7th Social Link ▫ [Text + Audio]

[jivitadana]

[That nightmare was... different. Not new, as the stuff of nightmares was something Minato was used to. But different. He had been taking a nap at his desk while working on testing something. Something had been bothering him for a long while already, and it would be a way to distract him from thinking about the dream. The nightmare was the sign of something to come. Like those event announcements. He would just be prepared for it whenever it came.

Thus once he was ready again, he began writing, solving this math problem, then the next math problem and others like it.]

...

[Done. Answers checked out. But what about something... simple?]

42 - 17 = ______
...

........ What's forty-two minus seventeen?

.....

[Blank. How could he not know this? Something had to be wrong. (And it isn't cheating to ask the network!)]

Comments

[jivitadana]

[Then that meant they were close if he considered her a sister, a sibling, family. Minato nodded for a moment.]

She's fortunate to have a good friend like you.

[And in turn, Armin was lucky to have her as a friend.]

[strategisch]

[Oh, and he's kind too. It's becoming more and more difficult to be upset with him.]

I know that you've aided my squad in the past-- that you healed my Commander. I didn't know that your powers were destructive as well.

[jivitadana]

[It was only now that it clicked for Minato that the three of them were related in the sense that they were from the same world. Finally the pieces had come together.

If they were fighting like Hange-san said, then it was also no wonder that they were close.]

They can be. It's for balance.

['Destructive' was harsh, but it was true, Minato had to admit. The tradeoff was having the ability to heal. He would have to be more careful next time if he could help it.]

If there's anything that I can do to help all of you, I'll do it.

[strategisch]

I appreciate the offer. We're not like to reject extra hands in the Recon Corps... Although you should probably talk to one of my superiors.

[They makes use of Eren after all, the embodiment of the very thing they're fighting against.]

But I'm more curious about your powers. Mikasa told us that you said they were a part of your "soul".

[jivitadana]

[Minato could do that, talk to one of Armin's superiors. He thought maybe he could ask Hange again when he saw her.

When the conversation turned to his powers, Minato had to consider how to explain them again. He nodded.]

They're called my Personas. They're a part of me.

[Or parts of him, his personality, his identity.]

[strategisch]

Personas.

[If Armin were from a world where psychology had a chance to flourish, that would certainly mean something to him. But for now the word just feels odd on his tongue.]

Could you explain in a little more detail? How they're a part of you?

[jivitadana]

[Luckily, or so he hoped, Minato had explained this to someone else and yet another person had explained it back to him.]

Most people change depending on who they're with or around. Personas are like masks that people wear when they do that. Mine are just given a physical form.

[Or something like that.]

[strategisch]

[Armin knits his brow together. The concept doesn't make much sense to him, but he doubts Minato would lie in such an elaborate manner either.]

So you have several of these "Personas", that are different like how you are different with the people you interact with. And they are powerful spirits.

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded. That was basically it. "Spirits" was perhaps not a word Minato would have come up on his own, but it was still a good word.]

They help me when I need them to.

[But they just kind of... or really went out of control. That was the first time--No, wait, that was the second time that had happened to him.]

Did you want to see one?

[strategisch]

[Armin nods. Very little can squash his curiosity.]

As long as it's safe for the both of us.

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded, then lifted the Evoker to his temple. It was safe now, he thought and believed. He decided on Thanatos, though normally he had Messiah equipped; Armin should see who or what had played some part killing his friend.]

It's okay.

[He said it to Armin, and also in some way it was hard to tell if he were speaking to someone else. He pulled the trigger without another thought, and Thanatos appeared behind and above him.]

This is Thanatos. Mikasa saw him last.

[strategisch]

Wait, what--!

[The Evoker startles Armin (seriously Minato, that's a GUN) and he rationally fears what Minato means to do with it when he presses it to his temple. But instead of the spray of blood Armin expects, he hears a shattering of glass.]

[Thanatos is definitely the most intimidating of his Personas. His glowing eyes, jagged metal jaw, and cowl of coffins-- Armin cowers slightly on instinct. This devilish creature is suppose to represent a part of Minato? But it doesn't attack. It just hangs there at ease, as if waiting for an order.]

That thing is a part of-- it listens to you?

[jivitadana]

[Minato had lowered his Evoker, but didn't replace it in the holster yet. He may have to show another one that wasn't so... like a warrior god of death.

He nodded again. They did listen, barring something like an event. He had Thanatos use Salvation, a healing spell, which wouldn't be harmful to anyone, really, before Minato dismissed him.]

I am him as much as he is me.

[To that end, he summoned again, having Jack Frost appear. Less intimidating.]

[strategisch]

[After seeing Thanatos, Jack Frost is a surprise. It's so round... and cute...]

A snowman? That's a Persona too?

[And what does this say about Minato, having both of these things inside of him? Armin hopes that he's usually more cute snowman than ghoulish warrior.]

[jivitadana]

[Minato smiled a little, then nodded.]

I had over one hundred seventy at home, but here I only have six.

[He dismissed the Jack and then finally put his Evoker away. He hoped that that helped to answer Armin's questions. But he could answer more if he was asked.]

[strategisch]

One hundred and seventy? Wouldn't that be a little hard to keep straight? Like... knowing which one to summon at the right time?

[jivitadana]

I could only hold twelve at a time, or summon two at the most.

[Sort of. That book. That room. He always had access to all of them up to a point. Still in some way, twelve was a lot.]

They have different abilities. But sometimes summoning is more instinctual.

[Strategic too on occasion. It was better to have a balance between offense and defense, which he thought was like how he should have a balance between the different facets he had. Or was it that he was made to be balanced since he changed depending on who he was with?]

[strategisch]

I see...

[Twelve also sounds a bit much to Armin, but he doesn't entirely understand how this works either. It would always be a bit of a mystery to those who don't have the potential.]

Well, thank you for your cooperation. You didn't have to do any of that-- but now, you have my confidence.

[jivitadana]

[Minato lowered his head a bit like a bow and as thanks and as a sort of apology to Armin as well.]

I hope one day that I can gain your trust too.

If you see her before I do, please take care of her.

[strategisch]

[He'd like to trust you too, Minato.]

She's been taken care of. Don't worry.

[jivitadana]

[Minato meant from here on out too. But he knew Armin would.]

Thank you. You know where to find me if you need anything.

[Not that Minato had really anything to hide either, and plus maybe it would be better for Armin and his crew to know where Minato was if they were still wary. Not that he could blame them either.]