Day 155

[fuckthemancers]

Who: Zulf and you
Open: Open
When: Day 155
Where: The training hall
What: Zulf tries to remember an old street thief skill from his childhood, along with some weapon practice.
Format: Any
Warnings: Nothing comes to mind

As he had said plenty of times before, Zulf is not a fighter. Certainly he knows enough survival skills to last out on the Skyway for some time- he's managed before after all. However, that's more in evading and hiding. When it comes to actual weaponry... Well, he's not exactly combat ready. He can avoid shooting or cutting himself and that's it. That won't do much good if he plans to keep on going out onto the Skyway like this- with Colin's Observatory expedition and his plans with Zayna.

If you pass by the training hall today, depending on the time of day, you'll find Zulf training on one of tw things. For the occasion, he's dressed down with just a simple button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a plain lavender skirt.

In the morning, he seems to be doing what looks like evasion practice. There seems to be something he's aiming for although it's hard to tell what. The movements are sharp and almost jerky before Zulf takes a step back with a frown and a shake of his head. This goes on for a couple of hours... But if your character is nearby, they might hear a triumphant shout. In the training hall, there might for some reason be some faint gray... dust? Hanging in the air.

Come afternoon, and it's weapons training. Or, rather, Zulf has both a Fanged Repeater and a War Machete and he's doing a lot of awkward staring at both. It's the look of a man who isn't entirely comfortable with guns or large sharp blades. Still, he'll at least... give the Fanged Repeater a shot. Anyone watching him while he's doing target practice can probably tell right away that he's very slow to get his aim just right. The machete?

...Despite a certain kid's compliments, Zulf just keeps staring at it. No seriously how.

Comments

[notduchess]

The knight is just in a black turtleneck and pants. Same thing that was worn for the festival, really.

That sure is Zulf with a sword that he's just.. staring at.

"Usually the sharp side is what you want to swing at things."

[fuckthemancers]

There's a slight jolt before Zulf relaxes a bit. Oh, he has company.

"I'm... well aware. I'm just worried that at my level of expertise- which is near zero frankly- the 'things' I end up swinging at may be empty space at best or my own allies at worst."

[notduchess]

"That's what this place is for. Put that down for a moment." And the knight starts across the room to some of the cabinets.

Look, this one holds blunt things that look vaguely like that machete, and then Duke steps over to a wider one.

"There's some training dummies in these ones. Set up a dummy for you to hit, and another dummy that you want to avoid. Or I could put my armor on and you can deal with a moving ally."

[fuckthemancers]

Fairly obediently, Zulf sets the machete down to the side and bustles over to where Duke is. It's actually something of a relief to have someone who knows what they're doing here with him. Still careful, he takes one of the training weapons in his hand and gets a feel for it."

"I should probably start with my form first just to be safe, although I thank you very much for the offer. You deal with blades often, then?"

[blackblooded]

"... Do you want to spar?" Crona doesn't spend too much time training, but sometimes (like right now) Ragnarok wants to tear things apart. Training dummies are good for getting his excess aggression out.

"I can teach you to use that." Probably. Crona's experience is with a broadsword, but a machete shouldn't be too much different, right? Not that Crona looks the part of a swordsman, slender and awkward, wearing a brightly striped Ura skirt and a white polo shirt.

[fuckthemancers]

"Spar?" Zulf looks just a little uneasy at the idea as he turns around, lowering the machete. He gets over himself quickly enough, rolling his shoulders a little bit. "I'm afraid I wouldn't be much of an opponent. Combat isn't something I've often had to deal with." He's more of an evader, quick on his feet and able to hide well enough to fool most beasts of the wild.

"Still, I would accept any help, if you truly don't mind."

[blackblooded]

"Then don't spar. Just practice. You can't practice against someone who isn't alive. You won't learn that way." Crona is from more of a school of hard knocks than any actual guided training.

"Hey, Ragnarok?" The tone is something half-way between a question and a command, Crona holding a hand outstretched like it's already gripping a blade. Black liquid flows down Crona's arm, drips almost to the floor before condensing into a black and white sword with a grinning, obviously living mouth set near the handle.

"You planning on going easy on this guy, Crona?"

"He said he doesn't know how to use it. You heard him."

1/he doesn't even

[fuckthemancers]

[fuckthemancers]

This is the look of someone who is suddenly regretting what he's just agreed to.

3/???

[fuckthemancers]

[followsthevoice]

Need some help?

[Came a voice from behind Zulf as none other than Raile stepped into the Training Hall. He had heard the sounds of someone working inside the building and with nothing much to do with his arm in a sling, he had decided to take a look. He wouldn't be able to give as good of lessons as he'd like sans an arm, but he was sure he'd be able to give Zulf a tip or two on how to use these particular weapons.]

[fuckthemancers]

[He's just starting to put down the machete and pick up the repeater again since at least that he has a decent idea of what to do with when he hears Raile's voice. He perks up a bit and turns around.]

I wouldn't oppose it- but first, how's your arm doing?

[followsthevoice]

'S gettin' better, but I don't think I should be pushin' it too hard.

[He said as he walked over and picked the War Machete up in his good hand. It was a good thing he was mildly ambidextrous and the Machete was something he could use with one hand.]

Still, i can give y'a few pointers here and there without hurtin' m'self.

[amnesiadragon]

Ryu just... stares at Zulf. He'd come in here to do target practice, but the confusion that the man is staring at the machete with just confuses him.

"... You don't know how to use that, do you?"

I'm sorry did you expect tact from Ryu?

[fuckthemancers]

Confusion all around, basically. At least Ryu's voice snaps Zulf out of his staring contest.

"Ah..." Well, it's not like he can lie. "No, I'm afraid I don't." Zulf gives a sigh. "However, a friend of mine said I might have some talent with it."

[amnesiadragon]

"Oh, I see."

He walks a little bit closer, and smiles as he realizes what part of the problem is.

"For a blade like that, you're holding it wrong. How would you hold a kitchen knife?"

[freedom_engineer]

Later in the day, Colin's on his way back from the skyway, a pack of scrap on his back. Some of this is going to go towards the training hall's dummies, and that's where he's heading.

Is that a Zulf? It sure looks like a Zulf...

[fuckthemancers]

'A' Zulf, yes apparently there is a Zulf infestation in the Bastion? Thanks, Colin. But yes, it's Zulf, looking a bit roughed up and sweaty which is certainly not a look often seen on him. Sometimes it's inevitable considering their current status at the end of the world, but he's rarely looked this worked up. He's holding a war machete and rolling his wrist around a little as if to test something when he hears Colin. Looking up, he gives his usual polite smile.

"Ah- good evening, Colin."

[freedom_engineer]

"Zulf, hey," Colin says, raising a hand to wave to him. "I didn't expect to see you here. You use a blade?"

He nods to the machete in Zulf's hand as he removes his backpack, his voice somewhat curious and maybe a little disbelieving.

[findsrisks]

Nanaki was not a fighter, but she did have her own way of exploring the Skyway. Most notably, she outran monsters instead of fighting them. She was more interested in grabbing supplies anyway, so she could make her way around some areas without drawing too much attention to herself.

On that day, she had intended to go out for supplies again, but the triumphant shout from the training hall (which she just happened to be walking by, since it's on the way to the Skyway) distracted her. Curious, she went to inspect it and see what had happened.

It only took her a few seconds to become confused. "What's with all the dust?"

[fuckthemancers]

"Hm?" Calming down a bit, Zulf turns around to see who's just spoken up. At the mention of dust, he at least looks a little bit sheepish. He's been so caught up in practicing, he'd forgotten that this would probably look like a strange scene to some people...

"I'm sorry, is it a problem? I should have checked to see if anyone was allergic first."

[findsrisks]

"No, it's not a problem," Nanaki said quickly, "It's just...strange, I guess? I mean, this place is new, it shouldn't be dusty, right?"

Then again, dirt from outside could have been tracked in. Or maybe whatever Zulf was doing to train made dust happen.

[paeon]

[ O'danya comes during Zulf's training with footwork. She watches silently from the doorway for a moment before deciding to enter, curious on what manner of technique he seems to be trying to learn. ]

Have you any particular goal in mind today, or are you simply keeping yourself able?

[fuckthemancers]

Ah- [This time the jerk of his movements is more from surprise than anything as he turns around. He was concentrating so much, he wasn't paying much attention to any visitors.]

Pardon me, I didn't hear you. And yes. I'm actually trying to remember how to do something I could do as a child. I- [He shifts a little awkwardly.] -used to be a thief, you see. Not anymore, of course! It... was a long time ago.

[paeon]

[ She just smiles at the awkwardness. It's kind of cute. ]

You've no need to worry. Certain skills can be useful even outside of their intended practice. Might I ask what in particular you are hoping to sharpen?