Yes, I'll meet you coming back when the universe has expanded

[azumods]

[Mars' chains had faded away as soon as the chains on Palkia had shattered, that unnatural red glow leaving her eyes; she doesn't stumble, to her credit, and seems to be trying to resist the urge to flinch or anything, but she's...not precisely looking too hot, either. Not like she's going to faint or anything, just like she's been through A Lot.

Jupiter is staying near her for the time being; ultimately, she's the one that addresses you.]

You guys can stay here if you want. Or don't, I don't care enough to insist. But we've got food and beds that probably beat the Center's, at least.

We'll be around, either way. Since I doubt you guys are just going to leave us alone after all that. Do what you want.


[OOC: Consider this a log to cover both any afterparty whatnot you want to get up to, as well as something to carry over into Sunday! Both Jupiter and Mars will be available for NPC threads on this particular log, should they be desired.]

Comments

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[Sena jogs up to her side when he does find Jupiter, somehow both surprised and not surprised to find her there.]

Oh...there you are! [Sheepish grin.] Somehow, I should have known you'd be here...

[azumods]

Just making sure nobody broke anything. And by "nobody" I mean "our resident god of space."

[It's light, though; she'll turn to face you properly.]

Yesterday was kind of a mess, you sleep okay?

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[...okay who is this and what have they done with Jupiter. He's feeling slightly off-kilter, like when Hiruma acted all gentlemanly during the field day at school. But surely, she's not plotting anything like he was back then?]

Er, yeah!

[He tilts his head, admittedly a little confused.]

I figure I should have asked you that, though...

[azumods]

[She shrugs.]

Putting it plainly? I've been better. Nothing much to do about it now, though.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Oh. Er...sorry...

[Sena.]

I actually wanted to ask you something...but if now is a bad time...

[azumods]

Now's as good a time as any. Go ahead, kid.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Er, well...this might be a little silly since you and Mars have kinda already stopped with Palkia and all that, but I was wondering if, er...we could still battle?

[He looks so, so sheepish asking that.]

Just like, a small practice match or something, if it bothers you that much, nothing big or anything, ah...

[azumods]

[...]

Yeah. I'd like that, actually.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[!!!]

Really?

[Wow, he thought he'd have to wheedle at and convince you for something like that.]

That's great! [And now he's worrying that he's sounding a little too eager.] I mean, ah...

[azumods]

Wow. This is the most excited I've seen someone get about getting beaten down.

[It's. It's light, don't worry.]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Ahaha, well...

[He's not going to openly say he has no chance, because he's trying to not be so doubtful and wants to keep that confidence of winning, so instead...]

I just...wanted to see how far I've come. And, um.

[His smile grows a little softer when he says his next words, like they're something he's thought of for a while now.]

I...think it'll help us figure out where, um. We stand.

[...he doesn't mean just between him and Jupiter, does he.]

[azumods]

You want to know what your odds are going to be at the end, or what?

[Like, are we trying to gauge how hard Cyrus is going to curbstomp you here, or.]

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Kinda?

[He's pretty sure if he can't beat Jupiter then he has absolutely zero chance against Cyrus, so.]

I guess it's more like...I think battling each other will help us answer some questions about ourselves?

[Why they all manage to keep pushing forward, no matter what. Why Saturn and Jupiter and Mars eventually conceded to this will, despite really having no reason to do so. Things like that.]

[azumods]

[...]

What is it you do, kid? Back home.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Huh?

[He didn't expect that.]

I play American Football...why?

[azumods]

You think about a lot of stuff most people don't. Not a bad thing.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

E-eh? Really...? I wouldn't say it like that...

[He doesn't think of himself as particularly smart or anything, so hearing something like that is a surprise. Again: where's the real Jupiter?]

I mean...it's not like American Football's a sport that's supposed to inspire a lot of thought or anything, it's all about strength and proving yourself...

[Still...]

I just...I guess playing it has made me figure out some things...made me realize that I could do things that I never imagined myself doing. I'm definitely not the same person as when I first started, and I don't think I'm going to still be the same person when I go back to keep playing...I guess coming here is inspiring the same kind of feeling. It's all still so new to me, you know?

[This whole...being confident in himself thing. Being a leader. Being strong.]

[azumods]

I guess saving the world does that to people.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

I think it'd do a lot of things to people...

[Nervous laughter.]

But, uh, you're not wrong about that, either...

[azumods]

Master Cyrus is going to wipe the floor with you, you know.

[She's just kind of stating it as fact.]

No matter what we "figure out" about each other. He's got the Creator with him, and as long as that stands he's going to destroy you. You get that, right?

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

[At that, Sena flinches.]

Hieeegh...why'd you have to remind me of something that scary...

[...so yes. he gets it. Even if he won't let himself admit the possibility of losing, he knows that it's there. he acknowledges it. he just won't give up on the chance of winning, either.

Eventually, though, he stops cowering and looks at her somewhat more levelly, clearly confused about the point she's making.]

But...that doesn't make figuring it out worth any less, does it?

[azumods]

Maybe not.

[She shrugs.]

I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up too high. Even if he does want to talk to you like you guys were saying.

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

I mean...I know that much, at least...it's not like just because you've won a few matches, you stop practicing, right? That means you're being cocky...

[Imagine. Sena being cocky.]

But...you know, it's not like we got this far by abandoning all our hopes either, so...

[azumods]

Kid, you don't have a cocky bone in your body.

[wow, jupiter.]

What are you guys even planning on doing when you go to meet him, anyway? Just...hoping at him, or what?

[swiftasacoursingkawa]

Ah...ha ha...

[Was that an insult or a compliment?]

Er...honestly, I'm not sure. I don't think we ever came at these things with any kind of plan...