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 Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:53 pm
Zircon had always thought herself the victim when it came to combating the senshi. It wasn't her fault that she'd been given paper airplanes of all things to fight with, and all things considered she'd landed a few blows in her time. But at some point, the 24-year-old had to face facts. She had more scars than she could count, and after three years, she had yet to secure a senshi's starseed, much less obtain her own captaincy. Surely she was a joke amongst her peers, an example of what not to strive to be. Of course, she knew she'd been helpful in her own way, for her students and in her research. But the fact remained that she wanted, no, needed to do more for her faction, and once she stopped trying to blame outside factors and let herself admit that she was the one who needed to change first, the rest seemed to fall into place.
She'd been sporadically in touch with a captain who had been recommended to her for possessing a similar skill set in terms of combat, and after a few touch and go messages they agreed to meet at some abandoned warehouse out on the edge of town. Suri wasn't a huge fan of fighting in an area where senshi could sense them and go on the offensive, but she was even less of a fan of having to ask for rides into the Rift. It was perhaps the most humiliating part of being a lieutenant, after the general incompetence.
Suri drove her car to an inconspicuous parking garage a few miles away from the agreed-upon destination, taking the rooftop express the rest of the way in her powered form. She lamented that her phone's GPS didn't have an 'over the city' option, but the place was easy enough to find, and she'd given herself about fifteen extra minutes to arrive in case she got lost. After all, she'd never met the Captain, but there was no way of knowing how much of a stickler he was for timeliness.
When she arrived at the empty warehouse, she first did a quick scan of the perimeter, making sure she couldn't feel any senshi around. With that in mind, she bounded up to one of the smashed-in windows, peering inside the dusty interior. After a cursory glance, she maneuvered her way in between the jagged fangs of broken glass, jumping down to the floor below with a well-placed thud. She gave her eyes a moment to adjust to the surroundings, then walked to the middle of the warehouse floor, choosing to stand stiffly in the darkness while she waited. All the while, she kept her wits about her, every so often glancing at dark corners or shadowed doorways. Perhaps her tutor was already here, perhaps this was a test. With the Negaverse, you could never be quite sure.
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Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2013 6:05 pm
As a solider in the spec-ops branch of the negaverse, Captain Labyrinthite was no stranger to battles and brawling. It was an aspect he excelled in and one in which he trained dutifully for. Though his body was lean and he was not built, the young man had a clearly defined muscle structure. Countless hours sparring with fellow spec-op agents, senshi and numerous hours at the gym kept him in prime fighting condition.
With the exception of visible bags beneath his eyes, an ill-affect of insomnia, and lingering malnutrition the soldier was at his healthiest.
When Zircon reached out to him, after a recommendation, he was elated to take responsibility for her combat training. With the full knowledge of how lethal the right senshi could be (he hadn't forgotten the duel that left him in the hospital for weeks) he took pride in his ability to aid others so they would not suffer the same fate. Though he could be brash and a bit blunt, Labyrinthite always had his fellow agent's best interesting in mind. He wished to turn all of them into better soldiers, better fighters; to craft them into more cunning individuals who could anticipate their opponent's next move, to shift from predictable to unpredictable and ultimately into the force that could drive the invaders away.
Labyrinthite had grown far too weary of the perpetual stalemate Chaos and Order had become locked in.
What better way than to strengthen their army's ability?
So he waited for the lieutenant to arrive at the warehouse having arrived thirty minutes prior to ensure there would be proper practice space. He sat, perched on the ceiling's rafters, with his arms resting on his knees in his civilian form. Bright gold eyes were gliding across the walls until she entered. A slight smirk slid across his lips as he rose, carefully, teetering on the balls of his feet while he peered down at her.
It happened quickly, his sudden power up and the spike in an energy signature. He descended without hesitation, weapon materializing in his hand as though it was second nature. He landed behind her, the soles of his boots making the slightest tapping sound. He brought his arm up and hooked it so it would rest before her, the bladed side of his scythe pointed towards her as he leaned forward. "Lieutenant Zircon I presume?" He whispered.
He wanted to see how she would react and how quickly.Fallen_kitsune_thief If you need me to adjust anything, please let me know. He's mostly just testing her reflexes and I have no qualms about her retaliating!
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Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 8:19 pm
The presence of Chaos was a familiar one, something safe and comfortable, and so when it popped into existence Zircon's first instinct was not danger, but relief. By the time she remembered that she was supposed to be on high alert for traps, she could already hear the clicking of heels on pavement, and knew that if it had been the enemy, she would be dead right now.
Nevertheless, the startled lieutenant spun in place, arms up and in a defensive posture. The first thing she caught eye of was the vicious gleam of a curved blade, and with a widened stare she hopped backwards, none too eager for an early demonstration. "You'd be correct, sir," she answered after a bewildered pause, looking past the weapon to the lanky captain behind it. Slowly, she began to lower her arms, taking quick notes of his build. He looked tired, which meant that his otherwise superior senses might be dulled, but then again, he had reach on her by miles, which meant in sparring she would have to get close--but how, with that scythe in between them? He certainly looked like he knew how to use it.
Zircon was beginning to question if she had gone in over her head.
"So how does this work?" called out the lieutenant, who ultimately decided it would be a better idea if she kept her arms at least halfway to protecting her face. Each Captain had a unique method of training, and she couldn't count on expecting anything cordial. For now, it was best if she kept her defenses up.
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Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:45 am
He had seen her relax, briefly, and it made him shake his head slightly. "Just because the presence seems friendly does not mean it is," he scolded, tongue clucking against the roof of his mouth. His arm lowered, as did his blade, and his bright amber eyes assessed her quietly. He watched her spin, gaze flickering over to his scythe then back at him and he offered a slight smirk of amusement. "I am Captain Labyrinthite, as I assume you already know," he introduced himself, taking a brief moment to do a slight bow in greeting.
He stared at her for a moment, unblinking as she spoke. "It's subjective," he stated, shrugging, "on what you want to learn." He had specific methods he would employ but their method of conversation had been spotty at best, so he wanted clarity on what she needed. "Normally I would just start," he paused to circle her, slowly like a predator circled it's prey. "With a sparring session." It was the most common method he used, but he wanted this to be different. More...practical. Training with Sawyer showed that he needed to be more exact and that each session needed to focus on specific things.
"I trust you have a useless weapon," he said, though it came off like a question. He had been fortunate with his weapon, and it's current progression, because even when it was dull and plastic it could still be damaging. Sawyer had a piece of string, so Laby assumed that now lieutenants were equipped with even more useless weapons than before. "So," he paused, halting in his circling before her. "You're probably using your body, legs and fists, to fight which means you likely need hand to hand combat training."
He felt as though he had assessed her fully. She appeared to be in shape, healthy and alert but still so very naive. Still, he saw potential in her and he wanted to exploit it fully.
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Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:21 am
As Labyrinthite moved, Zircon followed suit, turning her body with his gait so that she'd be facing him at all times. To leave her back exposed was to show him disrespect, and the lieutenant certainly respected the hell out of that scythe. Her jacket might have been sturdy leather, but it wasn't going to hold back the edge of a blade.
"Correct again, sir," she responded, and with a twist of an upward palm she revealed a single paper airplane from its little niche in Negaspace. She popped the other one into existence in her second hand, glancing for a moment at the familiar useless things before returning her steady gaze to the Captain. "I usually don't summon them at all, except as a diversionary tactic. Typically I try to get in close, knock them off balance, get them on the ground."
She paused, trying to word her needs as precisely as possible. "I think hand-to-hand is essential, because it's what I'll use the most, but the senshi aren't our only threat. We have Knights to contend with as well, and they're armed as well as ourselves." The two factions had quite a bit in common, she bitterly conceded, but now was not the place for such sentiments. "What I mean to say is, most of the fighting I've been doing has been from a disadvantage, so it's probably best if I train under those circumstances as well."
Was she setting herself up for a world of hurt? Probably, but it should be the best in the long run. If she survived. Probably.
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:25 pm
"Ambushes will be your ally, as well as grapples and holds. Most don't know how to react when thrown --and kept-- on the ground," he replied, observing the paper plane with a cold smile. He never understood why they were so ill-equipped. They were fighting a war against magic and until captaincy, most soldiers were at a disadvantage. He had been, technically speaking, though he had some fighting experience, but it had been from street brawls. Nothing fancy, just punches and kicks thrown here and there and being lucky enough to land a solid on.
Since then, he'd stepped up his game. Sought out training from all the experienced soldiers he could get, learned to skillfully use his scythe--an unusual weapon many lacked experience with-- and spent countless hours building muscle and staying in shape. He refused to return to the days of stumbling around blindly without purpose or ability and now, wished to spread what he knew to any willing to listen.
"I will warn you now, once and only once, that I will not go easy on you. Period. I do not hold back," he informed her, words cold and calculated. He was not heartless, it was not without purpose. "Because they will not hold back. When it comes down to your life or theirs," he paused to make sure she understood the gravity of his words, "it must always be yours." Hers or her allies. "If you wanted easy, or someone to hold your hand through all the steps then you came to the wrong person." He stepped towards her so only a yard or two remained between them. One foot slid back and his hands shifted to hover above his body. "But if you want to explore your potential and push your limits, then you've picked well. If you opt to stay, then I will come at you and expect you to block as needed and strike in openings created. As we go I will point out what you're doing wrong and correct it." He paused to let it all sink in. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled, gold eyes fixated upon her.
"Are you ready?"Fallen_kitsune_thief I'm really sorry about the delay, work's kept me busy!
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AMItotic rolled 0-sided dice:
Total: 0 (-0)
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:30 pm
Zircon's posture never relaxed, but she let the Captain speak, taking in his words carefully with a cautious gaze. She'd seen that cool facade on other officers, but she was experienced enough to know that it could snap at any moment, and so she continued to treat his presence like the threat that it was.
"I understand, sir," said the lieutenant as she crouched down into her stance. As he approached, her initial reaction was to stiffen, but with a willful exhale she forced herself to stay pliant, ready to jump if he decided to swing. Her amber eyes met his gaze, determined and unwavering.
Despite herself, she allowed her lips to curl into the smallest of smiles, if only to alleviate the flutters in her gut. "To be honest, anyone who wants it easy doesn't deserve to put on the uniform anyway." She took a moment to breathe, to adjust her step. "I am ready."Nuxaz I am so so so sorry! Christmas time was really busy, and it took me a while to get all caught up. What I'm doing is rolling a dice to see how good Zircon's defenses are. The lower the number, the bigger the blind side/open flank/stiff area she has for Laby to exploit. Feel free to rough her up! smile
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AMItotic rolled 1 6-sided dice:
6
Total: 6 (1-6)
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Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:31 pm
((wtf dice I just want to roll you >>))
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Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:37 pm
Already, Captain Labyrinthite could tell that he liked Zircon. Her spoken views, whether she believed them or not, coincided with his neatly and he hoped that this first session would lead to numerous more. He regarded her with minor amusement, the slightest of smirks curling at the edge of his lips, then moved without warning.
He shifted the weight in his feet so his body was angled away from her, shoulder pointing towards her chest, and thrust an elbow out while allowing the shaft of his weapon slide in his hand. He tightened his grip only when his palm neared the dark blade. Between the elbow and the base of the scythe's staff, it seemed that he was intent on slamming one into her chest.
He didn't wait to see if she would effectively dodge or block, instead he stepped forward and followed up with a side-kick.Fallen_kitsune_thief No worries, I don't mind!
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Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 6:08 pm
Zircon had to give it to him: Labyrinthite was fast, and he moved like his weapon was nothing more than a dangerous extension of his arms. The lieutenant would have mentally longed for that kind of synergy with her own weapon someday if she had been given time to think, but as it stood it took all of her brain power just to duck back from the rapidly advancing hilt. There was a bit of a stumble to her step, and it cost her when he moved for his second attack, barely shifting her balance away and further back. Her center teetered and she began to fall, but she made use of the momentum by turning it into a backwards tumble.
It was sloppy, but it got her out of harm's way for the moment, and once she sprung to her feet she began to bounce lightly on her toes, just out of what she perceived his reach to be. From there, the short lieutenant gave herself pause to strategize, her posture still defensive. It was hard to be the aggressor on someone who had such range, harder still when the objective was to get in her target's personal space for a pin. So for now, she kept her distance, watching the sway of his movements with a careful eye. Maybe she could catch a mistake, a weak point in his defenses, or catch him vulnerable after a powerful swing.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 4:54 pm
He had survived just over three years in the war from a mixture of ambition and determination. He worked tirelessly to prepare himself, mentally and physically, for all kinds of battle and strove to help others achieve the same. They were a team, a family and they stuck together(even if he absolutely despised some of his fellow agents).
He watched her movements closely, his gaze even and calculated as she tumbled back. The corners of his lips curled upward in an amused smirk when she stayed back, cautious. "Come now, you aren't just going to stay back are you?" He mocked, testing her reaction. If impulse got the better of her, his words would provoke an attack, if she remained level headed he would be impressed. "Pity," he feigned disappointment as he dashed forward, his hand still sitting right beneath the curved blade of his scythe.
Briefly he looked as though he was going to jab the base of the staff into her legs when he instead, spun on his heel sweeping out with his leg. A kick aimed to her jaw.
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:33 pm
If his taunting did anything to sting Zircon's pride, it showed only as a cautious stare, the lieutenant keeping her distance. "Can't afford to expend all my energy in one single attack," she responded, studying his features, the way he held his stance. There had to be weakness somewhere.
And then he was dashing and she lost the room to think, bounding backwards in an attempt to keep her distance. He was moving faster than she could react, however, and at some point she decided that a well-placed parry was a better move than to try and outrun everything he did. With an eye on his movements, she caught sight of the hit to her legs, committing fully to a jump out of the way. She was just beginning to congratulate herself on the well-planned dodge when she took the hit to her jaw, taking the full force of the blow.
With plenty of backwards momentum she was on the ground a moment later, hitting the concrete of the warehouse floor with an unceremonious thud. Unlike before, she didn't immediately jump to her feet, instead rolling backwards with a hand covering an angry red mark on her face. Her expression was twisted in pain, but with a grunt she shoved herself off of the floor and back into a fighting stance, her arms up near her head to block any similar attacks. She had to play defensive until her head stopped spinning, and then she would have to act fast.
Eyes on Labyrinthite, she began to shuffle around him, trying to mimic his earlier circling to let some of the tingling in her face subside. After a few seconds to settle her breathing, she searched for a section of his torso not directly protected by his blade, then rushed forward, swinging her arms back for a well-aimed punch to the gut. At the last second, she shifted her center of gravity lower, going for a sweep at his legs, but the motion felt jerky and considerably less well-planned. It was the cost for not looking at her actual target, and she could only hope the feint paid off.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:56 pm
Out of all his trainees, Zircon proved to be the most competent so far. She thought quick on her feet, but lacked the ability to properly predict her opponents actions. "Always be prepared for a follow-up or feint," he growled as she went flying backwards. It had been a fair attempt at dodging, but flawed.
He looked down at her, gaze harsh as she picked herself up. He moved forward slowly, like a predator taunting it's prey, and then he let her circle him, turning in place to keep his eyes on her. She came at him and his stance shifted, foot sliding back so that his body was turned slightly away from her. She aimed her punch and his hand twisted the shaft of his weapon to sweep under her wrist when she dropped low and kicked out.
The staff portion of his scythe caught only air, throwing his center of gravity off even as he pushed his palm into the end to force the back of the blade (the head of the flamingo) towards Zircon even as her legs connected with his forward foot and forced him into a position halfway between a split and a kneel. "Clever," he hissed, irritated because now he was vulnerable.
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:36 pm
Zircon had trained under many Captains in her time, each with their own approach to the breaking-in of lieutenants, and while she'd faced some with pacing like Labyrinthite's, she'd certainly never felt the need to fight for her life like this before. It wasn't the threat of dying that drove her: being a member of the Negaverse meant that the possibility was ever-present and almost mind numbing, if not panic-inducing. Labyrinthite didn't need to threaten her with oblivion because they had both felt its grip at some point or another, and because of that, he was treating her as equal, as a threat, which meant she had a chance to fight back, to take a risk, to win.
At the moment, her risk left her a tangle of limbs and weapon handles with the Captain, but it was better than a swift kick to the jaw. Zircon was quick to shake off the numbing sensation of 'holy s**t, that worked', blinking up at him from under the pommel of his scythe.
"Thought you might appreciate that," she positively purred, the flicker of fear slowly draining from her expression. Now that she had some measure of control, she pressed for more of an advantage, utilizing her tangled position to try and lob him off of his feet entirely. One hand grabbed him by the elbow as she twisted, using all of her torque to press downwards. If she could get him on the ground, it was game over.
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