Persona Survivor: Dancing Daylight

[breakdancer]

Day 2; Monday

[ A lot's happened-- if Hinako said that, she'd also burst out laughing at just how little that actually encompassed. Because is it ever really that simple? To her, the only simple thing about the situation was that if someone was in trouble, you helped them. You didn't raise your prices during a lockdown where people had no homes to return to. You didn't refuse to help people in danger because you hadn't received orders to leave your post and dreaded getting fired. It's just common human decency, and that's all there is to it.

Which is why, doing a quick sweep of the area to make sure that no more humans were being attacked after thwarting Keita's death clip--

Hinako is now sprinting at full sprint towards the blue-haired guy being surrounded by demons, whipping out her cellphone. So what if she isn't a part of JP's yet? ]

Hold on!!

Comments

[messianic]

[... Oh my god. Minato actually pauses and thinks that through very seriously, brow furrowed slightly as he lifts a hand to his chin contemplatively.]

Hm... I guess that those are all firsts, you're right.

[Minato why.

It's true that most of the pretty girls he's met haven't been wearing glasses somehow. Huh!!]

[breakdancer]

-- Actually, that's surprising. You've never met any girls in glasses?

[ maybe everyone in Iwatodai had amazing vision? Hm.

But here, Minato, have a can of beans. Keeping your strength up is important! ]

[messianic]

[He accepts the can of beans, handing over a blanket in return, and blinks at her.]

Oh... no, I've met girls with glasses who were cute, but... you're right that this is my first time meeting a really pretty girl in glasses.

[he doesn't even mean that to be a smooth thing, he's just being matter-of-fact.]

[breakdancer]

[ And that-- makes her laugh, brightly, as she unfolds the blanket and shakes it out. ]

That's incredibly smooth! But if that's the case, then I'm glad I was able to be your first. I'll have to make sure to set a hard-to-beat impression.

[messianic]

[Oh my god. He doesn't even realize until she says that, and then he blinks.]

That's-- that's not what I...

[Meant...

Oh well.]

You've already made a pretty striking impression, Hinako-san.

[He shakes his head.]

You're very...strong-willed...?

[breakdancer]

I get that a lot! Well, and "argumentative", "thick-headed" and "loud".

[ She shrugs easily enough. ]

I don't really feel like those are bad things, though. Not when it helps others.

[messianic]

[... Huh...]

I don't think you're really any of those things.

[Trust Minato to feel that way, though, as he pries open the can.]

You're passionate, and determined, and focused on what's right. You won't let injustices happen in front of you, so you can be a bit loud when you're following what you believe in.

[He's seen plenty of that on their way even just this far.]

Those are good traits, not bad ones.

[breakdancer]

...

[ Hinako pauses to adjust her glasses with the heel of one hand, one eyebrow sharply arched. ]

You've known me for less than a day and you're already showering me in compliments? I've danced for less!

[ It's... sweet, though. Hinako doesn't get all that dismayed to be called any of those things, because she firmly believed in doing what was right, dissenters be damned. But no one's really pointed that out before. ]

[messianic]

Oh... it's not compliments.

[Minato?]

I mean, I guess it might be, but that's not why I said any of that. It's just... a matter of perspective, right? What people think of those traits you have.

So I wanted to provide my perspective.

[breakdancer]

... You're such a weird guy.

[ Weirdly endearing, too. ]

Whether you meant it as a compliment or not, I'd be careful if I were you. You're going to become a ladykiller before you know it!

[messianic]

[He is a weirdo, so he doesn't seem bothered by that.]

Mm, I've heard that before.

[The weird part, not the ladykiller part.]

Though it's not my intention to do anything like that...

[breakdancer]

That's what the dangerous ones all say.

... Not that you'll really have the time to flirt with ladies with everything going on, so that's probably for the best. Me, I just appreciate a guy with headphones.

[messianic]

Oh...?

[He kind of just.

Doesn't respond to any of that because he doesn't mean to flirt with anyone??]

You like music?

[breakdancer]

Of course I do! I wouldn't be much of a dancer if I didn't.

[messianic]

You're a dancer...? That explains [that get up--okay, no, he's a good boy] the way you move, even when you're just walking.

[He was thinking gymnast or something similar, but dancer makes even more sense.]

[breakdancer]

[ she wears this get-up for a reason, Minato. ]

I would have thought the extremely provocative outfit might've done it. Hm. Tough crowd!

[ Hinako. ]

But I'd be happy to show you a move or two once we're not shivering out here! Iiiin exchange for letting me hear your favorite song. Girl's gotta make a living!

[ Well. Pro or not, money or not, she'd dance anyway. ]

[messianic]

I was trying not to comment on it...

[He should have known she wouldn't be at all bothered by it, though.]

Anyway... you don't have to do anything in exchange for that. I'm happy to share it.

[a beat.]

Not that I don't want to see you dance--I'd like that too. I just don't want you to feel like you have to barter with me.

[breakdancer]

Oh-- that's not it.

[ She sounds faintly surprised, even. ]

That was just a tease. I'd be happy to dance for you anytime, Minato! We're friends now, after all.

[ She has decided this. Today. ]

[messianic]

[Oh... aw.

Minato smiles a little at that, even as the familiar voice chimes in his head--

Thou hast created a bond of the Chariot Arcana...

... It's nice. A warm feeling in his heart, and a lightening of the exhaustion in his limbs.]

I appreciate that. And... I really do want to see what you can do. But--another time, when we aren't walking all day. For now, here.

[You can borrow his headphones! The song he flicks on is undoubtedly unsurprising.]

[breakdancer]

[ Hinako hums, intrigued, as she adjusts the headphones.

... Then, though there's brief surprise, she's silent, every part of her focused on the music. It's... so this is his favorite, huh?

At the end, she slips them off to return them. ]

You... can really learn a lot about someone just by hearing what they like.

[messianic]

... Yeah, I think so too.

[Music!! Is!! So important!!]

So? What did you learn about me?

[breakdancer]

That you're a lot fiercer than you look. It's a smooth lilt of a melody, but then you hit the chorus and it ramps up and transitions just as smoothly.

[ A nod, mostly to herself. ]

I like it.

[messianic]

Oh... thanks.

[That's a compliment he's not sure he lives up to, but it's a good one even so.]

You'll have to share some of your favorite music for me sometime too.

[breakdancer]

Sure! I don't have anything on me, but... well, I like most music, I'll find a way to share it. And I can include a dance in there too!

[ She already misses it, even if now isn't really the time for dancing. ]

But for now, we should probably think about turning in. We've still got a long day ahead of us.

[messianic]

Here.

[Quietly, he hands over the now opened can of beans.]

Eat something first. And then we can turn in.