[ open ] swift as the coursing rain, with all the force of a great typhoon

[flashbanging]

CHARACTERS: McCree; Koltira; yOU
DATE: First few weeks post-arrival in Perdition's Rest
WARNINGS: somebody might hit somebody else
SUMMARY: TRAINING DAY(s)



MCCREE

[ McCree's set up near the northwestern border of the town. He's constructed a line of targets--six flour sacks tied to poles, facing the expanse of desert beyond--and he's spinning his revolvers in his good hand. He's got a mess of other guns piled on top of a nearby barrel, some borrowed from Riza Hawkeye, some purchased from the local munitions shop. Attached to the barrel is a sign:

SHARPSHOOTING
(OR HAND-TO-HAND)
HERE. ]

KOLTIRA

[ Koltira's on the southern outskirts. Anyone conducting business in the town proper can see him just beyond the edges of the last buildings, giant sword in hand, black coattails fluttering behind him as he paces. He has no targets, and no sign, either. He has the sword in his hand, the knives on his belt, and a scowling expression on his face. ]


[ OOC: TRAINING, with either Koltira or McCree. Obviously, totally separate from one another--I just combined the log so as not to spam the community needlessly. If no actual training was discussed on record, but you'd still like to have your character learn something, feel free to handwave that discussion.

McCree offers: sharpshooting; brawling.

Koltira offers: weapons training; magic if you're capable; hand-to-hand also.

McCree is a friendly and patient teacher.

Koltira is not.

Of course, if you'd just like to bother them while they are holding deadly weapons, that is also fine. Please comment to either subheader below for a custom starter! Please specify what you're here for! ]

Comments

[respired]

[ Koltira's senses are superlative. The long ears aren't for show, and his eyes perceive detail even in near darkness. He turns his head, slowly, in Sai's direction. He has Byfrost drawn, and he hefts it up against his shoulder as he calls out. ]

Do you need something?

[daimeinashi]

[With most ordinary individuals, Sai would be able to be inconspicuous without even trying very hard, but Koltira isn't an ordinary individual, and Sai isn't trying particularly hard.

He doesn't move from where he was perched in a nearby tree when spotted, instead simply calling out in return]

I merely wished to observe.

[And maybe ask a few questions about things, but that can wait until Koltira's done.]

[respired]

[ He frowns, and then drives Byfrost down into the dirt. Leaning on its hilt, he shakes his head. ]

I am alone. There is nothing to observe.

[daimeinashi]

There have been people coming out here periodically and returning worse for wear. I was curious. You've been sparring with them, correct?

[respired]

[ He taps his fingers against the hilt, nodding. ]

I have. What of it?

[daimeinashi]

I thought I might be able to figure out why if I lingered long enough.

[in other words, he wasn't actually planning on saying anything until you spotted him]

You were quite adamant that Audentes was not truly a team, before. So I don't understand your reasons for training with the other members.

[respired]

[ He shakes his head. ]

More precisely, they are not my team.

[ Because he doesn't rightfully belong on a team. ]

In any case, I need the distraction. And they need the practice.

[daimeinashi]

[Okay, you know what, that's fair. He doesn't real think of Audentes as his team, either. But still...]

And yet, you wish to help them nonetheless. Why?

[He said he needed a distraction, but Sai doesn't really understand that. From his training, distractions are supposed to be universally a bad thing, something that prevented mission success. He can't really conceive of it in a positive light.]

What do you mean by needing a distraction?

[respired]

[ Why? Because they need it. Because even if he's not fit to be among them, he wants them to survive. Because he cares for some of them, despite himself.

He doesn't know how to articulate that. ]

... It passes time.

[ He looks away, worrying his lower lip. Not a lie. Not the full truth, but not a lie. ]

I grow restless when not engaged in battle. Dangerously so.

[daimeinashi]

[Dangerously so? What does that mean? He doesn't understand.]

Even though it might diminish your energy for when Audentes is required to face actual combat?

[Look, he's operating under the assumption that you are a regular soldier type and not an unstoppable death machine ok.]

[respired]

My energy does not diminish.

[ He frowns slightly. ]

The dead do not yield.

[daimeinashi]

"The dead"?