Track 08 - I'll Be There

[princeofjunes]

[PHONE - AFTERNOON - Filtered to: Persona casts (all), Ruri, Shana, SHIKI, Gilgamesh, Lancer, anyone I forgot that he has a moderate amount of CR with]

Hey guys, it's Yosuke. I just thought I'd check in, see how everyone's doing. I know it's been sort of rough lately, so...

[PARK - EVENING - OPEN]

[He's been coming here a lot lately. It really isn't a bad place to spend time. The park is usually nice and peaceful, and it gives him plenty of time to think. To reflect on his time there, to figure out what he wants, to try and piece together what bits he's learned about the town. Really, he can think about whatever strikes him that particular day.

Today it seems the focus is on himself - him, and the choices he's made recently and not so recently. Decisions he's made, decisions he hasn't made. Time he's spent waiting. Other people he's heard about. Is he really doing what's best? If he has to be stuck in this town, doesn't he deserve to be as happy as he can be? Is he doing what he can to that end? Is the road he's on the right one - hell, is it even going anywhere?

Too bad there are no easy answers.]

Comments

[princeofjunes]

[His jaw simply drops at the gigantic alligator as he stops and stares. It doesn't seem like something the town would do, so he's not terrified enough to run or fight it - but seriously.

A GIANT RED ALLIGATOR?!

What is this. What is his life.]

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[As Krookodile grins even wider, beginning to lumber closer to Yosuke, it thankfully disappears in a flash of red light. Red-faced to match his Pokemon, Grimsley appears panting slightly and out of breath from the distance, holding up the Pokeball.]

Man. Lose your.... partner for three months and... Phew. Everything alright there?

[princeofjunes]

[His jaw quite possibly stuck open, Yosuke simply looks between the hole in the ground, the place where Krockodile was, and the ball in Grimsley's hand. He does this several times before he's able to form coherent words - though it's not much of a thought.]

Dude! Again?!

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[Grimsley will reflect on this for a moment or two.]

Did you call Krookodile a dog this time?

[princeofjunes]

NO! Why the hell would I call a lizard a-

Never mind that, why the hell was it underground! And why did it look like it wanted to eat me?! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

Simply testing your sense of alertness. The town could, ah. Spring much worse than killer crocs on us at any moment, after all.

Krookodile happens to live in the desert. It swims through sand, you see.

[princeofjunes]

Alertness my ass - did you even know I was over here?! It probably just got away from you, and now you're trying to sound cool and explain it away.

I thought all these things were supposed to answer to your beck and call?

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

I don't know about cool a spur of the moment response you understand; it's hardly my fault it hasn't been fed in a quarter of a year.

Ah. Not that they eat humans, but you can't blame it for being grouchy, either.

[princeofjunes]

[Yosuke groans as he stands there, awkwardly looking between Grimsley and the spot where his lizard was.]

I guess if I was caged for three months I'd be ready to let loose too.

Hey, why don't you tell me about the rest of your fighting monster things? That way none of the rest give me a heart attack.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[Grimsley brightens up a little.]

Certainly.

There's Liepard, pure Dark, cunning and agile. It has the tendency to launch sneak attacks. Sharpedo, a shark - don't touch it, you'll tear apart your hands. Scrafty, part-Fighting, highly belligerent and skilled in unorthodox techniques. Drapion, a scorpion. Spits poison and all of that fun.

Those are merely the ones on my active team, of course.

[princeofjunes]

[What the hell Grimsley. Why do you keep these killing machines with you.

... even if they carry your groceries.]

Alright, so Liepard sounds like it looks like a leapord, staying away from sharks is easy enough. What about Scrafty? What's it look like? Saying it's part fighting doesn't tell me anything.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

Staying away? Here I thought you'd want to befriend them. Scrafty is, er.

[Grimsley tries to think of a descriptor that isn't 'punk bipedal lizard'. He fails.]

A sort of bipedal lizard with a mohawk.

[princeofjunes]

Well, I might try and get buddy buddy with the ones that won't rip my hands apart. You can apologize to the shark for me.

...

A lizard with a mohawk.

So... what, bipedal lizards have a rebellious phase?

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

It's less of a phase than a... lifespan. They're very loyal if they attach themselves to you, you know.

[princeofjunes]

Well, I am a little jealous. It'd be pretty cool to have a bipedal fighting lizard with a mohawk, but there's nothing like that where I'm from.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

Let's see if it takes to you when I have it back. Remember that headbutts are a sign of affection.

And what do you have where you're from? Dogs and cats and that sort of mundane thing?

[princeofjunes]

I'll try to remember that when my head is ringing.

Yeah, we have all the boring stuff. No giant lizards that live in sand instead of water.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

What a tedious life you lot must live. I'll see about getting Krookodile to lie in wait for you outside school to liven things up.

No, but really. The monsters are our economy, our entertainment, our status, and our closest companions. I don't know how you manage.

[princeofjunes]

[Yosuke just shrugs]

We manage pretty easily. For you I'm sure it's crazy, but when you've never led a life like that, how would you even know what you're missing?

Or that you're even missing anything?

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

Ignorance is bliss.

[Grimsley thoughtfully ponders this for a moment or two before reaching down towards his belt area and pulling out another Pokeball. Both Bisharp and Krookodile appear in flash of light.]

How would you like to find out what you've been missing all your life?

[princeofjunes]

[Yosuke looks between the two, his mouth slightly open. Is Grimsley serious? ... yeah. He seems pretty serious. It's a frightening prospect. He's seen what these guys can do.

But then, what makes it frightening is exactly what makes it exciting and interesting. Soon there's a grin plastered over his face.]

Alright, I've got time. Let's do it, Sensei. Show me what I've been missing.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

[Grimsley sweeps into a bow, holding out the two Pokeballs before him.]

I like a good sense of adventure. Choose your combatant. Both will follow your every command absolutely; isn't that right?

[A sharp glance at the two Pokemon, both of whom manage to look slightly sheepish for a moment or two.]

[princeofjunes]

[He looks between the two of them, slightly unsure. It's not like Yosuke has a clue if either one is better, or what they can even do. But now is not the time for hesitation! So he take's Bisharp's pokeball and grins at the 'mon.]

Alright. It was Bisharp, right? I know we've had our problems, but you seem tough as hell. I'm counting on you.

[tenebrousking.livejournal.com]

((Feel free to play/godmode Bisharp as much as you'd like!))

[Grimsley will take back the ball with Krookodile and begin to retreat. Bisharp will narrow its eyes at its temporary master before nodding stiffly. Training was training.]

Pokemon tend to start off quite weak at first; you have the pleasure of playing with fully evolved ones. Try not to raze the park to the ground. Each Pokemon, in addition to their natural techniques - dodging, punching, biting, etc. - learns a variety of moves. It's generally frowned upon to use more than four in a single battle; Bisharp knows X-Scissor, Night Slash, Aerial Ace, and Guillotine.

The key to winning battles is to use a type that your opponent is weak against. Birds are strong against bugs; water conducts electricity. As you might guess, Krookodile is part Ground and Bisharp is part Fighting. Given that I specialize in wielding Darkness, you can guess what their other typing is.

That's enough talking. Try it for yourself, why don't you?

Krookodile! Smack Down!

[And without warning, Krookodile reaches down and pulls out a large chunk of the ground. This is hurled straight at Bisharp.]

[princeofjunes]

(( I shall give it my best shot! ))

[It's a lot to take in - especially when he can tell Bisharp isn't exactly fond of him. Guess he's still not quite over the dog thing - not like Yosuke can blame him.

Four attacks, huh? X-Scissor? Probably something with his claws. Night Slash? No clue there, moving on. Aerial Ace? That sounds like something he'd use in the air, alright. Guillotine? ... that sounds particularly nasty. Yosuke doesn't think they'd let the monsters kill each other, but still. Best to save it for an emergency.

He's still not sure he's got his bearings when the action suddenly starts, and there's a rock flying for his borrowed fighter. No way Yosuke's letting Bisharp go out like a punk - who knows, if he comes up with some good moves, maybe he can even impress the guy.]

Just like that? Alright, let's go Bisharp! Jump out of the way! [Much to Yosuke's delight, the fighter manages to narrowly dodge the improvesed projectile, sailing through the air. Now seems as good a time as any to find out what his moves do, so...] Sweet! Alright, give Aerial Ace a go!