User: #FFDF00 - Mapping teamwork!! And other inquiries

[inheritance]

Hi, everyone! This is Izuku Midoriya, in case you don't know my hex code yet.

1. Since it looks like we're stuck here for a while longer, I was thinking it would be a good idea to try collecting more information on this place, specifically the forest. As of right now, it's probably our best bet for finding a way out of here, and it's a source of food, too. [No matter how bad it all tastes.] Yaoyorozu-san and I have been trying to put together a working map, but we just don't have enough information to work with right now.

What do you think of us all working together to map the forest out? If we're successful, we'll be able to mark out the safer paths to take, as well as where we can find anything edible. The more people we have for this, the faster we'll be able to get the information we need!

2. If you've already gone into the forest and encountered something like the shadow monsters or some kind of magical trap, let me know! I can put together a database of sorts on this forum so we all know what kind of danger to look out for when we head in. I'll keep it updated if we run into anything else during this group trip, too.

3. Not related to the information gathering, but has anyone managed to find anything like tshirts and jeans around this place? I've found some extra clothing while cleaning this past week, but most of them don't fit me and they're not really in a style that I'm used to. So, if anyone needs an extra set of clothes, come find me?



(ooc: Sign ups for the forest exploration can be found here!)

Comments

[swordfucker]

Okay.

[He opens both arms in a wide, vulnerable gesture.] Then come at me. See what you can do off the bat, and we'll go from there.

[inheritance]

[Izuku narrows his eyes, already shifting into battle-analysis mode, even as energy begins to crackle over his skin.

He remembers how difficult it was to keep up with Guren before... so instead of rushing straight in, Izuku tries to increase his speed as he circles around, hoping to catch his teacher off-guard.]

[swordfucker]

[Ahh, this is a little refreshing. Guren doesn't move. He doesn't even change where he's facing, staring straight ahead as Izuku moves around him. It's confident to the point where it's infuriating, he's sure, and that's the whole point. With one hand at the hilt of his sword, and a plan formulating each time something changes— he's positive he has the experience to win this every time.

Obviously, in a spar, you're not fighting for your life. It's not a test like that... but it will help. He'll make sure it helps.]

Ahaha. You think speed is going to do you any favors? Running around like that and buying your time... if I had more fuda to spare, I'd have set up a trap already.

[inheritance]

[There's no point wasting his breath to retort. Besides, that would just give him away. As soon as Guren opens his mouth to talk, Izuku makes his move, jumping at him from the back!!

Knowing he can take the hit if--if being the word here--he lands it, Izuku draws his hand back for a punch.]

[swordfucker]

[He knows that taking a hit from Izuku would mean a lot more than taking a hit from anyone else here. He can keep up with him fairly well when they're going at it casually, so that meant it was fine to up his own strength—

He's focusing, even if he's talking like he's not. It's years of experience that have him able to do that, and using his words to make it sound casual is just a tactic used to irritate. The truth is, if he slips up, Izuku could do some damage. But with his focus, he can sense his presence behind him, feel the changes in the air at his speed, and react with his own quickness. He steps to the side, barely dodging that punch, and grabs at Izuku's wrist. Jumping at him means it's that much easier to use his momentum against him, and Guren does that now, dragging him along in a spin and throwing him against the door leading to this rooftop.

Izuku's original speed and power combined with Guren's throw is probably enough to break it down.]

[inheritance]

Oof--! [The air gets knocked right out of him as he hits the door and topples it down under the force of the impact.

Izuku's left blinking as the dust from that settles, though he immediately scrambles to his feet as soon as it becomes clear what happened. He picks up the broken door with an expression of dismay.]

Oh no! Do you think the furniture and walls are going to start talking again if we keep breaking things...?

[swordfucker]

[That's what he's worried about? Haha, so he's motivated to learn, but he's still concerned about his surroundings. That's not such a bad thing.]

It'll be fine. This place has been abandoned from the start, so it wasn't doing a lot of talking, anyway.

[inheritance]

That was before the mystery poster warned us on the forum. [He'd kind of like to avoid the whole poking-at-insecurities thing, if he can.

Still, though, there's no fixing the door right now when they're in the middle of a spar, so Izuku just sets the door aside for no and gets back into a fighting stance.]

Okay, I'm ready again! [If he can't hit Guren up close then...! Maybe something long range would do the trick? Before he can second-guess himself, Izuku flicks his finger in Guren's direction, creating a concentrated wind pressure attack. At 8%, it's nothing like the explosive power of 100%, but at least he's not breaking his bones while pulling this off.]

[swordfucker]

Mahiru!

[That's a fast move, so Guren has to be fast on the draw. He slides while drawing his sword, swallowing the impact of the wind pressure aimed at him— though any remaining force around him still can push past, moving his hair and clothes. He's pushing forward after that, hand gripped tight on the handle of his blade.]

You can get me to draw my blade. Not bad. [But he still has points to prove and lessons to teach! Most of which don't involve actual combat. He's swinging at Izuku with his sword now, though if it seems like he'll actually impact, he'll shift it to whack with the flat side of it so not to cut.

But, Izuku seems like he can keep up and handle it. So can he deal with the pressure? Guren can up his strength little by little, too, by borrowing more and more of Mahiru's power. His eyes are lit up, and he looks excited.

Still: close range is his strength. He purposefully closed that distance, even if he does have a sword that can swallow attacks. He wonders if Izuku can pick up on something like that.]

[inheritance]

[Even while moving quickly on his feet to avoid giving Guren a clear target, Izuku grins fiercely as he soaks up the praise. But oh... what was that just now? His sharp eyes catch the way his wind attack moves around the sword, and that gets him thinking.]

...kch! [A rough sound escapes him as Guren's sword swings at it--with no time to dodge, Izuku tries his best to knock the blade away when it almost reaches him. A minus for him--he'd only gotten away with that because Guren had used the flat side of his blade.

As soon as he spies an opening, Izuku rolls away, putting some distance between him and Guren. He crouches, eyes narrowed thoughtfully at the sword.]

[swordfucker]

Haha.

[Guren laughs, standing too casually with his sword. Purposefully, he lets the demonic energy leak into the air. It looks like black tendrils, and the feeling is noticeably intimidating. They're out in the open, and he doesn't intend to let out so much to test Izuku's determination, but at least the raw power can be felt.]

Are you trying to think of how you can beat me? Sometimes the best tactic is to retreat.

[inheritance]

Y-yeah. [Izuku stays crouched, just in case Guren decides to attack at the last minute, but he's also distracted by the energy he can feel coming from the sword.] I was just trying to figure out what else your sword can do.

[Though he'd known about the demon already, it's different to feel the power first hand. Kind of...like how All For One's presence had felt; intimidating and raw, but not quite as oppressing. Izuku suspects that's because Guren isn't releasing its full power, though. You don't become a Lt. Colonel of a demon army without a considerable amount of strength.

He looks over at Guren with a bit of confusion.] What do you mean ...retreat? I thought you were still testing me.

[swordfucker]

I finished testing you after the first spar. This is training. A lesson.

[He takes a step closer, not intending to attack, but intending to make Izuku feel that power a little more. Those black tendrils are incredibly overwhelming when he wants them to be seen. They're like a black cloud around him, constantly moving.]

Winning isn't all about strength, even if strength is important. It's about analyzing and taking the best course of action. Even someone weaker can take down someone stronger than them— but only with proper planning. Teamwork. Coordination. Friends. If it's one on one, you shouldn't go against someone stronger than you.

[inheritance]

[He's stuck in place, watching as Guren approaches him. There was something that intimidating hiding in the sword?]

I...I know that. I've always tried to analyze the situation and come up with a plan.

[Izuku winces.] What if there's no way to escape when you're fighting someone stronger?

[swordfucker]

Good.

[Another step closer, and it's almost overwhelming in feeling before he sheathes the sword, and it's gone all at once.] There's no single answer to that. Let's say it's you and your group, since going alone is dangerous. You'd think out a strategy to get the most people out of there unharmed.

Sometimes, people will get hurt. People will die. You can't save everyone, but you can reduce the numbers.

[inheritance]

[Suddenly, all the pressure's gone, and Izuku realizes he can breathe normally again. He relaxes. Just a little.

And then, Guren's words make him flinch, something painful flashing across his face. There's another mission on his mind now, except this one's in the past.]

No! [It bursts out, surprising even him, though he continues, hand clenched painfully.] There has to be a way to save everyone!

[swordfucker]

You can't.

[Immediately, he says it coldly. Harshly. Honestly, what he wants to do is encourage that determination in the face of impossibility— but he has to establish the impossibility of it, first.]

Give that idea up and accept reality. This isn't just some game.

[inheritance]

[Izuku curls in on himself just a little at that tone, but then forces himself to look Guren in the eye anyway.]

I know it's not. That doesn't mean I should just--just accept that it's going to happen.

[swordfucker]

You can't just decide what you want to accept or not. Gravity is something that exists no matter how hard you try to fly. You'll get around it, build airplanes, ask your little friend with the floating quirk for help, but it doesn't take away gravity.

[He points at Izuku for emphasis.] I'm not telling you to give up! I'm telling you that I couldn't save everyone, and neither can you. Learn that lesson now before it hurts you later.

[He drops his hand.] Do everything you can to keep them safe, but be ready to make difficult decisions, if it comes down to it.

[inheritance]

[The rational part of him knows that Guren is right--he needs to be able to accept the risks. And yet, Izuku can't help but think of All Might. If it were All Might... he'd save everyone. Hadn't Kamino Ward confirmed that? How is he supposed to fill those shoes if he can't even handle that much?

Izuku's head bows, hiding his pained expression--he doesn't want Guren looking at him when he's like this, feeling so conflicted and struggling with the lesson being taught.]

I don't know if I can leave anyone behind if that's what it comes to.

[swordfucker]

That's your weakness.

[But Guren moves closer again, dropping his hand on top of Izuku's head now, a comforting weight.] But it's mine, too. If you ask me, it's a good thing. Treasure your companions no matter what, and do everything you can to save them. Fight fate as much as you can, and when you fail, mourn them properly. There's nothing wrong with any of that.

[inheritance]

[At first, Izuku flinches at the word 'weakness'. But once he hears the rest of what Guren has to say, his head snaps back up, eyes wide as they meet Guren's.]

I will. [No matter how uncertain he might get about his own abilities, Izuku's conviction in his goal has never wavered.] That's why I wanted to become a hero in the first place. To help people as much as I can.

[swordfucker]

It's connections and desires like that that give you real strength, Izuku.

[He wants this made as clear as possible. It's not manipulation or coldness that makes strength, but bonds and wanting to save people.] Hold onto that, no matter how much hope seems to vanish.

[inheritance]

I'll remember, sensei. [Izuku says softly, but with understanding this time. Fighting hard for the future is something that Izuku's intimately familiar with. Has been familiar with for a long time, though the words have gained new meaning for him since interning with Sir Nighteye.

And with Guren standing before him like this, trying to impress upon him the importance of those words, Izuku has another realization.] That's why you called me here...you wanted to talk, to make sure I understood. Isn't it?

[swordfucker]

Yeah.

[Normally, he might be a little more tsun, but right now, he needs Izuku to listen.]

Taking charge of things like this isn't easy. I'm not trying to dissuade you, but I want you to know that not all lessons come from swinging swords and fists around. With risk like this, you can't control all of the results. But if you view everyone as family, and they understand that importance too, they'll have a better chance.

Get stronger like that before anything else.