Cross Effects > Areas
Swole City
YOLF:
Yusho
"I am. Even like this. And yet you were just saying you'd put me in the ground," he scoffed, but his grip on Roman loosed up. "Can you see the extent to which this monster body of yours helps, now? It might as well be nothing in the face of your dreams, and even if it wasn't, you're not using it right."
yinsukin:
Roman
He is taunting me, just like them.
That feeling of frustration, helplessness. It was cradled in his heart, sealed in by the ribcage of inferiority. An image flashed through his mind. A ten year old Roman stood on the edge of a basketball court, staring at a group of kids all huddled together. Their eyes shone with a great power. "Sorry, you can't play with us, you'd only get hurt." That day Roman had learned that you can be surrounded by people, have their kindness extended to you in perfect authenticity and still feel alone.
Another image flashed through his mind. The still young but older eighteen year old Roman watched as his classmate informed him he was going to be training in the first district. Another classmate that day had told him she was leaving that day to go work under someone in pine guardian. Turns out if you manifest certain type of magic, you can make a killing constructing houses and augmenting jewlery. Both of them gave him that look, like they were watching a starving puppy, a creature that would never amount to anything.
There was a book in the library that was placed on a pedestal, filled with figures who had influenced the nexus for the better. Most of them had special powers or were otherwise born abnormal. They were special, except one. Chief Yamada. According to all the information he absorbed about the man, he was one of the few born with nothing. It was his discipline and strength of will that allowed him to stand above the rest. It was then that Roman thought to himself.
Maybe I can also be special, powerful, wipe that look off of their faces. One day they will all be under my foot. Thats what he thought as he cocked his arm back for another punch. They may be sloppy, but if he got even one hit in, then at least he would feel good.
"It wasn't for nothing Yusho! I am something now! I can train forever if I need to! I can fight all day now. So what if i'm slower. I can kick your ass all over the map if I just tire your old ass out!"
The fist shot forward, once again aimed for his face.
YOLF:
Yusho
His mouth parted, hollow of words, for the vivid, heated window into Roman's mind that his expression was in that moment. It felt like a peek into something he wasn't intended to see. He wondered if that was how he looked when he realized the follies of his hearthmates, and nearly all his ties seemed to become lies overnight. He was no longer a young man then, for all the good it did him, but still his heart had wanted nothing more than to scatter to Mela's bitterly cold huffs. Instead, he was forced to stand and face the demanding world like a stone, arm and spirit more solid than he'd ever been. His monk sash and the respect of his religious siblings were only the first casualties of that decision, but in hindsight even a him a decade younger would have realized it was the only right one.
Yusho's thoughts went too far away to rightly see the wind-up blow headed his way. He hastened to raise his forearm, and blocked the punch an inch from his face with a dull and somewhat painful thud.
"I don't look that old, darned kid!" He glowered, stomping the ground. Uncompliant to the sting of his yet-unhealed injuries in his abdomen, he struck at Roman with a palm to the middle of the chest. His glare had softened, but he retorted like a knife. "Maybe you can train forever. But will you?"
Yusho shook his head.
"I'm not here as your enemy, Roman, and I don't want to see you down a path where you become mine. You said you want to be remembered, but by who? Be honest. Will the strength of a monster, or the strength of a martial artist make you shine for them? To temper strength, to remind you of why you do things, to bring you the calm you need to know and improve yourself, it's best to have a solid anchor."
yinsukin:
Roman
Roman's eyes widened as Yusho blocked the punch. What happened there? It looked like he may have gotten closer, but the inexperienced Roman couldn't tell if Yusho let him get closer to prove a point or if he actually was doing slightly better. Either way, it fell short. The strike struck true and a clapping sound filled the air as Roman's eyes widened with pain. His entire torso stung, but his abdomen was healing.
"I know it will shine for them," he said, frowning and covering his chest with his hands. "Because they shined for me. Wealth, fame, power: those are the things that make us shine as individuals. Success is like romance. Everyone likes to pretend it doesn't have to do with sexual attraction but it does. We all care about how attractive our partners are. Power, strength: those attributes are the things that make people look at you and remember you. Without them...."
Roman could feel his heart sink. Clenching his fist, he ran up to Yusho, swinging his leg upwards in an akward kick, his toe threatening to strike him in the abdomen. "I don't matter!"
No matter what it takes. Never again did he want to feel such profound helplessness.
YOLF:
Yusho
Yusho grit his teeth and whipped a leg at Roman's clumsy kick, knocking it away, and then spun on the force, bending elbows close to his torso, and smacking Roman's chin with a spinning kick of his own.
"You're a bloated moron! An empty-headed swine! You think you're spitting high philosophy at me?" He yelled, sparks trailing from his beard. "Of course people are attracted to looks and strength! But people don't shine because of fame, they gain fame because they shine! And what of that shine? Millions of men know an empress, but how many of them know her? To how many of them does she matter, does she have any impact beyond understanding she rules far beyond what they will ever travel to see in life? If you tell yourself you don't matter, then you won't fucking matter even with all the power in the world! If you get as strong as me will you beat anyone to a pulp just so they know you exist? What's the point?! Do you want to be known for the sake of being known, or do you just want to feel superior so you can finally live your life safe? Which is it?"
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