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[Action/Anon text] Dead Man Walking and Talking
[Action - Honnoji Academy Gym, Closed]
[Swordplay with Star was one of the most enduring constants in Ted's life. Satsuki had remained in the world longer than him, and he couldn't help but love her and her indefatigable instruction. It showed in that he practiced and sparred with her with ease; an unusual thing, for he'd normally find any combat with women forever an offense against beauty. And yet, whether through affection or repetition, it had become a reliable, relaxing routine. Even if her severity pushed him to uncomfortable limits, every so often.
Their fencing finished, Ted's resting on a bench and wiping his face with a towel.]
Sterling as always, star. One day I'll get the better of you. Speaking of betterment, you said you had something special? What's the occasion?
[Action - All over, morning, OTA]
[Ted's been feeling funny these past few weeks, like one in the eye of a storm. A presentiment of peril that crept nearer and nearer; a call for action loomed that was both as exciting as it was frightening. It was like death as the Trumps knew it: an end and a beginning. And if it is an end, he had better make the most of whatever time he has left. Perhaps he's just being silly and melodramatic, like usual.
Perhaps not. It's morning, and like most Sunday mornings, it starts with him walking out of church, thinking out loud on what the sermon contained. These and other discursive, verbal meditations overpower his mind and mouth as he airs them into the ether, wandering aimlessly.]
"'Made sin'. Made sin? For all the injunctions to imitation, that one's impossible; none could know such a sensation, if sensory it was. A man can be crucified, killed, hated and torn by men. But made sin--only the perfectly pure can do that. Or...goodness, so much is possible in Genessia. Certainly more than I dreamed. If one could become sin...should they?"
"Aheh, the world plucks so many saviors, no doubt hoping that their heroics might transfer. Well, the world's unsaved still. What's taking them so long, I wonder? Is Genessia very difficult? Has destiny removed her favor, leaving them lost? Or does the world...dampen, somehow. Cast a pall. Lessen? Heroes of myth and legend take nine-to-fives, here. Good for them; no doubt it's saner. Yet for others, men more mundane, it seems to be working the other way. Hah, maybe it wants to give the ordinary the opportunity to be extraordinary? God help them; how are the conventionally sane to handle insane adventure?
"To be loved is good, and feels so. But suppose one were loved by a villain; what then? Treated well themselves and yet knowing the one who treats them so well holds others in unholy contempt. Does not one become complicit in the wickedness directed towards others? An accessory to the crime? How could one stand it? How is it possible to bear a love so unjustly preferential? Does being cared for so well obliterate the utter spite shown towards the stranger? Should woe be warned for the apple of the eye of the evildoer?"
[Ted will never mind being interrupted in these musings; always more fun to talk to others rather than himself. Speaking of others, he has a few to call.]
[Audio Calls - Closed]
To Sync: Hello, Sync! Has work been going all right? How about Ott, eh? Been learning the lessons therein, well enough?
To Sonico: Good morning, Sonico. I've finished the book, per our exchange. How about yourself?
To Koishi: Hello, Moon. Suppose I can't expect to meet one so nocturnal in the day, eh? Still, we've not seen each other quite enough; rather inexcusable for one with so many eyes. Shall we rectify that?
[Anon Text]
Where could a nuclear weapon, say for testing purposes, be most safely deployed? And how might the radiation from such an explosion be mitigated, if it came to that?
[Y'know. Hypothetically]
[Swordplay with Star was one of the most enduring constants in Ted's life. Satsuki had remained in the world longer than him, and he couldn't help but love her and her indefatigable instruction. It showed in that he practiced and sparred with her with ease; an unusual thing, for he'd normally find any combat with women forever an offense against beauty. And yet, whether through affection or repetition, it had become a reliable, relaxing routine. Even if her severity pushed him to uncomfortable limits, every so often.
Their fencing finished, Ted's resting on a bench and wiping his face with a towel.]
Sterling as always, star. One day I'll get the better of you. Speaking of betterment, you said you had something special? What's the occasion?
[Action - All over, morning, OTA]
[Ted's been feeling funny these past few weeks, like one in the eye of a storm. A presentiment of peril that crept nearer and nearer; a call for action loomed that was both as exciting as it was frightening. It was like death as the Trumps knew it: an end and a beginning. And if it is an end, he had better make the most of whatever time he has left. Perhaps he's just being silly and melodramatic, like usual.
Perhaps not. It's morning, and like most Sunday mornings, it starts with him walking out of church, thinking out loud on what the sermon contained. These and other discursive, verbal meditations overpower his mind and mouth as he airs them into the ether, wandering aimlessly.]
"'Made sin'. Made sin? For all the injunctions to imitation, that one's impossible; none could know such a sensation, if sensory it was. A man can be crucified, killed, hated and torn by men. But made sin--only the perfectly pure can do that. Or...goodness, so much is possible in Genessia. Certainly more than I dreamed. If one could become sin...should they?"
"Aheh, the world plucks so many saviors, no doubt hoping that their heroics might transfer. Well, the world's unsaved still. What's taking them so long, I wonder? Is Genessia very difficult? Has destiny removed her favor, leaving them lost? Or does the world...dampen, somehow. Cast a pall. Lessen? Heroes of myth and legend take nine-to-fives, here. Good for them; no doubt it's saner. Yet for others, men more mundane, it seems to be working the other way. Hah, maybe it wants to give the ordinary the opportunity to be extraordinary? God help them; how are the conventionally sane to handle insane adventure?
"To be loved is good, and feels so. But suppose one were loved by a villain; what then? Treated well themselves and yet knowing the one who treats them so well holds others in unholy contempt. Does not one become complicit in the wickedness directed towards others? An accessory to the crime? How could one stand it? How is it possible to bear a love so unjustly preferential? Does being cared for so well obliterate the utter spite shown towards the stranger? Should woe be warned for the apple of the eye of the evildoer?"
[Ted will never mind being interrupted in these musings; always more fun to talk to others rather than himself. Speaking of others, he has a few to call.]
[Audio Calls - Closed]
To Sync: Hello, Sync! Has work been going all right? How about Ott, eh? Been learning the lessons therein, well enough?
To Sonico: Good morning, Sonico. I've finished the book, per our exchange. How about yourself?
To Koishi: Hello, Moon. Suppose I can't expect to meet one so nocturnal in the day, eh? Still, we've not seen each other quite enough; rather inexcusable for one with so many eyes. Shall we rectify that?
[Anon Text]
Where could a nuclear weapon, say for testing purposes, be most safely deployed? And how might the radiation from such an explosion be mitigated, if it came to that?
[Y'know. Hypothetically]
Re: [Audio]
Ahaha, I don't see how it's all right for you if I like routine. Do you?
[He kinda hopes so; he's pretty sure he read in a book about teenagers somewhere that they need it.]
Well, suppose the book is woefully short on illustrations. If you can suffer that routine to be broken, I wouldn't mind learning you a pin or two.
[Now that he thinks of it, few of the people in Jolly Eddy's would work. Namur has a strange and too heavy form. Django is probably too fragile, as a skeleton for it. K-2's a robot. Koishi has tentacles and is also very short. And 17 has super strength. Not a lot of options among coworkers.]
[Audio]
You're right. It doesn't matter if you like routine at all. I'm used to it, but change is nice sometimes.
[Which segues nicely into Ted's offer, and accepting it without having to outright say as such. Though which Ted; it's best that Sync does clarify for the sake of keeping an argument down.]
Sure Ted, learn me a pin. When's good for you?
Re: [Audio]
They've a few spare rooms in the Sand Gym, if you're familiar with the establishment. Sometime in the morning, then, say, about seven a.m.? Everglade shouldn't be quite as chaotic then.
[Audio]
I'm familiar, never been. Seven sounds fine; everyone should be dead on their feet by then.
[Can you hear that smirk?]
Re: [Audio] -> [Action]
That'll be another novelty then. Oh, and feel free to fill the session--an hour should do--with any tricks you'd like to teach in kind, if it pleases you.
[He appreciates puns, even if they're dark. He lacks the fine-tuned hearing to hear smirks, sadly.]
Aheh, I fear Everglade's making you morbid. All the better to be removing you to a saner city. All right, I'll wait with saintly patience.
[The next day, Ted would provide Sync's day pass and set up in one of the second-floor rooms. He told the secretary at the counter to direct any young man with green hair his way. There's a blue mat and a couple of water bottles for the purpose. Ted's dressed in a tank-top and shorts. One might think such simple garb wouldn't allow Ted to dress so floridly and colorfully as usual.
They'd be wrong. Once Sync arrives, Ted perks up to greet him.]
Good morning, Sync! All right, let's see what Ott, God have mercy on him, had to show, eh?
[Action]
When it was at last time for the lesson, Sync came without wearing his mask for once. After all, Ted had seen once already, and he wasn't on business, so he didn't mind as this was a casual meeting, though it was tucked into a bag he held on his person in the event he did have to respond to something. For his part, Sync was dressed in a simple tee and shorts, black.]
Goo--What are you wearing, Ted?
[His tone is flat at the question. Still, he shakes his head before he can be answered and holds up a hand.]
Nevermind, you're right; let's see what he had.
Re: [Action]
Hah, all right. I'm afraid I'll have to bore you first with a few principles. Just to review; won't be a minute. Ahem.
Well, there's good news. The best attribute of all to have in the art is quickness, which you've got in abundance. Thus, your opponent won't have time to counter you.
The bad news is that most of them will be heavier, if not stronger, than yourself, so you'll have to apply what strength you've got all the more specifically. For you, the thing to focus on is the crook of the knee.
All right, let's work to that!
[He pops up like a spring.]
You're right handed, aren't you? All right, let's get into the most common position: at the arms. I'll demonstrate one throw. These all start with placing one's left arm on the respective bicep, and the right on the right wrist. Push with the former, pull with the latter. This will make the man more pliable to exploit as you please.
[Fortunately, despite Sync's youth, he's only a few inches shorter than Ted, putting them level enough for the stance.]
[Action]
Sure.
[Which he's thankful it is genuinely fast. While he didn't dislike Ted, the man's tendency to pontificate was grating, at best.]
Yeah, and sure.
[At the motion, Sync moves into position and waits for Ted to finish his description. It was simple enough, in theory.]
Re: [Action]
for himSync thoroughly grabbed, Ted walks through the motions as he talks.]Just so. Now, we've got each other loosely. From here, I'll release your right, grab your left hand with mine-
[Ted grasps Sync's ring and middle finger, along with the bulk of his hand]
-then pull and lift upwards until I've got your elbow heavenward. My right hand will then busy itself driving your poor elbow towards my left side and to the ground.
[All done slowly and naturally, assuming Sync's compliant.]
Notice my leg stiffly across yours to make the fall all the easier. Keep the movement near the body for best results. You see?
All right, your turn.
[It's the standard teaching method: go through the specifics, step-by-step, then beat into muscle memory. Once they'd gotten the basics down...]
Thus, you'll see how important quickness is to move your opponent the way you like. But remember: crook of the knee. You'll employ that in this move's counter. Ready?
[Action]
Still, it comes along well as this will come in hand, he's sure. When they're finally at a slight pause with the first, he considers Ted's emphasis of the knees. Which made sense. He could use some more height but that was probably a couple of years away, yet.
Moving into a neutral position he nods.]
Sure thing, teach. What am I doing with the crook of the knee, though?
Re: [Action]
["Here!", he cries, when Sync's left hand is over his own, and his right is under Ted's left elbow, as they practiced.]
This is the opportune moment. A layman will be tempted to pull their left arm back, pitting strength against strength. Folly! Instead, I'll do otherwise. Continue the pull gently.
[Ted will sink with the motion instead, pantomiming a hard elbow strike against Sync's left side.]
If you give in and spring into the blow with your left foot, you'll gain the upper hand before they can complete the motion. Now comes the knee you've anticipated so much. You grab that, lift it up, then reinforce their fall with your free hand.
[Ted's hand wraps around Sync's right knee, raises it to his chest, then to the ground he goes. Softly, natch.]
The counter's complete. Thus you see how important quickness is. If you, the attacker, were faster than I, I'd have no opportunity for the appropriate response. In that hypothetical scenario, it falls me to apply strength properly and with impeccable timing. All right, my knee's crook is at your mercy.
[More repetitions, more practice. Ted's lessons are like his mind: unfocused and sporadic, so he'll throw in a random Judo tidbit he picked up. It's not in the manual, but that's no reason not to enjoy it.]
Oh! This is a fun one: the tomoe nage. Let's see if you can replicate it on description alone. I'll begin the approach in the usual way, with a high grip. You fall backwards, then place your foot on my waist once you've got momentum. You'll lift me overhead, placing us both on our backs head-to-head. Ready or not!
[Action]
With the practice, he quickly feels some improvement, and starts theorizing on some other ways he could possibly counter this. Though Ted breaking things up gives him pause.
Not much of a pause as the man comes up at him. This was just like his original training days, and he had to be very much reactive to what was thrown at him or he might have been killed. As it is, when Ted comes at him quickly, Sync grips the man's arms, pulling with his momentum before it's gone and rolls with the man, using the foot as instructed to keep some distance as he kicks Ted over him and is left staring at the ceiling.]
That was pretty good. You got any more like that?
Re: [Action]
Well done. If you become skilled with that, you can roll right along with your opponent, concluding in a more advantageous mount.
[But he understands if Sync's not comfortably intimate enough for that. He kips up, eager to make up for losing the opportunity to throw Sync likewise.]
Certainly! To start, face and grip me by the lapel, as though you'd like my money or my life.
[As soon as Sync complies...]
Haha, you're a natural. Have you done this before?
[He's hilarious. He talks and goes through the motions.]
So, you've got me. I'll pull your arm in and up in kind to keep close and maximize leverage. Now I'll pivot and step in, putting my back to you. My arm loops under yours, locking my shoulder against your armpit. The pivot continues while I bend my knees, facing the same as yourself. I pull a little more, and now, like an intrusive socialite, you're on my back. Time to bend forward, drive with my legs, rotate my shoulders, and...
[He talked faster near the end to make the ensuing shoulder throw more of a surprise. Sync would go head-under-heels through the air, laid out in a fraction of a second, Ted's arm under his elbow. It's one of his favorite moves for sheer, visceral thrill alone, like an amusement ride. Isn't physics fascinating?]
...project! The Ippon Seoinage, at your service. It's perfect for you, too. Just the thing for the small to even gigantic odds.
[Rub his shortness in, why dontcha?]
Re: [Action]
Let's work on that later.
[Ted has guessed correctly, contact at all is still relatively new.]
Sure.
[Doing so, he grunts in annoyance and scowls at Ted for the joke. Keeping quiet to not break up his mentor's monologue, he nods his way through the instructions, gasping as he suddenly tumbles. The thoughts through his head are certainly not worth sharing, though since Ted seems to thrive on vitriol, he would likely enjoy it, making it all the more pertinent that he not share.]
Ippon Seoinage. I'll remember that.
Re: [Action]
Hah, learn by doing. Your turn.
[He's magnanimous enough to let Sync have his revenge, where he'd learn the truth of its use to the size-challenged. It really does equalize strength differences marvelously, and could probably be done just as well to someone double Ted's weight. All that rage would smack the mat perhaps a tad too forcefully, Ted wincing. If only he could've known what unholy retribution his little "clever" comment was about to bring down on him, maybe he'd have held his tongue. But he couldn't, he didn't, and now he's paying the price, that silly fool.
That's a microcosm of how Ted fills their first forty minutes: introduce a technique, which may or may not logically relate to the last one, practice, then rinse and repeat. Then drill a little with the next five, calling them by name and getting Sync to repeat the motion by memory and reflex. After that? Free time! Anything goes, so long as they respect the Man Rule. Strikes, grapples, refined or just plain dumb, with or without training pads and other marital arts paraphernalia. It'd be a way to experiment, test each other, employ and incorporate what's learned in a more open scenario, and slough off the relative formality thus far.
It's plain to see why Ted enjoys wrestling so much; of all the arts, it's the most playful. Lots of bombastic and flying motion with few, if any, injuries. Not practical for multiple opponents, but it could end a one-on-one fight quickly enough. For all the physical strain, he's grinning like an idiot and laughing like a child. Roughhousing was just the relief he needed.
He'd idly fantasized, now and again, about what his life would be like if he wasn't an only child. Ted wondered if having a younger brother wouldn't look something like this.]