PC: ACE 💀

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Four. Emperors. [ huh. okay, sure. he is pausing to lean against one of those punching games. like this thing. ]

You did mention how big your crew is, and they do say there's strength in numbers. Even if it's very literally. [ but he tilts his head. ] What do you use to fight with?

[selfimmolation]

Fire. And fists. [ ace looks curious at the punching thing and kind of pokes it ] That was actually my moniker back home. "Fire Fist".

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[ it wobbles. nico's also watching it curiously. ]

Not that Flame Ghost isn't kind of cool, but somehow Fire Fist seems more you. Is it really as straightforward as it sounds? Like...they really light on fire.

[selfimmolation]

Flame Ghost is... fine. [ he doesn't sound like a fan somehow. ] And yeah, my entire body can light up on fire, but it's based off the first attack I came up with. I can punch out giant fireballs from a distance.

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[ hm... he does not question that. but he does seem more interested in the idea everything is on fire. ]

I know someone like you. He's annoying. [ THANKS. he doesn't really mean that. ] But he can control fire, too. The first of any of us for...centuries, I think? I don't know all of the details.

Ranged attacks sound a lot easier to work with in a big fight at least.

[selfimmolation]

Should I be worried you find him annoying? [ he's joking. ]

And yeah, they are. I've got a lot of long range attacks, since that's the safest way to keep my fire away from stuff I'd rather it didn't burn. [ avoiding friendly fire ]

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If you were similar to him, I probably wouldn't be here still. [ again, still not serious! but leo!!! ]

A more target approach does sound better for something like an open flame. [ a pause. ] I'm not that great with hand to hand or anything, but I could maybe manage if I had to. I've been using a sword for years.

[ and armies of the dead. ]

[selfimmolation]

[ laughing at that first part ]

A sword, huh? I'm handy with a knife, but I was never interested in swords. Are you gonna try and buy one then?

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Knives are for fast and efficient fighters. I know a few people who use them, too, but I started learning with swords, first. [ he thinks about this though. ] I'm saving my tokens for now in case something comes up, or if we get more somehow, but it's a thought. I should probably practice combat without a weapon though just in case. Especially if we're supposed to be doing the hero thing.

[selfimmolation]

I can help you out with that if you want. I've been brawling since I was a kid.

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Unsurprising. this makes sense to him, but he does give him a curious little look. ] You sure about that?

[selfimmolation]

Why wouldn't I be? [ :3? ] I offered.

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[ he does not say that people offer things frequently and then don't do them. ]

Then...whenever you have time. I wouldn't say no.

[selfimmolation]

So far, we've got nothing but time in this place. I'll hit you up! I already told Chiemi I was going to help her out so she can learn a little.

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Oh. [ this makes sense. ] She didn't strike me as a combatant either so that's probably for the best. I'm surprised she asked you for help.

[ he thinks there's also a higher chance ace just decided this on his own, actually. ]

[selfimmolation]

She didn't, I just offered.

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Should've seen that coming. [ haha. ] We have nothing else to do here, and it's not like I didn't talk to Danny about this yesterday anyway. We need to look out for people who can't defend themselves if we're going to be fighting villains or doing heroic deeds or whatever they need from us.

[ ...tentatively punching the lil punching bag of the video game. ]

[selfimmolation]

Yeah, they at least talked about beating up bad guys, so it's probably for the best everyone has some kind of basis for it.

[

:o ]

Oh, that's a game too? I thought it was just a bad punching bag. [ watches the little numbers go up ... ]

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[ he is shelving the beat-up-bad-guys talk for a second before he grins. ]

It kind of is, but yeah. It's a game. Wanna try? I can put in another coin for you to see how high your score can get.

[selfimmolation]

Sure, why not? It's sort of like those strength tests, then?

[ getting ready to wind up this poor punching bag doesn't deserve this ]

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Sort of. [ can't wait for ace to break the game actually, but nico's foolishly feeding money into the game as it sets its score counter. ]

Ready?

[selfimmolation]

Ready!

[ anyway yea for comedic effect ace is probably breaking the game. it's fine. ]

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[ listen i'm gonna say ace probably literally punched it once and there it went.



which. hm. ]

...do me a favor and promise me you'll actually go a little easy on me when we're training.

[selfimmolation]

Woops.

[ just. looking at this bag for a while. or where it used to be. then he laughs ]

Promise! I'm not that rough. [ he is. a little. don't trust him. ]

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[ oh my god this is not funny. it kind of is? god. ]

Well now I'm not sure if I believe you. [ this poor bag. ] We should get away from the machine before somebody else notices it broke.