[open] it's full moon again, crazy how time flies

[memori3s]

Who: Minato & You!! (and some closed prompts probably)
Where: All over Aldrip
What: April open log/March event fallout. RIP to Aldrip.
Warnings: None yet.



i. dojo

[ There's a large dojo at the edge of Aldrip. It's vacant on most days with the doors locked shut. But if you stop by on certain days of the week, you'll find the gates wide open for any curious visitors.

It's kept clean despite no one living there. Sometimes, you can find food in its kitchen. There's even a TV with a couple of game consoles hooked up to it. It doesn't look like anyone will mind if you give them a try.

There are a few rooms on the second floor. It looks like some people might have once lived here, probably some high school kids. Others are left empty, but there are beds available if people wished to stay there.

For those who can still recall those who once were, this is the Sano Family's dojo, once under the care of Manjiro "Mikey" Sano. They may recall that it was a place where a couple other Chosen once called their home. Either way, it seems there's not a single trace of them outside of their old belongings.

This dojo has a new caretaker now: Minato Arisato. He doesn't seem to mind people stopping by and poking around. Plus, given the ruined residential district, he's opened the place up for people to stay. ]

ii. restoration

[ Aldrip's a mess. It's debris, debris, and more debris as far as the eye can see. But in truth, it's... a little nostalgic. There'd been a mess to clean up in Aldrip upon Minato's arrival too. Things have simply come full circle.

You might find him in the residential district, helping to clear away ruins of destroyed buildings. He might not be particularly strong, but Minato's determined to help with his own hands. He's volunteered to help clean some soot off the few homes that did survive A2's black box explosion.

Or, he might be at city center, putting his work-in-progress gardening skills to use. He imagines that even the little things, like replanting flowers in the gardens and green spaces, might do wonders to boost morale.

Otherwise, he may be at the farmhouse checking on the animals there. The prior month's chaos caused some of the farm animals to flee to the forest. Fortunately, Minato and Koromaru managed to track down all of them, but he still seems a little worried about them breaking out again. He seems a bit concerned about ensuring they all have enough food too, given how all the businesses are closing down... ]

iii. wildcard/current cr option

[ if none of these speak to you, feel free to hmu! We can figure out a custom starter. Otherwise, if you already have CR with Minato you can hit me with a starter and I will mosey right in o7 ]

Comments

[abandonware]

Affirmative.

[A low, mechanical hum as Pod slowly winds around a corner, then picks up speed down a long stretch of the cave system. They're descending: the air is cooler, and the sparse daylight fades. Gradually, the little droid begins to pick up speed.] Unit A2 habitually isolates during periods of emotional distress. However, this Pod has observed that your words have reached her before. Hypothesis: Subject Minato's presence will help abate Unit A2's condition.

...
Black box signature detected.

[Their descending path opens up into a wide cavern. Shimmering motes of light lazily wind through the air — moss, perhaps? Or pollen. And in the deep shadows, two big, glowing eyes stare at them from the dark.]

—!

[The noise the creature makes sounds like words, almost, but they undulate in a strange, grating way.

Pod slowly moves forward.]

Good morning, A2.

[memori3s]

[ Minato trails after Pod without hesitation, even as the device floats deeper into the cave. The air down here is cooler, damp, and he finds himself having to jog in earnest to keep up with pod. Koromaru's at his side too, breaking into a faster trot.

Isolation during periods of emotional distress, was it? Well, that makes two of them.

Eventually, Pod slows, and Minato fixes his gaze ahead. Over there is -- ah. So this is where A2's been hiding. She speaks, but the noise that leaves the android's lips barely forms proper syllables. Minato strains, listening for any potential words regardless.

...perhaps he should greet her in the same manner as Pod?

He offers the creature a polite nod as Koromaru lets out a sharp bark with a tail wag too, one that he'd commonly used to say hello to her. ]

Good morning, A2.

[abandonware]

[In the dense shadows, shimmering golden patterns flow over A2's body in a ripple, the movement a pool of darkness upended by a stone. She sits up, knees pulled to her chest. More motes of glittering pollen fill the air when she moves, blinking in and out of sight.]

You? What are you doing here? — No, no...

[She shrinks back, pressing herself to the wall. Her eyes go wide, luminous enough to almost fill her face.]

Did Pod bring you here? You shouldn't be here!

[While it's clear she's distressed, she hasn't made any move to attack. Accordingly, Pod lowers its external lights, though it stays where it is. To Minato, it speaks.]

Your assistance is required.

[memori3s]

[ She recognizes him. Maybe that'll make his task a little easier, not that Minato understands what said "task" is supposed to be.

In the face of A2's objections, Minato digs in his heels. ]

It's okay. I'm pretty strong, remember?

[ And when A2 promised to come and find him if he ever needed help, he'd made the same oath in return, hadn't he?

Koromaru barks in agreement. He stands at Minato's side, head and tail held high, unafraid. ]

...I'm not the type of person who breaks promises.

[ Slowly, as if he were approaching a spooked animal, Minato takes a small step closer. ]

[abandonware]

[A vehement shake of her head. The shimmering script roils over her body as Minato steps closer, and she hugs her limbs close to herself, an attempt to protect herself and self-soothe.

He can understand her, her clouded mind registers. In what seemed to be neverending nights of confused terror and attempts to escape the machine's simulation, she had only had that happen once so far. How odd.]

You don't understand... this place. I've been trying to escape the machines for so long — I tried everything to escape. And to be trapped, despite, despite...!

[She clutches her head.]

Hurting people, over and over again... losing people... what's the point of a life like that? What was the point of giving something like me life to begin with?! I don't deserve to be helped!

[memori3s]

[ "What's the point of a life like that?" A2 asks, and unfortunately for her, she's posited that question to Minato. All people deserved to live. This, first and foremost, is something that Minato vehemently believes in. He doesn't take another step just yet though, standing nearby and watching A2 curl into herself. ]

I don't think that's for you to decide.

[ It's not so different from the night where Ryoji urged him to kill him, to erase everyone's memories of the Dark Hour and gift everyone a gentle death. That night, he'd seen in Ryoji's eyes how fervently he wished for Minato to walk that path.

But that hadn't been for Ryoji to decide. People don't get to choose what others might think of them, how others might wish to treat them. ]

...you don't have to "deserve" help. People give their help because they want to.

[ He crouches so he's level with A2's height, still being mindful to give her space. ]

I'm helping because I want to.

[abandonware]

[The human boy tells her something that she knows, deep down — that people give help freely, without expectation of reward or debt. Her allies had died for her because they loved her, just as she would have died for them for the same simple reason. But still, she despairs, well aware of her loathsome nature. Undeserving of such kindness, undeserving of love. She would never be worthy of it because she was weak. She would never be worthy of it because she was a monster, had done so many unforgivable things.

You and I are the same, she remembers the ghost of 2B saying to her, and clenches her eyes tightly even as the shadows begin to melt off of her face. Dark tears streak her pale and drawn face, her features twisted in pain.]

You're helping me because you don't understand. [Some of the distortion has left her voice, but the grief is still there, like a nerve left raw and exposed.] You think that I'm a good person. They thought so too. But I'm not. I've killed my sisters. I've killed my brothers. I...

[Pod floats and stops behind Minato's shoulder.] A2, to exist like this is untenable.

[memori3s]

[ "You think that I'm a good person," says A2. Maybe others would push back against the statement, would object to her self-deprecation. Instead of either of those, a small smile breaks onto Minato's face. ]

No, you're wrong. I don't think you're a good person.

[ Koromaru sits at Minato's side. He doesn't protest what Minato says either, simply watching over the scene with Pod.

Minato exhales long, breath misting in the cavern's cool air. ]

There's no such thing as a good person.

[ There's no such thing as a person without fault, without blame. There's no such thing as a person who doesn't experience sorrow or despair. There's no such thing, and that's why he'll spend an eternity leaning his entire weight against the avatar of hopelessness' prison.

And though he's still mindful to give A2 plenty of space, Minato stretches out his arm to offer her a hand. ]

There's no such thing as a good person. So... I don't really care if you're not someone like that. That's just something people try to become, even if they never get there.

[ Koromaru gives a sharp bark in agreement. Becoming a good person is a goal to strive towards, and he'll be there with A2 every step of the way. ]

[abandonware]

[Despite the depths of her self-loathing, A2 listens, the grief in her face turning to wonder. More of the living shadow begins to fade, dissipating into shimmering light.

There was no such thing as a good person he says to her, but you could try to be better. You could try to atone. To be good. And even if you didn't achieve it, it was the trying that mattered. It was what made the difference.

Had there been a purpose to her failure? To her grief? Her attempts to help others despite the hopelessness of such a gesture, her mercy, when so few had given her mercy of their own?

Had that meant something? Had it made a difference?

Had she?

Before the Captain of the Pearl Harbor descent had died in that mission to birth A2, the last of her allies had turned to her. Black box in hand, she'd smiled and said,

"Thank you for giving meaning to my life."

The tears that fall from A2's eyes are clear now, cutting streaks in the black ink of before. Wordlessly, she takes Minato's hand.]

I'm sorry.

[She says, voice hushed. She can't think of what else to say.]

[memori3s]

[ "I'm sorry," says A2; it's a phrase Minato's well-acquainted with. Maybe that's why, in spite of not quite understanding why she utters them, he curls his fingers around hers to carefully haul her to her feet.

Fall down seven times, get back up eight times. Pain, loss, despair: they are all inevitable concepts. But so are healing, growth, and love. ]

I know.

[ "Thank you for giving meaning to my life."

Perhaps he would have said the same thing while looking over his own shoulder at the people who'd gifted him his answer and purpose.

Koromaru springs to all fours, barking twice out of excitement. He steps forward and jumps onto his two back feet, eager to show his own support for his friend. All's well that ends well, he thinks, for just like Pod he'd placed his faith within Minato too.

Minato gives A2's hand a reassuring squeeze. ]

Let's get out of here then. It should be quiet at the dojo.

[abandonware]

[Slowly, her head still lowered, A2 rises to her feet again. Suddenly, the space seems a little brighter — not far from where she'd been crouched are the first blooms of a flower that glows faintly in the darkness. Perhaps that was the reason for those shimmering motes of pollen. A light in the dark. The shadows have lifted from A2's shoulders. For now.]

... Alright.

[A2's voice is soft and diminished, but she manages a watery smile at Koromaru's enthusiasm, patting the dog on the head.]

... Thanks.

[It seems to be to both Koromaru and Minato. A2 walks ahead with the dog, but Pod lingers behind. Eventually, it speaks.]

Thank you, Minato. Unit A2 would not have requested assistance of her own volition.

[memori3s]

[ Koromaru's tail wags as A2 gives him a pat on the head, right between the ears in the exact spot that he likes. She's given him enough more than enough scritches to correctly identify the location that really hit the spot for him. And as A2 steps forward to head for the exit of the cave, Koromaru trots along in lock step with her.

Minato, meanwhile, is satisfied with trailing a little ways behind the pair while accompanied by Pod. He glances over at the little machine when he hears it address him. ]

It's okay. ...I think -- I wouldn't have, either.

[ Asking for help while feeling the weight of the world bearing down upon one's shoulders -- it's something that feels even more futile than carrying said weight. He remembers: it was the same back when he'd learned how he unintentionally contributed towards accelerating the end of his own world. Walls closing in, crushed by the boulder of despair -- without others reaching out, the agony that tormented him would have thoroughly smothered him.

There's a faint smile curving on his lips in spite of the darkness. ]

I'm glad she has you, Pod.