[A faint, affirmative smile flickers in his expression at the comparison.]
Yeah. Like that.
[It's-- nice, really nice, not having to explain the idea beyond that. He can't imagine even Yosuke would take an explanation like that without looking at him like a weirdo... and it makes him more grateful for Minato's presence.
He presents a good question, though, and Yu has to think about it. He tugs on his line, very briefly, just letting it bob up and down a bit. Watching the other boy reel his line in...hmm.]
Diligence, maybe. [It felt like that when he was learning, after all. He only had the patience to try a few times, at first.] I can't imagine we're trying to Charm the fish.
Minato continues reeling in his line as he considers Yu's hypothesis. "Diligence" makes sense. "Luck" could get thrown into the mix too. On the other hand, it feels a little unfair to evaluate something like that. How could a person practice and refine their luck? ]
Does it matter though?
[ It's a question Minato returns to time and time again. That's why Yu is the curious one between the two of them. Minato's more inclined to shrug things off. Sometimes it's because he genuinely doesn't care. Other times, it's because he doesn't see the point in twisting himself into knots trying to think about something that might not matter in the grand scheme of things.
This tower is more of the latter. ]
Maybe you're right. Maybe we're being tested for things, but... if we don't know why, maybe it doesn't matter.
[ Minato's fishing pole's reel continues to hiss as he continues to wind its handle. Slowly but surely, the line reveals itself from beneath the surface. The hook follows afterwards, and --
Oh. The bait's gone. ]
...
[ Looks like something got away with dinner without Minato noticing... ]
[He says that as if he knows it for sure, as if it's just a fact. Yu tends to overthink, and in some ways, that colors his opinion here. But his time in Inaba showed him that those little things do matter. The way you say something, the skills you hone...it all matters to someone, and at least in his mind, that makes those things important.
A tug on the line. He starts reeling, but -- he can feel when whatever it is gets away.]
We may never learn 'why' we're being tested if we don't see it through. And if we don't know what skills to focus on, it becomes harder to do that.
[To translate, he's a nerd who likes to learn things.
Anyway, he reels in his line -- tiny shreds of the squid remain, but it looks like they both need to try again. He scoots the bait bucket between them so they can both use it.]
It doesn't really matter to me what's at the top. ...but if you want to know, I don't mind helping you.
[ There are certain things Minato's willing to do for the sake of satiating his curiosity. He'll give a complete stranger a bit of pocket change to see what will happen next, or go along with another person's fucking around just to be there to watch when they get to the "finding out" stage.
Trying to fight and out-challenge others to claw his way up a tower is a little much. But if Yu wants to know, maybe he'll get off his ass after all.
Minato reaches over to slide the plastic glove onto a hand. He plucks some bait from the bucket and carefully pierces it with the hook. ]
If this is testing our "diligence," we could be stuck here all day.
[ That's one way to test their mettle, isn't it? Being stuck fishing for a whole day would certainly test anyone's patience.
He slides the glove off and nudges the bucket a little closer to Yu. ]
...why did you fish in Inaba? For fun? ...for food?
[ There's no judgment in the question, only sincere curiosity. If the latter though, he completely gets it. Nothing beats eating some fresh-caught fish! ]
[It doesn't matter? Hmm. For a second, Yu's eyebrows lift, a mix of curiosity and confusion on his face. It's hard for him to imagine an instance where it doesn't matter, what's at the top. What if it's the only way for them to get back to Aldrip? To get home? What happens to people who don't make it to the top...? Is Minato really willing to take that risk?
He says none of that, but it's definitely on his mind.]
I think there's a time limit. [He checks again to confirm.] Sunset...so maybe an hour or so.
[His turn to bait the line -- he does so with the thoughtlessness that only practice can bring, and casts the line again.]
For fun, mostly. [He admits this without embarrassment.] It felt like a novelty, after growing up in a big city. I usually gave the fish to some of the stray cats in town.
[ That's his secret, Narukami Yu. Minato doesn't have a self-preservation bone in his body. If the people who don't make it to the top of the tower go poof, so it goes.
In any event, an hour or so doesn't seem like a lot of time given that these fish seem to be running circles around Yu and Minato. There's no time to waste. He lets his line fly, the motion a little smoother than his first attempt. The baited hook sails across the water before finally plopping into the deep. ]
The cats probably appreciated that a lot.
[ Fresh fish definitely beats pawing around leftover garbage for scraps. ]
I think I get what you mean. This is... different, from anything I've tried before.
[ It's yet another thing they share in common. ]
I mostly lived in cities too.
[ Cities, plural, as he was handed off from extended family to extended family. ]
[Someday Yu is going to realize that, Minato Arisato. And you're gonna get bonked on the head. (Kotone too, maybe. Consider this a warning.)
He tightens the line until it's taut, keeping his hand on the reel, and nods. Different. As much as he never loved being shunted around from place to place, there is something exciting about different -- even here, Yu has really thrived in it, keeping his routine loose enough to allow for spontaneity.
He pauses at that word. Cities. Then, a nod, in recognition of understanding. Looks like they've both gotten used to instability.]
It was mostly just Tokyo, for me. But...I switched schools once or twice a year, due to my parents' work. It felt easier to find new hobbies, instead of finding new friends.
[... ... ...!! A tug at the line. Yu's reaction is more immediate, this time, and he starts to reel it in.]
[ Somewhere in the distance, surely Kotone sneezes...
"Just Tokyo," says Yu. Minato knows it must have been difficult though, given the sheer size of that city. Each ward had its own identity and its own set of residents. Moving within Tokyo must have been like moving to different cities altogether.
Minato glances at his company. Yu holds himself with a certain degree of resilience. It makes sense now. That's the sort of mettle a person gains after adapting over and over again to new environments. ]
It must have been hard though.
[ It's a strange feeling, being deprived of the opportunity to plant one's roots in some form of soil. But before Minato can comment more, Yu's reeling his line in like a hunting hound pursuing prey. He can't help but watch, forgetting about his own line in favor of observing Yu in action. ]
Hmm, [is all he can respond with while he reels in the line.
Was it hard? Yu has always been pretty adaptable and good at taking care of himself. Responsible, you could say. Was it hard, getting used to new things...? He can't say, at this point; it just felt natural. Feels natural. But he made it easier at a cost, pushing people away, keeping to himself. Maybe it would have been harder if he did more.
Inaba sure made it feel tough...leaving behind those people he had come to care so much about.]
It sounds like you speak from experience, [he says at last when he manages to reel the line in. It's not that he's dodging the question, exactly -- it's just that it's easier if he knows how Minato felt about his own experiences. They both seem the type to put their head down and bear whatever they needed to. Maybe Minato will understand that.]
[ It's the same noise of consideration that Yu made. ]
Maybe a little. I wouldn't call it easy.
[ Therefore, it had to be challenging. Relearning the ways home from each school, doing one's best to remember everyone's names, all of these little things added up to assemble a massive headache. It's this that Minato contemplates while continuing to watch Yu reel in his line. ]
The first time I moved, I tried to learn everyone's names. I think I stopped after the third move though.
[ But for some reason, his time spent at the Iwatodai Dorm persuaded him otherwise, that it was worth trying again one last time. ]
It's not. [Easy. It's not sympathy in his tone as much as understanding, knowing the two of them have shared a similar experience.
The fact that they can talk about this as openly as they are feels significant. Like that, in itself, is a notable change...at least for Yu. Having someone else understand the peculiarities of the wildcard ability, of the bonds that strengthen it, makes it easier to talk about.
Or...maybe he wants to talk about it more, knowing that he's not the only one.
Whatever the case, he nods, because this, too, is a shared experience. He doesn't remember which transfer was the one where he finally gave up; most of his life has just...been like this. But he understands.]
I figured it'd be the same way when I went to Inaba, too. I think...if I'd never awakened the wildcard ability, it probably would have been.
[ Minato's gaze remains fixed on Yu's fishing line, watching as the waning sunlight reflects off the thin material. Slowly but surely, the fish will come in tow, pulled towards its ultimate location.
Perhaps both Yu and Minato were a little like that fish. ]
Mm. Me too. ...the wild card ability gave me a reason to try remembering people's names.
[ If he'd never awakened his own wild card ability, there would be no negative consequences to continuing to remain isolated. Or, at the very least, it would certainly feel like there wasn't any reason to reach out to others. ]
...I wonder if it was the same for them.
[ Kotone and Akira. It didn't seem like Kotone had any trouble getting involved in others' lives, but Akira seemed like the reserved type at times. ]
[It's with a light touch that he scoops the fish out of the water, quiet but purposeful as he puts it in the bucket provided. He doesn't respond right away; it takes him a few moments to really wrap his head around what Minato is saying. In the end, it's understanding that marks his expression when he does.]
Yeah. It felt like...a chance to make things different.
[Igor had said his "destiny" was coming to "a turning point." Along the way, Yu had figured that meant his powers, and his team's responsibility as they came to understand the stakes of what they were fighting for. He never really considered it, but it was a turning point for him, too. "A second chance," maybe.
A bit more fondness works its way into his expression at the mention of the other two wildcards.]
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expiationlogs2024-05-13 12:27 am
no subject
Yeah. Like that.
[It's-- nice, really nice, not having to explain the idea beyond that. He can't imagine even Yosuke would take an explanation like that without looking at him like a weirdo... and it makes him more grateful for Minato's presence.
He presents a good question, though, and Yu has to think about it. He tugs on his line, very briefly, just letting it bob up and down a bit. Watching the other boy reel his line in...hmm.]
Diligence, maybe. [It felt like that when he was learning, after all. He only had the patience to try a few times, at first.] I can't imagine we're trying to Charm the fish.
[He doesn't even have a Charm stat!!]
no subject
Minato continues reeling in his line as he considers Yu's hypothesis. "Diligence" makes sense. "Luck" could get thrown into the mix too. On the other hand, it feels a little unfair to evaluate something like that. How could a person practice and refine their luck? ]
Does it matter though?
[ It's a question Minato returns to time and time again. That's why Yu is the curious one between the two of them. Minato's more inclined to shrug things off. Sometimes it's because he genuinely doesn't care. Other times, it's because he doesn't see the point in twisting himself into knots trying to think about something that might not matter in the grand scheme of things.
This tower is more of the latter. ]
Maybe you're right. Maybe we're being tested for things, but... if we don't know why, maybe it doesn't matter.
[ Minato's fishing pole's reel continues to hiss as he continues to wind its handle. Slowly but surely, the line reveals itself from beneath the surface. The hook follows afterwards, and --
Oh. The bait's gone. ]
...
[ Looks like something got away with dinner without Minato noticing... ]
no subject
[He says that as if he knows it for sure, as if it's just a fact. Yu tends to overthink, and in some ways, that colors his opinion here. But his time in Inaba showed him that those little things do matter. The way you say something, the skills you hone...it all matters to someone, and at least in his mind, that makes those things important.
A tug on the line. He starts reeling, but -- he can feel when whatever it is gets away.]
We may never learn 'why' we're being tested if we don't see it through. And if we don't know what skills to focus on, it becomes harder to do that.
[To translate, he's a nerd who likes to learn things.
Anyway, he reels in his line -- tiny shreds of the squid remain, but it looks like they both need to try again. He scoots the bait bucket between them so they can both use it.]
no subject
It doesn't really matter to me what's at the top. ...but if you want to know, I don't mind helping you.
[ There are certain things Minato's willing to do for the sake of satiating his curiosity. He'll give a complete stranger a bit of pocket change to see what will happen next, or go along with another person's fucking around just to be there to watch when they get to the "finding out" stage.
Trying to fight and out-challenge others to claw his way up a tower is a little much. But if Yu wants to know, maybe he'll get off his ass after all.
Minato reaches over to slide the plastic glove onto a hand. He plucks some bait from the bucket and carefully pierces it with the hook. ]
If this is testing our "diligence," we could be stuck here all day.
[ That's one way to test their mettle, isn't it? Being stuck fishing for a whole day would certainly test anyone's patience.
He slides the glove off and nudges the bucket a little closer to Yu. ]
...why did you fish in Inaba? For fun? ...for food?
[ There's no judgment in the question, only sincere curiosity. If the latter though, he completely gets it. Nothing beats eating some fresh-caught fish! ]
no subject
He says none of that, but it's definitely on his mind.]
I think there's a time limit. [He checks again to confirm.] Sunset...so maybe an hour or so.
[His turn to bait the line -- he does so with the thoughtlessness that only practice can bring, and casts the line again.]
For fun, mostly. [He admits this without embarrassment.] It felt like a novelty, after growing up in a big city. I usually gave the fish to some of the stray cats in town.
no subject
In any event, an hour or so doesn't seem like a lot of time given that these fish seem to be running circles around Yu and Minato. There's no time to waste. He lets his line fly, the motion a little smoother than his first attempt. The baited hook sails across the water before finally plopping into the deep. ]
The cats probably appreciated that a lot.
[ Fresh fish definitely beats pawing around leftover garbage for scraps. ]
I think I get what you mean. This is... different, from anything I've tried before.
[ It's yet another thing they share in common. ]
I mostly lived in cities too.
[ Cities, plural, as he was handed off from extended family to extended family. ]
no subject
He tightens the line until it's taut, keeping his hand on the reel, and nods. Different. As much as he never loved being shunted around from place to place, there is something exciting about different -- even here, Yu has really thrived in it, keeping his routine loose enough to allow for spontaneity.
He pauses at that word. Cities. Then, a nod, in recognition of understanding. Looks like they've both gotten used to instability.]
It was mostly just Tokyo, for me. But...I switched schools once or twice a year, due to my parents' work. It felt easier to find new hobbies, instead of finding new friends.
[... ... ...!! A tug at the line. Yu's reaction is more immediate, this time, and he starts to reel it in.]
no subject
"Just Tokyo," says Yu. Minato knows it must have been difficult though, given the sheer size of that city. Each ward had its own identity and its own set of residents. Moving within Tokyo must have been like moving to different cities altogether.
Minato glances at his company. Yu holds himself with a certain degree of resilience. It makes sense now. That's the sort of mettle a person gains after adapting over and over again to new environments. ]
It must have been hard though.
[ It's a strange feeling, being deprived of the opportunity to plant one's roots in some form of soil. But before Minato can comment more, Yu's reeling his line in like a hunting hound pursuing prey. He can't help but watch, forgetting about his own line in favor of observing Yu in action. ]
no subject
Was it hard? Yu has always been pretty adaptable and good at taking care of himself. Responsible, you could say. Was it hard, getting used to new things...? He can't say, at this point; it just felt natural. Feels natural. But he made it easier at a cost, pushing people away, keeping to himself. Maybe it would have been harder if he did more.
Inaba sure made it feel tough...leaving behind those people he had come to care so much about.]
It sounds like you speak from experience, [he says at last when he manages to reel the line in. It's not that he's dodging the question, exactly -- it's just that it's easier if he knows how Minato felt about his own experiences. They both seem the type to put their head down and bear whatever they needed to. Maybe Minato will understand that.]
no subject
[ It's the same noise of consideration that Yu made. ]
Maybe a little. I wouldn't call it easy.
[ Therefore, it had to be challenging. Relearning the ways home from each school, doing one's best to remember everyone's names, all of these little things added up to assemble a massive headache. It's this that Minato contemplates while continuing to watch Yu reel in his line. ]
The first time I moved, I tried to learn everyone's names. I think I stopped after the third move though.
[ But for some reason, his time spent at the Iwatodai Dorm persuaded him otherwise, that it was worth trying again one last time. ]
no subject
The fact that they can talk about this as openly as they are feels significant. Like that, in itself, is a notable change...at least for Yu. Having someone else understand the peculiarities of the wildcard ability, of the bonds that strengthen it, makes it easier to talk about.
Or...maybe he wants to talk about it more, knowing that he's not the only one.
Whatever the case, he nods, because this, too, is a shared experience. He doesn't remember which transfer was the one where he finally gave up; most of his life has just...been like this. But he understands.]
I figured it'd be the same way when I went to Inaba, too. I think...if I'd never awakened the wildcard ability, it probably would have been.
no subject
Perhaps both Yu and Minato were a little like that fish. ]
Mm. Me too. ...the wild card ability gave me a reason to try remembering people's names.
[ If he'd never awakened his own wild card ability, there would be no negative consequences to continuing to remain isolated. Or, at the very least, it would certainly feel like there wasn't any reason to reach out to others. ]
...I wonder if it was the same for them.
[ Kotone and Akira. It didn't seem like Kotone had any trouble getting involved in others' lives, but Akira seemed like the reserved type at times. ]
no subject
Yeah. It felt like...a chance to make things different.
[Igor had said his "destiny" was coming to "a turning point." Along the way, Yu had figured that meant his powers, and his team's responsibility as they came to understand the stakes of what they were fighting for. He never really considered it, but it was a turning point for him, too. "A second chance," maybe.
A bit more fondness works its way into his expression at the mention of the other two wildcards.]
Could be. Maybe we should ask them sometime.