Such philosophical exchanges were not exactly something, someone like Teppei would consider himself versed in, and yet here he was having exactly that with a man far wiser than he. As the older, wiser man spoke Teppei listened and his brows drew down. The fight continued to ramp up before the spectating dup, and the crowds in the park had definitely taken notice of the two riders in their midst. Many were watching and clapping, some were shaking their heads in obvious disgust, but it was pretty much universal that the crowds were watching.
Teppei sighed, turning his eyes to the older man upon whose shoulder he sat. "That's a shitty break, Mr. Crabs. But I gotta ask you, how did it feel when you took the risk? Did you feel alive? Did you not feel free for the first time in your life?" Teppei paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully, unusual for him.
"What you've really gotta ask is, was the gamble worth it. If it wasn't, so be it. Live with the consequences and try again. You've learned what went wrong so it won't happen again, right?" A small, self-deprecating smile appeared on Teppei's face.
"For example, I learned not to steal rich people's air treks cause they make it real personal." With his eyes once more on the parts war, Teppei's smile slipped from his face for just a moment.
"And besides, you can't live life so afraid of risks that you never take them. That ain't livin', that's survivin'. Gotta be reckless sometimes." The words were spoken in a manner, almost like a reminder, words spoken by someone else, through the young man's mouth.
Catching up to Fuji was a walk in the park. While he wasted some time making a spectacle of himself, Symon chose the shortest and more direct route bringing him next to Fuji as he skate on the adjacent track. Noting his comment, Symon gave him a devilish smirk and shook his head, "If you think I'm fast now, then you're in for a surprise." He shifted his weight accordingly with the rise and fall of each slope, making sure to maintain his balance. Entering the tunnel, Symon turned to see Fuji demolish a support beam of the tunnel, caving the entrance in and preventing the coaster from passing under. It was a telltale sign that things were about to get rough and Symon was not about to stick around to let that happen. Taking longer strides in order to build up more air pressure, Symon pulled ahead of Fuji and out of the tunnel.
Heaving himself forward with a powerful push, the rail screeched and whined as Fuji streamed himself across it. Centering out his weight after the punch the boy resumed a more aerodynamic physique as the pair sped through the tunnel. Noticing that Symon was starting to pull away after a series of extended strides the ambitious musclehead clicked his tongue as his face wrinkled into a look of disdain. Still, it wasn't too unexpected. Their styles were night and day and what Fuji lacked in speed he made up for in tactical cunning and instinct.
Once out of the tunnel those that were watching the pair speeding about would see the one with the messy head of carrot colored locks had been a pair of notches ahead. However, that wasn't going to last very long. Again, his fists clenched he'd redistribute his weight and power into his legs. Now that they were out of the tunnel there hadn't been any rocky flooring to prevent what he was planning. Fuji sprung from his place on the track like a frog from its lily pad, for a moment he'd managed to hop himself into the lead.
But then he'd land.
Thundering down like hot lightning, Fuji slammed both feet onto Symon's side of the track with enough power in his crash to rattle the coaster and creak the very structure itself. The metal dented as Fuji hopped forward again, repeating this motion continuously to shake and would the tracks to Symon would have difficulty both balancing and riding on them.
Here Daigo was, a few years down the line and in truth, he still didn't know the answer. His choices had cost him more than just his appearance. It had cost him his family. His career. Decades of ambition and hard work... And for what? A few heated evenings of passion? A brief, flighty affair?
Even if it wasn't worth it, the only solution was exactly what Teppei stated. All he could do was push forward and keep on going. The only other choice would've been to, well, make it so that worrying about the choices that life threw at him no longer became an issue and that... That was something that he wasn't quite ready to do just yet. He felt more inclined on some evenings than others, but today was a good day.
He would focus on doing things one day at a time for now.
When he noticed the opportunity to change the topic, he took it.
Fuji made it really hard to keep calm and Symon was pretty much fed up with his s**t. For a moment, Symon was in the lead and by now, they had reached the halfway point. The sound of metal creaking and a large sound caught Symon's attention as he turned his head to see Fuji leaping into the air an come crashing down onto the track in front of him, caving it in and sending vibrations across the track. Nearly falling off, Symon caught himself and grit his teeth as he endured the following vibrations. Timing his jump right, he launched himself forward, scaling one of the supports and flipping back onto the track. He was above Fuji, who had now presumed himself to be in the lead and clearly acting on instinct.
Regardless, the race would soon be coming to a close and Symon was not about to waste any more time. He pressed all his weight into propelling himself forwards at top speed, leaving Fuji behind. The larger the gap between the two, the better chance he had at ending this.
Ｂａｔｔｌｅ_Ｓｔａｔｕｓ
HP: ??? // ???▮▮▮▮STA: 056 // 065▮▮▮▮Wear: 017%
Ｔｒｉｃｋ _ Ｌｉｂｒａｒｙ
◆ Air Stream!: The beginning riders of the famed Death Road begin their aggressive journey with a very volatile (but necessary) skill. The natural run of a Death Rider is composed completely of powerful strides. This characteristic is combined with the mechanical effects of insane braking heat released at incredible speed rates. Though the more inexperienced riders are not yet at a point where they can properly propel the heat, they can expel it in a 'nitrous stream'. By building a massive amount of heat through acceleration of their natural run, the heat will naturally cycle the circumference of the wheel, gathering as a light glowing tint of orange. The layered heat is released in specifically timed strides wherein the user stomps and tilts forward, pressuring and braking with the front wheel for a brief second. Despite the instance of braking in the treks, the user actually shows no sign of having attempted to stop. Instead the nitrous stream funnels out from behind the treks, forcing a massive speed increase to reach max in a matter of moments. The release used in the Air Stream trick is a juvenile version of the more powerful, compressed, ones used later on. This trick can only be used every other post. This is a D Rank Trick.
Oh, how the fires of battle burned bright to ignite his burning passion.
While Symon gritted his teeth in disdain, the youth was having a blast. Even if this was to test how much power and muscle memory this body of his had retained after a century's worth of sleep, it was still a wonderful challenge that boiled his blood. Translucent beads wept like rain from his hot skin as the track shook, rattled, and rolled in his wake but that didn't deter his opponent from maneuvering his way out of it. A shadow was cast over Fuji as he glanced up towards the sky to see the carrot top propelling himself over him again and back on track just in time for the last high-rise of the coaster before the race's end.
With Symon in front of him he'd be the first to speed up up, Fuji several clicks behind. His brow furrowed as his fists clenched, there was still one more trick he had up his sleeve before this race was finished. Fuji would make a jump for the ride's peak as Symon would start his descent down it. Instead of landing on his feet however, Fuji had shifted as much weight as he could muster into his arms as possible; giving him a very disproportionate look. With a firm grab onto the track Fuji rocketed his body skyward with all of his strength, sending him soaring through the sky and towards the finish line; well, the technical finish line anyway.
Like a B-52 he'd careen through the sky, but win or lose, he didn't appear as though he was going to be landing anytime soon. He'd definitely overshot himself...
Making his descent downward, Symon held his low position as he sped down the slope. His acceleration remaining the same as it was when he boosted away due to traveling down an inclined surface. The established finish line was within sights as his heart began to pound and he could feel the blood pumping through his ears. The goal was within reach and all Symon had to do was pass the end of the track, right where they had started. By now, he could see the group of people from the earlier ride, exiting their cart and making their way out of the park. A little ways off, He could see Teppei and the large man from the hospital, standing there, possibly watching the race. He wondered to himself if they were anticipating the outcome just as much as he was. Wheels grinded against rails as the decline began to level out and Symon used what energy he had left to push himself to the finish line. Slowing to a roll, he let out a large sigh and skated over to where Teppei and his friend stood. As he was making his way over, a shadow passed overhead and Symon looked up to see Fuji hurtling in the air with no indication of stopping. He sailed past the finish line and all the way over to a large busy area. The sound of trees and branches snapping could be heard in the distance.
Symon laughed and wiped a tear from his eye as he stopped in front of Teppei, "What're you doing out here? Shouldn't you be in the hospital? Those wounds aren't gonna heal like that if you keep on like this," he said, gesturing to Teppei and the turning to the larger man besides him, "And I don't believe we've met. Name's Symon." He extended a hand towards the stranger and gave him a friendly smile.
Ｂａｔｔｌｅ_Ｓｔａｔｕｓ
STA: 056 // 065▮▮▮▮Wear: 017%
Ｔｒｉｃｋ _ Ｌｉｂｒａｒｙ
◆ ---
◆ ---
◆ ---
◆ ---
Ｓｔａｔｓ
Ｒ．Ｅ．Ａ．Ｄ :: 170
:: POWER :: [30]
:: ACCELERATION :: [90] (+25 ADP)
:: STAMINA :: [40] (+25 ADP)
:: JUMP :: [10]
:: AIR TIME :: 20 Seconds
X o l u s
Amythara
Desshu
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 7:57 pm
"I don't fear death or dying, I only fear never trying."
High elevation to which only birds sought to ride the currents in their flock, the boy careened through the skies aimlessly. His control over the streams were slight, what was once his strong suit had gone untrained for a century and had become his greatest downfall. While control was slight, aerial maneuverability still allotted him to not entirely plummet to his death. Despite not having brakes Fuji was able to control his fall amidst faded screams and frantically flailing limbs.
However, the shimmering stars and the luminescent lights and neon signs had made for a most wondrous sight!
Spotting what appeared to have been some sort of abandoned shake surrounded by a lake of trees near the amusement park's emergency exit, the redhead straightened his limbs and become an arrow. Swan diving he'd shut his eyes and hope for cushioned mattresses on the inside of that shake.
Snap! Crack! Crack! Crunch!
Fuji crashed through a few high-rising trees along the way but the reunited trio would hear a thundering crunch of splintered wood along with a series of muffled crumpling thumps that caused a feint huff of sawdust to rise out from the hole in the roof and into the night sky. Dazed but not dead Fuji had found himself buried under an abundant pile of something. Light and hallow yet rough in texture but easy to wrinkle.
Teppei directed his gaze down from his perch, toward the older man, and reached up to scratch lightly at the side of his head. An awkward, somewhat apologetic look on his face. Momentarily sucking on his teeth, as if buying time to answer the younger man tried quickly to collect his thoughts. Few people asked exactly why he ended up in the detention center, especially not after he'd outed himself as a thief. They would normally just leave it alone, leaving Teppei to his childish shenanigans.
"Ah yeah. I was a bit of a thief. Stole to keep myself and a couple others fed. One of the others I was takin' care of wanted some treks for his birthday. I figured it couldn't be that hard." A bitter chuckle broke up the young man's monologue. "If it wasn't obvious, I ain't the brightest." Another bitter grin graced Teppei's face as he turned back to the parts war in progress, watching intently.
"Wasn't all bad. I made some friends in the center. Met your unstandin' self. And at least it wasn't cold anymore." As the murmured words left his lips, the troublemaker watched with excitement as the war completed and Symon dropped to the ground, quickly but casually moving towards Daigo and himself.
"That was ********' wild, man! I ain't seen anythin' like it in so ********' long! I can't believe you did all that. Oh right! Symon this is Mr. Krabs. Mr. Krabs, this is Symon. Mr. Krabs here wanted to see a parts war, and he decided to bring me along. Not that I wa-" His words interrupted by the sounds of a falling child in distress, echoing loudly over the sounds of the park, followed swiftly by a loud and deep crash.
Teppei winced, looking towards the source of the sound. "M-maybe we should go make sure the kid ain't dead, yeah?"
“If you ask me, it sounds like you did all the wrong things for all the right reasons.”
It was the final thing the man said before a staccato of snapping branches caused his head to jerk upwards. By then, he saw there was now only one young man on the makeshift race-track. The youth was now skating towards them, but his red-haired opponent was currently nowhere to be found. His expression quickly shifted from curiosity to worry.
By then, the boy with hair like a golden hedgehog had closed the distance between them. With his eyes still on the bushes, he extended his hand forward for a robotic handshake. “Daigo...” He answered softly, though with a tone that was indubitably gravid with concern. “I... Uh...” He looked around, taking just a brief moment to take in his surroundings long enough to gently ease Teppei onto a bench. Then, like an arthritic undertaker that was ever-chugging towards the next job, slowly moseyed his way towards the trail of ruined hedges.
He could scarcely make out the shape of the fallen youth from where he stood as he eased into the wall of brush. “...Are you alright, son?”
The handshake that the man known as Daigo gave Symon, felt more mechanical than anything organic. Though Symon didn't give it too much thought as Teppei hobbled over to him with an air of excitement. It was good to know that the lads passion for riding hadn't diminished in the time that he had been gone. Symon had almost forgotten the thrill of battling another rider to see who came out on top. In the midst of his friends ramblings, he motioned towards Daigo, who he dubbed, "Mr. Krabs," to which Symon couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. "The pleasure is mine," he said, clutching his side and slightly groaning. The race itself had done a number on his body considering the fact that not a couple hours ago was he hit by a torrent of wind. Which in fact, he would be sure to repay in full the very next time he saw that Officer East b*****d. Noting the concern on both Daigo and Teppei's faces, Symon huffed and reluctantly followed behind the duo as the went to check on Fuji.
"Oh he's bound to be fine. The little s**t, if anything is resilient. That you can be damn sure of...Hits like a ********' truck." Symon grumbled, rubbing his side gingerly, trying not to disturb it too much. Fuji had crashed into several trees, toppling them over as a result and landed in a pile of boxes. Upon arriving just behind Daigo an Teppei, Symon's stomach would growl and with a sheepish grin he would say, "Anyone else starving?"
Ｂａｔｔｌｅ_Ｓｔａｔｕｓ
STA: ??? // ???▮▮▮▮Wear: 000%
Ｔｒｉｃｋ _ Ｌｉｂｒａｒｙ
◆ ---
◆ ---
◆ ---
◆ ---
Ｓｔａｔｓ
Ｒ．Ｅ．Ａ．Ｄ :: 170
:: POWER :: [30]
:: ACCELERATION :: [90] (+25 ADP)
:: STAMINA :: [40] (+25 ADP)
:: JUMP :: [10]
:: AIR TIME :: 20 Seconds
X o l u s
Amythara
Desshu
Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:12 pm
"I don't fear death or dying, I only fear never trying."
Beneath the boxes the dazed redhead could make up the sounds of something muffled. Mustering up the strength to move, Fuji shuffled beneath the boxes; though it was a wonder why someone with the force that Symon proclaimed he had just didn't smack them all away from him.
Whiny mumbles rumbled from his cardboard coffin as a hand finally sprouted from the wreckage. Boxes humbly tumbled and toppled from the stack, cascading like draped hair from its bun but less ceremonious. The exhausted rider finally managed to tunnel his way to freedom as he'd breathe in a deep breath of fresh air as he sat up from his position from the ground. However, almost immediately, the gang would all notice that something was amiss. This hadn't been the same boy that they'd seen earlier, but someone who appeared to have been several years his senior that hadn't been that form of pure muscle only shown to Symon during their race.
"Oooow ow ow ow. Oh, hey there! Did I win?"Fuji inquired, hand rubbing the side of his shaking head as he was still coming to. His voice deeper but slightly hoarse. Perhaps sixteen or seventeen would be the general conclusion they'd probably arrive at. Despite his abrupt crash and the trickle of blood running down the side of his head Fuji still peered up to them with a spirited, but pained grin.
As Daigo spoke of Teppei's actions as if his heart had been in the right place, Teppei could only show a grimace. It was the same thing everyone had said, even some of the cops and guards at the facility. Didn't mean a damn thing in the end. Forcing himself to relax, Teppei turned towards where the younger man had fallen and began to slowly limp his way to the boy, letting Symon and Daigo get acquainted.
Upon finally reaching the young man, Teppei stared in confusion at the young teen before him. What the in the seven hells... His eyes would roam first down the young man's body and then back up. "But... You were a ********' pipsqueak... how..." Words interrupted by the rumbling growl of a starving beast, Teppei would look back over his shoulder to the offending monster that was Symon's stomach.
Slowly turning back to the transformed youth, Teppei gave a slight shake of his head. "Sorry K-... Uh... Sorry, you didn't get this one. Symon had you by a hair." Turning to look over his shoulder and look at the man suggesting food, Teppei paused for a moment, and then made a quick decision.
"Daigo? Mystique wannabe? You two wanna join us huntin' up some food? Maybe we can get off to a better start than you assualtin' us, hm?" The last said while staring pointedly at the once young child, but now much older appearing young man.
A few moments ago, he had been staring at a young boy. Now he was staring at a teenager on the cusp of manhood with a voice that was just starting to deepen. The big man rubbed his eyes, blinking as he stared down at the red-maned youth. He lived in an age where anyone that could walk had the potential to launch themselves hundreds of feet into the air with super-charged skates, but this... This weirded him out, just a smidge.
It took him a few moments to realize he had been asked a question. ”I... Uh...” He wasn't sure what the appropriate response here. Boy or teen, he figured this was still the same person that had been racing a few moments ago as he pulled the fella to his feet. ”I'd say you're both winners in my book.”
He gave a short nod. Yup. No losers here.
With that, he started back towards the other two and was relieved to see that they were both still the same age that he had left them.
”...What's on the menu?”
Some food would definitely rein in all this excitement.
