Super Hero RPG

[Hopeflower]

Ira grimaced. "She's afraid of her fire," she sighed, flicking a glance at the teen they were speaking of. Yoruichi refused to meet the flame-colored gaze. "I've explained it won't burn her if she doesn't try to hold it back, but she's afraid to let it have free reign. She's afraid it'll get out of control." Ira pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "She's afraid of something that does not happen. Ever."

[The Kingpin]

"It seems to me flames to you work in the same way sand does to me...it's protective, but only if it's allowed the ability to do so. right now, you could try and hit me as hard as you liked, you'd never get through without pushing yourself well over casual limits. you'd basically be hitting a wall of and instead. i can't really tell you how to control it, because basically, it was kinda...instinctual to me. something i think i was born able to use...though never tapped into until something happened to set it off" said Gaara, a stream of sand floating out of the gourd and swirling in mid air, forming a mini-Yoru in Gaara's palm, which suddenly grew wings and fluttered over to the real Yoruichi, landing on her shoulder and sitting down...

[Hopeflower]

Ira let her head hit the wall again. "It sounds basically the same, yes," she agreed, blowing another ring of fire. "Fire is a guardian to us. It's warmth and safety...and for some, a way to get power." She cocked her head, considering. "But our fire is, literally, in our blood. It's why our skin is always just a bit warmer than a human's when you touch it. Every demon is born with it...every demon has to learn to control it. Otherwise..." The corner of her mouth twitched as she suppressed a smile. "Things will get burned."

[The Kingpin]

"So, in essence, it's like teaching her to walk, but she's afraid she'll fall?" he asked, the Mini-Yoru grabbing onto a lock of hair and climbing...

[Hopeflower]

"Pretty much, yeah." Ira gave the wall another thump and let out a sound that wasn't quite a hiss or a sigh.

Yoruichi twitched in surprise, torn between the instincts to stay still and bat the figure away.

[Doc 42]

The Hornet stood up tall, finally having repaired himself as best he could. It wasn't perfect, but it would do. There were few parts left on the worktop, most of the droid having been recycled. Rather than waiting for another of those annoying drones to begin pestering him for his schematics again, he set off immediately, towards a random door way, intent on exploring the complex...

[The Kingpin]

"Hmm...well i can't really think of a solution for you..." he said after a short while of thought. the sand Yoru climbed further up the lock of hair, reaching the top and lying down. "Sorry about the sand sculpture....they tend to have minds of their own". right then the sand sculpture took flight, hovering over to Gaara's open palm, before returning to the gourd. "They're good entertainment though..."...

[Hopeflower]

"Because there's only one cure for her fear," Ira said, looking directly at Yoruichi. "And she and I both know what it is..." Yoruichi, who had opened her mouth to reply to Gaara, snapped her head around to glare at Ira. She clenched her jaw. "I told you before," she growled. "I won't do it." Ira sat up taller, her eyes glinting. Yoruichi stared back, refusing to be intimidated. She felt a hiss rising in the back of her throat.

[The Kingpin]

"What is 'it', and what's the problem with it?" asked Gaara, curious...

[Hopeflower]

Not breaking her staring match with Yoruichi, Ira explained, "We'd have to spar with each other. Go all-out. No holding back." Yoruichi felt the first stirrings of fear as Ira's eyes narrowed, starting to turn sky blue.

[The Kingpin]

"Well, if you're going to do that, find a place that's not going to be missed if it's torn down....an old construction site or somewhere on the City limits. question is....why not? worried one of you will get killed?" he asked...

[Hopeflower]

"We won't get killed. Sparring between demons, if neither tries to hold their fire in, rarely results in death." Ira waited until Yoruichi looked away before turning her gaze to the man. "Yoruichi has yet to agree, though. And what's the fun in a mock fight, if one doesn't give it her all?" She shifted, willing the blue haze away with a thought.

[The Kingpin]

Gaara thought about it, finally saying "You lost it once or twice in the time i've known you, and really did a good job. why don't you give it a shot and see what happens? if anything goes wrong i can step in and stop it....sure i may end up with alot of glass instead of sand, but eh, it's replacable. now...why not?" he asked, looking at Yoru...

[Hopeflower]

Yoruichi glanced between him and Ira, who had gone back to blowing rings of fire. She bit the inside if her cheek, undecided. Worthless coward, her father's voice accused her. She blinked, looked down at the floor, and nodded slowly. "Alright." Ira shot to her feet, cheering mentally. She was sure her eyes were glowing. "Out back. There's a pretty big clearing - we can use that." She took the stars two at a time, forcing Yoruichi to jump out of the way with a startled exclamation, and headed through the kitchen and out the back door. Yoruichi let out a long sigh. "And now she's acting like a sugar-addicted child on drugs..." she muttered as she followed.

[The Kingpin]

Gaara followed calmly, interested to see what happened, walking out the back door and glancing across the area, waiting to see what'd happen...

[Hopeflower]

"Call your fire," Ira said. Her eyes were already blue and she was standing in the center of the clearing. Yoruichi did so, feeling a little uneasy as the now-familiar green fog took over her vision. It cleared a bit after a moment, allowing her to focus on Ira. And a second later, Ira was all she could focus on. The other demon sprinted forward, fire igniting in her footsteps. Yoruichi let out a snarl and ran to meet her, feeling her nature begin to take over. "Thin-blood," Ira hissed as she neared. The seeming insult brought Yoruichi's flame to her hands. She snarled and ducked Ira's punch, instinct taking over as she lurched upright, catching Ira in the chin with her forehead. Ira snarled, staggering back a few steps, dazed. I know this, she realized. I've known it all along.

[The Kingpin]

Gaara stood in a position where the entire fight would be visible, crossing his arms casually as he watched, interested to see how the battle would unfold. he had seen Yoruichi in combat before. he knew she could use the flames when needed....it was just an issue of getting her to be comfortable with use of it casually...

[Hopeflower]

Ira recovered quickly, not giving Yoruichi much of an opportunity to press her advantage. She rushed at Yoruichi again, twin flames that looked exactly like daggers in her fists. Yoruichi was forced to keep dodging, Ira throwing well-aimed kicks as well as using her fire daggers. Neither of them had let their wings out yet, but Yoruichi felt the talons pressing at her skin. She was briefly distracted by the feeling, and paid the price. One of Ira's daggers grazed her cheek, and she let out a hiss of pain and fury. It felt like she'd been cut and burned at the same time by a white-hot blade. Fire leaped into existence around her, forcing Ira to back away as Yoruichi advanced, now holding her own set of flame daggers. A brief grin flickered over Ira's features. "That's it..." she snarled, blocking a swipe from one of Yoruichi's weapons with her own. Sparks showered briefly from where they were locked together before they both pulled away, circling each other. "Feel the fire in your veins!" she called, as Yoruichi leaped forward with an enraged snarl. "Let it in, welcome it, embrace it," she hissed into Yoruichi's furious face as she again blocked the strike. Blood was trickling from a gash on Yoruichi's face, and the skin around the wound was more of a burn than healthy skin. Glowing green and blue eyes locked for a moment. Ira let herself grin. Well done, she thought. You got her to use her fire, but you also pissed her off. It was almost enough to make her laugh at herself.

[The Kingpin]

Gaara watched, interested, as the two flame-wielders fought viciously. however, he didn't let it take all his attention. the little light show was bound to attract some attention it at any point they went to a larger scale, and he had to be ready to eliminate any unwanted attention...

[Hopeflower]

As the fight went on, Ira found her breath coming in pants. Instead of snarling at her weakness, she wanted to laugh. She hadn't been quite this breathless in a fight for some time. Yoruichi was no less affected. Now that she'd let her fire out, she and Ira were more evenly matched. If they kept going, they'd probably collapse before long. So instead of attacking again, Ira grinned, allowed her daggers to vanish, and said, "Draw." As soon as her fire vanished, Yoruichi staggered and dropped to one knee, exhausted. Ira walked towards her and offered a hand. "You've a long way to go yet," she commented as she helped haul the older teen to her feet. "But I think once you've gotten over your fear, you'll be a force to be reckoned with." Yoruichi smiled and reached up to touch her wound, but Ira caught her wrist. "No, don't play with it."