make the choice to choose

[connatural]

WHO: Ashley Magnus
WHERE: South Village, by the water
WHEN: random Mornings throughout the month
OPEN TO: Everyone
WARNINGS: Updated as needed

---

un: magnus

One more day of this normal routine and I'm going to fucking lose it. South Village. By the mill. Sparring partners needed before I go fucking nuts without work. Any morning from dawn until lunchish.

Ashley never thought about how much of her life was spent constantly on the go. Even in her downtime, she realized she wasn't likely to sit around long, coming up with reasons to get out and move. It's a restlessness that she took for granted when she had the Sanctuary work to do, and an entire city to traverse. Not to mention abnormals to contain, especially with the uptick because of the Cabal before this place.

Now if this place is Cabal or not, she doesn't know, but if it is, they already know what she's capable of so there's reason to hide it.

Mornings start with a run, heading out further each day, taking new routes, trying to not only learn this place but learn every path she might need for any reason. Not to mention the creatures, the resources, anything to keep her on her toes and know what she might need no matter what happens.

By the mill she practices with the few weapons she's gathered, using them in various ways so she knows the heft and weight of them in case. Everything is in case, even if here she has no idea in case of what. There's only so much a person can practice alone, so she hopes sending out that message will draw a few people to practice against. Will keep her on point, not to mention meaning she could get a chance to know more of those here. It's already been eye opening, and she's curious what else this place holds.

Comments

Action

[to_defend]

7 shows up without comment; if given the opportunity, she feels there's no better way to figure out the limits of being human than putting some of her defensive skills to the test.

She doesn't have a spear yet, doesn't have a buckler or a mask, but she's got herself and her own determination and that's enough. She approaches the mill with her usual level of stealth (which is considerable), and observes Ashley for a few moments as the other woman practices with the weapons before making herself known. It's not a bad idea to know just what she's getting herself into.

7 clears her throat as she steps up.

"Hi. I saw your message, on the device?" She's tense, but in addition to the general unease of this place there's an undercurrent of excited anticipation; it's been too quiet here compared to what she's used to.

[connatural]

The sound brings Ashley around. Not aggressive in the least as she lowers the knife, offering a smile as she pushes her hair back from her brow. She's worked up a sweat, though not overworked. Just trying to keep herself with an edge in case things turn here as they could back home.

"Hi. Glad you did. I'm Ashley, and I'm used to having to be more active than I am here," she admits, figuring an explanation might help. "Figured I wasn't the only one, you know?"

[to_defend]

"You're right. I haven't had this much silence in a long time." Silence after biological life died out, silence between the Beast's attacks ... silence was always a period of tense waiting. It was hardly ever good.

"I haven't had a chance to craft any weapons, yet." She may be eyeing Ashley's pile with a little jealously. She would eventually make herself a spear - her weapon of choice - and would then make it an extension of her body through practice and movement, but for now, anything would do. "Have you had any reason to use them yet?"

[connatural]

"Well, most of the things I have are foraged. Some steel I kind of stole from the bed frame and made a twisted brass knuckle set from. The staves are from the woods and just saplings sharpened. The knife I got from the storerooms." She smiles a bit at that. "I guess I'll return it eventually. "If you want one of the staves, you can have it. Or I can show you were I found older fallen ones to use for it."

She understands sharing with others. Not just here but before as well. "Except trying to hunt? No. I'm just used to being prepared. Same with you?"

Action

[imareporter]

So Eddie knows there's no way out, and while he wakes up tired (and how weird is that? but he has suspicions.)

So he walks and tries not to think about how he wakes up full or not feeling as fused to Venom. Lost in their thoughts.

You could just ask

...I need...space. I need to think

...It is weird but we'll be okay Eddie.

You're sure?

He's so lost in an internal conversation he doesn't see the woman heading straight for him.

[connatural]

Slowing, trying to be better about this and pay more attention, be more careful than she's been recently. So her pace slows, coming to a walk so that there is no collision as she calls out to him.

"Hey. You doing okay?"

Most out this way were hunting or going for lumber, so she can't help but to worry about him just wandering out here. Not like her runs haven't just endangered him recently.

[imareporter]

"Huh?"

Eddie blinks, "Oh yeah. No. I was just thinking-holy shit did we almost collide? I'm sorry."

I was trying to tell you.

No you weren't. Don't lie.

I was.

"nothing much to do except try to wander around. Figured I'd..." He paused, "Okay I'm just going in circles. There's really not a whole hell of a lot to do at all. Makes me nervous."

Train! Take advantage of the terrain! you must be a warrior too if you want to help others! More of that and less of this - social justice warrior you call yourself!

Eddie's head cants to the side like he's listening for something before ignoring it.]

You're at least keeping busy huh?

[connatural]

Ashley actually laughs, amused more than worried. "It's what I get for constantly running around," she admits, figuring that thought she had for her father might actually be something she should use for herself so she could warn people she was coming.

"Figured we don't know where this all is going so I can at least prepare." She snorts then, rolling her eyes as she settles her hands on her hips. "Doesn't help at all that I'm so used to working at home, and not sure what to do with myself here so... training. You? Were you looking for something out this way?"

[eaglesonofnone]

His house was not far from the mill. He'd chosen a place that far out intentionally. It had made it purposeful, his walking, his running, his exercising, regaining his wind. It had only been a few days, but he was finding that his body worked well - well enough that, when he saw the offer on the strange wrist device, he only had to think for a short while before deciding to accept.

He put on the thinner clothing he'd arrived in, knowing that the work would warm him and the thicker dishdasha would only gather sweat. So when he arrived, wearing the strange combination of magenta scrubs and his white ghutrah, there was a hint of a smile around his lips. "Are you willing to spar against a young old man?"

[connatural]

For the most part Ashley has been converting what she can find into something useful to wear. While the latest gift meant she has one good outfit for winter, there's nothing to work out in. So she's wearing a pair of stretching pants she found that she had to cut off to fit, and a tee shirt she's converted into a crop top to give her freedom of movement.

Ashley chuckles at that, giving him a look as if judging him though she can't help but smile. "I have spent my entire life around young old people," she admits. "I think, honestly, my mom might give you a run for your money on that and she travels the world so I expect you not to take things easy on me," she notes, folding her arms over her chest. "I've got this feeling maybe you can help me get the work out I need."

[eaglesonofnone]

"So long as you return the promise," he said, "and won't 'take things easy' on me, either. My reflexes will only return if they are made to, and gentleness would not be a part of that."

One at a time, Altaïr rolled his shoulders, stretched his neck, and flexed his hands. "I have no weapons as yet. Shall we spar unarmed?"

[connatural]

"You got it," she says, smiling widely, definitely excited by the possibility. "I was never raised to be gentle, which I'm sure there's a flaw in there somewhere but..." She shrugs. Whatever.

Warmed up from her run, she bounces on the balls of her feet before moving to take braid she's wearing and twists it up into a knot so it's not a hand hold on her hair.

"Where'd you learn to fight?"

[ethnobotany]

Beverly chooses not to respond to the network text message. Instead, she decides to make her way over to the mill one morning, early enough that she hopes she'll beat most of the people Ashley may have volunteering to help her out. Whatever has the young woman worked up, Beverly hopes she can at least help her channel that energy, if not actively work through it.

Still, she turns up with her hair braided behind her, tucked out of the way so she can properly help. She isn't much of one for sparring, per se, and probably not the way Ashley is imagining it, but she does have something to offer.

"How do you feel about learning a new form of martial arts?" she asks as she approaches. "It's similar to an Earth form, but it's also very different."

[connatural]

She's just finishing up her run, wearing scrub pants and a sports bra that probably was once someone's tee shirt. It let her work out and be comfortable, despite the cool air. It did little to hide the bruises she bore. Tiny ones here and there, a large one on her forearm, another on her hip, just visible on the edge of the pants. Some were yellowing, one on her arm much darker. None of it seems to bother her though.

Glancing up, she smiles as she wipes her brow with her arm. "I feel that I can use any training I can get, so yeah. That would be awesome." She pauses though, considering it. "What planet is it from?"

[ethnobotany]

The bruises are a bit worrying, enough so for Beverly to give Ashley a quick glancing over. The young woman looks like she's moving well enough. She isn't favoring anything, so for now Beverly is willing to let it go.

"Qo'noS," Beverly answers, pronouncing it like Chronos. "So it's not my native culture, either. But I was learning from a friend who is a part of that culture. Hopefully, that will help me teach you." She laughs a little, as though she's just taken a shot at herself. "It's supposed to be used as a form of meditation and a way to clear your mind so you think less and just act in the heat of battle. I'll show you the basic forms and then we can slowly work towards connecting them. How does that sound?"

[connatural]

An unwillingness to back down has always helped Ashley when it comes to her job, in being able to track anything, seek them out, and to not find herself ending up bleeding and broken on the ground.

The flip side of that is that in pushing herself, she doesn't pay attention to how hard she's gone until later when the marks show, but she is loving all that she is learning. Bright eyes, smiling widely as she listens and nods to that.

"That sounds amazing, so definitely. Of course, I mean, who says no to learning alien tai chi or something?'

[cryptoherpetology]

UN: Alex. Price

I was on my college fencing team, and have a fair amount of training. I'll see you shortly.

A man in a white tank top and black scrubs arrives not long after the message from one Alex Price. His air of academic nerdery still clings to him despite his woeful (to him, anyway) lack of tweed and the scruff he's starting to grow on his face.

Despite his mild-mannered posture, he has the build of an athlete or fighter of some sort, and when he picks up one of the swords from the pile, he handles it with a a deft ease, testing the weight and balance of it in his hand.

"Hey. Still looking for a partner? As I mentioned, I was on the fencing team in college." From which he had to resign when his winning streaks were getting a little too much attention, risking Covenant discovery. He'd joined the local SCA after that, and Antimony still breaks out the pictures of him in garb to show anyone willing to look at them.

[connatural]

That definitely seems like a good answer, though when he shows up, Ashley takes some time looking him over. He reminds her of some of her "god" family. The men and women of Academia that have been part of their family for decades, some that she knew by name and pictures and presents they left for her. In a way he makes her wonder what Watson was like back in the day and if this is what he was like then.

"I will always be looking for anything to keep me on point," she admits, offering him a grin. "I've used swords well enough, though usually a two handed broadswords. Rapiers don't do much in the things where I've needed swords." It didn't cleave a head, for one. "But I'm willing to try. What's the worse that happens? I've bled before."

[cryptoherpetology]

"I'm pretty decent with a longsword, haven't worked as much with the heavier blades. And I tend to use knives more often than not in the field. But honestly? Swords are more fun," he confesses with a hint of a wry smile.

He laughs at her agreeableness. "You'd get along with my sister," he says. "I used to help her bandage her feet after dance competitions." Admittedly, Verity hadn't appreciated that he put the extra effort and money in to getting her the "no-chew" vet wrap to keep the gauze on. In his defense, it had once stopped something from chewing on her ankle, and she'd at least stopped complaining about it after that.

un. Danny Rand; Starting with a text before Action

[theimmortalweapon]

I am opening the Dojo if you would like a place to spar.

Besides that I am also happy to spar with you or teach you if you're in need of more traning.

[Danny doesn't like to come off as cocky but he's a master in several forms of martial arts and a handful of different weapons. He's spent most of his life training his body and mind, becoming the perfect weapon.]

[connatural]

I would love that. You're awesome to be opening one. Even if we never need it, I think a lot of us are used to it.

I am always up for new methods and training. Most of my training was field work and involved a lot of weapons I don't have here, so definitely up for that.

[She's going to assume he wouldn't offer if he didn't know what he is doing, and if she can learn more here, she's all for it.]

[theimmortalweapon]

I can teach weapons too and I'm in the middle of collecting things that can be used in training but until then we can focus on hand to hand combat.

[Danny is very good at fighting... its the only things he's very good at.]

[borneinblood]

Druitt doesn't answer the text Ashley sends. He notices it, yes. But he rather doubts that she'll be particularly interested in the idea of sparring with him. Or more accurately, doesn't imagine that she'll say as much, if he should happen to speak up in response. And with her having mentioned where she's going to be there's no need to even so much much as speak up to ask where potential sparring partners can find her.

Instead, he simply turns up out of the blue one morning. As if this is nothing more than a casual visit, and never mind that things are not - and have never been - casual between them.

"I heard you were looking for sparring partners?"

[connatural]

At least this time she sees him coming so there's no repeat of their first meeting here, but she really isn't sure what to think. Planting her hands on her hips, watching him and waiting. Then he makes it clear he'd seen her message and for a second all she can do is blink at him.

"Yeah, uhmmm, that was the message," she says, lips pursing as she considers this. "Guess it would be a bit more fair than the last time. No gun for me. No teleporta..." She stops, arching a brow. "Naw, you've already paid whatever price they're asking, haven't you?"

[borneinblood]

"To have it back?"

Ashley is, admittedly, correct in assuming that his teleportation is the one thing he misses most. If he can truly be said miss something that's become so much of who he is, over the years. It's something that he might not have had from the very beginning, yes. But it's his all the same, and the idea that he could be stripped of the power that had lain dormant in his blood is... not precisely comforting.

"There are... means, I'll admit. But none of them are permanent."

Which leaves them very much on an even footing at the moment, although he leaves it to her to draw that conclusion herself rather than directly come out and say it.