Free Battle: Capricorn

[otakuro]

Who: Atsuro Kihara, Open
Where: Leo -> Capricorn District, night
Summary: Skill cracking, magnetite-farming, and leveling up. Atsuro's no stranger to training...
Warnings: None

[private, voice to Ludwig Beilschmidt]
Hey, ah... Ludwig. ...Do you mind if I call you that?

We're getting close to another full moon. ...That's when they said the demons came out in full force, right? I think we should try and get a handle on summoning our Personas before we have to face something else like last time. I've tried to call Enki a few more times; I don't think it's possible just to do it for fun - it might not work unless we're really in danger.

Can we meet tonight by the town hall in Leo? Let's say... about 11:30. I saw you were asking about Personas; I can fill you in on what Enki can do then before we head out.

[public text]
Hey! I'm heading out to do some training tonight. Free Battles are a free action, right? Don't wait up; I won't be getting back until after that 13th Hour.

Feel free to join me if you want.  I'll be outside Capricorn.

[action, town hall]
Half an hour to go.

Atsuro shuffles nervously in front of the hall, his fingers toying with the adjustable strap on his bag.  The text had essentially been spam; he wasn't sure why he'd felt the urge to announce his plans to the whole city.  He'd met maybe ten people here.  Probably three or four of them actually cared.  Naoya, of course, would want to keep tabs on him, but Naoya kept tabs on everything without anyone needing to check in, anyway.

The real reason, of course, was so that someone would come looking if he ended up dead or unconscious somewhere.  He wasn't afraid of the demons... Not really.  A pack of Waira were nothing in comparison to Belberith or Babel.  But he'd been shaken; the idea of being plucked from the verge of defeat by what was essentially a happy coincidence didn't sit well with him.  What if it'd been a one-time deal?  What if his Persona just... never came out again?

Thou art I and I am thou.  He'd never thought of himself as a great fighter.  All he'd ever wanted to do was survive.  No one had asked him to join a team or become a part of something greater - He, along with the rest of Tokyo, had simply been thrust into a situation where they had to pull out all stops if they wanted to live to see the next sunrise.  Of course, he'd given it his all.  But after living through those seven days of terror and panic, these three weeks of leisure had reminded him...  This was what he'd been fighting for.  So that the world would go back to normal and he could resume his normal life.  Did he really want to stay here and keep on fighting?  For some purpose he didn't even fully understand?  Yeah, it was neat and exciting and novel.  But so was the thought of playing an MMO with his forum buddies again, cramming for placement exams, and hanging out with Yuzu and Kazuya at the mall.

...He sighs slightly and shakes himself out of his thoughts.  The important thing at the moment was to gain control of this power he didn't understand.  Making a decision when he still felt lost and confused... Probably wasn't the best idea.

Atsuro finally stops fidgeting and seats himself on the steps of the building, watching the nightlife die down as the 13th Hour rapidly approaches.  Ludwig ought to show up soon.  ...Maybe some others would too.  He finds himself scanning the faces of those passing by, hoping to find someone familiar.

Comments

[drakenguard]

Yamato had intended to simply dismiss the text - it seemed rather spammish to him, and he had no obligations to stay atop of what shenanigans Atsuro got up to in his spare time. However, ever since arriving in this world, Yamato had been slacking somewhat on his training.

...it would be best to catch up on it with a semi-ally, just to get a feel of the enemies in the area.

So here comes Yamato, striding up towards Atsuro with a somewhat bored expression on his face. He stopped before him, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at Atsuro coldly. He didn't mean to be intimidating...he just naturally came across as that.

"Atsuro. I do hope the offer of training is still open."

[zero_to_herooo]

"Yep; just about that time." Eiji stashed the small paper bag he'd been holding under a convenient bench. There was a little red robotic bird following him around, flapping its wings intermittently as it hovered in the air behind him.

"Could you keep an eye on this for me?" he asked of it. The answer, apparently, was yes; the bird set down on the edge of the bench in a waiting posture as Eiji stretched, looked around, then danced a little from foot to foot, trying to limber himself up.

He spotted Atsuro sitting nearby and waved. "Hey, it's getting pretty late. Are you okay being out?"

[sky_child]

Capricorn. That's where the park was, wasn't it? And some kid was going to casually stroll in there to do some training. Not that it was any of his business, but it didn't quite sit right with him. But it wasn't any of his business.

None of that stops him from dressing in his uniform and making his way to Capricorn in time for the 13th Hour. He gave up; a knight was always a knight no matter where he went, and he couldn't just ignore that instinct because he didn't know the kid in question.

As he steps into the park, looking about for stragglers, he wonders to himself: why doesn't he just see if he can make this his job?

[Private Voice]

[blitzkriegzwei]

I was originally planning to train during the full moon for the sake of having more demons available to battle, but perhaps you're right about it being safer to practice before such an event occurs. I will meet you outside the town hall in Leo at 11:30, as you said.

[second_destiny]

Off in the distance, visible across the field, the shape of a giant, humanoid robot was just barely visible through the darkness, its white paint making it easier to see. However, its owner wasn't in it or even over by it; he was walking in from the rest of the city.

"Looks like I came to the right place." Asem drops down onto a step to sit. He's wearing his flight suit, and he has a gun holstered on his belt. Also attached is...something, though what isn't all that discernible at first glance.

[misery_hates_company]

"A boy of much knowledge, but few battle talents, I see. I wonder what he might be doing, coming out in these dangerous hours?"

A familiar figure of blue appears near Atsuro. "You certainly believe in a trial by fire method of training! I do hope you don't get burned," she says, her standard smirk on her face.

[endears]

A chance to train... This is an undeniably valuable opportunity, right? He needs to adjust to his life here as soon as possible if he wants to get by, and having someone he can expect (not trust; Aoba's never been one for trust) not to turn on him to practice with will help him adjust all the faster.

So, after a little searching, up turns Aoba, a light smile on his face.

"Yo, Kihara-kun. Am I late?"