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 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:31 am
"I feel a bit... underdressed," Antony said as he stood in front of his father wearing only a pair of sweat pants and a white, pristine, wife beater. His feet were bare and he got the feeling that he would regret that fact later. But his father was dressed in the same manner. Something about it being the right clothes for learning self defense.
"It's not like there's anyone out here, Tony," Shade said with a grin. He had gotten what he wanted, and it was good to be doing something other than drawing strangers on the street. "This isn't karate, but there'll be some in it," he went on. "Mostly the point is to get you looking like less of a stick. So first we need to warm up."
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:45 am
There was suddenly that feeling in the air. You know, when you know something is over head but you can't see it or hear it. Then with a dull THOWP a white baseball thudded to the ground just a few feet from the two of them.
"'ey! Pass the ball!" came a familiar shout across the field. The little sparrow-girl came running into view, complete with baseball cap, shorts, and a loose T-shirt. When she drew nearer she recognized Antony rather quickly. How could you forget someone you squirted icing all over? "I remember you!" she said with a wide grin, obviously not paying much attention to what she might be interupting.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:50 am
Antony's expression went sour for a moment, since he was in a position that he really, really hated. Here he was, vulnerable in his dress and lack of shoes, and of all people SHE had to show up!
Shade leaned down, scooping up the ball and tossing it to the girl with a grin. "There you go," he said before turning back to Antony. "Now start with jumping jacks."
"I--" Antony said, glancing at the girl and back to his father again. "Father--"
"Go on, you know how to do those at least, don't you?" Shade asked as he started doing them himself. "It's like this."
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:14 am
Riley jumped up reaching out with two hands and caught the ball soundly. Upon her landing, however, she chose not to leave. Instead she seemed quite curious as to what they were doing, completely ignoring the lack of a welcome she had recieved from Antony. So she decided to join in, shifting her ball to one hand and launching into a string of her own jumping jacks. "Come on~! It's easy!" she called to the boy with the same wide-spread grin.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:23 am
Antony twitched, then started doing jumping jacks along with them. The only good thing about being a patch kid, he thought a few seconds later, was that he was remarkably healthy.
"Now," Shade said as he stopped. There were a few more people in the park, he noticed, but his son was so focused on ignoring the little girl that he didn't notice. "Sit down and reach for your toes," he said as he sat, his legs straight out as he reached forward. It helped being short in this, he thought dryly.
Antony did as he said, feeling quite stupid. "Weren't you playing a game?" he demanded of Riley as she didn't seem to be leaving any time soon.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:29 am
"Yeah, but I can take a break, no worries," she assured him, either oblvious to the fact that he wanted her gone or choosing to ignore it completely. It was probably the former, knowing her thick head. She flopped down on her tail, not literally of course since she was always careful of her tail feathers, and then reached forward. She was able to lean down so that her fingers were quite a way past her toes. Well, she was a girl after all. Stretching was a bit easier on her part. Her ball lay forgotten next to her.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:43 am
Shade bit back a laugh. "Now spread your legs and start reaching for one," he said as he demonstrated again. His forward split was almost perfect, even after being such a bum for the last few months.
Antony's wasn't nearly as good. He gritted his teeth as he leaned forward, wondering just how thick the girl's head was. He didn't want her there to witness his--well, not humiliation, but something close! "Is this all there is to self defense?" he asked Shade.
"You kidding me?" Shade asked. "This is just stretching so you don't tear anything. And it doesn't get interesting until we get to the throwing part."
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:49 am
Riley did so easily, pondering taking off her shoes as she did so. They weren't wearing any after all. Besides, being bare-foot in the grass was fun. She didn't even pay attention to Antony's struggles. Not that she couldn't pick up on them later.
Her "ears" perked at the mention of self defense. "Throwing? You're going to throw people?" she asked, sounded elated at the idea. "Can I do it too?" she asked eagerly, abandoning her stretching to peer intently at Shade. She was used to rough-housing with Mikael and Runeh but...they have never really...taught her anything. And they certainly hadn't let her throw them, not that she could have.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:59 am
"Sure," he said. "There are some throws that are easier for guys than girls, but girls can do them with a little training."
"It's not ladylike," Antony said as he automatically changed what he was doing to match Shade, leaning straight forward. "Nor is it gentlemanly."
"But it comes in handy," Shade said matter-of-factly.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:15 am
"Pahhh!" Riley stuck out her tongue at Antony, "Who wants to be a lady anyway? This is more fun!" Since she had been "accepted" she quickly went back to her stretching, though by her sharp movements it was obvious she had a lot of pent-up energy and was eager to use it.
"My brothers probably use it all the time! I bet they couldn't fight the bad guys they do if they didn't know this stuff," she said thoughtfully, obviously agreeing with Shade's train of thought. She grinned at the idea. Maybe she could surprise Mikael or Runeh with what she was going to learn. Mmm~! She was excited!
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:26 am
"Now up!" Shade said as he moved to his feet in a fluid motion. "And run in place, bringing your knees up to your chest."
He didn't even think to ask where her guardian might be.
Antony did as he was told, irritated with the entire situation. He would much rather be learning from his father on his own! He paused, wondering where that thought had come from. Did he actually WANT to spend time with his slackard father?
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:32 am
Riley bounced to her feet, thrilled by the new command. Running was probably one of her favorite pass-times, much to the dismay of whatever brother had to chase her around. But before she started she decided to fling off her shoes with a flourish, luckily not hitting anyone in the process. Then she was off on a quick rhythm, making it clear where the sparrow part of her genes came into play. She didn't think much about her guardian either...though Victor was bound to come looking for her soon.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:36 am
He made them run for a little while longer before stopping. "Now," he said. "Your starting position should be simple, one that you can turn in any direction from quickly. So usually I like to keep my feet about a foot apart, putting my weight on the balls of my feet. Keep your hands at your sides."
He walked around Antony first, physically changing the aspects of his stance that he didn't like before looking at Riley.
Antony was still dealing with his sudden concept of jealousy.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:45 am
Riley bolted into the position immediately, her nerves quivering with anticipation. It was the sort of feeling one gets at the top of a roller coaster, where you can see the drop and you know you're about to go down at any second. Anyway, she stood balanced easily on the balls of her feet, though it was a bit of a trick for her to keep her hands down. She wanted to bring them up or do something with them. But of course, she waited. It was one of the few times you ever found Riley being patient.
Victor had finally wandered away from the baseball field looking for his lost charge. Image his surprise to find her tagging along with another child and his parent...or guardian. "I thought it was taking you a while to get that ball," he said with a hint of amusement in his voice as he drifted over.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:55 am
Shade stopped, glancing over at the other man a bit sheepishly. "We ah, seem to have dragged her into our lesson," he said as he walked over. "You want her back?"
Please, Antony thought, take her! But he was restrained enough to not say it aloud.
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