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[survivaltricks]

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[survivaltricks]

[Akira shakes his head]

I think that was already a pretty fair fight. I'm not sure how you make it any more even than that.

[. . . . . . . .]

Hey. . . do you think you could-- I don't know. . . teach me how to use an attack like that one?

[messianic]

I don't see why not.

[Immediately and easily.]

You're a Wild Card too, and I'm sure some of your Personas must have that kind of resonance. After that, it's just a matter of figuring out how to pull them both out at once.

[survivaltricks]

[another nod as his gloved hand slips from Minato's, fingers seeking out his pockets]

I wouldn't expect you to do it for free. If there's anything you want from me in return. . . just ask.

[messianic]

[In return...

Minato's quiet for a long moment as he thinks about that.

... ... ...

He's quiet long enough that it seems that he might not say anything at all.

And then he blurts out:]

How do you manifest your mask? What is it that... makes it appear? How...

[... No, he just shakes his head sheepishly.]

... Sorry, um. That's not exactly what you were offering.

[survivaltricks]

[omg]

Nope. That's exactly what I was offering, actually.

[he lifts a hand and presses same against his heart, fingers splayed]

Then it's a deal, okay? I'll teach you how to summon without your Evoker, and you can teach me how to use two Personas at once.

[more deals with Kurusu Akira!!]

[messianic]

[... Ah. Minato relaxes, shoulders slumping a bit as he offers a faint smile.]

... Okay. It's a deal.

[He reaches out with a hand for another handshake.]

And Akira... thanks. I didn't know something like that was possible. But now... I really hope I can learn how.

[And leave the morbid symbolism behind.]

[survivaltricks]

[another handshake!! they've been shaking hands a lot today, and the thought draws a laugh out of Akira]

[. . .]

[his gaze flickers towards the Evoker, and his expression fades]

. . . it'd be nice to leave that thing behind, wouldn't it?

[messianic]

... Yeah.

[Minato glances at the Evoker as well, before he tucks it into the waistband of his pants.]

I didn't mind dealing with it... when I thought that was the only way. But now that I know there are others...

[He shakes his head.]

I wish I could've saved my team the headache of using these.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira lapses into a thoughtful silence at that, before he draws his gaze up back towards Minato]

. . . can I see it?

[messianic]

Mm, I don't mind.

[Minato tugs the Evoker out, offering it to Akira easily, without hesitation.]

[survivaltricks]

[a silent nod, and Akira takes the device from Minato with a respectful sort of reverence. he holds it like a man used to wielding firearms, his fingers running across the handle and then the barrel, tracing the letters engraved into the metal-- S.E.E.S.]

I never asked. . . but what does S.E.E.S. stand for?

[messianic]

[The Evoker has a similar sort of weight to a real gun, rather than a fake; it's obvious they didn't skimp on a) materials and b) making sure it really felt like holding a gun to your head.]

It stands for... Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad.

[Minato snorts a little, amused despite himself.]

It was the phony school club that Mitsuru-senpai came up with for our Shadow fighting activities.

[Like... nothing about it is a lie.]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . oh my god. specialized extracurricular execution squad. . .]

[Akira laughs, a short, breathless noise as he looks up from the Evoker]

Is it really a phony school club when the name tells it like it is?

[messianic]

I mean, the name's in English, so...

Most people just kind of left it alone. Also, senpai was pretty well known and respected so nobody questioned her.

[survivaltricks]

[a pause]

[and then, thoughtfully]

An Empress?

[btw he's lifting a gun up a bit, pointing the barrel outward (not at Minato), holding the handle without his finger on the trigger]

[messianic]

Got it in one.

[Minato says that much with faint amusement on his face, even as he watches calmly. He won't stop Akira from playing with the Evoker, but he does seem curious to see what he's going to do with it.]

You asked my team's arcanas before. Empress was one of them. Emperor and Hierophant were my other senpai.

[survivaltricks]

Hnnn. . .

[a thoughtful sound, and he lowers the Evoker to his side again]

. . . Chariot, Lovers, Emperor, Priestess, Hermit, Empress, Magician, Faith, Apostle, Hope—

[and. a visible pause, his expression flickering a minute, like he intends to add one more but isn't completely sure about it]

[. . .]

Justice too, I guess. Those were mine.

[messianic]

[Faith? Hope? Apostle? Minato's never had any Social Links with those, but--]

... You're not sure about your Justice link?

[survivaltricks]

[a small shrug and a crooked smile, but Akira says nothing else of it]

[what he does do is finally lift the Evoker upwards and press the barrel firmly, yet cautiously, against his temple. just as he had observed Minato do earlier]

[messianic]

[... Minato falls silent also, observing Akira with the faintest of frowns.

And then, finally, softly:]

... Don't push yourself.

[survivaltricks]

[a pause. his fingers flex around the handle of the Evoker, but he still steers clear of the trigger]

[quietly]

I'm not.

[. . . why would this be pushing himself? he already knows the gun is harmless, that all it will do is drag his Personas into being from the recesses of his mind, just as his mask does. there's no reason for him to be nervous. no reason for him to hesitate. this isn't pushing himself. . . it's him stepping into Minato's shoes for the briefest, most fleeting of moments]

[. . .]

[so. . . why is his heart hammering so loudly in his chest?]

[messianic]

[...

Minato stays quiet at that. If Akira says he won't push himself, then Minato will believe in that.

But... all he can do is wait and see what Akira does, expression calm but a little sympathetic.]

[survivaltricks]

[another breath in. . . another breath out. . .]

[. . .]

Would it even work for me? Since. . .

[you know. he gestures to his mask. there's really only one way to find out, but--]

[messianic]

... Yeah. Of course it would.

[... A beat, and he looks away.]

There's no reason for you to use it though. Not when you already have a better way of summoning.

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[he lowers the Evoker without his finger ever having touched the trigger]

I guess. . . you're right.

[it's strange, how in this moment, he feels so weak]

I don't know how you do it.