VIDEO/ACTION ❄ WATERDROP III

[watercharm]

VIDEO

[The bright smiling face appears on the screen though it’s only for a moment as she quickly sends out a message.]

Those wishing to receive training please meet at the Nova City training ground. The address should be easy to find and I’ve created a scheduled for everyone who was interested.

There are some free spots if anyone I haven’t spoken too wants to stop by and check it out or those who wanted to spar.

[Another beaming smile and then the feed ends.]

ACTION

[Aqua is waiting at the Nova City training center. She’s thankful that David let her use the space and she hopes it goes well. In her mind she only needs two students to justify a training center of her own but can she really do it? She’s helped trained Ven but this is a little different from that.

Her arms are at her sides with her back pressed against the wall. There are a line of wooden swords along one wall. She got here early to work on the hologram and understand its settings. It’s one of the reasons it took so long to send her message out.

When someone arrives Aqua smiles and turns to face them.]

I’m glad you made it.

Comments

ACTION

[youfool]

"Not as glad as I am, I assure you!" He came in his workout clothes, which were about as colorful as his normal ones. Hopefully the training center was well heated.

The best thing about the dojo is its location. He'd spent a lot of time in Nova City honing his marksmanship. Could it also house the best place to improve his sword arm? It's like a one-stop shop for learning how to kill people.

But then, he did pay Ike on a weekly basis for sword lessons too, so it wasn't like he was a total rookie. That and he had his doubts whether a woman could really handle a weapon. She definitely wasn't as physically formidable, though they shared the same hair color. Perhaps blue locks was the mark of master swordsmen?

Whatever the case, someone was fresh-faced and ready to go. Especially if the rates are reasonable, or better yet, free.

ACTION

[watercharm]

[Aqua watches Ted curiously. She doesn't just note the way he walks but it's as if she is looking even deeper into his heart. She gestures with her head towards the row of wooden swords.]

Come on then.

[She's sweet but Aqua can be a rough Master to train by. She isn't looking to teach someone who's going to simply kill and should she sense darkness within Ted she'll end the lessons all together. There is much to learn when it comes to skill but there is also heart.

Which can easily control the tide of battle.

Aqua takes her stance across from Ted. A silver orb glows in her palm before forming into her keyblade.]

Let's see what skills you have.

Re: ACTION

[youfool]

He's a little stunned at the magic trick of sword materialization. Give him a moment to properly appreciate that.

"All right. En garde!" He hastily plucked a sword off the rack, and lunged at her. His style was risky and reckless, though many of his strokes might be said to come from unexpected angles. No movement was too audacious or ridiculous for him; he'd try anything. Ted's swordsmanship was spontaneous.

His wild style had been tamed somewhat by Ike, whose stolid swordsmanship solidified his own. Still, only a month or two couldn't iron out all his flaws, which were answered with smarts whenever he exposed himself. Which was often.

As regards his heart, it was difficult to say. The Bible proclaimed the darkness that filled every natural heart. [Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"]

Ted, being human was no exception to the Fall or any of the other spiritual maladies which maddened men. Still, he meant righteousness. Meant it so much that he'd willingly bear the scorn of the world if it meant taking a stand against evil. Whatever light there was to be found did not belong to him, but there must be something which spurs him on to do good, even when he only earns bitterness for his trouble.

ACTION

[watercharm]

[Aqua blocks his first attack but quickly notices the irregularity of his style. It isn't bad but she's fought with Ven when he first began training and his style is similar. She takes a half step back, catching Ted's sword and then forcing it away.]

It's like you don't have a set style. [She replies calmly.] and some of your strikes are better than others. Do you have another teacher?

[She side steps another attack and she appears to be watching Ted closely. She doesn't advance forward to often but manages to block his attacks.]

Stop. [She calls out lowering her sword.]

Large moments leave you open. You're attacks might come as a surprise but you will be hit flailing from all angels. You need to protect your center more.

Action

[the_heroine]

[The training center should have been easy to find, but Mikoshiba had somehow managed to get lost several times. He had considered not showing up at all, but he was serious about this and wanted to learn how to use a sword. Still, once he was there, he hadn't immediately entered, standing outside for about ten minutes just to calm down enough. So, he was glad he somehow made it on time too. Leaving early had helped with that.]

[He freezes when Aqua addresses him, a pink tint covering most of his face. He should probably reply somehow...but when he opens his mouth, all he manages to do is babble and stumble over his words.]

Ah-- uh...

Samemetoohi.

[With an embarrassed groan, he covers most of his face with his hands, eyeing the swords along the wall. The closest thing he had to fighting was when it was staged during Kashima's rehearsals. He doubts that it's anything like this.]

Action

[watercharm]

[Aqua watches him curiously, her gaze sizing up his demeanor as well as the strength of his heart. Her eyebrows raise at his nervous introduction and she waves a hand with a calming smile.]

Just relax. We can't start if you're going to be on edge the whole time.

[She walks over to her bag and picks up a bottle of water from the many she has stashed inside.]

Here. Drink this first and tell me what you hope to learn.

[Their last talk hadn't made the best impression but Aqua is willing to give the boy a chance.]

Action

[the_heroine]

...Okay.

[He lowers his hands to take the water, eyes glued to the floor. He wishes there was a curtain or corner he could use to hide, but he wouldn't learn anything if he did.]

[He takes a sip as instructed, seriously considering her question. There's still some nervousness there, but he's not rushing into answering.]

I want to get stronger to protect my friends. I thought it would be simple, but it's not, and it probably takes a lot of practice to get really good at it. Just like it takes a lot of practice to be good at anything. It would be fun to go on adventures too, but that doesn't matter at all if I can't protect the people important to me when something goes wrong.

[He finally meets her eyes, determined but also afraid from opening up to someone.]

Action:

[reluctantaccessory]

(Marie is in the process of closing up the shop for the day when the message comes through and she finds herself rushing through the rest of her tasks, throwing on her coat, and running into the cold, winter snow and to the training center that was mentioned.

As she takes her first steps into the center, her first thought is that the place seems almost intimidating for her. Her eyes are drawn to the wooden swords and she frowns a bit. She had only asked about defending herself, not anything more, but the idea still made her extremely uneasy at least that feeling that had been soothed had come back in full force.

"No, No, ...Marie...you need to go through with this. You can't depend on someone to always defend you and get you somewhere safe."

She then spots Aqua when the girl turns around and faces her.)

Uh, it's nice to see you. I wasn't expecting the message to be this soon, honestly... but that's a good thing, right?

Action:

[watercharm]

[Aqua smiles trying to ease some of the tension in the room. It isn't hard to tell that the girl is nervous and she can't really blame her.]

This is something like a test run. Talking about something and doing something are very different and it's easier to see a person is meeting them face to face.

[She holds out her hand for Marie to take.]

It's nice to meet you Marie.

[Aqua isn't really a girly girl but she isn't going to just force Marie into training with her nerves so high.]

Tell me why you are nervous.

Re: Action:

[reluctantaccessory]

I...I never really had to learn anything like this before and well, I suppose it's kind of overwhelming...

(She frowns. It's more that she's uneasy about having to ever have to use anything she might learn - if she ever manages to get back to her own world, she knows she would eventually have to or at least she believes she would have to. It was an idea that was enough to make her afraid.

For a moment she shakes her head trying to shake away the memories even though most of them are blurs. But she can clearly remember watching a fight apparently in front of her - one where the hits were hard enough to break bone, a pen being used much like a knife, the sound of gunfire that started it all. Someone who seemed normal enough - shy, awkward - becoming something else entirely.

She had seen what happens when a person is forced to become violent - whether by their own desire, a need to survive, or something else entirely. A shadow world, for all that she knew. Most people never had to see it, she was glad that's how it worked.)

I don't really like the idea of hurting people at all, even if it's on accident. I mean, if someone's trying to hurt me, I do have the right to try to get away or protect myself... (She pauses.)

I know it doesn't make any sense, but people tend to think I'm weird and everything.

video;

[firefandance]

So I take it you had some people interested at learning.

video;

[watercharm]

Yes. We'll see how things go. I don't want to teach anyone who might not be willing to fight the darkness.

[Her thoughts go to Terra before she shakes them away.]

Just as you had.

video;

[firefandance]

That makes perfect sense really. Though by fighting the darkness in your mind, what exactly does it mean? Because I feel like it's different.

action;

[namemeansbeauty]

[She had seen Aqua's message and had started to make her way. The address was easy enough to find and the closer she got the more nervous she found herself. When she finally reached the place, her hands were lightly clasped in front of her.]

I'm glad you were able to take me on, I appreciate it.

action;

[watercharm]

[Aqua smiles at Belle and then nods towards the swords on the wall. She doesn't sense any doubt in the girl and while her heart isn't perfect she can tell that there is strength there.]

Grab a sword then.

[She doesn't expect Belle to do well but the best way to judge the nature of someone's intentions is in combat. Aqua already respects Belle but there is more to it than that.]

My Master told me that you can only see what's inside your heart when fighting an equal. I will match your skill Belle and we'll see what's in your heart.

Are you ready? [A silver light glows in Aqua's hand as she calls forth her Keyblade.]

action;

[namemeansbeauty]

[She gave a firm nod before going over and picking one up. While it was wooden she understood the possible reasoning behind it and she was sure that she wouldn't trust herself in using it. Sure she had tried once but she never actually did anything with it.

Turning her head slightly she soon turned, gripping the sword lightly.]

That's an interesting way of finding out about someone's heart. Mine should be more than easy to read.

[When she sees the keyblade though, she cannot help but be a tiny bit interested.]

That is most certainly an interesting blade you have.

video;

[truesmiles]

[Fai gives a cat like grin as he speaks to the other.]

If you want a spar I might be up for one. I think I need the practice after all.

video;

[watercharm]

[Aqua is very curious about Fai considering their last conversation. Her smile widens slightly and she nods her head.]

I'd like that. What weapon are you used to use?

[She has a few with her though he might be more accustomed to magic at which case they should take their match to Fayren where there might be space and no collateral damage.]

video;

[truesmiles]

Weapon is usually bow and arrow. I am versed in short distance combat though if you want that kind of thing.

[He was going to not use magic for now at least, not until he got more comfortable using his other weapons first.]

[Video]

[blue_flames]

[Ike's curious face appears on the feed. Well...curious for him, anyway. He's got a face that isn't terribly expressive.]

I may take you up on that. It'd be good to see where other people stand, and maybe we can get in a match or two.

[Video]

[watercharm]

[Aqua looks down at the feed.]

Then feel free to stop by.

[She's seen some of Ike's skill and she won't say she isn't impressed with it. His style is very similar to her own, mixing sword play and magic.]

[Video]

[blue_flames]

I'll be sure to. Is there a time you'd like?

[beauty_burns_gold]

Yang walks through the door, the gold bracelets on her arms unfolding into her signature gauntlets as she bounces lightly on her feet. "Hey, I wouldn't turn down a free spar." She slides into her stance, arms up in a standard boxing stance, bouncing on her feet the entire time.

[watercharm]

[Aqua smiles as Yang walks in. It's good that she's ready and she silently appreciates that Yang gets straight to the point. She holds out her hand allowing the bright glow to form into her keyblade.

She brings the gleaming metal down to her side and then takes her stance. There is a smile on her lips as she faces Yang.]

Should we set rules?

[It isn't something Aqua normally does, she doesn't like holding back but this facility isn't hers and she doesn't want to damage something that belongs to David.]

[beauty_burns_gold]

Yang's not one to let time go by if there's a good spar to be had. Besides, how would Aqua know what to focus on if Yang doesn't show off what she's got? She does pause slightly at the mention of rules, the blonde more than ready to throw down in the holodeck.


"Uh....good Idea I guess. I'm used to my school telling us to monitor our aura levels, but you don't have that."