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... That sounds pretty good. [ He rubs his neck as he yawns one last time. Okay, I lied. Not the last time, but it will be a while till he yawns again. He starts walking ahead onto the path.

No need for piggybacks yet! ]

This is probably going to be hard then.

[Naoki takes a few brisk steps until he can fall into step alongside him, quirking a smile.]

Which part? The dragon or the path up to it?

[Poking a little fun, yes. If he yawns again soon Naoki's really going to wonder if he'll be able to stay awake for this--]

You're funny. [ Walking side by side... This reminds him of the nights he would walk with Koromaru--not that he thinks of Naoki as a puppy, but you get my point. Either way, he doesn't crack a snort or a laugh at that. It might be hard to tell, but he's aware that what Naoki said is a legitimate question...

Will he be able to make it to the dragon? ]

Usually when I fall down, I can't get up. [ This is what you get for going anywhere with fatigue. ] I also didn't bring my life alert button.

[ HE CAN MAKE JOKES TOO. ]

I try. [So unflappable... He's going to have to try harder, see if he can't coax a smile out of him.

But he looks at Minato, snorting lightly.]

Looks like you'll just have to leave everything to me if it comes to it, then. [Ominous.]

I hope you don't have something like an orgia mode... [ There's a dry tone in that. He remembers all the times Aigis just...

Stops.

It's kind of funny if he thinks about it since she ended up not using it later on. Either way, he'll point over to the top of the mountain. ] It's in the cave over there, right?

A what mode? [Apparently not-- It goes right over his head.

But Naoki looks now to where he's pointing, nodding after a moment.] Yeah, that's right.

Berserk mode. [ Let him change the wording right now. Is that better? Either way, after like halfway, Minato trips... And just stays on the ground for a good while.

He knows this gravel isn't great, but it's... comfortable for a moment. Just for one second, he closes his eyes and drifts off. ]

...

[Naoki just looks down at him after he trips and stays there before he shakes his head. With one hand, he summons Long before wandering over. He's gone and drifted off too, hasn't he?

He'll just scoop him up and put him on the demon despite Long's unimpressed (as much as a dragon can be unimpressed) face. It's probably more comfortable than gravel.]

You have Seiryuu? [ Different name, but they look practically the same. He just looks up at the dragon with an expression of fondness. This is a persona, right?

... But this guy didn't use an evoker. ]

Hm? [Surprised, Naoki looks over at him. He... recognises the demon? Long reacts to the name with an acknowledging tilt of his head, though glances down at Minato with similar puzzlement as Naoki's.]

I know him as Long. Qing Long.

Is that the Chinese version? [ Since he remembers that the persona is technically of Chinese origins...

Maybe he was only mistaken. He's not sure--Gently petting the dragon, he'll just enjoy the ride. ]

Didn't know you were a summoner, Kashima.

Yeah, I think so. [But Naoki's watching him more attentively than before, expression inscrutable, even as Long seems pleased with the patting.]

I don't know if you'd call me a summoner, though... I'm what's called the 'Demi-fiend'. Being able to call on some demons who fight with me is part of that.

So you call them demons, huh. [ Can't read my p-poker face. He finds it interesting how it's different between them, but this dragon can look so familiar... ]

That's pretty cool. [ He says this without looking at him, but admiring the dragon with a nostalgic look in his eyes. It just brings back some old memories. ]

Yeah-- it's what they are. [Long twists his head to look back at Minato, cocking his head, and Naoki keeps walking as he talks.]

What do you call them?

They told me to call them personas. [ Though he does see the link between how these things resemble a lot of figures of mythology, fiction, etc. However, he never thought of them like actual demons. It kind of gives him the faint chills, but he's still fond of these creatures. ]

Kind of weird, right?

Edited (YOU DIDn'T SEE THAT i didn't get to pick my icon omg) 2015-04-05 18:26 (UTC)

Yeah, weird. [Naoki looks thoughtful still, peering at Long.

The dragon huffs softly, grunting, I am a demon, thou knows full well, and Naoki shrugs his shoulder with a sideways smile.] I'm from a world filled with demons, that look like all kinds of things. Personas don't go after a person's energy, do they?

Dunno, but they're not too different from Shadows that attack people. [ He guesses it's similar?! They don't exactly feed off of someone's energy, but... They're related to people in some way. He doesn't even remember the full details about Personas.

Pretty sure last time Elizabeth and Igor explained to him, he fell asleep. ]

A world filled with demons sounds pretty scary.

[Naoki laughs quietly.]

Yeah, it does, doesn't it? But I was used to that place. [--half-truth. Long's right there, and Naoki doesn't make a habit of speaking the truth about feeling afraid in front of any of his demons.]

I'd never recommend the Vortex World for a vacation, though.

Guess not, but it would be a sight to see. [ A Vortex World, huh. He's not even sure what to ask when it comes to something known as the "Vortex World". It even has underlying emphasis with capitalization.

He'll try to pat Long to indicate that he's ready to walk on his own now--especially because they've reached the dark... cavern.

It's strangely simmering. You can literally see the heatwaves coming out of it. Minato does not look excited at all. ]

If you don't mind wastelands.

[Naoki says this with a wry smile, pausing at the entrance to the cave and folding his arms over his chest. Long's twisting his head to peer at Minato again.

Thou are ready to move, youngster? is what the demon asks while Naoki waits.]

Edited 2015-04-11 10:23 (UTC)

[ ONCE AGAIN I'M SORRY FOR SCHOOL... He opens his mental inventory and equips his one-handed sword. Where is his evoker belt thing--okay, equip that too. Nothing like magically materializing weapons, right? ]

I think we'll need a shower after this. [ Anyway, he'll start walking into the cavern first despite how weak he seemed before. It only seems to get hotter the deeper they go in. ]

Probably.

[Naoki follows after him, waving a hand and Long disappears for now as Naoki picks up his step to follow. He doesn't seem bothered by the heat, though he does ask--] You doing all right?

It's... Really hot. [ There's a slight grimace on his face, but they need to fight on. No worries. He shoots Naoki a short glimpse. ]

To me, I guess. [ This guy next to him is something else entirely, damn. What he would do to be as cool as a cucumber right now. It sounds like some rubble is being thrown around and that echoes pretty loudly. ]

Sounds like we're near.

[Naoki smiles over at him, not without a touch of guilt. Sorry, man. He's good in most temperatures. It helps when your body isn't human.]

Yep... Ready? Sooner we get this done, sooner we can get somewhere cooler.

[Though he'll add, since Minato's been such a good sport about coming along today,] I'll treat you to something after this.

[ Savior Naoki Kashima... He is grateful for your kindness. ] You don't need to.

[ And once they reach the end, it's mostly dirt terrain with a sunroof (such a nice cave you know, this is limited edition dragon power brought to you by Toyota). He wonders if it would have been easier to just fly over here rather than walking now. ] Ready.

Want to wake it up? [ Assuming that it's sleeping... ]

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