sparring with an audience

[tigerpoet]

[If you're passing by the detective agency's office today, you might get to see a fight. Fauna, a familiar sight to most around Starsand, and Atsushi - no, the other one. The other other one.

Atsushi's grinning as they battle, so there's probably no bad blood involved… then again, with these two, it's hard to tell, especially with Fauna's mask covering any expression she might make.

Atsushi is a straightforward fighter, and his strikes with his sword are powerful. He doesn't dodge much, but he takes Fauna's fire and ice attacks head-on and keeps going strong. His attacks are almost reckless, the aggressive style of someone who knows he can tank any hit his opponent deals him and can fix any injuries later, trading openings in his own form for damage dealt to his opponent.

Fauna's fighting style, in contrast to her normal, headstrong nature, is quite methodical- First, blasts of fire and ice, scarring the battlefield to restrict her opponent's movements. Then a form change to her owl form, a bombardment of high-speed knives as she flies around to create openings. Then, when she's finally restricted and worn her opponent down, she strikes- Her lion form comes in swinging, intending to end it in a single, electric blow.

The battle ends in a draw, with Atsushi's sword at Fauna's neck and Fauna's sword at his heart. There's plenty of time afterwards to catch either of the two in conversation, if you've stuck around to watch.]

Comments

[nightwild]

Maybe. But I threw away my humanity on purpose.

[tigerpoet]

To get the power to make a difference in the world?

[nightwild]

Yeah.

I could transform even before that. But... The disconnect between my soul and my body limited the power I could draw from my Discs. Or something like that.

So... the Goddess 'baptised' me. Burned away my old body. Now I'm like this, and I'm way stronger than I ever was before.

But I was still no match for Elemental Knight.

[tigerpoet]

I still don't think that makes you less than human. ...And, speaking of someone who was always physically weak when I was alive, I really can't blame you for that decision.

[nightwild]

Then what would you call it? Burning away everything I was to devote myself to a goddess who wanted to control the world?

[tigerpoet]

Desperate. But understandable.

If you're a monster, then I think a lot of people put in your circumstances would be monsters. I can't tell you whether that should make you feel better or not, but it's what I believe.

[nightwild]

[She just shifts, staring at the table.]

... It's not right.

[tigerpoet]

Lots of things aren't. But things are better than they used to be, even if there's still a long way for us to go.

[nightwild]

[She just.

Thanks her head down against the table.]

[tigerpoet]

[Pats her behind the ears.]

Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel worse.

[nightwild]

[well

in better news, you've got her doing the ear flicky now.]

I don't know if there's anything that wouldn't make me feel worse.

[tigerpoet]

...Even strawberry muffins?

[nightwild]

Never had them before.

[tigerpoet]

You should try them. My treat.

[nightwild]

Okay. You order them, then.

[She just. Keeps resting her head there. But she's never going to turn down free food.]

[tigerpoet]

[Muffins ordered and soon acquired.]

I hope you enjoy them.