[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

[laserguy]

[Even younger than him...

Maybe not so surprising, especially after hearing that Richard's been through multiple wars before and survived them. It doesn't do much to diminish the sympathy that comes up though, because it was probably still awful for him. He clearly remembers it to this day, despite all the bloodshed he was most likely involved in since then. It truly stands out for him.

And what happened with Ryoji will probably be the same, huh?

There were those killings in the desert too, a year ago. He's not sure which was worse, but maybe thinking about it in that way is pointless. They're just both bad. What Richard said is true, those moments will stay with him forever even if he doesn't want to remember. He... has to. He can't forget the harm he caused.]

...Has it gotten easier for you? [Scott asks quietly, once again aware of the present and no longer just stuck in his thoughts.] Have they ever stopped appearing in your dreams?

[traumaticus]

[Richard briefly wonders just how had they come to this? No more than a couple minutes ago Scott was playfully chasing after his boar and now they were contemplating the nature of war and the toll it took on one's soul. He's not exactly sure how they had arrived here but oh well.

And strangely enough, Richard doesn't exactly have experience with this kind of conversation. Most people did not have luxuries to ask such questions without having some insight and experience in the matter. But... he supposes this could be counted as good practice for the time when his own son would grow up and ask him stories of the war.

...That is if he ever sees the child again.]

I could say that it doesn't, and that every life I've taken haunts my conscience and every waking hour. However, [He pauses, looking up at Scott's red glasses. There's a certain and determined look on his face as he continues to speak.] But that would be a lie.

I have fought in many wars, killed countless amounts of people. And the more I do it, the more numb I get to it. Eventually the people will turn into faceless mass, they become just wall off enemies you need to destroy. [There is almost something very solemn to his voice as he speaks.] They say that there is honor to be found in battles, something that can be determined by the counts of bodies you leave behind him.

But the true honor can only be found in how one keeps a hold of their spirit after the battle, how they will not lose the control of themselves and staying true. And being able to stand behind the choices they've made, no matter how harrowing they are.

[laserguy]

[One minute you're chasing around a pig and the next minute you're having lengthy conversations about murder and what it means to take the life of another. That's just how things go sometimes, especially in Aldrip. He'll probably go and find Whitey again after this, maybe remind himself that things can be okay, at least for a little while.

Be a stupid ass teenager, be normal.

Obviously, Richard would've killed many to survive those wars. Maybe upsetting on some moral level, but the fact that he isn't gloating or happy about any of it sort of makes it easier for Scott to continue listening to him. Plus, war. That's just... how wars are, right? Alex probably killed in Vietnam. He didn't really ask, he didn't want to. How's that supposed to go anyway?]

So, you believe in every war you've been a part of?

[He wonders how it'd feel once you lose sight of that belief? Those mountain of corpses just suddenly come crashing down??] What would happen if it stopped being that way for you?

[Scott doesn't really enjoy the thought of ever becoming that numb to death. Maybe he won't have to. He's supposed to be from the 'peaceful' timeline, right?]

[traumaticus]

[There's an urge for Richard to roll his eyes at the simplicity of the question. But instead he just keeps his face neutral as he considers his answer. Peace is nothing but an illusion that a man has come up with to ease their guilt and deal with the darkness in their mind. Yet another excuse for a war.]

I believe in my king. [He lies, voice calm yet solemn. Richard hasn't believe in any king in long time. As far as he is considered there is only one person who is worthy of that golden light. But he does recognize that this is the correct answer.]

If it ever comes to that I am no better than a dead man walking. In that case I welcome my kin and comrades to take this head of mine.

[laserguy]

[Richard's pretty loyal to the crown, huh? He feels like that's going to end up pretty bad in the end, but Scott decides to keep that to himself.

Really all this is utterly morbid and depressing. This just shows he made the right choice not really asking Alex about his time in the war, especially since everyone's been calling it a mistake. It probably was. Suddenly uncomfortable with this line of thought, not to mention that feeling of really missing his brother right now, Scott starts directing his attention to where Whitey wandered off. He should go back to exercising anyway.

At least wanting to protect his friends and be better in that way feels uncomplicated.]

You don't have to fight like that now at least. [...] But I'm going to find Whitey. He's been on his own for too long.