Leading with your chin

[ktfod]

WHO: Akihiko and OPEN.
WHERE: Various.
WHEN: Throughout July.
WHAT: Various. Fighting, training, sushi, underground cagefighting, cute animal hats. Um. Pushups at bus stops?
WARNINGS: None.

General Opening

Summer's probably his favorite season, maybe it's just the heat, the sun. Though it's really not that surprising that he'd be into summer with how often he's out and about and exercising. The summer season is perfect for working up a sweat and after that trip to the West coast? He really needs to stretch out his legs. Being in a car for that long was awful, definitely not his scene, though maybe he should feel bad for making them stop so much just so he could take a few laps around the car.

Oh, and all the Rocky music, he made them listen to that sound track over twenty times.

July's a pick up period though. Getting back into his routine while also working on changing it up.

He needs to get out more. The trip with everyone to Disney Land made that kind of obvious. He enjoyed spending time with them, but being around people that often, it made it clear to even Akihiko that he kind of just lacks the social skills to handle a group of friends. He spent most of the trip being told not to do things, or to stop doing things, or getting annoyed or confused at various jokes and humour. For a guy that dresses nice and has good self confident, he's really just not good with people. Lend it to all the time he spends alone bettering himself.

So wouldn't getting better with people still apply? So... personal goal. Get out there. Figure this... social thing out. And try not to crash and burn in the process. He just hates feeling like Shinjiro's some how beating him in this. It's not wrong to think that right? He's just a competitive guy.

[ A ] - Maurtia Falls : Fight Club

Being social, new goals, whatever, he still has a few things he does want to get back to though. Something that isn't really the best use of his time but despite how he has to reel his strength back a little to take part in this, it's still fun. Gets his blood pumping.

Underground fighting.

Cage fights.

Under the radar and mostly civilian run, not really an imPort scene though he's probably seen one or two around. It wasn't often that he got to fight an imPort there, and if there ever was an imPort v imPort fight it'd probably get a good amount of attention.

Maybe you've heard wind of it yourself if you spend a lot of time in Maurtia Falls, maybe you're kind of in that area too, whether you're going to it or not. Or maybe you just happen upon the grey haired boy as he quickly walks past you in his designer white blazer and knocks shoulders with you. Seems rude how hard your shoulders hit, but when he turns around he looks like he's in kind of a rush, but hey, at least he's stopping to apologize?

"Hey." A stare. He doesn't really look apologetic though. "Sorry." Maybe he's lost? Maybe he needs your help. Ooorrr maybe you're also on your way to enjoy a little cage fighting. You any into underground illegal events?

[ B ] - De Chima : Sushi

Akihiko's kind of lost track of time since he got here. A conveyor belt sushi restaurant, actually, it's a pretty nice place. It has surprisingly authentic atmosphere, and the small boats that go around the main area are very festive, nearly as bright and colourful as the range of plates they ship to customers sitting around the work area of the chefs.

He's had. He doesn't know how many plates already. And to anyone nearby or keeping track, at least to the piles, the plates are stacked up high. Looks like mostly black plates too, the most expensive options. Things like fatty tuna and sea urchin, this guy seems to have really high priced taste.

He might catch your look though, sitting next to him. Depending on how much you've eaten by the plates infront of you he might have something different to say, but for now? Shit, actually no, he's just, he's staring at you. Akihiko's brow furrows because he was about to just look away and ignore the person looking at him. His usual reaction, what he'd rather do. Not bother with people he doesn't know. But he made a pact with himself to be more friendly so...

An awkward gaze down. Away. It seems almost shy at first before he's looking back and this time he's almost glaring in your direction.

"I can eat a lot, hey? Guess you'd uh- you'd really work up an appetite too if you jogged around ten miles to get here." Smile? Kind of? It's hard to say when he's almost glaring when he does it.

[ B2 ] - De Chima : Sushi and a Friend

"You gonna eat that?" Said to the person he came here with this time. He's been staring at that plate of yours for a while now, why haven't they eaten it yet? Can he just eat it?

[ C ] - Nonah : Training Facility

"You think you're ready for this?" Said with a smirk as he steps over the large mat. One of the training rooms, and a spar's already been arranged, Akihiko's excited. He didn't think he was going to find anyone willing to get into it with him this soon into trying out the Nonah Training Facility.

He's wrapping his hands in a thick cloth, opting for near bare knuckle. He'd go full but from the looks up if, if you manage to get a good look at his hands once the gloves are off and before the bandages go on, his knuckles have already taken some heavy damage.

"Gotta say, I'm not the sort to pull my punches." Hurt knuckles or not, Akihiko's always got that near suffocating confidence. Doesn't really matter who he's up against either.

"Any rules you want to put out there before we're neck deep?"

[ D ] - De Chima then Heropa : Pet Store(s)

The smell of this place is starting to get to him. It got to him as soon as he stepped in actually, there was something really stuffy about pet stores. But he said he'd keep an eye out for... hats. Seems like different stores get different things. He asked one of the clerks about it and apparently it's local vendors that will make things and sell them separately to pet shops. Which is why he's finding different tiny animal hats in each store he tries.

Really isn't his scene. He's got far too nice of shoes, and a far too nice of a jacket to be standing this long in some pet store, looking very intently at tiny... animal hats. Holding them up and looking them over with his tight leather gloves and furrowed brow reluctance.

Akihiko picks up a different one, and maybe you're close enough to hear him when he says,

"This is starting to seem like a bad idea." Or maybe just the wrong hat... No probably just a bad idea.

[ E ] - Anywhere! : Wild card!

Akihiko can be found in a lot of places jogging, jogging in place, doing pushups at bus stops, or wall sits as he waits in line at stores or for more packed restaurants. If you have something you want to do, feel free to make up a prompt and slap it down here. Or hit me up first and we can plan something specific between them.

Comments

[enucleation]

It's not his cat, but Tama lives in Kaneki's house and apparently got super attached to him; "in love" is a way to describe how Tama feels about Kaneki and ONLY Kaneki - the cat is evil towards anyone else; don't ask Ken why, he has no idea. Regardless, he does feel responsible for the kitten and thus he feels that he has to take care of him.

As he is picking new toys, for Tama, he spots someone buying... animal hats. Why this. And he actually recognizes this person. Akihiko Sanada... it has been MONTHS since he spoke to him. Half year in this world, over a year if he includes the months he spent at home; Kaneki is far too different now, but he still smiles and is polite.

"Ah... Akihiko-san."

[ktfod]

It really has been a while and the person Akihiko sees here now is... a lot different from what he'd remember. He doesn't really spook so much as stare for a moment. Stare both because who... is this and also they have caught him looking at tiny hats. He'll move to put the one in hand down before looking back to... Kaneki. No, he remembers.

"Hey." Another pause. "Kaneki, it's been a while. Did something happen with you?" His lack of tact is top game today. But him asking is actually out of minor concern. The little he's interacted with the other boy has been positive after all, and he appreciates that Kaneki hasn't actually wasted his time ever. Which is saying something because they usually end up meeting during these tasks Akihiko'd like to get done as soon as possible.

[enucleation]

If he remembers it's good! Congrats. Kaneki has a great memory, but he doesn't expect people to do the same. And the question is expected; last time they spoke, kaneki still had black hair and looked innocent and small. That's very changed now, since Kaneki now has white hair, looks like he has lived through hell and came back, and he is a lot more solid (muscles, muscles everywhere).

He still smiles kindly though. "Ah- new hairstyle." a lot happened to him. he supposes it's not a good conversation to have and most people don't care to.

"How are you? Besides looking for... pet hats?" changing subject is a go!

[ktfod]

Well it's not that Akihiko's memory is bad, if anything it's average. He just lives a pretty fast paced life is all, and Kaneki is different from what he does remember. Still, he'll stop, and give him his attention. Especially since Akihiko does notice how well... different he is. And man, he's been working on his own muscle mass nonstop, he didn't even know Kaneki was too, not that he feels contested or anything, but he's really been trying here...

"No, I mean, have you been lifting? Looks like you've gotten a lot more active, how come we've never ran before?" Seems like something they should do if they're both body conscious and 'friendly', right?

"Oh." A pause, glancing down, away. He stares at the wall of small animal clothing and suddenly feels regret for being here. "Yeah, for uh. Well I guess we were going to take pictures of something?"

"I've got a rabbit." A rabbit that is apparently able to fit in dog sized hats?

[enucleation]

Wow don't be jealous it's ok Akihiko you still got nice muscles too.

Kaneki does blush a little at the mention of it, though; he is still... well, awkward and self-conscious and gets embarrassed when someone mentions how he looks. No matter what Kaneki lived through, he is still Kaneki and some things don't change. Like how he reaches for his chin, touching it as he smiles a bit.

"Ah- yeah, I have been training. I don't really mind if... we train together sometime, or something." gosh look at this he is great at this.

Kaneki will look back at the small animal clothing. "Hm- taking pictures of rabbits in clothes." okay, there are worst hobbies. "Will the rabbit be okay with it, though?"

C

[outlawrain]

"Hell yeah I am!" Moses is already liking this guy. It's been a while since they had a reason to run into one another and this was perfect. He needed a reason to get out and fight and this was it.

For Moses, he was a weapon user. He carried a quiver of javelins and a large spear in his hand, both of which were still on him now. He needs way more training with them and he'd like to use them against someone else while he's still building up his strength.

Mainly because his main partner is a jackass.

"First to their knees loses?"

[ktfod]

Well the Facility was just for that, wasn't it? And Akihiko was pretty game to butt heads with who ever was man enough. Didn't matter how they fought, what style, with weapons or not, though to be honest he'd love to get into it with another boxer more often than he does.

"To their knees? No count?" A smirk, looking over the guy. Not new to lances, but he has to say he never went one on one with Ken before really and he's who he's seen use one the most.

"First to give up." Said as he moves into an offensive pose, hopping on his feet slightly, keeping light on the ground and holding his hands near his face. "Think you can take it?"

[outlawrain]

"First to give up? We're gonna be fightin' all damn day!" He grinned, "Fine by me!" That was excited. He wasn't sure he had the stamina for it for many different reasons, but he was ready to go. He grinned and swung his weapon around really quickly, the spear stretched out towards him.

"So no other rules?" He rocked his head back and forth, chomping at the bit to just get started here. Grinning big and bright. "I'll let you do the countdown then! Let's get goin'!"

He's never done something like this. And damn if he wasn't excited to get started.

[ktfod]

"Yeah, all day? This is what I planned on doing today anyway, you scared?" A smirk, good. He doubts it'll actually take all day, and if he really thought it would he'd cut it off. He has some errands later and would like to get some fighting in with a range of people. But the guy's enthusiasm is noted and appreciated.

A smirk, his gaze looking more focused as he watched that weapon swing around. Not the sort to get intimidated, just more excited for the fight.

"No rules besides the usual. One on one, no fatal blows. Fight till knock out or surrender." A nod, hopping on his feet a little as he wipes at his nose twice with his knuckles. Count down?

Got it.

"Three- two-" Hunches down a little, his gaze locked. "One- Start!"

[outlawrain]

"What, scared of lil ol' you?! You must be outta yer mind!" He laughs big, tilting his head back. Oh god, it's so hard to have fun sometimes here. He's forgotten what that could be like! And they haven't even started yet. He rocks back and forth.

"Fine by me!" He waits for that countdown, taking a big deep breath as he hears it. He plans to show him just what can be done. He pulls his spear back, and on the word start, he charges towards him. Grinning hard, he thrusts the spear forward and down, creating a launching pad for him to go up in the air, swinging a foot out towards him.

Let's start this off with a bang!

[ C ]

[johakyu]

The younger looking man stepping onto the mat across from Nobunaga is brimming with confidence, a trait that the thief is quite fond of his opponents possessing, particularly when they possess it in surplus. Usually, that sort of belief in oneself (whether it's strictly genuine or genuine bluster) means that the ensuing fight will be a spirited one...and that's just what Nobunaga has come here hoping to find.

"I'm ready, don't need to worry about that." Bare feet and hands wrapped similarly to Akihiko's, he gives a nod and steps onto the mat himself. Fixing his hair back behind him with a single tie, he adds, "And it looks like we're agreed not to waste each other's time, so the only thing left I got to add would be...deciding what ends this. First to surrender sound good to you?"

[ktfod]

Took a few words to arrange a fight with this guy. Seems like they both came here for the same thing. A spar. That and the older man looks like the type of person who knows exactly what he wants.

Good.

Akihiko doesn't really have the time for bullshitting around, what he wants is a fight, more experience, especially more onevone's with imPorts. His fights with them are so few and far between considering he spends most his time against anonymous civilians in cages. So most of the time he's concentrating on holding back, actually it's pretty good practice to have, but now maybe he can let out a little more than usual.

"First surrender works for me." A slight smirk, his brows low. He'll pull his hands up and roll his shoulders. "Don't think I'll be surrendering so soon though, if at all. You ready!?" And he'll come at him fast, a run into a low pose, a right jab, and an upper cut with his left hand to follow. Seems like he's a South Paw, if that means anything to Nobunaga.

[johakyu]

Didn't anybody ever tell you, Akihiko? Even the most skilled civilians are boring and can't provide much of a challenge. If you want to accomplish more or achieve a greater thrill, you need to aim higher. Actually, going one-on-one with Nobunaga's not a bad start as far as achievements and thrills go...but the reason they're both here now? Isn't all Akihiko's doing. Nobunaga's also put his own feelers out for spars against those who'll put up a fight as big as, or bigger than their bark.

...and Akihiko's bark is definitely big.

Nobu beckons with his fingers for the other man to come at him just as Akihiko launches forward. Must have been reading each others' minds. That or they're both equally eager to sweat. In any case, Nobu wants to know what this kid's punches are capable of, so he doesn't move. Simply applying ken will allow him to roughly gauge the supposed strength behind those blows as they connect, the jab and the uppercut both. Ultimately, Nobu decides he won't want to take too many of those unguarded, it'd get unpleasant.

A low whistle and he murmurs, head back, "Yeah, I think I'm ready now." Just as he drops his chin and throws a slightly aura-enhanced straight for the center of Akihiko's chest.

[ktfod]

Hey, they can provide some of a challenge. Learning to hold back his super strength? To fight with just the cords and wires pumping behind his skin? You can find a challenge in everything. But-

yeah, sometimes the challenge is better else where, it's true.

But always looking for them, right? Thrills. Challenges. Especially Nobunaga, there's always time to look for a spar, to look for more potential around him. Akihiko's sure got a bark and it seems he's grinding his teeth to prep for the bite, so at least he doesn't bank on bark alone.

Yeah, they hit and they're intense. Nobunaga will feel his feet slide a bit if he doesn't glue himself down enough. Ken defends great against the heavy blows but Akihiko's got some super strength behind it. Still.

He pulled back a bit. He didn't hit as hard as he could right away because he doesn't know what this guy can take. He's real surprised at how fine Nobunaga looks too and the surprise is what leaves him open for a moment. His eyes bulging and he'll fly back hard. He leaves the ground for a moment before landing on his feet but teetering a little. Yeah.

Intense. And- did not expect that. He can't see auras, he doesn't know what they're capable of, and he doesn't know anything about this guy's powers or if he has super strength.

Akihiko's chest aches, and he told himself he'd pull his punches a little to not over do it with the super strength. He doesn't plan on using Caesar or his electricity either but maybe...

"Tch." A smirk, grinning more to one side than the other and getting into his pose again, fists up.

Maybe he'll get to use a bit more of what he's got after all.

"Oh yeah? You think? I'm not here for thinking, so let's do." And he'll go in again, feinting to the left, ducking in that direction and moving to send a left strike to Nobunaga's side. This time not holding back, he'll punch without restraining that super strength, this guy? Seems like he can take it.

Phone tag sorry for any suckage

[johakyu]

Nobu can take it. Wants it, even. The feel of his teeth clenching to keep from rattling too hard in his skull with a hit, the burn of bare deet across the mat as he slides back. Yeah, there's nothing quite like it.

Except, of course, the deciding moment of a fight, when one man goes down and probably won't be getting back up again for a while, but they're a long ways from that. Or at least Nobu hopes they are.

This kid - Akihiko - packs a nice punch, but now that he looks less like he'll hold back, Nobu is even more interested in continuing this than he was before. He doesn't attempt to dodge, though. He dodges when he's fooling around, when the name of the game is keeping people at a distance that benefits the use of his sword - but it's just him and his fists today. And his En, which allows him to read the precise moment Akihiko's punch is close enough to counter...

...and that's when Nobu pivots in his direction, throwing from the waist a hard punch that connects fiercely with Akihiko's own - the sound of knuckles cracking unforgivingly against each other, the force behind each blow enough to throw a man, and Nobu doesn't want to be the one landing on his ass. Uvo'd hear about it and chew him out. Not even a minute in and knocked down? So that's what compels him - to drive the heel of one foot down toward the arch of Akihiko's...whatever it takes to gain the advantage.

As long as it isn't too cheap, because where's the fun in that?

OTHER

[hoboagogo]

"This really ain't necessary, you know." And it's probably the tenth time Shinjiro has said something to that effect during this little outing. That this is a waste of time or money, that things are fine as is, that Akihiko really doesn't need to drag him out to the mall so as to fill up his summer wardrobe.

After all, he has shirts. And jeans. And no one to really impress, and no where to really be. And the house had air conditioning all through it, so it was fine, he could make do with the small selection he still had from when he'd arrived last year. (Just another way in which Shinjiro's always been a creature of habit: quick to fall into easy lulls and stagnate until upheaved by something.)

So far his griping and complaining hadn't had any effect- he'd still let himself get pushed and pulled and dragged out, scowling pretty much the whole way. But like hell he'll let that deter him. Reaching up, he'll idly scratch at where his scruffy ponytail brushes the still-slightly-itching black ink on the back of his neck- and then try again.

"It's gonna be-- what, two or three months? And then it'll be cold again." Forget the fact that in August he'll be back to school in Florida. He dealt with it last year, he can do so again, right?

OTHEEERRR

[ktfod]

"It's necessary, have you gone out to get summer clothes yet?" Excuse you, dude? You wear the same clothes all year round, you've been wearing the same clothes all year round. You need to have things more for the seasons. That and secretly he'd like to dress you up a little, hell, if you're not going to do it yourself. Akihiko's not an outwardly metro person, but he definitely does think about what he wears and how he looks.

So he's going to pull you out of the house to go clothes shopping. He'll even deal with the complaining all the way to the store and into the store. Complaining usually in the form of huffs and sighs, and dirty looks but all he'll get back from Akihiko's a smirk, a shove, and a pull.

"Yeah? And then we'll see if you need clothes for the winter. Though your current winter jacket seems to be doing okay. We'll have to get you better boots for it though. You done complaining yet? Come on." Said as he moves towards the men's section. A- really nice store he chose too. They'll most likely be spending a bit.

[hoboagogo]

"My boots are fine." No, he will never be done complaining. But he will begrudgingly go along, knowing that there isn't much of a choice in it. When Akihiko gets his mind on something, it's next to impossible to get his mind off of it, so Shinjiro has definitely learned to pick and choose his battles. If it were to really matter, he'd be far more stubborn, maybe dip down to dirtier tricks to refute whatever it was Akihiko was pressing-- as he did over a year ago, when they had both been back home.

But for little things like this? Getting dragged out for once, having clothes or outfits pressed into his hands, told to go put them on, something that's ultimately harmless and makes Akihiko happy?

He won't fight too hard.

"If we're gonna have to do this, let's just stick to a season at a time." There, he'll compromise, finally looking out at fully at the clothing on hangers and racks about them. He's... never exactly been good at this. It all looked the same, really, hanging lifelessly off a hanger, flat and surrounded by variations that were slightly different than the one before. He'd always been one of those people to just go with whatever was on the mannequin. It was easier to actually know what it looked like, and saved effort.

[ktfod]

"Not for the winter they're not, you want to ruin them? You have the money now to get what's appropriate. It's not like we're heading into Tartarus every night now, we can dress for seasons instead now." You know, instead of dressing for what has the highest stats, right? So winter boots, don't worry they can still kind of look like your pointed toe style. But like hell is he going to let you walk around in snow with those nice cowboy boots. It's not like Shinjiro's staying in Florida all the time right? So they gotta prepare.

"Fine by me, here." Said as he steps over to him, already with an outfit in hand. he pushes it at Shinjiro. He knows he prefers dark colours and while that's shit for summer he'll at least keep with that. But the turtle necks?

They're... okay lets be honest, he likes them, they're... kind of cute actually. But they're not summer wear. And coupled with long hair? Sounds like suffering. He'll start with a longer pair of grey shorts, a black t shirt, and a dark red button down with rolled up sleeves. Here, try this on, it's hot, you'll already feel better in it. Maybe you can tie up your hair or wear a head band too, just saying.

[hoboagogo]

At least just a turtleneck is better than when he'd be hanging around outside in august in his turtleneck and wool peacoat. No wonder him 'smelling nice here' had been a comment at least one or two times. But he'll take the hangers and fabric shoved to him, looking at it with furrowed brows. Colours he'd familiar and comfortable with, at least. (Though man-- he really can't remember how he got so into deep reds. Maybe it's just from the familiarity of that old woolen coat he'd had to get rid of when he'd arrived here. Bulletholes and bloodstains, and all that.) The shorts get a bit ore of a side-eye, as he's always tended to wear long pants, regardless of the weather. Maybe he'd wear shorts when he was a kid, but- that had been a while ago.

Or a few months ago, if you counted the Hamada's weird mix-up with their experiment, but who was counting.

"Shorts?" Another frown, and glance up. Even their school uniforms had been long trouser pants year-round. It's just not something he's used to, anymore. "Guess it'd help if you drag me out running..."

He turns to look at another rack- and damn, it all kind of looks the same to him. Either t-shirts or button-ups, in different colours, and sometimes with pockets and sometimes without. "...Ain't these all gonna look kinda the same anyway?" Or maybe Shinjiro just has a really shitty sense of style.

c;

[orangehoodie]

[In all honesty, Ken should have ended up here earlier than this. It's in his town. It's available. But Ken always preferred to train individually or only with people he knew, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that any adults he'll run into here would look down on someone his age and size. He didn't want any of that frustration, usually. But today he caught Akihiko on his way, and today, he decided to tag along. He was promised some lessons, anyway, and at a place like here, gloves aren't difficult to rent out. They're not a perfect fit, but it's better than being barehanded.

He curls his hands into fists as he takes his stance, one that he picked up from observing Akihiko at his matches and during Tartarus battles.]

Whatever you want, Sanada-san.

[ktfod]

[So then, he just has to find the right sparring partners, right? People that won't think less of him because he's a kid.]

[Akihiko on one hand, will give him a fight, though Ken's still a member of SEEs and like hell is he going to go all out on a kid. But he doesn't consider Ken a joke at all. So teaching him a few things about hand to hand? No problem, it's for the best anyway. Even if he can summon a lance now, what if his powers are taken? Knowing a thing or too about unarmed combat can come a long way.]

This won't be as fast paced as you think it might. We're going to take it step by step.

[Said as he steps to close the gap, getting closer to him.]

[orangehoodie]

[Ken has some experience in unarmed combat, but only a little, mostly from sparring against the Iron Bull. Which is great, but their living room is a limited space, and he's about one of the few super tall people he'd ever face up against. And a new partner, too. Akihiko, who's well aware of Ken's fighting abilities, is a different experience and a different sort of teacher.]

That's fine. I wouldn't be able to learn much if I was playing catch up.

[He doesn't flinch away from the steps Akihiko takes toward him. His eyes follow his movements with ease, already trained to anticipate movements and directions from trying to keep up with Hisoka's speed.]

[ktfod]

[Ken's sure got a serious look on him right now. And while Akihiko wouldn't question it most of the time, it seems weird right now.]

[They're not in some important fight, he just said it'd be slower paced, and to top it all off, hasn't Ken been getting better after that... low period?]

[So he'll pause, cocking his head slightly and setting a hand on his hip.]

Is there something wrong with you today? Should we save this for later?

[orangehoodie]

Huh?

[Ken's just been breathing. In and out, focus, but keep himself open, watch Akihiko's movements and-- he stops? He looks up, confusion apparent on his face.]

Um... no. I'm fine. Why?