Training

[vessel_ken_amada]

[Backdated to an indeterminate number of days ago. Context here.]

After the apparition of the training room and the elaboration of the schedules, all those part of the team to take down the evil Ken Amada are surely spending a lot of time in it. If you are one of those members, the question is... what are you doing in there?

A. Solo training

There are plenty of reasons to train solo. Maybe you are building up stamina so that you can have your Persona summoned at all times. Maybe you are working on your defenses. Maybe you are trying to get one of your Personas to make you fly. One thing is for certain: there is a lot to do!

[Toplevels using this prompt are ideal to invite anyone to join your character, maybe even with their own subprompts so people can walk in on different kinds of training!]

B. Sparring

Combat readiness involves, well, actual combat. It is not surprising to see team members spar with each other to ensure they are in top form.

[You can have open toplevels to invite anyone to spar, or you can lock them to specific characters.]

C. Training with Ken

Everyone on the team has scheduled training sessions with Ken, to be able to see and learn how to face the deadly abilities he shares with his evil counterpart.

[These ones are necessarily closed threads. You can come solo or in small groups of characters, indicate this in the toplevel.]

Comments

[vampirethief]

He nods at that. His friends did do second awakenings after apologizing to him (or in the case of Akechi, after deciding to fight Maruki, and Sumi reaching her own growth the next day).

"Huh. The others did do second awakenings too, but I never did."

Either some part of him is still bitter about what happened, despite chosing to forgive the others, or some other trigger needs to happen for Satanael to evolve to Raoul instead.

Granted, he's been gaslighting himself into ignoring any potential bitterness. Hopefully he doesn't end up with an Inaba dungeon, or a palace, of his own at some point.

He decides to summon Sandalphon to try the same thing, and luckily it goes easier, him clinging to Sandalphon's arm. Likely because of his floating ability.

[wicked_plan]

"Huh, wonder why that is..."

It's not like Ren has let go of all his bitterness regarding... certain matters. He's just very, very good at burying it. Alternate universe bullshit again? Considering some people don't even exist in other worlds...

Getting off topic. He whistles, impressed at the ease with which the other can fly with Sandalphon.

"Nice," he comments, trying to push Raoul higher. When he feels like he's high up enough, he exhales.

"Right, I'm gonna try something. Revive me if I die, 'kay?" he half-jokes, but he's been practicing this as well...

"Maria!"

Raoul disappears, and briefly, Ren's support is gone, leaving him to plummet for a few unnerving seconds... but before he can reach the ground, Maria appears, floating on the spot. She doesn't rise again, but neither does she descend, and he exhales a sigh of relief.

She can't quite fly, no, but as it turns out, she can stay at the same height he summoned her at.

[vampirethief]

Well the thing about burying emotions, they have a way of coming back up. Shadows do get stronger the more a person denys themselves.

Ren watches and sure enough, it seems to work and he lets out his own sigh of relief.

"Nicely done. It's good to know even non-flying personas can catch us." Not that it's that much of an issue for himself.

He considers copying that too, but has another idea. "I'm gonna try something too."

Then suddenly, Sandalphon has him tossed up in the air and he tries to make himself fly that way. And for a moment, it seems to work, but then he slows down and then he falls back down again.

Welp. That didn't work.

[wicked_plan]

Ren watches as the other seems to fly for a moment, impressed... but just then, he starts falling back down. He almost reaches out with Maria- but he's probably got it handled with Sandalphon, right?

"Gonna need some more practice on that one, huh?" he comments. It's a bit teasing, but not a taunt. He still needs to practice enough that he can switch between Personas midair faster than he can now, after all.

[vampirethief]

Luckily Sandalphon does catch him just in time.

"Definitely. I'm not sure what I'm missing with it." It could either be a mental block or it's really just a matter of practice.

Sandalphon puts him down, then the persona disappears. He moves a hand through his hair.

"Ken-kun said that while he doesn't think I should be one of the main hitters, I can put pressure on him so that little shit has to be on the defensive. Which is fine by me. I'm pretty durable, so I can be distraction."

[wicked_plan]

"Sounds like a good deal," Ren hums with a nod. "Being able to protect our big hitters is a valuable tool..."

Rangda has Taunting Aura, on his end, but... he's not nearly as durable as a vampire. Even if he's still quite durable with the right Personas equipped. Something to think about.

He's still hanging in the air with Maria, just high enough that he can't just jump down. He tilts his head, eyes narrowed in concentration-

-and with a blue blaze, Maria makes way fro Raoul once more, who catches him mid-fall, and delivers him back to the safe ground as well.

"Man," he sighs, "keeping a Persona out like that is draining, but we can't afford not to, if Ken's to be believed."

And believe Ken he does. From what he's seen during training...

[vampirethief]

"We'll need to use everything we have if we want to stand a chance. I do think we can do it, it just won't be easy."

He fully believes the good Ken too. It's extremely serious and as long as the evil Ken is still around, they are under threat. That said, many of them have killed gods before. So he's sure if they work together and try their best, they can defeat evil Ken.

[wicked_plan]

Ren laughs a little.

"If Yaldabaoth and Maruki couldn't stop me, then some overpowered evil kid won't either."

But the other is right. This won't be easy, and they'll need to bring everything they've got, and then some.

[vampirethief]

He makes his own grin, flashing his fangs doing so.

"Neither of them could stop me either, and even Maruki being a djinn for a time wasn't enough."

It was so weird seeing Maruki with blue skin, pointy ears, and having a cloud tail instead of legs (though he could summon them).

[wicked_plan]

A djinn? Now there's something.

"... You know, I figured the whole transformation thing is usually pretty permanent," he says, tilting his head, "but go figure that Maruki broke the rules, huh."

[vampirethief]

"Usually it is permanent, but it could be because he lost his persona is why he's human again. At least that's Morgana's theory anyway."

Which sucks, but that's life for ya.

[wicked_plan]

"Huh... I never thought much about that. I didn't see much of Maruki after we stole his heart- except at the very end, and I, uh, didn't feel much like talking at that point." He scratches the back of his head. The taxi ride was handy, but... uncomfortable.

[vampirethief]

"We didn't talk much either, but he did seem a lot happier with his new life. Getting to start over and letting go of his old pain. Despite what he did, even making Yusuke forget we're dating, I can't bring myself to hate him to be honest."

Likely because of their former bond, and learning how he got to that point. That said, it'll likely take a very long time before he could be comfortable around him. Or really any version of Maruki.

[wicked_plan]

Ren raises an eyebrow. Vampire's dating Yusuke, is he?

Hmm... well, Yusuke is rather attractive... there was probably a point where he would have said yes, if offered.

"I agree. It's not like I hate Maruki or anything... but I'd also rather just not be around him if I don't have to be. I don't know if I can forgive him for dangling everyone's quote unquote 'happiness' over my head, as if I was hurting them by not living in his reality... or for using Goro as a bargaining chip."

He sounds a little bitter and disappointed, still. No, he doesn't hate Maruki, but he does still feel very... used. Maybe one day, he'll be okay with talking to the man again, but for now, he'd rather stay far, far away.

From any version of Maruki, indeed.

"But- hey, congrats on you and Yusuke!" he says, switching topics away from Maruki and his fake reality. "That's amazing. How'd you two get together? If I'm allowed to ask, anyway."

Considering his own relationship with Goro, he's curious.

[vampirethief]

"Yeah I'm not sure I can forgive that either. Hell, in my case, he made the others human again."

So even without taking into account everyone acting strangely, Ren knew something was wrong when he saw that his friends were suddenly humans out of nowhere. It was very jarring to say the least.

He does smile at the second part. "Ha thanks and it's not a problem. It happened not that long after Madarame's heart change went through, and we were hanging out in Leblanc. During our conversation, he was the one that actually asked me out. Not on purpose, but it was still sweet."

It was the most bold he had even seen him be. Especially since he's not exactly the one with the pants in the relationship so to speak.

[wicked_plan]

"Somehow, I'm both surprised and not at all," Ren laughs, "that's just Yusuke, isn't it? He can be surprisingly bold when you least expect it."

And then he doesn't even realize it himself. It does sound sweet, though.

"Meanwhile, Goro and I beat each other up in Mementos," he chuckles, "well- it was sort of a onesided affair. I'd never lose to him... despite his rather bold claims."

[vampirethief]

Indeed. At least that remains the same.

"Like old times, huh? I had that duel with the Akechi back home as well, and I won that of course. If it weren't for Sae-san's palace, we could have gone furthur."

And then there was the whole getting arrested and tricking Akechi thing, but no need to bring that up again.

[wicked_plan]

"Poor Robin Hood never stood a chance, even back then," Ren chuckles. "Goro is... strong, especially with Hereward, but I've got a small army on my side when it comes to Personas."

It wasn't even close.

"... I hope- no, I know he'll learn how to use his Wildcard powers properly one day," Ren says, "then, we can have a truly amazing duel. I feel it in my bones."

[vampirethief]

"Same here." He's only seen his Akechi use Hereward once, and it was fighting Maruki. Same with Sumire's Ella.

Oh right, both Akechis are technically wildcards too. "If he lets himself make more bonds, then he could get a lot stronger."

Too bad the Akechi back home never had that chance.

[wicked_plan]

"It'll be like pulling teeth," Ren chuckles, "but if there's anything I know, it's that he'd do it, if only to win."

He smirks.

"Not that I'll let him beat me. I won't allow it."

[vampirethief]

"Or beak if the Akechi I knew was ever given that chance." Part of him hopes Raven might be right, and he could be alive, but he's not going to bring his hopes up too high.

Ren chuckles. "Of course not. Can't let the rival win so easily."

[wicked_plan]

For a moment, Ren makes a confused face, before he remembers- oh, right. Youkai.

"... You know, I only found out Goro was alive when I came here," Ren sighs, "he thought he was doing me a favor. Obviously not, but..." he trails off. "I don't know. Maybe yours is still around too, somewhere."

[vampirethief]

"Raven did bring up the possibility too. It would be nice if he really was alive somewhere back home, but I've been trying not to bring my hopes up too high. I do have his glove back home, and something else of his."

Ren reaches to his pockets and takes out what looks like a black and white bead bracelet. The beads do look like they should belong to a shinto priest.

"This bracelet allowed him to hide his true appearance and scent from even us, which is the only reason why we didn't realize he was the Black Mask right away. He revealed it while blackmailing us, and even let me try it out."

Would Wild like to see it in action?

[wicked_plan]

Oh boy does Wild ever want to see it in action. Melancholy forgotten, his eyes glimmer with curiousity.

"... Can I see?" he asks, intrigued.

[vampirethief]

"I dunno if it'll work here, but might as well give it a shot."

Ren puts the bracelet on, and while his clothes doesn't change, it does have an effect. His pointy ears become normal, his eye color changes to dark grey, his fangs disappear, and his skin even looks healthier.

He looks down at himself. "Not surprised the clothes stayed the same, but do I look any different at all?"

Granted he still has no heartbeat or pulse, and he's ice cold body temperature-wise. It's all an illusion.