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

[traumaticus]

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

Comments

[computation]

You look like you're about to step on someone and make them thank you for the privilege, [ she answers with cheerful irony. She's obviously not judging -- she likes that kind of thing herself -- but it's not what she was expecting.

Root is careful with Whitey in direct contrast to her blunt teasing. She gentles a hand across his snout and up past his ears. ]

And then you've got this sweetheart. A pet pig?

[traumaticus]

[Well, funny part is that Richard could actually also see himself doing something like that, even if in a different context that she was thinking. He had shown worse treatments to his enemies than just stepping over them, so what would a little humiliation really do? And he was to be a king, after all. That would mean that everything would be at his disposal and for him to do as he pleases.

Richard turned his attention back to Whitey, who seemed to enjoy from the attention.]

Boars are not pets, one can never truly tame them. [Richard says dryly, reaching his gloved hand to brush along the smooth white coat on the boar's back.] I found him from the forest as a child. He had fallen into poacher'd trap and would have no doubt died very soon if left alone. I was curious and wanted to see how far he would be able to make it if given a second chance. He's been with me ever since. [The story, while correct, held only half of the truth. Whitey had indeed caught Richard's attention as a child and he had instantly felt a connection with the boar. Both of them were different from rest of their kind -- going against the will of God just by existing. He had wanted to see someone similar to him to thrive and survive, to defy the world that would reject them]

[computation]

[ Really, that's the part he wants to respond to -- correcting her about Whitey being a pet? Not the implied BDSM. Okay.

This poor man needs some help learning the modern terminology and sensibilities, and stat. Root has other things to do with her time, but she can charitably sprinkle in some exposure for Richard while they're interacting. She can't leave someone literally in the late Dark Ages when there's freedom right here. And she doesn't mean some American notion of freedom -- she left Texas a long time ago, thanks -- but rather an intellectual, conceptual freedom, to dare imagine things society hasn't exposed you to.

For the time being, she gives Whitey a last pat and then straightens up, cocking her hip as she assesses Richard. ]

Are you trying to convince me you saved his life and took him on out of morbid curiosity? You can care about your boar. Even the sociopath I know cares about the team dog. [ Don't buy into the toxic masculinity! ]

[traumaticus]

[Richard looks up to her, quirking up a curious brow.]

Dogs are useful animals. They guard and hunt so it is only natural to prefer to have one in a team. [See? Totally logical actions on your teammate's part! And completely different to the case he has with this boar.] Whitey mostly takes space and eats whatever he comes across. Sometimes he is more trouble than what he is worth. [Ok. That comment earns an offended huff from Whitey.]


...Although, I suppose he is popular with the children back at home.

[computation]

[ Shaw's fondness for Bear is about one of the only things about her that's not entirely rational, so this argument comes across as ironic to Root. ]

You pretty much described most of human existence with that one, [ Root answers cheerfully, stepping up to the edge of the archery range alongside Richard and pulling out her weapon again. ] Assigning value based on innate characteristics is how we get fascism!

Whitey is a good little guy; he doesn't need to be useful.

[traumaticus]

[Amen to that, thinks Whitey! He even grunts approvingly as he gets up and leaves Richard's side to join Root. Fine, fine. Richard, too, gets up from the ground and walks up to the woman. He reaches out for the bow and arrow casket that both are placed on the make-shift table nearby.]

Everyone has their part to play in the world. Humans are bound by their predestined fates set by the divine. [That is the belief Richard had been raised around. All that they could is pray and submit to God's will, play the good Christian and your sins will be forgiven as you enter the Eternal Kingdom. And well, it's not like he didn't believe that as well, but he had a long time ago counted himself out of it. Saint Peter won't call his name.]

Do you have any prior experience with archery?

[computation]

[ Root can't help but laugh a little. It's not a mean laugh -- he's from a long time ago, that would have been the prevailing belief at the time, and it's not even an uncommon one now by her mark -- but she flashes an irreverent smile at him nonetheless. ]

I couldn't disagree more.

[ The Machine itself is godlike, someone Root reveres as a god, but a big part of the reason for that is because the Machine always allows for human will. Harold had programmed it that way on purpose. She does what she can to protect the precious mortal flashes of life under her care, but ultimately, her calculating probabilities is not casting fate. Root herself would be doomed ten times over if she didn't retain her own agency.

In a single smooth motion Root lifts her arm up and fires, shifts aim, fires again, shifts aim, fires again. She goes from left to right and hits every target dead center without changing position. It's just like if the Machine gave her five targets to hit; she hits them, unhesitating, unquestioning. ]

Nope, [ she answers his question, popping the spent casings out of her gun. ] I did fire a crossbow once. Kinda doesn't seem like the same thing.

[traumaticus]

[The laughter does earn a silent stare from Richard. He's not entire sure what does she find so funny in his belief - but it's fine. He is used to people in this city to look down at his worldview, seemingly condemning him as less than them. It would be lying to say that he didn't find this arrogance from the others frustrating, reminding him how it was to live in his brother's large shadow.

And just like back then Richard doesn't make a comment on the laughter, but imprinting it to his memory.

With a neutral expression on his face, Richard watches Root to take out her gun and effortlessly hitting the set marks. He had been practicing with guns under Vincent's tutelage, so he had gotten used to the loud, explosive cannon-like sounds that they made when triggered. Unlike Whitey, who, in let out a sharp sound and run off somewhere.

Yeah. The boar is a coward.]

I see you have the aim under your control. However, the mechanic behind longbow is different to firearms and crossbows. Here. [Richard raises the bow, hooking the string between his fingers and slowly draws it.] It takes more muscle coordination. The string can be surprisingly tough to draw. [He then eases the string and offers the bow to her.]

[computation]

[ It's not condescending to disagree with someone honestly; Root isn't hiding her opinion, she isn't scorning his perspective, she just fundamentally and truthfully feels differently. That doesn't bother her. She's always been the odd one out, and if anything, other people thinking there is some grander plan that she doesn't believe in, waiting for their time to come and their fated results to happen, when it never will -- that upsets her.

It's fundamentally a tragedy. People deserve better than to be ignored by the cold, uncaring universe. But that doesn't mean it's her place to proselytize to them about it.

That would be for her, not for them. Like how asking Cyrus for forgiveness would be for her. He doesn't need to know who killed his friends and destroyed his life to find peace; he already has. Root would have just been looking for her own absolution at the expense of his. Similarly, she'll pay Richard the respect of not hiding her true beliefs, but she won't criticize his, either.

She spares Richard an amused smile, holstering her weapon. Poor Whitey, but he should get used to it now. ]

You show me first, and then we can swap, [ she suggests. ] Take turns embarrassing ourselves!

[traumaticus]

[Richard would agree. He wishes that his boar was less of a coward and timid. Though, Whitey did, too, have his moments of bravery at the most surprising moments.

A curious brow at the suggestion. Why would they want to embarrass--, you know. It's not important.]

If you so wish, my lady. [He had planned to let her try the feel of the bow first and see whether she could draw it before moving to actual shooting. But he supposes he can give her a full demonstration now. Richard reaches to pull out one arrow from the casket, sets it in its place, draws the bow. He takes aim at the target, and releases the arrow -- shooting it right in the middle of the bullet hole left by Root's gun just a few seconds ago.]

[computation]

[ Root lets out a low whistle of appreciation. ] Nice. [ She's not shy with praise where it's warranted.

Root eagerly holds out her hands toward him now that the demonstration's over, wiggling her eyebrows momentarily. ] Can you walk me through it? I need to test my draw strength first, right? [ She's a nerd, she knows these things. ]

[traumaticus]

[Richard wasn't exactly looking for a praise with his performance but guess he'll take it. He lowers his bow and turns to look at Root again. Well, he hopes that she at least paid attention to his pose and technique.]

That is right. [Taking few steps closer, he offers the weapon to him.] I want to see your stance and pose at first. The bow can be surprisingly difficult to draw, especially if you are not paying attention to your body.