This can only end in NO TEARS. (Closed)

[browbeater]

WHO: Mako (browbeater) and Souji (tarotcards)
WHERE: An isolated part of the beach
WHEN: September 16th
WHAT: Fire training! Or training in general.
WARNINGS: Injuries later! Will amend for more if it becomes necessary.

[His fire was still, frustratingly, giving him trouble. The accidental burning had decreased at least, but Mako still only felt it was partway under his control. He couldn't get it to work when he wanted, and he wasn't the best at controlling the strength... it was often far, far too weak.

It was hard pinpointing exactly what triggered it. He knew anger did, and he could vaguely feel the flow of energy through his body in a way he hadn't before. But it was still difficult, so when Souji had proposed training together, Mako didn't mind. Having an outside perspective probably would help?

Probably.

But honestly? It was a good chance for them to get caught up after the previous month. He glanced around the empty beach.]

How did your friend even find this? I thought spots like this were going extinct.

Comments

[tarotcards]

[ Souji knows exactly how difficult it can be to master and get used to a new power. After all, he had to do it three times so he completely understands. His Personas are nothing like Mako's new fire-based abilities but he could at least keep him company and practise together. After all, fire doesn't hurt him so what could go wrong? ]

[ (a lot of things...) ]

No idea. She just showed it to me one day and I've been training here since. It's nice, isn't it?

[browbeater]

Yeah, it is.

[he's not kidding. And it was probably the safest spot to work with fire-- anywhere else risked having something start and Mako wasn't confident enough in his ability to stop it. So, he sets down his bag (everyone needed water bottles ok), and turns to Souji.]

Okay... I'm not sure how this is going to work. I'm not a persona user, and it feels more... physical? than a magic spell.

[tarotcards]

[ if mako sets himself on fire, souji will just throw him into the ocean ]

Well, let's first see what you have so far and then maybe I can figure out how I can help.

[browbeater]

Right...

[that part was easier at least. He holds up his hand, and after only a moment of concentration on his part, a flame bursts from it, hovering an inch or two away from his skin. He could, at least, reliably generate the fire now. It was the part of accidental fires, and really utilizing it the way he wanted... that part was hard.]

This is a pretty huge improvement from a few weeks ago.

[tarotcards]

[ Souji stands close by, hand on his hip, watching what Mako just did. Hmm, this is definitely a lot more different than his Personas but... ]

Can you describe what you're doing as you create the fire? Is it all physical or is there a mental aspect to it?

[browbeater]

It's all physical.

[he lowers his and, and with it, the flame drops.]

I didn't notice it before, but I can feel the... I don't know what to call it, but I guess the closest thing would be energy. I can feel that in a way I couldn't just a few weeks ago. But that's what I'm using to create the flame.

[tarotcards]

[ Raising a hand to his chin, Souji thinks for a bit. ]

... Do you think it's like your chi? You move your energy into certain parts of your body, like your hands for example, and that is what creates the fire?

[browbeater]

Yeah, that's it exactly, actually.

[chi-- it makes sense. That was a better explanation, and it wasn't even Souji's powers he's describing.]

I just have to get better at controlling it. I know I can, based off of my memories...

[tarotcards]

Then maybe you can get better at it if you practice developing your chi.

[ Souji will then bring out his phone right now to google some stuff. Hmmm ]

Aren't breathing exercises involved with building your chi?

[browbeater]

Sounds very... feng shui. [he shrugs, but then glances down at his hands.]

There are some things I'm starting to remember, but it's like trying to recall a movie you haven't seen since you were a kid, and it didn't make the biggest impression on you, so you're only slowly getting it back.

[tarotcards]

I completely understand. That's how it was for me as well but the more you do it, the more that will come back to you or the more you'll get used to. You just have to keep on trying to mimic whatever you remember.

Or you can try some of the stuff here.

[ souji has pulled up a video of some tai chi moves?? close enough??? ]

[browbeater]

[well... it looks similar, but it's not quite. He can't place it, but it's better than nothing, he supposes? The only other thing he could think of would be to look at like. king Fu or something, get real Bruce Lee with it. He shrugs.]

It looks close enough. Maybe we should look up some old martial arts films later?

[at any rate, he can remember the intro to at least one form. So he's going to try it now.]

[tarotcards]

Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movie night?

[ because souji is DOWN FOR THAT but he'll stand a bit over to the side to observe]

But let's see what else you got. Use me as a target if you need to.

[browbeater]

You sure?

[he looks a little unsure at that, actually. Souji had dealt with it fine in the thick of things, but Mako was pretty sure that people should... probably not be set on fire like that.

He pauses in his form and glances over at Souji.]

[tarotcards]

Yeah, though you might want to aim for just my head or my hands. My clothes aren't fireproof like I am.

[ don't worry, bro, souji will be okay right now but wait till he swaps his persona later and finds out the hard way that he needs to have mada as his "main" persona to avoid fire damage hahaha shit ]

Having a target will make it easier to direct your focus at something.

[browbeater]

Persona?

[honestly... he sounds a little amused. He'd fight more if he hadn't seen it in action already.]

I guess I've already set you on fire once before...

[tarotcards]

Yeah, Mada keeps me immune to fire. It's pretty handy for times like these.

[ like when your bff needs a fire target but souji will walk a few steps away from mako and then stand facing him with his arms spread apart, hands open wide. aim for either hand or his head, bro, it's all good ]

[browbeater]

Alright. No promises about your clothes, but I'll try.

[he just isn't confident enough that he can aim that well yet. But he's gonna try. He closes his eyes for a moment and then, the form he flows through-- the one he can actually remember-- ends with a fireball coming off his hand at Souji's head.

It's definitely not tai chi. But close enough.]

[tarotcards]

[ he shuts his eyes as the fireball comes straight for his head and... yep! he's perfectly fine. in fact, he looks a bit better than before? fire heals him so his skin looks... really nice right now. personas are amazing ]

That was pretty good. And my skin feels good too.

[browbeater]

You had to make sure I knew about your skin, huh?

[he approaches him, just to examine and make sure he was okay. But he could tell from a distance he was fine, so that was more for his skeptic's heart than anything else.]

So that's the one thing I've got down. I sort of remember the start of a few other things, if you're still okay with being a target?

[tarotcards]

[ look at his beautiful clean skin, mako, look at it and enjoy it. ]

Sure. I have a few cuts on my hands so it'd be nice to get those healed up.

[ aka just do whatever, man. souji can benefit from this free healing ]

[browbeater]

[he rubs the back of his head. Good chance to practice accuracy, and he could do it in a way that didn't hurt anyone. Verified twice, at least? So, he nods.]

The chances of these working are 50-50. I still don't remember them that well.

[but now he's stepping back, and like last time, he manages to produce flame, but it's weak, and the form's not as tight.]

[tarotcards]

It's all right. I cleared out the rest of my day so you can take as much time as you need until we get it to 100-0. Or at least 55-45.

[ he would hope it's more than 55-45 but!! he's cheering for you, mako, try again!! ]

[browbeater]

[look, he's trying, but it's really hard. And it's kind of obvious he still doesn't have the fire completely under his control. Sometimes, it comes off weak, other times, it's just entirely too strong? And the differential occasionally knocks him off balance. But it's obvious that he's trying, and that he's thinking hard about the forms.

Maybe too hard.

Maybe he needs to chill out and let it come, but who knows. It's not like he has a real mentor here.]

55-45 would be good enough for me at this point.... [a sigh]

[tarotcards]

[ After they give it a few more tries, Souji will just walk up to Mako and pat him on the shoulder. ]

Hey, don't take it too hard on yourself. You'll get it eventually, I know it.