[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]
[. . . there he is. just as majestic and powerful as before, and Akira slowly climbs to his feet once the Persona has been re-summoned. and this time, there's no fleeting attack, no physical assault, to distract him from getting a good look]
[the symbolism isn't lost on him. Thanatos, the Greek personification of death, and Minato's Persona encompasses that in droves. the coffins at his back, the skull and crossbones at his belt, the looming, almost dark aura. . .]
[... Ha. Minato huffs out a faintly amused breath at that, before he nods. He's still seated, and Thanatos allows Akira to approach without moving, hovering there as quietly and sinisterly as ever.]
Yes. That's right. Him... and Orpheus. They're both me.
[he can't explain it, but he can, in that way a wild card just knows]
[a small laugh, laced with a noise that almost sounds admiring]
One who faced death to retrieve that which he loved, and the embodiment of death itself. . . fitting. But--
[but--]
[he doesn't finish that thought. instead, as he stops a mere few footsteps away from Thanatos, his fingers twitch. he lifts his hand in the air, palm facing forward, and holds it there, hovering in front of Thanatos's head]
[that's all he says before he moves forward, pressing his hand palm flat against Thanatos's face, should both the Persona and Minato allow him to do so]
In a way. . . he's beautiful.
[fellas is it gay to call your senpai's soul persona beautiful]
[Akira is so focused on Thanatos that he misses the way Minato's mouth falls open. he can hear the bemusement in his senpai's tone, however; it merely draws a light little huff from Akira]
Hn? Ah. . . that.
[he also totally keeps his hand pressed against Thanatos's. . . face? kind of petting it like one might pet a horse. okay, Akira]
It just-- [. . . is there a polite way for him to ask this??]
Our Personas are a crystallization of who we are, aren't they? Especially ones like Satanael, or Thanatos. So. . .
[tilts his head at Minato]
. . . why is everything about your Journey so intrinsically tied to Death?
[There is no polite way to ask that, and Minato stills for a moment. Thanatos flickers, as their Personas do when they don't retain great focus on them--before he stabilizes again underneath Akira's touch.
And quietly, Minato closes his eyes, breathing out a slow sigh.]
[ah. . . right. keeping Thanatos maintained in this form must be using up a lot of SP. Akira flashes Minato an apologetic look before he withdraws his hand, signaling that it's fine if Minato recalls his Persona before he passes out from exhaustion]
[. . .]
[and that answer. . .]
[. . .]
Well.
[Akira's tone is carefully, purposefully light]
If you ever want to try, you know where to find me.
[the pieces are starting to come together, and Akira isn't sure he likes the picture they're beginning to form]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
survivaltricks) wrote2021-09-17 11:25 pm
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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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. . . Thanatos.
Can I see that one again?
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... Yeah. I don't mind.
[He will get off of Akira first, though he just sits next to Akira on the ground and reaches for his Evoker.
... He fires, and Thanatos hovers behind him, quiet and looming.]
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[the symbolism isn't lost on him. Thanatos, the Greek personification of death, and Minato's Persona encompasses that in droves. the coffins at his back, the skull and crossbones at his belt, the looming, almost dark aura. . .]
[it's. . . mesmerizing. it's dangerous, but it's also. . .]
[hm. something else Akira can't put into words]
[quietly, but loud enough for Minato to hear as he takes a step towards Thanatos, gaze focused]
This one. [he says with a slight tilt of his head] . . . this one is you. Right?
[in the same way Arsene and Satanael are Joker. right. . .?]
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Yes. That's right. Him... and Orpheus. They're both me.
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Mmm. . . I can feel it.
[he can't explain it, but he can, in that way a wild card just knows]
[a small laugh, laced with a noise that almost sounds admiring]
One who faced death to retrieve that which he loved, and the embodiment of death itself. . . fitting. But--
[but--]
[he doesn't finish that thought. instead, as he stops a mere few footsteps away from Thanatos, his fingers twitch. he lifts his hand in the air, palm facing forward, and holds it there, hovering in front of Thanatos's head]
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And as he does, Minato, almost as if he doesn't dare to breathe, murmurs:]
... You're not-- [Afraid? Daunted? Horrified?]
--bothered by him?
[He's curious about the "but", but... this has to be said first.]
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Of course not.
[that's all he says before he moves forward, pressing his hand palm flat against Thanatos's face, should both the Persona and Minato allow him to do so]
In a way. . . he's beautiful.
[fellas is it gay to call your senpai's soul persona beautiful]
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Minato's expression changes though.
It flickers, his lips parting in slight but notable surprise.
... Ah...]
I--oh.
[He wasn't prepared for that at all and it shows. A moment later, he ducks his head, clears his throat, and:]
... Um. You were about to say something before. "But"--but what?
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Hn? Ah. . . that.
[he also totally keeps his hand pressed against Thanatos's. . . face? kind of petting it like one might pet a horse. okay, Akira]
It just-- [. . . is there a polite way for him to ask this??]
Our Personas are a crystallization of who we are, aren't they? Especially ones like Satanael, or Thanatos. So. . .
[tilts his head at Minato]
. . . why is everything about your Journey so intrinsically tied to Death?
[he means the Arcana, btw]
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And quietly, Minato closes his eyes, breathing out a slow sigh.]
... That's... a complicated question.
I'm... not sure how to answer it.
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[. . .]
[and that answer. . .]
[. . .]
Well.
[Akira's tone is carefully, purposefully light]
If you ever want to try, you know where to find me.
[the pieces are starting to come together, and Akira isn't sure he likes the picture they're beginning to form]
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