[log] The best thing about bad ideas [closed]

[swatsflies]

Characters: Team Sad Losers
Location Various (S11 - N09)
Date: Day 71
Summary: Finding Dumpy, Training, and anything else.
Warnings: Bad Influences and Zell's language (Sorry Steve.)

[These are not the droids you're looking for. Move along.]


Note: Will toss up top levels to separate things. Use them or make your own

Comments

Training

[swatsflies]

[Cue Eye of the Tiger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2TqKrP6yO8

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's a little skeptical that any amount of training is going to make him a decent fighter, but he's completely willing to try. Anything to get rid of the antsy, inescapable feeling of needing to do something has him bouncing around like Zell. ]

-Okay, are we really going to do this? Where do we start?

[powersouls]

[It isn't like this has been the ideal training situation by far. And she knows Jim is getting antsy, probably made worse when he sees the rest of them sparring. But Zangan had drilled the basics into her head until she'd thought she was going to lose her mind, so unfortunately they're going to have to be boring for a while longer. Sorry, Jim.]

Let me see your stance.

[So she can correct him on the tiniest thing for the millionth time, obviously.]

Sorry it's short

[swatsflies]

[Zell seems still full of energy, even after his and Tifa’s usual warm-ups. He’s currently stripped down to his board shorts and a white wide neck t-shirt. Taking a drink from his water bottle as he waits for instruction to step in and help or to play target for Jim.]

Yeah, we're really going to do this. [He's actually pretty happy to help teach his friend.]

whoops forgot to track this

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim falls into the stance with only a little huffing. He'd thought learning to fight would be a little more exciting than standing lessons, but he's trying not to be too impatient about it.

He's shed his jacket and rolled his sleeves back up so the two of them can actually see what he's doing with his arms. The stance is good, this time, though probably still a little too stiff as he looks over to them for approval. ]

Is this it?

how could you

[powersouls]

[Tifa tilts her head, considering him.]

You need to loosen up. You won't be able to react quickly enough if you're that tense.

[swatsflies]

Much better.

[He's beams a smile before he moves close to place a hand on Jim's back. He's not going to repeat what Tifa said. Trying to figure out how to help him relax.

Oh!]

Maybe try listening to your breathing. Think about how it feels every time you breathe in. [He falls into place beside Jim as he moves into position.] Close your eyes if you need to.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim stiffens up a little more at the touch before rolling his shoulders and forcing himself to relax. He takes a long, deep breath in - it's cold enough that it hurts, but he can focus on that - and lets it out again as he drops his shoulders and falls back into the stance with his eyes closed. ]

-Better?

[heroproceeding]

[ WHO'S READY TO GET HIS ASS KICKED?

HE'S READY TO GET HIS ASS KICKED.

Only not really. He's... well. Not feeling especially slick. But he could use the stress relief. That might have included helping out Jim if... things weren't so awkward. But, well. ...Well, there's not a whole lot he can- okay, he could talk to him... maybe. But he never seems to want to talk, so.... yeah.

Awkward.

IN ANY CASE, that doesn't stop him from working with anyone else. He never was as good in hand to hand. Definitely nothing like his mentor. But hey! That doesn't necessarily wipe that look of determination off his face as he raises his fists. ]

Well?

[powersouls]

[She's seen Zack fight before. She knows he knows what he's doing, and she knows she can learn a lot from him. But still, there's that part of her that really wants to prove she's not still that fifteen year old girl running around Mt. Nibel, so she might be... Looking forward to this a little more than she should be. She's got her own stubborn look on her face as she studies him for a moment.

They're totally sparring, though, not going all out, so...]

Ready?

[heroproceeding]

[ He simply nods at that. Oh, he's more than ready. He's ready to do this!! He.. should probably just be a bit careful though. If he sweeps in too strong, he might hurt her pride. Or something. Which is why he keeps his defensive stance and tilts his head to the side. ]

Ladies first.

[ He really isn't meaning to be rude!!

He is so toast though. ]

[swatsflies]

[Popcorning tbh]

[powersouls]

[But it is rude, and it's worse because he doesn't even know how lame he's being. Tifa rolls her eyes, just so he knows how she felt about that comment. But he said he was ready! So, fine.

She steps forward, aiming a sharp jab at his jaw with her right fist, just trying to test his reflexes. But it's quickly followed by a hard, low kick, even as she watches for an opening in his stance.]

[heroproceeding]

[ Super rude. Let's be real here.

But all the same, HE'S PUMPED. HE'S READY. HE'S GONNA DO THE THING. BRING IT, TIF. BRING IT ON!!

The jab's much quicker than he expects but not fast enough that it's unavoidable, even without SOLDIER strength. Of course, what he might have possibly should have expected was that follow-up kick. But that's the thing. He doesn't. Tifa had never been anything of a seasoned fighter back on Mt. Nibel. Never mind a fight even half this reflexively cunning or fast.

He's taking a hard kick to the chest before he realizes what's going down, skidding back and buckling over, wheezing for breath. He can't breathe. Shit. Shit! ]

[powersouls]

[OH. Well, she honestly wasn't expecting him to allow her to connect that hard or that quickly. He was in SOLDIER, though, and she knows he can handle himself, which means that he really must not be taking her seriously.

That's why there's a distinctly annoyed look on her face as she straightens up, planting her hands on her hips.]

Are you okay?

[heroproceeding]

Fi-Fine! [ Give him... another minute, okay.

SERIOUSLY, SHE CAME AT HIM LIKE A GODDAMN SLEDGEHAMMER, OKAY.

Okay... Maybe... Maybe he's good. Yep, his lungs don't feel like they've friggin' collapsed on him anymore at least. GOOD GAIA. He fights in a couple more breaths as he rises to his full height again, fists returning to their previous stance despite the wince in his eyes. ] Go-Good... I'm good. Damn, Tif. Where'd you learn to hit like that?

[powersouls]

[She shrugs in response before stepping back into her stance. It's been a long time, and she knows she hasn't been too specific with everything that's happened, but still... Even if he's acknowledging her strength, part of her is still frustrated that it took this at all.]

You first this time.

[heroproceeding]

[ HEY, HE'S BEEN A LITTLE BUSY, OKAY.

But now, he's really ready. His eyes narrow and his stance stays loose but focused. And that's before he suddenly rushes her, fists flying in several feigns. Testing the waters of her true strength. Gauging her reflexes with a much more focused eye on- and there's a real hook her way! ]

[powersouls]

[Awesome! Weirdly enough, this actually makes Tifa happy, that he's actually trying to hit her. She manages to block his blows, impressed by his speed, and then there's that hook. She bends her knees slightly, absorbing the punch with her arm, and... Ow. Okay, she's kind of glad she's not dealing with his enhancements too, honestly. She'll counter with her own quick flurry, a combination of jabs and kicks, aimed largely at his torso and legs. She doesn't want to knock the wind out of him again.]

[heroproceeding]

[ She's fast.

Really fast.

And much more experienced, too. That combined with his lacking strength has him blocking blows more than dodging them, well. More than he'd like. But he continues to be on the defense until he seeks an opening. A quick dodge out of one particular jab and then he's trying to lock her arm between his own arm and side to stop her in her tracks. ]