mischiefbreeder | 37 [Video/Action] (backdated to Friday 6/6)

[Video A]
[It was a delayed effect the draft had on Gold. He'd been on numerous drafts before, and thanks to a combination of cunning, strategy, and a lot of luck, he always pulled through fine without an issue. Not without his fair share of injuries, but always without casualties.

But something was different about this one. Even besides how sloppy everything turned out, one thing in particular hit really hard. Crystal lost one of her Pokémon on this draft, and it didn't look like he was coming back, either. Originally, it only particularly weighed on him because he neglected to be there helping her. She was new to this. She wasn't experienced with the drafts like he and Silver were. But then a different feeling began to overwhelm that, once that guilt subsided. The sudden realization that she's not the only one it could happen to.

No matter how much luck and skill he demonstrates out there, there's always the chance one of his Pokémon could get killed, just like Archy did. Just like that, he could lose Explotaro, or Togetaro... or even Aitaro. The idea of losing one of his trusted partners hurt even more than the idea of losing one of his friends. And that was why he had to find a way to get stronger, to be able to stand on his own two legs and fight with his own two hands, without having to rely on his Pokémon to fight his battles for him all the time.

Albeit with hesitation, he makes a post to the journals.]

Anybody out there who might be able to teach me how to fight?

[He hopes there's someone willing and able.]
--
[Video B (accidental)/Action]
[Following that little excursion, Gold took to the rec center, hoping to distract himself with a little game of pool. He sat the journal on the edge of the pool table, keeping it nearby if he got any responses.

And then suddenly it happens. While lining up a particularly tricky shot, everything just suddenly vanishes. The pool table, the pinball machines, the table tennis, all the furniture... and the building itself. Gone, in an instant. Gold misses his shot due to the shot no longer existing, causing him to nearly stumble forward due to losing his balance from supporting himself against the table. The journal falls to the ground and opens up to a blank page, starting recording just in time to catch Gold's reaction.]

Wh--... What the hell just happened?! It... It's gone!

[If running into him in person, feel free to catch him either before or after the rec center disappears.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Which was?

[He almost feels like he should be offended that a girl is offering to make him stronger. But he reminds himself he's known some badass women, both here and at home.]

Martial arts, huh...

Got it! [He grips his cue. His first mistake is that his stance is completely wrong. He's standing more like he's holding a sword instead of a staff, holding it in one hand. He charges at his opponent, and takes a downward swing, striking with a lot of force, but it's just blocked by the Black Belt's staff, who then pushes back against Gold and sends him reeling backwards.]

[Gold shows up soon enough. And by soon enough, I mean fashionably late.]

Hope I haven't kept you waiting long!

...Ugh, forget it. The moment's passed now. [He doesn't feel like griping now. Sup, Pikachu, you're getting some head ruffles.]

Whoa... That's a thing some people manage to actually do here?

Yeah. I know that Haruhi was managing to learn a few things here and there. It just depends on the nature of the magic, and if you can accept that you're not going to learn it quickly.

For example, Symbology relies on a person having innate mana, or magical energy. Other types may not require special energy, since it's done through ritual or some sort of medium.

[ Ugh, maybe he could've helped with that better. He feels a tinsy bad at least, even though there's no reason why he should! ]

... I know someone who's got board games. [ Uh. ] But I guess that's not really the point...

It's good to know how to fight hand to hand. Then even if someone takes your weapon away, you can still fight because your feet and fists are weapons. And if your opponent's a lot stronger than you, you can learn to use their strength against them. I learned how to do that from Saori and it really surprised my dad when I sparred against him!

[Watching with a critical eye, she looks at him as he's sent backwards, hefting a staff of of her own. Taking a proper stance, with her feet apart and the staff gripped in the middle with both hands, she shows an example strike.]

It's not a sword or an axe, Gold. Hold it like this, and keep your feet planted. You don't have to be aggressive like that with a staff.

[He watches her movements, slowly pushing himself back up to his feet. He tries to imitate her now, gripping his cue with both hands similarly to how she does, and positioning his feet like so.]

...Like this?

[A sigh.]

I guess it can't be helped. You weren't here for it, so you don't know the significance of this place.

I don't think I have any talent for that magical stuff, to be honest. [He doesn't even use the filial magic like, well... magic.]

[She nods in answer.]

Yes. Much better. Now try again.

I guess I kind of get it, if you said you put so much work into it and then it just -- poofs away. [ Is that a good way to describe it. Actually... ] Did you have to build the building too?

Yeah, it's not easy to recognize things like that, anyway. Maybe, if you're lucky, you'll be doing your normal thing one day and then your fingers will just spontaneously burst into flames. But more often than not, you have to dedicate time to figuring out if there's any energy to potentially tap.

Naw, it's fine!

[He pulls out another chip and takes a bite before holding out the bag to Gold. Y'know, in case he wants some.]

I've got tons of ways to keep busy-- like people watching. Trust me, I'm not gonna keel over from boredom any time soon.

Well... I guess that's true.

[He goes again, keeping his hands gripped firmly on the cue, and his feet planted on the ground. The Black Belt once again raises his staff to block a downward swing that seems to be coming from Gold, but he surprises him, shifting the cue stick and executing an upward swing instead, knocking his opponent off balance.]

[Well, don't mind if he does, then, grabbing a chip from that bag.]

Well, let's get started then!

I didn't build it, but a bunch of people came together to build it up. Called themselves Bold Victoria or somethin' like that. They came up with blueprints and everything, and built the whole place. And then later they got it wired with electricity. We decked it out with all kinds of stuff.

But since it's not a normal part of Luceti, it doesn't have the protective Shifts the other buildings have.

Yeah, I'll just stick to learning how to wield a weapon, thanks.

So you're out of luck whenever one of those Shifts happen... [ Huh. ] Could you ask for it to get protected? I know you can ask for things if you do jobs for the big guys; couldn't they protect a new building if you do enough work for them?

Good luck. Hopefully your teacher doesn't get sent home right before you've started.

[Well. Good thing for the teacher. Not so much for Gold.]

Good! Yes, that's exactly right!

[The Black Belt stumbles back a pace, unsteady but quickly recovering. Gold could probably hit him again, get through his defenses, but it might leave him open for a counterattack too. Choices...]

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37 [Video/Action] (backdated to Friday 6/6)

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