Atsuro Kihara (
otakuro) wrote in
destinystrings2013-12-21 11:39 am
(no subject)
[After four days of wandering around aimlessly, the inevitable has finally happened. The two Atsuros stand in the middle of Sagittarius district, facing each other down. The Shadow is no longer withdrawn and timid. Bolstered by the promises it had heard, it stares at its counterpart now with a faint smile.]
I really thought you were going to complain about how we've never beaten Hizumi at that stupid drum game.
...
...And the dancing game, come to think of it.
Why do you do that? Whenever there's a problem... that's all you do. Laugh it off.
What? ...You want me to whine about it? Like you?
I want you to face it. All of your friends... All of your friends know how you really feel now. Everything you're afraid of. Everything you try to hide.
[The brown-eyed boy stiffens at this statement and averts his gaze with a slight shrug.]
I don't hide anything from them.
[His doppelganger pauses before calling out in a trembling, petulant, high-pitched tone.]
'They don't really like me... They don't really want me around...... Nano hates me, Midori probably can't wait to get rid of me, and Yuzu... Yuzu just deals with me 'cause she wants to be around Kazuya. ...Kazuya. Perfect hero Kazuya. The guy I stick to like a leech so maybe I feel a little more worthwhile.'
...That's not what I think at all.
'Maybe if I act like a clown, people will like me. Maybe if I make myself try harder, people will have to like me.
.......Maybe if I were a better kid, Mommy and Daddy wouldn't have ditched me like a -- '
Shut up.
[A brilliant flash of light, and the street is suddenly filled to the brim. Two demons, a Persona, and Atsuro himself stand ready on both sides, each facing their counterparts. Four on four. Atsuro clenches a trembling fist tight as his allies ready themselves to fight.]
I've never believed that. I've never believed any of those things.
...Ehehe. The sad thing is.... they all know now. They all know how you really feel, and... they still want to be your friend. -- Oh... sorry. They want to be my friend. Because you were too much of a coward to ever tell them the truth.
...I think we'll be fine without you.
Enki!
((Warning - Atsuro is Level Max, so the Shadow will pack a pretty hefty punch! There will be two threads for fighting with the Shadow and the Persona or fighting with the demons.))
I really thought you were going to complain about how we've never beaten Hizumi at that stupid drum game.
...
...And the dancing game, come to think of it.
Why do you do that? Whenever there's a problem... that's all you do. Laugh it off.
What? ...You want me to whine about it? Like you?
I want you to face it. All of your friends... All of your friends know how you really feel now. Everything you're afraid of. Everything you try to hide.
[The brown-eyed boy stiffens at this statement and averts his gaze with a slight shrug.]
I don't hide anything from them.
[His doppelganger pauses before calling out in a trembling, petulant, high-pitched tone.]
'They don't really like me... They don't really want me around...... Nano hates me, Midori probably can't wait to get rid of me, and Yuzu... Yuzu just deals with me 'cause she wants to be around Kazuya. ...Kazuya. Perfect hero Kazuya. The guy I stick to like a leech so maybe I feel a little more worthwhile.'
...That's not what I think at all.
'Maybe if I act like a clown, people will like me. Maybe if I make myself try harder, people will have to like me.
.......Maybe if I were a better kid, Mommy and Daddy wouldn't have ditched me like a -- '
Shut up.
[A brilliant flash of light, and the street is suddenly filled to the brim. Two demons, a Persona, and Atsuro himself stand ready on both sides, each facing their counterparts. Four on four. Atsuro clenches a trembling fist tight as his allies ready themselves to fight.]
I've never believed that. I've never believed any of those things.
...Ehehe. The sad thing is.... they all know now. They all know how you really feel, and... they still want to be your friend. -- Oh... sorry. They want to be my friend. Because you were too much of a coward to ever tell them the truth.
...I think we'll be fine without you.
Enki!
((Warning - Atsuro is Level Max, so the Shadow will pack a pretty hefty punch! There will be two threads for fighting with the Shadow and the Persona or fighting with the demons.))

PERSONA SKILL: BASTION
"Atsuro-san!"
As soon as she reaches the battle, there is a flash of light as Geppetto fades from existence and Nano calls forth the Clock Tower Manager. As the manifestation of the feelings she and Atsuro feel for each other, it only seems appropriate to make use of it in this battle. Planting her keyblade into the ground defensively, she activates the Bastion skill.
"I'll protect you, don't worry!"
((ooc: Bastion: Increases caster's Defense and Agility by 2.5x for two turns; take attacks in place of one ally for two turns. Nano is Strong against Fire and Lightning, Absorb Light, and Reflects Physical at the moment.
For the sake of not bogging the thread down too much, she's going to be going full defense every turn while it's active and shielding Atsuro himself from attacks so he can concentrate on fighting back. Nano's a max level user too, so she can take it.))
Incinerate > Shadow Atsuro
His Persona alone moves out from behind the building, sending a swathe of flame directly for Shadow Atsuro. However, Hizumi himself will only be peering from around the corner; he'd rather not put himself in a direct line of fire if he can avoid it.
Mediarama > Self
It seems Atsuro has been reduced to calling out the names of his friends as they appear, but this one, at least, is for a reason. He can feel a surge of... something in his heart as Gepetto flickers out of existence to be replaced by something he had almost forgotten he had.
The representation of their bond with one another...
When was the last time they had called it forth together? ...Before her confession, surely. If she could still summon it, then --
"Everyone... You're really with me, huh?"
The wave of attacks washes towards the Shadow and the corrupted Persona - the Silencing spell misses, though Atsuro has to suppress an inappropriate chuckle as he remembers the last time Yurick had used that spell; the two Fire attacks flare up sharply around the Shadow - the demon's seems to be largely shrugged off, although Hizumi's Persona's is a little more successful, causing them to stumble back away from the flames.
As of yet, though, neither Atsuro seems to have noticed that Hizumi is actually here.
The Shadow simply stands motionless for a few moments before a flare of light dances around himself and his Persona. They seem to be restored to health.
"Everyone...
Didn't you all say... that no matter what, you would stand with me? You didn't actually mean it... huh?
The only difference between the two of us... is that I've admitted my flaws. We're the same, he and I.
no subject
Prominence isn't enough. The Shadow is too powerful. Yurick can't protect him like this. Once again, he's too weak to save anyone.
Not Atsuro.
Not his family.
Fury burns in his chest and, for an instant, he reaches up toward his eyepatch, as if ready to pull it off. Then he hesitates, expression twisting with fear and uncertainty, before he lowers his hand to draw the dagger at his hip instead.
"You'll burn before I let you hurt anyone, you bloody fake!" But his voice is trembling, his focus incomplete as he starts to charge another Prominence. It will take several precious seconds, but it's his strongest attack, at least in this state.
And that's when another spell wraps the Shadow: a Red Wall. Even without weakness to fire, every little bit helps, right? But who cast it...?
Yuzu>Holy Dance>Shadow | Troll>Piercing Hit>Shadow
"Are you crazy? He didn't attack us! How can you say there's no difference?"
Okay, so fire isn't working? Let's try some almighty , then. Yuzu is going on the offensive with holy dance. The troll is sticking with piercing hit, since that can't be resisted, nulled, or absorbed. Amaterasu will stay on the defensing, waiting until someone needs healing or reviving.
Hell Frost > Shadow Atsuro (Severe Ice)
If he could use that power and strike a weakness, this really would go by quickly. With that in mind, his Persona gets to casting, this time sending a blast of ice headed towards the Shadow.
Agneyastra (Large Damage x2-3) > All, repeated twice
Atsuro continues to be useless as he stands there watching his friends attack... himself.
"I... Wait. Wait... just a second."
"You all... Heh... You all just think that's what I am, huh? It's so easy for you to decide who the bad guys is... huh?"
Shadow Enki stirs itself to life now and as before, the barrage of attacks is taken with only a moderate reaction - certainly not as effective as it all should have been, together. It is once again Hizumi's Persona's attack that causes the greatest damage, though it isn't clear if it's been really severely damaged or not. ...It's hard to tell under all the ominous, dark glowy stuff.
"So I'm the bad guy... OK. I can do that."
There is a dull roar as Shadow Enki simply taps the ground with its staff - the huge shockwave, though, ripples out and touches every combatant on the field - the sensation is like being smashed with a rock repeatedly. ...The moment it's over, a second shockwave ripples out and repeats the exact same thing once more.
"Your promises... You make promises so easily... Promises you never intend to keep. Isn't this what people really are? You only say things that are convenient.
Atsuro... Remember all of this."
The Shadow turns now to where the spell that had wrapped around it came from.
"You agree with me... right?"
no subject
There's a reason Balor looks the way it does. Its smaller twin rests in the Shadow's lidless eyesocket, tiny black crosses tattooing the skin beneath it. The other eye glows a baleful, malicious gold.
"Betrayers... you're all nothing but a flock of traitors! You speak of friendship but you don't understand anything! What gives him--" He jabs a finger toward Atsuro. "-- any more right to exist?! It's so easy to throw aside what you don't understand... whatever isn't convenient! You cast aside feelings as if they mean nothing!"
The Shadow turns on Yurick, who had been trying to rise after the Agneysatra attack but is now frozen with naked horror. It's one thing to see the Shadow of a friend, but to see one's own, to have it spouting private thoughts....
"No...."
"Oh, come off it!" The Shadow swiftly moves to stand beside Atsuro's Shadow, clasping its kindred's wrist possessively. "You who wanted power, you hide behind it, hide everything you are, because you're afraid of what people will think! Did you tell Zael how much you hate the world? How you blame them for Mother's death?"
"Stop...!" Yurick clamps his hands over his ears, squeezing his eye shut, and his Shadow laughs at the wordless denial.
"Traitor or not, why should the sins of the father cost the mother and son? That's why you can't let anyone get too close, because you're too weak to survive that kind of pain again!"
"SHUT UP!" Yurick's scream echoes shrilly through the street, the mage frantically shaking his head as he still tries to block out the Shadow's mocking.
Amaterasu>Prayer>All Allies | Troll>Bufudyne>Shadow | Yuzu>Masatukaja>All Allies
That one hurt. A lot. And Yuzu can't stop herself from letting out a little cry of pain. Amaterasu is going to take care of the damage with a prayer, while the troll switches gears to cast a bufudyne. Elemental attacks are clearly doing better than physical.
"How dare you? You think any of this is easy?"
This newcomer is really pissing her off. Yuzu knows exactly how hard it is to decide to fight against your friends.
"You don't fight against your friends because it's easy or convenient! You fight them because you have to. Because sometimes that's the only way to stop them from making a terrible mistake!"
This is hitting far too close to home.
"And you can't call us traitors when he attacked first!"
Yuzu is going to take a gamble, using her persona to cast a masatukaja on her allies. They can enjoy a boost of 30% to their attack, defense, and agility. Yuzu, on the other hand, falls to her knees, left exhausted from the side effects.
Persona Skill: Eyes of God
Nano had been so focused on defending Atsuro from his own Shadow that she hadn't even noticed the surprise attacks and defensive spells rolling in unseen from Yurick's Shadow. And now that there are two of them in the mix and the effects of Bastion have ended, she can tell she's going to have to enter the fray in earnest. Things are too dangerous to just keep defending.
"I-I can help! Don't give up, Atsuro-san and everyone!"
The Clock Tower Manager, its job complete, fades back into the shared subconscious between Nano and Atsuro. It is not Geppetto that re-emerges, however, but a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, a blue gown, and fairy wings, bursting forth from the Star Arcana card as Nano shatters it with her keyblade.
"Please help us, Blue Fairy-san!"
The Persona gracefully inclines its head toward Nano before turning toward Atsuro's Shadow and leveling her wand at it. A harsh white light shoots forth from the wand, enveloping the Shadow completely and hopefully inflicting some damage.
[Eyes of God (Inflicts medium Light damage on one enemy with a 20% chance of Fear.)]
no subject
He's sitting this round out, it seems.
no subject
Mutters Atsuro to Yuzu as he awkwardly watches the Bastion take the hits for him, because hey, someone has to provide levity to this fight. Nano's Light attack causes Shadow Enki to spasm uncomfortably for a moment or two when it strikes; the Troll's Bufudyne, as before, isn't quite as effective. Shadow Enki definitely seems to be a little pained, now, or perhaps that's simply a reflection of Shadow Atsuro's reversion to its less confident state. The expression on its face has become withdrawn once more.
As Shadow Yurick winds down its speech, he takes a step forward.
"...Listen, you! Uh. Me-you. My evil twin. ...You can say whatever you want about me, but you know as well as I do that you're wrong, now." Atsuro glances towards his friends. "Weren't you just telling me? Weren't you just saying that they still wanted me - even after you told them everything I was afraid of?
"..."
"If we only ever say and do things that are convenient... then everyone would have ditched us long ago. Yuzu..." As he says her name, he reaches down to try and help her up. "Yuzu's right. The only reason they're fighting is because they still care. If they didn't fight you... then they wouldn't be our friends. Friendship isn't about letting your friends do whatever they want." A glance towards Midori, a little ways holding back the demons. "It's not about promising empty things you don't mean, so no one's feelings are ever hurt." Nano will receive a smile. "And it definitely isn't about clinging on to something you want because you're afraid you'll lose it." A quick squeeze of Yuzu's hand before he steps away.
"Friendship's not about what you want. And if you want these guys... You're gonna have to go through me."
Yurick will be helped up now, too.
"...Don't listen to him. ...Well. Actually, listen, but. Don't let it get to you. Everything you've ever tried to hide... We don't know what you've gone through, but -- the only way to get these guys to shut up is to accept it. Everyone has these kinds of thoughts. It's easier said than done, but... You've already faced it, a little bit, right?
"You've already let me in."
Atsuro flashes his familiar, bright smile to everyone assembled as Enki comes to the fore once more.
"...OK. Let's take these jokers down. ...You stole Agneyastra and Dual Shadow from me."
The shockwave from before rolls out once again - this time in the direction of the Shadows. ...Except Atsuro's luck isn't quite so good and the Dual doesn't activate.
"............I can't be cool no matter how hard I try, huh...?"
Yurick: Red Wall > Yuzu | Shadow > charging for Big Bang (2 turns)
Cringing at his double's vicious words, Yurick lets himself be pulled up, but he can't bring himself to meet Atsuro's eyes. He turns his face away to the right, hiding the patch.
His Shadow suddenly goes from fury to cackling with snide laughter at the insecurity it sees, turning to Shadow Atsuro with a feral grin. It still hasn't released its fellow's wrist.
"Keep them from me. I will wipe them all out with a single strike."
It lets go of the other Shadow and backs up several steps, the dark stone eye starting to glow with an even greater heat than the yellow of its left. Mana starts to gather slowly around it, crimson rather than wispy white, and Yurick's head snaps up to stare at it in terror.
"No... fire protection or get out of range, quickly! Everyone!" He summons Balor to cast Red Wall on Yuzu. Though his instinct is to protect Atsuro first, experience has taught him the vital importance of guarding the healers before all others. "We only have a minute at best!"
Hell Frost > Shadow Atsuro
...Ah. That would be another Shadow, wouldn't it?
But first things first. If they try to split their attention too much, they won't be able to defeat either Shadow. He's not entirely sure what the second Shadow is up to, but if they can just take out Atsuro's first...
"Hell Frost."
Itzpalt obligingly sends another punishing ice spell along.
Persona Change: Blue Fairy -> Geppetto | Persona Skill: Vorpal Blade
Although it's a Support type rather than the offensive sort of Persona they need at the moment, Geppetto is the only thing Nano has that innately resists fire. The Blue Fairy disappears as she calls the kindly old puppet master out once again.
"Geppetto-san, please!"
The Persona's eyes flash in response to Nano's plea, and it draws out a large carving knife. Charging forward toward the enemy Shadows, it lashes out with the strongest attack it can muster.
[Vorpal Blade (Inflicts a large amount of Physical damage with a 10% chance of Exhaustion on all enemies.)]
Yuzu>Maziodyne>Both Shadows | Troll>Mow Down>Both Shadows | Amaterasu>Maragidyne>Both Shadows
Amaterasu is immune to fire damage, so she's okay. She's tossing out another maragidyne, because with magic yang up, there is mp to spare. The Troll is going with mow down, so it can also do damage to both of those shadows. Yuzu is going to muster her strength and try a maziodyne. The extra protection against fire is appreciated. That might just get her through this.
Agneyastra > All, Deathbound > Atsuro, Yuzu, Yurick
"They'll leave you. They won't stay. People will always leave, in the end."
"'Better to have loved and...' blah blah, however that goes."
"You're just going to get hurt."
"...Are you really going to make me go through more cliches?"
"You... You don't deserve any -- "
"Does anyone?"
"..............................Hrrragggghh! You... You... You really think being clever... is what it's going to take?! You still don't understand!"
Atsuro himself has done very little to defend himself against the attack that's coming from Shadow Yurick, the idea being the same as the hidden Hizumi's. If they could get rid of his first...
He does not count on his Shadow letting loose one final scream as another shockwave runs out from the Persona to try and fell everyone - the Shadow itself shakes loose from Shadow Yurick's grip and launches forward, fists aglow with a deep crimson light that lashes out towards Atsuro and those standing closest to him - Yuzu and Yurick.
Shadow: Big Bang | Yurick: Defend from Mortal Blow
If fire heals his double, does it heal him now as well? It's a huge gamble, but he has no choice. It's not like he can cast under the assault of Deathbound.
"Get back!" he screams at the others, ready to take the brunt of the fiery magic wielded by his double.
His Shadow howls with insane laughter and flings the energy outward. Several massive fireballs arc up and forward like fast missiles, a rush of impossible heat preceding them. Yurick holds his ground against both Deathbound and Big Bang, scrunches his eye shut, and prays someone can revive him if this fails. If only Zael was here with the power of the Outsider to help them.
The fire that hits him... feels warm, soothing. The aches throughout his body fade and his grip on the dagger steadies. He nearly relaxes his guard until he remembers the others with him might not be so lucky. Gritting his teeth he tries to shove Shadow Atsuro back.
"DAMN YOU! Why won't you just DIE?!" His Shadow drops back to the ground, drawing its own dagger and running toward them in a maddened bull rush.
Persona Skill: World Revolution
[World Revolution (Triples all allies' Attack/Defense/Agility for 2 turns.)]
Amaterasu>Recarmloss>Troll | Yuzu>Mediarahan>All Allies
The troll isn't so lucky. But Amaterasu has recarmloss for a reason. The troll is brought back as quickly as it fell. And Yuzu casts mediarahan, healing both herself and her allies.
Water Dance (Large Water 2-3x) > Shadow Yurick
...Alternatively, he's readily smashed around for a bit, and this scenario briefly flashes through his mind before he decides that it isn't quite time for the Bad End yet.
He had never thought being punched by himself would be much of an issue given his intensely unathletic nature, but apparently, the Harmonizer on that COMP worked wonders for him. There is pain coming from every part of his body, to the extent that he isn't quite sure where exactly he is hit.
"...I do understand."
The Shadow is shoved back, but has simply reared back to deck Yurick again. But it stops in its tracks upon hearing these words, even as Shadow Yurick barrels towards them with the dagger.
"Everything you said is true. Maybe... not that true. But... if I said I'd never thought any of these things, ever... that would be the real lie."
He is half-whispering as he lies on his back, charred and exhausted.
"That's what you're trying to tell me, right? 'The only difference between the two of us is that I've admitted my flaws.' ...OK. Then I'm afraid of losing people. I'm afraid of being alone. I live on the Internet so I can get constant attention. I surround myself with people so I can think that maybe, someone really cares about me. I think Mom and Dad don't really love me or need me that much, so... I sort of doubt anyone else does."
"So now we're the same."
Around now is when Yuzu's convenient Mediarahan washes over him, and he breathes a slight sigh of relief as he clambers to his feet.
"You're me. And I'm you. ...Now that we've settled that. I think it's time for you to go."
The Shadow stares in disbelief at the hand stretched out towards it.
"..............You're cribbing this off of Last Phantasm IV with the whole Dark Knight/Paladin thing."
"Shut up and let me be cool. ...Hurry up, geez; we're not the only ones who need therapy here."
The Shadow shrugs. It does not take the hand.
...It might therefore be a little alarming when it suddenly freezes over and shatters into a thousand pieces of ice that hang in the air. The shards hover for a few moment before they dissolve into droplets of water, a stream of liquid that rushes towards Atsuro and spirals around him for a few moments before sinking into him.
Behind the Shadow, the Shadow Persona erupts in a brilliant flare of light.
".............Ah -- "
There's not really any time to rejoice or anything, since there's still someone coming at them with a knife. Hopefully the sudden flood will help.
Shadow: Running Slash > minor damage > close-proximity bystanders, all hell breaks loose > Yurick
The dagger crashes into its twin, knocking Yurick's guard aside, and before the mage can recover the Shadow plunges the blade into his shoulder. Yurick screams in pain and swings his errant weapon back, driving it into the Shadow's shoulder in turn. Both blades yank free, both combatants down an arm now, and they lunge at each other again in a flurry of reckless, wild blows. They're cutting each other up, nothing truly lethal yet but there's blood everywhere.
"You know I'm right! The world hates you as much as you hate it, otherwise he'd be here! He followed you into the ship, saved your life, and now that you owe him he's forgotten you!"
"He's trying to find Calista--!"
"She's not here and he knows it! He's looking for an excuse to ditch you! And sooner or later, so will the rest!" It lays open Yurick's cheek, almost blinding his good eye.
"They're not like that--!"
"You blind fool! You latched onto Atsuro the same way! How long before he tires of you?!"
"He won't!" Yurick's attention drifts just for a second, desperately seeking to meet his friend's eyes, and the Shadow kicks him to the ground with a boot to the gut.
"Not before I kill you, at least!" And it raises the dagger, ready to stab the mage through the face.
Persona Skill: Nirvana
Nano's voice rings out through the air as Yurick's Shadow gets ready to finish his counterpart off. She doesn't know him personally and was originally only here for Atsuro, but Nano has never been the type to abandon someone in need - she's going to see this through to the end. There will be time for heartfelt words between friends once everyone is safe.
Once again unconsciously responding to the little robot's will, Geppetto raises his knife into the air. A blinding white light briefly fills the area before coalescing into the tip of the blade, and is then fired toward the Shadow in a powerful beam. Nano knows by now that only Yurick can get rid of his own Shadow for good, but at least she thinks this might help while he gathers his courage.
[Nirvana (Decreases one enemy's HP by 50% from the power of Light.)]
Hell Frost > Shadow Yurick
Not that he's got much left to spend in this battle anyway. His mana is almost spent; he's got enough for maybe one or two more spells before he'd have to rely on close combat, and that's precisely what he's trying to avoid here.
Keeping in mind the fire attack from before, Hizumi tries the closest thing he has to the opposite element. It's time to see if Shadow Yurick can stand getting hit by a glacier, too.
Yuzu>Holy Dance>Shadow Yurick | Troll>Piercing Hit>Shadow Yurick | Amaterasu>Mediarahan>All allies
Atsuro > ??? > Shadow Yurick
Re: Atsuro > ??? > Shadow Yurick
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)