Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was chilly when the sun went down but at least the days were slowly getting longer. No matter what the groundhog had predicted, soon winter would be over, it just might take a bit longer. But no matter how long the cold months were going to be in the future it didn’t help at that moment when it was just cold. Botein was glad that her uniform had fur worked into it, it wasn’t able to keep her toasty but it did help, and it made it possible for her to be comfy with just a simple winter jacket rather than layers and layers and layers. She also wore pants as part of her uniform, a total boon for Botein who would figure that others in skirts would be cold right about then. She had learned that little trick with the jacket, along with her bag, some time ago. It was one of the things she was taught before life had her leaving the city, she had just forgotten about it until it became pertinent once more.

But that was neither here nor there, all that mattered was that her jacket, while a little threadbear, was keeping her warm as she worked through the several self defense moves she was learning. It was hard to tell if she was doing it right but it was still better for her to practice whenever she was able to, whenever she was out patrolling and found some quiet time to work through her learned moves. So far she has been lucky not to have to use them. So far.

When she first knew she wasn’t alone she hesitated but it wasn’t long before a familiar figure had her finish her last move. It was one she had just learned so it was a lot choppier then the earlier blocks. It was also a lot harder to judge if the move was done correctly without an opponent. “General!” She happily waved and started to bounce over, quite literally, before coming to a stop a bit further out than she would have otherwise as her bright blue eyes took in the companion that General Painite had along with her. “Yup! The local Y is teaching a self defense class. It's not cheap but I figure it's worth it if only to make sure I can do something more than just duck and cover.” The petite woman shrugged and grinned sheepishly, remembering the first time they had met. That night, along with a later interaction with a corrupt senshi, was a real eye opener. She needed to focus on ways to protect herself. She just wasn’t very good at it yet.

“So, um, you have company tonight it seems,” She smiled at the male, waving tentatively. “Hello. I’m Botein.” Sadly a few short weeks ago she might have stuck her hand out for a shake, hell she would have given him a hug if it seemed like he was ok with personal space being violated, but that interaction with the corrupt really had shaken her rather badly. She was still working on it but it's a process. One she couldn’t rush.

Botein relaxed a bit when the Lieutenant, Ekanite, seemed to be as friendly, if not more so, then Painite. Her smile brightened markedly as she shifted closer to shake hands with the man. “Yeah, or at least I would like to think that we are friends. She really helped me out in a bind some time ago.” Now that had been a scary time, and a much closer call then she would have preferred that's for sure!

“I’m ok,” She blushed and looked away even as she absently fiddled with the edge of her uniform. The petite woman, even though she was fully grown at 21 felt like she was a kid standing in front of a parent who was waiting to hear the truth. “I just,” not knowing how to explain the mix of emotions shrugged and continued to explain. “I ran into a fellow who wasn’t so nice and it was scary… and gross. So very, very gross!” Botein made a ‘blech’ face and couldn’t help the urge to brush at the front of her uniform, as if that black goop was once again all over her. By the time she had run away that day the goo was all gone but it still haunted her dreams sometimes. That and The Nothing that she ran from when that glob of darkness hit her. “Blech, blech, blech!” she gave herself a few more shakes before focusing back on the here and now.

General Painite was her friend. She wouldn’t spit black goo at her, if she even could. Ekanite was a bit more of a mystery but if Ms. General said he was ok then Botein would take her word for it. “So what brings you guys out tonight? Out patrolling?”

“Oh yes! She was all Batman-ey and everything! Came swooping from out of the darkness to save my sorry tush when I got caught by some slobbering yoma. She went Wham, Pow, and Kachow before I could really figure out what was going on.” That hadn’t been quite the truth but for Botein it was close enough. Painite really had saved her from a tight corner and for that the younger woman would always be grateful. The strawberry blonde would have gone into more detail, regaling the young man with the wonders that was Painite that night when the person in question suggested that they spar a little bit.

It didn’t take her much at all to agree to the idea. It would be useful in a few different ways. First and foremost she would be able to practice with someone else. Secondly she would show Painite that she could take care of herself in a fight now. Prove that she wasn’t just a scaredy cat anymore. “Okdokie! And if it's just some scrapes or something I can always use my magic, and my First Aid skills, to help. Ooooh I also have some water and cookies that we can share after the spar.” Her backpack didn’t carry a whole bunch but it did have a few bottles of water, some girl scout cookies, a towel, and a small first aid kit. Everything that was useful for a night of patrolling.

Botein really was a bit more bubbly then a normal 21 year-old but there was no denying that she was friendly. With a wave she indicated to Ekanite come with her to the spot she had been practicing earlier. It was clearer than the tree line and they were less likely to twist something from hidden holes in the ground. “Ok, ready?” She asked once they were both in place. When given the confirmation the young woman did as she was taught in class and performed a bow of respect before settling into her stance. She waited a few moments for Ekanite to settle himself before she tried to strike first. “Ha,” the sound was all she made, more like a puff of air, as she performed a standard straight punch just the way she was taught in class.

“Girl Scout motto!” Botein informed her new friend. Be Prepared was a general motto for the youth organization but it also was something she, as a full grown adult… if a short adult, to always follow as well. It was useful when she was a Girl Scout and was still useful now. It was also another reason why she started to take self-defense classes, being a senshi was a general reason to learn to protect herself but generally knowing some things was also a good idea for a normal person. The few scuffles she had as Botein really impressed upon her to get better at it.

Following her class instructions she quickly retracted her arms and tucked them close, elbows down, fists up. A guard possession. One that according to the teacher helped protect the face as well as absorb any blows to the core, aka the gut in this instance. She took the blow with her elbow mostly, it stung but even she knew that it wasn’t as forceful as it could have been. Botein appreciated it. It was hard to explain scrapes and bruises to her friends in class and at work, at least ones that didn’t look like they had been made by being naturally clumsy.

With Ekanite’s punch ‘landed’ she followed through with the other half of the instructions she had learned. Botein pushed away the offending arm and stepped into Ekanite’s ‘zone’. She swung with her free hand, aiming at the head of her opponent, but like he had done for her Botein seriously curbed the force behind the strike. Truthfully her teacher always said to disengage from the fight, to escape, but when that wasn’t possible to take the opponent down hard and fast. She didn’t want to hurt Ekanite so she did her best to make sure any contact wouldn’t cause any pain.

“Oh I know” Botein practically bubbled. “There is this new one this year, well last year really but it was so popular that it was nearly impossible to get, called Aventurefuls. They are soooooo good! There is also the Raspberry Rally but they aren't really to my taste.” Thin Mints were her little indulgence, although the two boxes of Aventurfuls in her pantry made her rethink her stance on which cookie was the best. Either way it put a dent in her already tight budget but one just did not pass up frozen Thin Mints. It was just wrong!

Truthfully the young woman hated fighting but she hated getting hurt more, technically she hated others getting hurt more but if getting into a scrape puts others at risk then she needed to learn to fight. Her self defense instructor really does stress the ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ policy. Running is by far the best thing to do according to him. Fighting the last. At least he didn’t sugar coat anything and was doing his best to teach the class how to stop an aggressor. She had a feeling it was all rudimentary but it was still more than what she had before. A lot more.

And still, the moment that Ekanite pulled back she did the same, deliberately stepping away and relaxing into her normal standing form. No appearance of continuing their sparring match. Botein shared his shrug before hustling over towards her bag. A moment later, and she returned with a sleeve of her precious Thin Mints and a bottle of water, offering them to Painite. Maybe she was tired. Maybe thirsty. If she was cold there was only so much Botein could do, her own jacket but honestly Painite was better dressed for the night air then she was. She was still going to offer it if it was needed though. “I’ve got Thin Mints. Best cookies outside of Mom’s homemade chocolate chunk ones.”

Botein wanted to help Painite but without the older woman talking about it there wasn’t much that the strawberry blonde could do other than offer cookies, water, and silent comfort. With a smile that was maybe a bit too cheery, hoping some of it would rub off on the other female, Botein nodded and ran over to her bag. She quickly brought it back only to pause for a second before a grin, an honest grin, broke out on her face. The phrase ‘Amulet of Mending’ was muttered, along with the hand gesture directing the glowing necklace to Painite. The other woman didn’t look hurt in any way other than mental but Botein remembered how she reacted the other time she received the necklace. It likely wouldn’t do anything other than make her feel happy and that was enough for the young senshi. Besides, her first aid kit was a better patching kit than her magic… sadly. So it didn’t matter if she used the few times she could call upon the necklace for something like this. Painite was worth it.

After a moment she settled on a clear part of the ground and started to fish in the backpack for the other cookies she had stashed in there, setting out two more bottles of water. One for Ekanite and one for herself since Painite already had hers. That was sadly all her water but it was always good to share with friends. The second sleeve of Thin Mints were produced as well as a little baggie of chocolate chip cookies she baked a few days before. “Here you go, Ekanite!” She held out the water bottle. “Yup! We will be fine Painite! Friends stick together after all. Now let's enjoy these cookies.”

Who would have thought that in a park, in the middle of the night, a senshi, a lieutenant, and a general would be having a picnic of cookies and water…

Had Botein realized the significance of those she was currently with, maybe she would be more concerned but to her they were just friends. And friends stuck together through thick or thin.