[OPEN] Dog Wrestling

[drakenguard]

Who: Yamato and YOU
Where: Capricorn Ward - early evening
Format: Begins in prose, but I'll follow
Summary: Playing Training with Cerberus by fighting it with one's bare hands. Who's up for Demon Tangoing?
Warnings: Sharp claws and sharp teeth.

It had been a very long time since Yamato had last done this - probably not since he was in his earlier teens. Life had been too busy, his duties had taken precedence, and the Chief of JP's couldn't really risk being seen playing with his demonic familiar, after all. One had to maintain a certain image, even for the lower subordinates.

Now, however, he had no need to maintain image or even care about it. Yamato had reached rock bottom as far as his 'reputation' was concerned, and there was a bizarre sort of liberating feeling about it. He didn't have to care anymore, and after reuniting with his old time demonic familiar, Cerberus... well, if Yamato wanted to let off steam and relax by partaking in old plays, then he will!

Although, he made sure to do it in a somewhat deserted place - like the park in Hinoto-Ri. The sun was beginning to dip in the horizon, turning the sky into an indigo colour, and Yamato thought he was just out of sight from the main path. Hopefully anyway. His coat and phone was neatly set to the side, Cerberus - who nearly up to his shoulder in height - stretched and-

Well, they played. Playfighting was the best way to learn how to strengthen one's body through use of spiritual energy. The human body was weak, but it could be reinforced if one knew how to use their spiritual power in that way. Resist Physical - it was a natural ability of Yamato's by now. So there was no issue in wrestling his large, demonic familiar to the ground and initiating a round of playfighting. He trusted Cerberus not to use its claws or fangs too much.

Of course, if you're just walking through the park, as an average passerby, it would look like a man was in the middle of fighting for his life with a giant beast...

Comments

[jumyouboshi]

...And there it was, a rather familiar sight. A chief and his trusted somewhat canine, more like demonic, companion. Alcor, sitting in a tree on a branch, recalled when that Cerberus was hardly half as big as it was now. When that chief was only half as big as he was now.

...He recalled a lot of things.

He knew his presence would be unwanted, but he chose to observe from a distance anyway. He couldn't afford for any of them to come to too much harm, after all. He was far enough so that Yamato could not sense him, yet near enough for....something else to do so.

Though Alcor could conceal his presence from humans (which warranted several titles, such as "the neglected one", "the Faint One", and so on), he did not account for Cerberus' own instincts, which could surely pick his presence out, even at such a distance.

[drakenguard]

Yamato had managed to wrench Cerberus off of him, and onto the grass in a great tangle when the beast made a confused grunting noise. Yamato paused, half sitting up, with his hair heavily dishevelled and bits of grass sticking out of it, and his shirt basically ruined, smeared with green and brown stains from the grass and dirt.

"What is it?" he asked, lifting a hand to push his fringe out of his eyes. Cerberus rolled over onto its feet, shaking its massive bulk before meandering over to a nearby tree. Yamato gave his demon a confused look before picking himself up and following after it.

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor let out a small and quiet "ah" upon realizing that the demon noticed him. To think that such inhuman creatures would notice one as faint as himself....! It was to be expected, he supposed. Demons could sense power, and Alcor was certainly not lacking in it, though he had tried to conceal it as best he could.

Now, to out himself, or not to out himself...

...He remained on the tree branch.

[drakenguard]

Cerberus sat down at the base of the tree, peering up into its thin branches with a slight wag to its tail. Presuming Cerberus to have noticed a bird of some kind, Yamato tutted as he walked up to the demon, and tangled his fingers into its thick mane, giving the fur a bit of a tug.

"Just what are you-" he began, looking up at the branches... and deadpanning at seeing Alcor sitting up there looking completely innocent.

"...when will you stop stalking me, Alcor?"

[jumyouboshi]

Caught.

"Was that rude of me? My apologies."

However, despite his apology, he didn't seem to think much was wrong with it at all. He was never one to think too much about human customs (until someone taught them to him), and stalking humans was what he had been doing for a very long time.

Why didn't they understand? He had to make sure they were okay, even if it meant hovering around them and observing them more than usual. For all their sakes. For his sake. Of course, he'd still allow to them to make their own choices, but if those choices turned life-threatening...

Alcor descended from the tree branch, floating down, and extended a hand to the Cerberus, as if it were a friendly puppy, and not a very dangerous fire-breathing demon.

[drakenguard]

Yamato crossed his arms, about to snap something no doubt insulting, when he groaned in embarrassment at Cerberus moving over to Alcor with all the enthusiasm of a friendly family dog. It nuzzled Alcor's hand, its massive tail swinging about wildly - before licking the Septentrione's palm.

"Cerberus," Yamato hissed. "Stop it!"

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor allowed the demon to lick his palm for a little while more, before he used the same hand to pet and stroke at Cerberus' mane. Its fur was warm to the touch, as expected of such a demon, and he ruffled its mane a little.

With a surprisingly gentle sight like this, it was almost hard to believe that this was the same Septentrione who claimed that demons were mere pebbles in his path, easily kicked aside, and threatened to destroy them should they step out of line for a single moment.

Almost.

(Of course, it wasn't as if he would treat them badly all the time. If they behaved, like Botis, he would have no reason to threaten to destroy them or to be stern with them, as he did with Bifrons.)

Alcor himself tilted his head with a bit of an amused look on his face. He didn't think the demon would remember him, but it did...

[drakenguard]

This was just humiliating. Cerberus was greeting Alcor like he was a long-lost friend returning to him, and Yamato finally stepped forwards to bury his fingers into the demon's thick mane and drag him away from Alcor. Cerberus whined at him, but otherwise let himself be pulled away from the Septentrione.

"...what are you doing here?" he asked gruffly, keeping a tight hold on his demon.

[jumyouboshi]

"I am simply observing. Should I not be?"

Observing Yamato in particular...though the ones that surrounded him in the park were also of interest. Besides, the park was a regular place to hang out for him, watching humans going about their lives, playing or simply walking.

That didn't sound creepy at all, nope. Though this was Alcor, so his intentions really were innocuous...most of the time.

[drakenguard]

"Well, I don't particularly want you to be observing me," Yamato muttered, glowering at the nearby tree. He felt...uncomfortable in Alcor's presence. He was still aware that the last time they had met he had...well, thrown up on his shoes and ranted at him drunkenly.

It was... awkward. Especially considering his talk with Ideo.

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor meanwhile, displayed no signs of awkwardness about their previous encounter.

"Is that so..."

He had to ensure their safety, each and every one of them. If that meant having to be a sort of overprotective parent for the time being, then so be it. Alcor only crossed his own arms.

...Like saying that would stop him from doing so. Honestly, Yamato should know better than that...

[drakenguard]

"You're going to still stalk me, aren't you?"

Yamato's words were weary, and he turned back to Alcor with a rather resigned expression. He wasn't sure how to feel in the man's presence. He, hated him. That would never change, but Yamato was now aware of how much he allowed that anger and hatred to cloud his judgement, and make him act irrationally. He needed to 'get over it', because such a thing was a debilitating weakness, but...

How to even start?

[jumyouboshi]

...Neither of them knew how to start. Their relationship was simply too strained, too complicated, too painful for either of them to even touch the issue without emotions flaring up and tensions heightening. Neither of them was innocent, not one.

"...I am to ascertain your safety. Is that wrong?"

Which was basically Alcor saying yes to that question. For as long as he was here, he would do everything in his power to make sure these children of possibility were alive. If not for their sakes, then for the Shining One's.

...But he already failed. Some sword of the absolute he was.

[drakenguard]

"I suppose not," Yamato replied. This entire exchange was beyond awkward, the both of them tense and evasive in their tone. Yamato was looking at the tree again, his fingers curled tightly into Cerberus's mane.

"I wonder... why you still bother."

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor wondered that himself, sometimes. He knew that the chief was more than capable of defending himself. He couldn't interfere with their choices either, as he respected their freedom. However, he would certainly try to defend them against things out of their control, things they did not choose, whether it be the invasion or demons attacking a concert hall. The matter of how he would defend them was another story as well. He closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought, before opening them again.

"...You are all children of possibility, and dear friends of the Shining One. That is more than enough reason, no?"

Not that he would mention the sheer amount of suffering his Shining One had to go through to make sure everyone lived...Alcor's job here was child's play in comparison.

[drakenguard]

Bitterness flared, and with more than a little difficulty, Yamato swallowed it down with a sharp sounding laugh.

"I see, so simply because of my association with Kaito. I should have expected it," he muttered.

[jumyouboshi]

...That, unfortunately, was actually rather true. His favoritism made itself rather obvious at times, such as whenever he sat around watching humans lose their wills to live, believing that to be of their own choice, while he helped a very select group instead. Granted, said group would have the most influence in determining the will of the species, which was crucial, but still...

"...I don't recall stating that that was my only reason."

Because when all is said and done, he still did truly care for the Hotsuins. His association with the Shining One was a big part of it, but his potential, his strength, their shared past, and Alcor's desire to see everyone, Yamato included, return to a future they carved with their own hands, were reasons as well.

But he was too late for the last one mentioned, it seemed.

"Does my concern upset you?"

[drakenguard]

"No," Yamato said a bit snippily, feeling the familiar anger beginning to take hold. Cerberus nudged his side, letting out a low, inquiring noise - probably because Yamato had a deathgrip on his mane at this point. He ignored it. "To be upset would mean I care about your concern. Which I don't."

[jumyouboshi]

Alcor blinked before nodding, seemingly accepting that statement as true quite easily. After all, JP's had no more use for him, he himself admitted that much, so it should not have come as a surprise that Yamato didn't care about him or his concern.

...So why did it make some small part of him hurt? He didn't quite understand it, so he brushed it aside for the time being.

"Then why are you so disturbed about it?"

It was true. As bad as he was at socializing sometimes, even he could pick up that Yamato only acted this...hostile and passive-aggressive and downright strange around the star(s).

[drakenguard]

"I'm not disturbed-!"

He was letting Alcor get to him again.

Yamato cut himself off, looking away with a frustrated noise, and closed his eyes briefly. Only Alcor dug under his skin this badly. He hated him so much it was like a massive pressure rose in him whenever he even glimpsed the man. How could he even begin fighting such a thing?

"...do whatever you want. You will do so anyway, if only out of some twisted obligation for your precious Shining One."

[jumyouboshi]

"...As I said before, I don't recall claiming that that was my only reason."

Alcor only sighed, glancing at the Cerberus instead of Yamato now. Most likely, he wouldn't believe him. He truly, truly wanted them to all be all right, to go back to the future they won with their own hands...! A bit too late for that, though, but he still felt some sense of obligation to watch over them.

[drakenguard]

"..." Yamato should keep his mouth shut. Keep your mouth shut. Keep your mouth- "What... other reason is there?"

[jumyouboshi]

"What do you think?"

Far be it for Alcor to make things easy for anyone and just spill it, save for times of extreme crisis, such as the apocalypse, and even then...

...That, and he truly wanted to know the other's opinion and thoughts on the matter. How did the Hotsuin perceive him? As a monster who only cares for the Shining One, no doubt. He would probably claim he had no other reason, as if he was as single-minded as that.

[drakenguard]

"..."

Yamato suddenly snorted, his lips twisting into a wry smile. Alcor could never give him a straight answer, could he? What, did he want Yamato to say that he thought it was because Alcor still cared for him? Please. He outgrew him four years ago. He survived without him, and he will continue to do so, no matter - no matter what.

"...are you trying to trick me? Make me admit that I still... feh," Yamato shook his head. "...it no longer matters, whatever your reasons. It wouldn't change anything."

[jumyouboshi]

"Admittance implies that such sentiments exist."

He'll just leave that out there. Admitting something, after all, was different from saying or claiming something. Admitting something meant that it was true. Even Alcor could pick up the nuance in meaning. Now, was that a subconscious slip, or...

...No matter.

"...But you are correct. It would change nothing."