thenearshore | "Hard-core" Training. [Open-to-all.]

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"Hard-core" Training. [Open-to-all.]

Who: (Future) Trunks and whoever is interested! Open to all.
When: October 22nd.
Where: Open Grounds (and Sky) near Caireen's Temple.
What: An open area and invitation for some harder-training than is usually done during the intro-events.

Bishamon was always kind enough every month to open part of her temple and its grounds for new shinki and gods, and Trunks was grateful for that. But he was also pretty sure he, and a few others he could think of, would appreciate a training session or two that wasn't geared towards most of the new arrivals. (Not that there was anything wrong with new arrivals, or those who weren't as skilled as others. They all had to learn.) Fortunately, he also had an understanding Goddess, who had decent space around her temple-grounds, and who knew he'd take care of clean-up and everything else.

Especially since some of the platforms and structure's they'd used from the game of hide-and-seek were still placed around. Celestia'd been kind enough to help Trunks with forming clouds into various loops and shapes to provide some obstacles there too. Clearly marking the space closest to Caireen's temple as off-limits, just in case as well.

It still left them lots of open ground on the edge of the forest, the beach-area, and the sky. Perfect, as far as he was concerned. Word-of-mouth, mostly making sure to stop by and visit friends he knew would be interested (like Snow and Goten) the date he was planning this, and then just setting things up.

He didn't have animated straw-dummies, but then--most of the people he was expecting were far beyond straw-dummy level.]

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Piccolo didn't know what to expect when he arrived at the temple of Caireen. He only vaguely knew the occupants of the temple from brief training sessions and meetings while at Bishamon's temple when it was set up for everyone. Maybe a few other brief moments that were fleeting and irrelevant. Piccolo was not much for small-talk or 'hanging out' as so many others were. He didn't understand the concepts.

It was odd to someone like him, who understood the ideas behind many typical things that people did or knew about, but felt foreign trying to mimic or partake in such things. Still, there were a few things that he could grasp easily and one such thing was training to become stronger, better. He couldn't resist a good sparring session either.

So however the case he ended up at Caireen's temple when the time came. He stood for a moment by himself, arms crossed in his familiar stance, and gazed out at the makeshift training grounds. His eyes were narrowed and it was clear as day that he was judging the sight before him.

Whether his thoughts on it were good or bad, though, was a completely different story; his expression was too hard to read beyond the fact that he was most definitely judging it one way or the other.

Caireen's temple was very simple--aside from the flats-of-wood and small structures set a bit a way and closer to the forest. Lots of open space with a good view of the sky, and the areas marked as 'off-limits' clear. Off-limits only to the training/any games played--not because they were dangerous or anything. Caireen was actually the Goddess of children, so having safe-spaces and clearly marked boundaries were a good thing, even as she was understanding of her shinki being more of a fighter. (Along with several of her, and his, friends...)

In any case, there is a good amount of open space, as well as a few things to hide in and around and on (or crash into). Some different terrain between the grass and the forest, as well as hints of a rocky-area closer to the sea. The sky has had cloud-rings and similar markers placed around as well for flyers, courtesy of Celestia.

Trunks's smile was small, but pleased, as he made enough noise that Piccolo would easily see and hear him coming. "It's good to see you again, Piccolo. I hope you're adjusting well?"

Trunks could have tried mimicking a cat's silent footsteps and Piccolo would have heard his approach. Whether he would have responded or not was another story entirely. The green-skinned shinki took his time gazing around before finally acknowledging the other's question. He glanced over almost as an after-thought.

"As well as can be expected." In other words, he was fine but he also considered the point moot as nothing would change the way things were here. He could spare to be a bit happier but those were the circumstances. Also known as: I don't do small talk so please forgo the formalities. Which the silence that followed probably hinted at as well, considering he didn't have the courtesy to ask anything in return.

"Well, do you know how to contact me, besides just coming to the temple, if you want a sparring partner or someone to work on things with?" Trunks isn't that bothered by the gruff-nature, and is fine without the small talk. He'd asked because of a genuine concern, as well as gladness to see the other shinki.

"Things are marked, in terms of what's off-limits. Mai's been very patient and understanding with my trying to relearn my skills, but I really don't want to test her patience by damaging things that I can't fix. Any questions about what you see, and what you'd like to work on?"

Piccolo merely blinked at Trunks' question about contacting one another. The impression given was that he had no idea what the other was talking about. The more accurate explanation was that Piccolo didn't really care. He was aware of the network and, vaguely, how it worked despite never using it. But technology wasn't his forte and he would probably rather shun it than use it to contact others. Besides, he was used to being alone and without a form of easy contact. To say that he preferred that solitude over the idea of constantly (or even just rarely) being bothered by others through technology was definitely an understatement.

All of that, however, was readily glossed over in favor of the original reason he was here. "It's pretty obvious, isn't it?" he said, referring to the training grounds set up. Obstacle courses were obstacle courses and training equipment was training equipment. Like he said, it was all obvious to him. As for the other half of the question, "The usual. I could care less about the shinki abilities. I'm more interested in my old powers than anything new."

Welp--the flat look on Piccolo's face, when 'contacting people' came up--meant either the other didn't know, or didn't care. The gruffness and brief answer also didn't phase Trunks either. "Alright. Have you made any progress since the energy burst? I know you found that easier to do while sparring, but it's probably something you can do without being in the middle of a fight too."

"Yes," Piccolo replied. "I know now that I can manipulate my energy in a myriad of ways. The basic energy blast has become rather... easy." Piccolo paused and then opened his mouth to continue but closed it without speaking instead. Another beat of time went by and he did speak again though not in quite a continuation as he might have hinted at before. Instead, he elaborated on another skill. "I also discovered that I can fly. It's still technically energy manipulation but put to a different use."

"Oh good, you can too then?" Trunks brightened with Piccolo confirming about the blast, as well as adding his new found flight. "I've been trying to study how I do it, which is tricky because something in me clearly KNOWS, and I do best when I don't think, but I have to try and 'think' to learn how I'm doing it."

That made sense--and was probably more babble than Piccolo wanted.

"But that's part of why I got Celestia to help me with the clouds--so those of us who can fly, can practice too. I've also marked off the area around the grounds that my Goddess would rather we NOT destroy or tear up." Because Trunks is assuming the other shinki is here for sparring first, anything else later.

Piccolo blinked at the babble. He waited a moment. Then, "Yeah, that's generally how learning all this stuff goes here, isn't it? I think my god knows more about it but I haven't gotten much from that front yet."

Whether it was just too awkward for Gohan to teach Piccolo or Piccolo was just being too stubborn to learn from Gohan was anyone's guess. Maybe both.

Either way, Piccolo suspected he could learn more if he pried his god for the information. But things between them were...odd? awkward? Piccolo wasn't sure what word to describe it. He tried not to think about it mostly.

Back to the present, Piccolo glanced upwards at the clouds. "Not a bad idea I suppose." He looked back down. "Do you find it hard to fly or control your flight while concentrating elsewhere too?" For once, he sounded genuinely curious.

"Gohan might have similar abilities, and also all his memories--since he's a God." Trunks pointed out, a hint of frown on his face. Mostly out of mild concern for the other shinki--if he was having trouble with his God, that couldn't make things any easier. Not to mention how standoffish and gruff Piccolo already was.

"I know I met Hakkai, that is--Li Tieguai, and he was able to recognize some of what I do and help advise me. I've not actually interacted with Gohan as much, although it's been pleasant when we do." A bit more babble, but hopefully informative babble--especially since it leads in well to Piccolo's question.

"Yes and no. Yes, because I'm trying to both 'think' about how I do it, and 'no' because something in me clearly knows and when I just let it happen, it's easier--and if I'm flying and doing something else at the same time, that means I'm probably not focused on figuring out just how I'm flying." Hopefully that made sense, and would help.

"I know you want to spar, but do you want to just run the cloud course with me first? Just simply trying to keep up. Or talk---although I know that's not your favorite thing." There is an impish, but amused, smile on Trunks' face that shows he understands, Piccolo, if you don't want to converse.

"Then don't think about it," Piccolo replied. "Some things aren't meant to be thought about."

He glanced out towards the obstacle course in the clouds once more. Though there was no physical action of the sort, there was the hint of shrug of the shoulders type sound to his next reply when he spoke. "Fine, let's get it done." And then a small shift in tone, one of easy arrogance. "If you think you can."

Him keep up? Piccolo didn't see why he would. If Trunks was having so much trouble maybe it would be the other way around.

Trunks didn't bother to say what he was thinking in response. Which was I'm thinking about it so I can learn how I'm doing it, because I can't just REACT all the time. Mostly because he was amused by Piccolo's hint of enthusiasm; at least that's how Trunks was taking the sudden hint of arrogance.

His own smile turned slightly cocky in turn. "Try me." Challenge accepted, and he's not waiting, just kicking off the ground. Heading up to the area Celestia had marked as the starting point. The course overall had a vaguely ancient and dignified vibe, with columns and pillars formed of clouds, accented by swirls. The 'starting line' itself was a long strand of cumulus between two such shaped-pillars.

The first part of the course lead into a long straight-away, for speed and testing ones limits. At the furthest end of the long straightaway, a curve of gray-cloudwall was seen and forming an outer boundary. If people didn't react quickly enough however, they were in danger of running into a much larger gray storm-cloud, heavy with water. They could of course, go up or go under it-if they were fast enough, while racing.

That same large gray cloudwall forming the boundary of their course in a large curve around the obstacle too.

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"Hard-core" Training. [Open-to-all.]

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I do actually have some idea, meta-wise, of what the course is like.