August Bonding

[sleight_of_hand]

WHO: Tohru Adachi (with some open prompts)
WHERE: Largely Heropa this month
WHEN: Through the month of August
WHAT: The last two months were hell on wheels for Adachi, and he's determined to focus on work getting his schedule back on track.
WARNINGS: None yet.

[ Early Morning | Heropa Streets | Viktor ]
[ Though he had promised he wouldn't be running away from Viktor that... didn't end up being the case. Once the rains had abated and allowed for him to go back home and recover from his cold, the horror of what he did finally set in. He had kissed a drunk man. If said drunk man hadn't been sober enough to push him away... well, he wouldn't have gone that far, but he certainly would have done a little more than just a kiss. How he felt about Viktor was getting way out of hand, and was definitely probably the reason for 90% of his problems. ]

[ Dammit, why did he have to be engaged? Or why did he have to be so free with his affections? This wouldn't be as much of a problem if either of those weren't a thing. Though as soon as such a though occurred to him, he had to smack himself. He wouldn't want to wish Yuuri into non-existence! Nor did he want Viktor to change the kind of person he was; that was part of what made him so damn likable! Why the hell was this so complicated?! ]

[ He knew he couldn't avoid Viktor forever, but he didn't want the chance of running into the others when he did either. So, Adachi opted for meeting him at the early morning workouts he had been missing out on for various reasons over the last couple months; seriously, if he managed to get through this month without any kind of serious injury, he'd be impressed. ]

[ Adachi stood there awkwardly once he approached, not sure what to even say after over a week of avoiding him. He rubbed at the back of his neck, before sheepishly raising his hand in greeting. ]

Y-yo!

[ Nailed it. ]

[ Night | Heropa Ice Rink | Open ]
Why are you still paying for this?

[ Adachi looked up from where he was writing out a check, raising an eyebrow at the ice rink owner. He was "awake" for once, staring up at him from around his "I rather be fishing" hat. ]

Your friends aren't coming around, you know.

[ A sour look came to Adachi's face at that, and he ripped out the check, slapping it down. ]

Just take my money, and let me get my skates.

[ He was out on the ice before long, blades cutting along the surface as he started on his circles, but he wasn't really focused on it. He really didn't need the reminder that the others weren't around that much, that him trying to learn this was probably going to be for nothing. But, dammit, he wanted to do this; there was so much he wanted to say and didn't have a lot of time to say it, or the words to say it. He had to do this now. ]

[ Adachi went drifting from circles to some attempt at a program, not that it was very much of anything. There was still a lot he didn't understand, especially how things were supposed flow together. Anyone that came in would be able to see he made an attempt at trying to understand, though. A small notebook was sticking out from his dufflebag where he dropped it, with the names of moves and positions along with scribbled stick figure drawings giving an idea of what they were supposed to look like. There were a lot of notes on the margins as well, mostly consisting of, "Hands go where!??!?!" ]

[ He's trying at it! A little harder than he tries at anything else at least. ]

[ Private Communication to Persona Users ]
So uh...

I know there's like.

A lot.

That we need to talk about with each other and all that? But uh... we've all got the same power, and we're all more or less on the same side. It's probably best if we at least prepare ourselves to fight like a team if we need to.

So uh

I'm totally up for training with any one of you guys. I need to find a new place to do it now that my old one's been compromised, but we should try to get to know each other's skills better.

[ He really hoped that sounded sincere, because he was definitely trying to be. ]

[ Wild Card ]
[ When Adachi isn't busy with others, he'll be all around the porter cities working various cases for his native clients. He's up for being stopped for just about anything. ]

Comments

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Seriously, why? With Yusuke around he has enough teenagers kissing to last him a lifetime. ]

[ If Adachi notices the cringe coming from how "uncool" he is (which is rude; clearly he is the coolest), he doesn't show it. He stuffs his hands back into his pockets once Akira's close enough, looking utterly chill despite the fact that he's about ready to start bouncing on his heels again. ]

There's some abandoned rails outside of town, not that far from my usual spot, but far enough. I've never really explored around there, so we might find someplace good to hide out and train in.

[crimeboy]

[This is definitely different than whatever the hell Yusuke is doing. Could be like watching a soap opera, it has some real potential.

Akira sighs. The bouncing was super weird from an adult. God help him if Ryuji ever showed up and these two were in the same room. So much uncool in one place... Shaking his head and smiling a little, Akira shoved his hands into his pockets and just following along as soon as he took the lead.]

Yeah, sounds good to me.

[Probably no subway tunnel, but the idea of training on some abandoned rails made him homesick for a moment. Then he remembered the shit he had dealt with in Mementos and he was less homesick.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Again, Adachi seemed oblivious, but that could have just been an act; he was a hard person to get a read on, after all. He was too busy enthusiastically pushing his way down a familiar path into the humid, Floridian greenery, leading them all the way to the abandoned tracks. Said tracks were actually a rail bridge, with a tunnel on the other end. ]

[ Adachi paused then, pointing out the tunnel. ]

I know the end of the tunnel is the city limit, but I haven't looked through it, or under the bridge either.

[crimeboy]

[This was what he was bouncing about? Akira peered into the darkness of the tunnel, looking it over though it was hard to see without his eyes adjusting to the darkness.]

Hm. Not bad.

[It could work. Akira turned his head to look around in the direction that they came from, holding his breath to see if he could identify any sound or sight that might suggest they were followed. Once he was satisfied that they were alone, Akira started into the tunnel, waiting until he felt sufficiently covered by darkness to have his magical girl transformation with blue fire and all, his bag disappearing, a gun in his right hand.]

Shall we?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi had been preoccupied with his communicator, pulling up the flashlight function like a normal, not extra human being, when he caught sight of blue fire. His head snapped up just in time to see Akira finish his magical girl change, both eyebrows shooting up toward his hairline. ]

Hunh... so that's how it works for you guys? That's way cooler than this:

[ He held his hand out, his Fool card responding immediately and hovering lazily before he shook his hand out, dismissing it. ]

I've seen art boy in his getup, but I was seriously beginning to think it was just a lame costume he came up with.

[crimeboy]

[Akira was used to exploring places sneakily, but those places were all pretty dangerous. He was going to treat this the same way until it was proven to be safe, so Phantom Thief getup and gun it was. Adachi could handle light if that's what he wanted to do.]

It's not bad. A thief's gotta have a disguise. Codename: Joker, by the way.

[He smiles at that, then pointing down into the tunnel, a little past him.]

Can you keep the light off of me? I don't think we'll encounter anything, but better safe than sorry.

[sleight_of_hand]

'Joker' hunh...

[ ...oh. Like Joker's Wild. Adachi snickered slightly; he could appreciate a good pun. ]

[ He turned the light of his communicator to focus on the path ahead, the light playing off the walls as he was sure to keep it aimed ahead of or just away from Akira altogether. ]

Wonder why they abandoned the rail line.

[crimeboy]

[Akira stuck close to the walls, reaching out to touch them now and then, just to be sure there weren't any turns or anything that might be missed in the darkness. Even if he had Adverse Resolve to help him out when ambushed, he'd rather just avoid being ambushed.

Akira easily disappeared in the tunnel when the light was off of hm, but for the white mask on his face and the glinting metal of the gun in his hand from time to time, even the brilliant red of his gloves seeming to meld with the darkness, but Adachi should easily be able to keep tabs on him, knowing where he was previously and listening to the footfalls.]

Perhaps it wasn't profitable anymore.

[What with all the imPorts and all. It wasn't like they could use the rail line without special permission. Akira wrinkled his nose at that, biting back how he hated the government here for basically imprisoning them in these cities barring special circumstances.]

Let's hope it's not because of stability issues, hah.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi let out an amused noise at that. ]

Oh c'mon, what's the worse that could hap--

[ And... Adachi got cut off as he suddenly vanished, the light from his communicator bouncing wildly before disappearing as well. ]

[crimeboy]

[Fuck.

Akira swung around to where Adachi had vanished, his gun pointed in that direction.]

Arsene!

[He summoned his Persona, but didn't fire his weapon or attack wildly. If they got the drop on him, he would have a slightly better chance of winning a fight, but...

He was regretting coming alone with Adachi now, though not because he was worried about being attacked by him. Even so, Akira wasn't panicked, simply scanning the darkness, his gun at the ready.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Silence was the only thing that met Akira, interrupted occasionally by the sound of something falling and hitting something far below. It was a moment before Adachi's voice echoed up into the tunnel again, sounding like he was in pain from whatever it was that just hit him. ]

S'okay! I'm okay...!

[ He didn't sound okay. ]

[crimeboy]

Oh Hell.

[He frowns, looking to Arsene and actually managing to have his Persona hold onto him, wings unfurled to keep him from meeting the same fate as Adachi.

He grunted, scowling a little as he reluctantly put his gun away in order to retrieve his own phone to use as a source of light.]

I swear if you have to be hospitalized I'm having Goro put you on house arrest. I don't know how, but I'm going to do it.

[He's mostly talking to himself, but it's out there for Adachi to hear too.]

I'll be down in a minute!

[sleight_of_hand]

I'm fine! My fall was just broken by my spine, no big deal!

[ The light from his Persona and phone cast a slightly weird pattern on the floor, but that's only because there was a gaping hole in the ground, right in the middle of the track, that Adachi somehow missed and walked right into. Going through it revealed a huge cavern, slightly illuminated from the communicators and something luminescent casting a faint, blue glow everywhere. In the middle, where Adachi landed, was a half rotting box car, damaged from falling through the hole and left abandoned for who knew how many years. ]

[ At least now they knew why the rail line was abandoned? ]

[ Adachi was sitting up by the time Akira made it down, looking like he was going to cry as he rubbed at his back. ]

Gyaaaaa... I'm gonna be feeling that for awhile...

[crimeboy]

You're really actually the worst. How you even survived this long is beyond me.

[This is some Ryuji-level shit. He didn't even think to shine a light on the floor??? God. Ok, Akira has heard of 'playing the Fool', but no. Adachi just was the Fool.

Akira descended safely with the help of Arsene's wings, his Persona dropping him once they were near enough to the ground.]

Can you stand?

[Because Akira wasn't gonna carry him, and Arsene might not feel like it either. Temperamental Persona, you know?]

[sleight_of_hand]

...dumb luck?

[ Emphasis on the dumb. ]

[ Adachi let out a breath, shifting a bit. ]

Yeah, I'm fine, just give me a moment.

[ He leaned over, grabbing for his communicator, before focusing the light from it all over the cavern. It was... pretty damn huge, and Adachi let out a soft whistle, his voice echoing off the walls. ]

Whoa... uh... wasn't exactly expecting to find something like this.

[crimeboy]

[Akira was in no rush, and simply began looking astound even before Adachi got up. Now this was something.]

This is... perfect!

[At least if they were careful not to hit walls or the ceiling very hard.]

There is no way other imPorts know about this, right? Well... maybe a few, but probably not the ones we are worried about.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi grinned slightly; this... really was kind of perfect? It was big enough that they could all have their Persona's out and not get cramped, and would help them get used to fighting indoors. Well, him used to fighting indoors; most of his training had been done outside. ]

Bet it stays cool in here year round too, so it won't be so bad to work out.

[ He paused, directing his light up to the ceiling. ]

...need to find a better entrance though.

[crimeboy]

Rope ladder, maybe.

[He doubted there was just another opening somewhere, in any case. It was worth exploring, but...]

If we clear the hole a little more to be sure no one hits anything on the way down, we can make it a straight shot. Bring some lanterns or something with us for hands-off lighting, and that'd be it.

[As long as everyone was confident they could climb a rope ladder. It wasn't the most elegant solution, but it wasn't as if they could just install some stairs or an elevator or anything.]

[sleight_of_hand]

Maybe...

[ Unless the gremlin could cook something up? Maybe? Ugh, but wasn't she more PC than mechanically inclined? They needed to know more mechanical people. ]

Worth a shot. Should we call the others over, get their input?

[crimeboy]

[Akira didn't doubt that given enough time and resources, Futaba could make something better than a rope ladder, but a rope ladder would suffice in the interim.]

Yeah, we can call them up. Did you want me and Arsene to get you out of here first?

[Arsene replies to that with a scoff as he folds his arms over his chest, personality seemingly still intact.]

Or did you want to check out each other's skill sets while we wait for others to show up?

[sleight_of_hand]

We can wait for them to show up. Besides, it doesn't look like the other side of yourself likes me very much.

[ No need to get stodgy, tophat. Sheesh. ]

[ Adachi let out a grunt, jumping up to his feet, before leaning back, letting his back crack. Ugh, that felt better already. ]

I can always use the extended practice. My Persona is a bit of a pain to control sometimes.

[crimeboy]

He just doesn't like carrying people. Something about his 'aesthetic'.

[...Akira included. But he'd do it if explicitly told to.]

As long as you're able to call it off if it gets out of hand... I'm not really at 100% here.

[He'd have to rely on his own strength here rather than Arsene's. He had his super dexterity and his creative tactics, thankfully.]

[sleight_of_hand]

I should be able to; he listens to me.

[ Unlike before. More importantly though... ]

Wait, so your Personas really are super chatty or something?

[crimeboy]

Not super chatty...

I speak when it is necessary.

[Ah, there it was. Figures at some point Arsene would tire of being spoken about as if he were not there. Akira shrugged, not feeling a need to go into that any further. Everyone's spoke to them now and then, but Arsene was a little more vocal than others, especially in voicing his displeasure.

Guess that's what happens when they're spirits of your rebellion, huh?]

...Anyway. Gonna call first, then spar?

[sleight_of_hand]

Whoa!

[ Adachi took a step back, eyes widening in surprise. That was the first time he heard another person's Persona. The IT's hadn't exactly been chatty... but then again, they were pretty much doing enough yelling at him that their Personae couldn't get a word in edgewise. ]

Y-yeah... call first. I'll get the gremlin and Hanamura-kun. You can get your boyfriend and art boy.