combat training mingle log

[policier]

characters: everyone
location: the village gymnasium
date/time: every monday, wednesday & friday throughout april, before the floods
content: beacon's residents gather together to teach each other how to fight, spar, and learn basic field medicine
warnings: violence, injury

What began as a conversation between Javert and Soldat, about what the latter man could do to make himself feel more useful, has now led to thrice a week training. The training itself begins as it often does, seven o'clock in the evening, right on the dot, because Javert does not tolerate tardiness. It ends just as punctually at nine, with a session of first aid training following thereafter.

The gymnasium itself is still in a state of disrepair, with creaky floors and a broken ceiling, but it's serviceable enough for their purpose. There are two torches lit on either side, illuminating the room, and exercise mats scattered across the floor. Against the wall, near the door, is a trunk full of swords of various quality, fencing equipment and training handbooks, several first aid kits, medical supplies, and cpr equipment.

Those who wish to learn how to fight are paired with someone willing to teach. Those who do not are encouraged to spar among themselves, to keep their skills sharp and work to better their technique. There will be a lesson in first aid afterward, should anyone require it. The lesson itself also serves as something of a makeshift clinic, allowing those who have been hurt during training, or those who are still recovering from old wounds, to be tended to and healed. It's a cooperative effort. Anyone who wishes to help out with combat training or first aid may do so.

Comments

[callada]

We can't be the only ones thinking about it either. People will want to keep an eye on them and will make the attempt themselves. But they'll run, or be found out, if they don't know what they're getting into.

[He's going to be thinking hard on this one for a while. Who would believably join up with them? Gregor, perhaps? He doesn't know the man extremely well, but he gets the sense he might be able to pull it off - so long as he doesn't actually become sympathetic to them.

It's something to work on. At least he's certain that they will get leaks of information one way or another from the rogue individuals who will try and fail. It just won't be regular or reliable.]

[pure_havoc]

[oh hell, they will, won't they? Cao Pi rubs the bridge of his nose in exasperation]

What a fine way to get oneself murdered. I hope no one is so impetuous. Some of the worst offenders have, ahem...disappeared, so perhaps it won't be a rampant problem.

We will be in a better position after the market, I expect. Though, if there is anything else I haven't seen fit to worry about, now is the time to tell me so I can add it to the list.

[callada]

Nothing specific enough to mention.

[Too many unknowns. Too many interruptions by the spirits, who have such absurd and occasionally devastating ways of trying to help. Reconvening after the Night Market makes good sense - hopefully Pluto's ideas will give them all a direction to head in next, whether with her or not.

So that's that, then. He hesitates a moment before convincing himself to stand, with one hand on the wall for support. His current condition sucks, but he's not one to complain, either; he just tolerates injury as he always has.]

Good luck with the combat training. Glad to see people taking it seriously enough to come and learn.

[pure_havoc]

[his eyes follow that motion, guessing at what's hidden underneath]

Luck has little to do with it, so long as I can find someone who can keep up with me.

...how bad was it? It seemed gauche to ask immediately after the rescue.

[callada]

[Indeed, and it's even hard to talk about now. But they'll have to eventually, him and all the rest, if they want to understand the goal behind it, assuming there was one. There must have been one. He wants there to be one because that much senseless cruelty isn't something that should exist in any world, though if humans are capable of it, then surely green-eyed spirits are too.

His eyes don't meet Cao Pi's. He doesn't really even move from where he's stood himself up, looking vaguely toward the door as if he just wants to leave.]

They subjected us to the worst visions they could while cutting us open and rearranging our insides. Put things in that don't belong there. Tried to force-feed us whatever they didn't put in directly. Meat, I think.

[If he sounds casual, it's because he's trying to stay completely detached from the reality that it happened. Sleeping is harder now. Eating is, too.]

[pure_havoc]

[congratulations Rosinante, it's extremely rare for anyone to get a genuine shocked expression out of him. Shock, horror...it's all there in his wide eyes. It takes him a minute to find his voice, if only because he lacks the words to appropriately respond]

...what...awful...

[nope can't accurately word right now. He shuts his mouth quickly, pursing his lips tightly. Sorry, man, sorry.]

[callada]

[Cao Pi's reaction breaks through his intent to lock down on the emotions he feels. Anger, mostly; disgust and fear and horror all in their own measures. A shudder passes through him and his hand clenches white-knuckled around his lantern.

Any noble ideas of saying more, of trying to work out reasoning, vanish instantly. He hadn't truly thought he could go there right now anyway, this is just a way to try and get a toe in that godawful door of theorizing, but he immediately regrets it. It's still too soon for him to be rational about what happened to him and the others.]

I'll see you later.

[There's a choked quality to that statement, like he's fighting off gagging over his own words. He snaps his fingers to drop the silence, a further indication he's done talking, and reaches for the doorknob.]

[pure_havoc]

[it was important to ask, and now to process the answer. But Cao Pi won't keep him, if it's that hard to handle. Really, he owes it to Rosinante to let him go and worry about all of that later.]

If you need anything...

[for most people it's a rote response to a trauma they can't fathom, but coming from him, it's a real offer, open-ended with the knowledge that the person he's offering it to won't respond with a request for a hug or anything. Rosinante would ask for tangible things, and Cao Pi can give tangible things. Works great that way. So that's all he says, leaving it hanging in the air so that the commander can get the hell out with his dignity intact]

[callada]

[To his credit, he does pause a moment and glance over his shoulder at Cao Pi with a nod. In a situation like this one, he knows Cao Pi actually means it. He doesn't know what he would need, but if he thinks of anything, he'll ask. And he certainly appreciates the genuine offer.

But that's all, before he lets himself out and carefully begins to make the slow walk back to The Invincible.]