[15strangers] [Private Conversation] [Week 1, Day 1] [Minato]

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb leads the other back towards his room, opening the door for him and ushering him inside. Hopefully no one else saw that, or they might be suspicious. He lets out a long breath.]

... I suppose we should clear some things up...

Comments

[biddentodance]

Will do everything I can to help you get your amulet and get back. I promise. Deserve better than this, Widogast-san.

[katzenpfote]

... No. I don't. But you do.

[biddentodance]

[He shakes his head slowly, expression a little bit pained.]

You do. Were used like- like a weapon. Things he made you do are his fault, not yours...

You're not a bad person.

[But Minato does deserve this, after everything. The focus is on Caleb, though. No one cares to know a failure's mistakes anyway.]

[katzenpfote]

... I was. But it is still my responsibility to correct. Not yours.

This is...

[He sighs deeply.]

Perhaps a bit too much to ask someone I do not truly know, but... you do not seem to think you deserve better? Or am I reading this wrong?

[biddentodance]

[Called out.... He looks away.]

Doesn't matter what I think.

[katzenpfote]

... I am not the one who is best at this... ah...

Why not?

[biddentodance]

[It's hard to talk about. Not something he does talk about. But Caleb's voice reminds him of Akihiko, and it's.... It's uncomfortable, having to put this into words. Having to think about this.]

Not the kind of person people care about. I don't matter.

[The way he says it, so matter-of-fact, like that's not even a bad thing. He's accepted this. Fully. He, as a person, is entirely unimportant.]

[katzenpfote]

... As a certified piece of shit type of person I can tell that’s not true.

[biddentodance]

It is. [His reply is quiet, calm. This is a matter of how the world works. As absolute as death.]

And you're not.

[katzenpfote]

I really don't have a problem admitting to being what I am.

I thought I replied to this

[biddentodance]

You're not...

[Minato's distress mainly comes from Caleb acting like Minato is better than he. And that's just not true. It can't be.]

it went to the wrong bit

[katzenpfote]

I am comfortable in the grime and the muck and the shit. People like you... eh... you seem like a bright young boy who can still help other people on his own.

[biddentodance]

[Now watch as Minato's expression crumples. It's not necessarily easy to decipher, but there's a gnawing despair there. He'd told Caleb before that he doesn't have long to live.]

...that's not... It's too late. Can't help anyone. Can't protect anyone.

[katzenpfote]

... You do not need to tell me what happened. That is your business to share or not. ... But it's not as if I'm going to run off and blab.

[biddentodance]

[Caleb has shared his secrets. It's only fair if Minato does the same, isn't it? It's no sympathetic tale of tragedy and being used, but... The man deserves to know the truth. At least some of it.

His slouch gets worse and his gaze bores holes into the floor. His voice is somewhat monotone, though. Hollow.]

The coming end can no longer be stopped. The end of everything. She's coming.

[And it's all his fault.]

[katzenpfote]

... Who is 'she'?

[The Empress? No... this boy is not from his world. So what other 'she' could he mean?]

[biddentodance]

The maternal being - Nyx. Primordial goddess of the night.

[katzenpfote]

That is... not a goddess I am familiar with. ... She is coming to destroy things? Why?

[Deities... are a territory he is not able to help with, unfortunately.]

[biddentodance]

My fault. Messed up... Should've died ten years ago.

[He squeezes his eyes shut and tries not to imagine the hellscape Nyx will cause. He will have caused.]

[katzenpfote]

But you did not. And you are alive. And I am certain there are many people who are grateful for it.

[biddentodance]

[He shakes his head.] None of this would've happened, if I'd died back then. I doomed my world.

[katzenpfote]

I don't think that's true, and I think you know that. I don't think a single person can 'doom' a world.

[Well. There are legends. But he's not saying that.]

[biddentodance]

If I'd died - if I'd burned with my parents - her means of finding Earth would've died with me.

[Normally, he wouldn't say so much. He's not usually the dramatic type. But it's unclear if he's still seeing the train around him, right now, and this is closer to his actual train of thought than usual.]

[katzenpfote]

[His breath hitches and he freezes up, his own gaze trying to fade, but he attempts to focus.]

[But he can't, and his head goes back, staring into space. He starts to tremble, clutching his face.]

[biddentodance]

[It takes a few moments for Minato to come back enough to realize Caleb's state. To realize what he's done. It's because he mentioned.... Oh no.]

Widogast-san-- Widogast-san, I'm sorry.... Won't bring it up again, I promise-!