genessia | (no subject)

[When the message comes through, Dante was sound asleep on Gale's couch, a magazine over his face. He blindly gropes for his device before picking it up, and it takes him a minute to find the right button blindly.]

Yeah? What's up?

[Why yes that is a swimsuit edition of a sports magazine over his face. And no he totally didn't yawn. You're hearing things.]

[ Blake's just...not going to comment on that.]

You said you fought demons. And that you're pretty strong. I need to get stronger too. [She looks determined. And frustrated.]

I need someone to train with. Someone I don't have to worry about going all out on.

[That gets is attention. He'd expected Blake to point him at someone that was bugging her and her friends, someone he could get to back off. He slowly removes the magazine, eyes shining with intent as he locks eyes with Blake for a long moment, gauging just how serious she was.]

...Alright. But I warn you, even if you don't have to worry about holding back, I do. And when I get fired up, well, restraint has never been my strong point.

[Blake's not going to hide behind anyone. There's no growth in that. She has to do this herself.]

It's a risk I'm willing to take. The circumstances have changed.

[There's the resolve he was looking for. Almost reminded him of the look Nero had when they last butted heads.]

Alright then. You have a place in mind, because if we're gonna get wild, we're going to need some space to work.

Would the city outskirts be a good place? I'm still learning my way around. And then, I've only really seen Fayren so far.

The Fayren outskirts should be good, yeah.

[He gets up, grabs the holster for his weapons and slings it over his shoulder as he makes for the door to the apartment.]

I'll meet you there.

.....thank you.

ooc: Did you want to action that out here?

[Dante will have found himself a nice big rock to perch himself on, practicing various poses to make him look as cool as possible before Blake showed up. Eventually he settled on a casual sitting style, Ebony spinning on his finger at his side, while the other hand held Rebellion on his shoulder.]

[I'm game for it if you are! :D]

[Blake arrives looking better rested than she did the first time Dante met her and that wound has healed up pretty nicely now that her aura has had time to work on it. She has no idea what kind of fighting style Dante has, but now is the time to test out all he's been telling her.

If he really is invincible then it should be okay and as for herself a few bumps and bruises won't kill her.]

So...[It's a little awkward to be training with someone new.] Do we start with weapons or...

ooc: Of course!

Edited 2016-02-23 06:15 (UTC)

We start by you showing me what you can do so I know what I'm working with.

[He gestures wildly, a big goofy grin on his face.]

So hit me with your best shot!

[No need to be told twice. Blake shot forward so fast that she looked like a black and white blur. She unsheathed Gambol Shroud, opting to use the lighter edge katana weapon. It had come in handy when fighting larger and potentially slower opponents before.

Of course, bigger didn't always amount to slower. Adam was pretty nimble himself. But this was the way to find out. She swung anticipating a block but ready to use her semblance to save herself if he answered with anything she thought she could not handle.]

[Dante just grinned as she lunged, opting to slide Rebellion back into its holster and draw Ivory as he launched himself into the air, flipping upside down and spinning for half a second before unleashing a rain of bullets downward.]

[Blake quickly combined her weapon back together into its trigger pistol form attaching the end to the black ribbon she always kept attached to her right arm. Normally she'd use that move to kept someone immobilized whether it be their body or weapon while she went in to attack. Instead she used it like a whip to knock the bullets off course. A few came close to grazing her and it looked some would make their mark when in a poof Blake seemed to disappear - or at least a shadow of Blake as her semblance kicked in and the real Blake backflipped away.

She waited for him to land back on the ground. She'd have a better chance at getting her ribbon to find its mark if he wasn't airborne. If not, it might be time to try some sniping herself. She almost smiled. The fight had just started and he was already making her switch up tactics.]

[Upon landing, Dante had already slid the guns back into their holsters, drawing Rebellion. He held the blade with a reverse grip so that the blade was behind him, leaning forward slightly.]

You're good at evasion, I'll give you that, now let's see you on the attack!

[He wasn't moving either. Just standing there in that stance, as the blade of Rebellion began to glow the same shade of crimson as his jacket as he held it behind his back.]

[Blake's eyes narrowed as she noticed his blade glowing. Was this some kind of semblance? Her heart spasmed as another red blade came into her mind.

I will make it my mission to destroy everything you love. Adam's voice echoed in her head.

She gritted her teeth and let her weapon fly. Not if I have anything to say about it.

If it managed to wrap around the hand holding that blade, she was going to pull herself forward and follow up an attack with her smaller katana blade.]

Edited 2016-02-24 21:38 (UTC)

[That... was something legitimately new. And here he thought he'd seen it all. The glow vanishes as he cancels the Drive, though his stance changes little as he brings Ivory out to parry the follow-up attack.]

Interesting. Never seen anyone with a style quite like yours. Heh... might even make me change things up.

[He steps back slightly, bringing the hand that had been wrapped forward, spinning Rebellion on his finger as if it were a propeller.]

[Blake went with the momentum, propelling herself forward. If he wanted to drag her along so be it, less work on her part. Assuming Dante didn't decide to cut the ribbon she was going to let go at the last moment and come at him with both the blade and sheath of her weapon.]

[Dante meets that blow with Rebellion, but he doesn't just parry the attack, he pushes into it, attempting to send black back slightly. If successful, he'd lunge with a Stinger aiming just above one of Blake's shoulders. Didn't want to actually hurt her after all.]

[Blake presses back, the metal sparking. Her feet dig into the ground as she grits her teeth. Sometimes the limits of her physical strength against a bigger opponent are really a drawback and that is why she doesn't fight clean. As she felt herself falling backwards she activated her semblance, leaving a shadow self to take whatever follow up Dante was planning, while leaping out the way and preparing her own counter strategy.

It it were distraction enough, she was going to come at him with full dual wielding force.]

[That caught Dante off guard for sure. When she vanished, he'd glanced to the side, trying to find where she was, but was just a fraction of a second too late in locating her, both swords finding their mark. Granted Dante didn't really put up much resistance and probably could've parried if he'd wanted. But he wanted to see just how strong she was, and wasn't really worried about any damage.]

Okay, that stings.

[Blood oozed slightly from where the blades had made contact, but he didn't seem to phased otherwise.]

Oh, Dust! I'm sorry!

[Blake dropped her weapon and hurried over to access the damage.]

I thought you'd use your aura to protect yourself, but I forgot that you're also from another world and maybe people there can't use it or don't even know what it is...[This was the most Blake ever babbled.] I should have asked, but I didn't think...[Well, she was going to say that she didn't think he'd be that easy to hit, but that might come off as insulting.]...well, I should have asked! I'm so sorry!

[She really hoped it wasn't too bad. The only thing she had to bandage it up with was her bow and that might lead to some awkward questions.]

Edited 2016-03-08 05:03 (UTC)

[Dante just chuckles a bit.]

Blake, I'm fine, really. [As soon as the weapons are removed, the wounds start healing on their own at an alarming rate.]

This sort of thing is nothing to me. Heck, I've had my own sword shoved through my chest like... 5 times now. I'm far more durable than any human. Then again I'm not exactly human either.

[Amber eyes widen almost comically. Blake's usual serious demeanor is replaced by relief and some surprise.]

Your aura is powerful to heal that so quickly. [Her head snapped up.] Wouldn't it kill you if it got your heart?

[Not human indeed. Nothing like a Faunus either.]

[He just shrugs.]

Not really. Heck, I've had Rebellion forced through my chest. All the way. Hilt and all. I've been shot, stabbed, crucified, impaled, and anything else you can imagine and nothing's kept me down yet.

[He ponders for a second, replacing Rebellion on his back, taking a seat on a nearby rock and motioning for Blake to do the same.]

I guess if I'm going to be training with you, you deserve to know what exactly I am. I'm a hybrid. Human on my mom's side... demon on my old man's. Demon physiology is kinda... well for lack of a better descriptor, bullshit. I've seen demons with heads in their chests, eyes in their hands, and all sort of other weird configurations. Demons don't die just because one of their organs get ripped out. I have no doubt I could carve out a demon's heart and it would still keep coming at me. To put down a demon you have to obliterate it with overwhelming power.

...which is partially why I'm so confident that I can take on the guy that's got you scared. So long as my soul is intact, I'll heal. Quite fast actually.

So you're pretty much immortal? [Blake had never heard of anything like this. But she was glad that this guy was one of the good guys. She leaned against a rock opposite to him, listening to him explain.]

Our souls play a big role in our abilities too. It's from our souls that we can manifest our aura. Without it we'd all pretty much be Grimm bait. [She pondered for a moment. Adam most certainly would have no problem trying to obliterate someone. She wished she could stop wondering why he had become what he had. Even if she had the answer it wouldn't change much. But each time she thought of what he had done to Yang and would have done to everyone she cared about if he could, she felt guilty for even caring. Adam certainly hadn't let sentimentality about the past stay his hand.

Well, the guy that's after me is a scary person. [Admitted dryly.] Aura doesn't faze his semblance at all. But it's not me that I'm frightened for. My friends don't know him like I do - even with what happened to my partner, I'm not sure someone optimistic and naive and heroic like Ruby wouldn't run off to face him if he were here. And that's what really scares me.

Oh, I can definitely be killed. Quite easily really. It's just that human weapons don't have the same punch that demon weapons do. And yes, I was holding back. Considerably.

[Dante sits quietly and listens as she explains before shaking his head a bit.]

I wouldn't underestimate your friends too much. Believe me when I say that the naive heroic types are the kinds that make even guys like me falter. There's a reason I stay out of human business when I can. I've lost that innocence and drive long ago. But, that makes me perfect for hunting demons. The kind of things that just have an unfair advantage over humans.

When my old man - Sparda - was still working for the demon Emperor Mundus, there was a handful of humans that fought the construction of the gateway to the Demon World tooth and nail. Even though for every demon they took down, ten humans died, they never gave up. They never surrendered, and never backed down. It got to the point that the demons thought the humans knew something they didn't, and became more cautious. And pretty soon, the humans began evening the score. I think it was that resolve, that unbending, unyielding spirit that got to even the fiercest Dark Knight to ever serve Mundus.

I'll still be there to keep this guy busy if he shows up until you and your friends are ready... just remember. There's something Humans have that Demons don't. And even with their unfair advantage over them, even demons fear humans.

Blake really wished she shared his optimism. "The last person that got between him and me was my partner." She looked away, the breeze tussling her hair slightly. "She got hurt bad. I only barely got her and myself away. Maybe next time will be different. But I'd rather not put them in his way at all."

She was silent for a moment. It seemed fair to talk about it with Dante since he'd revealed what he was. "I'm not exactly human myself. But I'll do what it takes to keep my friends from getting hurt again.Your humans might have had great resolve, but how many of them had to die before they were successful?"

Blake had seen too many people get crushed, good and bad in her seventeen-year life to be wide-eyed and hopeful about how a rematch with Adam might go. "You don't know him like I do. Even if you are unbeatable, be careful if you do cross paths with him. Adam's never more dangerous than when someone tries to thwart something he sees as just."

Dante couldn't help but sympathize with Blake. Whoever this Adam guy was had really been close to her. Perhaps even closer than he and Vergil had ever been. Still, that question she asked stung.

"How many died before they got success? Too many. That's still true 2000 years after my old man sealed away the demon world. That's part of why I became a Devil Hunter, to be the front line so humans wouldn't have to throw their lives at a problem. I wish you could meet Lady though. Best human Devil Hunter in my world. She doesn't have any special powers. What she does have is connections, ingenuity, and a razor wit. She's proof that humans are worth fighting for."

He goes quiet when she mentions not being human. He'd noticed the bow twitching every so often at a new noise or something, and figured it was hiding something but he wasn't going to ask until she was ready to talk to him about it.

"I may not know him personally, no... but I know his type." He runs his hand through his hair, sweeping the shaggy mop back so as to mimic Vergil for at least a moment. "Foolishness, Dante. Foolishness. Without power, you cannot protect anyone, least of all yourself."

He smooths his hair back out, glancing away for a moment. "My brother said that to me, with his sword through my gut. He was obsessed with gathering power for his own personal crusade. No idea what that crusade was actually about, but I have a feeling it was to take out the Demon Emperor that had caused all our problems. But... I couldn't accept that. He abandoned his humanity in pursuit of power, and I clung to mine, only coming to grips with my inhuman side out of necessity. Long story short... I'm here, he's not. I'll keep this guy busy until you and your friends are ready."

Dante reaches over, placing a hand on Blake's head, in as reassuring a way as possible, fingers deliberately avoiding where her ears might be. "I just ask you to trust me."

Blake snorted at Dante's impression of Vergil. She couldn't help it. "Be just a tad bit more dramatic and you could have been mimicking Adam."

She paused a bit at the touch to her head, instinctively flattening her ears a bit. Her smile faded. Adam used to do the same thing. And say the same thing. That was part of why it was so hard to trust those words from anyone else. But she had doubted Yang once over that and regretted it. She should probably give Dante a chance.

"One of the things I learned at Beacon was that there are some humans worth fighting for," she said. "If it was to protect my team, I would trade my life for theirs any time. I never really bought into the idea that one race could be all bad, even though there are definitely some bad humans. But Adam...he'd be so angry if he could hear me even saying that right now. I've been hurt by them too. But I've also met some that have accepted and stood beside me. I want that for all Faunus and Human kind. He thinks I'm childish and soft and that's it's impossible." She smiled a little self-depreciatingly. "I guess I like the hopeless causes." Her expression turned inward for a second and she looked torn. "But what he's done is unforgivable. I don't know what will happen if I face him. He may give me no choice but to kill him."

Even though they'd grown up together, even though he'd taught her everything. She bit her lip and was silent for a while.

"I still don't really know what demons are but if keeping your human side is what helps you hold onto your soul then you aren't wrong," she said, quietly.

Dante ruffles her hair a bit, before leaning back into his sitting position. "Next thing you're going to be telling me is that Adam fights with a katana, using the sheath as just as much of his fighting style as the blade."

He shakes his head about the whole trading her life bit. "I can't accept that. None of your friends wants you to die for them, and if you do die, you can't help protect them. You want to help them? Then live. I've seen too many families torn apart because someone had this grand delusion that dying for something was the height of devotion. It's not. It's the easy way out. As for what to do with him... from what I gather, even death won't slow him down here. If I had my shop, I've got plenty of ways of keeping someone pinned down."

As for demons... "Just to give you an idea... demons are like this." In a flash of red lightning every aspect of Dante changed as he assumed his Devil Trigger form. "Demons are... at their core, monsters. Some just fight to overcome that." Another flash later and he resumes his normal form.

"U-um....actually he does fight with a katana-like weapon," Blake replied. "And the sheath is also a gun and I've seen him shoot seven rounds at once without reloading. So, yeah."

She grinned a little despite the topic. Her grin faded a little. "I don't want to die. If I were suicidal, I'd have stuck around after I disconnected the train he and I were on. I saved a bunch of humans. I doubt he was pleased after the shock wore off. I'm just saying that if I had to pick my life or theirs, I'd pick theirs. Rather that than them paying for my mistakes. I don't want them in the crossfire over his personality conflict with me." She shrugged. "Though as you've pointed out, there's little point to death here. But he could still hurt them. And I won't allow that either." The Faunus bit her lip. "Never again."

Blake froze, her mouth slightly open when he changed. She had not been expecting that. Maybe some people had semblances that left them transform, but she'd never seen it in action.

Edited 2016-03-21 23:51 (UTC)

Dante just leans in real close, as if looking for something on Blake's face. "Nope... don't seem to be a long lost cousin from another world or something. Jesus this Adam guy sounds exactly like Vergil. All the more reason for me to be cocky."

He goes quiet though, nudging her shoulder with a fist. "That's where I come in. You don't have to choose. I won't let it come to that."

She laughed. "I don't think there are any demons in my family tree. I would probably know."

Blake couldn't remember her parents. In a way, her and Adam had been each other's family.

"He was always a bit short tempered,"Blake admitted, quietly. "But he wasn't always insane and bitter. I just wish.." She shook her head. Wishes were worthless. "It doesn't matter." She leveled him with a serious look. "I appreciate it, Dante. But the point of this exercise is that I become strong enough to face him so that other people don't have to fight my battles."

"...You just wish you could've convinced him that there's a better way. That power for the sake of domination only ends in ruin."

He shakes his head a bit with a sad chuckle. "I swear you may as well be an alternate universe version of me. You're right though. We're supposed to be training, but, now that I know what you're capable of, and how this Adam guy fights... I have an idea. It won't be pretty, and it won't be as effective as if I had Yamato with me, but... it might help. 'Course I'll need to get my shop back first. Give me some time, but when I get one of those archways opened up, come find me and I'll have something a bit more effective for ya." He extends a hand. "Deal?"

She blinked and then bowed her head. "Yeah, something like that."

It was unnerving sometimes how on point Dante was. But that he seemed to understand it so well without her having to say much was kind of comforting as well. She looked at his extended hand a moment before grasping it.

"Okay," she replied with a small smile.

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