genessia | Falling Feathers (Sept. Catch-All)

Later in the afternoon, once rehearsals had wrapped and errands had been run, Dove flies to the park, cursing herself for getting caught up and losing track of time. She’s not terribly late- only a few minutes or so, but given the nature of the meeting, she’s a bit anxious anyway. It’s taken her this long to swallow her pride, and even though it’s much easier to do around Styxx, she knows she’s definitely going to be well out of her element for the next… however long he can put up with this.

When she makes it to the park, she drops, wings fading once she’s close enough to safely drop to the ground not terribly far away from where she’s spotted him. As she makes her way over, she digs through her bag for the pokeballs she’s brought with her and releases her little team to let them explore while she’s otherwise preoccupied… no sense in leaving them cooped up in the apartment.

Lovey, of course, darts straight for the man, fluffy tail pulling her entire body to and fro in excitement as her mistress hangs back with a sheepish wave and an apologetic sounding greeting. “I got trapped, please don’t hate me.”

Styxx had been keeping tabs on the time and had noticed she was late, but held off his worry for a few minutes and then when he saw her, he didn't need to worry as she landed. The pokemon with her were released and Lovey came running towards him, making him kneel down and give her some scritches behind the ear before he got up and his attention went to Dove, his expression becoming stern.

"This is a training session, not a friendly meeting, Dove. Love, hate, they don't matter here, and you have to be on time from now on. When you make an obligation to do this, then I expect you to be on time or early. If an earlier obligation might interfere with it, then it's your job to make sure that scheduling conflict is worked out. I'm not going to waste time if you're even a few minutes late." He told her sternly. This wasn't the fun loving Styxx. This was the general. The leader. The man who took this kind of thing seriously. He knew there was always a time to have fun and time to work, and this wasn't a time to have fun and slack.

Holy sh-

The color drains from her face along with any sort of lighthearted banter she had brought along to help ease her nervousness. She had expected him to call her out for being late, of course but this...

Somewhere deep inside she'd appreciate this side of him more if she wasn't so shocked by (and mildly terrified of) it.

She physically takes a half step back in surprise, feeling a lot more like a child than she had anticipated she might. She nods solemnly, wondering what the hell she's gotten herself into and if she'll ever get normal Styxx back. "Yes sir..."

"Now, since you've decided to be late, you can start by running 25 laps around the building over there. If you're to fight then the first thing you must learn to build up is your strength and your endurance. So go! I'll be keeping an eye on your progress." As would his Noibat which would be making sure she was running during all the laps. He was going to push her hard.

There's a confused look on her face she doesn't quite catch herself making at that.

...laps? Really? She turns to look at the building in question. ....cardio's not something she's bad at.

"Just twenty five?"

"Well, if you're so confident about it, you can do 75 laps instead." He replied. That was the wrong thing for Dove to say considering he'd been trying to go easy on her a little, but if she wanted it the Galen way, he'd give it to her.

"I suggest you better get moving before I raise it again."

“….”

She sighs as any sliver of hopeful confidence vanishes instantly. She’s had tough trainers before, but this is really next level.

Cardio isn’t a problem for the angel; she runs every morning she can and her wings are her strongest asset, but she’s already picturing a really, really long hot soak whenever he sets her free from his pretty little phoenix claws…

Her shoulders only sag for a second in defeat before she turns tail to start her laps.

As soon as she took off for her run, he took off with her, keeping up with her easy enough. He obviously had no intention of just standing around and making her do this alone, but any time she slowed down or seemed to be getting tired, he'd push her on, usually by making a comment about her giving up or something along those lines. He'd say anything he had to to keep her motivated. This was a test of not showing her underbelly as much as it was a test of endurance.

Twenty five, while it did have her covered in a nice sheen of sweat, seemed fairly do-able. Forty seemed to definitely be wearing her down… by fifty she was near ready to set him on fire, just to compensate for the burning of her legs and the sting of his comments.

She wouldn’t dare give in, though, not day one. She couldn’t fire him like any other trainer, and her pride wouldn’t let her lash out at a friend or fail miserably… yet.

He’s likely to be amused at the way she’s censoring and correcting her own current thoughts about him, though, and the irritation coming from something as simple as her tank top.

"Keep moving! You don't have time to be slowing down or getting tired. Your enemy won't care how tired you get and it's your job to push passed them!" He yelled at her almost like a drill sergeant. "Your effort is pathetic! I'm supposed to be training a warrior not just a little girl! Keep moving! No slowing down! THere's no breaks!" He yelled further trying to get her to snap. If she snapped then good. She'd learn a quick lesson in it.

...her pride did have its limits, as did her reasoning. She knows he's just spouting off at her to keep her going, but the frustration does have her on edge. He's not wrong, but everything he's saying is something she's told herself more often than not back home, and she's just one woman.... with a hell of a lot of conflicting emotions even without the shouting man.

....she does snap eventually, and if he's close enough, he might see a gleam if gold behind the frustrated tears she refuses to let fall before her wings are back and one flares to smack him down..

"Would you shut up?"

She'll find Styxx easily dodging as if he'd been prepared for it and suddenly coming at her and pulling her arm behind her back and firmly but carefully grabbed her wing, though obviously not as rough as he could. He had done all of it with practiced ease and was firm, but not hard with his grip, careful not to actually mark her or hurt her.

"This is why I've been pushing you. First rule of fighting, never show your underbelly. It will always give your enemy an advantage."

He lets her go quickly. "If I'd been your enemy just now, I could have tried to rip your wings off or worse. You have to keep your head at all times, Dove. You can't react. You can't let anyone get into your head.

There's a growl when he dodges because of course he does. She should hve been expecting that much.

What she doesn't expect at all is the follow up, and that growl quickly turns into a breathless gasp when he grabs her wing. Her guard goes up immediately as her eyes wrench shut and the shudder runs down her spine, Were she not so focused on not reacting for both their sakes, she'd be panicking. She's never been more glad he's not an empath.

The second he lets her go, she backs away from him, eyes a little wider than she'd like. She shakes her head to clear it and put herself back in the moment. "Noted..."

She flexes her wing a little before fading it again and taking a steadying breath. "Been there, done that... not something I'd like to experience again..."

Also not something she's willing to talk about right this moment.

Edited 2018-09-05 02:35 (UTC)

"Good. That's the first lesson that my teacher taught me a long time ago, and it's an important one." Especially when you had to lead. Though he wouldn't tell her that it had been a much harsher lesson for him then it had been for her just now. He tried to be gentle. Galen at the time....not so much. The man had hated his guts at the time just like everyone else. He hadn't warmed up to Styxx until later.

She nods, but says nothing, much more shut off than before.

It's a good lesson, and one she'll note. For now... She's still got a few laps to run and now she's got the motivation to put some space between them for a bit.

It can be hard lesson, and Styxx knows that, so he'll let her run her laps in silence, giving her space for the time being, though he was mostly keeping up with her even if he was purposely letting himself hang back a little for her. He'd let her process the harsh lesson, but he'd tried to teach it as gently as he could think to do so. Galen hadn't been so kind teaching him that particular lesson, nor had anyone else.

She'd realize it a little later when she wasn't focused on hitting her goal and fighting off the memories that crept in with said new lesson. If only he had been around just a handful of years ago, what a difference it would have made...

All the more reason for her to go through with this.

It takes a lot more energy than she's willing to spare to keep her guard up, so if he's paying attention, he may catch a few of the names and reasons she's so stoically motivated to keep going now, but she stays quiet rounding the corner for the final time before she finally slows to a walk to cool down. It'll take a minute, but her full attention and those eyes are on him again, even if she is breathing hard and completely drenched with sweat.

When she finally finished the run and started to cool down he'd leave her be until she was finished and then he'd smile. "I know these aren't easy lessons but they're important. Still, you did well for you first day. Go rest and if you want to continue having me train you let me know. I know I can be a bit strict but the best way I can think to teach is similar to how I learned. It might have been difficult, but Galen's lessons stuck and they've saved my life countless times."

She certainly would never have a stricter instructor then Styxx here in Genessia, but at least he did things for reasons. Any enemy she faced wasn't going to go easy on her, so he couldn't afford to either and he knew it.

Oh good, there's a smile. Maybe her friend was still in there after all.

Want him to continue? She makes a face up at him from where she's kneeling and fixing her shoelaces. "You didn't actually expect me to give up after day one, did you?" Her tone's almost teasing, but she's actually serious. She really doesn't want him to be like her men back home... surely he has higher expectations for her. She laughs tiredly and goes back to retrying her shoe. "I'll be he girl here two hours early next time."

He laughs a little. "I hoped not. I was more worried that my methods and lessons might chase you away, and you better be."

She grins up at him as she straightens and plucks the soaked fabric away from her stomach. Ew.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily. I told you you're stuck with me, remember?" And he had agreed, so... that's that in her mind. She's not exactly drowning in close friends herself, and she genuinely likes Styxx.

"Now, if that's really all you have for me, I'm off to take a long hot bath, eat an entire ice cream cake and down a full bottle of wine. You're welcome to join me if you want." For... most of that.

He laughed again, understanding full well what she meant. "No, go on ahead and enjoy yourself. As I said, you did good. It gets easier eventually once the right muscles are built up, but this is as much about the mind as it is the muscles and skill. Remember that."

"Oh good, my best friend's a trainer and a psychologist," she sighs, still grinning. "I'll be sure to bring you plenty to work with next time."

From the tone of her voice, it sounds like that's a given anyway, but she's not elaborating. Instead, she's slowly walking her way back to where Ace is sitting with her bag and the others are playing. "What's the rest of your day look like?"

He smiled at her words. At least she wasn't giving up after one session with him. He could appreciate that.

"I don't have any plans."

As delicate as she can look on occasion, she's still stubborn as hell when it comes to most things.

Why is she not surprised by his answer? "Well... if you get bored, I won't be leaving my apartment tonight," More like she won't be able to. "And I've got a decent dinner planned. ....you could always come over for food and a history lesson."

There's a laugh behind that offer, but she'll wait.

"I'll pass, but I appreciate the offer." He replied. He needed some time on his own today.

She nods and sweeps down to pick up her bag, calling Ace to her with a nod of her head. The others follow suit after a sharp bark from the houndoom... but of course, Lovey just wants Styxx's attention.

"Next time, then," she tells him, pulling the bag over her shoulder. "Are you dropping by rehearsals tomorrow? I think-"

Oh crap. Her face falls as she realizes what tomorrow's practice will consist of.

"... I think tomorrow may be masquerade rehearsal... which means... ballroom dancing..."

"Sure, I'll come. I enjoy watching." And he'd have fun seeing how sore she was tomorrow too.

He gets a smile, though he absolutely wouldn't if she could hear his thoughts.

"It should be entertaining. I'm... pretty sure there's an awkward kiss scene or two as well. First time's always fun," she laughs, scrunching her nose. She's...not sure she's looking forward to it, but she'll make the best of things. There's almost always room to laugh.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow. I'm sure I'll enjoy it."

It had been a while since she had visited with Lucky, and an even longer time since she had even so much as passed the planetarium. With rehearsals later in the evening and the meeting with her agent taken care of for the morning, she finds herself walking from the agency toward the large familiar building, stopping on the way to grab a box of treats from a bakery to share, in hopes that he'll actually be working.

Feeling a little out of place, she heads up to the break room she visited last time, curiously peering in to see if he's there. "Hello?"

Lucky had just finished his last presentation before lunch and was stretching as he stepped out of the projection room and headed for the break room.

He hadn't expected to see Dove peeking in to look for him (at least he hoped she was looking for him). Bouncing over, he flashed his most brilliant grin and peeked over her shoulder.

"Who're you looking for?" he asked, just a touch of teasing in his voice.

Edited 2018-09-05 18:45 (UTC)

She tenses instinctively when she feels someone at her back, but when she turns and realizes it's him she laughs. "Just a friend of mine. I guess he's too busy playing with stars for these cupcakes I brought..." she grins, slowly opening the box as she playfully rolls her eyes up at the ceiling.

Lucky snorted and slipped past her heading for the fridge in the corner. "You got here just in time for lunch," he laughed, grabbing a couple of sodas. "Want one?" he asked, bringing them both over to the table. If she didn't he'd just drink them both.

She shakes her head fondly and moves to set the box on the table and takes a seat in one of the chairs. "No thanks... my agent would probably have a heart attack seeing me in the same room as a one this week. God forbid he find out I touched a box of cupcakes," she laughs, claiming one for herself and picking off the strawberry first. Obviously it had been a fun morning at the office.

Edited 2018-09-05 19:22 (UTC)

"Not even if it was diet?"

Thank goodness he didn't decide to go into acting when he got here, he's not sure he would have been able to handle it. Popping one of the sodas open, he picked up a cupcake and swiped a fingerful of frosting off and right into his mouth. "So what's up?"

She shakes her head. Not that her agent really has any control over it, and if her new trainer is going to keep up with the murderous Greek routine, she won't have much else to worry about, so far as figure goes...

She swirls the strawberry absently between her fingers. "Not much. Just wrapping up the shoots I had lined up and trying to keep up with rehearsals. You?"

"Well I got my bounty hunter license in case there's some things here that I want to go after," Lucky said. "That's pretty much it for me, how are rehearsals going?"

"Bounty hunting? Really?" She might be a bit more surprised than she should be. "Rehearsals are fine... much safer than bounty hunting."

Yeah, she wants to focus on that one for a minute for sure.

Falling Feathers (Sept. Catch-All)

[Closed] Styxx - Hand-to-Hand (Early September)

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[Closed] Lucky - Planetarium Adventures! (Also early September)

Re: [Closed] Lucky - Planetarium Adventures! (Also early September)

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