Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn To Dust Or To Gold [CEREALIA INBOX]

[zerotohiro]

'Busy, leave a message!
...oh, you've reached Hiro Hamada. Whatever. Still busy!'

Hamada art by D-Joel, found on tumblr

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[masakados]

You're just better off not applying logic or sense to demons, [Naoki replies, calling in Hiro's general direction. Well, he can't see, but he can roughly sense where they both are.

Inugami is weaving slowly through the fog-- well, at least the fireball he shoots in Hiro's direction will be perfectly visible coming.]

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[zerotohiro]

[That loud thud was Hiro immediately dropping on the floor again to avoid the fireball. Stop drop and roll, man.]

I thought tactics were about using logic and sense in the first place! [Man. This one is actually puzzling since the fog's obscuring his vision and Inugami can see clearly. Back to inching his way across the floor and trying to look up for the demon's lower body.]

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[masakados]

Well, yeah, but what I mean is try not to think too hard about where the fog and the fire comes from.

[That's how Naoki gets through his day as a living fog machine!! Inugami is weaving through the fog, sniffing Hiro out, his ears cocked toward his voice. Luckily, the glowing pinpoints of his red eyes might just be visible before that mostly white body of his is...]

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[zerotohiro]

[He doesn't verbally respond to that as he wiggles his way around the fog. It is, in fact, Inugami's eyes that give him a location to go after and though he can't see the demon's body or judge how close he is, it's enough for Hiro to spring to his feet and leap to try and tackle Inugami to the floor. Arms fling around the demon's body and he pulls downward to bring him to the floor with him.

It's a start. It's not the smartest idea or most effective but he'll take it if he can manage to keep him down.]

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[masakados]

[NOT MOST EFFECTIVE AT ALL

Given that Inugami is a twisty, squirmy snake demon dog thing. He's already moving in Hiro's grip, twisting around, almost like he's trying to free himself but it could also be that he's trying to wrap around Hiro's body.]

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[zerotohiro]

[So now we have two wiggly noodles wrestling in the fog. That's fine. Hiro's hands are also seemingly moving to not only keep Inugami in his grip but...scratching? Yeah. Scratching. Scratching his belly and scratching his back and trying to scratch behind Inugami's ears to find a weak spot while also trying not to wind up being constricted.

Naoki please tell him you're actively watching just in case he almost dies.]

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[masakados]

[He's probably watching-- just kidding, he legit is. He's also clearing away the fog with a sweep of his hand that brings a breeze whisking it away out of nowhere. Yep. There're two noodles.

One of which, the dog one, is starting to whine, because SCRATCHES and his hold goes loose. Don't mind as he just flops on the floor, scratches are nice.

And Naoki's just watching.]

...

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[zerotohiro]

[Sorry, he can't help it. He's laughing and flopping on the floor with him as he continues the scratches, grinning up at Naoki now that the fog's gone.]

At the end of the day, Inugami's still a dog. Does that mean I win again?

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[masakados]

I don't know if I'd really call this a strategy... [Naoki groans as though this is taking mental exertion he wasn't prepared for.] But all right. Sure. Your win. Technically.

[Inugami is whining happily and draping himself half on Hiro, tail whumping against the floor. BLISS]

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[zerotohiro]

You just said to use his strengths against him! [He's busy liberally loving and petting and scratching Inugami to keep the demon happy, and maybe it's weird but he doesn't seem to care.] That means I can train with the others sometime too, right?

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[masakados]

We--ll, eventually. Maybe not Pixie.

[Naoki approaches since training time seems to be wrapping with Inugami being too distracted by being a dog. He's just going to lick Hiro's face for good measure, too.]

Yurlungur's technically stronger than Long, but Long's a big dragon while Yurlungur's more Inugami's size, so it might be better to get him to train with you. [Well, given that he seems to be talking and planning aloud, that's not a bad sign.]

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[zerotohiro]

And if Long's a dragon and Inugami's a dog--hey! [Give him a second to push Inugami's face from his because that was a low blow, dude.] What's Yurlungur? [And why are they all animals?] I bet I could take on Long someday, too.

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[masakados]

[Because Naoki's player likes the animal ones best--] Yurlungur's a double-headed snake. He's got one head at each end of his body.

[But the assertion makes Naoki's lips twitch. Such confidence.]

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[zerotohiro]

[Naoki picked a good person to talk to about this because most of the time for Hiro animals > people anyway.] Then I'll definitely take him on. Count on it.

[Such arrogance, much ego.] ...thanks, dude. This has been really good practice.

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[masakados]

You're welcome. [Punctuated by a smile.] Then, we'll do it again soon. Inugami'll probably learn from fighting with you, too.

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[zerotohiro]

It'll be good for both of us then. [He's really happy with this turn of events, really.] Let's clear out soon, too. I think I saw somebody waiting around for this training room.