isleofavalon | Winter is here, weather you like it or not

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Winter is here, weather you like it or not

🧙 WHO: Ken Amada and you!
⚔️️ WHAT: February catch all
🕒 WHEN: All of February
🗺️ WHERE: Here there and everywhere
⚠️ WARNINGS: None at the moment, I'll add more should they come up!

A. The Libryrinth (Closed to Harry)

[All things considered, Ken wasn't sure how well this quest will turn out for the both of them. However, after how well the last quest turned out, this one shouldn't be too difficult. It wasn't all that different from the last one they did. The only thing they needed to do was to look around for some symbols and report back, right?

With a sigh, Ken was hiding under a table in a library. As he looked at Harry and his familiar, Jack Frost, he wondered how much longer he had hide in the shadows.]

You doing okay, Harry-san? You don't see the librarian nearby, do you?

B. A Tall Order

[How did Ken end up in this mess? He didn't know but that didn't stop him from looking at the 3 foot elf before crossing his arms. This quest was simple enough but at the same time? It seemed a little too simple as he wondered if there was something he didn't quite understand.

As he looked back at the chair, he mumbled to himself.]

You know, you guys are making a big deal out of nothing. Why do you feel the need to prove yourself to the South Beach Elves?

[He said before said 3 foot elves started bickering at him.]

C. Hugs all around!

[Was it just Ken's imagination or did everyone seem to be a much happier mood lately? He wasn't sure but Ken was no different. As he was out and around with his dog, Koromaru, he decided to do a couple of things to keep this positive mood up. Ever since he got shot with a Cupid's arrow, he was feeling absolutely optimistic and feeling the need to make everyone around him just as equally happy.

Should you see him around, he might either try to tempt you with free food that he made (spoilers: It's fried rice that is just decent at best), going out for a run (and he might bump into you!), or see him randomly talking to Koromaru about why dogs are better than cats.

Pick your poison.]

D. Network

UN: Koromaru

Quick question, how do you handle being homesick? I've been here for almost 2 months and I am starting to miss a couple of my friends.

What do you do when that happens?

E. Wildcard

[Surprise me! If you want to do something, feel free to ping me at

rosemotifs

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[The implications were there. This stranger who happened to be someone who is a teammate and happens to know about March 5th? Again, he found himself struggling to find the words to say something but he didn't know what.]

What are you talking about, Minato-san? [He said before tilting his head.] You didn't do anything wrong. If anything, I should be the one apologizing. I don't remember who you are.

[He didn't want to believe it but he just had to say it.]

Especially when you're a member of SEES.

[ It really is something to hear it directly like that. But then Ken says he's a member of SEES— present tense, still is- and how could he not be glad to hear that? ]

It's okay. I'm... [ ... ] fine.

[ He'll be fine, leaning back a little, hands in his pockets with his shoulders hunched. ]

You look good. Koromaru too. Are you keeping in touch with everybody else? Junpei. Mitsuru-senpai. Aigis...

[ Aigis who didn't forget their promise, sworn not to forget him, but if she never mentioned his name around Ken after the fact, then she must have. Out of everyone, it's the thought of Aigis no longer knowing him that breaks his heart, and it shows on his face. ]

[His words alone made Ken even more suspicious about Minato. If there were other worlds out there, it was possible this would know him in some manner. Sensing the sadness within him, Ken immediately placed his hand out in front of him.

Friend or not, he wouldn't sit back and do nothing.]

I'm sorry but do you want a hug? [It might seem a little out of character for him but he didn't care. He got hit with the arrow and the last thing he wanted was to see someone like this.

If there was some way for him to cheer Minato up, he would.] Or better yet, do you want both Koromaru and I to do that? [Because everybody should get a hug from the dog somehow!]

Uh.

[ Does he want a hug? Not... particularly... Not in any way that he ever seeks out physical comfort, in any case, never really feeling like he's close enough to anybody to ask, nor that anything he's going through warrants requesting comfort.

It would have been a much easier question to answer if it were "Is it alright if I hug you?" because other people's wants are always held above his own. ]

I... guess so?

[ Getting a hug from Ken, even from his eleven year old self, would probably be weird. Being licked on the hand by Koromaru less so. But he can't deny the fact that Ken being willing to comfort him, even if they are strangers, is something that makes his chest glow with warmth. ]

[If it weren't for the arrow, Ken wouldn't dare to be so bold to ask him. However, if his suspicions were correct, it was only fair to do something to make it up to Minato. As he wrapped his arms around the older teen's shoulders, he gave a small smile at him. At the same time, Koromaru also had to place his head against Minato's legs.

It was a shame, they both didn't know who he was but this only seemed fair, right? As a way to make up for some lost connection somehow?]

I know there isn't much I can do since I don't know you but I want to ask.

[He said before taking a breath in. Maybe he was prying into something he shouldn't have but he just had to know.]

How did you know me?

Edited 2021-02-16 00:23 (UTC)

[ It's weird, but it's nice too. Warm, solid, grounding in a way- novel enough to be exciting, but in the same vein it makes him nervous. He manages Ken an awkward pat on the arm and Koromaru a more practiced pat on the head and is more than relieved to have his own space again when it ends. ]

Like I said, we were ...teammates. Saw you hanging around the shrine with Yukari a couple times before you joined. You were useful on the team, 'cause hama skills make quick work of Shadows.

[ But they didn't really hang out. Didn't play together, didn't eat together so much as the lounge was just a communal space where everybody sat on their own and did their own thing. Him and SEES, teammates. ]

...wish I'd gotten to know you better, to be honest.

[That settles it. If he met him the same way that she had, he already knew who he was. As he let go, the smile on his face grew even bigger. Here, he was feeling a little homesick without any of his friends or teammates here but maybe he had gotten his wish after all.

Giving his hand out to him, he was hoping he'll shake it.]

Then who is to say we can't now? I don't know you either so the both of us can get to know one another again.

[Once again, he gave a pause. Should he risk it and say what had been on his mind the entire time?] Especially when it's not fair when you saved all of us, right?

[ He does take Ken's hand when its offered, grip tightening inexplicably when Ken mentions "you saved all of us," Minato anxiously searching for blame or disapproval or something that would corroborate the guilt he harbored over leaving all his friends behind without telling them of his plan. Gratefulness is more than he can hope for, so he doesn't look for it, letting his grip slack before letting go and returning his hand to the safety of his pocket. ]

You don't remember me, but you remember everything that happened. How is that?

[ Doesn't make sense to him. ]

[Ken didn't know Minato but he seemed like someone who was trustworthy enough. Or at least, someone who always had a calm demeanor. That was why for a moment, Ken gave a small pout as he wondered just how much he could tell him. Crossing his arms, he wondered just where he should start with this.]

I'm assuming you're the leader of SEES back in your world right? I only know because I'm guessing you're the same as the leader back in my world. [Although, he wouldn't say exactly the same as she was a lot more energetic than him.]

However, my leader happened to be a girl.

[ There's a slow blink in response to all of this, the loading wheel in Minato's head going but not making much headway at the implication— not even implication, the direct statement that Ken is from a different world. Not memory loss, not his Ken, but a different one altogether. ]

Your leader... Mitsuru?

[ WHO HONESTLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEADER she was their leader in practically everything except on the field, and only because she had to be their navigator at the beginning. Why she didn't take over again when Fuuka joined the team is beyond Minato. ]

[Well, he wasn't wrong! At the moment, Mitsuru is their Shadow Operative leader but that wasn't what he was referring to right now!]

No, it was someone else.

[He said with a small sigh. How was he going to explain this to him? It was so strange seeing someone who was suppose to be his leader and yet, he wasn't at the same time?]

And to be honest, I wonder if you're the same as her. But your personalities sure at different.

[ He tries to imagine himself as a girl, but... well. It's neither easy nor hard- he just sees himself, as he is, but apparently this other leader is completely different. And this opposite personality from his is surprisingly easy to visualize, somebody with a lot of energy who easily gets along with others and is comfortable with her place in the world... ]

Will you tell me about her? If she went through the same journey as I did... and it ended in the same way... I think it'd make her really happy to be talked about and remembered. I would be.

[Ken just stared at Minato as he wondered what to say. There was a lot of things he could say about his leader but the last thing he wanted was to make him feel left out. However, if he was comfortable with it?]

She's someone who is very happy all the time. No matter who you are, she will do her best to befriend you. If she was able to befriend Aragaki-san, I'm sure that says something about her. Not only that, she was someone who knew how to be optimistic even when things got tough. She would always say something to make others smile or even try to crack a joke.

[Despite how happy he was talking her, there was a hint of melancholy behind his voice.]

It's funny, even thinking about her now is making me smile. Just a little.

[ Just hearing about her is making him smile, despite not knowing her at all. He's glad, though, that she was able to make Shinjiro comfortable in the way that he couldn't, that his team had somebody to keep their morale up and to encourage them in the way he never managed to find the words, that they were a team that smiled and laughed together while his team...

Not for the first time, he thinks his team could have been much better if he weren't him. But he is, and he did his best, and in the end, weren't they all calling his name just the same? They both gave it their all, and that's nothing to be upset about. ]

She sounds like a wonderful person... If it's her, if that's how she's remembered... she'll find rest.

[ Not just in knowing that her friends and her city and her world are all safe and sound, but as a person who brings so much life into the world with each person that she touches, Erebus doesn't stand a chance. ]

[For a moment, Ken wanted to say if he was being rude. It didn't seem fair that he was talking about his leader and not him. He wondered if it was awkward just hearing about another world where he wasn't in. However, seeing Minato smile was all that he needed to see that he was fine with that.

However, Ken gave a small pout as he momentarily looked to the ground. As he pondered what to say next, he had to remember it was the same for Minato too.]

I hope so and the same goes for you too. I hope that you'll find some rest yourself.

[Was that a little too blunt to someone he just yet?]

[ That takes him somewhat by surprise, and he wonders why before realizing it's because the sentiment isn't something he's ever had displayed directly to his face. "You did well. Get some rest." Not "You can do better. Try harder next time." ]

I'll be fine. No more school. I'm gonna sleep a lot.

[ He finally finally finally gets to indulge in sleep... physical rest is good enough for him, he can find pleasure in that much. ]

Just don't sleep too much where I'm going to worry about you.

[Ken said before giving him a slight frown. If he was going to sleep a lot, it would make him all the more worried he would end up dying again too.]

Please don't tell me I need to set an alarm for you.

Wha- no. I don't get to sleep in...?

[ He saved the world, Ken! Why can't he sleep in and wake past noon every day? Or better yet, treat each day like Sunday where he does get up at noon, turn on the tv to buy things he doesn't need from Tanaka's home shopping channel, and then go back to bed. ]

No it's...

[How can he bring the topic up without sounding morbid? As he gave a small hum, he wondered just what to say back to him.]

It's that I want you to wake up and experience what this world has to offer for you? [Is that the angle he was going with?]

[ "Wake up," as if he's been asleep this entire time... which he can't well deny, seeing how he lived most of his life as a zombie, just letting life pull him from place to place, reacting instead of acting, comfortable with where he is and what he has and never seeking much more outside of it.

He looks up at the sky, as if it holds all the answers, but all he's greeted with is pale blue, with grey clouds. Really, not all that different from living in the city. ]

...to live life to the fullest instead of being so quick to give up, huh. [ even if there's always that little part of him that wants to give up ]

You're right, though. I dunno how much time I'm going to have here. Once the worlds start moving again, I can't... I can't stay.

[ Not here. Not there, either. He's still got a job to do, one that binds him to duty for all eternity. ]

[That's when Ken didn't say anything at first. He did have a duty to be a seal for his world and he didn't know how much longer Minato had here. While the worlds have been frozen, he didn't know ho much longer that would last.

It was a sobering thing to think about but wasn't it more important that Ken spends his time with him?]

I know and that's why I want you to spend all the time here while you can. [He said before giving his hand out to him.]

Do you want me to show you around here and see what this place has to offer? I think it's the least I could do when you just arrived here!

Mm, yeah. I'd like that. The last town had a hot springs and I almost didn't want to leave. Gonna be hard to top that.

[ He likely would have stayed at the Red Springs forever if the caravans weren't moving on without him... but he could always go back. He goes on a grand tour with Ken and is mostly only interested about the restaurants and where the hotel is that he can find himself a proper bed and zzzz for the next 14 hours straight. ]

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Winter is here, weather you like it or not

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