awashlogs | [Closed]

WHO: Akira and Minato
WHERE: edge of the forest
WHEN: around April 2nd
WHAT: Minato and Akira have been assigned to each other for sparring, which means two jrpg protagonists are liable to put a crater in the ground.
WARNINGS: Persona violence?

[Since Guren had told him to go all out against Minato, Akira had been a bit worried. He wasn't sure what all Minato could do, but he didn't look like much, and his arm strength when he'd try to push Akira up in the well hadn't felt all that impressive (though then again, Akira's own jump hadn't been too impressive at the time, either). Though he's beginning to think that revealing his powers here wouldn't be such a bad thing after all, especially as everyone else seems to be freely doing so, he doesn't want to hurt the guy.

So maybe he'll hold back for now. Just stick with knives and jumping around, see what Minato is capable of.

Now that the furniture has stopped denigrating them all, he's waiting for Minato in their agreed meeting spot. Regardless of if he has to hold back, it'll be nice to let off some steam. He's honestly pretty excited.]

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[Another fire spell, huh? Akira notices he's already reusing Persona, but then, he has no idea how many Persona Minato has. Akechi only has two, that he knows of. Maybe Minato doesn't have that many.

Or maybe he's holding some back. Akira shouldn't assume anything until he has facts.

Off comes his mask.]

Koropokkuru!

[A Red Wall envelops Akira, shielding him from the worst of the flames that lick at his coat. He immediately turns that around, raising an arm to Minato.]

Bufu!

[It's a weak ice spell, he knows - he left the stronger ice magic to Yusuke. But still, shards of ice are now flying back at Minato.]

[Thankfully, Orpheus isn't weak to ice, but despite his affinity with his starter Persona, Minato knows it's not particularly great in the endurance aspect of things. He takes the bufu head on, shaking ice shards from his sleeve with a slightly furrowed brow. Ugh, cold...

And then he reaches into his mind.

It's fine if he doesn't summon Messiah, right? He can still use Messiah's resistances to his own favor.

So as soon as that small mental shuffle has happened... Minato's moving forward again, bringing his sword up and over his head to try to bring it down on Akira.

Now that he knows Akira's got Personas? He doesn't have to hold back near as much with his physical attacks either.]

[The ice attack doesn't do much, doesn't even phase Minato, but that doesn't surprise him. It was weak, after all.

He's still prepared when Minato comes at him again, using his blades to try and block the sword attack. He can tell as soon as it lands that Minato's hitting him harder now - the force of the blow rattles his hands, leaves them vibrating slightly from the impact. It's almost painful, but it's also exhilarating.

He decides to forgo the Personas for a moment, though he does switch through his mind back to Cerberus, to help with his physical abilities. He trades blows with Minato, harder now, faster, hunting for a weak spot.]

[It's interesting.

As exhilarating as this is, there's something really interesting and fascinating about it too. Minato almost feels as though he's learning a bit more about Akira through this too. Akira's fast, and he's strong and he's fierce--but even more than that, he almost seems to be enjoying this.

Minato wonders what sort of differing circumstances they come from--

But he feels, too, as though this was definitely a very worthwhile spar.

So when Akira blocks Minato's sword strike and sends a particularly neat strike back, Minato ends up having to stagger back quickly to try to avoid it--

And then he lowers his blade, breathing out a sigh.]

... I think that's probably good enough for now. [In all honesty--]

You're too fast for me. I'm starting to get tired.

[Akira is enjoying it.

Fighting shadows is fun - though it's also incredibly dangerous, he'd be lying if he said he didn't like it. But there's always something even more exhilarating about fighting the shadows that rule the Palaces; stronger and smarter (usually) and full of the desire to protect the world they've created at all cost.

But it's exciting fighting someone like Minato, too - seeing how his skills match up with another with similar powers, learning how he stacks up against them. He's fast, but Minato hits hard, and from what little of them Akira has seen, there's a power coming off his Personas that feels strong, maybe even stronger than his own.

It makes him think more than a little of his fight with Akechi, but this is different. He and Minato are fighting to train; he and Akechi fought for blood.

If they had been fighting for blood, it would have been too easy to attack once Minato lowered his sword, but instead, Akira lowers his own knives. He's panting as well, even through the grin on his face.]

Heh. Just when I was about to win, too.

[It's a friendly taunt, really.]

[Minato's not particularly competitive--especially not when it comes to himself and his own pride. He'll fight forever for the sake of his friends or someone else, but with something like this?

He just shrugs at that taunt, and gives Akira a casual:]

Maybe so.

[Maybe Akira was about to win. Maybe not. It was fun, either way, and Minato has no complaints there.

Instead, he stretches a bit, and flashes Akira a small smile.]

We should do this again either way, though. It'd be nice to stay sharp in a way that isn't as deadly as taking on a nest of Shadows.

[The smile is enough; Akira had fun, and it's good to know that Minato did too. It was nice to stretch his legs (and everyone other part of him) again, to not have to worry about anyone finding out about his Persona.

He nods in response, his Joker outfit disappearing, replaced with his normal clothes.]

I would be up for that. I enjoyed this.

[And Minato's right, it's considerably safer than fighting monsters and shadows. Perhaps he should have had his group do the same, back home.

Then again, back home they had a strict deadline, much of the time. When would they have found the time? This place is nice, in that way.]

Yeah... it was honestly fun.

[Minato definitely feels that too.

Anyway, when he thinks about it--]

I feel like...we can maybe push each other more than we'd be able to with other people.

[Since they have the same general abilities, and can change Personas--they have a lot of options.]

Mm. You're right.

[He nods in agreement. Even against the others, who only have one Persona (well, Yusuke who has one Persona), there's only so much he can do. But with Minato, he can really stretch his abilities - push himself further than ever.

Although, he does wonder about one thing...]

Was that all the Personas you have... or were you holding a few back?

[... Oh, caught. He shouldn't really be surprised that Akira caught him out even just from that short spar, honestly.]

... I guess I was keeping a few to myself.

[A few that it doesn't feel right to bring to bear on Akira, not in a friendly spar--Personas like Satan and Beelzebub, who are there to destroy and not just to battle.

And Messiah... who has some symbolism he's not prepared to explain.

A quick shrug, and:]

Maybe next time I'll share some more of them.

[Akira is beyond curious at that cagey answer, but he decides it probably won't get him anywhere to push right now. If Minato isn't willing to use them in a fight against him, he thinks there must be a good reason.

So he only nods in understanding for now, and lets it go.] Alright. And you can see the rest of mine.

[There aren't many more that he didn't use, though. It's... probably not as exciting.]

[As far as Minato's concerned, it's still exciting... he's curious about Akira and the sort of Personas Akira has, and what his general set up is. Meeting another Wild Card is exciting!]

I'll be looking forward to it.

For now... [He'll offer his hand for a handshake.] Good match, Akira-san.

[He will accept that handshake!]

Good match, Minato.

Let's do it again soon. For now... I think I'm going to find something to eat.

[He is a simple soul, okay... Time to go grab food.

THANKS FOR THE SPAR, AKIRA.]

[Closed]

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