Let's Train in 100 Times Gravity

[shineinside]

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.

Comments

[prettypurpleparlor]

I sincerely wish I knew.

[She sighs briefly.]

The trouble is that there's just not enough solid truth for us to be certain of anything- I can make plenty of guesses, but there's no way for me to confirm any of them yet. Though I'm beginning to wonder...

Well, this really is just another guess, but I wonder if the aim is to challenge us. We aren't meant to lose, because there wouldn't be any point if we didn't have the chance to win, but they won't guarantee us a win either. So they make it just hard enough that we can't be certain of winning, but not so hard that we don't have a chance at all. Whoever 'they' are.

[unpurify]

[Muffet has a point. The both of them could 'what if?' until they were blue in the face but not get anywhere. But it's hard not to wonder. Especially for the Batter, who still has a problem existing without a purpose. Aimless wandering wasn't something he was used to.]

The Storyteller said this was another part of our story. For better or for worse.

[Worse in his case, but the Batter still has to continue.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

I have hopes that we can make something better out of it, though I admit it's not a guarantee. But I intend to keep trying.

[unpurify]

["But I intend to keep trying." The Batter has heard that many times before. He's not sure how to apply it to himself yet. It's...hard to think of sometimes.]

Hopefully.

[It's the best thing he can say.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet smiles gently, in sympathy.]

I admit sometimes it's easier to say than achieve. But we are making progress, however small- look at how much everyone's supporting each other to prepare for the next disaster, instead of trying to deal with it all on their own.

[unpurify]

True.

[The Batter still isn't optimistic but he can't deny that. Rather then acting alone or running around like chickens with their heads cut off, they all calmly decided to work together, pool everything they had into surviving one more night together.

He wonders if that's what 'continuing' is supposed to mean.]

They are all trying.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Precisely- and we can achieve far more working together than we could alone. The more we come to assist each other, the better everyone's chances.

[One more night, then one more day, then one more week or month or year. Muffet knows the value of a community from her long efforts to organize her fellow monsters for spiderkind, and she'll never discount its importance.]

[unpurify]

[The Batter himself has zero experience in the value of community but he can see the benefits of it.

One more day. Just to live one more day.]

It is good. I hope it's enough.

[prettypurpleparlor]

As do I.

[Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...]

You know, it occurs to me that even though we spoke at the party, I never asked your name- my apologies for the lapse.

[unpurify]

[That's not on Muffet. The Batter tends not to give his name out unless someone asks. Old habits.]

I am the Batter. I don't think I know your name either.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Look, she's a spider with standards, okay? She doesn't want to be rude.]

My name is Muffet. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Batter.

[It sounds a bit more like a title than a name, to her, but she's not going to judge another world's culture.]

[unpurify]

[And the Batter is...working on being less rude. It's very much a work in progress.]

Same.

[Nailed it.]

Probably can wrap this here.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Hey, she's seen way worse, it's a good start.]