darkinferno: (★ keep your weapons aimed)
dante "walking dumpster fire" rantanen | riku ([personal profile] darkinferno) wrote in [community profile] recolle2017-09-08 11:29 pm

[training log] september training sessions

WHO: Anybody on the Retrospec network!
WHERE: Utsuki Dojo in Tisse
WHEN: Sundays in September and the beginning of October (9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1), 6pm - midnight
WHAT: FIGHT CLUB Weapons/self-defense training and trying new weapons out for new characters and information sharing!
WARNINGS: None expected; will edit as usual if necessary

HEADS UP: This will be the only fight club log posted for all of September! New threads can be started throughout the entire month (and fresh topleveling if necessary is fine; developments happen!) and everyone is encouraged to keep coming back periodically to check for new information!!



training sessions - September

i. I'm calling you from the future.

At 6:00, the dojo closes for the night, open to only those members of the Retrospec network. There's a good mix of people who have been coming for a while and people brand new to the network, but regardless of if you're new or old, you've got some time before everything really gets underway. Some might take this time to warm up and stretch out, getting ready for the evening, while others might be mingling or chatting and still others are examining the practice weapons available. Regardless of what you choose to do, things don't really begin until 6:15 when, as has become his norm, Dante Rantanen climbs up onto a chair to officially start the meeting.

"Hey," he says, a far cry from his normal openings. To those who know him, he still seems a bit more restrained than is really normal, but he takes a deep breath and continues: "I'm glad to see how many people made it out tonight. If you're new, you've probably heard about the stuff we went through last month--if you've been here a while, you lived it. Either way, these sessions are more important than ever. If you know anyone who hasn't come out here, try and get them to come at least once; Retrospec's sending people weapons whether you've ever used them before or not. You don't want to get caught off guard if they do it again.

"For those of you who are new: this isn't some sort of Skyler Murden Fight Club thing. We're not here to punch each other senseless. If that's what you're here for, the door's over there." Dante points, giving it a moment to make sure everybody's got his point. "The point of this is to test out and see if you've got any memories of fighting and, whether you do or don't, to learn how to fight in a safe place. We're not fighting monsters here, so take care of each other.

"Make sure you sign in before you jump into anything. There's a waiver over there--" he points to a table, "--just to keep things legal. We don't need the cops swooping down on us, not with the stuff some people have gotten back so far.

"Last thing: a lot of us have been practicing with our weapons for several months now and are willing to teach people how to fight. So those of you that are willing to teach, you know the drill. Go ahead and introduce yourselves."

Once the introductions have finished, Dante nods. "All right, I think that's it. Anybody needs anything, come and see me."


ii. To let you know we've made mistakes.

Did anybody wonder what Dante was going to do with the money he made from that bingo stand in July? If so, wonder no longer: alongside all the practice weapons available for use is a large wooden axe, shaped and crafted and sanded down smooth. Anyone want to give it a go? It's got a bit of a heft to it, but it's not overly heavy. Who knows, maybe you were a lumberjack in a past life!

Outside of the axe, the usual range of weapons are available to be picked from: wooden swords, with and without crossguards in various styles as might be found around the world, fencing foils all tipped with practice buttons for safety (again in a variety of styles, with quillions, without, bell guards or swept knuckle-guards, and so on), staves, polearms, spears and shields, and at the end of the row a handful of Nerf guns with a couple packs of new darts for the more modern fighters amongst them. (Sitting behind the Nerf guns is a sign, written in thick black Sharpie: "DON'T AIM FOR PEOPLE'S HEADS." There's been trouble in the past.)

Once you've selected your weapon of choice, it's time to get to work! There are multiple people offering help or instruction, but there are also training dummies to spar against if that's your preferred way to train. Perhaps you're a trial-by-fire type of person ready to spar, or maybe you're one of those offering your skills as a teacher? What will you do tonight?


iii. There's a fog from the past that's giving me such a headache.

A couple hours into the night, you might notice a number of people putting down their weapons to take a break. There's no specific structure to the evening, so maybe you've already taken a break or two yourself! At any rate, as it gets closer to 8:00, Dante will put finger and thumb in his mouth to give a sharp whistle, commanding attention once again. "Sorry to interrupt," he says, "but since we got called out by Jim and Maurice for trying to be secretive about these meetings, there's no real point in it any more. Head on outside if you want to talk about everything we know so far--" (on September 10th he'll add "--if you didn't get enough of that already with Souji and Dave.") "If you just got added to Retrospec this month and have questions still, this might be a good time to ask them."

What do you choose to do? Will you go outside and join those talking about the network and all its secrets? Or would you prefer to just stay inside and get some more training in? There are no wrong decisions to be made at this point.



[[September training logs! This log will cover Sunday, September 10, September 17, September 24, and October 1. Please use this log throughout the entire month to log anything that might happen at Sunday practices! You're encouraged to make new toplevels as necessary for any new developments that might occur throughout the month, such as new metaplot developments/reveals or character development leading to spars, or anything else you might think of! There will be a toplevel in the comments to OOCly collect all new metaplot details collected in the info-sharing meetings in one place.

Any questions, concerns, or additions can either be PM'd to me here or PP me at [plurk.com profile] journeys.]]
fiddlestick: (I am not made for this shit)

Elliot Craig | OTA | September 10th Only

[personal profile] fiddlestick 2017-09-09 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
[A. WEAPON SELECT ]
[Elliot did not want to be here. He hadn't even been planning to come originally. Buuut when it turns out the guy who runs it and personally invited you is a guy you knew when you were a kid -- it was really hard to get out of it. Or at least, it was hard for someone like Elliot who had serious trouble putting his foot down.

So here he is, standing in front of the weapon's rack as he tries to figure out what weapon he was supposed to use. He's had enough exposure to military things to know those kinds of weapons - most of these looked like they belonged in a video game rather than actual real life. Did people really fight with this stuff in this day and age???

But he'll try them out, or at least try to grab onto them and give them a swing -- at least the ones he can lift. Most of them get a reaction of a frown, a sigh and then him putting it back. He really can't see himself fighting...]


[B. THE WINNER IS YOU ]
[No. seriously.]

[Elliot will agree to spar people, to try out different weapons and to see if there's any way to improve on his fighting. For the first few moments, he seems okay. He's small, but he's got the stance of someone whose actually had fight training. He seems to know at least the basic principles of how a fight works.

But each and every time? It'll end with him crashing down into the mat within a minute. If the person fighting him is skilled? It's even less. He's not fast enough to react, not agile to dodge, and not strong enough to block blows. If he somehow manages to land a hit? It's far too gentle to actually hurt- he lacks the strength to do heavy blows, and he's too timid to actually hurt anyone. All around, it's a pathetic fight. A training dummy would put up a better fight.]


O-ow...

[Or at least it'd whimper less]

[C. LEAVE ME HERE TO DIE ]
[After many rounds of spars that ended up with him being thrown down into the mat, Elliot doesn't even have it in him to move. He's laid up on a pile of unused mats, looking like he's waiting for the sweet embrace of death. ]

I-I don't think I can even feel my limbs anymore...

[He'll be fine. Probably. Needless to say, he probably won't be back anytime soon.]
Edited 2017-09-09 04:49 (UTC)
complementing: (✿ new quest available [ NORN ])

17th, 24th, or 1st; ota

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
I. FORM

[After introducing herself, anybody who wants to work in polearms can join her for a round of kata. Practicing body movement is important before you actually try and stab someone in the gut, after all. She'll be at the front demonstrating at first, but after a while she'll walk around and check that everyone's doing okay. The touch at your arm is probably her.]

Widen your stance just a little bit, and then try again.

[Or. You know. Since very few people actually are interested in polearms, you can catch her while she's watching her dog Koromaru practice with a wooden shuriken.]

Maybe I should get an actual shuriken for you to use, Korochan. I can't keep giving you kitchen knives...they just don't hold up that well in battle.

[Koromaru barks in agreement.]

II. FUNCTION

[If you want to spar, Minako is more than happy to be your opponent!

At some point, she might wander off and come back with a practice sword.]


I'm more of a spear girl, but...I got all of those abilities back in one night. I want to try something else, learn it from scratch. Can you teach me?
complementing: (✿ thinky thoughts [ UBELLURIS ])

C;

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
Hey, don't flop down like that, it's not good for you...

[Minako kneels down next to him and prods his shoulder.]

Elliot, right? You okay?
fiddlestick: (ohhh noooo)

[personal profile] fiddlestick 2017-09-09 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
[He'll wince and suck his breath in through is teeth at the prodding. Yeah, that spot is sore as well.]

O-ow...

[Oh someone's asking him a question. Isn't that the girl from ReVA?]

I'm...I'm alive? Somehow...
lingeringwill: (Heh...)

II, 17?? 24??? Time is a flat circle

[personal profile] lingeringwill 2017-09-09 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
Not really. [Terra's looming, monstrously tall frame seems to appear behind her. He's holding a practice sword behind his head across his shoulders.]

I only know how to punch people. [A smile.]

Hey, Captain.
kagepuro: Hey. I made this. (18)

Sept 10 & 17 OTA

[personal profile] kagepuro 2017-09-09 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
I

[You may notice a tiny girl sitting in the corner of the dojo, keeping to herself. She's up against one of the corners hugging her knees, probably with a bored sort of expression on her face. Small and unremarkable, she certainly looks out of place, wearing a pair of shorts and a shirt with a skull that has a noose around its neck on it. Occasionally, you'll catch her nodding off, but otherwise she's just watching other people fight and train, never leaving her corner. Well, until her legs start to fall asleep and she gets up, stumbles forward, and grabs a practice sword. But instead of going over to train with anyone, she just brings it back to her corner and hugs it as she continued to watch. What's her deal, anyway?]

II

Heh...I feel like a total young lion, right now...[For some reason, Ayano has taken to cleaning the dojo later in the days. Wiping up what needs to be wiped, tidying up areas that may have become messy or out of place. Strangely, she seems to be doing this all with a smile as she goes about making the dojo look extra nice. From time to time, she'll be quietly mumbling to herself.]

Aaah, Shibata-sensei, I promise this place will look great when I'm done with it...

[Skipping back and forth through the dojo, she carefully makes sure all of the practice weapons make it to their proper place.]

Yes sir, Shibata-sensei, I would love to wrap your hands and lace your boots...fufufu...
complementing: (✿ she is happiness [ KIKURI-HIME ])

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't mind practicing punching people either. [She gives him a smile back and then pokes at his practice sword with hers.] Are you telling me you don't know how to use that? At all?
lingeringwill: (Eh)

[personal profile] lingeringwill 2017-09-09 07:11 am (UTC)(link)
I mean, not any more than I know how to use a baseball bat?

Swinging things hard has gotten me this far, but it's pretty much all I've got. [A shrug.]

No finesse, y'know?

[He pokes back with his own.]

I figure I should learn, in case my keyblade ever shows up in my lap.
complementing: (✿ i am tiny and cute [ ALICE ])

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
[She smiles a little helplessly.]

Want a head pad? It helps with the soreness.
complementing: (✿ what rice on my face? [ UNICORN ])

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
Keyblade?

[That gets a curious tilt of her head, but she backs up, holding her sword out to him like how she's seen many kendo fighters do.]

What's a Keyblade?
lingeringwill: (Thinking)

[personal profile] lingeringwill 2017-09-09 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
[He gives her a weird look, like, what is he even supposed to do? Is he...supposed to do that same thing with his own sword? That seems impractical. He holds it over his shoulder, which is even less practical.]

It's...something something, weapon of light, used to defeat the heartless and collect hearts from people, whatever the hell that means.

[Taps the side of his head.]

In my memories, I'm one of the wielders of a Keyblade. Sora, Aria, and Dante are Keyblade wielders as well.
complementing: (✿ odds stacked up [ PAZUZU ])

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
Ohh.

[She has a complicated look on her face for a moment, because Sora never told her...unless he got the Keyblade during August? He wouldn't have wanted to bother her with it after Ryoji's death.

Hm. She can wait until he's ready to explain. For now, though:]


I think I remember seeing Dante use it once, a while back. It was pretty impressive...and being able to summon it out of nowhere is convenient too.
lingeringwill: (Yearbook Picture)

[personal profile] lingeringwill 2017-09-09 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
If you saw Dante use something, I don't think it was a Keyblade...He didn't seem to really know until I told him about it. Or maybe he did, I don't know the guy super well so it could be up in the air. Not that it really matters...

[He lightly taps his practice sword against hers.]

Aria and I took a test to become...Keyblade Masters, I guess. She passed and I failed, so don't tell anyone, but I think she's stronger than I am. [Wink.]

Oh, shit, this old guy had one too. I think he's like, my Dad? But not my Dad...He didn't look like me, or Aria.

Aria.

Who I grew up with in that life.

Lots of weird revelations for me lately. [He laughs sheepishly. Having Ryoji back makes it so much easier to talk to her. It's nice. Normal.]
complementing: (✿ let's go there together [ MICHAEL ])

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
You were busy while I was solving puzzles in a forest bunker, clearly.

[The amused look on her face flashes into concentration as she lunges forward to try and slash at his chest. It's all kinds of awkward because in her mind, she's still fighting with a spear, so she misjudges the distance completely and doesn't hit him at all-- but it's still the first move.]
Edited 2017-09-09 08:04 (UTC)
lingeringwill: (Oh god oh god)

[personal profile] lingeringwill 2017-09-09 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
[It's awkward for Terra too as he reactively, but at least somewhat gently knocks her sword away from him with his own. He didn't realize they were starting yet.]

Yeah, I also have a cool suit of armor that, if there's a god, I will receive because I think it was pretty damn cool. I'm like, a knight type dude I guess? [He readies his sword in what he assumes to be a fighting stance of some sort? He has no idea.]

Do I...like, try to hit you...?
complementing: (✿ hamster cheeks [ HELEL ])

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 08:19 am (UTC)(link)
I can see it. You have a very knightly presence to you.

[She pauses and, unlike him, lets her fighting stance drop, pouting a bit.]

Terra. The whole point of this exercise is to try and hit the other person. Now c'mon, give me your best shot.

[Even if she has no experience with swords, she feels like she might be able to defend more easily than him, and so raises up her weapon again, bracing the back of the blade with her palm for a hit.]
lingeringwill: (15)

[personal profile] lingeringwill 2017-09-09 08:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Terra laughs, shrugging his shoulders.]

You're going to regret saying both of those things. [And he readies himself for a big, horizontal swing at her because that makes the most sense right? There's a bit of residual hesitance because it's hard to swing a sword at you're favorite person but knowing Minako she'd get mad if he was holding back.

swoosh]
complementing: (✿ struggle to your feet [ RAPHAEL ])

[personal profile] complementing 2017-09-09 08:41 am (UTC)(link)
[One of those was a compliment!! But she can't get that out before he comes at her.

Minako raises up her sword to block and grunts under the impact, knees buckling. God, she knew he was strong, but that could've knocked her off onto her ass if not for her solid stance, and he's not even coming at her with all his strength! It makes her realize that, during the monster fights in August, she'd dealt with most of the heavy hitting ones by letting her Personas take care of it. Clearly this is a weakness that she'll need to work on...and the thought has her raring to continue.

She can't push back very much against the weight of the sword, not like she could with her spear. So for this match, she'll have to rely on her speed. Minako pushes up against Terra's swing just enough to give her some room, and then she retreats, only to sidestep and go for his exposed arms.]

ota, all month

[personal profile] buncho 2017-09-09 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
i.
Me! I can teach! My name's Mafuyu! I'll fight you!!

[ WOULD THAT BE A GOOD IDEA THOUGH. There's probably better teachers out there, somebody who looks more professional and like they know what they're doing, not this high school girl waving an arm above her head, standing on the tips of her toes to make herself just a little taller, just a little more noticeable in the crowd of people here tonight.

Mafuyu doesn't have anything on hand, although she came with a backpack stuffed full of things: a wooden sword, brass knuckles, a pair of ninja stars, and half a dozen bags of gummy fruit snacks. All of that is shoved into a corner, because what she's most used to fighting is hand to hand, or so she says. She might be a good teacher to somebody new to fighting so they can't hurt each other too much...? Sorry if you think that. ]


ii.
[ Of course she's playing around with the axe. Who let Mafuyu touch the axe? At least somebody had the presence of mind to shuffle her outside to practice with it, but for as easily as she seems to be able to carry the unwieldy weapon, she has no idea how to use it. Axes are something you just swing around, but they're super slow and hard to aim, so what if she just...

gives it a whirl, literally, spinning around like she's performing a hammer throw and lets it fly

hahaha watch out ]


wildcard
[ Mafuyu will be here every Sunday! ]
fiddlestick: (SWEATS)

[personal profile] fiddlestick 2017-09-09 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[A thought bubble appears above his head: "Ow...I must look so pathetic right now. I knew coming here was a bad idea."]

If you don't mind, please...though if you're busy with other stuff that's okay.
Edited 2017-09-09 14:38 (UTC)
fiddlestick: (D8)

II. Because it's our destiny

[personal profile] fiddlestick 2017-09-09 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ You know who isn't good at dodging??

THIS GUY.

To give him credit, he hears the axe coming by the way it cuts through the wind. But all that really does is makes him see the oncoming axe with a look of terror seconds before--

WHAM.

Annnd down to the ground he goes. Overkill.]

[personal profile] buncho 2017-09-09 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ As long as it's overkill and not "kill" kill, because even though the axe is made of wood, it's still pretty devastating as a weapon. ]

Oh.

[ Just that, "oh." No apologies, but Mafuyu does at least run over to him and pull him back onto his feet, propping him up to lean against a tree or something if he can't stand on his own. ]

Okay. Don't move. I'm going to try again.
fiddlestick: (D8)

[personal profile] fiddlestick 2017-09-09 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Don't worry he's injured and dazed but not dead. He's also hauled up pretty easy- he's a scrawny guy. But he's not dazed enough not to get what she's saying]

- What?! No stop!

[DON'T THROW AXES AT ME!!!]
openhanded: (animated) (☆heart beats fast)

Sorey | All September | Sword Lessons! | OTA

[personal profile] openhanded 2017-09-09 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[A. GRINDING EXP ]
[Sorey has been a little spotty about showing up lately just because of all the craziness going on, but those who are new and those who've gone before are free to recognize him. Dante came to him personally, asking for him to be a sword instructor, and Sorey does take it seriously... It's just that he has to work at the bar sometimes, too.

He brings his own equipment for students to use, all of which is used but in good condition. He's been taking kendo for over ten years so he has armor, bokken, and shinai in all sizes-- there are less-standard swords nearby with the rest of Dante's donated weapons. In addition to all this, he has a big 24 pack of water bottles, gatorade, and some protein bars for people wanting a quick pick-me-up. Sorey is nothing if not overprepared.

Sorey himself is dressed down a bit for ease of comfort-- stretchy gray jeans, a black tank top that says 'MY JOB ROCKS' on it, and a peculiar white glove. The sword he prefers is unusual, red and engraved and lacking an edge. He sits in the middle of his area atop a stool and waits with a smile-- sometimes offering someone water or refreshments if they look seriously bushed.]

[B. SPARRING ]
[He's quick, not supernaturally so, but with the ease of practice. And his technique is completely unpredictable. This isn't a school of kendo he's drawing from, it's something else. He's not sure what yet but he has just as much benefit from these sessions as the 'students' do.

Maybe you're watching, or maybe you're the one who asked him for a spar-- but he shoots out his foot to push his opponent's leg and make them stumble. At least hitting the mat doesn't hurt too bad.]


Ah, nope. You can't always look at someone's face to know what they'll do, [he says gently as he offers a hand up.] You have to take in their entire body language. Right before I kicked, I shifted my weight to my other foot and leaned in a bit, like this.

Let's try that again.

[He might end up the one flipped next time, who knows.]

[C. Wildcard]

[Sorey can also be found testing his archery skills. Otherwise he is free for people to challenge, drag into lessons, recognize from school (where's the geek getup?) and whatnot. Just toss me a prompt!]
Edited 2017-09-09 23:36 (UTC)

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