Persona Grand Prix : The Duels of Ages

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Persona Grand Prix 10AC

☢

Who: Tournament Fighters and those who wish to watch them.
Where: Aries Arena & Televised
Summary: 1/16-1/22. Days of non-stop shooting and Persona battles! Players decide when the fight takes place.
Warnings: D-D-DUELS!



Grand Prix Frenzy had overtaken the city by this point.

We're sorry, you weren't technically part of the main show. However, perhaps, should this go well, they might be able to get you into the giant tournament itself next year!What can they say, the show must go on. And the ratings must be high.

The entire place was filled with cheering spectators and for those who missed out, the usual channels were going to post the entire thing live. Pay-per-view had extra shows and cameras. Or you could go to your local pub. Now that the main show was put on hold, 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 for nearly everyone, those looking to make a lot of money were simply out of luck. Today was a day for watching.

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! At the tenth anniversary, this promises to be a Grand Prix unlike any other!"

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

"Tonight's matches are part of the main tournament, Outerworlders division. No returning champions, in fact, if you look to the left there, you'll see Flamin' HellDragon waving next to Seaside Dragoon. Last year's reigning champ, and the sexy female newcomer? Oh I can just smell the steaming flames of passion raising!"

"Haha and a kiss in public! Can you hear the crowd echoing their approval! At this stage they might take away from the real event!"

"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. Since this is a double dual championship, contestants are brought together a full two hours before the tournament begins, and then will get to meet their opponents behind a locked bar twenty minutes before the show begins."

"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, even with your weapons and skills."

"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.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE GRAND PRIX TOURNAMENT IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE OTHERWORLDER'S DIVISION! A SERIES OF BATTLES WITH STRICT SET OF RULES TO SHOWCASE THE NATRUAL ABILITY OF HINOTO-RI'S HEROES!" Dramatically, he leaned in closer, raising his hand as the crowd's enthusiasm broke into an even louder frenzy.

"LeeeeeET'S GET IT oooooooooON!"

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


"This is Bob and Jay live from the Outerworld Demo Tournament! !"

MATCH 1 ▼

Hitoshura | Masamune Date -VS- Link | Mordred

MATCH 2 ▼

Neku Sakuraba | Yu Narukami -VS- Eikichi Mishina | Nyaruko

MATCH 3 ▼

Yosuke Otoha | Dark Pit -VS- Shas'la T'au Kais | Anant

MATCH 4 ▼

Daichi Shijima | Akihiko Sanada -VS- Kaito Watari | Miki Sanada

MATCH 5 ▼

Cloche | Ginia Rosentia -VS- Haseo | Terra

MATCH 6 ▼

Meetra Surik | Sasha Fyer -VS- Aoi Misato | Atoli

MATCH 7 ▼

Sora | Yosuke Hanamura -VS- Atsuro Kihara | Minato Arisato

MATCH 8 ▼

Misery | Pit -VS- Desco | Aqua

Comments

Pre-Battle

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[Deep in the underbelly of the beast that is the arena, your characters are brought together to talk 2 hours before the tournament begins. Twenty minutes before the battles will start, a small wall separate two groups is opened so that both teams can know who they are facing off against. An invisible magical wall prevents them from going into each other's rooms, but they can see and hear each other clearly.

Feel free to thread here their meetings and pre-battle talk, if you'd like!]

2 hours prior: Getting to know you

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Welp...at least he was fighting with a partner! Too bad he's never met her before, but that wasn't likely to be a huge deal...was it?

"Sssssoooo...hey there!"

[helenchanted]

Well, at least he seemed nice enough, if anything. Barely taller than her too. It was just that Miki wasn't a huge fan of strangers she didn't know at first. He'd have to earn her trust, and quickly.

"Hey...so we'll be fighting partners for the next match. Nervous?"

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Of course not! ...Well, maybe just a little bit.

"Maybe. Nervous energy is usually good for these types of things, isn't it?"

[helenchanted]

Good answer.

"Yeah. Just has to be the right amount, mind you. If you aren't nervous, than that's a sign you should really worry. I was in one of those matches last time but...the atmosphere for this one is really different. It almost makes me feel like we're going to fight in the Olympics."

She gave him a slight bow.

"I'm Miki Sanada."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

"I guess it must be like the Olympics for them, considering." And, instead of bowing, he held out his hand for a handshake.

"Cool to meet you. I'm Kaito Watari! It's my first time, so go easy on me, okay?"

[helenchanted]

"That's true!" She looked at his hand for a second before taking it, unused this form of greeting.

"Haha! It's not me you should be worried about, but whoever we are facing off against. Although if you do slack off, I won't let you hear the end of it! I came here to win."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

That's the spirit!

"Nice. I'm feeling more confident already just from standing next to you."

Was he kidding or did he really mean it? Who can say?

[helenchanter]

Maybe that was a little too much, as far as Miki was concerned. It sounded a liiiiittle to much like something Ryoji would say.

"...um. Yeah."

Subject change.

"I've fought with Evokers before even coming here..what about you? Were you Persona user before and what are your fighting skills exactly?"

also 2-hours prior

[hetried]

[This-- this isn't what Daichi had signed up for at all! He'd signed up to help with security. You know, hang out in the stands, watch anyone suspicious, and jump into action if something went wrong. But when he had showed up at Aries, he had been ushered to the stadium. Ushered to the competitors area, told that there was a change of plans, that he'd be competing-- and wished him luck! --before he even got a chance to react with more than a dumb stare.]

H-Hey, wait--! [Calling out to the people outside was probably no use though, so he turned to look at whoever was stuck with him.]

No offense, but-- there's gotta be a huge mistake!

[risetocaesar]

Is there anything that doesn't make you freak out like this?

[What do you know, Daichi? Apparently you made an impression on Akihiko, because he remembers your post-arrival meltdown with startling clarity. Regardless, he's smiling, even as he stands there with his arms crossed.]

Don't worry. This is a great chance to show off what you can do.

[hetried]

Uh--!

[...Well OK, he couldn't exactly answer 'no,' to that, given how many times he's been told to calm down throughout most of his life. Frankly, half of that surprise is because Akihiko even remembered him, it had been a while since he'd seen the guy.]

"What I can do"? Th-That's not really much... I'll just end up slowing you down, so I don't know why they picked me!

[risetocaesar]

You can't think that way. If you head into battle thinking you can't win, then you're right! You've already lost! You have to start thinking like a champion if we're going to make it through this. Lucky for you, I'm a guy who hates to lose.

[hetried]

[Gulp. Hoo boy, this guy seemed really into it...]

M-Mind over matter? [Seemed kind of juvenile to him...] I'm no champion though...! I didn't even know I was doing this until just now!

Not that I want you to lose or anything... I'm just... [in possession of an accelerated blood pressure and almost no training with his Persona? Yep.]

[risetocaesar]

It makes more of a difference than you might thing. You've gotta have the right attitude! If you've already decided that you won't be any good, of course you won't fight as well. You'll trip yourself up.

[Akihiko raises an eyebrow at that, letting out a soft 'hmm.']

How did you not know? Didn't you sign up for this?

[hetried]

I think I can trip myself up even without thinking about it.

[To the question, Daichi gave a shake of his head; a bit less completely anxious, though he was still a tad despondent.] I offered to help with the normal security, in the stands. I didn't sign up for the tournament. I tried to tell the organizers that, but they weren't listening...

[risetocaesar]

Do you think it's possible that someone else might have put your name in for the tournament? Whatever the case, you're here now. We should be preparing ourselves for the fight, regardless of how we got here.

20 Minutes Prior

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

[The wall was starting to move. Hmm. This is it! No hard feelings between the competitors or anything, plus it wouldn't hurt to get to know-

...is that Daichi?!?!]

...What the hell?!

[hetried]

[wow ok that sure was Kaito. This day just kept getting better and better!!]

H-Hey... dude....

[Cue most feeble wave ever.]

[helenchanter]

[And standing behind Kaito was Miki, also staring at the person besides Daichi.]

W-w-what?! No way! Aki!

[What kind of cruel trick of fate is making her fight her own brother?]

[risetocaesar]

[Well.

That was unexpected.]

Miki?!

[He shakes his head quickly, disbelieving.]

Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?

[helenchanted]

Doubtful...

[But now she's really pissed.]

I can't believe this! Making me fight my own brother! And you two sound really good friends too!

I knew there was a risk of fighting a familiar face, but this seems a little too convenient.

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

You guys seriously...!?

[What the hell she's fighting her brother too what what what-]

Daichi never signed up for- [He sputters a bit and then looks at Daichi]

What the hell happened?

[hetried]

Wait-- I didn't know you had a sister...! [He looked at Akihiko with a bit of dubious surprise at the revelation, before turning back to look at Kaito.]

Uh-- I dunno, I showed up to help out security, and they just ushered me to the competitor's area instead...! I tried to tell them it was a mistake, but they wouldn't listen.

[He's looking a might bit distressed at telling the story again.] Y-You don't think this was a set-up or something, do you...?

[risetocaesar]

I agree. This is too convenient. This can't have been by accident.

[Akihiko crosses his arms, clearly annoyed -- though part of him is pleased, to a degree. If he's fighting Miki, that means that they'll be guaranteed a great fight, but at the same time, he's not interested in risking her getting hurt. He definitely doesn't want to be responsible for any injuries.]

Someone must have set this up on purpose! Why would they want us to fight each other? And you two? You're close, right?