Video

[lunarlegionnaire]

[8:30 PM. Stone Ridge Room 104's kitchen. It's early for V-Day but love's certainly in the air. Or rather, on the air. There's music playing from a room away as Marc grills some kebabs for dinner. He opens his window, waving smoke into the moonlit sky before turning to his communicator.]

Little advice if you're making that big confession on the 14th. Don't take 'no' too hard. The idea that they're the one for you isn't always mutual. Mope if you have to, but respect it and move on. [He shrugs.] Or try again; you never know. As long as you keep moving.

And if they say 'yes,' remember that the fairy tale's not over. It's actually just getting started. So see it through with all you've got. Sooner or later, you'll both know if you chose right.

[There's a second or two of dead air, suggesting a guy who either doesn't do this much or hasn't done it in a long time. Maybe both. Finally, the grizzled ex-mercenary clears his throat.]

...oh yeah, name's Marc. I teach capoeira at Sand Gym here in Gen. Not the most outspoken guy in any of the five cities, but I've been here around two years and seen quite a few faces come and go. I'm thinking not all of them have to stay strangers.

[That's the closest he'll get to "Nice to meet you. See you around." He looks back at his indoor grill and smiles right when an offscreen alarm goes off. Dinner's ready.]

Anyway, hope you're all having a good night. I know I will.

[Feed ends.]

Comments

[youfool]

[He'll take a minute to look up what "capoeira" is before getting annoyinglyproperly enthused]

A martial arts that combines dance, acrobatics, and music?

[He likes all three of those things!]

I'll be sure to enroll next time I see you there!

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[moviemagic]

I'm just waiting for the day after when the chocolates come in super cheap.

[No confessions here just in it for the chocolate.]

Also capoeira... Interesting thing you teach there.

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[brbgettingwrench]

You're right if they said no then one should respect the person's choice. Same if they say something along the lines of not right now. It's not a yes or no, but a later down the line.

Never try and pressure that person to say yes sooner.

[lunarlegionnaire]

No problem. We've got two classes daily except Wednesday, morning and eve---

[Whoa. Wait.]

Mr. Satchel, are you sure about this? I may teach the art but I'll be the first to admit it's not the most practical one around. Not on these streets, and certainly not considering your... sideline.

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[lunarlegionnaire]

Save some for the rest of us, okay?

[Her honesty's refreshing.]

Funny thing about capoeira: it doesn't so much teach you how to fight as it teaches you how to anticipate danger and react to it. It's always better to avoid the fight if you can.

[Says the vigilante.]

[Private at the end]

[youfool]

[Last name basis, huh? That's cold Marc.]

Goodness, "Mr. Spector", we're using surnames now? Unless you find something pleasurably lyrical about it, please, drop it all and use "Ted" instead.

[He switches to private.]

Not practical enough for my "sideline", eh? And what of yours? Was capoiera not your art of choice when we were out exorcising?

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[lunarlegionnaire]

Right? You just might lose any chance you had at staying friends with them, if you're okay with that.

[Private]

[lunarlegionnaire]

[He doesn't know you very well yet, Ted, even if everyone knows of you.]

I'm pretty sure it was judo considering how often Zabel sent me to the floor and I rolled with it. [Mumbled.] Stupid floor.

But yeah. I wouldn't advise those fancy, flashy kicks and spins you've probably heard about. Out there you'll want the quickest, most direct ways to end a fight. I'm afraid capoeira doesn't have those, no matter how amazing it might look.

Re: [Private]

[youfool]

Haha, well, I'm sure any art worth its salt knows ukemi.

I'm not sure even you believe in efficiency so much. The many swordsmen--very medieval--Genessia boasts certainly doesn't. If you did I'd think I'd see you sporting a firearm or something. You have a means, then, of achieving ends not quite so final as that?

Re: [Private]

[lunarlegionnaire]

[Funny, for there was a time when he was all about firearms. But that's neither here nor there.]

I think I do. Something you'll get more mileage out of than music, dance, and acrobatics at least. [Down goes the coffee.] Ever hear of 'krav maga?'

Re: [Private]

[youfool]

[Ted wouldn't blame him. Guns are pretty fun.

His eyebrows perk up in a raise equal astonished and enlightened. A few things clicked.]

Goodness, you know that? You weren't kidding about being privy to such an efficient art, if one could call such quick brutality art. Yes, I've heard. That's the one originally employed to defend Israel from fascist uprising, correct? Heh, and here I thought one couldn't be more martial and Jewish than Ott! Figures you'd know of it. Not even a century old, though whether youth or grim necessity shrunk its spread I can't say.

Yes, I would love to learn something like that.

[His enthusiasm doesn't really contain the gravity the style's known for; just the same, it's sincere.]

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[moviemagic]

No promises, I mean I could leave like one box for you, if you want.

[She's teasing, she could never eat that much chocolate.]

Ah, I see. Though I find sometimes you just cannot avoid it. But I agree if ou can deal with something without fighting it's better.

Re: [Private]

[lunarlegionnaire]

You'd think grim necessity would increase its spread. [He shrugs.] The older arts have plenty to teach, mind you. The problem's that they're mostly too rigid... and the realities of fighting in this day and age are unpredictable. KM'll help you adapt to that.

[He steeples his fingers together.]

Then I'm glad to impart. When are you free? My morning classes are from 5-7 and Sand closes at 8. I can spare you that last hour, tell Mayu you're the guinea pig in advanced self-defense classes I've been thinking about.

Re: video;

[lunarlegionnaire]

If it's not too much trouble, then I'll take you up on that. And I'll find a way to return the favor, promise.

[Neither can he, but he could use the energy on those long cold nights.]

Too bad we're usually left with no choice, huh?

Re: [Private]

[youfool]

Aheh, I though it might have carried the allure of a secret weapon; something kept close to vest for fear of others, particularly one's enemies, knowing.

Work can be chaotic; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturdays are largest for liberty. Goodness, Mayu's in on this too? He seems so young for that.

Thank you, Marc, I'm sure it will prove yet another invaluable tool for good.

[notquitedracula]

Capoeira, huh? That's... the dance-based one with the kicking, right? I might be willing to give it a shot, if you don't mind teaching someone with unique abilities of their own.

Re: [Private]

[lunarlegionnaire]

[Well more like Mayu's his boss and he wants to keep him in the loop if he's gonna use the Gym for a private class. He's making notes on a planner.]

Mm, Wednesdays are out. But don't worry; we'll make the most of your three hours a week. Guaranteed.

[A serene nod here.]

You're welcome, Ted. Figure if no one can discourage your sideline, you can fight a little better at it instead.

[lunarlegionnaire]

[A non-native student? This just might be a first.]

The very one. What kind of unique abilities are we talking about?

[He might be ready for anything coming from a world of mutants, mutates, aliens, demons, and whatnot. But who knows?]

[notquitedracula]

Jumping in midair, limited flight, and a fair spread of magic. A lot more movement stuff I'd rather not go over on the network. Experience with weapons, training in iaijutsu, and quite a lot more besides. ...It'd probably be easier to show than to tell.

[lunarlegionnaire]

[He sounds like a metahuman with a wider skillset than average. 'Experienced with weapons' intrigues Marc most, being an arms savant himself. But he tells himself to stay focused on the capoeira. That's why the boy's here.]

It probably would. But I'll tell you right now, I won't mind a single one of those abilities as long as you don't use them during class. It, uh, wouldn't really be fair for the other students.

Using what you learn to enhance your skillset and better look out for others, maybe have fun along the way, though? You bet I'm all for that.

[notquitedracula]

I can definitely work with that. I can switch most of them on and off at will, thankfully, so it shouldn't be an issue.

[Depends. Does 'vampire' count as metahuman? As for the weapons, they can geek out over that at Marc's convenience. Soma will be bringing his usual assortment along, and can probably be convinced to display a few. Yay hammerspace!]

I just hope your other students can handle being around me. It, uh. Can be a problem, sometimes. I have a little better control over the aura than I used to, but it still creeps some people out.

[lunarlegionnaire]

[If Marc only knew about the vampire lord reincarnate part. Right now, he just thinks the boy is exactly like the superpowered ones you read about on his world.]

Is it something to do with your powers? Can't say they won't for sure. They're all locals; not a pendant wearer among them. But that's a bridge we'll cross when you get to it.

[Or rather, when the boy gets here. He checks the header on his device.]

Nice to meet you, Soma. Why learn, if you don't mind me asking?

[notquitedracula]

Something like that, yes. If it becomes an issue, I'll back out - I don't want to endanger others for my own personal gain.

[Unfortunately that part isn't a secret he shares with a lot of people. Maybe get a few drinks in him.]

Why learn? Because I didn't always have these powers, and I can't rely on them too much or they'll eat away at me.

[Which is true enough; it's already happening. He has to have regular transfusions, though he could forego those if he was willing to take blood in the traditional way.]

[lunarlegionnaire]

Sounds like they're not wholly beneficial to you.

[He rubs his chin in thought, looking at the moon beyond the window.]

That's a reason I can ride with. We've got people like you back home. They're often looked up to as heroes or feared as villains. Not all of them have a good grip on their powers. They end up in as much danger hurting themselves as they could innocents.

[Now he's looking right at Soma.]

Doesn't have to be that way here in Gen.

[notquitedracula]

[In response to that, Soma can't help but sigh.]

It's kind of the opposite problem for me. My grip on the power is fine - it's the power's grip on me that's going to cause issues. I'll tell you more about it in person; it's information that isn't safe in the general public's hands. Don't worry about getting bored. It's one hell of a story.