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

Current Location: Rec Center

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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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[All things considered, she doesn't even notice he's late. She, herself, is generally fairly bad about keeping track of time and a few minutes here and there easily slips through the cracks.]

If your name is Gold, then yes. I am.

[She dips her head in a fractional nod.]

That's what they call me! And... What an honor it is to have such a beautiful woman working with me here on this. [He can't help but try to turn on that charm.]

Is it now? [She stifles a laugh as best she can. He's what? A teenager at best? Four hundred and fifty years her junior, at the very least.]

Well, I suppose that's good to know. [And assuming his weapon is visible.]

Is this your staff? Or...pool cue?

[Not that he can tell she's old as the hills, of course.]

It's a bit of both. It was custom-made for me by a friend so I can use it in battle too. ...So I wanna learn how to use it properly, in that regard.

[Of course not, she's sneaky like that.]

Well, it looks effective enough. Have you ever fought with it before, even just playing? Or are you a total beginner?

I've got tons of experience in using it in battle. It's my preferred weapon of choice out on the battlefield! Well, 'sides my Pokémon, of course.

[Well she'd pegged Gold for a trainer, so that confirms it.]

Alright, then let's go into a room and you can show me how you use it. I've got one programmed and ready. Nothing too hard, just a dummy.

Lead the way, then. [And he shall follow along.]

[The room she's set up is simple enough, a ring of wood marking out a dirty circle. A rack of staves is off to one side, and at the center is a simulated human. Short, stocky, looking a bit like one of the Black Belts that randomly wander around Pokeworld. Or one version of it, at least.

And guess what he's got, Gold? If you guessed a staff, you'd be right.]

Alright Gold, go see if you can knock him down or disarm him.

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.]

[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?

[She nods in answer.]

Yes. Much better. Now try again.

[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.]

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...]

[Normally,it would be Gold's style to keep charging in and keeping the pressure on, and that's exactly what he does, quickly trying to swing the cue down as a followup to his previous attack.]

[Still a bit off-kilter, the Black Belt isn't able to fully block the strike, but he attempts a parry anyway. The weapons connect with a clack and Gold's goes sliding down his opponent's, connecting with his hand with less force than it otherwise might have.

Then the Black Belt spins, bringing his staff with him as he circles around Gold in a single smooth motion before skipping back to buy himself a moment to recover. He even shakes his hand, making a pained sound.]

Very good! You see how much better it works with two hands?

It's not too bad now that I'm gettin' the hang of it! [He keeps his grip tight on the cue. He doesn't charge in this time to keep on the pressure. Instead, he watches what the Black Belt does instead for now, waiting to see what move he makes before deciding his next course of action.]

[Well, if there's no pressure, then he'll spend a moment and get a better grip on his staff before he takes a few quick steps towards Gold and swings. It's a quick attack aimed at Gold's left shoulder, more controlled than Gold's own ferocious lunges.]

[Being a Pokémon trainer has its perks, such as developing very honed natural reflexes and instincts. He ducks down to the ground to avoid the strike, and attacks back in turn with a sweeping strike at the Black Belt's legs.]

[It's a good move from Gold, though it's ultimately somewhat predictable for an experienced martial artist, and the settings on this are for intermediate difficulty. The Black Belt leaps up into the air, hopping over the attack and swings out with his foot, aiming for Gold's shoulder.]

Edited 2014-07-06 04:09 (UTC)

[Gold has the reflexes, but doesn't really have the skills for combat yet to really react properly, so he takes the kick full-force, scowling as he does so. What he does manage to do is roll to the side afterwards to put some distance between him and the Black Belt and get back to standing position.]

[The Black Belt holds, and Saori steps in between him and Gold. She gives him a satisfied smile, having seen what she thinks she needs to.]

Alright Gold, I think that's enough, unless you want to continue for practice. I've seen what I need to to gauge your ability.

[He's perfectly okay with stopping for now. He's got some idea of what to do, but not nearly enough to be able to do it effectively, right now. He collapses his cue and places it back into his hoodie pocket.]

So...? What do you think, then?

[She waves a hand and the simulated Black Belt vanishes or something. Maybe he just goes over and sits down. Something.]

I think you've got good natural reflexes, a lot of potential, but not much actual skill. Yet, anyway. I can work with that, and you'll be beating up this guy in no time.

If you can commit, at least. Either three times a week for longer classes, or once a day for shorter ones. That choice is yours. If you're interested in daily work, I can probably just teach you while I work with Red, if you know him. He's starting to learn staff fighting from me, too.

Edited 2014-07-10 00:41 (UTC)

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

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