[text]

[aurathread]

Does anyone want to train with me? My Persona could use some leveling up and it's not really worth it to use it on monsters since I have my own spells.

Oh, right. It uses Dark skills, mostly.

I'm mostly free whenever, just let me know if you want to train.

Comments

[tyrantball]

Desco nods appreciatively.

"Oooo. Fire Dance!"

The spell only triggers twice this time, causing Desco to click her tongue in slight irritation before several of the things launch Ice spells at her.

[aurathread]

Tsukasa makes an annoyed noise at the creatures, and casts Matarunda at them. Not that Desco really needs the damage to be limited, but it's worth a shot.

[tyrantball]

Desco shakes a few ice crystals off her claws and gestures at the monsters.

"Fulgur Punch!"

In response to the command, Pele unleashes a seething mass of lightning that blows the remaining creatures out of the sky. As Desco crosses her arms and grumbles indistinctly, there's the sound of more bells as additional creatures float into view.

[aurathread]

He sighs, and and turns towards the new enemies. Not worth using his strongest attacks...

"Lanceor Ch!" The image of the lightning spirit flashes again before lightning slams into two of the new enemies.

[tyrantball]

Desco pauses at that before looking over at Tsukasa.

"If you don't want to train your Persona any more, can Desco just blast them all?"

[aurathread]

"Sure. I'm just using it off and on. A lot of these are just easy, low level mobs."

It's not that he minds grinding, just... yeah.

[tyrantball]

"Ahahaha, yay! YOG SOTHOTH!"

With that, a cavernous maw opens up on Usatako, swallowing Desco's child body. The composite being writhes and swells, cast in absolute darkness, until it towers over the streets, a fifty-foot behemoth of waving tentacles.

"Cretins! Bow down and worship me, for I am DESCO!"

With that, Desco's titanic true form sends all four tentacles crashing into the group before opening its maw and discharging a massive laser. As the Heartless fade into nothingness from the attack, Desco's true form flashes white briefly and collapses in on itself, leaving behind the familiar, child-like demon girl that Tsukasa knows and...knows. She's beaming happily, tail wagging, as she floats over to Tsukasa's side.

"What did you think of Desco's awesome TRUE FORM?! Isn't she magnificent?!"

[aurathread]

Tsukasa takes a few steps back. The echoing voice makes him twitch a bit, remembering Her, but he doesn't say anything. Once she's done, he takes a deep breath as she approaches him.

"It's... it's something..."

Something about it unsettles him, but he's not sure why.

"Let's find some tougher enemies."

[tyrantball]

"Yaay! Lead the way!"

Desco completely fails to notice Tsukasa's emotional state and is content to continue trailing after him, tail still wagging.

[aurathread]

He leads her around a bit, and then they run into a large canine. They're out of range for now, but Tsukasa thinks a moment before changing his Persona.

The large golem in front of him lumbers forward, extending his arm in a punch as the demon catches sight of them and tries to charge at them.

[tyrantball]

Desco pauses to consider as well before summoning her Soul Persona.

"Evil Touch!"

[aurathread]

Both of the attacks hit. The demon whimpers a little, but opens his mouth, breathing flames in a Fire Dance. Tsukasa backs up, but still gets hit by the fire. It hurts, worse than he expects, and it makes him stumble and fall backwards, sitting down on the ground. His robe catches on fire and he starts beating it out, smoke flying into his eyes.

(Smoking? Father smoked... and his hands on his arms and the smoke in his face -)

"Stop!"

He drags himself out of the memory, and does his best to stand.

[tyrantball]

At Tsukasa's cry, Desco shapes her tentacles into a sword and smashes a True Godly Weapon into the Orthrus before quickly flying over and helping him up.

"Ah! What's wrong?"

[aurathread]

"Just... remembering bad things. And my robe was on fire."

He holds onto her arm tightly, trying to shove the memories away.

[tyrantball]

"Is this a problem Desco can solve with violence? Or should she just support you silently from behind like a good girlfriend?"

[aurathread]

"First I have to be able to log off. And... you're. Um. You're not my girlfriend. Um. Subaru and I are... I don't know, but... I..."

His expression can easily be compared to a deer in the headlights at the moment.

"A-anyway I don't... even know if I'm a guy offline. I don't... think I am. Or I thought I was but now I'm not even sure. Bear doesn't seem to think I am."

[tyrantball]

Well she hadn't intended to tell Tsukasa that he was her boyfriend but Desco will just roll with it. Besides, the rest of what he said introduced a few wrinkles anyway.

"So...you already have a girlfriend, and you might also be a girl too?"

Hmm. Desco is thinking hard.

No good will come of this.

[aurathread]

"She's not - I mean we're just - I... mm. That might be the easiest way to say it..."

How does he shot relationships.

[tyrantball]

"So Desco has two girlfriends! Final Boss Harem is GO!"

[aurathread]

"No. You're a... a friend... who is a girl. But you're not my girlfriend. I'm not... I can't even... I don't know that I can even do something like that. I... I still have a lot of things to do so I can be someone that... other people can rely on."

As he speaks, a Shadow sneaks up behind him and jumps on his back, making him yelp in surprise and frustration. "Get off!"

[tyrantball]

Desco reacts instantly, flying over to Tsukasa and latching onto the Shadow with her teeth.

[aurathread]

The shadow poofs quickly, leaving Tsukasa looking a little sheepish. He taps his staff against the ground, blushing a little bit.

"... Thanks."

[tyrantball]

This leaves Desco in perfect position to hang off of Tsukasa herself, which she does. Her voice is cheerful as she responds to Tsukasa's earlier stammerings.

"Desco has already entrusted you with her body, though! And even though you fumbled with her at first, you went on to use her skillfully! Desco made her choice, and she already told you she won't be swayed!"

[aurathread]

Why did she have to put it like that? His cheeks flush bright red.

"Y-you're my f-friend, but... girlfriends are different. And... and it's not like you... I mean... people in a relationship are supposed to be able to rely on each other, but you do just fine without me."

[tyrantball]

"Desco is a highly mobile mid-range blaster-type unit, designed to punch holes in enemy formations and draw their fire. If she's going to function to the best of her ability, she needs a dedicated mid-boss squad to fill the roles she can't!"

Squeezing Tsukasa a little tighter in a hug now.

"And she has already decided on you as her long-range caster unit! So don't worry, Desco already relies you! She even has a special title all planned for your Mid-Boss debut!"