Painting the City in Flames - DP PvP Hoshi vs Scarlet

[Scarlet]

Accepting that she couldn’t do anything further against Hoshi was something that Scarlet really hated, although watching Hoshi freak out was making dealing with her own emotions quite a bit easier. Hoshi was reacting a lot like a small child, something that actually brought a big smile to Scarlet’s face. Beginning to laugh as Hoshi freaked at the fact the sparring match was cut shorter than he likely was anticipating. Scarlet hated that she was no doubt being seen as weak, but this made things a bit easier.

She couldn’t have ever expected what came next, watching Hoshi toss dirt on himself while his bones started to dim and the fire shrunk. Over the course of just a few minutes Hoshi went from a giant raging monster of flames to a slightly bigger monster. If he’d been this size from the start then perhaps she would have been able to handle him. By the time that Hoshi reached her and began speaking, Scarlet could already feel the pain across her skin.

Scarlet really didn’t like how Hoshi was talking now, it felt like someone was looking down on her, like a child trying to play a sport with an adult. This sensation Was what would push her though, her body couldn’t handle the heat that Hoshi produced just by transforming, next time she fought him she was going to make sure his bones wouldn’t be able to handle her axe. It went over Scarlet’s head due to her own emotions that Hoshi was talking about a Shinigami that she knew, a friend of acquaintance at the very least who she’d sparred against only a few days ago.

Scarlet shrugged her shoulders and immediately could tell that her skin was burnt, it wasn’t like she couldn’t tell already, but this was the confirmation that it was going to be painful the next few days. “No, if I have any thoughts I’ll call or send you a text. I’ll think about joining this Xcution group; it doesn't sound too far off from what UE does anyway. I have a question or proposal for you though. I’m not sure how good you are with those rebars, but would you like to make this a regular thing? I think we both want to get stronger, can’t think of a better way than to constantly push one another.”

Scarlet didn’t normally have the title of most rational or patient, at the moment though she wasn’t going to accept her own inadequacy. If it meant that she had to spar with Hoshi every week then so be it, eventually her calamity would be too hot for even the flaming skeleton to hold. Scarlet was ready to leave so she could get back home and start applying burn cream. One last question clicked in her head though while she waited for Hoshi to let them out. “Why don’t you have a body that doesn’t burn away?”

[Hoshi]

Scarlet's answer wasn't all that bad all things considered. Hoshi found himself just a wee bit proud that he'd at least showed off that she would be around capable folk and that his display had her considering his invitation. It's a shame he couldn't hand out a business card or the like. They'd have been burnt away or lost to time at this point. A cry in shame if ever there was one. Still, he had to admit he was shifting gears to several emotions at once. Curious, mildly concerned, happy, and also fearful. She wanted to spar more often with him. Which on its own merit would normally have Hoshi cheering because he could finally try to land a punch to his face. She definitely had one knuckle sandwich coming her way given she did the same to him. However, there was a problem . . . She's fairly weak . . . I . . . Is it possible to tone things down and make her stronger? Probably not, right? Like you have to push yourself to get somewhere. But she can't even handle my giant phase. That doesn't bode well for the remaining . . . Mmmm. . .

Hoshi put a skeletal hand to his chin and thought about it. Eye sockets closing as he tilted his head and thought. It was obvious though that he was hesitating and worrying for Scarlet. That much was readily apparent given he wasn't immediately answering and just his body language was closed. The frown his jaw created didn't help either. Surely there's something we can do right? Like unless she joins, I can't take her to the training facilities. . I shouldn't technically show her where the base is either. . . So how do we get her stronger without putting herself in harm's way err. . . well not not putting herself in danger but controlled danger to push her. . . Oh! I could just drag her onto a mission or two and work with her like that. That should work just fine. Hoshi nodded his head and started to speak up, though he was interrupted by Scarlets other question something that actually had him laughing as that was an easy question.

"Ah, yes that is an issue, isn't it? Hehe, well the short answer is I'm a weapon made by Soul Society, or was until . . . they killed me . . . Anyway, point is I'm a weapon made manifest, I was really only intended to have a temporary body so I could survive going through The Void or Garganta, the black portals hollows make, and safely getting to Hueco Mundo. If you don't know what that is, it's where hollows usually make their home at, if they aren't roaming in the world around you or Soul Society. And uhhh there's a LOT there and they are WAY stronger than either of us at the moment. I'd have to reach the next level of power to realistically have a chance of surviving there and preferably I'd have all my powers available. Sorry, got distracted there but simply put I was only really intended to make it to Hueco Mundo safely. Once there the body was no longer necessary. So, it didn't matter that I destroy the gigai's I am within."

"In a way it's technically safer given if I HAD a body to return to it'd likely be mangled or horribly burnt given it's used as fuel. Not to mention my body doesn't really matter. It's all about the pill inside, if that thing gets hurt, I get hurt. And if it
s destroyed, well then, I die. Permanently. No soul, no reincarnation, likely no transformation assuming something could do that. Unlike you who I could kill the body, but the soul will remain and then move on or transform naturally." Hoshi just shrugged despite admitting his only value as a tool and a "one time use" tool at that. He spoke up again as he motioned Scarlet to tree to walk behind it. "As for your offer, I don't think it'd do you any good to fight me again. Not until you get a good bit stronger. The problem lies in what I'm made to be. You got out of this with some serious injuries, namely that hand of yours. Let me be clear, were you to try and fight my other form, I'd likely have burnt it and you to ash or less than. And that's assuming you survive the transformation process."

"Thus, I don't think you'll gain anything from me if we spar because to grow you need close calls and something that can really push you but not kill you easily. And I don't think we're at a point that I can do that and not seriously maim or kill you in the process. And make no mistake, that's just one of my three higher forms. While two are locked away, behind fucking code no less, I'm almost done breaking through the second forms firewall. And frankly that's worse than the form I was about to go into. So . . . I really need you to get stronger first. HOWEVER, this doesn't mean we can't work together! I get missions from Xcution so I'll invite you to join me on em and we can do in the field training! Plus, you may learn something from the folks or monsters we go after. All of which, will help you grow WAY more than fighting me will. So, if you don't mind giving Joshua your number, he'll make sure it goes in my next cellphone, and I'll hit you up when I find something good for ya. Best part, we can split the money I get that way you also get something more out of it than fighting experience. Whatcha think?"

By this point Hoshi stood next to the tree and would wait for Scarlet to go through first. He'd still be problematic if he stepped out immediately so he figured that giving Scarlet the first exit out of Joshua's pocket dimension would let him walk out, stop his form and return to a pill. All while letting Scarlet say her piece and give her number to Joshua if she was willing. In the meantime, however he hoped she could accept his answer. It wasn't so much that he DIDN'T want to partake but he didn't want to put her near deaths door just so she could get more experience and possibly become weaker. She needed a better training partner than he could be, but hopefully a bit of cash on the side and some experience fighting others could be more helpful. Or at least be a solid replacement for Hoshi and her throwing hands frequently. If not well . . . I guess he'd have to start tallying up how often he upset Scarlet because damn if it wasn't a sport by how often he was doing it on accident. Hopefully she'd understand though.

[Scarlet]

Speaking to a burning skeleton larger than herself that was doing the mental thinker pose, that wasn’t a sentence that Scarlet ever believed she’d be able to claim actually happened even when her powers as a Fullbringer awakened. From the outside looking in this was even more strange then Hoshi’s body burning up off of him, perhaps it was only weirder for Scarlet second thought. Scarlet had the feeling that Hoshi was trying to figure out the benefit of them sparring more often and then just like that it was basically confirmed from Hoshi.

While Scarlet had no issues with the trouble, pain and wounds that fighting Hoshi had caused her, doing so periodically wouldn’t garner her much in terms of growth. It was a fair point and Scarlet wouldn’t have been able to deny that her right hand at the moment wasn’t just unuseable. It was a section of her body that she couldn’t move, it was flaring with pain beyond anything else. She’d been stabbed multiple times and had one of two bones broken in the last year. Nothing came close to this burn but that wasn’t something Scarlet always anticipated since it was her dream to fight fire.

This was a major step forward for her whether Hoshi knew it or not just because he was a freaking fire skeleton. Scarlet's own inability to face the threat of flames after the death of her father was something that would hold her back. A subconscious fear that had become known recently, one that she didn’t need to overcome to fight Tala since he employed heat rather than literal flames. Hoshi though was an embodiment of not just the fire, but literal outcome should one die by burning. She’s fought that fear and now punched it directly in the face.

Hoshi may believe her weak or that he didn’t have anything left to offer her through sparring right now, but he’d already strengthened her mentally enough that she was someone new. Many in the spiritual worlds possessed the ability to manifest fire, perhaps it had something to do with how Hoshi described abilities relating to a person’s personality, maybe it didn’t. In the end Scarlet was happy she’d taken a chance on the super loud, frustrating guy with long white hair that seemed like a kid with a sugar high.

What Scarlet heard though about what he really was and how Soul Society had made him, Scarlet couldn’t help her mind from associating him with a nuclear bomb. A weapon that could only be fired once, one that only needed to be used once. She had no reason to not believe what Hoshi was saying, although she got along with most of the Shinigami she’d encountered that didn’t mean their leaders were good people. She wasn’t so naive to believe that an organization with noble goals was always led by noble hearts.

“Just because you can’t be reincarnated doesn’t mean you don’t have a life, you’re a loud individual with too much personality Hoshi. Don’t let what others believe get you down or change you. I’m a little jealous that you know what your powers are already before you can use them. I just figured out how to unleash my Fullbring and it seems it's not enough already.” Scarlet rocked her head from shoulder to shoulder doing her best to rid her body of the stress. “It's only been a year, I’m certain I’ll find the neach level.”

Speaking more to herself than Hoshi for a moment, she was ready to head to a hospital now. Her right hand was causing her enough pain now that it wasn’t just trembling, but she was losing feeling. The only sensation beyond pain was cold. So she listened to the rest of what Hoshi was saying while doing her best to control her hand. She didn’t give him any answer until after she’d walked through the tree and then gave Joshua her number. “I’ll be seeing you again Hoshi.” Just like that with a smile Scarlet would vanish as she used Bringer Light.

[Hoshi]

For a moment, it seemed like there was a lot of uncertainty. A lot of hesitation. And yet the growing worry and concerns slowly ebbed away into realization that Scarlet wasn't mad at Hoshi but instead was reflecting. She was like him after all, just a bit more subdued, and would normally have immediately responded but this momentary pause could only really have stemmed from her thinking over what Hoshi said. Considering I'm not being socked in the face again; I'll consider this a win. Especially since that could have been anything but if she'd found issue with how I talked about her idea. Still though I'm surprised she doesn't have anything to say over the weapon part. Maybe she doesn't know much about shinigami? I may have to teach her about them too sometime.

Hoshi almost lost himself in thought when he heard Scarlet speaking. What came out of her mouth, wasn't even on the next century's radar, let alone his own. His eye sockets blinked, and his draw literally dropped into the sky below them. He was, well and truly, at a loss for words. She'd just acknowledged HIM. Not the program, not the powers, but Hoshi. The possible living(?) being or at least the personality that he'd made for himself. He found himself rapidly being overwhelmed with several emotions at once, and considering he'd lost his jaw to the abyss beneath them, couldn't say anything. Which was probably for the best as anything he could have said, would likely have fucked up the moment if his track record is anything to go by. Either way he'd have to let her words settle in more with time as at the moment he couldn't really figure out how to handle it all.

Despite his loss of jaw and emotional overwhelmed state, he did not miss the last bit of her comments. Truthfully, he could understand her jealousy though . . . his came at a high cost of knowing what he could do and being unnaturally inhibited by his past. Literally. Not exactly a trade he'd take again but still, it would be frustrating if you didn't know how far you could go. What you could do. Let alone how to do it. He wondered if Scarlet had some insecurities about her fullbring. Still, she seemed like she was capable with it and likely was going to figure out the next step from here, so Hoshi wasn't all that worried. He had faith in her. Maybe one day I can ask her to join me in burning down Soul Society. I don't doubt she'll be capable of it given she almost speared me through from the get-go. I gotta wonder what she'll be capable of from here on out.

As Scarlet walked past the tree and returned to the park and a much more normal world Hoshi would quickly find himself behind her. His form immediately flickering out of existence and catching the last couple moments with a big ass goofy smile on his face. She quickly spoke to Joshua, likely giving him her number. Then smiled and disappeared. As his form vanished, and his existence functionally dulled into the confines of his pill Hoshi was mentally screaming. FUCK YEA WE'RE BUDS! And they'll likely help out Xcution on the side! SO DOUBLE WIN! I wish she'd joined but maybe this recruiting thing takes a bit longer than I thought. Hmm . . . We'll see what she thinks next time we meet up, hopefully for a mission to crack skulls in. I can't fucking wait!

[Shizuka Sanamizu ✮]

Hoshi: 10 posts x 75 TP = 750 TP
2+2+1 = 5 extra paragraphs x 10 TP = 50 TP
100 TP for winning
750 + 50 + 100 = 900 x 30% social bonus = 270 + 900 = 1,170 TP total
52 paragraphs x 150 ryo per paragraph = 7,800 ryo for submitting a report on the victory

Scarlet: 9 posts x 75 TP = 675 TP
4+1+1+2+2 = 10 extra paragraphs x 10 TP = 100 TP
675 + 100 = 775 x 20% social bonus = 155 + 775 = 930 TP total