(no subject)

[theboogieman]

Who: IT'S A GAME MINGLE GET IN THE VAN
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: All of it!
When: Second half of the month.

[hey everyone! how's it been going? how's medieval-fun-time-world treating you? anyone pillaged and burned anything yet? got kicked out of the castle? been planning expeditions? registered for jousting? busy angsting for the last two weeks on your ship?

this is a mingle for everybody, whether they're hiding in the volcano, out and about in the city, or up on one of those random random stations where you can get quirky souvenirs.]

Comments

[limitstorm]

Five moves, three phases. Watch--I'll show you the whole thing now, and then the three phases. Don't try this right away.

[ he moves with each word. ]

Strike, block. Parry, strike. Counter. Strike, counter, block. Strike, parry. Strike, counter, strike, block. Strike.

So the first part--strike, block, parry, strike, counter.

[everydayhero]

[he's paying very close attention, repeating the pattern in his head over and over as he goes.

[then riku repeats the first part, and hiro's... not doing it yet because he was told not to, but he wants to. he's just kind of nodding, being attentive.]

Strike, block, parry, strike, counter.

[nod!]

[limitstorm]

[ good tiny genius, you can be taught.

when he repeats after him, he nods. ]

Show me.

i had this open and written for literally five days. what the fuck.

[everydayhero]

Alright...

[he's conscious of his foot and grip placement as he prepares to move, taking an extra moment to get it right before starting. if he learned one thing from cass's training, it's that form comes first, speed comes later.

[then he does his best to make the moves flow together. he's way slower than how riku did it, a lot more careful, and a little sloppy (sometimes as a result).]

I was wondering <3

[limitstorm]

[ riku nods, and then tilts his head. ]

Good. You've got the basic form right--go back to block.

[ he waits for him, and then raises his rod to slightly press against hiro's elbow. ]

Lock your elbows--good. Next: strike, counter, block, strike, parry.

EVEN THOUGH I TOOK A BREAK I WAS LIKE "huh i thought she'd tag..."

[everydayhero]

[he's following his orders, but also visibly paying attention to memorize how he's moving.

[then he hears the next set, and gives five shallow, rhythmic nods while he figures out what he's doing.

[and then he moves. this one is only marginally sloppier than the first, but that sure is a pretty block.]

LMAO.... no this is one of my priority threads tbh

[limitstorm]

I can tell you're a genius.

[ he laughs and shakes his head. ] Good. Think you can do it from the beginning?

screeee me too <3

[everydayhero]

[he pauses to preen before he nods with confidence.]

You said it. I'm a genius.

[SHRUG. okay, let's do this.

[he backs up a bit to give himself a little more room, and takes a deep breath. he does it with a slight pause between the two sets, but the rhythm seems to help him flow a bit better. he's still absolutely far from perfect, but hey, he doesn't totally flop on any part of it, either. the blocks are pretty nice in both sets.]

:>

[limitstorm]

I don't say things I don't think're true.

[ well.

most of the time anyway. 99% of the time. ]

You'll get the rhythm better when you practice it--so don't worry about that, just remember what order and how to do them. Being a little stiff is normal.

Ready for the third set?

[everydayhero]

[nodding!!]

Noted. I'm ready. It's... Strike, counter, strike, block... strike?

[limitstorm]

Yep, you've got it. Go ahead and try it out.

[everydayhero]

[hell yeah, alright. he's gonna focus a little harder on his strikes this time than the other two, since there are three, and it's a good chance to get his form down better.]

[limitstorm]

Don't put too much energy in your strikes, or you won't have enough energy to redirect.

[ a word of caution, but he gives a firm nod. ]

Now all together. If you forget one, ask and I'll remind you.

[everydayhero]

[that makes sense. he kind of... gently strikes again just to gauge it for himself.]

Alright...

[and then he goes back to where he was standing at the start before, and tries to get it all the way through. he's kind of wobbly by the end of it and seems a little rushed, like he's not sure if he's doing it right.]

[limitstorm]

Pause.

[ he waves a hand gently at him, and then stands beside him. ]

This isn't about fighting. Sure, the moves are about fighting, but this routine is about training yourself to move. Don't imagine an opponent, and don't rush it, okay? This is about you.

[ he does the first set without a word, calm and collected. ]

Just you.

[everydayhero]

[he watches him this time, taking a moment to calm down, because, yeah, he was thinking about an opponent. what would he do if this were someone trying to kill him? what has he done in those situations before? he wouldn't have a giant robot to hide behind anymore.]

Alright... Just me. Got it...

[this time, when he does it, he focuses on how it feels, on the rhythm, instead of throwing himself into the fray like an idiot. it looks... a good margin better.]

[limitstorm]

[ riku breaks out into a grin when he finishes. ]

Really nice. You've got it. [ er, well... ] At least, you've got the routine down. Now, all you have to do is practice that.

... and stop when you get sore. I mean it.

[everydayhero]

[SALUTE.]

Yes sir!

[he grins]

So, you want me to do this, and then next time you train me I can show you how I'm doing, and we'll go from there?

[limitstorm]

[ a nod. ]

Yeah. The important thing is to practice it. If you forget some of the moves, you've got my comm number.

[ ... and, you know-- ]

Toss me your stick for a second.

[everydayhero]

[hiro continues to take note, even reaching for his comm reflexively like he has to make sure he's got riku's number.]

Oh--uh, here.

[he tosses the stick toward him, and hey, he... doesn't fuck that up at least.]

[limitstorm]

[ good cause that'd be embarrassing ]

I know it's kind of hard to learn stuff like this.

[ he steps over to where he took off his satchel, grabbing a small knife and starting to carve a little design at the top. ]

My first spell was fire, and I was pretty good at it--but it took weeks to even start to cast. I felt like I was going crazy 'cause all I did was meditate and try to find my center. I didn't get that I was getting better and learning.

[ he blows off the dust and shavings. at the top, instead of the cylindrical, blunt end, riku carved a rounded end with a jagged trim. against the rest of the rod, it looks pretty polished, especially as he gives it a quick sanding down. smooth to the touch, he holds the decorated end so hiro can grab into it. ]

So here: I'll measure your progress. By the time you've got your spells down, this'll be done, and you'll have a weapon to channel your magic through and fight with. But like training, you've gotta take it a little at a time, and you've gotta keep at it.

Sound good?

[everydayhero]

[hiro watches him work with an intensity that almost makes it seem like he's not listening as well, but rest assured, he's absorbing every bit of information. he takes the end of the staff when it's offered to him, and he watches riku while he talks, running his thumb over the groove.

[he nods at the question.]

That sounds great.

[limitstorm]

Better start picking out a cool name. 'Hiro the Mage' isn't that catchy. For now, you're... dismissed, I guess. [ scratches his cheek. how do teaching? ]

Just remember: practice, and calm. [ hm ] There was a kebab stand inside... if you're hungry, I'll buy you one. Call it a gift for a job well done.

[everydayhero]

Hiro the Mage is pretty lame. I'll think on it.

[oh hey food offer yes please]

Uh, sure. I could go for food.

[limitstorm]

Good, 'cause I don't think I ate.

[ he keeps forgetting to eat... ]