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From the name she'd gotten from the database after looking into Zippeite she'd honestly expected a girl. Cassidy was, classically, a girls name. So it had come as a bit of a surprise when she'd contacted the other captain and realized she was dealing with a young man, rather then the young woman she'd been expecting.

In the long run that really didn't make a whole lot of difference, not for this. Gender meant very little on the battle field, she was proof enough of that.

So she waited in the lobby of the gym she worked at. Arms folded over the counter as she engaged Gus in a casual discussion over the merits or pop in today's music scene. He was a firm believe in classic rock, but he seemed receptive enough of her argument that there were some very insightful lyrics in some of music she favored to listen to.

The sound of the bell above the door alerted the teen to the arrival someone to the gym, and she flicked her eyes up towards the young man that had just entered. It was probably Cass, and she gave him a smile and a nod in greeting before shooting a Gus a last razzing comment before smacking him on the shoulder and turning around to address Cassidy properly. If she noticed his staring she didn't comment on it, and instead held her hand out for a shake. "Hi, I'm Porsha, you must be Cass."

Touching his shoulder, she gave him a nudge towards the arch of a doorway that led into the gym proper. "Thanks for coming. I've been pretty pleased with how many people actually seem to be showing interest in learning how to fight properly." As much as she liked to pretend everyone was a die-hard soldier, she knew that to be false. But she would do her part to make sure those that wanted to fight had the proper tools.

"So you've got some fighting experience, is that right?"

carneli

"That was the aim. I'm just glad so many of our comrades are interested in improving." More then she'd anticipated. She was going to have to rework her initial plans a little to accommodate so many interested people. Which was perfectly alright.

She nodded as he went over his past experiences and the prolonged down 'off' period. Even if it had been a while, he at least had some idea of what he was doing, Disuse could make you rusty, but you never quite forgot. It was like riding a bike.

"This?" She blinked down at her attire. Capri yogo pants, a dark tank top, and a loose fitting t-shirt over top. She wasn't strictly dressed for training, but her clothing was light and easy to move in. Fighting in civilian form for Porsha was just as natural as fighting while powered up. There was no real difference in it as far as she was concerned, but fighting was a part of her life. It was what she did, who she was.

Porsha was watching him, a smile playing on her lips that was some how both amused and patient, and it grew into a grin as he finished his train of thought. "That can come later, but since we have access to a gym with it's own boxing ring as training equipment, we might as well take advantage of it, right?"

Reaching up, she gave his shoulder a soft pat as she moved past him and towards the ring in question. Slipping up so she could sit on the edge with her arms folded cross the bottom rope. "We start with you doing some stretching to limber up, then climbing into the ring so I can see where you stand skill wise." Her chin lowered to rest on her folded arms, and she kicked her feet out, heels smacking into the side of the boxing ring. "From there we'll work on drills and expanding your know how. I'll show you some new stuff, teach you how to react to various frontal assaults, and then we'll go out and test them for real with powers."

One small hand lifted from her opposite bicep and she pointed a finger towards a bench surrounded by mats. "So get to stretching." Considering he'd said he was familiar with the basics, she thought it was safe to assume he knew how to properly stretch out.

His reluctance to stretch was met with an indulgent smile, but she didn't say anything. Stretching was important, it kept you limber, protected your muscles and your joints from unwanted wear and strain.

As he stretched she watched him, ready to correct him if she saw something in need of it, but despite his reluctance it looked like he knew what he was doing. It earned him a nod of approval before his question had her grinning at him, "I've been boxing and doing various martial arts since I was ten. It's what I do." Unfolding her arms she gave the old ring a fond pat. "It's my job. I work here as an instructor." It was why she was doing all this, why she'd felt qualified.

Leaning back on her palms, she continued rapping her heels against the side of the ring as he did his stretches. "I even do some MMA fighting in local competitions, though I'm aiming for nationals." Outside of her duties within the Negaverse, earning herself a champion title was one of Po's fondest ambitions.

Porsha chuckled at the young man's reaction to her varied past experiences with fighting. She supposed, from an outside point of view, that her resume for this sort of thing was rather impressive. It had been what had drawn the Negaverse to her in the first place. Painite had seen her potential, and as a soldier of chaos Xenotime worked diligently to prove her worth.

As he finished his stretching and approached the girl got to her feet, bouncing on her toes on the cushioned surface of the worn out ring. "If you're ready, climb on up and we'll get started."

She'd wait for him to join her, then fall back into an obvious ready crouch, grinning impishly, then bent her fingers in a universal 'come hither'. "Now show me what you got while I defend. Don't worry about hurting me, I know how to take a hit." She wasn't sure if he'd be able to land a solid blow anywhere vulnerable, but she definitely didn't want him to hesitate.

A small nod was offered as the young man retained some of that reluctance, but he needed no further verbal prompting, just a moment to gather himself before coming towards her.

He was hesitant though, and either doubted himself, or her? The jab aimed at her elbow was weak, and she rolled back to avoid it, brows arching in obvious question as she looked back at him. "Seriously, you won't hurt me. Even if you land blows, I'm not fragile, I won't break." She wondered if perhaps she was going to have take on a more aggressive role to bring out the fighter in him. It wouldn't be the first time. A lot of people didn't walk through life like a powder keg ready to explode. Violence was not a hobby for the majority of destiny city, it was a thing to be defended against, or a means to an ends.

For Porsha it was fun. She enjoyed fighting, she enjoyed the brutality of it it and the utter abandon. Cass didn't look like he was having fun.

"Would you rather switch roles and defend?" Whatever helped him get in the proper mindset.

She'd take him at his word, nodding and sliding back into that ready posture. Waiting for him to gather his will, or courage, or resolve. Whatever it is he needed to do to be able to do what she was asking over him. When he swung at her again it was better, not as hesitant though she suspected he was still holding something back. Still, progress was progress.

A hand came up to cup the first fist as it came her way, and she pushed it down and to the side, redirecting his attack and letting momentum continue to carry him forward. The second punch struck her in the shoulder, and it was a much more solid hit, but she'd roll with it, let the force carry his arm past her, and with both his hands taken care of she brought her right arm around to aim a strike for his side.

But this wasn't about winning right now, and she'd open her hand at the last second, hitting with just her palm and the spread of her fingers. Forcing him back, demonstrating how someone could exploit the small opening he'd created, but not hurting him. "Better." She fell back into that easy crouch, hands up, loose and ready. "Keep going."