lifeaftr | Let's Train in 100 Times Gravity

Who: Anyone who wants to come by! Tag in, thread with Yuka, thread with each other, whatever you want.
What: Combat training/practice.
When: Sunset, each night for a week minimum.
Where: East end of Islet 1.
Warnings: Possible blood if things get out of hand, implied 80s training montage songs

Yuka chose this location because the ground was level, there was enough space for people to move around, and nobody was really using it for anything else. No wild beasts, no fish people to disturb, no strange psychological effects... the ideal place for people to gather for an hour or two and get some good-natured fighting in. The snow on the ground wasn't ideal, she supposed, but that stuff was everywhere, so they'd just have to make do. It'd probably be snowing during the invasion, anyway.

Each evening, as the sun inched towards the horizon, Yuka set her other tasks aside to come out and wait. Jug of wassail sitting at the edge of the space, bundled in warm clothes and scarves, Yuka paced, wondering if this was really going to be worth the time. Are there people willing to spend that much time to train others when there's so much else that needs doing? Can someone even learn enough to make a difference in this little time? For that matter, are these shadow monsters something you can even fight with your fists? If nothing else, it would be good to do some physical activity in just to get her mind to stop going in circles.

For those who arrived early, there would be less to do, but even just talking through what different fighting skills people had would be useful for later on. Once more people arrived, those who use similar weapons could work together, and those with more combat experience could work with those with less. Or, people who know each other or are curious about each other's abilities could seek each other out for a sparring match.

So: Fight, teach, learn, take breaks, drink, chat. Bring your own wassail if you can - Yuka's can only stretch so far.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

While she waited for more people to arrive, Yuka felt like she should do something to get ready, but honestly didn't have much idea of where to start. The problem with superpowers is that they don't come up classes to get you up to speed on the basics, she just kind of figured it out as she went along. So, she focused on the one new thing she knew she had to worry about - her limited strength.

Thus, for the early part of the evening, Yuka could be found doing something not unlike shadow boxing - just throwing punches and kicks at the air, trying to get a better feel for what she was capable of without using her powers. She could tell she was physically weaker like this than she was in her old body, but even so, learning her limitations in this form could save her life later. Occasionally, she'd put her full strength into a punch, sending a shockwave of force through the air that briefly split the falling snow.

This would probably be more productive with a sparring partner.

Clap clap clap clap! That comes from Mickey, who's clearly impressed.

"Nice moves there, Yuka!"

Ah, it's Mickey, a Certified Friend.

"Thanks... but I'm still basically just figuring out how to fight as I go. I'm only able to win by using magic to increase my strength..."

"But even that's incredible!" Mickey says with his fists pumped. "Not everyone can do that... So you should be really proud of yourself!"

"It's just an ability I happened to get my chance..." Or was it? Wasn't it her strong desire to change that made her eligible to become a Reflector in the first place? Never mind, save the semantic arguments for later.

"I'd rather be proud of something I worked hard to accomplish. I guess that's why I set this up - I want to fight to protect everyone when the sun falls."

Mickey nods a little in understanding. "... And we'll be stronger with you by our side. I know we can count on you. So keep up that confidence, okay?"

"I'll try." For Kyouko's sake, she'll do her best to keep believing in herself.

"Still, though, I'm a little surprised to see you here. Are you a fighter?"

"That's right!" He says with pride, a thumb to his chest. "I'm a musketeer, after all!"

"A musketeer? So, you use guns?!" That doesn't fit his image at all!

[Well, actually... Er, I mean, Mickey blinks in confusion.]

What? No, we use swords!

[And he pulls out his own so she can see.]

Oh, okay. [Wait, why does that seem better?]

It shouldn't be too hard to get some practice in. I think we have a good number of sword users around.

We sure do! Swords are some of the best weapons, around after all! They're really cool!

Unfortunately, I don't have a clue how to use one. If I get in a fight on my own, all I can do is punch things. [Pretty hard, though.]

Aw, it's not that hard! And sometimes fisticuffs are better, depending on the situation. I'm not really good at punching, myself.

It would definitely be more productive with a sparring partner. Here's one, just calmly stepping into the circle of Yuka's shadowboxing without a word and making a classic 'come at me' gesture. Asch is decent at hand-to-hand, but not great, and a bit out of practice to boot.

C'mon, Yuka, you can hit him, right?

Asch, is it? She knows a little of his past, so she knows that he'll definitely know his way around a fight. She's also never seen him use any special abilities, though, so she keeps her super strength switched off for the moment.

Without her abilities as a Reflector, her strength and speed are nothing special, but she has decent instincts from all the battles she's fought in the Imaginaerium. After a moment's hesitation, she dashes forward for a direct attack, throwing the first punch.

As she might have predicted, Asch knows his way around a fight, even without the use of the sword that hangs at his side under the coat he's borrowed from Ardyn. With the extra layers in place, he has no problem at all blocking her punch with one forearm without flinching.

And then he'll cut in closer and attempt to bring his elbow down on her shoulder.

Fighting humans is very different from fighting monsters. Most of what she's used to dealing with is much larger and clumsier - leaping out of the way of slow smashes, delivering straightforward attacks with maximum power. A human, though, can react and fight with much more complex movements.

So, if he attacks like that, then she should... her thoughts don't move fast enough, and she lets out a small grunt when Asch's attack connects. She staggers a few steps back before regaining her footing, already on the defensive.

And especially a person who is just as used to fighting other humans as monsters - Asch smiles faintly as he closes in after her, aiming a punch for her stomach. If she fails to block or dodge, it's obvious that he's pulling the blow, because it's just a gentle tap instead of something that would completely wind her.

She lacks experience, but her reflexes are still good. She reacts quickly as Asch closes in, blocking with crossed arms - if it wasn't a pulled punch, it still would have knocked her back a step or two.

Sensing a chance to regain her lost momentum, Yuka presses forward with a roundhouse kick, hoping to either land a hit or force him to fall back.

Let's Train in 100 Times Gravity

Yuka's own toplevel

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shimmies in late

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