EnterTheHero

Starless

Power outage, can't post right now. More news as it happens.

Persona - The True Self

Mako Moritomi//Shinza Shopping Square

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Things were going better than anticipated, which made Mako feel a lot better about this whole debacle. As a rule, he had deliberately avoided the Star Drop Cafe, and in fact had tried to find a place as far away from that whole situation as possible. He'd have to be some kind of an asshole (or idiot) to think going back there was a good idea. Besides, this place had the best yakisoba in town- what wasn't there to love?

Still, even with the nice conversation and the smell of their food drifting in from the kitchens, Sato seemed... distracted. Like his mind was in two different places- here, and somewhere else.

Well, obviously. It hasn't even been ten days since he was kidnapped. Less than a day since he's been back. Of course he's going to be sidetracked.

That was the other subject he'd been deliberately avoiding today. While he was burning with questions about it, he figured that anything Sato had wanted to say about it had already been said a dozen times to a dozen different people. Pushing any further wasn't going to make him remember or want to reveal anything else. And besides, if he was right, the upperclassman probably wanted to forget all this had happened in the first place, and tearing open that wound was... counterproductive.

Mako perked up when their food had arrived, sizzling pleasantly- his yakisoba, and Sato's donburi. Excellent choice. They ate in silence for a little while, before Sato seemed to gather himself slightly.

"Hey," Sato said, "About those kidnappings... do you know anything about them? As in, have you ever seen anything of the cult around town?"

Mako paused, a bite of noodles halfway to his mouth. Hmm. Now he's bringing it up. Unexpected, but... He set the bite of food and his chopsticks down with equal care, pondering Sato's question.

"I... I know very little about the case, to be honest. I mean, it's not like this cult is running around in broad daylight, flapping their robes around like idiots- might be bad for their reputation, such as it is. All I really know is... I guess what everyone else knows. A lot of kids go missing for a few days, then just as mysteriously as before, come back."

He looked out the window, his expression going stern. "I don't like it. For the first part, they're targeting kids. That's pretty messed up, I have to say. And worse, no one seems to know why. The police are completely baffled, it seems like, or they just don't care, since everyone has come back. Well, what if next time, they don't? What if someone gets hurt, or worse? What's it going to take for someone to take all of this seriously...?"

His hands clenched slightly.

"But you know what the worst part is? How useless I feel. My classmates are getting picked off, one by one- or even two by two, now- and there's not a damn thing I can do to help. Shirohane-san... she's in my class. What if she didn't come back? What if you hadn't? What if next time... something really bad happens?

"...And no matter how much I keep wondering about it, it's not going to help anything. I mean, I'm just 17, I'm basically still a child. I can box, sure, I can fight, and I know my way around town, and I'm handy with a knife when I need to be... but what can I really accomplish? I'm not a detective. I'm not a policeman. I'm just a high school student who did better than anticipated on his midterms. Which, given the circumstances, doesn't amount to much."

He sighed, then turned back to Sato, a rueful grin starting to spread across his features. "Sorry. Guess that got a little too heavy for a minute there. I just... I wish I could do more," he said, staring at his half-touched yakisoba. Suddenly he wasn't as hungry for it anymore.

Persona - The True Self

What am I doing anymore. Also I didn't really know what to do, Hero, so this slightly awkward restaurant scene will have to do. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

this was about 9000% funnier in my head

@Sen

Slightly awkward restaurant scene is perfectly fine. I didn't really know what I was doing, either, so it all works out.

Persona - The True Self

Mako Moritomi//Warakuma High

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Mako remained in his seat at the end-of-day bell, sulking slightly. It's not like he really should have expected his visit to Sato to go anywhere else than what it did, but still, he was an optimist at heart. However, the reality was that Sato had refused to answer his question at all, forcing Mako to stand awkwardly there for what felt like forever, waiting for a response that was never coming, until he finally awkwardly made an excuse and shuffled off, defeated.

He buried his face in his hands, groaning quietly under his breath. It was bad enough that the guy probably thought he was some kind of creepy psychopath now, but because of that, he'd never have a chance to sort through this bizarre chaos of emotion caused by the cafe incident.

I mean, really- what did you expect? You can't just change someone's mind like that, and convince them you're actually worth their time, ESPECIALLY with how much of an idiot you were acting. Face it, Mako, you screwed yourself, big time--

"Hey."

Mako jumped so badly that his knee slammed painfully into the underside of his desk, requiring him to bite back a particularly caustic curse before it escaped his lips. He turned to see who had accosted him and--

His heart seemed to be trying to leap into his throat. Sato Hashimoto. Here. Not looking at him like some kind of insane idiot. Clearly, this was some sort of bizarre dream or something, since this kind of thing didn't happen in the real world.

"About the other day, at the hospital. I'm sorry I didn't really give you an answer. It's just kinda stupid, this thing we've got going on. So, as you suggested, I'd like it if we could start this whole thing over."

...Okay. Well. If this was a dream, then, he could work with that. Mako raised an eyebrow as Sato chuckled, rubbing the back of his head ruefully. Was he... nervous? And if so... why?

Easy, Moritomi. Don't read too much into this. Play it cool.

"So, uh, where do we go from here? Assuming you're cool with trying to put all that awkward stuff behind us."

Mako couldn't help it. He barked out a laugh at the upperclassman's comment. "Am I cool with it? Are you? I thought for sure you were gonna have security take me away when I was just standing there like an idiot in your hospital room! Yeah, I'm perfectly comfortable putting all that awkward BS behind us. No problem."

He stood then, suddenly feeling much better with this whole situation. He could work with this. Even if he still wasn't entirely convinced that this wasn't a dream.

"Well, uh... did you want to grab something to eat? I know a few decent places in town. My treat?"

Persona - The True Self

LET THE SHIPPING BEGIN, AWKWARD MAKO POST HAS LANDED

EDIT: Well, fuck. That's what I get for not paying attention. We already had a date transition.

Persona - The True Self

Mako Moritomi//Warakuma Hospital

Monday, June 1, 2015

Mako walked hesitantly into the ward of the hospital where Sato was currently resting. He didn't really know what he was doing here, to be honest. Maybe he should just go home? ...No. It was time to stop being stupid. A mishap at a cosplay cafe- one that Mako himself had no hand in- should not be enough to make the two young men hate each other needlessly. Or at least be stupidly awkward at each other (though that was mostly on Mako's part). If they couldn't come out of this situation as friends, at least maybe they could come out of this genially enough to not cringe away from each other in the halls at school. That would not do at all.

He finally came to the room where the nurse told him the upperclassman was staying until tomorrow, his heart almost beating out of his chest. He rolled his eyes at his nervousness, or whatever this was.

No reason to be so antsy, Mako. It's just talk. With another guy. Whom you're strangely obsessed with.

...Just open the fucking door.

Rather than follow his brain's rather blunt suggestion, he knocked politely on the door before entering. He put on what he hoped was his most winning smile, and walked fully into the room. There was a nervous beat of silence as Mako noted that, yes, Sato was still here, before he steeled himself and launched into what he hoped wasn't going to be a big ball of awkward.

"Uh... hey."

Great start, Moritomi. He paused again, then went on.

"Missed you at drama practice. Such as it was- we haven't really been doing much, to be honest. I'm glad to see you're all right, though."

No response. Might be a good sign.

"So, uh... look. I feel like we've gotten off on the wrong foot with each other, what with the... that thing I told you I wouldn't talk about anymore. And all of that seems like a really stupid reason for us to act so stupid toward each other, yeah? So... what say we start over? Be friends, maybe? Then I can give you a chance to hate me for more legitimate reasons."

He laughed weakly at his lame joke, before stopping and staring at his feet. Curse his cheeks, they were already going red, he could feel it.

"So. You think about that, and... I'll see you at school?" And curse his voice for sounding so annoyingly hopeful.

And here I was thinking I wouldn't fuck this up...

Starless

Erebus and Hero, reporting for duty.

Starless

I'll be making an Erebus post this weekend. Sorry for the wait.

Falling Skies: PMC

Adrian laughs at your paltry alloy tower shield. RAILGUNS KNOW NO SUCH BARRIERS.

Falling Skies: PMC

Adrian shot upright when Prowler called the team into action, her hands tightening on the controls in excitement and anticipation. Finally, some action. She adjusted her MAS, keeping tabs on Sam as he skated into action, and grinning from ear to ear as Swallowtail took out the SAMs. She thought about taking to the air in celebration, but decided against it- there could be other trucks out and about, waiting to turn them into crunchy mech-suit pate.

"Nice shooting, Swallowtail. I'll keep eyes open for any other SAMs trying to ruin our fun."

"Hey Werewolf," Sam suddenly piped in over the comms, "I've got a Ferir with a damn big shield here. Send him a present maybe?" Adrian turned her computerized gaze at the target in question- a big honkin' alloy pain in the ass, indeed. At least, it would be for anyone else. Whoever that Ferir pilot was had obviously never met Reaper, though- he would have picked something much thicker if he had. She grinned, a shark's predatory expression.

"Oh, Hare. You always send me the best presents!" she crowed, aiming her railcannon at the MAS in question, her finger hovering over the trigger as her computer quickly configured a firing solution.

There. Locked in.

"Special delivery from the Steel Hunters Association! SMILE!"

There was a massive THUMP from Reaper as Adrian pulled the trigger, and a lance of near-molten metal exploded from the barrel at supersonic speeds. There was a flurry of sparks as the round slammed into and through the Ferir's shield, the arm holding it, the cockpit (reducing the pilot to the consistency of a fine red mist), and out the back of the MAS, exploding into the ground behind it.

The Ferir fell backwards after a beat, almost comically still, a still-smoldering hole in its chest. Adrian punched the air in celebration.

"And THAT'S how we do business! The front door's all yours, gentlemen- just find some more guys for me to shoot!"