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The Prince of Tennis [Guest Starring Fusion] (Luke and Iko)
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Post by darkblade on Aug 29, 2017 23:29:12 GMT
Well, now it appeared that Iko had struck a nerve. It wasn't the first time, either - truly, NeoDevimon was all the bundled mess, and more, that Isaac claimed he was.
For a while, Iko just stared back, into the 'forward' two of those six eyes. Once more, those unfamiliar with the Dark Area might have flinched at this intimidation, but Iko simply held fast. What pride was there in running? "Its better than walking." This response lacked the serious edge, more 'coy' as if purposefully trying to get under the devil's skin. Yes, if Iko was a spirit, he'd probably be just as unwieldy as this demon. Was this how he was around Luke?
Still, the mechanical monster's next words held a rare tone. The NeoDevimon, it seems, had a 'lineage' of sorts, a history of betrayal and loss. In the short silence that followed, the wolf did not interrupt, and at his conclusion - 'I am all of my brothers that remains' - Iko did not retort, merely letting that tone slip into the air. This, perhaps, is where the two split: Iko had a pack, or at least he had one, in some depths of the Dark Area. His 'youth', as it were, did not know this feeling of betrayal... but then again, those were just his early years.
The Dark Area was quite a cruel mistress. Eventually, Iko just gave a smirk. "... Well, congratulations. At the very least, you're not the most ingrateful Digimon I've met." But really, Iko could sense that he was done here. The common ground was found, and in short order, his intent was laid out on the ground between them.
But to that last point, he chuckled. "I know. It sounds like something you're quite familiar with, already." With that 'jab', the wolf stood, stretching out his back. "Isaac? We're staying at the hotel on Third. Wrap things up here as you can, its going to rain in about an hour."
And with that, he leapt from his perch, landing on the sandy beach several feet inland. He stretched his neck, as if to work out a crick from hunching over for so long, and seamlessly slipped back into the city.
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Post by Elliot and Isaac Sunderland on Aug 30, 2017 0:40:48 GMT
"Flying is better than both," NeoDevimon responded, matter-of-factly. The tone of its voice strained a little, as if trying to hold back laughter at an admittedly pretty good joke, but it otherwise seemed fairly neutral to the statement. At least this was some confirmation that NeoDevimon had a sense of humor. Maybe if it wasn't already chilled up by bringing up such personal subjects, it would've given in and let out a full belly laugh at Iko's wit. Maybe some time interacting with others was what NeoDevimon would need to not be as tightly wound as five springs.
The second bit of wit, not so much appreciated. NeoDevimon growled slightly at such a backhanded complement, but still mustered up enough politeness to say "Thank you." The sheer begrudging tone in the spirit's voice made it clear that this was an Isaac decision, not a NeoDevimon decision. After all, even if NeoDevimon was currently in the pilot seat, the conversation was winding down. Isaac was getting increasing amounts of ground back as he sought to put an end to this out of body experience, because like hell would he trust NeoDevimon to not fly off and run for freedom if still in control of the gestalt.
Perhaps that made the third jab ring just as true. Neither Isaac or NeoDevimon had agreed to how this form would be used, had they? They found each other, and fate saw to it that they would be merged. Yasyamon, ever relaxed, had shrugged its metaphorical shoulders and rolled with Isaac's presence. In return, it had little obtrusion on Isaac's mind besides playful flirting with Kinkakumon. Devidramon was more intense, but its intensity at least pointed in the same direction as Isaac's. Isaac got Devidramon into trouble in the best sense of the word, and Devidramon gave Isaac the strength to get out of it. It was an unhealthy relationship if allowed to run wild, true, but even at its worst it was at least unhealthiness aimed in a beneficial direction. Samudramon? He and Isaac had been acquainted for but a single sword strike, nothing more.
This was another matter entirely. NeoDevimon had the strongest will of any of his spirits thus far, and his priorities were aligned in equal and opposite directions from Isaac's.
"Well? How about it?" Isaac asked, staring out into the open ocean. "We both want to exist. We both want to survive. And neither of us want to stop moving forward. There's gotta be a way we can make this work for both of us, right?"
A low growl escaped NeoDevimon's throat in response, and his hackles raised. He clearly wasn't the happiest with the idea.
"If you were me, this would've been fine with you, wouldn't it?" Isaac added. "A new body is a small price to pay for life. And I can tell its a decision you've made time and time again.
Why?"
The growl intensified even more, Isaac raising the gestalt's hands in absolution. "Okay. Okay. Touchy topic. Not gonna dig that deep," he offered, the NeoDevimon's posture slackening at the appeasement. "But don't you think I should get the same chance? To see a change I need to make, then make it? 'Cause I'm gonna warn you, I don't know how much longer I can last like this. I'm human. I'm not used to dealing with the dangers of the Digital World every day. And even if I can rise up and survive all the fighting, what's gonna happen next? I've got no record, no ID, not nearly enough bits to make a living. The logistics of it all are gonna kill me, if the isolation doesn't first.
If we stay like this, you're not surviving. You're just hitching a ride on a corpse. How's that make you feel, huh?"
The NeoDevimon didn't seem too convinced. Briefly, Isaac saw flashes of NeoDevimon running through the dark area, chest pounding and lungs heaving. He saw NeoDevimon hiding from a SkullBaluchimon that had found its scent, staying as still as a statue to avoid picking a fight with a Digimon an entire level above it. He saw NeoDevimon reach for his head, gently tracing a claw tip around his left eye. That was when Isaac forced the memory to end prematurely, because he knew where that was going and he did not like it one bit.
"I know, I know. Even living off the land in the Server Woods must seem like paradise compared to that," Isaac said. "But I'm not you. I couldn't live that life even if I wanted to. If I have to eat another goddamn DigiMushroom, I think I'm going to hurl my guts out.
And it's not just me, either. There's the others. I know, they're lost for now, but you're not as alone as you think. And if you're all going to be in my headspace, we're going to need to split it all fair and square. Live the way that's best for all of us."
NeoDevimon snorted. Derision? Or something else? ". . . I know you feel like staying attached to them is just going to drag you down," Isaac finally said. "But is that any reason to leave them like this? This fusion isn't just for me, either. It's the only way to get them out of this mess. And I'm sorry, but after they've gotten me through this world for over a year, I'm sure as hell not leaving them that way. I can't.
Two choices, NeoDevimon. Either you go along with this fusion, or it'll suck majorly for both of us."
The devil looked out to the sea, admiring its claws in the light of the setting sun. Then, looking at its own reflection in the brass, it sighed in surrender. Isaac smiled softly behind the mask, turning on his heel and flying towards Iko's hotel room.
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Post by darkblade on Aug 30, 2017 3:42:53 GMT
Well, the hotel wasn't quite where Iko ended up quite yet, but it was close. And the reason for it would become quite apparent: at this hour of the night, in what would be an otherwise empty and decrepit alley, the dull noise of a tennis ball ricocheting off the pavement and back wall echoed throughout the street. At first, Iko thought this was Luke just trying to kill some time - after all, the wolf and Isaac had been off talking for quite a while.
But, as he took a glance around the corner, the sight was anything but. Even after such a full day, Luke was in full stride. The careful details such as the angle, the topspin, and the flawless switch from forehand to backhand obviously went over the Digimon's head, but the fair bit of grit in Luke's posture did not. This was, after all, the same look and seriousness that Luke gave in any of Iko's fights or spars. Tch... all this, and he's still trying to stay in practice-
*Thunk*
"Graugh, damn it!" Luke's groan was followed by his racket bouncing off the far wall, a haywire tennis ball flinging right over his shoulder! Iko caught it, just an inch in front of his face, even forced to take a step back! "Er... hi... you know, there's no reason to throw your stuff around just because-"
"Shut up." Luke shook his head, shaking out his right hand. That caught Iko's attention. "Wait... so that wasn't intentional?"
"Of course not." Leaning over, Luke picked up his racquet, checking the frame. "If it were, I'd still be on the team. The sport's too much a strain for one wrist to handle... tch, forget it. How's Isaac?"
"... It should go well enough." Iko sighed. "Anyway. Before we wake up half the city here, we should get going. C'mon, we're just staying a block over."
"... For the best, I guess..." He sighed, putting away the racquet, slinging his bag over his shoulder. Iko watched as Luke led on, the wolf giving a sigh.
Guess I've been too busy looking elsewhere... sheesh...
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Post by Elliot and Isaac Sunderland on Aug 30, 2017 4:10:04 GMT
For all of the drama preceding it, the flight to Iko's hotel was thankfully quite uneventful. While Isaac was concerned about approaching the city, the city at night was a far different beast from the city at day. The loud sounds that would've easily overwhelmed NeoDevimon before had given way to the throbbing pulse of club music and the gentle murmur of night life. There was really nothing for Isaac to worry about. Well, except for the parts where NeoDevimon ended up all too enthralled with street lights, focusing on each one passed and hissing at it like a grumpy cat. It was tiring, to say the least, but bought plenty of time for Luke and Iko to finish their current business.
The only downside of the flight was the silence of it all. Normally Isaac had Elliot to joke around with, but today he only had the sound of NeoDevimon's ragged breathing. Isaac made a mental note that, if he was ever to get sweet cybernetic limbs, he would never get it to a level like NeoDevimon's. How much pain did the thing have to be in after a fresh installation? Nevertheless, Isaac tried his best to break the silence. ". . . Thank you," he said as the duo glided along, glad that at least he and NeoDevimon were finally on something resembling the same page.
He only received a grunt in return. But it was better than silence.
Fortunately, Luke and Iko would at least have some time to get home and prepare themselves before a giant demon flew up to their window. Once arriving Isaac rapped a claw against the glass, apparently incapable of using these things called "doors."
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Post by darkblade on Aug 31, 2017 1:05:53 GMT
There wasn't much to be said between Luke and Iko, either. After such a long day - from a great trek over to Whitewater, meeting a demon-cat-doctor for an impromptu appointment, a half day at the beach, a handful of failed fusions, and a heart-to-heart with both Isaac and one of his spirits - the wolf was ready to call it a day. With a TV quietly buzzing in the background, Luke sat on the edge of the bed, idly flipping through Digivice entries, as Iko leaned against a far wall, eyes closed and arms crossed.
He was really just waiting for Isaac, at this point. If the rain started and neither the demon nor the imp showed up, Iko would have been worried, but his standing slumber was soon interrupted by a tap at the window, six glowing red eyes staring in. "Sheesh..." Luke's, eyes widened, shaking his head as Iko stood up, unlocking and prying open the window. "Alright, you can fly, Isaac. But you're not exactly going to fit through the window like that..."
Yeah, Iko's joke was flat, but what else could be expected at 11:30 at night? He covered a loud yawn, beckoning Isaac to step inside. "Floor, couch, don't care... frick, its been a long day..."
"Because you insist on keeping your foot down on the pedal." Luke chuckled.
Thankfully, this impromptu trio wasn't working on any sort of schedule, nor did they really have to worry about much in Whitewater. What, camping, trying to stoke a fire out in the woods, dealing with how to cope in a freaking tent? No, this hotel even had breakfast!
And, in Iko's case, at least, he had a good night to cool off from... well, 'whatever' you would call his previous conversation with NeoDevimon. At just a little after ten in the morning, they'd work their way past the thick crowds of Whitewater's main beach (NeoDevimon definitely wouldn't like being there, if a mere street lamp set him off), past that stony alcove where Iko and Isaac talked earlier, to a finally isolated section of beach.
"Huh... didn't think we'd have to go even further out..."
"Birds, what can I say." The wolf just gave a shrug, a familiar smirk finally back on his face. There, with just the dull sound of the beach in the background, the Ankomon would turn towards Isaac. "Honestly, don't know how smoothly this would go... but want to give this a proper shot?"
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Post by Elliot and Isaac Sunderland on Aug 31, 2017 5:11:01 GMT
Isaac nodded, at Iko's assessment. NeoDevimon was quite the gangly form, after all, and even after the awkward affair of sliding in one limb after the other would have finished the wings would pose a huge problem. Thankfully, Isaac was the one piloting this crazy train instead of NeoDevimon, and as he squeezed his eyes shut he slowly regressed back down into Impmon. The Rookie practically collapsed as he tumbled through the opened window, falling into the floor in a heap. "I can hear myself think again," Elliot mumbled, voice slurring slightly from his drowsiness. "God, I almost forgot how that felt." Needless to say, Isaac wouldn't be poking NeoDevimon as hard the next time he used that form.
It seemed Iko was too tired to care much, but then again so was Isaac. He made a token effort at stumbling towards the couch before collapsing on the floor, muttering a quiet "Screw it," and knocking loose a cushion that he could flop his head onto. It was far from the most glamorous resting place, but damnit, Isaac was all out of gas for the day.
There was barely any other time for talk. Isaac, already a famously heavy sleeper, was out like a light.
Breakfast had basically vanished in seconds of Isaac getting to it. Normally Elliot was the family gourmet, but after a solid month of living on Digimushrooms and prayers he freaking needed this meal. Once that was all in his system, the strongly re-energized imp began scampering off after Luke and Iko. NeoDevimon could have completed the journey way faster, but the crowds would also likely send him fleeing into the sea. Why couldn't the Dark Area have had a major city so NeoDevimon wouldn't get sensory overload when listening to more than three people at a time?
By the time Isaac made it to the farthest end of the beach, he did a few warm up stretches while looking up at the sky. This was it. He was finally taking a productive step towards getting his life back on track, and whether or not the world was ready for him here he comes! Once properly warmed up he turned to Ankomon, grinning. "Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. But I'm done moping about the won't," he said. He clutched his hand to his chest, focusing all of his energy on Digivolution. The shadowy cocoon formed around him, and as it faded NeoDevimon stood in his place.
"Bring it on."
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Post by darkblade on Sept 1, 2017 2:56:51 GMT
Indeed, it was finally time to try this out again. Honestly, there were several factors against them yesterday, including fatigue and the fact that they were trying to force a Jogress through fusing! But, as it stood, all three of them were on their feet, Iko stretching out his arms, looking with one open eye as Isaac took the NeoDevimon form.
As long as Isaac stayed in control, the wolf figured, this would be easy. "Eh, I'm not too worried about the 'won't' this time... Luke, you ready?"
"As I'll ever be." He flashed the screen towards Iko: with how easy it was for him to hit ultimate anyway, there was more than enough to work off in that end! And to that, the Ankomon stood at the ready, Luke taking a small breath out.
"Alright... Jogress!" Similar to their failed attempts from yesterday, Luke cave the command, an emerald light engulfing the device. Iko closed his eyes, both he and Isaac glowing with the same light. But, what would be the result this time? Rebound, or success?
The sensation, at least, was quite a bit different: time seemed to slow around them, a bit similar to how Isaac first fused with Elliot, though he could take in more than just a red background. The sky grew dark, the surrounding scenery blurry, until it was just the two of them, standing on a white plane.
"Hm... definitely not familiar with this." His voice echoed out, dully into the distance. "Think it means were in sync... but now what?"
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Post by Elliot and Isaac Sunderland on Sept 1, 2017 3:41:40 GMT
The emerald light from Luke's Digivice intermingled with the violet glow from Isaac's chest. It wasn't exactly pleasant to be in the center of a bright glow like that, but Isaac grinned and bore it. It was a sign that the Jogress was working, after all. As the lights intermingled, so too did the data that made up both Isaac and Iko's bodies. Green and purple combined to form a soft white glow, and Isaac found himself fading out of his own body. The merge was starting to feel so complete that Isaac was fairly certain this wouldn't end in a rebound.
And then Isaac was in headspace. Red skies and grey clouds outline the white plane, making it look equal parts serene and ominous. At least it seemed to calm NeoDevimon greatly. After recovering from the initial shock of transporting to another mental plane, the demon had grown oddly silent and still. Isaac's will was well and truly his own, and he pondered the subject as Iko asked if it was working.
"It's what Elliot and I experience, ever so briefly, when we fuse," Isaac said. "I guess now we just finish this like a regular Digivolution, right? Take the new form we visualized, or at least some sort of progress, and then just focus all our willpower towards it? God, this is so much easier when I actually have a spirit to focus on . . ."
Nothing seemed to be happening yet. Isaac coughed, just a hint of awkwardness in his voice. "Well, while I'm still me and you're still you," he started, mulling over the point in his head. "I just really want to say, thank you. I know I was kind of a pain in the butt sometimes, especially when NeoDevimon came out. But you're over here literally risking your neck for me, and that means a lot. Whether this goes well or not, I'm not gonna forget this."
And then Isaac's body started to glow a soft white yet again, this time in the plane of headspace. He could feel himself being pulled towards Iko like a magnet, almost unraveling into pure energy as he did so.
He could tell, as his consciousness stopped belonging entirely to himself, that it was time.
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Post by darkblade on Sept 1, 2017 22:22:53 GMT
This was definitely an out-of-body experience, in more ways than one: even without the weirdness of attempting a Jogress, these last few days were the first time that Iko actively tried to enter a new form without any sense of urgency. That idle thought sat in the back of his head, the smallest of ripples disturbing the black expanse behind him. For what little time they had, the Ankomon looked upon Isaac's contribution to the scenery. Indeed, his data had to have quite a bit of damage, to have this sort of look.
Still, the wolf seemed calm, nodding as Isaac confirmed that this was more-or-less normal. "Right, right... so long as we're both thinking of Sangloupmon, it should direct itself. I think." With that confirmed, the wolf's form began to glow, his ear twitching as Isaac got his thanks out. "Heh... no way I'd leave you behind, kid. Now c'mon, let's get this goin."
The expanse itself would fade to white, Iko feeling the pull as the form took shape...
"... Must be working this time!"
Outside, Luke gave a whistle as that bright, white form finally took shape! Appropriate to their nature as Dark Area digimon, the glow took on a dark, red glow, as the combination finally took form. But, as opposed to the expected purple wolf, the first thing that shot up was a white glove, holding onto a wooden staff. Tattered black wings, similar enough to a Devidramon's, arched out the back, and in the next moment, the light would flash out, briefly blinding the tamer in front of him!
"Oi... now that's new." With a sigh, the creature - a SkullSatamon, according to Luke's digivice - stood and looked down his arms. The ultimate then stretched out his back, arms in the air as he gave an aloof yawn, before grounding his staff into the beach. His eyes then flicked towards Luke: "Ah, you are there!"
"Er..." Okay, the athlete was lost! "Iko? Isaac?"
"SkullSatamon, the red demon! But, sorry, the mind's racing a bit... just going to take a second to settle down." Honestly, this skeleton seemed downright cheery!
And, internally, Iko gave a groan. Honestly, I thought this guy would be about the 'average' of our personalities... but this kind of feels like its own spirit...
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Post by Elliot and Isaac Sunderland on Sept 2, 2017 19:08:44 GMT
Welcome to my world, Isaac countered as he watched the new spirit in action. He was far less surprised than Iko by how the fusion had went, considering that he was already used to having tons of voices and thoughts echoing through his head. SkullSatamon had indeed decided to "settle down," reclining against his staff as it floated in midair. The way he was posed he looked like some kind of witch, if both the witch and her broom had been given the Terminator 2 treatment first. But I gotta say? He's one heck of an improvement from being stuck alone with Count Sulkula over here. A displeased, whale-like moan echoed through the headspace, Isaac remembering NeoDevimon's presence and dialing his snark back a bit.
However, it was true that SkullSatamon seemed rather unique from both Isaac and Iko's own personae. I know whenever Elliot and I fuse, the result comes out really confident. Like, almost kind of cocky, Isaac pointed out. He keeps calling it the Gotenks Effect, but I'm not even acknowledging that one. This is different, though, because our spirits have always kinda been two halved of one whole. We're in uncharted territory here.
Once taking some time to settle down, Mr. Uncharted Territory himself turned to Luke. "So! Luke, right?" the fusion asked, swinging his legs off of his staff so he could both dismount it and pick it up in a seamless fashion. "Been hard at work on your form, eh? Think one of these two remembers you working up a real sweat yesterday. Not gonna lie, still a bit fuzzy picking through it all."
Slowly, a somewhat wicked grin formed across the SkullSatamon's face. "Y'know, you've been working your tailbone off. And I'm looking to take this brand-new existence out for a spin." Yellow flames arced from the orbs on SkullSatamon's staff, the demon coiling them around his fingers to string them across the hooked part of the staff. It almost looked like . . . a racket?
Wait, what is he-? Isaac thought, but before he could do any further inquiring SkullSatamon already had a response.
"How 'bout we get some real practice in?"
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Post by darkblade on Sept 3, 2017 3:17:17 GMT
"That's right... Luke."
Well, forgive the tamer if he was a little unsure of himself! Honestly, Luke didn't know what to expect between the fusion of a wolf and a demon, much less Iko and Isaac. The form itself, the athlete could understand, but the personality was absolutely jarring. Not only was the supposed demon almost sickeningly cheerful, but he seemed to know very little about Luke at all - only what was in his partner's recent memory.
After all, Iko would have never recommended a tennis match! "... You're serious?" Luke seemed briefly stunned at the proposition, that it overtook his interest in the staff. If it were Iko, this would have been just a nudge to the elbow and a change of topic, but here? Luke gave a grin. "Heh... honestly, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into. But, fine, why not." Slinging his bag over his back, Luke led the SkullSatamon on.
And internally, Iko found himself talking to his newfound 'other self'. The wolf had even less to go on than the imp, but he at least gave a chuckle, nodding in agreement with the assessment that he was a fair bit better than NeoDevimon. But a 'Gotenks' effect? Only with their shared minds did Iko get a little understanding of what he was talking about. Well, he seems to be getting along with Luke well enough. Honestly, not really my intent to use these forms for combat much, but-
Wait, what was the SkullSatamon doing? Seeing the mental racquet, the wolf pinched his sinus, shaking his head. "Oh, for the love of... damn. If he means what I think he means, he's not going to get on Luke's good side.
"Ah-hey!"
"What? You told me not to hold back." Luke rested his racquet over his shoulder, a thin smile on his face. A little bit away from the beach, they had found a nice recreational area, with a few half-basketball courts and, to Luke's surprise, even a tennis court! It seemed at least a few Digimon had interest in sports from the other world, though the few spectators that saw from outside the court were chuckling at the demon now.
And why not? The score was already 1 game to nil, and Love-30 in Luke's favor. Not only that, but Luke had only hit the ball six times so far, earning all of his points in service and return aces. Luke was already calmly standing, as the skeleton positioned himself to serve again. "Alright, ya may have made a fool of me the last six times... but I still have a trick or two here!"
"Yeah? Let's see them."
Honestly, this is like watching water run by... Iko sighed. Though Isaac might have been impressed, Iko had seen this display before. Never seen the kid out of breath, and his eyes are spot on. Even with just his right hand, he won't lose ground like this.
Iko leaned back. That's never been Luke's issue. If he could keep up this pace, it wouldn't matter... but...
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Post by Elliot and Isaac Sunderland on Sept 3, 2017 4:06:27 GMT
Yeah. Pretty sure we've both got stronger forms in our back pockets, huh? Isaac figured. 'Course, I need pills to reach my stronger ones, but that's at least better than nothing. And hey, if something else happens to destabilize our forms, this guy's way better than nothing. Whether too injured and fatigued to hold onto their individual forms for long, or simply just dealing with a situation where independent Digivolution to Ultimate would be impossible, now Iko and Isaac had one heck of a backup plan in mind. Hell, considering how happy SkullSatamon seemed just to be alive, he'd probably love the chance to come out and play a bit.
Maybe that was why he was still hanging in there for this tennis game, despite already being halfway to giving up an entire set. He was serving. That was good. That meant he wouldn't just eat another service ace. Being able to hit the ball in his own right? That was progress! "You've got a strong swing!" the SkullSatamon said, a scythe-like attachment forming on the tip of his staff. Was he seriously breaking out a move in the middle of a tennis game? Thankfully, it didn't seem like he was going to slash the tennis ball in half like a sore loser. Instead he tilted his head curiously, asking "Could you be a pal and tell me how fast mine is?" Then he smashed the tennis ball with enough force to shatter the Shadow Rend. It whizzed towards Luke's side of the court, a small trail of shadowy clouds following behind it.
Eh, I wouldn't take it for granted, Isaac replied, probably because he hadn't actually seen Luke play before. That's some amazing focus right there. I know, it's probably more cool for you since you see it all the time. But jeez, it's kinda breathtaking.
Then Iko let the other shoe drop. Mentioned just his right hand. Guessing the other one's been giving him trouble, huh? Isaac asked, now casting a little bit of worry in Luke's direction. If he had been practicing all of yesterday as well, would this game just end up wearing him out? Then again, if Iko ever thought this was getting to be too much, he could've probably started putting the throttle on their little game.
Right?
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Post by darkblade on Sept 3, 2017 18:55:35 GMT
Heh... well, I could think of worse. Iko shared a chuckle, as Isaac mentioned the potential usefulness of SkullSatamon's form. Defensively, at least, our demon-friend here's pretty much the best you can do in Virus, at least in this level. And why not - a practical golem made out of thick, red bones sounded durable enough, and the Digimon could even shatter into about a hundred precise pieces and literally pull himself back together!
That said, tennis was a completely different game than that! And Luke's confidence was brimming, a small smirk on the edge of his lips as SkullSatamon once more set himself up to serve. He blinked, however, as the ultimate level conjured a shadow at the edge of the staff, Luke immediately squaring his stance. If he wanted to get serious, fine, but Luke wasn't going to back down from the challenge!
"Serv-ice!" And with a resounding slam, that ball tore its way through Luke's side of the court, hitting the hard surface as it rocketed right past Luke, ringing against the metal fence behind! To that, the Red Demon gave a haughty chuckle! "Oh-ho! For all your bravado, it seems I can still get one by you! No worries, I won't make this an unfair-"
"Hold on, don't get ahead of yourself." Just as the ultimate was getting worked up, Luke gestured to the line on his right. "Eh, what are you- eh?! I faulted?!
Indeed! With how strong that swing was, the evidence was quite clear: just three inches on the inside of the line, there was almost a burn-mark on the surface, clearly showing that this was an off serve! "That said, I think that would have been... I dunno, 'bout 160 kilometers an hour? Not shabby..."
"Heh! And all you can do was stand there! Let's see you actually stop it!" Catching the ball, he tossed it up, and once more let fly that incredible smash. And this time, it was lined right up the middle, a clean bounce on the line as it pivoted up...
... Right into Luke's ready racket, returning the force right back! With a whirr on the ball, the topspin flicked it right back over the net, bouncing squarely between SkullSatamon's legs! "... Eh?"
"Love-forty." But, as opposed to his confident smirk from before, now there was a genuine smile on Luke's face. "But, let's see you get that one by me."
Its because he tried the same shot again... well, no. I know Luke; he let that first one slip by to check the pace and his service pattern. The fault was just a lucky break, I think. Could have Luke known that the shot would have been out before the service crossed the net? Honestly, the wolf thought it was doubtful!
And, yes, the view might have been breathtaking to a newcomer. But, as Isaac's concerned question hit Iko's ear, he sighed. That's just it - Luke doesn't have a left hand. Its a prosthetic... its why you've always seen him with that glove. The wolf didn't seem concerned about Luke's pace - not yet - but he would explain: I don't pretend to understand the sport at all, but apparently there's two things the players do that put strain on them: backhands and topspin. The latter is how Luke manages to rail the ball every time without it flying past the court.
Simple enough, but: I don't know much in specifics - heck, Mikemon would get it instantly. But apparently playing this game one-handed isn't exactly possible, for as long as full Tennis games go. Still, he's fine for a set like this...
Hopefully.
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Post by Elliot and Isaac Sunderland on Sept 4, 2017 5:32:17 GMT
Huh. I always figured skeletons were pretty frail. At least, they fall apart in movies all the time, Isaac thought. But when it isn't Jason and the Argonauts, I imagine they are pretty damn durable. Being able to literally pull itself together is a real nice bonus, too. Yeah, all things considered, I'm pretty darn happy with this one. At least Iko and Isaac approved of their strange little offshoot! Think we'll get a good chance to see what this guy's made of?
Apparently, tactical thinking wasn't quite what he was made of. Or, at least, tactics in the context of the tennis court. At least for now, power seemed to be SkullSatamon's plan. He had a little bit of trouble coloring within the lines, so to speak, when he ended up faulting right after actually getting a good swing in. It didn't help that Luke had taken the chance to analyze SkullSatamon's shot, capitalizing when the demon's follow-up was the exact same deal. Even when in the high of occupying a new body, tactics were essential to mitigating a great power advantage. This was an essential rule, whether in tennis and in combat.
SkullSatamon pensively bounced the ball up and down, humming as he tried to plan what to do next. "One way or another, that ball's slipping past you!" SkullSatamon said, feeling the heft of the racket and trying to measure just which bones would be most essential to support it. After giving it a little bit of time he served the ball off to Luke, no longer wanting to commit fully to the Shadow Rend plan.
Why? That'd be clear on the return. The second Luke would even move to hit the ball SkullSatamon would break into a cyclone of bones, spreading over to cover as much of the field as possible. He cackled as he shouted "BONESTORM!!!!" at the top of his nonexistent lungs. Of important note was that SkullSatamon's tennis racket was also clattering around inside of the cyclone, rapidly spinning around the edges. Was his solution to being incapable of returning Luke's swings seriously to try and return every potential swing Luke could make?
Not that the number was as high as it used to be these days. Apparently the backhand and topspin were putting far too much strain on Luke's prosthetic hand to be used reliably through the game. Isaac sighed in sympathy. Elliot always wanted to pursue a sport of some sort, but his leg injury made that impossible. Was a growth plate, I think they said, so it'd never grow in right, he admitted. Guess we both know what it's like looking out for someone in that boat, huh?
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Post by darkblade on Sept 4, 2017 17:39:47 GMT
Jason and the - you know, with this and the 'Gotenks' thing... I mean, I watch TV in Luke's apartment sometimes, but I really don't get all this stuff you're trying to reference. Iko chuckled, now finding himself having to pull that one out of Isaac's head as well! Still, they were in mutual agreement that the form could be useful, especially with Isaac's current lack of an ultimate-level spirit. And... well, if he comes up, we'll definitely see what he does. Maybe he'll do a few more tricks here!
But it seemed that being faster, stronger, and far more durable than a human didn't automatically grant the skills to beat one at their own game! Still, rather than dissuade the SkullSatamon or tell him to 'play by the rules', Luke was starting to enjoy the expanded repertoire that his tennis partner could provide. "Mm, sounds fun. Though I can't just let you get a point off me."
The SkullSatamon's serve, surprisingly, seemed far more normal than his last two. This time, Luke simply went back to the motions for the 15 and 30 points, but just as the ball flung from his racquet, the skeleton finally found a way to return Luke's shot. And that, well, was to cover the entire field at once: shuffling the racquet around, the skeleton would manage to fling the ball right back into Luke's court, the backhand subsequently returned to the bony field. Finally, a proper volley!
"Aha! It'll only be a matter of time... I'm everywhere, and you're one person!"
... Oh, ha! Iko chuckled, after about ten returns in. Yes, the SkullSatamon was doing better, but the wolf pointed something out to Isaac. Take a look at Luke, right now...
Yes, SkullSatamon was returning the volleys. And yes, Luke was having to actually 'play tennis' rather than 'solitaire', but there was still a definite difference between the two: Luke was accurately sending the ball to the left and the right of SkullSatamon's court, in sequence, which forced the skeleton to, more-or-less, return the ball right to the court's center. All of this, and Luke barely even had to move on his returns! Actually, I'm glad. Him letting the SkullSatamon play means he's enjoying himself. And with this pattern...
It would be on Luke's twelfth swing. He'd been alternating left and right the whole time, and when the ball came back to him, instead of sending it to the right, he fired a bomb right down the left side, twice in a row! "Hey!!" The ball whizzed past - the skeleton had already shuffled the racquet to the other side of the court, ready to return it. It bounced right before the line, and hit the back cage definitively!
"Ah, there we go. Two games to me." Luke gave a smirk to the Red Demon. "Not bad though. Remember, we're keeping this short, best of five rather than eleven." Which meant that Luke needed only one more game here. SkullSatamon was still up to serve again, though!
"Use all the tricks you want. I'd like to see a point or two out of you."
In that, boat, huh? Well, in Luke's case... Iko shrugged. Its hard either way. But for him, the opportunity seemed to have been pulled away at the last minute.
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