asgardmeridiem | WELCOME TO ASGARD (part two) [OPEN]

[Now her breathing is what seems to be utterly distinct and separate from the world. She takes what feels like a deep breath, but it seems like barely enough to sate her lungs before the next one.

He holds his coat out to her and she doesn't take it for half a second, because those breaths are carrying with it his scent, too. It's not like the dreams she's had with him, where only one part at a time of him appears distinctly; she can tell that immediately. There's just so many things about him that are right that it couldn't be a dream.

She takes the coat unconsciously and starts to slip it on. What she could really use is something to cover her half-frozen legs under the miniskirt, but she can barely feel it now, anyway. His coat, a little large on her and barely warmer than her pink sweater, nevertheless feels like it's a bearskin rug on her hand.]

H-How... Minato-kun...

[But she stops there, completely unsure of what to say, not daring to touch him in case he disappears. Can a ghost really you his still-warm jacket? It seems ludicrous but she's not willing to risk it.]

[ He sighs softly. It's chilly enough that their breath fogs when they breathe. More evidence that he's not a ghost.

What to do now? There are an array of options, and each seems like a decent choice. He can explain about how Travellers here are taken from different times and mention that he too arrived not so long ago. He can also wait on that and simply ask if she's all right, and reassure her that yes, it's him.

One surprisingly tempting option is to simply reach out and hug her. It wouldn't be the first time. And if that doesn't reassure her he's real, he doesn't know what will.

He chooses to hug her, closing the remaining distance between them and wrapping his arms loosely around her waist, palms flat against her back. Their cheeks brush for a mere second, both feeling cold from the weather. ]

Yeah. It's me. [ Gentle. Calm. Quiet. His heart's still racing though, and thankfully Yukari probably can't feel it or hear it. His own confused feelings don't matter, anyway. ]

[One moment, for her, they were just standing there, close but separate, and against the gray backdrop everything from his shoes to his headphones looked like piercing colors; and then the next, she can't see any of it except the crook of his shoulder that her head is nestled into. Her cheek, where it brushed against his, feels briefly like it's icily on fire. Once his arms are around her, she can't help herself from practically flinging hers around him too, tightly, and her wall of doubt and refusal melts like a burnt twig.

Don't cry, she wills herself, don't cry, whatever you do. You're better than that; you're stronger than that; you have to show him you are. She has to show him that she learned something from it all, and that it was worth it, no matter how purposeless his--his being gone seemed.

It helps that, as always, he's calm and still and he knows what to do and he's going to explain and maybe he never really died after all maybe he was actually just it was all lies or the doctors were wrong or something...

She lets out one sniffle, and that's it; she's not going to let go of that hug, but she refuses to embarrass herself by breaking down. She even tries to muster a smile of some kind, not that he can really see it, but for her own benefit.]

I, I've m-missed you a lot, ya know...

[Which is all she really gets out before feeling like she'll cry again, so she clams up.]

[ Minato wouldn't blame her if she did start to cry. Why she hasn't broken down already is actually more confusing than any tears would be. Sure, he's not the crying type himself. Hasn't done it since he was a little kid, not even when Shinjiro died.

That's why the sting in his own eyes has him perplexed. It starts when Yukari wraps him into a tight hug, one he feels bad about not returning. It's the least he can do - hug tighter. He focuses on taking deep breathes, in and out, eyes closed, one hand rubbing somewhat awkwardly at Yukari's back.

Her admission makes him open his eyes. He sucks in a deep breath, suddenly, and lets it out in a rush, the only evidence of any kind of reaction to her words. He's pretty sure no one's ever said that to him. Not like that. Not meaning it that much. ]

...How long has it been?

[She's a little confused at that for a moment, though, when she thinks about it, maybe it makes sense. How would he know how much time had passed?

It wasn't even that much, really. In fact, eighteen days, less than three weeks. But the first day had been an eternity spent in a world that seemed colorless. The second had been even longer, after a horribly dreamless sleep, because she had awoken and nothing was different. That was the world they had fought to save; that was the world that he had lived in for about one month in. That was the world in which she had been looking forward to reconciling with her mother, to putting the past behind her, to starting a new chapter, and to having him at her side. It was the shell of it, anyway; the outward appearance, the facade, the cover of the book. The third day it was the comfort they all tried to offer her that had stung. Poor Yukari, so broken up about it; even Junpei had tried to be considerate. And everyone except Mitsuru had been intolerable. Each day had brought with it its own new irritations, frustrations, and despair.

...So how to vocalize that? How could she, even? She can't let him go, even though it's ridiculously awkward to carry on a whole conversation like this, but she doesn't want to let him go.

She registers his little reaction for a moment. It's more than things usually elicit. But, though she's forgotten that they're in the winter of a strange world -- it could be Port Island in the summer for all she knows -- she realizes she needs to say something.]

...Not that long, I guess... I-It just feels like longer.

[Which seems like such a banal statement to make, but what else can she say, except...]

Minato-kun...

[Even she's not sure what she's trying to say by repeating his name. Maybe just verifying that the name can attach to a body again.]

[ Not that long... a few weeks, then? A month or two? He'd have to ask for specifics later, for his own records.

Now is probably the time he should try explaining how this is possible. He can't explain everything - the specifics of what appears to be interdimensional travel definitely are beyond his comprehension - but he can share his theories about why they might be here, and explain how he seems to know he's gone already and isn't batting an eye at the idea.

But the idea of pulling away and replying with actual facts and theories and ignoring the fact that Yukari clearly needs more of this, and that he might even need more of this...? It doesn't seem right. That stuff can wait just a while longer. ]

It's okay. [ He's here. He actually doesn't plan on going anywhere at all. Whatever happened before, they were both okay right now. Whatever Yukari feels right now is also okay - though the jury is out on Minato's own feelings. ] I'm here.

[Those two sentences of two words are like drops of coloring into a glass of water. It's, truthfully speaking, what she wants to hear; it's what she regrets not hearing more of before March 5th; it feels like it's changing the complexion of everything, even the world around them. It feels like it's put a lid or a cap or a band-aid, at least, on her treacherous heart that had been doing nothing but spewing her grief and anger and viciousness and everything bad about her.

But she still won't cry, even if her breathing is shallower and her eyes want to well up. She could stand here for hours right now without noticing her legs freezing. She might well have done so by the time her mind revs up again and she next thinks to speak, because -- how selfish is she being, demanding comfort without even asking him?]

W-Wait, are you... okay? Are you...?

[Once again, she hopes that a few halting words can convey all the seemingly infinite questions she could ask right now.]

[ He can't help noticing the slight change, too. Like their surroundings light up a little, except it's not that there's more light, just that there's more color. It's strange, and seems important - what had that letter said, about laughter and tears? He can't consult it right now, but he makes a mental note regardless.

There's a change in Yukari, too, he thinks. She seems less tense, if still on the brink of some sort of breakdown. He'd chosen his words and actions well and that's... a huge relief. This can't be easy for her, seeing a dead person. Ideally he'd like to make it as easy as possible, given the circumstances.

Minato pulls away just a few inches so she can see his face and hopefully determine for herself whether or not he's okay. To help her, he gives a her a smile, though there's no hiding the fact that it doesn't reach his eyes. Who could feel genuinely happy right now, in his shoes? Still, he tries. ]

I'm fine. [ ...And here's the tricky part. He probably shouldn't mention it, not right now. But if he doesn't do it now he might not get the opportunity, later. ] Here, I'm fine. But... apparently not back home.

[Apparently not back home.

So then, what was this? It really wasn't home. Of course it wasn't. Of course home was still... estranged and alienated. But if he was here, what did home matter? But -- that question, though it leaps quickly to the forefront of her mind, seems a betrayal of what they had fought for.

His face is calm and even smiling. That's good. That's something, anyway. It's incongruous with how she feels; there's something jarring about it. How's he so calm right now? But... same old Minato, same old attitude. Was he fine? Was he really? It was always hard to tell what he was thinking; always had been, sometimes even in their more intimate moments.

She nods, meeting his gaze for just a moment. Her eyes flick away, then, as if embarrassed, and pick up on the fact that the world actually has definitely altered a little in hue. Then, she gathers herself and looks back into his eyes. Yes, that's right, once again she has to say something and not just stand here lost in her thoughts.]

I... I know that. Obviously.

[She doesn't mean it to sound harsh, but it comes out harsh, as if she's practiced it being harsh for a long time (even though it hasn't been a long time); and so she immediately tries to soften her tone again, because what if it's like a piece of glass and she breaks him and then he disappears again?]

I-I mean... [A little sigh.] We were all there.

[ Minato nods. Her sharp tone doesn't phase him... too much. He'll chalk it up to the harsh reality he'd just spoon-fed Yukari. This is a better reaction than he'd expected, all told. His gaze never falters. His smile doesn't fade yet, either. ]

I know. I heard you before I fell asleep. [ His eyes close as if miming falling asleep again. While they're closed, the smile fades away. ] That was the last thing I remember. And then I was here.

[Alarm goes through her for a moment seeing his eyes close. She wants to reach up and open them forcibly. It's not a happy reminder. But thankfully, she can restrain that urge, and she nods, finding herself with downcast eyes, too, before she processes those words. And a bit of a suspicion leaks into her mind.]

Then... Are we both...?

[...Dead? She doesn't recall doing anything stupid. She wouldn't have done it to herself. Not even then. No. She shakes her head.]

No, that doesn't make sense... that can't be it. But, how long have you been here?

[ His eyes open soon after he's done speaking. If anything, they're wider than ever. ]

No. I doubt it. Most people here are alive. [ And he's the exception for some reason. Well... him a few others who'd offered their state as somewhat public information. The vast majority, though, couldn't be dead. ]

It's been about two days. Time works funny here. [ He shrugs, causing his arms around Yukari to loosen. And with that comes a sudden chill - his uniform jacket isn't anywhere near as warm as the coat he'd given Yukari, and now that more of him was exposed to the cold air... He shivers. ] We should get inside.

[She nods quickly, ready to follow him, as usual. Yes, practical things. Important stuff. And hiding that childish disappointment that they couldn't keep standing there forever like that.]

Two days, that's not nearly long enough... [Though depending on what he means about time, it's not clear. And if it were, she certainly wouldn't be able to reason it out just now.]

No. But Ryoji and I showed up at the same time. He was from the past. From during his fight with Aigis. [ He shrugs as he walks, hands in his pockets both out of habit and in an attempt to work some warmth back into them. ] There's also a group from Yasoinaba. They're from the year 2012. These gods can take anyone from anywhere, and from any time, too.

[ Now, it seems, is the time for explanations. He walks at a brisker pace than usual, legs taking him down the path to his own House. The walk is short enough, but walking faster gets the blood flowing, and that means both of them will hopefully get warm even before they manage to get indoors. ]

[...right, Aigis. She's itching to ask him that question, about why her. In fact, she has a lot of questions she wanted to ask. One of those recent interminable few days, she'd compiled a whole list, scratching at the paper of a journal viciously, giving rein to the perverse urge to wallow in her negative feelings -- a whole list of questions she would ask and things she would've told him (or told him more times...) if he were around. She'd taken a bit of savage joy in it for a moment, satisfaction with the stark way she'd put the question to the world (why did that happen?), then tossed it aside. But she remembered most of the questions anyway.

Still, she doesn't ask any of them. Now that she's here with him (and having accepted it provisionally, she doesn't dare disbelieve any of it), it seems totally facile. She tries to pay attention to what he's saying instead--and then it's surprising:]

Ryoji-kun? [That's not exactly pleasant news, either. If he's here, what does it mean? She says more quietly:]

...Well, he'd have to be from the past, wouldn't he?

[She sighs.] And, a group...? You mean, another SEES?

Yeah. People come here from a lot of different time points.

[ Minato is fairly sure there's no harm in Ryoji being here. If anything, it had been a comfort seeing him here. Yukari's presence is slightly more of one, though. She's on that short list of people he'd regret not getting to see again, and yet here she is. Maybe this will be good for both of them. ]

Not another SEES. [ He looks at her out of the corner of his eyes as he walks, shoulders drawn up to ward off the cold. ] But they can use Persona. And they fought a destructive goddess too. A different one.

[She mulls that over. A lot of different time points... So there might be someone here from her future? That's a scary thought too. If it's set in stone.]

And you're from... [She doesn't finish that, instead shrugging and clearing her throat a little awkwardly. It's cold; she hugs his coat around her more tightly.]

S-So, there's more Persona-users here. That's... Is that a good thing? [Do they have to fight something again? She's willing to fight anything with their leader here -- or apparently here -- but really, she can't think about that part any more. Yeah, it's a relief to think about the practical stuff instead.]

From graduation day. [ And she'd know what that means. He doesn't plan on elaborating any further unless she asks.

Thankfully, they're almost to Heimdall House, having rounded a corner. There it is - his new "home". It doesn't really feel like much of one, however. Not without the others. Yukari's here, though, and maybe this is her House, too. He hadn't even thought to ask or sneak a peak at the jewel on her bracelet. ]

More Persona users isn't a bad thing. They're more like us than they are like Strega. Their leader, Seta-san, is a real nice guy. [ That much as certain upon talking to the Inaba group's leader just the first time, and he'd managed to talk to him a lot more often than that since.

The door to Heimdall is now in front of them, and Minato shivers one last time just from touching the cold metallic door knob to open it. Suddenly, there's blissful warm, and Minato motions for Yukari to come on in with a tiny smile. ] Welcome to House Heimdall.

[Nope, not going to ask. She knows enough about that.]

Right, then... I just hope they don't have another world-ending threat in store for us here. I've had enough of that stuff... [Especially if it comes with the costs that it did before.

She looks around, realizing just now that they're here. It doesn't look like a huge palace or anything from the outside, but she steps in gratefully to the warmth. She just now recalls that:]

...This isn't the house they said I was supposed to go to.

[ Oh.

Minato closes the door behind them, leaning against it for a second as he shrugs nonchalantly. ]

That's fine. We'll find yours later, this is just so we can get warm. [ Pushing away from the door, now, he doesn't even meet Yukari's eyes as he heads for the stairs. He's trying to hide his disappointment - the people here are nice, but living here isn't the same. He probably shouldn't complain though. At least he's living. ]

[...So he's living here now? Yukari also feels a bit of a pang at that. Though she'd already sought to leave the old dorm, or at any rate stay out of it as much as she could -- it was only because of him. Where is her place? Maybe it's close.

Or-- well...]

W-Well, why do I have to go to mine, anyway? Why can't I just stay here?

[She follows him to the stairs.]

[ That's nice of her. Minato appreciates it - even if she can't see that he's disappointed too, even if she only wants that for selfish reasons of her own... it's still nice that she seems to care that much.

It's then that he turns back and shakes his head. ] No. I don't think it works like that. Your god chose you. Mine chose me. We live where they do as their guests, kind of.

[She can't always tell with him, but she feels like she got a hint of disappointment. In fact, she really doesn't want to leave him alone at all. What if he'll go away if she lets him out of her sight?]

So? I didn't sign up for anything like that... We haven't let gods stop us before.

[ He has no plans on leaving this place. Where would he go? Still, Yukari has a point. There's no harm in trying. ]

If you want to stay here... [ He shrugs. Honestly, he could do without and get used to it. Minato had thought he was used to it as it was, but that was before being reminded of the way things used to be. ] I won't stop you. Don't get mad at me if Heimdall does, though.

[ Continuing up the stairs, he pauses at his floor and finds his way to his room. It's even more barren and dull than his dorm room had been, but it's warm and there are blankets and he can dig around for a pair of pants for Yukari to wear, if she'd like to get out of her skirt. In fact, he busies himself with that right away. ]

[She shakes her head impulsively.] I... [...would never get mad at you, not anymore, not after that, she starts to say, only... That's not quite true, is it? In fact, there's those things that are still bothering her, about his death, the things she can't vocalize now.]

Don't worry, I won't.

[As for pants, it's a good idea, Minato; she absently rubs her thighs, trying to get some warmth back into them -- they feel like frozen meat.]

Maybe I could just grab someone's room. Or trade or whatever.

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