1st Bus Stop | Introduction

[busstopsign]

Characters: Shinjiro and anyone who want to bump and talk to him and probably try to kill him if your name is Ken.
Location: All the floors, he'll be moving around to explore, feel free to bump into him wherever you want.
Format: Pick your poison, I'll match in suite.
Summary: A dude wakes up and wonders where the hell he is.
Warnings: Shinjiro has a potty mouth. Also probably some violence.

He shouldn't be here. That's the first thing he told himself upon waking up. Just a few minutes ago, he was off to fight the rest of his friends for the right to wield the keys, and now his first thought was that either he had never actually awoken from his hospital bed before, or that he had failed. Regardless it did not bode well.

Of course the letters pretty much confirmed his fears. Maybe this was some sort of personal hell, or maybe the keys had malfunctioned and he had ended up here. There was no way the way had ended after Minako had worked so hard to protect it from Nyx. Regardless, even if he didn't quite believe what he was told, he needed to look around and see what this place was like. Without Aigis, Metis, Aki or the others...strange how he didn't mind being along not just a few months ago, but now...

He picked up a few items from his trunk, idly remembering that the bus stop sign would require work before he could actually use it. For now the large golden hammer could be useful, as was the Evoker. Stepping into any area could be dangerous, and Shinjiro was borderline paranoid by trade. As 'nice' as that letter had been, he didn't want to be caught unguarded.

He stepped out of room 2-02, looking around before slipping into the shadows and darker corners. He operated better that way.

Comments

[busstopsign]

[Well Jin was dmb and stupid so let's not care about him I mean what.]

...Yeah. Still got mine too.

[He thinks before asking the next question.]

How long have you been leading the team?

[evokingfool]

Since April. [He thinks for a moment.] About six months back home.

[Then he got taken away to another world for almost a year, then brought here.]

[busstopsign]

[He quickly follows with another question. Something that's been nagging him and he needs to check...]

Did I die in your world too?

[evokingfool]

[Minato's quiet when he heard that question.]

...Before I was taken, the date was October 2nd. You're still alive for me.

[He mentioned the date specifically. Yes, he knows about October 4th. Maybe not the whole truth, but he knows enough. On that day, Shinjiro Aragaki die.]

[busstopsign]

[And Shinji all too-well knows the date when it happens too, when he was admitted to the hospital.]

Tch. I would have died two days from that, you know.

[He sighs.]

Figures. She really screwed my number up, didn't she?

[evokingfool]

Yeah, I know. She told me.

[Minami did.]

...Is her first name "Minako" or "Minami"?

[busstopsign]

Minako.

Never even heard of Minami before.

[Technically he has. He just doesn't realize this is the girl Jin was talking about.]

[evokingfool]

Ah... Because there's one of her here, but her name is Minami Arisato.

[How about that, Shinji.]

[busstopsign]

[The connection finally comes and he stays silent for a minute, thinking about Minato's words.]

Then it's not Minako. End of story.

[So. Cold. Don't worry tho, the minute he sees her, he's going to ignore everything he just said. Shinji's big on saying one thing and thinking the other anyway :|]

[evokingfool]

[How cold. But Minato knows that's not just it. Somewhere deep inside is a big softy. However, he won't mention it.]

Just so you know, senpai.

[busstopsign]

[DENYING FOREVER :|]

Right.

[He changes the subject.]

So you ended up here after the 2nd. How long have you been in the tower?

[evokingfool]

...Technically, I was in another world before coming here.

[He went to hell. Literally.]

I've been at the tower for about...several months, now.

[busstopsign]

[You realize that will just make him ask more questions.]

The hell...You ended up somewhere else before the tower? You mind explaining that first?

[evokingfool]

...The Greek Gods brought me into the Underworld. I was there for almost a year before I arrived at the tower.

[Nothing much, just that amount of time in hell.]

[busstopsign]

[Uuuuh.]

So you...literally ended up in hell. Shit.

[Could their talk turn even more awkward at this point really.]

You mentioned that Minako was here before? Or I'm guessing she was, since you know her name.

[evokingfool]

I haven't seen her here in the tower before.

[Go on, guess where he met her at.]

I met her back in the Underworld, which was how I know about her.

[busstopsign]

[That sends his blood boiling in more ways that Minato could have imagined.]

She's stuck in the underworld?! You've got to be...DAMMIT!

[The shift in tone really didn't sound like 'guy who is just worried about his leader' either.]

[evokingfool]

[Minato nods, frowning.]

As far as I was aware, it was just her, Junpei and you.

[Akihiko, Mitsuru and Fuuka left the Underworld a long time ago. He don't mind them leaving.

What he does mind...was his own departure. Knowing he's here while they're in Hell? He feel regret for it, even when it's not his fault.]

[busstopsign]

[Wait. Now this even more confusing.]

Wait. I was there too?! Wait...it's another me, isn't it.

[So maybe that's not her Minako there...but still.]

Was everyone...alright?

[evokingfool]

[Well, at one point, there's two Shinjis.]

Yes, it's possible. But he knows Minako and not me.

[...]

Everyone's still alive and surviving. Minako...I know she'll watch out for them.

[busstopsign]

[The implications would BLOW HIS MIND--okay no not that bad but he would be annoyed.]

Well..that's good.

[No offense to you.]

Yeah...she will. She always had a way with everyone anyway.

[Especially him. Geeze. There's a small smile on his face.]

[evokingfool]

[He smile.]

Yes. I can see why she's the leader in her world.

[He used to have some hidden jealousy, but he's mostly over it.]

[busstopsign]

Tch. Well if I followed you around somewhere, I guess you must have some value as well.

[That.is.the.farthest.he.will.go.as a compliemnt.]

As long as you don't let Aki be a dumbass and put protein over pancakes anyway.

[evokingfool]

[D'aw, Shinji. Minato still smiles, a bit amused.]

Of course. I try not to let him, since I don't think that's very tasty.

[busstopsign]

Good.

[...now what...uh...maybe this would be a good time to start turning around and continue on his search.]

No dying in this place, got that?