[a pause. his fingers flex around the handle of the Evoker, but he still steers clear of the trigger]
[quietly]
I'm not.
[. . . why would this be pushing himself? he already knows the gun is harmless, that all it will do is drag his Personas into being from the recesses of his mind, just as his mask does. there's no reason for him to be nervous. no reason for him to hesitate. this isn't pushing himself. . . it's him stepping into Minato's shoes for the briefest, most fleeting of moments]
[. . .]
[so. . . why is his heart hammering so loudly in his chest?]
[his lips twitch into a grin, something sharper than his normal smiles]
Right. Let's go.
[don't mind Joker as he takes a few steps back, coattails swishing, and links his hands together before lifting them above his head in an easy stretch]
[He certainly does not mind! Minato takes a singular step back himself, taking in a deep breath and sliding a thumb over the side of his Evoker quietly.
[what better way to open things than with a bang?]
[a sharp exhale. . . and Satanael rises forth yet again, wings unfolding behind Akira, spread regally from side to side. with one hand extended, thumb and forefinger extended like that of a gun, Joker shouts--]
Satanael!
[and starts things off with another Maeigaon. WHY DOES HE GO SO HARD SO QUICKLY!]
Minato looks a little startled despite himself, even though he should realize that this is how Akira is--but he stumbles back, reaching into his mind hastily for Thanatos, and then brushes off the darkness attack. He still looks a little frazzled, but nonetheless, he flicks the Evoker to his temple.
... Thanatos is safe, right? Or, at least... he feels as though the symbolism, while it won't escape Akira, won't cause any alarm bells.
And he's out of time, so he has to--]
Thanatos, come!
[He fires, and Thanatos launches itself at Akira for a nasty physical swipe with its sword, a sharp Vorpal Blade.]
[Minato tanks the attack extremely well for how badly it had knocked him off kilter the last time, and Akira can't help but think to himself-- fool him once, shame on me. fool him twice--]
[. . . and then. . .]
[as Satanael fades back into the recesses of his mind. . . Minato drags out something new. a Persona Akira has never seen before, not even within the depths of his own compendium. a majestic creature who rises up with confidence, with purpose, with power even greater than that of Metatron and Mithras's combined assault]
[much like Minato had been awed by Satanael's first appearance. . . Akira finds his own expression slackening in the same star-struck admiration for the second time this fight]
Ah--
[Thanatos. the name doesn't escape him. and despite his momentary distraction, neither does the attack]
-- shit.
[he was taken off guard by the fusion assault, but he won't let that happen again. not even as Thanatos barrels onto the field with a physical assault powerful enough to send him flying. this time, he has Satanael at his side, and one hefty physical resistance to back up his defense. with teeth grith, Akira digs his heels into the ground and braces for the assault]
[it slams into him just as hard as the last attack had, but. . . this time, he isn't thrown back. the force of the blow does send him skidding back a few feet, heels dragging a few inches into the earth. and when the assault ends, and Thanatos pulls back. . .]
[Akira sucks in a sharp breath and lifts his head, eyes still gleaming, as a small cut on his cheek leaks a tiiiiny bit of scarlet]
You're-- you're full of surprises, aren't you senpai--?
[... Minato isn't surprised that it doesn't really win him the fight. He leans heavily on Thanatos, but Akira isn't a normal, standard enemy he'd fight. Akira's a Wild Card, and a talented one at that.
And with that Persona--Satanael--at his side... Minato's not surprised that he can take an attack like that and stay standing.
But rather than respond to that, he just huffs out a breath and reaches for his Evoker again. He's gotta push whatever little advantage he's got.]
Persona!
[It's not Thanatos again. He's shuffled already, and this time it's Satan--and rather than a physical assault, he's going AOE with a maragidyne.]
[. . . and then they're back to the familiar, and Akira barks out a laugh as he sweeps an arm in front of himself like a shield]
Chi You!!
[the Persona leaps forward, shield first, to block the Maragidyne, flames licking the edges of that shield and scattering them from side to side. when the assault dies down, and Chi You vanishes, Akira-- is gone]
[. . . well. not gone, per se. . . but he is swooping down on Minato from the side with a sweeping kick, aiming to knock his senpai off balance while he's distracted by the lingering flames of Satan's assault]
Minato's not expecting it at all. He whips his head around with a tight frown, Evoker still in hand as he looks for Akira--
And then Akira's there, and that sweeping kick is perfectly on target. Minato hits the ground back first with a quiet "oof", but he's not about to take Akira's sudden change in tactics lying down.
Which is why he immediately rolls, wrapping his arms around Akira's legs to try to take him down too.]
[well. that tactic works; Minato has a hold of Akira's legs before he can dart out of the way to avoid being taken down too. and suddenly they're both tumbling to the ground in a pile of flailing limbs and coattails, and Akira is-- well. he's laughing as he goes, of course]
[He's laughing, but Minato's not quite done. He just pushes, shoves and rolls, until he's perched on top of Akira, straddling him a bit above his hips, closer to his stomach.
And then with an amsued huff:]
Even pinned like this... I haven't won at all, have I? You'd be able to knock me right off if you wanted to.
[Akira is pushing and shoving back!! but eventually. . . he lands flat on his back with a light oof, arms sprawled to the sides and hair completely disheveled. he's still grinning despite himself, seemingly totally unconcerned about the weight against his hips, or the fact that to an outside viewer this strange position could seem a bit. . . ah. compromising]
[he flashes a smile right back up at Minato, corners sharp, eyes gleaming]
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survivaltricks) wrote2021-09-17 11:25 pm
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And then, finally, softly:]
... Don't push yourself.
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[quietly]
I'm not.
[. . . why would this be pushing himself? he already knows the gun is harmless, that all it will do is drag his Personas into being from the recesses of his mind, just as his mask does. there's no reason for him to be nervous. no reason for him to hesitate. this isn't pushing himself. . . it's him stepping into Minato's shoes for the briefest, most fleeting of moments]
[. . .]
[so. . . why is his heart hammering so loudly in his chest?]
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Minato stays quiet at that. If Akira says he won't push himself, then Minato will believe in that.
But... all he can do is wait and see what Akira does, expression calm but a little sympathetic.]
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[. . .]
Would it even work for me? Since. . .
[you know. he gestures to his mask. there's really only one way to find out, but--]
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[... A beat, and he looks away.]
There's no reason for you to use it though. Not when you already have a better way of summoning.
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[he lowers the Evoker without his finger ever having touched the trigger]
I guess. . . you're right.
[it's strange, how in this moment, he feels so weak]
I don't know how you do it.
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... We do what we have to in the moment. That's... all there is to it. It's nothing special.
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I hope that one day, you don't need this.
[he will do his best!! to be!! a good Persona summoning teacher!!]
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... Yeah. Thanks. I hope so too.
But in the meantime... it works. So you don't have to worry too much about it.
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[but. anyway. now that that heavy moment has passed. . .! Akira rolls his shoulder back in a stretch]
Anyway. Want to go another round?
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He says, after completely kicking my ass. . .
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I didn't... I just got lucky and took you off guard.
But--let's give it another go, okay?
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Right. Let's go.
[don't mind Joker as he takes a few steps back, coattails swishing, and links his hands together before lifting them above his head in an easy stretch]
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And then:]
Your move first.
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[what better way to open things than with a bang?]
[a sharp exhale. . . and Satanael rises forth yet again, wings unfolding behind Akira, spread regally from side to side. with one hand extended, thumb and forefinger extended like that of a gun, Joker shouts--]
Satanael!
[and starts things off with another Maeigaon. WHY DOES HE GO SO HARD SO QUICKLY!]
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Minato looks a little startled despite himself, even though he should realize that this is how Akira is--but he stumbles back, reaching into his mind hastily for Thanatos, and then brushes off the darkness attack. He still looks a little frazzled, but nonetheless, he flicks the Evoker to his temple.
... Thanatos is safe, right? Or, at least... he feels as though the symbolism, while it won't escape Akira, won't cause any alarm bells.
And he's out of time, so he has to--]
Thanatos, come!
[He fires, and Thanatos launches itself at Akira for a nasty physical swipe with its sword, a sharp Vorpal Blade.]
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[Minato tanks the attack extremely well for how badly it had knocked him off kilter the last time, and Akira can't help but think to himself-- fool him once, shame on me. fool him twice--]
[. . . and then. . .]
[as Satanael fades back into the recesses of his mind. . . Minato drags out something new. a Persona Akira has never seen before, not even within the depths of his own compendium. a majestic creature who rises up with confidence, with purpose, with power even greater than that of Metatron and Mithras's combined assault]
[much like Minato had been awed by Satanael's first appearance. . . Akira finds his own expression slackening in the same star-struck admiration for the second time this fight]
Ah--
[Thanatos. the name doesn't escape him. and despite his momentary distraction, neither does the attack]
-- shit.
[he was taken off guard by the fusion assault, but he won't let that happen again. not even as Thanatos barrels onto the field with a physical assault powerful enough to send him flying. this time, he has Satanael at his side, and one hefty physical resistance to back up his defense. with teeth grith, Akira digs his heels into the ground and braces for the assault]
[it slams into him just as hard as the last attack had, but. . . this time, he isn't thrown back. the force of the blow does send him skidding back a few feet, heels dragging a few inches into the earth. and when the assault ends, and Thanatos pulls back. . .]
[Akira sucks in a sharp breath and lifts his head, eyes still gleaming, as a small cut on his cheek leaks a tiiiiny bit of scarlet]
You're-- you're full of surprises, aren't you senpai--?
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And with that Persona--Satanael--at his side... Minato's not surprised that he can take an attack like that and stay standing.
But rather than respond to that, he just huffs out a breath and reaches for his Evoker again. He's gotta push whatever little advantage he's got.]
Persona!
[It's not Thanatos again. He's shuffled already, and this time it's Satan--and rather than a physical assault, he's going AOE with a maragidyne.]
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Chi You!!
[the Persona leaps forward, shield first, to block the Maragidyne, flames licking the edges of that shield and scattering them from side to side. when the assault dies down, and Chi You vanishes, Akira-- is gone]
[. . . well. not gone, per se. . . but he is swooping down on Minato from the side with a sweeping kick, aiming to knock his senpai off balance while he's distracted by the lingering flames of Satan's assault]
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Minato's not expecting it at all. He whips his head around with a tight frown, Evoker still in hand as he looks for Akira--
And then Akira's there, and that sweeping kick is perfectly on target. Minato hits the ground back first with a quiet "oof", but he's not about to take Akira's sudden change in tactics lying down.
Which is why he immediately rolls, wrapping his arms around Akira's legs to try to take him down too.]
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And then with an amsued huff:]
Even pinned like this... I haven't won at all, have I? You'd be able to knock me right off if you wanted to.
[Akira's so... flippy and strong.]
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[he flashes a smile right back up at Minato, corners sharp, eyes gleaming]
Hm. . . ~ I guess we could find out.
[a pause. . .]
But there's something I want to ask you first.
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Minato tilts his head at that.]
Hm? What is it?
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