recolle | Who I really am

WHO: Kenta and YOU [with a few closed prompts]
WHERE: the Dojo, the newly-built Ooshima Stables, and Bosuma
WHEN: All over March
WHAT: Some discovery, both personal and of the outside world
WARNINGS: Some mentions of violence and criminal activity.

I. STABLES
[As planned, Kenta has had some state-of-the-art stables built to house his new horse companion. and this has turned into a new business opportunity. There have been job ads and posters with 'help wanted' posted, and he's hiring both for admin positions and for actual stables hands and/or people who can give riding lessons.

He already has quite a a good business plan in place, with getting the stable business off the ground first and then diversifying into giving lessons. And of course, he needs to learn the actual stable work himself, since he now has his own horse.

Come for an interview, or just to help him out learn how to properly care for the majestic animal that is Iwaiichigou!]

II.DOJO [Semi-closed to Derek]

[It's time for another kendo lesson.

Kenta had a bit of free time today so he arrived at the dojo early, and he and a few of his bodyguards are practicing hand to hand. Unlike what you may have seen before, this is not martial arts. This is all out street brawling, and they’re only holding back enough to not seriously injure one another.

Kenta is wearing soft workout pants and a T-shirts. The bodyguards are wearing mostly tank tops or have just removed their tops altogether, which means there are quite a few interesting tattoos on display.]

III.OUT AND ABOUT

[Kenta may not have been able to contact his family for a long while, but Recolle still has quite a few Ooshima Clan allies that need to be entertained, cajoled, or reprimanded, depending on the situation.

And that's how Kenta ends up walking downtown with several bodyguards around him wearing dark suits, on his way to one of those luxury hotels that are the favorite meeting grounds of criminal families.

If you're used to that sort of things, it's relatively easy to see that every single person in that group, Kenta included, is carrying a concealed gun.]

IV.BOSUMA [Later in the month]

[Now that he's regained his skill with horse-riding, Kenta has taken advantage of it to make a few day trips to Bosuma. Because it's close and easy to get to, and also because from descriptions he's heard of, this is the place most likely to fit his tastes, and that is very true once he gets there. Nature, plants, animals, all of these definitely suit his sensibilities, and he finds himself going back several times over the course of a few weeks.

He will enjoy company either on the way or out there, especially like-minded individuals who enjoy quiet and nature.]

I wonder if there's anything I could bring back for Jirou...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Derek starts taking off the gear and placing it the place Kenta indicated.]

I was really that fast? Honestly, I thought you were going to take me down any second. Like, how much to you bench press? You make my upper body strength look pathetic.

I could have, but what purpose would that serve?

[He smiles and holds up the bokken.]

I've been doing practice thrusts with this thing or something close to it for... about fifteen years. Up until high school I was in kendo club, too, so I used to do it every day. Now it's about three or four times a week when I can get the times.

And well, you've seen the rest of the stuff I do with the guys. It makes you shape up really quick. Because if you're not fast enough to dodge, then you need to give back as hard as you're getting, or harder.

OK, we've established that you're slow compared to me and thus need to get stronger to fight, but you still didn't answer my question: Do you know how much you bench press?

[Derek, why do you need to know this?]

I have no idea. I've never been to a gym. Martial arts is all I've ever done for sports.

[Sorry Derek, he can't help you there. You might want to ask the bodyguards, they might know better.]

[Hopeless. Doesn't even know how much he bench presses!]

OK then. So, what would you suggest I do to improve my strength since I'm weak compared to you.

Well, the practice swings really help. You're only doing about fifty at a time as a warm-up, but you should be doing more. If you go to a gym... Maybe tell one of the trainers here you're doing Kendo and ask if they have any exercises that would help. Anything that develops the muscles in your chest, back, core and arms is good. And keep jogging, that will help with endurance and leg strength.

I don't go to a gym anymore. Not since I got a cat. Cats are expensive to take care of. I still jog though. But the leg strength and endurance make sense. I found jogging helped me play football [He means soccer.] better in high school. I could last longer.

You should just borrow a bokken so you can sneak a few practice swings in every once in a while.

[No one will miss it if there's one missing, and if they do Kenta will replace it. Or just buy Derek one, maybe.]

Are you sure? I mean, won't people notice? Because, that's be nice to practice with outside of practicing with you.

It's fine. I'll let them know it's for a friend.

[He's there almost every day, they won't mind.]

[Derek picks up the bokken he practiced with and hold it out. He can't help but feel a bit excited that he gets to take one home to practice with.]

The I guess I'll take this one. Thanks mate! Hopefully practicing at home will improve my strength.

Who I really am

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