tabularasa_rp | [open] because i can only be me

[His initial investigation into the market beneath Mt. Silver had revealed many things, some important, some not. Personally, the most interesting thing Akechi had found there is currently in his left hand -- a long, thin sword with a serrated blade like a saw, glowing a faint red. He's running himself through some fencing routines against an invisible enemy; his footwork is impeccable, and his strikes sure and true. It's obvious he knows what he's doing, each move strictly measured and controlled.

A careful eye might be able to tell that he's holding himself back. Instead of the strict, regimented form one might expect from watching a fencing bout, instead sometimes he fights a different kind of invisible enemy, his strikes not worried about points, but hacking and slashing before he inevitably returns to the calmer combat.

Either way, he's definitely having fun, eventually shucking his heavy winter coat and scarf and uniform jacket to just his button-up shirt and tie, his hair sticking to the back of his neck with sweat.]

Edited 2020-08-09 23:30 (UTC)

[Or, perhaps later, one might find Akechi in the throes of combat with a rather tangible opponent, instead of just an imagined one. In contrast to the sharp concentration he'd had when fighting on his own, as Akechi and Ren circle each other, Akechi's sword and Ren's knife wrapped in protective cloth to keep them from injuring each other, Akechi has a broad grin on his face, a challenging smirk and a bright light in his eyes to goad the other forward.

When Akechi fights with Ren, it's unrestrained, less an attempt to score points in a sparring match and simply an attempt to win, whatever the cost. His red blade sometimes moves so fast it can barely be seen in an attempt to overwhelm the other boy, and every now and then, Akechi laughs with a kind of demonic delight.

Look, it's probably fine. Catch them after a match with Akechi tossing Ren a towel to mop up the sweat, or pausing for a break to drink some water or just chat about the last fight. It's like flipping a switch between how Akechi fights, and how Akechi speaks later.]

[Somehow, Akechi's managed to befriend a small group of the strange creatures living in the market underneath Mt. Silver. He's no artist, but he's rigged together several paintbrush-like objects from various detritus around. Whatever kind of bodily fluid these weird creatures are "painting" with, it's interesting enough that Akechi's seemingly taking part.

There's no art to what he's doing, not really. It's almost violent, how he splatters paint against the wall, wielding the brush as if it were a can of spray paint. But it's a rare, gentler side of him as he speaks to the strange animals, pointing out places they can paint to bring the whole mess of graffiti together.]

[It's still much too dim for Akechi's liking, but if one enters the bathhouse, one might find Akechi's jacket, socks, and shoes set neatly in a basket in the changing room. It doesn't feel right entering the bathhouse itself with shoes on -- or any clothes, really, but it's hard to relax when it's so difficult to see and there are so many unknowns.

Akechi can be found with his shirt sleeves and pant legs rolled up, soaking his feet in the warm water. His jagged sword is at his side within easy reach, and as he hears someone enter, he opens his eyes and turns to look, squinting in the semi-darkness to see who it is.]

(Ren was just heading to the attic when he catches a glimpse of Akechi, a growing smile on his lips as he observes. One can argue personality makes a huge impact on style, and it does ring truth to Akechi - ever-changing flows of calm and collected to aggressiveness.

His own weapon was stashed on him and he barely notices the extra weight anymore. Instead of saying "hi, what are you doing", like a normal person, Ren decides to test what Akechi had said at the party regarding his knife throwing skills.

It's a precise throw that travels with force until Baselard was stuck still and secure on the tree a few feet away from Akechi, but surely within his point of view. He couldn't leave Akechi being cool with his sword without being cool himself.)

[Akechi senses more than sees the knife flying through the air; he pivots, bringing the sword up in a reflexive guard in case there's some other kind of more-accurate assault coming. His pulse pounds in anticipation of a true fight, but then- ah, of course. He recognizes the knife, the hilt still vibrating from the force it had taken to drive it into the tree, and he looks behind him to lock eyes with the other boy.]

I didn't see a target on that tree.

[His lips are curved into the faintest hint of a smirk as he lowers his sword, eyes locking with Ren's.]

Someone found a new toy.

[She liked doing that. Quietly walking up from the shadows of the woods. Well, she was like a haunting spook in the area, so why not keep up the reputation that you never knew when she'd pop up? Slipping around from a corner, she looked Akechi over curiously, drawing closer but not too close.]

Fancy swordplay... Still expecting a fight, I see.

Did there have to be one?

(He can sense the gaze, but when he moves to retrieve the knife, it's with calm steps. He yanks it from the tree, a finger carefully moving on the surface to remove any dust that collected from the trunk.

Ren doesn't put the knife in his new coat's pocket for now, instead throwing it in the hair to catch it mid flip. Show off.)

Let's test that sword?

[Spending as much time in the bar as she did, Tifa had grown used to the sounds the world made around it. When there isn't much to do to pass the time except listen and observe when there's no one around to talk to, she can sense when something is out of the ordinary. It's Akechi's footwork that she hears—the occasional step or heavier stomp on the grass is what draws her attention outside, and the back door to the bar creaks open for her to see what it is.

She's surprised to find Akechi, of all people, fencing with a sword in Heavenly Blanc's backyard.

When there's a pause in his movements, she descends the patio steps into view. She knows better than to come up on someone, whether he's already seen her or not, in the middle of a sword thrust.]

That's new. [She motions to the odd-looking sword in his hand with her eyes, a smile pulling at her lips.] Never pegged you for the fighting type, but I'd be wrong to say there aren't any surprises around here.

Gladly.

[There's a wicked edge to that smirk as Akechi brushes some of his sweaty hair out of his eyes. No ponytail today, unfortunately -- if he's practicing with the sword, he has to make sure he's going to be able to fight even should the wind kick up his hair.

He holds the sword in front of him, blade pointed toward the sky, and flourishes it on the way down in a kind of salute.]

I have rags to wrap the blades in. I'd hate for you to get hurt.

[He moves back over to where he'd left his briefcase and stolen water glass. Sorry Ren! Safety first.]

Edited 2020-08-11 22:01 (UTC)

[Akechi twitches violently at the unexpected voice, but doesn't react more than that. He hadn't seen or heard her coming, but he has more control over himself than to point the sword at whomever's approaching. A beat until he recognizes her, and he just laughs politely, tilting his head with a smile.]

Yes, in that underground bathhouse, of all places.

[He flourishes the blade briefly, the edges making it hum through the air with the cut.]

The more time passes without one, the more I'm convinced it's coming. It's not like me to reject the evidence, but, well... Call it my detective's intuition?

[He does see her at first, focused intently on finishing the form he's practicing. An exhale, then he hears her speak, and lowers the blade to face her with a polite nod.]

Ren and I found it in the bathhouse underground. The one in that underground marketplace?

[He flourishes the blade briefly, much more at home with it than he was with Ren's dagger.]

I suppose it doesn't quite fit my image, but I do have some training. Would it be odd to say that I quite enjoy it? There's something about being able to focus completely on the perfection of something.

(... Ren is avoiding looking at Akechi for a second or two, at least until he gives something else for his gaze to focus on aside from the smirk. That was the salute and it earned a happy smile from Ren.

"I'd hate for you to get hurt" does get a rise from Ren's eyebrow. As if he'd let himself get hit.

Very well, though. Ren follows, dagger in hands.)

[His smirk doesn't waver. He'd said what he'd said!

But he does toss a bundle of rags Ren's way, even as he starts to wrap his own sword to blunt the edges. It'll still bruise and hurt like hell to get hit, but this way he doesn't have to listen to Ren whining if either of them get cut.]

I hope you haven't lost your edge, but allow me to remind you: until we can fight at full strength, I won't consider this a true rematch.

Of course it wouldn't be.

(With their capabilities more than halved, due to the lack of Personas and guns, this definitely was just for fun.

The knife was easier to wrap, due to size, so it was finished in no time and he's testing it on his hand to make sure it's secure. Of course, he wouldn't want to hurt Akechi. (: )

Good.

[Akechi tests his sword in his palm once he's finished, humming with satisfaction. It's not ideal, the jagged edges wanting to tear through the cloth, but it should work well enough for now.

He steps back away from Heavenly Blanc to the more open area he'd been practicing in, holding the sword loosely in his left hand and waiting for Ren to ready himself. No point with a sneak attack or anything of that nature -- he wants a fair fight, no holds barred.

There's no denying the excitement in his eyes, leaking into his voice as he grins.]

Shall we?

(He knows there's no danger coming to him while he decides on a starting point for himself. The glasses are removed and he places them under the nearest tree on the opposite side from them, making sure to remember not to lose them or crack them.

The expression on Ren's face shifts almost immediately - from the pleasant, quiet and nice expression to a grin Akechi can very much recognize from when he's in the Metaverse. Smug, power-hungry and overly-confident. This can be just for fun, but there's no way he's accepting a loss, much less from Akechi himself.

It's a fast dash that comes to Akechi's way. Ren is betting on his speed and practicity of wielding a dagger for a starter, aiming for the sides.)

[Ren gives him that grin, and almost unbidden, Akechi can't help but match it, a hungry fire lighting in his eyes.]

That's it! That's the Joker I like to see! [he taunts, lunging sideways to dodge the initial attack and bringing his sword around to guard. Ren might have speed, but Akechi has power and reach, and he laughs, low and savage as he parries Ren's knife. Ideally if his sword weren't wrapped, he could flick his wrist to trap the blade between the edges of his sword to try to rip it out of his hand; as it is, he can only redirect, stepping around quick and sure for a slash diagonally down from Ren's shoulder.]

(He's aware that what he's seen are not the most accurate examples of Akechi's skills. First, it was Mementos, when Ren had no idea both possessed the same power, Loki not being in the picture and Akechi's moves more controlled, calculated. Second, it was psychosis that leaked from his every move, a crazed, vengeful man in front of him.

This time certainly had to be different. Ren is aggressive, but careful until Akechi shows his cards. Seeing the smirk on Akechi's lips only made his own grow, as if it wasn't impossibly large already.

The move was received with a dodge, Ren putting some distance between them to give him space to go for the leg.)

You're quick!

[Another parry as Akechi's gaze only brightens further. This is what he loves. The rush of adrenaline in combat, knowing that he's up against the one person who's ever managed to beat him -- there's nothing like it. Fighting Shadows can't compare to knowing his rival is in front of him, flesh and blood.

There aren't any extra flourishes to his swordwork this time, not like when he fought with a lumina saber and Robin Hood. This is all deliberate, a rush of motion as Akechi steps in, and in again, taking advantage of the reach of his sword to keep trying to force Ren back.]

C'mon! Don't go easy on me, now, Joker!

(Surely it's a different color on Akechi. Even calling him by the codename is working wonders to get Ren in a battle mindset even further, he is not losing. He has never lost to Akechi and he surely ain't losing now, nor is he holding back.

He hasn't felt like Joker here. The recon and navigation missions don't quite cut it - this is much closer to home and he can feel his heart racing with every move, it's a perfect thrill.

Each attempt to keep Ren from backing down is answered with a stronger blow of the knife or a faster slash of the blade.)

I'm not losing to you.

Wait, undergrou... oh right, that wall market place. I found an old wok you could use as a hat. It didn't that good for cooking.

[She'd almost brought it back for fear of the thing coming awake. She was starting to get paranoid about all this old crap lying around coming alive on her.]

That's some cynical thinking. Not that I think you're wrong. Just saying. But I do think it's kind of obvious. We're eventually going to have something worse than a ... whatever those pink chicken things are to fight.

So, you're pretty good with that, I see. Is it actually yours, or just fancy?

[ troy walking into a room on fire with pizza.gif

soooo, this is something that leo doesn't quite expect to barge into. where do you really start? the unexpected akedgy? our side character (?) keeping up with akedgy? the swordplay in general, which... mm, leo isn't entirely unfamiliar with swords, but it's more of a graceful kind of decorative piece accompanying their performances, and not the goku vs vegeta he's observing here. knives? much more novel territory.

in conclusion, this sure is a Thing! a thing that leo is approaching the aftermath of with little reservation, because certainly someone demon laughing while swinging a sword isn't at all a reason to be concerned.

yeah, really, it's not. he's waving, like this is no big deal. it's fine. ]

Hey! You guys keep showing me something different whenever I run into you both, huh! What's next? We got brain, brawns... I guess beauty's lined up?

[ ahh, here he is, ready to derail everything. ]

(As if Akechi was the only one with an enormous smirk on his face. Ren's one is a little less psychopathic in nature, but a confident, smug smile of someone who would not take a loss as an possible outcome. Like that wasn't an option in the book.

Ren hasn't fought since he's been in this universe and it felt revitalizing, like it awakened something in him that has been buried under all the uncertainty. Or perhaps it was just because he was fighting Akechi. Not only was it entertaining, but there was a lot of tension that was just bubbling under the surface. Argument after argument - basically how they have been here. It certainly helped.

An spectator may have noticed Ren's taunting glares, passionate and skillful wielding and clever, quick dodges, perhaps a little over the top with the gymnastics training he had received. For now, however, it's over and Ren is trying to get the mop on his head dry. It's probably curlier now.

Also, no glasses! Ren is scanning the place with his eyes. He remembers to put it somewhere on the grass, but out of their improvised field so that neither step on it. Instead of them, he finds a Leo waving, to which he waves back... He needs the glasses.)

Hey, Leo... What do you mean?

(How could they even show beauty? Does Leo want to see Akechi's makeup bag...?)

[ If there was anyone Rinoa imagined spending time with the creatures that are-but-are-not Moombas, talking to them and decorating the walls of the cavern-encircled market... well, actually there are a few people in this place she wouldn't have guessed to be the type. Akechi comes to mind, with his not-quite-right smiles, dislike of small talk, and his apparent determination to keep the conversation on their situation. A solid conversation over drinks later and all she knows is that he's a detective from some place called Japan.

So... no. Definitely not the type.

Yet there he is, just a few short paces away, an uncharacteristic (she supposes, from what little she knows of him) gentleness in his tone as he speaks to the creatures. And so it's with a smile that Rinoa approaches, announcing herself with a call of his name as she draws near. She doesn't want to spook him and end up covered in paint. ]

Edited 2020-08-12 11:58 (UTC)

[open] because i can only be me

🤺 behind heavenly blanc, p5 spoilers in description

🤺 🤺 three-way thread with ren

🖌wall market

♨bathhouse

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them spoilers

so many

seriously the spoiler count is endless

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