Second Night - Lone Trials

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Action]

[In the evening, characters may notice a certain teenager practicing in the park. Sometimes he is simply going through movements at a slow, measured pace. Other times he is punching and kicking at some invisible enemy.

It's obvious he's well-practiced in martial arts. Even when he practiced in the park with his friends in Tokyo, he had been one of the better fighters in terms of both strength and technique. However, that was with not only the power of the Dragon Stream, but the strange powers he had been born with. Though he had been able to handle the Shadows during the Dark Hour with the help of his Persona and the others, he wasn't keen on repeating the experience before he had become fully accustomed to his significantly weaker body.

Feel free to bother him at any point!]

Comments

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

[Nothing in the posture of the young man who approached said that he was planning to attack. He leaned against a nearby tree, just watching the movements and occasionally whistling at something impressive.

Occasionally, the light would catch a knife glinting at his slide.]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Tatsuma notices the young man, as well as the weapon. However, so long as he didn't present any immediate danger, Tatsuma wouldn't do anything.

Doot doot training doot.]

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

[Doot doot watching draining doot.]

I'm guessing you're new to the city, right?

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[That prompts him to pause in his training, dropping the stance completely.]

Pretty new, yeah.

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

I thought so. We're pretty much the only ones who go around like we can fight.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

There are some of us who can't, though.

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

That's a problem. How'll they deal with those things in the - you know, the hour with the coffins and the creepy-crawlies?

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

I heard someone was keeping a list of people willing to train others in fighting.

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

Good on him.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Tatsuma nods.

...And that's about it. He's not a super talkative one, this guy.]

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

[Ryuunosuke talks more... when he's about to kill somebody...]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Awkward silence is go?]

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

[How about that awkward silence.]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Well if there's nothing much going on, he'll just... go back to his practice if that's okay.

Slightly less awkward maybe?]

[kindofademon.livejournal.com]

[What if Ryuunosuke just wanders off?]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Then Tatsuma shall continue his practice by himself, and awkwardness shall be averted!]

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro is watching him quietly, not wanting to disturb him. He got out of work, so the teenager was just walking when he saw Tatsuma.]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Tatsuma notices, but keeps going through the movements for a moment longer before he finally stops and turns to Atsuro.]

Hey.

[babel_hacker]

[He smile and walks over.]

Hey, Tatsuma. Training hard?

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Yup.

[babel_hacker]

It's good to train, since it'll help out a lot.

[To fight during the Dark Hour.]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[He nods.]

Have you been training in anything?

[babel_hacker]

Akihiko's training me in boxing. I'm also training at night with...my friend.

[AKA practicing how to use his Persona better.]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Has he gotten any better?

[babel_hacker]

Yeah, he has. It's getting easier the more we train.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Has he spoken with you since then?

[babel_hacker]

[He shake his head.] No, not really.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

...I see.

[Not like his has, but it was still worth asking.]

[babel_hacker]

I take it yours haven't?

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[He merely shakes his head. Not a peep since that one night.]

[babel_hacker]

Maybe they only talk in certain situations...

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

That might be it.

[action]

[greyerrant.livejournal.com]

[ A huge man is watching you practice. What do, Tatsuma? ]

[action]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[CONTINUE PRACTICING OF COURSE. He's definitely noticed the man's presence (who wouldn't?) but if the man isn't going to do anything, he'll just keep doing his thing until the situation either changes or he finishes up.]

[greyerrant.livejournal.com]

Not bad [ He finally comments. ]

I think I saw you a few nights ago... you were with one of the groups, no? Bare-handed fighter?

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[He pauses his practice, going so far as to drop the stance completely.]

Sort of.

[Bringing up his right hand, he shows the back of it to Garviel, revealing gauntlets. Not quite bare-handed.]

[greyerrant.livejournal.com]

Hm, a sensible idea, that. Still, I would imagine punching the foes we face even with those is still rather painful.

[ For his part, the large man seems unarmed for the moment. ]

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

Not really. And this style is what I'm most used to, so I figure I might as well stick with it.

[greyerrant.livejournal.com]

The best methods are the ones we're used to, but don't be unwilling to learn new tricks, from time to time. Normally I fight with bolter and blade, but there's no bolter to be had here, for example.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[He nods.]

But I want to master this first, if I can.

[greyerrant.livejournal.com]

A sensible idea. But remember, sometimes you can actually learn new techniques and insights into your chosen attack style by switching to something else for a while. Thus your axe-work will improve your skill with a sword.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

[Have a slow blink, and then a smile.]

Would you happen to be used to fighting with those kinds of weapons?

[greyerrant.livejournal.com]

There is not a weapon in the galaxy that I have not been trained on or wielded, if it is man portable, barring some of the more exotic or fragile xenos gear. I just prefer a firearm and short blade most of all.

[berry-paunch.livejournal.com]

In the... galaxy?