell Ryoji in a more controlled situation, from friends who could support him as opposed to whatever the Council has up their sleeve. ]

You're right. ...it should come from us.

[ But at the same time, Minato's uncertain whether it's truly his place to disclose that information to Ryoji. After all, he's not the one who'd spent time as this Ryoji's friend, the one who'd come to know him.

He shakes his head. ]

But not from me. I think -- I think it should be Kotone.

[ Scott's probably had this conversation with Kotone already. If he's having it with Minato now, that must mean...

Minato exhales. So that's how it is. ]

I'll talk to her. I understand why she feels that way, but you're right.

[Wow, so much for getting his hopes up before abruptly dashing them. Scott looks disappointed once more, but this time, the expression lasts a bit longer. Minato isn't going to tell Ryoji and unless he manages to convince Kotone, it's unlikely that Ryoji will hear the truth.

Maybe Kotone will listen to Minato more about this, because they share similar experiences. They probably understand each other in ways Scott can't.]

...Maybe she'll listen to you more about this than me.

[There's a hint of bitterness in his voice that he can't fully hide this time, but Scott just waves his hand, wanting to move on.] Okay, I'm counting on you. So don't half ass it.

[ The hint of bitterness is something Minato picks up. There's no visible sign that he's noticed though, as he simply nods to go along with Scott's desire to move on. ]

Yeah. I'll do my best.

[ Even without Scott's encouragement, this is definitely something he doesn't want to half ass. It's important.

Minato looks to Scott. His mouth opens slightly as if preparing to say something. But then it closes as he has some second thoughts. ...best not to comment on what Scott said. The opportunity's come and gone. Maybe Minato will pry some other time.

In fact, he'll leave Scott to his thoughts, offering the other teen a polite nod to signal he's about to peace out. ]

...I'm going to go try to talk to some people I don't know here.

[ Gotta complete Scott's little sidequest!

And then he's giving Scott a small wave before bowing out, slipping away before Scott can ask him about the apologetic expression on his face. ]

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TWAT club meeting mingle

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