genessia | 003 [Video]; backdated to daylight hours

When the recording begins, it shows Jerry standing near a run-down building somewhere in Genessia city.

"This is probably the wrong time of year to ask this, but are there any decent beaches around here? I lived in LA, back home, and I suppose I'm starting to miss being able to go to one at a moment's notice. Swimming would be out of the question in this weather, but there are other ways to spend time there."

With that, he goes to end the recording, and focused on the communicator as he is, he doesn't notice the man coming around the corner ready to grab him -- or rather, he notices too late. By the time he's twisted around to face the man, he's yanked around the corner and the communicator slips from his hand to land on the ground, still recording the action above it.

Jerry now has his back to a brick wall, with a man in front of him pointing a knife at his chest.

"Hand over your wallet, old man." Jerry hesitates, but he doesn't look scared or panicked; rather, he looks thoughtful, as if weighing his options. Finally, he slowly reaches into his jacket. "That's right, no sudden moves." He holds out the wallet meekly, and the mugger reaches for it with his free hand.

That's when Jerry's movements become a blur; he drops the wallet, reaching for the wrist of the hand holding the knife. He grabs it and twists it, forcing his opponent to drop the knife, and continues the motion into a wrist throw before either object has even hit the ground.

Once the man is stunned and on the ground, Jerry doesn't give him a chance to rearm himself. He places a hand on the place where the man's neck and shoulder meet, and pinches hard; a look of intense pain briefly passes through the would-be thief's face before he goes limp, eyes sliding closed.

Jerry takes a few deep breaths to calm himself down, before picking up the communicator again and noticing that it's still on.

"Sorry about that." With that, he finally ends the recording.

((The links are approximations; Jerry isn't doing that exact throw/pinch, just something close enough.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ted clapped. "Well done! That scoundrel will think twice before accosting the elderly."

Jerry is still outside, but this time, he's carrying his unconscious attacker over one shoulder, one arm holding him steady while the other handles the communicator. If this is a physically demanding task, his expression doesn't show it.

"I imagine I looked like an easy target." A skinny, unarmed old man in a nice suit? He supposes he should be more surprised that it took this long for something like this to happen.

"No, that's not your imagination. I think the same." Another who was inexplicably more athletic than he looked. Does anyone in the world lift?

"Say!" He brightened. "I don't suppose you could teach me how to pull a sand man like that? It ought to come in handy, putting men to sleep without knocking them down. It's usually the pinch that wakes people up."

Having a small frame always helps fool the casual observer -- as does knowing how to properly hide one's physique under clothing.

"This particular pressure point is a dangerous one to meddle with, as it deals with the brain." Jerry's answer is slow to come out. "You could cause brain damage, coma, or even death just as easily as you could simple unconsciousness. I'm sure you understand why I'm reluctant to share such a technique."

Most of those sound like useful variations to Ted, depending on how long someone might need to be out of commission, save for brain damage. "Pressure points, eh? Not so mythical after all. Still, you needn't worry. I'm sure you'd make a fine teacher, and my masters can vouch for my own tutelage if it's necessary. Unless it's a trade secret? It does seem to have turned a profit for you."

'Reluctant' isn't 'no', after all.

Too bad he only said most of those to try to discourage him. They should theoretically be true, as he was telling the truth about the brain part, but he's never seen them happen; he only ever uses it for a knockout.

"I haven't even taught my students at home this kind of thing, and I've known them for years." Whereas it would be stretching it to call Ted an acquaintance. He's not saying he doesn't trust him... but he doesn't trust him.

It's slightly encouraging to be a past public figure and have none hold it against him. No appetite for history or newspapers, perhaps. Still, it was frustrating to have to start from scratch so often, especially when people popped in and out of existence so frequently.

"That's interesting. Anyone could maim or kill with simple instruments; I've heard of people dying from merely being tackled. Yet this non-lethal technique of yours is shrouded in mystery from even pupils long known.

Well, suppose I'll have to use cruder means should a similar fate befall me. Thanks for the teasing display, at any rate."

[Blaze had the passing thought in his mind of trying to figure out where the man was to run off to help him, but he's reasonably stunned when he sees Jerry dispatch his attacker with ease. W-Well, at least the man didn't need help. And he even did that neck pinch thing...]

Here I thought that only worked in sci-fi shows.

[He catches himself looking like a deer in headlights and shakes his head.]

Are you alright?

When Jerry replies, he's carrying the mugger over one shoulder, but his expression is cheerful.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine. If he'd had faster reflexes, or a gun instead of a knife, it might have been a different story, but he didn't, so it isn't."

Edited 2016-03-01 17:27 (UTC)

Blaze has to stop himself from staring before he manages to crack a slight smile.

"I'm glad you're alright." He pauses then for a few moments, before speaking again.

"Your reflexes were amazing."

Oddly, the compliment seems to take the wind out of his sails, as his smile fades.

"Oh, well, practice makes perfect and all that."

A mild surprise comes to Blaze's face for a moment, but then looks a little guilty. He hoped that he didn't offend the man in some way.

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"

He shakes his head.

"Oh, no, nothing like that. I just disagree. I don't think my skills are all that impressive; I'm not a fighter."

003 [Video]; backdated to daylight hours

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