towerofanimus | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Characters: Minato and YOU.
Setting: Various floors and then Floor 55 (incinerator), 75 (monster tower) and 12 (projection).
Format: Action for ease, will match.
Summary: In order to combat his hidden feelings of being a weak leader, Minato seek to grow stronger and feel needed…after doing his garbage duty job. Later, he watch the projections.
Warnings: Violence against monsters. Will update as needed.

Various Floors -> Incinerator
[After watching people’s reactions and the aftermath to the modifications, Minato felt, not for the first time, powerless. As the leader of SEES in his dead world, as a friend, he disliked being powerless. Every time he feel like that, he would go out and try to do things.

But first, he needed to collect the garbage on various floors and bring them to the incinerator on Floor 55. The mess from the modifications and how people acted probably contributed to the litter around.]

Floor 75 – A tower in a tower
[This floor has become Minato’s favoured training ground. While other floors offered more varied locations, fighting inside a tower like this, with monsters crawling around, was reassuringly familiar.

It’s almost like Tartarus again.

A click, a bang and one of his Personas came out to aid him in his training. With all the fighting he did so far and without access to the Velvet Room, his roster was severely stronger than they’re supposed to. If he can sit down and focus, he can see other possible Personas in his mind.

But without the Velvet Room’s assistance, they remained deeply buried in the sea of his soul. So close, yet so far from his reach.]

Cu Chulainn.

[With a voice, he summoned the warrior and joined his Persona in battle. Yelling them out, unless he’s in the heat of battle, would attract monsters to his location. He’s not completely reckless. Yet.]

Floor 12 – Projection
[After his training, Minato decided to return to the lower floors and rest up, maybe clean himself up in the bathroom later. But before he do, the young leader of SEES swinged by the twelfth floor.

Standing in the middle of the floor, he looked up and watch as the various worlds, planets, space stations--anything habited—destroyed one by one. And then the projection reset and show another world. Again and again, for quite a number of cycles.]

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[Most of the near-unmanageable anger had been dealt with and Sephiroth feels a lot more clear headed after finally crashing out in his Dormitory half way through the 3rd day. The restless sleep that followed wasn't decent but at least when he woke again the fatigue was gone. Sephiroth had been sure that he wouldn't ever sleep again but apparently there was a limit even for him.

It had helped him start to feel more like himself again.

Though, during the monster hunt, he'd discovered a new floor on which he could guarantee at least one or two well-earned monster kills and so Sephiroth returns there during the next day to see how it compares to during the nighttime.

He pauses at the top of one of the stairwells in the Tower within a Tower and observes the fight going on between Minato, the Persona and the monster that had crossed their path. His own weapon, Masamune, held down and out pointed towards the floor but nevertheless ready and alert for anything that might creep up on him in the meantime.

That blue hair...Sephiroth is near certain seen that somewhere before...]

[Sephiroth may have seen this blue haired young man around the tower before. But while there's others with blue hair, only one of them interacts with Ryoji with somewhat regularity.

The monster they're fighting against is a Moblin, a large pig-like monster with incredible muscle mass. Minato's blade or his Persona's spear doesn't seem to do as much damage, forcing them to back away and stick to using spells. But when he's forced to use his blade, his stance and form is usable.

It's what Minato get from mixing kendo with self-taught one-handed swordsmanship skills.]

[With a Moblins' massive muscle mass it's little wonder that most melee attacks do little to phase them. Standard swords just don't cut deep enough and spears/lances etc would only get stuck in their muscle without doing any real damage.

It's a good job therefore, that Masamune is both long and with an unparalleled sharp edge right to it's tip. Sephiroth has fought these before, and knows that to slice at them would be to only scratch. Getting the momentum and correct angle for a to-be fatal impale is the required trick here.

He could have just lingered by the stairwell and watched this blue-haired youngster inevitably be smashed to pulp against a wall or floor by the Moblin - except that they were backing right towards him. Any death prevented wrenches some small measure of control back from the Tower, right? Besides -

-If Sephiroth's suspicions are correct, then being the hero may well serve another interest as well. While Minato doesn't look too-clumsy with a blade, his technique is clearly fudged. And just what was his assisting creature supposed to be doing, exactly?

Sephiroth outstretches his hand towards the Moblin and a breath later an unseen force smashes into the monster and knocks it across the room. Not quite into the opposite wall but the Moblin skids to the floor a few feet shy. Taking a step forward, Sephiroth slides fluidly into a ready stance and draws Masamune up and to his shoulder. Holding everything tight and remaining still; waiting.

He peers down the long edge and to the Moblin, and will wait until the creature aggressively barrels towards him before he moves. Sephiroth doesn't need to charge, the monster with all it's mass is providing all the momentum that will be needed. Instead he simply feints forward a few steps and then to the side; lunging low onto his back leg to get the power (drawing on other power besides) and then piercing Masamune right up diagonally, impaling from the gut of the Moblin as if hot butter. A few inches of Masamune's bloodied tip will emerge from the collar-area of the Monster before Sephiroth eventually slides his weapon free and the monster is allowed to fall.]

[Cu Chulainn, after seeing that his attacks can only scratch the Moblin, took to supporting Minato with buff spells and casting electrical spells. Just long enough for Minato to regain some distance and to switch his Persona around.

...Only for someone to come in and take down the Moblin.

Minato watched the man pierce, and them impale the monster with his long sword--a katana, he quickly recognised--with impressive strength and skill. It might be brief, but Minato feels as if this man would be the superior swordsman between them.

The monster falls with a thud. His eyes gazes at the corpse, before turning them over to his saviour.]

...Thank you.

[Masamune was bloodied only for a few moments before it all dripped off that keen point into a neat pool on the floor. Then Sephiroth turns slightly and peers his green eyes over the top of his armor to Minato.

Yes, now that Sephiroth see's the younger man from the front, he's certain that this is one of Ryoji's closest friends. He'd seen them together quite often around the Tower, when he'd been tailing closely. Before the last experiment.

He offers a smile which for all intents and purposes, is genuine. Before turning and looking over Minato's companion more carefully. It seems like some sort of assisting entity that's for sure and Sephiroth hasn't come across a Persona before.]

You're welcome. Though you should be careful which fights you choose.

[Cu Chulainn returned Sephiroth's stare, curious but respectful, reflecting Minato's inner thoughts right now.]

I'll be more careful next time.

[Minato put his evoker away, sliding the mock gun back into its sheath.]

The next time I encounter that monster again, I'll use a different approach.

[Sephiroth didn't spend too long staring at the Persona. Though the curious 'pet' does intrigue him. Something new to find out about.

Not that Minato himself isn't worth Sephiroth's attention. It could prove useful indeed to subtly involve himself in this regard. Sephiroth raises an eyebrow and swings his head a little to knock one of his bangs out of his line of sight before offering his comment.]

You will need a lot more than a different approach, if you don't mind me saying. [Pause.] A firm technique, to start.

[He's trying not to sound too condescending, which in itself is difficult for Sephiroth to do. He seems friendly enough, if a little blunt.]

[Minato's not too offended by it. Other than attending the kendo team, he doesn't have much formal swordsmanship training.]

Mm, I'm aware. I still have a lot to improve with my skills.

[Between fighting with his Persona and without. He'd only have them out in case something went wrong during his training.]

[Sephiroth shakes his head, how did this kid even get this far up into the Tower at all? Let alone this far into the Tower-inside-a-Tower.]

Do you do this often?

[By that of course he could mean attempted-sword fighting, monster hunting, or even so clearly wishing death upon himself.]

You know, it's not advisable to die- [Swallow. Calm. He's done much too much of that recently.] -or have you succumbed already to this place?

I train fairly often.

[Minato knows how to move and avoid monsters, even after taking the elevator up as close to this floor as he can. As for how he got this far...he's fairly resourceful with his range of abilities.]

I try not to die, if I can help it. [Death might be cheap, but he won't take it lightly.] Even if I'd just wake up in my bed the next day.

[Seeing as there's no monsters around for now, Minato mentally dismiss Cu Chulainn without looking at his Persona. The warrior dissipated into blue light, before it's gone.

It usually take some mental energy for Minato to keep him out for so long.]

[Fairly often. That could be anything from most days to hardly at all. The type of thing a person would say if they don't want their routine criticized. Sephiroth shakes his head a little, wondering perhaps if Minato knows it's not dying and waking again that's the issue; it's what goes on in between that is the cause for concern.

Sephiroth blinks when the Persona is dismissed in front of him like that. That's new. Though he supposes it's not unlike how he can summon and dismiss his own sword at will.]

What is that? Some sort of guardian?

[Frankly, Minato's own routine wasn't as steady as he like. He trained, he worked, but he doesn't feel as secure in it as back home.

No full moon. No school. No set things that established his almost-double life.]

It's my Persona. I summoned him from my subconscious to aid me.

[In contrast, training or otherwise perfecting his skills is a constant in Sephiroth's life in the Tower. There really isn't much else for him to be doing other than reading or idly catching up on the network; it's not as if he has much reason to interact with others.

That is, until Ryoji presented himself as a problem.

He has plenty of time to dedicate to making the life of that one as uncomfortable as possible. Moreso since the last experiment, something is needed for him to focus on.]

I see. [Now wasn't that an interesting ability. Though Sephiroth imagines that due to having that aid, it may have an impact on Minato's personal skill level.]

That must come with a price.

It's a very powerful and useful ability.

[Especially for him. Compared to the rest of SEES, his versatility is what makes him so strong.]

But I don't want to be completely dependant on it, in case I can't use it.

[There are floors where powers can be disabled. Not only that, but in the heat of battle, his evoker can get knocked out from his hand.]

[Sephiroth prefers to be reliant on his own personal ability, not that an aide from inside his own subconscious would be any less capable if he did possess this power but - there is something about taking out your enemies yourself that satisfies something deeper.

Perhaps that's just his psychotic side. Besides the point though, it seems the younger man is admitting to his shortfall in combat. Yes, this could be very beneficial indeed.

Sephiroth doesn't so much shrug at Minato but rather offers a suggestion.]

There are plenty of people here that could train you in at least some basic hand-to-hand.

I know. I would have to ask around and see who's willing to spend some time with me.

[Other than a handful of people, most of the residents have no problem with lending him a hand.

Minato glance at Sephiroth's sword, before looking back at the other swordsman. From what he saw earlier, Sephiroth is a very capable swordsman. But would he be willing?]

[He'd have to be blind to not see that pointed look at his sword. Perfect.

Sephiroth casts his usual precautionary look around; considering where and on what floor they are on it's likely the monsters won't stay away for long. In fact the scents coming off of the most recent kill might draw them in soon.]

I would offer, though most wouldn't be the right type of student. It depends greatly on your mindset.

[If he put his mind to it, Sephiroth could train anyone with enough determination. Sure his tuition would be of the heavy-handed, brutal variety but really was there anything wrong with that? He wanted Minato to feel that it was a privilege to be trained by him.]

[He isn't surprised to hear that. It's either someone willing to take anyone as their student, or those who can keep up. Minato knows himself very well, his own current physical limits and how he thinks.

How well it stands up to what Sephiroth would give to him...he won't know until he try.]

If you're willing to have me, I will train hard under your watch.

[When he's committed to something, Minato will be committed.]

You certainly seem sincere enough. [Hmph.] But then most do.

[That glinting green gaze comes back to Minato as if to size him up for the last time. In truth, Sephiroth has already decided that this will be worthwhile for his ends.

After a bit of a pause, Sephiroth nods to Minato.]

Alright, I don't go easy, though. Just bear that in mind.

I'm not expecting it to be easy.

[After a brief pause, he give a short bow.]

Thank you for taking me in. I'm Minato Arisato. What's your name, sir?

[If he's going to be under this man's tutelage, Minato would want to know his name.]

Ah yes, that is quite important.

[Sephiroth smiles a little, pulling his thoughts back into the conversation from scanning the immediate area. He wonders idly how many people in the Tower have heard his name already but have never been introduced.

He nods politely at Minato and then introduces himself.]

I'm Sephiroth.

[From browsing, or simply skimming the network, Minato can pick up on people's names. Sometimes he remembers them, sometimes he doesn't. It usually depends on the context for him, and whether he knows their face to attach a name to.]

Then I'll be in your care, Sephiroth-san.

[As always, Minato defaults to using honorifics. Ingrained manners and how he usually is around people.]

[As much as Sephiroth detests the notion of elevating anyone by attaching an honorific to the end of their name, he'll let it slide this time. Besides, it's really quite the opposite to insulting him.

He offers a friendly-enough nod to Minato and turns towards the stairwell in the Tower inside the Tower.]

Then I shall be seeing you. Tomorrow, at the Gymnasium.

[If Minato knows, he would drop it. But only a the other's request.

Minato nods and glance over at the stairwell, mentally noting the location in his mind. He knows which floor Sephiroth is referring to.]

Understood.

[Sephiroth offers a further nod at Minato before heading for the stairwell nearby.

This should prove interesting tomorrow, if nothing else.]

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Floor 75

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