you need to eat more protein. [CLOSED]

[covenantal]

Who: Akihiko Sanada bulked & Yu Narukami covenantal
When: IC: 5/9 ; OOC: WHENEVER IDK
Where: At the boxing... place?? ... where they work. --IT'S CALLED BEAR CLAWS.
What: Just coworkers meeting for the first time. It's fine. It'll go well.
Rating/Warning: B for Boxing? P for Protein? I don't know.

---

[ Ever since he got here a few months ago, Yu hasn't had any coworkers show up at Bear Claws. Boxing is kind of a weird profession when you've never done it before signing up to do it as a full time job. Before really settling into it, he ended up reading a few training manuals at the library just so he could try to be passably competent at it. Thankfully, most of his customers have been newbies at it too, so most of his learning experiences have been joint affairs.

Today definitely isn't the day he's finally expecting his very first coworker to walk in. ]

Comments

[bulked]

[ If he was going to be here a while, the least he could do was make himself useful and help with the rent. Besides, he wasn't about to just sit around at home, anyway. Just his luck that there was a boxing studio he could help out with. Akihiko wasted no time in getting his feet wet with work. Did this seriously even count as work? When he steps through the doors, already outfitted in gym shorts, a tanktop (whoa he wore a shirt!), and gloves, he looks more than ready to hit the ground running.

But right, he should check in with his co-worker first. His eyes light up in recognition once he approaches Yu. ]

Oh, hey, it's you. I didn't expect to see you here. I take it you're my new partner-in-crime? [ co-worker... ]

[covenantal]

[ Blink. It's ... that guy.

Then Yu smiles, lifting a hand in greeting. ]

Something like that.

[ Takes it in stride. ]

I've been here by myself ever since I got here. It'll be great to have company. Did we ever get a chance to introduce ourselves before?

[bulked]

Not really. [ Akihiko looks a bit embarrassed and diverts his gaze. Things got pretty blurry after the drinks had started to take their effect on him, and Akihiko wouldn't blame Yu if he had hightailed it out of there.

He deserves a second chance, right? He grins, extending his hand out in greeting. ]

The name's Akihiko Sanada. I look forward to working with you. Boxing's one of my favorite pastimes.

[covenantal]

Hey, don't worry about before. CERES does that to everyone. Well, not exactly that, but we all get thrown into strange things.

[ He says it with both kindness and confidence. Seriously, he doesn't mind. He's seen weirder. So much weirder. You don't know, buddy. He'll take that extended hand and shake it firmly. ]

Yu Narukami. It's a pleasure, Sanada-san. Is it? [ He looks a cross between genuinely relieved and a little guilty at that proclamation. ] That's great. I'm glad to hear it. When I was offered this as one of my jobs, I can't say I knew a thing about boxing, but it sounded fun. Anything you could teach me, I'd be seriously grateful for.

[bulked]

It all seems like they like playing a lot of pranks on people. But tell me, does it ever get to be too much? Are we in any real danger here?

[ It doesn't matter that this is only their second meeting, and only the first in which Akihiko can actually get a few words in. Any information Yu can provide is appreciated.

He grins at the admission. ]

Just the fact that you're willing to learn and pick it up as you go speaks volumes. Still, you should probably learn proper technique for everyone's safety. Let's get suited up. [ he's so ready ]

[covenantal]

Real danger?

[ He considers this, his own smile replaced by a look of thoughtfulness. He'll nod at what Akihiko says, stepping off to one side to pick up his own pair of gloves. He's dressed in a t-shirt and gym shorts himself, his fairly usual attire if he's not wearing a tanktop as well. The ring is in the center of the room, and this he'll return to as he answers. ]

Yeah. [ His answer is forthright and clear-eyed, but still calm. ] You can get killed if you're not careful. There are dangerous monsters out in the jungle, and just recently, ghosts attacked the city that could possess people and make them try to kill themselves. [ Pulling himself into the ring, clambering under the ropes. ]

You can't underestimate it or let your guard down. [ He did, once. It was a mistake he paid for in lives. ]

[bulked]

[ He follows suit, frown deepening as Yu explains the possibility of real danger. He knows better than to underestimate whatever this organization is, but he has no clue just what they're really capable of yet. It was better to have knowledge of this early on. ]

Yeah, these guys sound real trustworthy. [ Said with dripping sarcasm, of course. ] Did anything happen to you, or to any of your friends? [ it's direct, but would also give him some idea of how widespread the danger was. Not that it mattered-- any sort of danger was something to take care of. He positions himself at the edge of the ring, not yet stepping forward. ]

Thanks for the honest answer. I can't imagine that's something easy to remember.

[covenantal]

[ Yu manages to hold Akihiko's gaze for a moment longer, steady... but this is a lot even for him, and as his eyes hood, his gaze drops. He leans back agains the ropes, resisting the urge to press a hand to the scar engulfing his left shoulder, hidden by his shirt. His voice remains calm. ]

I led an expedition into the jungle. We weren't ready. Two of my friends were killed, and two more were seriously injured. I almost died myself. [ A beat, and he breathes out, lifting his gaze again. ] Since we're code, the dead can be restored to life, but I don't take it any less seriously. I've sworn not to make the same mistakes twice.

[ He'll shake his head, his tone lightening slightly. ] Anyway, it's alright. Everyone should be prepared for the dangers we face here.

[bulked]

[ Akihiko listens, eyes widening as Yu recalls what are undoubtedly some painful memories. He hates asking a near stranger to conjure them up, but appreciates that he’s willing to share his experience. ]

I’m… I’m really sorry that happened to you and your friends. Even if it’s not permanent, I can’t imagine how you must have felt. [ He has an inkling, since he’s gone through such a feeling before, and it’s not something he’d wish on anyone. He sighs, easing himself off the rope. ] That’s right. That’s exactly why I want to keep getting stronger-- it’d be way too easy to let your guard down here.

[covenantal]

[ If only they knew they were experiencing the same feeling about the same person. For his part, Yu smiles, a quiet thing. Not happy - understanding, sympathetic. ]

Yeah. That's what I told myself after it happened. That I'd become better, as a fighter and a leader. As long as I'm here, I can never stop pushing myself.

[ He, too, moves forward, into the ring, tugging his gloves on. He's had just about two and a half months to teach himself boxing while also teaching others - he's gotten pretty okay at it, but he's nowhere near the level of a master like Akihiko. He has no idea what he's about to learn, but if it's "proper technique," all the better. He can't go around being defenseless every time he doesn't have his katana and his Persona isn't between him and the threat. ]

Come on. Why don't we get started?