22nd Link ▫ [Video + Audio]

[jivitadana]

[It didn't take Minato too much time to transport two small aquariums of blue-colored fish and a bouquet of blue flowers in a blue glass vase back to his room on the Third Floor. Room 100 on the First Floor was now empty, devoid of any sign of life now. Then the image cut out and turned to black.

The next and only image the camera of his communicator had picked up was not black, but a dark hue as Minato found himself laying on the Mansion roof looking up at the evening sky above. But the audio function had managed to capture his voice along with this melody from a silver music box he had wound up and opened to play.]

... Ayanami Rei has gone home.

Comments

action;

[last_liar]

[Yuu considers responding over the network, especially since he's had a recent boost to his paranoia, what with the monster rampaging around, but since things seem fairly quiet and this is his bestie, instead he grabs a pint of ice cream and a couple of spoons and heads to the roof.

He approaches quietly, but not silently, his foot steps scuffing on the roof's surface. When he gets to Minato, he sits down beside him and pulls the top off of the ice cream before setting it down in between them and sticking the two spoons upright in it.]

action;

[jivitadana]

[Minato tilted his head up toward the footsteps, the world temporarily upside down. His eyes followed Yuu as he sat down and spotted what Yuu had brought with him. After a second or two, Minato sat himself up, gently closing the music box and turning his comm device off. He moved it away to ensure more of their privacy.

But even if he moved away the communicator and had sat up, Minato hadn't said anything yet. He didn't know exactly what he should say besides thanking Yuu for joining him there, although he also couldn't help feeling that he was only causing more trouble for him. As usual.]

action;

[last_liar]

[Yuu takes a bite of ice cream, then rests his elbows on his knees and looks at the sky.]

Sorry about Ayanami. I know she was special to you.

action;

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded just slightly, almost imperceptible, but did make a very quiet affirmative sound. He picked up a spoon too, eating just a little bit of the ice cream.]

It isn't your fault.

[No one needed to apologize. It wasn't anyone's fault and it couldn't be helped.]

action;

[last_liar]

'S not what I meant.

[But Minato probably knows that.]

It just sucks when people leave.

[Audio]

[demiurgos_girl]

...I'm sorry, Minato. [Her voice is respectfully soft over the communicator.]

[Audio]

[jivitadana]

[Minato turned his head over to the communicating device. He carefully sat up, taking the device in hand and putting in his lap.]

Mn, it's okay. I'm sorry too.

[Rei was her friend as well, it wasn't as though Elaine needed to apologize for anything either.]

[Audio]

[demiurgos_girl]

[There's a pause for several seconds on Elaine's end.] Maybe she'll be back.

[Audio]

[jivitadana]

[Minato could hope for that, although in some way it felt incredibly, almost ridiculously selfish of him to even consider that possibility.]

Maybe. I think she's okay with it. [Either way. Perhaps.]

[masukukunai]

...Your girl?

[jivitadana]

[Minato did think about those words for a second or two. He hadn't heard them before like that, not in reference to him or to her, not exactly. He smiled a little at the thought.]

Mn, she went home.

[masukukunai]

Dude, I'm sorry...

[He really is. This place could be weirdly lonely sometimes, and losing someone so close could really hurt. His own friends coming and going hurt as well.]

Will she be okay?

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded. He had one definition of being okay, and she had hers. In this case, he didn't have any choice but to go along with her point of view of her own life and what it had meant.]

I think so. She told me she would be.

[video]

[insidethechimney]

When will she be back? Do you want a hand looking after her fish until she returns?

[video]

[jivitadana]

[Minato turned to sit up and bring the communication device closer to himself. That was a lot of pink on the screen.]

I'm not sure. And it's okay, thank you.

[No one knew when anyone would be back. And he had his responsibility to care of the fish. He promised her already.]

[video]

[insidethechimney]

Oh. But not too long, right?

[Pinkie's body slumps.]

Why didn't she say bye?

[video]

[jivitadana]

I don't think she knew she would be leaving either.

[That was the way Wonderland worked. He knew that, but it still didn't make any departures any easier.]

[Video]

[aangairnomad]

...I'm sorry. [His face is sad. He can't imagine how Minato must be feeling right now.]

Are you going to be alright?

[Video]

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded once he had his comm device in hand.]

Yes. Thank you.

[Video]

[aangairnomad]

[Aang mulls his words over before finally speaking. He's not sure if this will be comforting at all, or make things worse, but...]

...She'll remember you. The red string of fate and the feelings you had for each other are far too strong to let a place like this undermine them. You'll find her again.

[Video]

[jivitadana]

[Actually, that is very helpful. Minato managed to smile, setting his communicator in his lap.]

Thank you. I'll remember that.

audio

[aquarium_tipper]

...Are you buthy right now? Where are you?

[Which is kind of moot to ask, but he does anyway. Too late no take backs and all. He's not sure how else to start off the conversation.]

audio

[jivitadana]

[Any conversation right now was pretty much welcome since Minato knew he shouldn't just be this... upset wasn't quite the right word, but it was something like it.]

Not really. And the rooftop. You?

audio

[aquarium_tipper]

Athending all thethe thtairth. Hold on. [He actually pauses.]

Do you like pileth?

audio

[jivitadana]

[Aw, that's nice of him, if Minato heard right. Coming up the stairs, man.]

... Piles?

[Forgive his mun, she thought it was "pilots" or something at first!]