expiationlogs | [training mingle] Let's get down the business!

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[training mingle] Let's get down the business!

Who: Everyone out there!
Where: Outskirts of the Aldrip - Training Grounds
What: It's time for the Boot(y) Camp! The Chosen of Aldrip have all been invited to train, learn and spar!
Warnings: Other than the general violence? TBA..!

It is early morning on the 9th of September. The sun is shining, the air is fresh and nicely brisk, which means that it is just perfect time for Aldrip's first ever group training! How did you find your way there? Who knows! Maybe you were one of the people who saw the original announcement on the network, or noticed posters about it around Adlrip. Or maybe you were brought here by friendly white boar. Well, whatever the reason is what matters is that you are here. Welcome.

The empty field near the outskirts of the City has been transformed into a makeshift training camp. There are couple of tents set up around the camp. Some of them work as rather simplified armories containing pretty limited amount of blades, axes, armors, firearms, bows and arrows and what have you. Feel free to pick your poison, so to speak, but be sure to return what you borrow. Richard is keeping an eye on the weapons and will notice if something goes missing. Of course, characters are more than welcomed to use their own weapons and armors etc. Other tents are for resting, ER practice and dining. The lunch is sponsored by the Sandwich Hut.

The official training areas and their respective teachers/staff are the following:

Spiritual training/magic: Kurama, Douman, Kakashi
First-aid: Ethlyn, Morph, Bones
Rescue training: Morph, Bones
Hand-to-hand combat: ~~Jirk~~ Jim & Spock, Kakashi
Tech support: ~~Jirk~~ Jim & Spock
Fire arms: Caitlyn, Levi
Swords & Melee: Richard, Hiei
Archery: Richard
Survival skills: Richard, Kurama
Military training: Jim & Spock, Miller, Richard
Endurance training: Bones
Lunch: Junpei (and Whitey the Albino Boar)

If there is an activity a character would like to do that isn't included in the list that's no problem. Feel free to create your own top-level with said activity or you know! Just the usual stuff that varies from silly hang-out to whatever your heart desires.

Also for references sake: here is the OG ooc info post about regarding the mingle

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Heh that's kind of cool-- holy shit.

Scott nearly jumps when Douman steps right behind him, barely stopping the surprised noise from passing through his lips as he whirls around to face the mysterious man. What the hell?! He just appeared out of nowhere! And what hell is up with that mask??]

You didn't have to appear right behind me!

[Although as he calms down, he can't help but notice that the guy's voice sounds vaguely familiar. Unfortunately, with the mask still covering his face, Scott can't immediately pinpoint the memory that's associated with it but it's there, crawling in the back of his mind. There's a distinct feeling of being annoyed though, but whatever the case, the mutant does his best to shove it down so that he can face the newcomer with a mostly unbothered look. He's trying, anyway.]

Yeah, you seem familiar too, don't know why. [He holds back the comment that he doesn't normally hang out with guys in weird masks.] So, you're the instructor.

[Cool. Yeah, is what he gets for following paper guys.]

[Douman doesn't manage to fully keep his smile out of his voice as he lifts his hands in mock surrender.]

My apologies. It's a bad habit that I just can't shake.

[He probably couldn't even if he did want to, which Douman frankly doesn't. It's always entertaining to him when he ends up making people jump or yelp stuff they didn't actually meant to say because his youkai powers tend to mask his presence until he willingly makes it known.]

It was probably during one of those glitches, then. Please just forget that ever happened.

[It's already bad enough that he has Mr. Giggles-and-Doom gleefully call him by his real name thanks to it. Douman really doesn't need or want another one doing the same.

He spends a moment to look Scott up and down and lightly shrugs his shoulders while he's dropping his hands.]

I'm Nurarihyon. I know that it might seem paradoxical for a youkai to offer to help humans, but I figured that we're all in the same boat right now. Especially since I have never been much of a predator anyways.

[That's both the truth and a boldfaced lie. But as far as his personal youkai lore goes he is indeed more of a nuisance than any real danger to those he happens to.]

[Uh-huh, yeah he's sure that this guy is real sorry. Scott isn't fooled by his apology or placating gestures.

Although, they met while one of them was glitched...? That's probably right, but the mystery of when and where they talked just makes Scott even more curious about it. Was it when he was affected by the glitching? He definitely would've remembered that mask though, no matter what. Maybe if this dude removed it, he could easily pinpoint that encounter. Clearly, however, it doesn't look like 'teacher' wants to do something like that.

Scott huffs, but decides not to prod about that topic. For now, at least. He's here for training, right? So, that's what he's going to do.]

Scott Summers. [He responds back with some of that prior attitude dropping.] A youkai? So you're a demon or some sort of spiritual being?

[He doesn't look bothered by the concept at least.]

[He ignores the pointed silence at his claim of being sorry with the same casualness he always does, and moves on to more important things. Like... this fellow's name. Douman feels like he has heard it somewhere before, but again he cannot pinpoint it. Ahh, that's why he can't stand when something manages to mess with his head. Picking up all the loose threads and retying them is a headache and then some!

That young man being huffy seems to fit just right, though. He wonders why it's that expression in particular that stands out.]

Yes. Demon, malignant spirit or weird creature, all those terms are right. Just consider me part of those things in folklore that go bump in the night and are generally bad news for humans.

Now, the Common Sense course I offer... It's actually what we'd call Spookology back home, but I figured that'd make even less sense to the folks here. Its main point is to help you figure out what you can and cannot do, how to best interact with any given terrain, the best and worst matches for your fighting partners and enemies, how to deal with unexpected situations, and so on. In a nutshell: it's a lot of things that one'd consider common sense, except that you usually don't end up thinking about them yourself until it's already too late.

How about you show me what you can do and tell me about the training you've already had, and then we can take it from there?

[Isn't it usually a bad thing to take offers from demons? Scott's sure there's like a book or movie about that. Eh, oh well. He'll deal with that if it happens. Besides, he's friends with a couple of demons here, so all the stupid crap he had a preconceived notion of probably shouldn't be applied. Look at him, having an open mind about things. Guess it helps that he shoots fuck off beams from his eyes.

And despite the name of the course, what he's offering to teach really doesn't sound half-bad. Like actually useful crap.]

It sounds a little like learning the extent of my powers.

[Scott acknowledges after he listens to Douman's explanation. It's something Professor Xavier said to him over a year ago now, when he first arrived at his institute. That's what he was supposed to learn, but he soon found himself in this world instead, separated from the other mutants. He didn't know what he was doing at first. However, others have helped him, not to mention that there are other mutants in this world now.

Still, why not learn more from others? Maybe he can control his powers some day.]

I've practiced using my powers with others before, testing how long they can go and what I can destroy. Practiced aiming. [Scott starts explaining as he tilts his head up, obviously aiming upward and away from anyone nearby. No need to accidentally hurt someone in the crossfire. Taking in a low breath, Scott soon slides his shades off to let those red optic beams fly out from his eyes, humming through the air and piercing through the atmosphere.

Hopefully that helps with the explanation.]

[Douman can half see that the young man isn't quite sure about trusting him yet - which is a good sign, since he'd have questioned the IQ of anybody who wouldn't hesitate at the notion of dealing with a youkai or demon at first. But there's also the foolhardy confidence that he has grown so familiar with coming from the youngesters in his charge, so he knows that he never had to worry about the other being turned off just because of what he is. Douman's mouth curves into a smile behind his mask as he nods his head in agreement.]

That is also part of it, of course.

[He hesitates for a fraction of a second, but the temptation to brag of his life's work is too much.]

Offering our students the best education they can hope for is the pride of my school, after all. Even if I'll have to act as only a lonely teacher, that's not something that'll change.

[He won't claim that they can just provide their students with the best future they can hope for, but they sure as hell do a damn fine job getting those students to a point where they can create that future for themselves if they're smart about it. Which is actually a strange little thing to be proud of, come to think of it. Hadn't Douman actually only started teaching others out of spite to a single man, just to prove that it is possible if you have the tenacity and skills? Damn, he really is thinking like some old coot again.]

Oh my. Hopefully there wasn't any bird or plane up there. [he comments laconically as he tilts his head upwards and shields its eyeslits with a hand to try and see how far that ray does reach]

It looks like you are an eye one, then. I'd call you an eye youkai, but since you are obviously a human I don't really know what word to use. [he nods as he turns his attention back to Scott] Thanks for your example. You can put the glasses back on again.

[Though it may not appear like it, Scott was listening to Douman as he talked about his school back home. Kind of surprising to hear, but guess even youkai have schools?? Whatever. What matters is that masked guy here is definitely familiar when it comes to dealing with unusual powers. It helps to explain his own ease when offering to train him, not to mention that he has his own... magic or whatever. For a moment, he can almost imagine the Professor saying something similar, and it's a thought Scott doesn't know what to do with, not right now.

He'll make that judgment later, after he's done blasting into the sky. After he's trained, possibly.

His beams reach far out, extending outward, and luckily avoiding any unfortunate bird that might be around. Although, it's not like Scott would be able to fully tell if a small pigeon got caught in the attack since it would probably be instantly vaporized. It's cool though, don't worry about it. But as directed, Scott soon shuts his eyes to let that red force disappear before sliding his glasses back on, only blinking a couple of times before he looks back up at Douman.]

...Mutant. I'm what's known as a mutant back home.

[Scott says, tone neutral, most informative. It's just a factual statement, right?]

Oh, a mutant? And not of the "simply a curled ear and different coloration" variety, I'd bet. Are you mayhap acquaintances with a certain Morph?

[While he is talking Douman casually rounds Scott, trying to get a first feeling for his physical fitness. As a good teacher he needs to take everything into account, from his charge's likes and dislikes, physical state and limits up to even monetary and mental things.]

I am known as an ayakashi, a youkai more specifically. I think my designation in that one youkai-dictionary for kids that I've seen around is 'the old man youkai' as a species?

Yeah, I'll give you one guess why I'm considered a mutant.

[He'll drop the attitude soon, maybe. Well, Douman bringing up Morph manages to do just that, the teen tilting his head and nodding, immediately affirming his connection to the other mutant. It's enough of a distraction that he doesn't bitch at the other for circling around him, standing still and just figuring that he's sizing him up or whatever. Guess if he might be his student in the future... sure.

Stuff like this is one thing Scott will always take seriously.]

We're teammates.

[He offers as a small explanation, regarding his connection to Morph.

The youkai will notice that Scott's in relatively good shape, he's clearly exercising and training, but he's far from the physique of someone that trains extensively every day. Not a 'superhero' form for sure.]

Huh? Is that how that works? You become old as a youkai and become an entirely new species? [This sort of thing is definitely new to him.]

[Douman simply ignores the attitude, making merely a mental note that this one seems to consider 'being a mutant' a touchy topic. That should be easy enough to avoid poking too much.]

Ah. Like his roommate?

[He stops in front of the teen, seemingly satisfied with his inspection. For now Douman is going to slot Scott's form as 'athletic' and tally any challenges he might give accordingly. Most of Douman's body is hidden beneath layers of old-fashioned clothes, but there's no real hiding that he's tall - even without the heeled boots that he's wearing. What might be more telling is the way he moves; it's that of a seasoned apex predator.]

Haha, not quite. It is simply the shape my species is most known for.

Nah, we don't live together.

[Not yet? Maybe future roommates, at least back home? Because Scott doesn't see himself moving in with the older mutants; he already has a place with his friends here that is pretty much home to him now. Nothing personal-- although, huh, are him and Morph friends? He can kind of see that.

As Douman stops in front of him, the teen does his best to continue meeting his eyes, although that mask is still in the way. Guess he's starting to get how people feel when they try and meet his gaze, just staring into something unreadable.]

So, the shape of your species is an 'old man.' That blows. [Well, sure. Why not. Guess he dresses like one??] You don't really sound like one though. You're supposed to call me youngster or some crap.

[Scott stops, makes a face, and recants all that.] Don't, actually.

[He nods, acknowledging Scott's point.] From what I heard their roommate is a female, although they mentioned that others 'from home' were around.

[That's why he guessed. Weird creatures of the same breed tend to know each other, be it supernatural beings or humans. There are probably some romantic ways to look at it, but Douman tends to think of it more in the way of how one wolf would know if there are packmates or potential rivals of its kind around. ....Which is probably not a thought he should be sharing.]

Haha, I've learned that most of your age don't really appreciate being addressed like that~ And old or not, I'm very much in touch with how people talk in the twenty-twenties, even if the occasional 'youngster' or 'young man' might still slip through.

[The eyes behind the mask's eye-slits narrow in amusement for a moment as he shakes his head, making is hidden smile obvious.]

There are actually plenty of species where one particular shape is the most known of, like Yuki Onna-- Snow Women --or mermaids. Whenever people hear about them, they'll inevitably think of pretty young women, even when it's only logical that there must be men, elderly and children of that species as well.

In my case any weird incongruities you might notice are simply because I used to be a human once, though.

[Through most of Douman's lecture, Scott just blandly watches him, not looking all that interested in what he's saying. Yeah yeah, species are more complicated than what their name may initially imply. He got it. Maybe a lesson that he should take more seriously, since he's a mutant and everything, but he's not always the best student, especially when he doesn't feel all too comfortable with the instructor.

Yeah, being somewhat of a brat to hide his anxiety, not that he'd admit it. Or maybe he's not even fully aware of it in the first place.

He thinks about mentioning that he's from 1983 and thus far behind in terms of years and everything, but Scott decides to just keep that to himself. Feels like that sort of comment would end up being more trouble than it's worth.]

Alright alright, I get your point. Don't judge a book by its cover. Not like I haven't heard that one before. [Although...] You used to be human? How did you change into a youkai?

[Scott is lucky that his glasses are hiding most signs of his mental checkout, since Douman isn't the most patient of teachers.]

No, judge a book by its cover by all means. Judge it by its cover, its content, its author, the time and place it was created, its title, by whoever recommended it to you, its smell and whatever else you feel like.

[He tilts his head lightly, giving Scott a chance to see an eye the color of wine (or blood) peer at him from behind the mask.]

Do you know why? I'll answer your question if you answer mine.

[......

This feels like the exact opposite of what Douman just said to him-- although he is also saying that contents and everything else also matters. It's still enough of a switch, at least to Scott, that he pays more attention to the youkai. The way that his eye peers at him from behind the mask only adds to it, with Scott clearly considering his words and letting his hands slide out of his pockets.]

Is this your long winded way of saying that I should judge you by your appearance and actions and the way you've been addressing me? [He's not going to walk up and sniff him though--]

It's important to get some sort of reading from the person you're dealing with, right?

Exactly. Keeping your mind on who you're dealing with and your surroundings is the first step to getting out of a situation.

['Longwinded', huh? Looks like Douman will have to cut his explanations short in that case.]

As for your question, mine is just another rerun of the good old "divine punishment" story.

[That's not terrible advice. It feels like something that should be obvious, but guess it's nice having that reminder. Scott's not going to give Douman any sass about it at least, the mutant nodding with that more serious demeanor now. Really, he did come here to train and get better; he knows that he can't just give attitude left and right the entire time.]

You got punished and became a youkai. [...] So, you were pretty bad in the past.

[That's a bold assumption, Summers. And maybe he doesn't look as bothered about this as he should. Honestly, it's all Dazai's fault.]

One god or another must have certainly felt that way.

[He chuckles and shakes his head. "Sinner" could be a pretty broad term to the divine, especially way back then. Maybe you were a notorious pickpocket. Maybe you walked past their shrine without giving reverence or ate a sacrifice token because you were starving. Maybe you were a monk who kept falling asleep during his prayers. Or you killed one of their human darlings, like he had done. But eh, he'd probably not had many fans in that corner even before he'd done that.]

Turning you into a 'creature' was one of their favorite ways to weed out undesirables from the human gene pool for a while. Unfortunately for them that backfired by creating several new species instead.

['Undesirables,' huh? He really doesn't like that phrasing. It seems like a 50/50 chance that the gods in Douman's world suck or he's actually kind of shitty. Maybe both? Yeah, both is probably the correct answer.]

Yeah, well, now they have a new species to deal with. And everyone just needs to accept that.

[Just like how people back home (and other timelines) need to accept that mutants are around. So, yeah, he'll accept Douman too. He doesn't care if he's a youkai, as long as he's actually serious about helping him and he isn't an entirely crappy person.] If you don't care that you're training a mutant, then we'll probably be fine.

[Both is the safest bet in most of those cases, that's for sure. If asked directly, Douman would never claim to be a good person, either. All he'll maintain is that he isn't like all those stories about him and Seimei make describe him nowadays.]

Exactly.

[There is a hint of glinting teeth as he smiles a sharp smile. Douman is pretty pleased in the part he played in that one.]

I honestly don't care what you are, as long as you can keep to a few base rules. I won't expect you to be a good or loyal student, for instance, but I will demand that you behave yourself in a half-way decent way. No bullying, no stealing, no back-stabbing, no pointless fighting,... all of those obvious things. I won't outright prohibit you from doing that, but you will have to deal with me treating you accordingly if you do. That's the deal.

[Usually he'd also add 'no trying to eat your teachers or fellow students', but he doubts that that's something to worry about with a mutant.]

[Well... he can work with those expectations. Not like they're unreasonable or anything. Long ago, he might've given some attitude about it, but even then, he wouldn't do any of that crap. And now? He's just going to nod while carrying that more serious countenance, showing that he's sincere about Douman's terms.]

Okay, I agree.

[He'll be a great student... but no he's willing to listen to what he has to say. He truly wants to keep on improving, get better with his powers. After a year and a half, he still can't control them and he's mostly accepted that, but he'll take any opportunity to possibly change that.] Is this where I start calling you professor?

[He's mostly joking but.]

[Douman's thoughts are already busy with thinking up what could be some goodfirst training exorcises with his potential new student, so it takes him a moment to catch up with Scott's question. Startling lightly, he tuts and gently shakes his head with a gentle laugh while he crosses his hands behind his back.]

A 'professor'? Goodness, no, I never even studied at any academy. It was all still temples that housed the wisdom and spread it back in my day. Anyway, I'm usually referred to as "principal" back at our school, since that's what I am. But since we aren't there and any student I'll be taking here will be a very special case, just calling me by my name will suffice. Which is Nurarihyon.

[It's both a very casual lie and a honest truth at this point, since his youkai name really is Nurarihyon. The nurarihyon, since he's the only one of his particular youkai stype, which in turn made it very easy for other supernatural folks to simply accept it as species and indentity both. Just like the youkai lords of old that he, Ashiya Douman, one of Japan's most notorious 'evil' sorcerers to ever have lived, once used to subjugate and fight.]

Are you up for a light first exercise to help us get an idea of each other's skills?

[Scott almost wants to call him 'professor' just because he said not to. What? It's totally necessary. Maybe 'Professor Nurarihyon' if he's feeling in a particular mood that day, but he'll save it for that time. For now, he nods. If he didn't give his name earlier, Scott would've introduced himself now, but they're officially done with all that. So, onto the good and important stuff!]

Alright, Nurarihyon. [He might've said his name a couple more times to get used to it, sounding out the syllables and trying to get it right. Look, he's not that kind of dick.]

Sure, yeah. [Scott's ready!! He can definitely be agreeable and eager to hop on board things if he thinks it will help with the whole control bit. One may call him just a little excited right now, if his smile is anything to go by.] Just explain what we're going to do.

[If he did, he'd get the most obvious grimaces a man wearing a mask has ever given him in response. It's bad enough that Izuna-kun has taken to calling him "Principal Ashiya" when they are alone. He doesn't need some title that's going to get him questioned by anybody who knows him on top of that.]

Good. [he takes a couple of steps back and then stands in front of Scott, arms lightly spread in a 'come & get me' way] I am going to try and touch your glasses, and I want you to try everything you can do to stop me. Just treat me like a potential enemy.

[There's a slow blink behind those glasses, clearly showing that Scott is processing the first round of training that Nurarihyon has given him. Not quite what he expected. He's... okay with it, he can see that this is probably something related to self-defense.

But before they start...]

You really mean everything? Even using the full strength of my powers against you? [He's just making sure! He's pretty adamant about not hurting people with his optic blasts. Even if this guy is a youkai, Scott doesn't consider his blasts to be something to toy with.]

Edited 2024-10-27 20:11 (UTC)

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