The Duel Must Go On!

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Who: Tournament Fighters and those who wish to watch them.
Where: Aries Arena & Televised
Summary: 10/10. A day of shooting and Persona battles.
Warnings: D-D-DUELS!

Cloudy days didn't deteriorate citizens of Hinoto-Ri to flock to the Arena that night. After all, there was a special treat promised to them, tickets at ten dollars off the usual price for a sight yet unseen!

The entire place was filled with cheering spectators and for those who missed out, the usual pay-per-view channels were going to post the entire thing live. Or you could go to your local pub. They had all come to see one thing: and it was to see how these newcomers from otherworlds fared in their favorite sport. In a way it was showing the natural pride to them, and watching how they did at it.

Gambling wasn't allowed publicly. So naturally it flourished underground. Odds today were 1:1, those looking to make a lot of money were simply out of luck. Today was a day for watching. And learning.

For those who had answered the call, prizes had been lined up. At best, it was a demonstration. As long as there was entertainment, the public really didn't care who lost or who won.

From the side ring "Jay Queen" and "Bob Sternhammer", the two ringside announcer, excitedly begin the pre-game talk.

"What a crowd today Jay! You can feel and hear the energy coming right off of 'em!"

"A stadium of Ten Thousand filled to the brim! And this ain't even the Grand Prix!"

"Can't blame 'em. Hell, if I wasn't announcing this, I'd be ringside looking at the newcomers. For those at home watching on Pay-Per-View, we're gonna remind you of the few ground rules."

"Tonight's matches are demonstration only. No returning champions, in fact, if you look to the left there, you'll see Seaside Dragoon waving at the ground. He's last year's reigning champ."

"Man they just love the guy."

"Names are drawn based on known skill. Randomization is under the supervision of the Hinoto-Ri Lotto Society."

"Contestants pick their own Evoker ten minutes before the duel, and are asked to fire a blank shot in the air to insure security before it is scanned. Contestants then are brought into their isolation zones and are kept there until they are ready to be brought up to the ring."

"Turns are taken, each allowed only one command from their Personas."

"As usual, Instant Death Spells are forbidden of usage. You may not kill your opponent. If your opponent is knocked unconscious, they have five seconds to get up. You are only allowed to attack your opponents Persona."

"Oh! Looks like the national anthem's gonna start."

There was some singing, as everyone stood up. After, the shouts became louder and louder, as a single man dressed in a tuxedo walked in, grabbing a futuristic microphone and speaking in it.

"LET'S GET IT ON!"

The crowed cheered, as a series of fireworks tore off into the sky.

"This is Bob live from the Outerworld Demo Tournament! Only on Pay-Per-View!"

[OOC- Minako vs Eikichi & Oersted vs Link will be posted as soon as both parties have submitted their titles and theme music.]

Comments

SPECTATOR (OR REACTIONS)

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[get_bent]

Thanks to the invitation, Kanji was in the stands. He wasn't too sure how he felt about Senpai down there with what looked like a gun in his hands. He also knew all too well that this fighter wasn't someone to be underestimated, as Chie, Yukiko, Rise and Naoto had taught him.

Part of him wished he could have joined but he had been to busy looking for work to have noticed the message until it was too late. They said there's be more anyway, right?

...at least they had nice seats.

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

Somebody perhaps vaguely familiar comes in with popcorn. "Man, those concession prices are ridiculous," he grumbles, plopping down in a seat nearby. "So who's winning?"

[get_bent]

"You ain't missed much yet," he explained, "The Lumi--the girl just attacked, but she used a lightenin' attack on Senpai. It ain't gonna do much to him."

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

He scratches his head. "I'd think getting hit by several thousand volts would -- oh, you're right, I guess not. Man, who's doing this announcing? It's really cheesy..."

He pauses, a piece of popcorn halfway to his mouth. "Uh... did his own Persona just try to whack him?"

[greaterdays]

Nanako was excited to come and see the action. She hadn't been sure about the fighting, of course... but Yu had assured her no one would really be getting hurt. It would just be between Personas, sort of like one of those monster capturing shows on television. And with that being the case, Nanako doesn't mind getting to watch her big bro show off and hopefully, win.

But then...

Why is everyone holding a gun?

[fools_journey]

It wasn't his turn yet - still this match to go before he would face off against Elizabeth - and so what better way to occupy his time than to watch the duals of his friends? Minato wasn't quite sure he was going to root for between Miki and Yu, but either way he was extremely curious to see how they fought. And so, there he was in the stands when he spied a somewhat familiar little girl looking confused... Of course Nanako would be here to watch her big bro fight!

After a look around to see if any of Yu's other friends would be joining her, Minato decided to go sit next to her himself.

"Hey," he greeted, as he sat down, pulling a hand out of his pocket to wave at her. Truly, he was a man of many words and elaborate gestures.

[greaterdays]

[don't try anything funny, Minato, Kanji is around here somewhere.]

Hello...

[it takes her a second before she recognizes him.] You talked to me before... Right?

[fools_journey]

[ Minato isn't very good at funny, so it should be okay, right? ]

Mm. On the COMP.

[ He smiles just a little at her. ]

You here to cheer on your big brother?

[greaterdays]

Yeah!

He wants me to see what Personas are like...

[fools_journey]

I see. Well, you'll get a good view of what they can do in battle here.

... Did he explain how the duels work?

[greaterdays]

He said no one gets hurt, but...

[...] Why do they have guns?

[fools_journey]

[ ... oh. This will be fun to explain. And Yu is technically lying a bit when he says no one gets hurt. No one gets hurt permanently (in theory), but... that's really not the same thing. Still, he's not sure it's his place to say that. However, he can tell her about those 'guns'. ]

They're called Evokers, and they're not normal guns that shoot bullets. Instead, they're tools to help people summon their Personas more easily. You point one at your head and pull the trigger, and it will cause your persona to come forth.

[greaterdays]

[Yu is going to have some serious explaining to do later. And depending how bad things escalate, an angry 7-year-old.]

You... point it at your head?

[fools_journey]

Yeah.

[ pause; he's... not really spent much time considering how it must look to other people. Hell, the first time he summoned, he barely gave it much thought before pushing his fear aside and just doing it. ]

I know it looks bad, but... that's part of how it helps. Since your persona comes from your mind [ he taps the side of his head for emphasis ] it's able to help push your persona out.

Also, since your persona is meant to protect you, I guess it helps to be a little afraid at first.

[greaterdays]

[Nanako still does not look reassured...]

Does everyone use those...?

My dad says guns are dangerous and I'm never supposed to touch his...

[fools_journey]

Hm. [ He's quiet for a moment, debating how much to say. ] I was part of a team of Persona users before coming here, and we all used them, but it's not necessary here - just faster. They're require for dueling because of that speed.

And these Evokers aren't dangerous. Like I said, they're not normal guns.

[greaterdays]

I see... [She doesn't look particularly happy about it, though.]

If they won't hurt big bro, it's okay.

[fools_journey]

They won't. I used to use one all the time, and it did not hurt.

[ Well.... usually, anyway. Twinged, maybe, but not hurt. Except maybe if he did it too much in a night. Or fusion skills... And death ripping its way out of Orpheus had hurt, too, but he's pretty sure that's not going to happen to Yu here. ]

[greaterdays]

[She can't really imagine what that must've been like. He must be really brave.]

So you've had a Persona for a long time?

[fools_journey]

[ He shrugs. ]

I've only been using it for a year.

[ Though he supposes he probably had it much earlier. Maybe since the Dark Hour started, even. Just... dormant. Asleep inside him like Death. ]

I hope you two are okay with intrusions

[get_bent]

[Kanji had been listening in quietly after he came back from a trip to the concession stands, because to be honest he knew nothing about Evokers, but the fact he was a Persona user before did catch his interest.]

Wait...you mind me askin' why you had to use guns in the first place?

[Oh and Nanako, he's just brought you a bag of Candy]

[fools_journey]

[ He shrugs again. He's really not entirely sure. It wasn't something he really questioned. ]

They were shaped like that when I joined. It's a convenient shape. ... two of my team mates had different Evokers, though.

[greaterdays]

[Nanako is thrown out of the gun conversation with the arrival of candy.] Is that for me?

[she has to ask first, to be polite, even if he's offering it to her.]

[themortalhalf]

So that was Helen, huh?

He had wondered what she'd look like. He can't say he's surprised by the figure that appears in response to Miki's call. He can see both Castor and Polydeuces in her. Can see the ties there that are thicker than the plated armor their Personas wear. Helen of Troy. If there had been any doubt to just who Miki was, her Persona alone would have laid it to rest. Though as if there was any doubt.

He still can't say he's comfortable with the fact that Miki has a Persona, but it's something that's over and done with. Nothing he can do about it. Nothing he can change. Can't stop her from fighting or getting hurt. This is a path she's chosen for herself, and he knows he has to respect that. Let her fight if that's what she's chosen to do, and he'll wait for the day when she no longer feels she has to.

Until then, all he can do really do is watch.

And he does, eyes tracking the electricity as it hisses across the arena. He can almost feel the static from here. His expression is as impassive as ever, slouched slightly back, but he is as invested as he ever will be. Not in the fight itself—he's not sure he's fond of this being entertainment; Personas have never been a game to him—but on his best friend's sister.

And his.

He's still trying to wrap his head around that.