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Oh! Quite!

[He's not sure if that means yes, or no, but he does catch the gloves with ease and sees if they fit on. On human hands, they would be a mite large- which is astounding from his perspective- but thanks to that little bit of leeway his claws won't be ruining some poor sap's gloves.]

Perfect! I'm ready when you are then!

[He does a quick job of shedding his waistcoat -- it's been altered to accommodate his wings, and he won't risk it being damaged -- and lays it over the ropes at the side of the ring. With a quick hop -- higher than a human could, manticores have natural doublejump -- Holmes vaults those same ropes, and lands lightly on his feet in the ring.

He puts up his hands in a fighting stance.]

In your own time, Mr. Joestar.

[Time to go! They're already turning a head or two from the rest of the room: it's a monster v. monster match!]

As with you! [Jonathan announces, doing much the same. Jonathan, to probably little surprise for Sherlock given the Felfri bouts, starts off with caution- pacing the ring, watching to see how the other will move. He is well aware after all, that despite being human in Felfri, Sherlock has the grand advantage- he knows how the demon fights, and more than that, knows the ring. Jonathan's feet are feeling around as he goes, getting a sense for the give of the floor, the weight that can, or cannot, be thrown.

Like some horse, or ox, he exhales deeply through the nose as he pauses in these motions- a conscious spurt of flame following the air and crackling out of sight in an instant.

What opening can he find, in the cat...]

[They circle each other at first, getting a feel for the ring.

Sherlock will make the first move -- testing little jabs, not full force, getting an idea of range. Jonathan's arms are longer, he has an advantage there, but Sherlock's quick. His strategy for the match will be to goad and bait JoJo into sending a punch, slip it and get in past Jonathan's guard, strike, and get out: he'll also work angles, try to get strikes in from the side. He fights fair but smart!

Any punches he does take from JoJo hit hard: he'll stumble and reel, but recover fast. ]

[Jonathan is not a small man, so his tendency for avoiding a blow is to back away rather than to try and sway to the side- he'll certainly do his best to read the direction and do the latter as needed however. He certainly doesn't want to be playing the defensive for the match however- that's not why they're here, and there's hardly any fun in a bout that poses no challenge.

Jonathan's hits are pulled- he aims for areas that are assuredly non vital, either through protection or otherwise. The blows move down, and come often from the front, a direct shot forward- and when he himself takes a blow it is as if he felt nothing at all.

Certainly he is- feeling it, rather- but Jonathan is one who has taken a knife by the blade using a hand, taken a saw to the arm, and done so without flinching.

The only tells that will be given for a blow, will be the bruises that come at the end.]

[Why does he know all these guys with incredibly insane pain tolerance? It makes it difficult to gauge, with monster-strength, how hard is too hard...

But Holmes pulls his punches with humans so much that it's nice to be able to free up that mental bandwidth for a change, and focus on technique. He fights clever but clean, above the belt with no risk of organ damage. He blocks a blow to his stomach with a crunch to the side, taking it on the upper arm and elbow, and though it hurts, he feels it reverberate through him. Yes, that's better, that jolt of adrenaline is putting him back into place, back where he belongs, in his entire body and not just behind his eyes -- it's what he needed from this.

Holmes feels like he's finally awake, for the first time since the Sjora's song pulled him under.]

You're as good as I recall, even without your hamon, [he says, during a circling-break, where they've made a little distance to catch their breath.] But you're holding back.

Naturally so- [He doesn't even hesitate to admit it- and in fact, sounds almost jovial as he does.] I expect that the both of us would be quite capable of putting a hole directly through the other if we were to truly focus my dear friend, but that's hardly the point of such a bout is it?

[Another strike, a slide, a jab-] After all, such tactics are befitting an assassination more than a tussle!

Worry not however Sherlock- I'm not holding back so much so that I could be aiming to teach another how to properly block; all I have restrained is the brute force, and no more!

Very well, [he replies, mollified by the assurance, and also a little bit by my dear friend. There is another exchange of blows and blocks, as Sherlock says:] As long as I have your word that that is the case.

[And he'll pick the fight up again in earnest, cheerier, starting to have real fun with it! Some humans are unimpressed, and some are watching with interest.]

Edited 2023-07-16 13:51 (UTC)

But of course!

[Jonathan never uses his feet, but after all this is boxing; his side jabs become a little more energetic as they go however, and the more excited he gets the more visibly heated he is- literally. Steam seems to rise off his skin, which for a manticore, will no doubt be no problem at all!]

[Nope, the heat doesn't bother him! Sherlock is also cheerier: he's left the events of April behind entirely, and all that matters is the game, the match.

The humans have started to divide the bout into rounds: there's a bell, now, and ninety-seconds-on-thirty-seconds-off.

Eventually, though, Sherlock will start to lag: he's put up a very good fight and kept it up with speed and harrying blows, but he's no simulacrum, he can't go forever. His reaction speed slows, and his hands grow heavy -- eventually, as the bell rings, he cries:]

Hold! Enough!

[There's sweat soaking his shirt, streaming down his brow, not from the heat but the exertion.]

Phew..... [And Jonathan does so- only now perhaps proving that he as well was being chipped at, bit by bit by little bit. Sweating himself, he straightens from his boxer's 'crouch', wiping at his brow as he nods.]

We're calling it there then I presume? [he calls out, beaming despite the exhaustion.] A wonderful showing, Sherlock! You're quite the combatant!

[As he fights to catch his breath, his clothing soaked:]

Thank -- thank you. You are -- you -- did not disappoint --

[wheeze! give him another second! he feels better than he has in ages and also like he's about to pass out!]

I am quite happy to hear that! [Jonathan wheezes himself, nodding vigorously.] Perhaps now however, we ought get ourselves some water?

[ Jonathan will revive to find himself in a comfortable bedroom - small, with the bed in one corner, a desk and chair in another, then a dresser in the third and a door taking up the final corner. There's enough space that it's closer to "cozy" than "cramped", even for a fellow of Jonathan's size. There are no windows, with only the desk lamp illuminating the room. Also on the desk is a small snowglobe, which appears to contain a miniature scene of an embracing shade and harpy (one with large, distinctively-colorful wings, hinting as to whose place this might be).

Should Jonathan venture out through the door, he'll find himself in the kitchen/living area of a 1990's Japanese-style apartment, with the kitchen cupboards and appliances along one wall and a kotatsu set up in the middle of the room. While its heating element is currently switched off (it's summer!) the resident harpy is seated at it anyway, his thin bird legs folded neatly beneath him. The Ring-Spirit appears to have been absently flipping through a book, though he loses interest in it as soon as he spots Jonathan. ]

Wondered when you'd revive. Want anything? I've got some snacks and stuff in here now.

[ This room also lacks windows, though it's well-lit by light fixtures. ]

[Jonathan also, it appears, revives in a completely different body. There's actually a brief yelp that Ring-Spirit might have heard heralding this; the spectral thing stumbling out into the room and soon looking around with relative wonder, even as the door he opened too come in swings right through him.] Oh-!

Richard! So this is how that matter of protection operates then..? I must say it's a lovely flat you've found for yourself here...Erm.

[He looks at himself.] I don't suppose this matter of changing species is related? Or perhaps the crash threw off Mana's quest...

[The shade, largely a cloud of semi-humanoid haze with a crystal clear head, winces.] I don't wish to turn down your offer, but I'm rather worried about if things won't simply pass through me at this point.

[ Indeed, the Ring-Spirit frowns as soon as he processes what he's seeing; his brows knit, perplexed. ]

Mn, no, reviving here shouldn't have changed your monster type... I had heard about Mana's quests going weird sometimes...

[ Very strange, that Jonathan's just randomly a shade now! ]

What'd you ask her for?

[ He has to admit he's very curious as to what could have gone wrong here... but if Jonathan doesn't feel inclined to share, he won't press. It's not exactly vital information, nor his business.

He gets up to go rummage through the kitchen area's cupboards. ]

We could test with crackers? Or something else simple enough to sweep up if it does fall through you. I don't recall Ryou ever having trouble with eating - but I suppose every shade has different strengths and weaknesses.

I wished to be able to quickly inform those on the surface of any occurrences should something go awry- however, [he adds, frowning,] I don't believe either of us accounted for actual death...

Oh- yes, crackers should surely be fine- if there's trouble at all then there shouldn't be time for them to be anything less than dry I would think. The most I can say I ever witnessed Ryou having trouble with perhaps was holding the mug during a particular crisis...Hopefully then, it should be much the same.

Hm...

[ The Ring-Spirit listens, nodding along as he pulls out a package of rice crackers - they're fairly bland, if he recalls correctly, but should do well enough for checking eating capabilities. He absently opens the packet and arranges a few on a plate, then brings that whole thing back to the kotatsu. ]

I suppose death would interfere with whatever she'd meant to do, in that case... huh. Still though - maybe the idea was you could phase through my bedroom door, and shave off a few seconds? H-heheh...

[ He snickers at the thought, then reseats himself, motioning for Jonathan to join him on the floor. ]

I contacted Saint Germain a few days ago, by the way, right after I revived myself; so there's no hurry about getting word to her, though I'm sure she'd be glad to hear from you when you get the time.

Oh- I suppose that would certainly be an interpretation...

[He comes over to take his seat, apparently mulling over whether or not that was the true intent. As Ring spirit speaks though, the shade does nod- assuredly listening.] Well, I'm grateful to hear that you were able to get in contact with her swiftly...I presume you explained most of what occurred, far as we were able to see?

I did, of what I'd seen. All I could tell was that the air got strange as we travelled higher, going all... [ waves a spidery hand ] ...rainbow-y. And then the moon seemed to suddenly get in our way, being far closer than it had seemed before.

Did you notice anything else? If I missed anything of note I should pass it on.

Beyond the look of the planet below- it being entirely fog naturally- nothing of note. All I recall is Sonic shouting something about 'no moon' in alarm, and then I was here.

[..........Hm.]

...I am wondering if perhaps...I ought feel more alarmed by that.

[It's called Shock.]

Hm. I don't recall if I thought to mention the look of the planet... I'll have to bring that up later, just to be sure she knows...

[ He helps himself to one of the crackers as he considers Jonathan's last remark. ]

Well, it certainly wouldn't be unusual if you were more alarmed than you are... but I don't think it's a problem if you're not. It's all over with by now, you're not in any danger here - why get upset after the fact if you don't have to?

[ The Ring-Spirit shrugs. Someone might be just a bit blasé about the whole Dying thing. ]

It's not like anyone's to blame; we had no way of knowing the moon could crash into us.

I would think that wise, yes...

[Taking a cracker, there is some relief when it very much does get consumed normally- with a smile, he briefly states-] Seems I ought be able to eat then, [And then carries on.]

That seems perhaps the rational response yes.....truthfully after all it was rather like blinking; if anything I feel worse now, having revived, than I likely did in that instant!

[Jonathan, unfortunately, is probably in Shock.]

That is true...I simply wonder if we ought have consulted the local entities themselves- at the very least, we could have had better reason to expect something to go awry if the response was negative.

I have heard something about "revival sickness" - feeling weaker than usual for a bit after resurrecting. Not unlike how getting over a bad cold leaves you more tired than usual, I imagine.

[ The Ring-Spirit is Not the best person to talk to about things like "shock" or "trauma".

He tsks at Jonathan's last comment, irritated with himself at the idea. ]

Tch, yeah, I should've asked the Fog. I don't like to bother Her with every little thing I try in my research... but perhaps in the future, if I plan to do anything else significant, I should ask for Her opinion before going all out.

[ He sighs. ]

...I don't take well to thinking ahead. I can plan, but I'm much better at just doing.

Edited (rephrase) 2023-09-03 11:14 (UTC)

[Pucci's not lying when he says give him about an hour. And the man is always prompt about getting to places on time. Which is precisely why JoJo can expect a knock on his door about a minute before the hour mark has hit.

The priest garb has been changed out for simple slacks, a deep navy dress shirt, and shoes. Which... well, at least he looks mostly human enough even while out like this. It's fine, he's fine.

Even if he's extremely curious to see this man in the flesh after hearing many a story about him.

It's ridiculous, if he's honest.]

IC INBOX | RYSLIG

this is the part where i remember im pants at combat writing

THAT'S FINE WE'LL PAINT IT IN BROAD STROKES. ESTABLISH HOW IT BASICALLY WENT.

OKAY....I CAN DO THAT....

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[backdated to Jojo's revival-post-rocket] > Dyster, action

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[Action, continued from network lol]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, JOJO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 336.66.256.63 * JOJO has joined 336.66.256.63 <JOJO...?>** Technically this message doesn't exist. Jonathan doesn't actually have a laptop. I just needed an Inbox.