vatheon | (no subject)

Who: Shizuo and Serph
Where: Middle District
When: Midday
Style: Action?
Status: Closed

[All in all, Shizuo had been doing a lot better with controlling himself and his strength. Before seeing Sola fall to his death, Shizuo had been in a relatively good place, and had established a level of confidence that, previously, he had been unable to obtain. His control had been far from perfect, but it had been an improvement.

Then came Sola's death and the fallout with Izaya, and that fragile control had been shattered. And as though that weren't enough, Shizuo was affected by the curse and not only sick, but also weak - a foreign concept to him. Though he's back on what can be considered a better path again, he has regressed, and finds himself with more frequent temper outbursts once again.

There are probably plenty of reasons for it - readjusting to his strength after being so weak the week prior, a delayed reaction to the fear and trauma of Sola's death, or even a way of venting that faint sense of jealousy Shizuo felt over Izaya the evening before. But Shizuo just isn't the kind of guy who over-analyzes his situation. He just goes with the flow.

And going with the flow this time has him erupt on one of the natives - a man who bumped into him just as Shizuo was lighting a cigarette, causing him to drop it. A minuscule offense, but Shizuo's nerves are on edge and rationality is not an option. Up comes a lamppost, and halfway across Vatheon flies the native.

It isn't a source of pride.]

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[A difficult question to answer without demonstration, but Serph explains as best he can to someone unfamiliar with his world.]

While I'm unable to break lamp posts like you--

[His Atma isn't designed to kill that way, after all.]

--I've been attacked by those who can. I'm accustomed to it.

[Serph has a good gauge on how much he can take -- he'd get a massive earful from his Tribe if he hadn't -- so he'll know when to stop. ~~COME AT ME, BRO.~~]

[Shizuo is still skeptical, but he knows that Vatheon is different from Ikebukuro, and that there are people and creatures who could take his strength, here. He doesn't exactly want a live punching bag, but having someone help him out is something he wants to pursue. Izaya had even suggested asking around on the network for that purpose.

Vegeta, though brutal, had shown him that he could exert some control. And since Shizuo has already exerted some energy, it should be easier. So maybe he can start slow, and see how much Serph can take.]

You won't just stand there, right?

[A little defense would make it feel less like Shizuo is just beating up on someone.]

[Serph nods -- he has no intention of taking a punch from Shizuo without any resistance -- before turning to walk towards the forest, gesturing for Shizuo to follow him. While Serph makes no secret of his part-demonic nature, the spectacle of Shizuo and himself fighting is not one he wishes to have where people often pass through. There'll likely be some misunderstandings.]

Would you prefer it if I punched you, too?

[Shizuo follows, eventually falling in step with Serph. The forest is a good idea. He doesn't want to cause more of a scene than he already has.]

Yeah. That'd help.

[Shizuo is as close to invincible as a human can get. Not that being nearly indestructible had helped him against Vegeta. Apparently he can break. Just not easily.]

[Alright then.

Once they're at the forest, Serph turns to face Shizuo, raising his left hand to his face, the tattoo on his cheek glowing blue.]

I won't hold back.

[And with that, he transforms, his demonic self being more than a foot taller than he had been. The blades are kept hidden within his arms; he has no intention of killing Shizuo, after all. But he will wait for Shizuo's first strike, so that it's easier to gauge his strength.]

[Shizuo widens his eyes at the transformation. He knows that Vatheon has plenty of unusual people and creatures, but that doesn't mean he's immune to surprise. It's impressive. Maybe Serph will be able to handle Shizuo's strength.

If he's not holding back, then maybe Shizuo shouldn't, either. He certainly looks stronger in this new form...]

Okay. Me either.

[He's decided. He'll be careful about how he hits, which will be easy since he isn't enraged, just in case, but Shizuo gathers his energy and charges, aiming a forceful punch at Serph.]

[Serph crosses his arms to take the punch on his arms rather than his body, and gives a little, reducing the force of impact. However, even with the armoured ridges along his arms, the force of Shizuo's punch makes him slide back a foot or so.

This strength is not unlike Heat's when transformed.

He doesn't even bother holding back the bestial roar as he retaliates, stepping forward to put the force of his entire body into a punch. Serph may not be as strong as Shizuo, but it doesn't mean he's weak.]

[Shizuo is pleasantly surprised by the way Serph takes his punch, and it makes him more confident in their sparring session. The force Serph returns is stronger than what a normal human could dish out, though no way near as strong as Vegeta's punches. Shizuo absorbs it, but steps back to do so. He doesn't feel pain - but he can feel the power behind the punch.

He grins, then, and charges back, prepared to slam into Serph.]

[If this had been a normal battle, Serph would have dodged it, but it's not. It's an opportunity to really let his demon go wild -- albeit with certain restrictions -- so he meets the charge head on, catching Shizuo and sliding back a good foot, clawed feet tearing up the ground as he does so.

Shizuo's charge had hurt, sure, but he can take it. Although he's hissing as throws his entire weight into shoving Shizuo back -- pitting strength against strength -- Serph is still in complete control over his demon.]

[The hiss doesn't bother or alarm Shizuo at all. This is something he's needed for a while now - since Vegeta had showed him it is possible for him to unleash himself without seriously injuring someone. This time, though, he doesn't need to worry that an altercation could result in putting the people he cares about in danger.

He's pushed backwards with Serph's force, but counters it with his own, refusing to move more than a few inches backward. He then aims another punch, feeling freer in his use of strength, this time.]

[Serph can feel himself get pushed back -- he hadn't needed to act like he was losing to Heat; even with all his strength, he wasn't as physically strong as Heat, and this fight is just bringing back those memories. The punch elicits a harsh snarl from Serph, even after he's shifted his body so Shizuo's fist hits the scaled plates rather than his ribs directly.

Instinct tells him to bring the blade in his arm up and tear through Shizuo while he's so close, but Serph reigns back the urge. He reminds himself this is neither a fight for survival, nor a fight to win or lose, but one to just beat the tar out of each other.

So instead, he does something completely different from usual. Reaching to grab Shizuo by his clothing, Serph attempts to bring him down and close enough to knee the man in the stomach.]

[Shizuo's strong, but he isn't rooted to the ground. He doesn't have to be; usually his strength is enough. Lack of training, however, is glaringly obvious when he has an opponent who is accustomed to fighting. Shizuo doesn't expect to be grabbed like that, and so he gets kneed in the stomach, just as Serph planned.

He feels this one, though it doesn't necessarily hurt. Shizuo's the kind of guy who can get hit with a tazer and be completely unaffected, his nerves numb and immune to most attacks. Still, it throws him off balance, and he stumbles. While Serph still has a hold of him, Shizuo attempts to shove him back or over despite his momentary loss of balance, shoving his body forward and pitting his arm and shoulder against Serph. It's not graceful by any means, being that Shizuo is still trying to maintain his footing.]