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 Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:27 pm
Tommy lets out a soft chuckle at that. "Nah I'm no musician...well, I mean...I play...er...played the piano for most of my life. Nah, I'm just trying to get some dexterity...back...into um...yeah, into my hands..." The cadet seems a bit uncomfortable at this, whether outright speaking of his hands or of the sheet music is debatable.
Tommy stares at his hand a moment before blinking and shaking his head. Imediately his amiable grin is back, "But yeah, it's nice to meet you Ambrose. I take it you've been here...for...goddamn, quite a while, huh?" He asks as he looks over the wolf-man.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:31 pm
While he listened, he helped himself to a couple of hamburgers - making quick work of them with his large mouth.
At the reference to his hands, Ambrose took it as an unspoken invitation and with a wince, he glanced down to his distended fingers for a closer look.
Finally nodding and swallowing before speaking.
"I'm... sorry about your hands. Do you know what it is you're becoming to have fingers like that? I ... I think one of my biggest fears was that I'd lose my own hands." He spread them to illustrate the point.
"And yes... I suppose it's pretty obvious which people have been here a while, huh? But... yes, it's been just about... a year now. Supposedly, I'm 'done'. And I hope to God that that's the case."
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:35 pm
"Goddamn...a year...in a year they can do...all this," Tommy shakes his head in horrified amazement.
"Heh, don't be sorry, man...you're not the one doing it...but yeah...from the way it looks, I'm more than likely going to lose them...completely. I'm ah...I'm becoming a bat..." Tommy pauses a moment, always finding this the most difficult thing to say, "A vampire bat..."
He chuckles some, though there's no humor left there, "Now I'm just hoping that b*****d Sabin gets me my electric piano before...well...something else happens..." he trails off at that.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:40 pm
"I know how you feel." Ambrose chimed in. "After my first change I didn't see how it could physically get any worse. I mean... it seems impossible. I was the first one on the island to change, and so... I couldn't dream that this sort of thing was ever possible." He shook his head with a sigh.
At least the conversation was going relatively well - there was always the paranoia that was assoicated with going out after a change. And here he was, meeting someone new that was speaking to him like a normal human being. well, perhaps not 'new' - he had already been through a change himself, but still. At least he was still recognizable as having once been human. He still had his face.
"A bat.... ouch. That's... rough. I knew someone before who was becoming a bat - albeit I don't think one of the vampiric persuasion. She had been an artist, too. After her first change her fingers were pretty distended too. But for a while she was able to work with clay, and eventually she thought she might be able to work with her feet. She had done some research and apparently bats have pretty flexible toes.... to hang by the ceiling, I suppose." The corner of his mouth lifted in an attempt at cheering the man.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:48 pm
Tommy, the master of internalization.
.oO(The first to change...so this place has only been open for a year now? Keep in mind Tommy, they couldn't have thought of everything yet.)
"Well, I'll tell you one thing...these V8's are getting old fast," Tommy says with a mock shudder. At Ambrose's comment on flexible toes and hanging by ceilings, he begins laughing.
"Hah! Goddamn, I can just see myself now...hanging from the celing of my room..." he trails off with a grin. .oO(That's right, Tommy, make it a joke. Make it seem as unreal as you want it to be. It'll go down easier)
"But yeah, even if that happens...well, it'd be more than awkward to play with my feet...Or fence..." Tommy looks down at this last part, suddenly depressed. It's been a while since he's picked up a foil. Last time was back in May right before his team broke for the summer. He gives a sigh at this.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:52 pm
Ambrose nodded at the drink, going through more of his helping of food.
"I can imagine.... is there anything else you can eat? I mean... I take it a burger or hotdog doesn't sound appealing? Or are you a vegeterian..?" Ambrose had heard of more than one occasion of a vegeterian given a rather carnivorous serum. Perhaps that was the case here and he was going for the closest equivalent.
Ambrose's eyes lit up and his head snapped up at the mention of fencing, coughing a bit as he had been taking a drink of water. "Fence? You fence?" His ears pricked and tail rose excitedly.
Hell, maybe he wasn't cut out for it nearly as well anymore, but... damn if he wouldn't try. Maybe he could even somehow figure out to use his... changes to his advantage... somehow?
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:59 pm
"Well, I dunno really. Nothing solid I eat stays down for long, if you know what I mean...vegeterian? Heh...hell no. God...what I wouldn't do now for a filet cooked black 'n blue right about now...but anyway, yeah, it's the only thing I can keep down easily. I haven't seen any smoothies around here."
He glances around the chow hall, wondering if he may have missed one when he notices Ambrose's excitement. He can't help but grin at the expressionfull extremeties Ambrose now had.
"Well...yeah, I fenced on the IC team back at the Air Force Academy. I did foil mostly." He nods a couple time before his thoughts began to wander. .oO(I wonder...nah...but...could I? I mean...my palm didn't change all that much. It'd depend if it's a pistol or french grip...but...*sigh* who am I kidding? Who here would even have the basics for fencing?)
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:04 pm
"Well, maybe you could... well, it would probably taste rather strange at the very least, but ask Delia ... she's the lunch lady... if she's got a blender. You could puree a steak or something and drink it?" He shrugged with a smile.
"And really? Not just a hobbyist, but actually competed?" Ambrose's enthusiasm was raising by the moment. "I was on the fencing team at University of Massachusettes at Amhurst. I was... well, I was hoping to make it to the Olympics some day... but... obvious complacations." He looked to Tommy's hands again, considering. "Figures, though, you're a foil fencer? I was ... well... am? Epee. The only other person I met on the island who ever fenced was sabre. It's a conspiracy, I'm sure." He sighed, but was well aware of the still-existing glimmer of chance.
"I was teaching a few people the basics... but it's not quite the same as the rush of competition."
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:11 pm
Tommy nods and makes a mental note to get something tastier to drink...maybe not a puree'd steak...but maybe a protein drink.
"Yeah...I don't think I was quite Olympic quality," he says with a modest grin, "But nah, it's the only sport I truly enjoy doing."
Tommy chuckles when he hears of Ambrose's style, "Goddamn, yeah...that figures, eh? But hell, I mean, overall they're not too different. But I just know epee's going to screw with my timing," He says, still laughing, as if he had to worry about such things like that anymore.
"But..." he seems hesitant, hoping it wasn't too good to hope for, "Do you...have equipment?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:16 pm
"Well, I wasn't either to be perfectly honest.... at least not yet. But I was on my way... at least that's what the coach said. I had hopes...." He waved his hand, not wanting to go down that road right then. IT always led to morose thoughts about what could have been.
"It's enough that could likely be overcome. Greer, she was the other fencer, last I saw was quite avian, and I didn't have the heart to even ask her if she thought she might be able to pick up a sword."
He held up a finger. "But, speaking of... I do, as a matter of fact. Epee equipment at least. I brought my own gear with me when I came, intending on practicing during my 'two week medical study'. But I got some more from the labs in the hopes of practicing with others. But like I said, there hasn't been a lot of other interest."
He paused, glancing down his snout. "But... I don't know how well I could wear a mask.... I haven't since.... months and months ago. Since then I've just been teaching and haven't needed it, or working on point control or footwork drills." His ears laid back against his head. How in the hell could he compete when the mask wouldn't fit around his muzzle anymore. "Hell, even the jacket wouldn't fit me anymore now."
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:25 pm
Tommy let a glimmer of happiness enter his poisoned soul for a moment as he heard Ambrose had equipment. He literally beamed. His mind began to race, trying to think of a way to make it work.
"Hah! Yeah...hmm...well, see the one thing we learn at the Academy is how to be a bullshit artist. All we have to do is improvise, you know? It doesn't have to be perfect...there's no US Fencing Association to black card us if we don't have the right equipment..." Tommy looks over Ambrose for a moment, particularly his muzzled face.
"Alright...well...the main thing masks do is protect the eyes. That's easily solved, just get some goggles of some sort. Or hell, even glasses. But that nose of yours looks like it'd be sensitive...and let's face it, it would be pretty damn uncomfortable to have a long metal stick shoved up there...hmm...well, jacket we don't really have to worry about if it's dry fencing and even less so if we're doing Epee..." He trails off in thought, gears turning so that he may be able to enjoy something he loved back home.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:33 pm
His ears perked as the gears in Tommy's head began to turn and he began to think out loud.
"You know... I bet you're right - we could make this work... one way or another. And we don't have to stick with regulations, though yes - I would prefer NOT having to deal with even a tipped epee up my nose.. or down the back of my throat." He quirked a smile.
"As demeaning as it would be.. I wonder if we could get some sort of muzzle or something... work some of the wire mesh around the edge for protection along with goggles like you spoke of. But no, I don't think I'd have to worry too much at taking a blow anywhere else.... save for... well, I've already got a cup that shouldn't need much if any altercation." He grinned.
"Still, I wish we had met last week, if not sooner when it I was... better built for fencing. But, I suppose that my wider chest will be a fitting handicap..." Ambrose sighed. He would be so much more of a target now. Positioning onesself sideways to ones opponent was supposed to reduce their target area, not increase it as Ambrose was apt to do now. His tail would be sticking out like a flag, too. IF that would even be a legal hit. Though technically epee fencing had the whole body as a target, why not an extra body part?
But his arms were longer... his reach would be longer as well. And he knew he was quicker... even upright. Maybe it wouldn't balance out too horribly.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:40 pm
Tommy grins a bit, the thought of a werewolf being brought down by an epee tip up the nose. And for once, he didn't bash the thought back into his mind. It was so rediculous, that it couldn't not be enjoyed. A bat-man and a werewolf, completely decked out in fencing gear, lunging at eachother as if there wasn't anything strange or horrible about it.
"Heh...same here, man...well...what, two weeks ago? Then I'd still have hands that'd actually work well. Actually, that brings me to my next question: you carry pistol grips I'm guessing, right? I think I could get my hands around one of those..." He began to think of his own handicapps he may have to overcome. He would have to train his footwork to fit his new feet...and his hands...well...as long as he can grip it, he'll be fine.
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:44 pm
He nodded. "Yes, the epees I have are pistol-grip... which.... I bet you could manage." He finished encouragingly. This just might work! He might actually have his first honest to god fencing match in about a year! Man... he was out of practice. But so what, it was a chance!
He slid his tray, now empty, aside and propped his head up on the table with a hand. "So.... we just need to be able to modify some equipment... and we should be good to go. How familiar are you with epee style?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:50 pm
Tommy leans back in thought, crossing his hands behind him to make a headrest. Though that must be a sight, with the long fingers sticking out of either side of his head.
"Hmm...well, the only other style I've tried before is saber...I've only actually seen epee in action. Though a bunch of my friends are constantly trying to convert me over," he grins at this, "so I know mostly how it works."
"Tell me if I mess anything up: The whole body's the target, not just the torso...there's no right of way, so I'm going to have to get used to that...and from what I've seen, it's a bit slower than foil. You seem to use tactics and logic much more."
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