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

[light_of_willpower]

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.]

Comments

[light_of_willpower]

Promise not to swing or strike at me, and we need to actually talk for a minute.

[Because this was a necessary break. Even if he didn't want her actually upset either because of this, than behaving recklessly during a spar.

Oh, and he still had NO IDEA WHAT TO CALL HER.]

Seriously, I don't even know your name yet.

[Said with an exasperated huff.]

[redmare]

Argh! Alright! [ And don't huff at her like you're talking to a child! Not like she was acting to prove otherwise. ]

[light_of_willpower]

[Don't act like a child then.

There's a pause, just to be sure, before he shifts. Helping her slide down from the hold, against his back, before Trunks is turning to face her. Arms crossed, look expectant.]

Seriously, I'm not your enemy.

[There's another sigh, and a hint of petulance.]

I wasn't trying to make you angry either, so I'm sorry.

[redmare]

[ Then stop scolding her like a mom. ]

You're my opponent..isn't that the same thing?

[ Not that she felt like she was much of one for him. ]

And don't apologize for beating me. That doesn't make me feel better at all.. [ She grumbles under her breath as she straightens out her clothes. ]

[light_of_willpower]

[Then again, don't act like a child.]

Not really. An opponent doesn't necessarily mean the same thing. And in sparring or training like this, it's definitely not the same. If I was your enemy, I'd be trying to take you down however I could, because you'd be a threat. You'd be a danger, to be eliminated, before you cause harm.

[Absolutely serious, and all smile and teasing is gone. Trunks has no memories, but even without them he is sure of what he is saying. He's pretty sure, in his old life, he's had to kill to protect others, and he'll do it again if he has to.]

An opponent, is, in this case--more like your partner, or team mate. We learn from each other, by training against each other.

[There is another huff too, and that petulance again.]

And I'm not apologizing for beating you, I'm apologizing for making you angry. Until you got angry, you were actually doing pretty well.

[It is not quite a stubborn glare, but his expression is close.]

[redmare]

[ Huh, she never thought of it that way. Wanting to beat your partner sounded strange--but she also didn't hate it. It almost felt familiar in a way. ]

....You're weird, you know that?

[ Though she doesn't mean it in an offensive way. You'd have to be one heck of a nice guy to feel the need to apologize for something like that. ]

[light_of_willpower]

[There's a slow blink, and that hint of smile returns.]

Says the girl who just shows up to train, finds a random partner, and doesn't even introduce herself.

[redmare]

Who's the one inviting total strangers to their home, hm?

[ There's no venom in her tone though, and she's smiling as well. ]

Hiyama Chinatsu.

[light_of_willpower]

Most of the word got out to people I already knew. I just don't mind others who are interested showing up.

[Yep, that half-smile is back.]

Nice to meet you Chinatsu. Thank you for your interest, too. You're an interesting partner.

[redmare]

Yeah? Hopefully I make it more interesting then.

[ She does plan on improving after all. ]

[light_of_willpower]

[A sincere nod and smile.]

Works for me. Now, do you realize how much you're telegraphing your punches? It makes your movement easier to read.

[On to business, which means offering more encouragement and feedback if she wants. Because they WILL be sparring again.]

[redmare]

[ The smile automatically falls at the critique. Damn, it was that bad? ]

How the hell do you subtly punch someone?

[light_of_willpower]

[Well--time to do some explaining and demonstrating.]

I didn't say 'subtly' now did I? There's very little that's subtle about a punch. But you can minimize some of your tells of what you're going to do. You're also very good about bringing your arm back to your guard quickly.

[Moving back over and closer, he'll take a stance, and proceed to explain and demonstrate what he's talking about. Having her watch or mimic him--as it's mostly about practice, but also it's in the shoulders. It's more in 'how' one moves. Some of it is speed yes--but she knew he was faster and that wasn't what he was focusing on.]