In which Minato, Serph, and Squall have a three way

[unshelledbullet]

Who: The Holy Triforce of Lineface: Squall, Minato, and Serph
When: February 15th, in the afternoon
Where: The park
Style: Action
Status: Closed

[The Defense Force, in some ways, reminded Squall of Balamb Garden. Except it was way smaller, wasn't a mercenary institution, didn't have students, and was more of a loosely organized thing.

Okay, it wasn't much like Garden at all. But it did share one thing with Garden: it was a group of fighters that he held a leadership role in. Except, this time, he wasn't just out of the blue saddled with the title of Commander, told good luck, and left to run the whole damn thing by himself. He had volunteered this time.

And this time, he wasn't by himself.

Minato and Serph were his "coworkers" in a sense. He'd been in Minato's position before: given something that you obviously weren't able to handle by yourself. Maybe that was what compelled him to help. Serph was also someone who offered assistance and between the three of them, they were able to work out something that resembled organization.

With the Defense Force in order, they found themselves with more free time. Squall had been the one to suggest that they get together to spar. He was, admittedly, curious to see what the two of them could do and it would only be to their advantage if they were familiar with each other's capabilities. With the time and location arranged, Squall arrived at the park ten minutes early and waited for them to show up.]

Comments

[messianic]

[Minato was the next to show up, sheathed sword in hand and Evoker strapped to his waist, hidden under his coat.

He didn't think he would need his Personas beyond their defensive properties, but one could never be too safe.

He was equally curious, however, to see what his new co-workers would be capable of doing. They had helped immensely with keeping the Defense Force organized and up to date; now he would be able to see what they were capable of in battle.

He was interested. Also much more awake than his video a bit before.]

Good afternoon, Squall-san.

... /BREAKS THE COMBO AND SWITCHES TO PRESENT TENSE

[bufudine]

[Serph is the last one to arrive, which... is about par for the course. But he's not late at least. He'd swung by the Nostalgia Nook to finally buy a semi-automatic pistol, which he carried... ... ...hell if I know where Serph puts his gun. There's no ammo loaded in it yet, however.

If there's one thing that Vatheon has made clear, it's the fact nothing works the same as in the Junkyard. And while Serph doesn't like the idea of fighting, even as practice -- fighting has always been something done for survival -- he knows the value of understanding the capabilities of the people he works alongside.

When he spots the others, he gives them an acknowledging nod in greeting.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Squall's weapon, amusingly enough, seems like a cross between Minato's and Serph's: a blade with a gun barrel attached to it, the Griever keychain hanging off of it.]

Afternoon.

[A convenient one word reply to Minato and greeting to Serph.]

How do you guys want to do this? I'd prefer all three of us at once, but if you want to do one on one, that's fine too.

[messianic]

[Oh. He nods in greeting to Serph as well, before turning his attention to Squall.]

We can do a three-way. That's fine with me.

[He trusts them to not kill each other or him]

[bufudine]

[Serph nods again.]

We'll be less exhausted this way.

[He doesn't transform yet, however, wanting to get a decent grasp on how much punishment they can give and take before he does so. He knows better than to underestimate opponents, not matter how unthreatening they appear -- he's been bowled over by an Alp before -- but he has to know whether they are capable of withstanding the strength of an Atma.

However, he does draw his gun, despite it being unloaded, and waits for one of the other two to make the first move.]

[unshelledbullet]

[That settles it. Good, Squall doesn't want this to take forever.]

Let's do it then.

[And that's the only warning they're going to get. Squall immediately tightens his grip on the Revolver and holds out his left hand.

Look out, Minato, because there's Fire magic coming right at you. Oh, and Serph can have a Blizzard.]

[messianic]

[Minato is quick to move into action--though at first he isn't moving at all.

He reaches into the back of his mind, changing Personas rapidly, Messiah giving way to Satan so that he can take the fire magic head on, brushing it off as if it had no effect--and it didn't.

And then he grabs his sword, unsheathing it and stepping forward towards Squall; at least this is good sword practice too.

Have a swing of his sword, right towards your chest, Squall.]

[bufudine]

[Serph sees the spell fired his way. There's plenty of time for him to dodge it, but... since he wants to see how damaging the spell is, Serph takes the Blizzard. While he doesn't have the same affinity to ice as a human, Serph nevertheless shrugs it off; it's about as strong as a bufu, which stopped giving him problems long ago. It's a weak spell, but it seems Squall has sacrificed power for speed.

... Well, it's not like he can do all that much like this, even if his gun had been loaded. Human flesh doesn't do very well against bullets, after all.

While the other two are occupied, Serph raises his left hand to his face, tattoo glowing blue and transforms.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Were Minato not running at him with a sword in his hand, Squall would be taking a moment to try and figure out what the hell he just did. But the fact was that Minato, was, indeed, running at him with a sword in his hand and so he needed to respond to that. His sword swipe is met with Squall's Gunblade.

Although getting distracted, even in a practice fight, is dangerous, the glow of blue light catches his attention and Squall turns his head just in time to see Serph transform.

Interesting.

He shoves forward with the Gunblade to try to throw Minato off balance, and not waiting to see whether that worked or not, he decides to switch targets, abandoning Minato and running towards Serph and attacking with an upward swipe of the Revolver, pulling the weapon's trigger as he does. As if the Gunblade's edge wasn't enough, Serph would now have to deal with the explosion it produced.]

New thread it is

[unshelledbullet]

[Squall has pretty much shown them most of what he can do. There's a few more things, sure, like the Renzokuken, but like hell he's going to use that against friends, practice fight or no. It's not really something that they needed to see anyway. So he thinks he'll show off one last thing and call it a day.

Raising the Gunblade above his head with both hands, it glowed with a bright light, becoming longer with the energy. He slammed it down on the ground in Minato's general direction. He wasn't aiming to hit him, so it veered off to the boy's right. The energy faded, and there was clear cut in the ground where it had landed.]

...I think that's enough for today.

[messianic]

[.......Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Oh...

He just tucks his Evoker away, nodding.]

That...was really something, Squall-san, Serph-san.

[You guys are cool *^*]

[bufudine]

[To Serph, it seems a bit early to call it quits, but then again, not everyone has the same endurance as he. Serph acknowledges the session's end by transforming back, demon body shifting back into human. His tattoo glows blue for a moment longer, before it fades back into its usual solid black.

Squall seems to be a primarily offensive fighter, supplemented by his magic, some of it totally weird. It's harder to gauge Minato's abilities, as most of what he'd demonstrated were what seems to be passive skills. Someone who could stand up to a lot of punishment because of them. Though there'd been a noticeable hole in his resistance to ice...

Serph nods, too. It certainly had been an experience.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Squall would have liked to continue, he really would have. But it's getting dark out. Besides, now that they've seen what each other can do, they should probably talk about it.

Because Squall has no idea what the hell some of the things they were slinging at him were and they probably don't know what he was doing to them. And how they could pool these skills together for use.]

Do you two want to get something to eat?

[Squall Leonhart? Socializing? Vatheon has made him soft.]

[messianic]

[Something to eat oh he is so on board.

Any thoughts he'd been having on the fight are now squashed.]

There is a ramen place not far from here.

[AW YEAH SOCIAL LINKING TIME?]

[bufudine]

[...Serph is pretty sure Squall isn't referring to eating people so he's totally up for this. The last thing he ate that hadn't been a person was a peach, so he's eager to try out other foods.

He nods, though he's flexing his previously singed arm to get the feeling back in it. There's no visible sign of damage now.

SERPH HAS NO IDEA WHAT RAMEN IS BUT HE'LL FIND OUT SOON ENOUGH? Lead the way!]

[unshelledbullet]

[Ramen...ramen...Squall had ramen once when he arrived in Vatheon.

It wasn't bad, although it took him a while to figure out how chopsticks work.]

That's fine with me.

[OKAY MINATO YOUR TURN TO BE LEADER.]

[messianic]

[HE IS SO ON IT.

Nodding and stepping forward and leading the way~

It's only a few minutes away, as promised, which Minato leads the way to with his hands tucked quietly into his pockets even as he walks.

And when he has reached the nondescript shop, he pulls open the door, holding it open and glancing back to his companions.]

sup new thread

[messianic]

[He just nods quietly, placing down his chopsticks on top of the bowl as he considers this.]

Yes, I suppose so. When I moved, I kind of ended up in the middle of it.

[He tilts his head slowly.]

But I think it was meant to happen that way.

[There's just...too much that would be coincidence, but he knows better. Ryoji--death--that was what brought him home. Because the pieces were coming together, and Minato was the last 'piece'.

And it was meant to be as well--so he could make that last choice he needed to make.]

[bufudine]

[Hey, if Minato thinks things were supposed to happen that way, then maybe it was. Serph's not going to question him too hard about it.

...Maybe he should actually eat some of his food.

He twists some of the noodles around his fork and noms. HEY MAYBE SQUALL'S GOT QUESTIONS so Serph can wallflower like he always does.]

[unshelledbullet]

[In fact, Squall does have questions. He finishes a mouthful of ramen before asking.]

I heard about Personas from someone else a while ago.

What are they exactly?

[And do they eat your memories?]

[messianic]

[All of these questions, man.

He just ponders this, answering quietly--]

They're pieces of my psyche given physical form. Ah--like. They were described to me once as a mask to face the world's hardships with.

[minato why is a piece of your psyche a giant bug.]

[bufudine]

[Yeah, why is your psyche a giant bug?

Serph would ask this but he has a mouth full of food. And by mouth full of food I mean WHOA WHERE DID ALL HIS RAMEN GO?]

[unshelledbullet]

[You know, the "pieces of my psyche" thing made more sense than "mask to face the world's hardships with" part.]

You have more than one, don't you?

[Sips tea.]

[messianic]

[A nod.]

I have...quite a few, yes.

[Like 170 or something.]

But I only have 12 with me at a time.

[bufudine]

[Serph hadn't picked up on Minato having multiple Personas, so it's news to him.

He continues to quietly listen, especially now that he's completely finished his ramen. You probably haven't seen a ramen bowl as clean as this one.]