FABLES SENTENCE STARTERS || not accepting
To say that he was feeling rusty was an understatement. It had been two years, after all, since the last time that he had fought like this, and in those two years, –well, Castor had been forcibly tamed with drugs, sealed away for both Shinjiro’s and others’ safety. One needn’t be a genius to determine how such circumstances may have affected the Hierophant’s power. Even with the restraints put on him all this time, the horseman was extremely powerful upon finally being released into battle. It did not seem that Castor had much weakened since his prime – in fact, it almost felt to its user as if he’d been craving to be set free again. Incredibly so. This feeling, in turn, was prone to make its owner feel quite overwhelmed. Was this going to be safe? It scared the male to think what would happen if he somehow lost control again. But he was trying to stay focused. The less he feared, the more stable his Persona ought to have been. It was important to not let anxiety get to him. Besides, Akihiko remained the last person Shinjiro was willing to show any such weakness to.
Heavy breaths, as another Shadow was defeated in quick succession with the two males’ co-operation, still somehow able to synchronize their moves together just as perfectly as they used to. This had clearly made the younger one of the two quite excited, immediately searching for the older’s approval with an inquisitive stare and a childishly enthusiastic smile. Perhaps the boxer’s joy wasn’t utterly unmerited either. Shinjiro couldn’t lie - despite all the negative associations he had with Shadows and Personae, despite the promise he had made to never again pull the trigger on an Evoker - there was a hint of bittersweet nostalgia underneath it all as well. He had walked into Tartarus that night somewhat begrudgingly, and had surely showed some signs of resistance, to the point where even someone as oblivious as Akihiko had been able to notice. Maybe that’s why, when Shinjiro finally showcased a more confident and easygoing (if the Hierophant could ever be described that way) demeanor, the Emperor was inclined to comment on it.
“Yeah…” Shinjiro replies, still catching the last of his breath. “…Still. To think I’ve gone this out of shape. Tch. Guess that shoulda been expected.” He pauses, swinging his axe to rest on his shoulder, and finally curls his lips into a wry smile, as he does what came so naturally to him with the boxer and challenges him. “I ain’t gonna lose to you, though.”
