[It's when Hiro mentions the person staying dead that it occurs to Minato that there's another angle they haven't talked about and he frowns, crossing his arms while he ponders the matter further.]
I know it's permanent, but...what if sacrifice wasn't one of us? That might explain why the blood looks so recent. [That's still disturbing though, and while Minato might not have an opinion on the natives he'd prefer for them to stay alive.]
I think it'd be best if we left it alone for now. We don't know anything about this altar, and it seems like it's located pretty close to the city...destroying the altar or removing the objects might anger whatever's staying here. [Translation: Let's not have a repeat of the incident with the ghosts.]
So who else, one of the natives? [He doesn't like the idea of just leaving everything alone now, but he knows Minato has a point. There's no point in continuing to really analyze the altar and spin a bunch of false theories. Little do they know that the altar will later be destroyed by two people anyway.]
...you're right though. We should get out of here. We can ask questions when we get above ground. Somebody's gotta have some idea about what this could mean.
I don't like the thought of it either, but it's possible. [The whole affair is grim, and the worst part was that no one was likely to have an idea as to what this sacrifice was supposed to have done or if it had even worked.]
It might be a good idea to visit the shrines and to ask Mosley. We know that the sacrifices are connected to the spirits and that none of us could have come here ourselves...even if Mosley's not involved, he might be able to give us a few answers. [But from the way Minato remains tight-lipped after he's done talking it seems like he's not too sure asking the latter anything would get honest answers.]
...I've been wanting to talk to Mosley myself about a couple of things. Maybe I'll just tack that on in addition to my questions. He doesn't seem to totally hate me. [It's about that point that he looks down at the altar and spots one blue hair wrap. He pauses, freezing for a moment before he bites down on his lip and picks it up.
Korra's. He hadn't noticed before, but now...]
We're gonna make it a priority to find answers somehow. We can't just let it slide this time.
[The blue hair wrap is immediately recognizable even out of the corner of his eye, and from the way Hiro's reacting Minato can see that he and Korra must have been pretty close.
He says nothing at first, having been distracted by an odd sight- was it just him, or was Hiro putting more pressure on one of his ankles than usual?]
Let us know if he tells you anything useful. Whatever is happening at this altar can't be good, and we need to know the truth about it.
[It throbs the longer he stands but his attention's mostly ignoring it as he focuses on the conversation, the hair wrap, and the altar.]
There's a lot of things we need to know the truth about, but I've got a feeling I'll need to really have a good argument for Mosley to even give me what I want. You guys will be the first to know if I find anything.
I agree, he can be quite confusing. [The 'confusing' part is emphasized as if Minato doesn't particularly care to test his luck against Mosley, and if Hiro thinks he's got a good idea they might as well go with that first.
With that having been addressed Minato's now pointing downwards at the ankle Hiro's not favoring.] Is your ankle okay, by the way? I fell down too, but I was saved by my Persona. [Messiah will always be his favorite Persona, but after falling out of nowhere for the third damned time he can hardly be faulted for being partial towards Horus as well.]
[He looks down at his ankle, twisting it lightly and wincing again.]
Fell on it wrong and then stepped on a monster that totally didn't appreciate being stepped on. It'll be fine, I've had worse injuries. I'll have it looked at when we get out of here. [Though.] Your Persona defies gravity?
[Minato shoots him a brief concerned look before nodding- They've got to conserve their strength, but he wouldn't mind trying to heal Hiro either.]
I can fly using one, and I was able to summon my Persona a while after falling down. [He pats his Evoker, hidden underneath his jacket.] Let me know if you need any healing though...a bad ankle could be dangerous here.
I appreciate it, Minato, but...[He knows. He knows the Personas are linked to the users and their energy.] We still have a long way to get back up. We're gonna need everything we've got to get up there.
If you say so. [There's a brief moment in which Minato frowns before blinking, seemingly confused about something. He agrees that conserving their strength is necessary, so why did he feel a little hurt being told that he should save his strength?
Maybe it's just lethargy, and he sets that oddly out-of-character moment aside.]
That's what really bothers me. It's been really weirdly quiet down here but I know we can't be the only people here. That wouldn't make any sense, would it? [Would it???] Did you? I don't know how long you've been down here but...maybe people came and went while we weren't looking.
[Unfortunately they're in a cave, and looking down doesn't show any obvious signs of people having walked by recently.
Not that it really helps knowing that other colonists are stuck here with them.]
I've spoken to Mitsuru, and considering how these masks are still following us it's possible that everyone was sent here. [Just like that time at the jungle.] ...Doesn't seem like there's anyone besides us, though. [as in natives, or some other people they haven't been told about- just the people of Cerealia, as usual.]
Which could be a good thing or a bad thing. [He's erring toward the side of caution though with this one. However, he brightens considerably.] Mitsuru's down here somewhere?
[Minato didn't think there was anything strange about Hiro mentioning Mitsuru before this, but it now dawns upon him that his little friend likes her a lot and a grin spreads over his face.]
Yeah, I met her earlier. You seem happy to hear that Mitsuru's here too, do you like her?
You'd have to ask her for more specifics, but from what I got it was something to help enhance the abilities of her Persona. I don't know if it's gonna work, but if anybody can get it to work it's Tadashi.
[Minato doesn't seem surprised to hear that but he does appear rather intrigued, suggesting he has a good idea what this project would be about.]
It must be related to her scanning ability then. [Pause.] Mitsuru-senpai's mentioned her limited range before this, and we didn't need to work on it before since we found a more powerful scanner...we could use all the help we can get here, though. [He nods knowingly.] I'm sure Tadashi-san can do it too.
Something like that, you'd have to ask her. And what do you mean you found a more powerful scanner? Like...you think it's something we can really replicate here?
Not exactly... [It's a new thing for Minato to give Hiro one of his tired looks, but there it is now.] Fuuka-san's a Persona user too and she can scan further than Mitsuru-senpai - she can't fight though.
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I know it's permanent, but...what if sacrifice wasn't one of us? That might explain why the blood looks so recent. [That's still disturbing though, and while Minato might not have an opinion on the natives he'd prefer for them to stay alive.]
I think it'd be best if we left it alone for now. We don't know anything about this altar, and it seems like it's located pretty close to the city...destroying the altar or removing the objects might anger whatever's staying here. [Translation: Let's not have a repeat of the incident with the ghosts.]
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...you're right though. We should get out of here. We can ask questions when we get above ground. Somebody's gotta have some idea about what this could mean.
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It might be a good idea to visit the shrines and to ask Mosley. We know that the sacrifices are connected to the spirits and that none of us could have come here ourselves...even if Mosley's not involved, he might be able to give us a few answers. [But from the way Minato remains tight-lipped after he's done talking it seems like he's not too sure asking the latter anything would get honest answers.]
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Korra's. He hadn't noticed before, but now...]
We're gonna make it a priority to find answers somehow. We can't just let it slide this time.
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He says nothing at first, having been distracted by an odd sight- was it just him, or was Hiro putting more pressure on one of his ankles than usual?]
Let us know if he tells you anything useful. Whatever is happening at this altar can't be good, and we need to know the truth about it.
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There's a lot of things we need to know the truth about, but I've got a feeling I'll need to really have a good argument for Mosley to even give me what I want. You guys will be the first to know if I find anything.
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With that having been addressed Minato's now pointing downwards at the ankle Hiro's not favoring.] Is your ankle okay, by the way? I fell down too, but I was saved by my Persona. [Messiah will always be his favorite Persona, but after falling out of nowhere for the third damned time he can hardly be faulted for being partial towards Horus as well.]
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Fell on it wrong and then stepped on a monster that totally didn't appreciate being stepped on. It'll be fine, I've had worse injuries. I'll have it looked at when we get out of here. [Though.] Your Persona defies gravity?
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I can fly using one, and I was able to summon my Persona a while after falling down. [He pats his Evoker, hidden underneath his jacket.] Let me know if you need any healing though...a bad ankle could be dangerous here.
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Maybe it's just lethargy, and he sets that oddly out-of-character moment aside.]
Did you see anyone else on your way here?
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Not that it really helps knowing that other colonists are stuck here with them.]
I've spoken to Mitsuru, and considering how these masks are still following us it's possible that everyone was sent here. [Just like that time at the jungle.] ...Doesn't seem like there's anyone besides us, though. [as in natives, or some other people they haven't been told about- just the people of Cerealia, as usual.]
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[How else could he have spoken to her?]
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Yeah, I met her earlier. You seem happy to hear that Mitsuru's here too, do you like her?
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She's great. She's really smart and her Persona can do a ton of things. She's helping Tadashi with a project, too. [So yes, Mitsuru is A+.]
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Yeah, she's impressive. [In more ways than one.] What sort of project is this, though?
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It must be related to her scanning ability then. [Pause.] Mitsuru-senpai's mentioned her limited range before this, and we didn't need to work on it before since we found a more powerful scanner...we could use all the help we can get here, though. [He nods knowingly.] I'm sure Tadashi-san can do it too.
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[Yeah, he thinks it's an object and not Fuuka.]
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Are you going to look around the altar some more?
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I think I've got everything I need from down here...let's head back.