realmofstories | [Open] A poisonous feast

I wonder if I had the worst case of it so far.

[He murmured lightly, closing his eyes when the cloth was placed back on his head. The poison may be gone for now, but his body had to recover now. Ugh.]

Mmph... thought I was going to die ag-...

[Hm, let's not be a downer. He only just barely managed to catch himself. Then again, he did wonder... could they die here from things like this? What would happen if they did?]

Maybe. I haven't heard of any cases as bad as yours.

[Perhaps Ren was lucky he only got knocked out in his case.

Unfortunately for Minato, Ren caught that and freezes up. Looks like he might have to tell him the news.]

Die again? As in temporary or...?

[He wasn't surprised that Ren picked up on it anyway, he caught himself too late but. He pulled his hand from the covers, reaching up to rub his face. He hefted a sigh and decided to push himself up to a seated position.]

No. Not temporary.

[He looked down at his hands, the cloth having slide off his head. He held the damp cloth so as to not let it soak into the bedspread.]

Unlike Yu's Izanami or your Yaldabaoth... Nyx was a being that was unbeatable, but she was also neither good or evil. Her arrival was because of humanity's collective unconscious desire for death. She was simply responding to humanity's wishes. How does one beat the unbeatable?

[He offered a small, kind smile, even if it didn't quite meet his eyes.]

Hint: You can't shoot it in the face. [He shook his head.] I was given a choice. I knew the consequences. I found my Answer and thus was granted exactly one miracle by the power of the Universe itself. I used that miracle to become a seal, if you can't beat the unbeatable, then you simply make sure She can't hear humanity's desire.

[This time, his smile did reach his eyes as it widened.]

It was my life or theirs. I'd do it again. Every time.

[Ren's heart clenched when he said it wasn't temporarily. As he listened, his heart broke and crumbled completely, though he did his best to mask this. Keeping a poker face up though he can't hide the sadness in his eyes.

He hopes his glasses can hide that.]

...I see. So that's what Narukami-san meant when he said that Elizabeth was trying to free you. He said to ask you when he realized I didn't know.

Mementos was created because people had become apathetic and wanted to be controlled, not having to think. That's what Yaldabaoth wanted and I'm pretty sure he had counted on me becoming jaded enough to accept the deal. Defeating him was the only way to wake people up, even if it meant the Metaverse would disappear.

Maybe one day, persona users won't be needed when humanity improves.

[The glasses didn't hide it. It was much the same with Yu. Ah, these Wildcards. So emotional! Not that he could blame them, of course and he would be hypocritical if he said he made his choice without any emotion helping him make that choice.

He reached out and placed his hand on Ren's head.]

Sounds to me like humanity already is improving, then. If people like my friends, like Yu and his team, and you and your thieves are there to help and live your lives to the fullest. One day, Nyx will no longer hear the call and perhaps that will be the day when Elizabeth finds her way to me.

I'm okay with waiting. I have hope for you guys. And for humanity.

[Ren felt surprise at his hand being on his head, but he doesn't mind it. He leans forward into it to make it easier for Minato. If Minato wants, he can feel his hair. It is quite soft and fluffy with all the curls.]

I hope so.

[Still he can't help but wonder if he's cursed. He either gets betrayed, or he loses people or both. He lost his old friends and any love from his parents, with them having refused to believe him after picking him up from the police station and not calling him at all for the entire year. It was like Sojiro said, they got rid of him for being a "pain in the ass" for them. And Muraki's false reality causing his friends to ignore him and leave him alone.

Not to mention losing Akechi twice.

He tries not to start spiraling into his thoughts and just focus on the hand for now.]

[Minato stroked Ren’s head a little, patting it as if telling him it’s okay. He didn’t need to know the details to realize that Ren had felt a lot pain and loss in his life. Telling him this didn’t help, but Minato knew it was an inevitability as well.]

Please don’t feel sad for me. I know that’s a tall order, but I really am okay with this.

[He leaned over enough to bring both hands to the sides of those glasses, to gently pull them off if Ren let him. He didn’t want the fake glasses obscuring Ren’s emotions like this.]

I lived my life apathetic and tired of the world, my parents died ten years ago and none of my relatives wanted me. I’m partially the reason the Fall was triggered in the first place. And yet in my last year I found a world worth living in and worth dying for.

[He cupped Ren’s cheeks.]

And I’m so glad my actions allowed for people like you to rise up and challenge the wrongs in the world. So please, don’t be sad for me and instead, just keep living your life to fullest. That’s really all I ask for these days. Especially here, where I got to meet you and Yu, I got to see my best friend and even my other self.

[He let go. He wasn’t normally a touchy person but this seemed to warrant it. Maybe Yu was rubbing off on him.]

I’m happy. I really am.

[A purr-like sound comes out of Ren's throat at the pet. He doesn't fight the glasses being taken off. It's not like they are real ones anyway.

He's been told that he has sharp eyes, and although Ren doesn't see it, he knows the glasses is supposed to make him like more docile. Not that it mattered once Kamoshida leaked his criminal record.

When he was forced to look at Minato, his face turns red again and his heart fluttering, and feeling like he has butterflies in his stomach. He can't but be in awe at Minato's speech.

He does smile though, even when Minato let go.]

I'm glad. I think I was about 9 or 10 in your time, so if you hadn't made that sacrifice, I would have never been able to grow up.

Thank you.

You’re welcome.

[He handed Ren his glasses back.]

You shouldn’t wear these. You have nothing to hide here.

[Ren accepts the glasses back.]

You could tell, huh? Well I've been that my eyes are sharp looking and the glasses is supposed to make me look more docile. Not that it ended up mattering in the long run.

[He slips them back on and makes a Joker-like grin.] And well, you wouldn't punch a guy in glasses, would you?

[A pillow smacks his face.]

Yes, I would.

Edited 2020-10-13 00:37 (UTC)

[Once again, he gets surprised by the pillow smack but instead of getting upset or anything, Ren suddenly burst into laughter.

Real laughter.

It takes him a minute or two before he can calm down from the laughing.]

You really are full of surprises, Minato-san.

[Minato watched, the pillow still in hand and now pulled to his chest. He rested his chin on it with a smile.]

Just Minato is fine. You have a nice laugh, Ren.

[His heart warms at that. There's a fuzzy feeling there that's never happened before. He has to wonder if he's starting to develop a crush on Minato. It would explain before.]

T-Thanks, Minato.

[Now that's settled, there's the matter of Minato's health.] So are you feeling better or do you still need to cool down with the washcloth?

[Since at this point, he would have to dip it back into the bowl of cold water.]

I am feeling better, but I think I'd feel better after cleaning up. Do you mind if I take a quick bath?

[He was actually also really tired still, but he didn't want to boot Ren out so quickly after arriving either.]

That's fine. If you think your stomach could handle it, I can make you something light that should be easy on your stomach.

[A light soup. Granted there's no instant stuff but it shouldn't be an issue.]

I'm not sure what I have that would be easy, but you're welcome to take a look around.

[He might have some stock in the cupboard, but he couldn't really remember (he does). He does know that he has plenty of noodles though, different kinds too.]

I'll be back.

[He slowly made his way out of bed and to the bathroom, he took the waste bin with him. May as well clean that up too.]

I'll see what I can do.

[It'll be a challenge without vegetables, but he'll make it work. It's not like he can make it fancy since it's supposed to be light.

He waits for him to reach the bathroom before heading towards the kitchen. It takes some time not only to reach there but to figure out where everything is.

Thankfully he finds everything he needs for chicken broth. He'll have to skip the carrots. Thankfully it seems the kitchen is modern enough for Ren to not have too much trouble. It makes him wish his own place was this modern. He's lucky that Yu helped get running water going so he's not just stuck with a chamber pot.

By the time Minato's done, the broth should be ready and he pours some into a bowl for him, as well as get him a spoon.]

Here you go. Hopefully it'll still taste okay.

[He cleaned out the waste bin first, then made a cool bath for himself. It helped cool him the rest of the way as he cleaned himself up, washing his hair of nearly days of not washing as well as scrubbing himself. He wasn't sure how Ren was okay with kissing someone like him like that but he supposed if it was for the curse...

How embarrassing. Minato finished up and with still damp hair, stepped out into the kitchen dressed in a clean pair of pajamas and socked feet.]

Smells good.

[It wasn't strong, but enough that Minato's stomach grumbled a little. He took a hesitant sip, it was seasoned a little too so it didn't taste too bland. Chicken isn't exactly the tastiest thing unless seasoned, after all, and Minato nodded.]

Tastes fine. I think my stomach can handle it. Thank you, Ren.

[Again, Ren didn't have much of a choice. Plus if he ends up sick himself, he would let Minato take care of him.

He made sure to be careful with how much seasoning it went into the broth. If there wasn't enough, it would be bland. Too much would have been bad for his stomach.

Ren makes a relieved smile. Glad he managed to make it work fine even with the limitations put on him.]

No problem. You have a nice kitchen.

[He only has what the medieval ages had for one.]

You going to have some too?

[Minato would feel bad if he just sat there eating while Ren didn’t.]

You can make something else for yourself.

[He was glad Ren liked the kitchen. He supposed he could consider himself lucky compared to the other, magic also helped.]

Yu and I made a Japanese breakfast the other day, I think I still have the leftover ingredients for an omelette or miso?

[Oh right, he hadn't planned on eating. Seeing as Ren's stomach starts growling, that might be a good idea.

He makes another sheepish smile.]

I wasn't aware Narukami-san can cook. Omelette does sound good though.

[He doesn't get much chances to eat anything other than curry and ramen, and sometimes sushi 'cause of Morgana, so getting to eat something else for a change is always nice.]

I'll be right back then.

[He moves towards the fridge to get ingredients to make an omelette, and make some for himself.]

I had learned a little from a friend back home. He passed away but he left his cookbook behind, but then I... arrived here. Eventually, when I got to know Yu, I learned he was a very good cook and he had been teaching me ever since.

[He got to learn miso the other day! He was pretty proud of himself. Still, Ren and Yu likely still know more than him. Not that he minded.

He watched and ate his soup slowly, although when it became clear his stomach wasn't going to rebel, he ate it at a normal pace until it was gone.]

What do you normally like to cook?

And now you'll have two teachers it seems.

[Thankfully Ren can multitask, so he can still talk with him.] Before I had to leave, I would usually make curry at Leblanc Curry and Coffee. I, um, worked part time there so I got to learn the owner's recipe. I can't share that one as I'm sure Boss would have my hide, but I have made my own version as well.

Sakura-san taught me a lot about coffee as well, so I can make that too. Even came up with my own brew.

[It's a half-truth. Yes he did work in Leblanc at times and learned a lot from Sojiro, but it wasn't the full story. While he trusts Minato, he didn't want word of his criminal getting out to Yu and especially his uncle.

Though Akechi is here so that might be a matter of time anyway.]

I should make you curry and coffee sometime once all the food is safe again.

More the merrier.

[Or maybe it was an elaborate scheme to have people cook for him!! Okay, no, not really. He can fend for himself.]

Coffee is good. Never had it with curry, though.

[He was just about done with the soup, so he stood up from the table and went to the panty, rummaging around a bit as he listened to Ren. He returned with a bag of coffee beans and set it on the table where Ren would be seated when he finished.]

I never got around to getting myself a coffee grinder and all the other stuff. You take it, consider it a thank you for saving me. And making me soup.

[Open] A poisonous feast

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