[The ears and tail are unusual, for certain, but V holds stranger sights in his memories ā not to mention his passing notice of individuals with equally odd features just on the way to the house. His eyes linger on her leporine-shaped ears for just a half second, before he offers her a barely-tilted grin.
She seems energetic, far more than he could often hope to be; not to mention she appears more suited to this training hall, or at least more capable of picking up these particularly massive weapons just hanging on their rack.]
A greataxe? I wonder. [But sheās so easily picking up that sword, and so maybe he shouldnāt be too surprised. V tucks his cane under his arm as he considers the weapons rack again ā and yes, there it is. A very large axe.
He reaches out to grab it by its haft, but even a practice greataxe is heckinā heavy. V staggers forward in a slight lurch with the weight of it, but at least he doesnāt topple over.]
[ Juniper is distracted looking for a greataxe in the entirely wrong place; she nearly misses when V finds one and then takes it upon himself to take it off of the rack, but the sound of his exertion certainly catches her attention. She practically bunny-hops over with the greatsword, one hand extended to take the greataxe off of his hands. ]
Oh, you didn't have to grab it for me, sir! But thank you!
[ ... Now she is standing with a greatsword in one hand and a greataxe in the other. ]
...I don't think I can dual-wield these.
[ And so with just a little bit of awkwardness she manages to get the greatsword back onto the rack, taking the place of the greataxe. ]
[How he adjusts after she removes the burden of the greataxe is hard to miss. He throws a foot back to catch his balance, then straightens, watching her hold both weapons in her hands as though it were easy.]
Maybe not, but...
[He takes his cane by the handle again, leaning on it as the tip clacks gently against the floor.]
The fact that you can wield even one is impressive in its own right. [He won't stop her from putting the greatsword back.] Something of a warrior, are you?
[ ... ]
Perhaps you'll indulge me with a favor if that's the case.
[ Juniper is certainly taking note of V's seemingly frail state, but she knows better than to make assumptions, knowing full well that someone's physical state doesn't equate to their being helpless. After all, where she's from, people with low Strength scores can wind up being powerful mages! She does wish she could have helped him with the axe, but it's all turned out alright, so she doesn't fuss over it further.
Besides, she is far too distracted by being called a warrior! Her posture straightens proudly at that, squaring her shoulders as a smile spreads on her lips. ]
I am. A warrior and an adventurer, really! Heh!
[ And as such, she is utterly intrigued by the mention of a favor. It this... a āØ quest āØ that she can take on!? ]
I'm at your service, sir! What can I help you with?!
[Warrior and adventurer. Heād say he knows the type, those who perk up at the mention of a challenge, but he hardly wants to give credit where itās due when it comes to his recollection of certain people.
At any rate, it works out for him. During his short stint amid the tutorial, the necessity of being able to fend for oneself was more than apparent. And with him being reduced to this state again, well. Heās due for a bit of practice against someone who knows what theyāre doing.
[ Oh... She did it, moms and dads! Someone called her intrepid adventurer! She's the real deal!! Her ears twitch excitedly while she steps back, too. ]
Juniper Veltris! But just "Juni" is fine, too!
[ She readies her stance, the grip of her hands firm on the haft of the greataxe. ]
[He doesnāt know that heās the bringer of new and exciting titles, but he would certainly be humored if he did.]
Juni, then.
[Heāll abide by a nickname if requested. Heād be a hypocrite not to.]
But no, it isnāt magic. Not exactly. Let me show you.
[He extends his free arm to the side, and the tattoo-like markings along his skin writhe and move as though they suddenly have a life of their own. In fact, that darkness slides down the length of his arm, coagulating at the bottom, until some of it leaps off of his skin and formsāwith inky, malleable, and goopy movementāa panther!
Large, with red eyes and a swishing tail. It sits next to V, looking up at Juni.]
ā¦This is Shadow. A demon, and one of my familiars. But donāt worry; itās a well trained ākittyā, but it should be able to keep you on your toes. At least for a little while.
[All of him feels so much weaker (and that's saying a lot), and Shadow, included. But might as well see how this goes.]
[ Juniper watches with rapt attention as V demonstrates his...
...It's magic, but he says it's not exactly so, but this definitely seems like magic to her! ]
O—Ohh! Your tattoo came to life and became one of your familiars! And what a majestic one, at that!
[ If Shadow had flowers all over their fur, they would almost look like one of Mom 1's Wild Shapes... ]
Well, it's a pleasure to meet you and Shadow both, Mister V! [ Formalities are hard to drop with this one when it comes to folks who are older than she is. ] If it's alright with you both, I'll be relying on my wild magic a little bit, but... I don't have control over it!
V doesn't correct the mister part. As long as it's attached to his "name", then it doesn't sound quite so odd in his ears. Shadow remains waiting patiently, not taking any action until told otherwise.]
You can rely on whatever it is you like. Controlled or not. Though I admit, I don't exactly know what wild magic is. You can either explain... or you can leave it as a surprise. For the both of us.
[ The spar begins in earnest, and Juniper's eyes alight with an almost crazed excitement as she adjusts her stance in order to ready herself to meet Shadow's incoming claw attack
In that moment, a battle cry tears out of her, and a surge of magic erupts just as she steps forward, greataxe in mid-swing— ]
[ And then she up and blinks right out of existence, leaving little more than a little twinkle of magic behind where she had been.
But worry not! Just as suddenly as she vanishes, she reappears some thirty or so feet away, putting her somewhere behind V, though the momentum of her movement still propels her. The sudden teleportation has certainly thrown her off, and causes her to swing her greataxe into a column. Oh. Hopefully that was decorative and not load-bearing? ]
[She's there, and then she's gone. Shadow lands with all four paws on the ground, crouched where Juni once stood, growling faintly. Both familiar and master look dimly surprised, but V isn't terribly confused, at least. He's been privy to a teleportation trick or two in his time. Even in this body, he can manage it (when he's not been reduced to level 1), so he has wisdom enough to cut his gaze around the training hall to see where she could have gone off to-]
...She wasn't joking when she said her magicks were unpredictable, was she? Perhaps now V realizes that this doesn't necessarily mean only to his detriment.
The column cracks worrisomely. Yeah, hopefully that's not important.]
[ A nervous laugh bubbles up out of her as she grips the haft of her greataxe tighter with her hands and yanks the thing out of the column. She's probably going to have to talk to someone about that and apologize later, huh... She's going to forget to, but it's just as well that the hall repairs itself even if she doesn't know that quite yet.
Greataxe now freed, she takes in another deep breath and then nods decisively. ]
Alright. Here I go again!
[ Wild magic is exactly what it sounds like - wild, and unpredictable. But now that Juniper knows what form it has taken for this bout... she can hope to use it to her advantage. So again she strides forward with her greataxe at the ready, once again twinkling out of physical space—
And this time reappearing closer to V, though not quite within range for a swing of her axe, still. ]
[The crack left in the column is a little worrisome, but V is not the sort of man who worries about property damage because heās a DMC character. As long as the ceiling isnāt suddenly caving in, heās as game to continue as they are ā and this is without the knowledge of the room repairing itself, too.]
Once more, then.
[So, at least he has somewhat of an idea of what to expect when it comes to her magic, and he gestures towards Juni with his cane. Shadow takes that as a command, apparently, loping toward her in a run again, snarling.
But then she teleports again, quickly, and directly in front of V; not quite close enough to be in range of that axe, but close enough to where he takes a backstep.]
Careful. Iām not your only opponent.
[Because that leaves Shadow angled behind her, and the beast doesnāt leap forward again this time. It stations itself in place, and its headā¦ warps and transforms into a whip-like extension, the end of it sharp, and long, and lashing right towards her.]
Juniper, freshly teleported, knows that she cannot do so again for another moment, and so she has no choice but to whirl around to meet Shadow head-on - or whip-on, as it were. ]
Whoa there, kitty-cat!
[ She will try to take a swing at that extension, not necessarily to slash at it but to simply use the head of her greataxe to deflect it away from her somewhat! ]
[She does manage to deflect, resounding a clank! despite Shadow not appearing to be made of anything metal. Clearly, it's a very sharp kitty when it needs to be. The whip extension retracts back into its head, forming the shape of a snarling panther again.]
Did you forget?
[...He has a feeling she totally forgot. Maybe this practice session is beneficial for them both in different ways, then.
Anyway, V is slowly taking a few steps back while Shadow produces three pointy tendrils from its back, leaping forward again and twisting its body to whip them simultaneously at Juniper. As the summoner of sorts, he's fairly useless if and until his familiars can weaken the enemy; until then, V will stay far back, thanks, and hope she forgets about him, instead.]
[ Juniper's brow hitches up at that contact; she had been expecting the tendril to feel more... plantlike, a vine of sorts, so that clank! is most peculiar and intriguing indeed! On top - naturally - of the fact that said tendril then reshapes itself into Shadow's head. Cool. Oh, what an interesting opponent— opponents</> she is facing! ]
I— Maybe! But I won't forget again!
[ There is about a 50% chance she will forget again.
Juniper plants her feet firmly in her stance once more, readying herself to take the blow. In a team, it is her job to take the hits, to be steadfast and sturdy so that those with abilities more akin to V's can focus on delivering damage. But in a one-on-one (two-on-one) like this, she has to think differently. Conjured beings like familiars are worthy opponents indeed, and can certainly turn the tide of a battle, but in the end they are not the main opponent. And from her experience, the one sure way to fell such beings...
...Is to target their master. She must remember this, she must stay focused on this....
...Maybe after playing with the kitty just a little bit. She wants to test her skills against Shadow too, after all, and so she first lunges forward to meet the kitty head-on once more. Knowing now that the tendrils are much tougher than initially thought, she won't try to slash away at them, but instead she'll swing her axe and try to harness her wild magic once more—
And this time, when she teleports, she ends up directly beside Shadow, right within striking distance! ]
Ah, it worked!
[ And then she will try to take a swing at the panther! ]
[She's right: if V's incapacitated or otherwise weakened, then it's hard to summon the strengthāno pun intendedāto keep Shadow on the battlefield. Thus his interest in remaining at a relatively safe distance away from the main fight. It's a strategy that has served him well in the past, if only because heās had no other choice.
Shadowās tendrils, meanwhile, strike only thin air. Sheās already teleported and reappeared directly behind the familiar, and it hears her and twists on its four legs to meet her head-on, but by then itās already too late. The axe comes down and collides straight into the panther, and it loses form, splitting into two dark waves, as though she had struck black, liquid mercury rather than a physical shape.
Hard to tell if sheās done any damage to it, then, but by Vās frown over in the distance, she likely has.]
Mmn.
[Tricky, tricky.
Shadow reforms, though, at her side. Thereās a moment of disorientation, probably wrought from having been cleaved in two, but then itās swiping at her with a huge claw that simply turns into the shape of a pointed scythe.]
[ She knows that her greataxe has found purchase on this beast, but as its form splits fluidly, Juniper's eyes go wide, and she nearly stumbles on her feet from the continued momentum of swinging a giant axe into something that she thought wouldn't quite have so much give. ]
Hahh... Ah!?
[ Wait a second. This is... This is awesome, isn't it!? To fight a beast with such a form...! In short order, Juniper's surprised noises tumble right into an almost mad laughter. Barbarians, man...
The laughing can't go on for too long, because soon Shadow is reconstituting itself next to her and swiping at her with a scythe. It's with just barely enough time that Juniper manages to raise her greataxe to block the blow with its haft, but the force of the blow does cause her to stumble back on her feet a bit. ]
Hahaha! You are one fun little kitty, but I'll see you later, okay!?
[ And then poof! She's gone again, this time reappearing closer to V. However, she isn't exactly poised to take a swing at him, so when she pops back in, all she can really offer is: ]
[Another loud clank!, another deflection. Shadow still hits hard, V notes, but its attacks are simplistic and straightforward. It really does appear like his familiar has been "reset" to a weaker, or at least a less versatile, version of itself. Perhaps this was expected, though it's still worrisome to see it in action; but best he learn about it now than later, right?
Shadow lets out a growl as Juni teleports away again. It lurches around and makes to move in her direction.
But V, on the other hand, has to deal with her close proximity now.]
...Ah.
[His strategy is a lot less, impressive... shall we say... when he has to deal with a strong enemy up-close.]
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She seems energetic, far more than he could often hope to be; not to mention she appears more suited to this training hall, or at least more capable of picking up these particularly massive weapons just hanging on their rack.]
A greataxe? I wonder. [But sheās so easily picking up that sword, and so maybe he shouldnāt be too surprised. V tucks his cane under his arm as he considers the weapons rack again ā and yes, there it is. A very large axe.
He reaches out to grab it by its haft, but even a practice greataxe is heckinā heavy. V staggers forward in a slight lurch with the weight of it, but at least he doesnāt topple over.]
Ahā¦ [h e a v y] Here you are.
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Oh, you didn't have to grab it for me, sir! But thank you!
[ ... Now she is standing with a greatsword in one hand and a greataxe in the other. ]
...I don't think I can dual-wield these.
[ And so with just a little bit of awkwardness she manages to get the greatsword back onto the rack, taking the place of the greataxe. ]
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Maybe not, but...
[He takes his cane by the handle again, leaning on it as the tip clacks gently against the floor.]
The fact that you can wield even one is impressive in its own right. [He won't stop her from putting the greatsword back.] Something of a warrior, are you?
[ ... ]
Perhaps you'll indulge me with a favor if that's the case.
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Besides, she is far too distracted by being called a warrior! Her posture straightens proudly at that, squaring her shoulders as a smile spreads on her lips. ]
I am. A warrior and an adventurer, really! Heh!
[ And as such, she is utterly intrigued by the mention of a favor. It this... a āØ quest āØ that she can take on!? ]
I'm at your service, sir! What can I help you with?!
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At any rate, it works out for him. During his short stint amid the tutorial, the necessity of being able to fend for oneself was more than apparent. And with him being reduced to this state again, well. Heās due for a bit of practice against someone who knows what theyāre doing.
So, he raises his cane, waggling it at her idly.]
Fight me. Just for a few minutes.
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What if it's a super special fancy weapon!?
Duly intrigued now, it's only natural that she rise up to the challenge! She nods readily, her eyes brightening with the prospect of a spar. ]
Oh! I would love to spar, sir! I'm always looking for an opportunity to test my abilities!
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But he just grins a little wider, stepping back a few paces.]
You don't need to call me that. "Sir". I go by V.
[He supposes they should exchange names first, huh?]
And who might you be, intrepid adventurer? Before we begin.
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Juniper Veltris! But just "Juni" is fine, too!
[ She readies her stance, the grip of her hands firm on the haft of the greataxe. ]
Oh, also... Do you use magic, by any chance?
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Juni, then.
[Heāll abide by a nickname if requested. Heād be a hypocrite not to.]
But no, it isnāt magic. Not exactly. Let me show you.
[He extends his free arm to the side, and the tattoo-like markings along his skin writhe and move as though they suddenly have a life of their own. In fact, that darkness slides down the length of his arm, coagulating at the bottom, until some of it leaps off of his skin and formsāwith inky, malleable, and goopy movementāa panther!
Large, with red eyes and a swishing tail. It sits next to V, looking up at Juni.]
ā¦This is Shadow. A demon, and one of my familiars. But donāt worry; itās a well trained ākittyā, but it should be able to keep you on your toes. At least for a little while.
[All of him feels so much weaker (and that's saying a lot), and Shadow, included. But might as well see how this goes.]
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...It's magic, but he says it's not exactly so, but this definitely seems like magic to her! ]
O—Ohh! Your tattoo came to life and became one of your familiars! And what a majestic one, at that!
[ If Shadow had flowers all over their fur, they would almost look like one of Mom 1's Wild Shapes... ]
Well, it's a pleasure to meet you and Shadow both, Mister V! [ Formalities are hard to drop with this one when it comes to folks who are older than she is. ] If it's alright with you both, I'll be relying on my wild magic a little bit, but... I don't have control over it!
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he's like a month and a half oldV doesn't correct the mister part. As long as it's attached to his "name", then it doesn't sound quite so odd in his ears. Shadow remains waiting patiently, not taking any action until told otherwise.]
You can rely on whatever it is you like. Controlled or not. Though I admit, I don't exactly know what wild magic is. You can either explain... or you can leave it as a surprise. For the both of us.
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BABY BOY. BABY!?]It's— [ woof. Her head still feels a bit discombobulated from this whole ordeal. ] It's... Um.
[ ... ]
I can tell you later, I promise! All you need to know is that it's a little unpredictable... I'm ready to begin whenever you are!
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All right, then. Ready.
[A half-beat of a moment just to be sure of the readiness of both, and then V clicks his cane against the floor.
Shadow lurches up to its feet, growling, starting simply enough. It begins with a leap, claws outstretched, right in Juni's direction!]
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In that moment, a battle cry tears out of her, and a surge of magic erupts just as she steps forward, greataxe in mid-swing— ]
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But worry not! Just as suddenly as she vanishes, she reappears some thirty or so feet away, putting her somewhere behind V, though the momentum of her movement still propels her. The sudden teleportation has certainly thrown her off, and causes her to swing her greataxe into a column. Oh. Hopefully that was decorative and not load-bearing? ]
—Woops!
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...She wasn't joking when she said her magicks were unpredictable, was she? Perhaps now V realizes that this doesn't necessarily mean only to his detriment.
The column cracks worrisomely. Yeah, hopefully that's not important.]
...Do you need a moment?
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[ A nervous laugh bubbles up out of her as she grips the haft of her greataxe tighter with her hands and yanks the thing out of the column. She's probably going to have to talk to someone about that and apologize later, huh... She's going to forget to, but it's just as well that the hall repairs itself even if she doesn't know that quite yet.
Greataxe now freed, she takes in another deep breath and then nods decisively. ]
Alright. Here I go again!
[ Wild magic is exactly what it sounds like - wild, and unpredictable. But now that Juniper knows what form it has taken for this bout... she can hope to use it to her advantage. So again she strides forward with her greataxe at the ready, once again twinkling out of physical space—
And this time reappearing closer to V, though not quite within range for a swing of her axe, still. ]
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because heās a DMC character. As long as the ceiling isnāt suddenly caving in, heās as game to continue as they are ā and this is without the knowledge of the room repairing itself, too.]Once more, then.
[So, at least he has somewhat of an idea of what to expect when it comes to her magic, and he gestures towards Juni with his cane. Shadow takes that as a command, apparently, loping toward her in a run again, snarling.
But then she teleports again, quickly, and directly in front of V; not quite close enough to be in range of that axe, but close enough to where he takes a backstep.]
Careful. Iām not your only opponent.
[Because that leaves Shadow angled behind her, and the beast doesnāt leap forward again this time. It stations itself in place, and its headā¦ warps and transforms into a whip-like extension, the end of it sharp, and long, and lashing right towards her.]
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[ She forgot!?
Juniper, freshly teleported, knows that she cannot do so again for another moment, and so she has no choice but to whirl around to meet Shadow head-on - or whip-on, as it were. ]
Whoa there, kitty-cat!
[ She will try to take a swing at that extension, not necessarily to slash at it but to simply use the head of her greataxe to deflect it away from her somewhat! ]
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Did you forget?
[...He has a feeling she totally forgot. Maybe this practice session is beneficial for them both in different ways, then.
Anyway, V is slowly taking a few steps back while Shadow produces three pointy tendrils from its back, leaping forward again and twisting its body to whip them simultaneously at Juniper. As the summoner of sorts, he's fairly useless if and until his familiars can weaken the enemy; until then, V will stay far back, thanks, and hope she forgets about him, instead.]
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I— Maybe! But I won't forget again!
[ There is about a 50% chance she will forget again.
Juniper plants her feet firmly in her stance once more, readying herself to take the blow. In a team, it is her job to take the hits, to be steadfast and sturdy so that those with abilities more akin to V's can focus on delivering damage. But in a one-on-one (two-on-one) like this, she has to think differently. Conjured beings like familiars are worthy opponents indeed, and can certainly turn the tide of a battle, but in the end they are not the main opponent. And from her experience, the one sure way to fell such beings...
...Is to target their master. She must remember this, she must stay focused on this....
...Maybe after playing with the kitty just a little bit. She wants to test her skills against Shadow too, after all, and so she first lunges forward to meet the kitty head-on once more. Knowing now that the tendrils are much tougher than initially thought, she won't try to slash away at them, but instead she'll swing her axe and try to harness her wild magic once more—
And this time, when she teleports, she ends up directly beside Shadow, right within striking distance! ]
Ah, it worked!
[ And then she will try to take a swing at the panther! ]
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Shadowās tendrils, meanwhile, strike only thin air. Sheās already teleported and reappeared directly behind the familiar, and it hears her and twists on its four legs to meet her head-on, but by then itās already too late. The axe comes down and collides straight into the panther, and it loses form, splitting into two dark waves, as though she had struck black, liquid mercury rather than a physical shape.
Hard to tell if sheās done any damage to it, then, but by Vās frown over in the distance, she likely has.]
Mmn.
[Tricky, tricky.
Shadow reforms, though, at her side. Thereās a moment of disorientation, probably wrought from having been cleaved in two, but then itās swiping at her with a huge claw that simply turns into the shape of a pointed scythe.]
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Hahh... Ah!?
[ Wait a second. This is... This is awesome, isn't it!? To fight a beast with such a form...! In short order, Juniper's surprised noises tumble right into an almost mad laughter. Barbarians, man...
The laughing can't go on for too long, because soon Shadow is reconstituting itself next to her and swiping at her with a scythe. It's with just barely enough time that Juniper manages to raise her greataxe to block the blow with its haft, but the force of the blow does cause her to stumble back on her feet a bit. ]
Hahaha! You are one fun little kitty, but I'll see you later, okay!?
[ And then poof! She's gone again, this time reappearing closer to V. However, she isn't exactly poised to take a swing at him, so when she pops back in, all she can really offer is: ]
— Hello, again! I didn't forget this time!
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Shadow lets out a growl as Juni teleports away again. It lurches around and makes to move in her direction.
But V, on the other hand, has to deal with her close proximity now.]
...Ah.
[His strategy is a lot less, impressive... shall we say... when he has to deal with a strong enemy up-close.]
I see you're taking the direct route.
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