After the mission Heroes in Disguise

[no99]

As the mission ended, Suma took an interest in a certain person by the name of Genjurou. Rather than head back directly to the UG base, she got him to agree to a sparring match, fist to fist, not to be satisfied until she stood triumphant or lacked the strength to stand at all.

Which is why when she did come back, it was several hours late, and she looked like someone had run her over with a train made out of fists. As she limped back to the housing area, she stopped occasionally to catch her breath or laugh like a maniac.

"Oh, what an era to be living in, with warriors such as these!"

Comments

[modern_ancient]

Njall looked at her with a vague look of concern and offered no help whatsoever.

"You look like shit."

[no99]

"Don't let anyone tell you that the modern age lacks the old warrior spirit, Njall. I can't remember the last time I lost a fight so decisively."

[modern_ancient]

"I wouldn't dream of suggesting that."

After a moment's pondering, he added on "Though you have to admit, no one gnaws on their shield in rage or charges into battle naked any more."

[no99]

Snort. "I expect most people inclined to do the latter died before they could sire children."

[modern_ancient]

"A berserker only needed to survive one battle. After that he could generally sire as many children as he had the stamina for while celebrating the victory. It was a noble and respected art of war."

[no99]

"Surviving that one battle of charging naked at the enemy army became a lot harder once the automatic rifle was invented."

[modern_ancient]

Cough.

"Well. Yes. That's largely why no one does it anymore. I've never REALLY liked guns."

[no99]

"Aye, they make everything too easy. War should be left to those who have the resolve to skewer a man's heart face to face."

[dolorous_sensei]

You seem happy for someone who looked like a train ran over you.

[no99]

I survived. From defeat, one learns the height of the next wall to climb.

[abugslife]

Someone seems to stay in good morale.

[no99]

I am not in the habit of wallowing in despair. Nothing good comes of it.

[abugslife]

Keeping an optimistic view on life is good, as long as it does not cloud your judgement on the situation. I would like to remind you that you are covered in bruises, by the way.

[no99]

Indeed I am! Reminders of the great distance between myself and the pinnacle of strength.

[abugslife]

Do you aspire to reach the pinnacle of strength?

[no99]

I desire strength, but not for its own sake. Strength is a gateway to greater battles.

[abugslife]

Is that what you desire, then? Fighting in greater and greater battles forever, for no other purpose than glory of the fight itself, until one day the fight turns out to be too great even for you and you perish in it?

[no99]

Yes! That, exactly. Marvelously put.

[genericbiggerbrother]

Yancy runs across Suma while taking an evening constitutional, and then gapes.

"Christ lady! Did a Kaiju try and use you as catnip?"

[no99]

His gape is met with a sidelong grin.

"I very much wish to fight a Kaiju some day. However, my defeat was at the hands of a man, not a monster."

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Well, if you know anyone you think you might be Drift Compatible with," Yancy says, putting a hand on his hip, "feel free to head on down to the PPDC office; tell 'em Yancy Beckett vouched for you!"

After a moment of preening, he takes a closer looks at your bruises and inhales sharply. "So who's the fella that kicked the crap out of you?"

[no99]

"His name was Genjurou." Suma isn't even looking at Yancy, lost in her memory of the match. "Never have I seen such strength in a man. His fists could bring down buildings."

[genericbiggerbrother]

"What?" Yancy blurts out, skeptical looking.

"No way. You gotta be messing with me."

[no99]

"This world has many strange things in it. A man with such power does not so much as make the top ten."

[genericbiggerbrother]

"...was it one of the top ten that took your eye?" Yancy asks softly.