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[dormition]

[It takes a day or two after he shows up-- in which there is a flurry of reuniting with friends, and making a new one-- for Minato to make a network post. When he does, he doesn't have anything particularly exciting to say. He just knows from experience that if he wants to drag himself out of the temptation to mentally withdraw, to slump into a hazy drifting rather than deal with reality, he needs to make connections. In short, he needs social links as badly as he'd needed to make them when he'd first come to Iwatodai: not for his Persona's strength, but for his own happiness.

There's no reason the same strategies shouldn't work here.]

Hi. I just arrived. [He has a quiet but forthright tone.] It seems I'll be going to high school here as a senior... I'd like to meet any classmates, or underclassmen, if they're on here. Maybe we could study together or join a club. I work after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays, but otherwise I'm available.

And I was wondering... [He trails off, a bit of melancholy reserve echoing on his features.] How has everyone else liked living here?

[It's a simple, open-ended question. Non-intrusive. Minato is nonetheless legitimately interested in any answers.]

Comments

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[debauchewy]

Ooh~ So quick to try and make friends. What a smart boy you are, being social will do you well here, hm?

[dormition]

[Kind of a strange guy. That just makes Minato more interested, though; strange people tend to mean social links.]

You're saying it's dangerous to be alone here?

[debauchewy]

[Social Links, sounds like everyone's just a means to an end with you. He can relate.]

Not exactly, it's dangerous either way. But you certainly won't get far alone, team work is important.

[dormition]

[Only originally. Minato actually cares about everyone now. It happens to the best of us.]

I agree. Do you have a team here?

[debauchewy]

[How sweet.]

Not exactly no, but I'm gaining friends. [A smaller smile than he'd normally put on. A bit- out of sorts lately after finding out Gon was gone, not to mention others... A team? No never, but he supposes he's pretended before.]

Close friends, I suppose- you could call them my team, but for how long? It's hard to say.

[dormition]

They're close friends, but you're not sure you can count on them long term...?

[That's a little blunt and invasive. Minato isn't socially attuned enough to notice.]

[debauchewy]

[Wow that certainly IS a question. Hisoka smiles wide in response, finding it more amusing than offensive.]

People here- they don't stay for long sometimes. Fate whisks them away just as quick as it gathers more to accompany us. [Closing his eyes, letting out a small sigh.]

It's difficult to know, when you can count on anyone but yourself. [Smiles!] Here any way! [More like all the time. You really can only trust yourself to come through completely. Or at least- trust yourself more than others. You can never be sure what exactly another person might do at any time, even if you can take a good guess.]

[dormition]

[Let's talk about you, Hisoka. Not about Minato. It's just a much safer topic.

Minato does notice that he seems to like the bluntness, and decides not to modulate it in the future. Which is easier for him, anyway.] So it's fate... It's true that people aren't interchangeable, and you can't recover what was lost.

But it seems like you aren't satisfied with isolation. Like I'm not.

okay to use Hisoka's power to see abilities on Minato?

[debauchewy]

[A laugh, very much enjoying the talk so far. Yes, blunt is right, but not stupid, he's not sure it comes from a lack of socializing either, just a general character trait, or how he's most comfortable.]

Aren't interchangeable? That depends- do you not have to see something in them first that can't be exchanged or duplicated? [Smiles, leaning his chin on a hand.] Yes, some people- [His eyes slime.] Are nothing like anyone you could ever meet.

[Shrugging at that next comment, gesturing with his other hand as he speaks.] No, I'd prefer company. That's not so strange.

oh sure!

[dormition]

[It's really a combination of all three. Minato's socialized enough by now to be able to fake politeness well, but left to his own devices, he always defaults to his antisocial modes of speaking.]

It seems like the people here are especially unique. So maybe you'll have good luck.

Not strange, but-- hard to accept sometimes, isn't it? [An edge of a wistful look. Minato doesn't play a game when he makes social links; he's honest with them. He is who he is.]

[debauchewy]

I've been lucky so far, but no matter my connections, the Porter is rather rude, hm? [Smiles.]

Company is- hard to accept? I'm not sure what you mean.

[dormition]

Fate is always rude. [A shade of dryness there.]

Don't you ever wish you could manage on your own, without anyone...? It's less complicated. But maybe you don't.

[debauchewy]

[A laugh.]

Fate can be yes. It certainly doesn't care what we think, but then, that's why we must always be on our toes.

[Smiles, closing his eyes and shrugging his shoulders.]

Oh I can, rather easily. But that's different from wanting to.

[dormition]

[Fate is a rough topic for Minato right now, with all of his conflicting feelings on it, and of course this is Hisoka's social link, not Minato's. So he steers toward the second half of the response.]

You're happy in your role of needing people? [he echoes.] You're fortunate. I think that's a good place to be.

[debauchewy]

[Try not to think about it too hard, kid, he brings the word up lightly. Fate certainly didn't have much instore for him when he was younger but he's made due, changed those cards. Hisoka's hardly the sort to live by any guidelines. Though- he will acknowledge that fate exists- to a degree.]

Needing them- [Laughs, light, leaning back a little.] No perhaps 'need' isn't exactly right. I want them.

[dormition]

What do you want with them?

[That whole reaction implies there's something beneath that statement.]

[debauchewy]

Different things. Doesn't that usually depend on the person being spoken of?

[dormition]

Maybe...

[Yup, that's it. That's all. He's not sure how to react just yet to someone that he's getting on a read on as manipulative. He's not precisely in a situation where he can allow himself to be manipulated. This isn't like Tanaka at all.]

[debauchewy]

Hm~? [A silence for a moment. Just Maybe? he certainly is saying a lot more than 'maybe' though, isn't he? What a cautious boy.]

And you? Isolation isn't your preferred either, why is it you seek company?

[dormition]

Isolation is my preference, [he corrects, then rethinks it.] Or it used to be. But I don't want anything from anyone.

[debauchewy]

Don't you?

[dormition]

Just that they're alright.

[debauchewy]

So for peace of mind then.

[dormition]

No... For their own sake. I don't need peace of mind.

[debauchewy]

But don't you enjoy their company? Or the attachment you have to them? Surely you get something from it, friendship is a mutual agreement.