May 12 15:05:35 106 PA

From Chronicles

The current game time is: Thu May 12 15:05:35 106 PA.

Late in the afternoon, Desmond invites Kesslan to another training session. A regular thing now, each time that he can draw Kess away from his daily work and activity. As they walk into the area with heavy and speed bags, Desmond speaks to him. "It may be hard for you to learn to fight this way if you are trained more to use claws than to strike with fists as is proper with boxing," he explains.

Kesslan follows along at a casual and thoughtful pace, though he's hardly all that slow even so. "Truth, Kesslan with claw and tooth learn fight, for it is weapon given to us and should be used." he says in considering the matter. "Is hard to stop instinct to do so. Too Kesslan however see can why sometime not good claw use for thing. Too is style with claw not good so much if one claws can not through armor go."

"It will be a new means of testing your control," Desmond suggests. "Come, let me show this to you." He motions for Kesslan to follow needlessly as he moves over to one of the speedbags. "This is a means of training speed and rhythm," he notes as he moves up to the hanging bag. "The goal of it is to be struck by a rolling series of light strikes that will bounce it rapidly. It is called a speedbag and at times I find the use of it quite calming. Simple, focused activity that requires little thought once it becomes instinct." He miming the sort of rolling motion without touching the bag just yet. "It is something you should practice with when you can, for mastering it is a proper step towards mastering the art of boxing."

Kesslan examines the, to him, oddity of the speed bag. One ear perks up while the other flattens down in mind confusion as Desmond explains the use of the device to him. Still, he trusts in Desmond's judgement on such things. When his time comes to take his place before it he slips into a mimic of one of the fighting poses Desmond had shown him earlier, though his own intial strike towards the speedball still intially has him streatching out fingers as if to claw at the bag, only instead his knuckles rap agaist it in an almost timid manner as he tests the weight and response of the (to him) bizare training tool.

"It is strange to begin, but the goal is simple to strike, then strike again as it rebounds back towards you. The pace needed is quick, but once it is found it comes easily," Desmond rumbles. He moves to the bag next to it and demonstrates. THough the bag itself is not reinforced for one of his power, he shows the steadily growing mastery of his strength in not damaging the bag. Starting with a slow roll of his fists, demonstrating the proper place to stand, roughly. The posture. Then working up slow, steady hits at a pace to show the process, each rap against the bag causing it to bounce back and forth in response until the next slow roll of fist hits.

Kesslan studies Desmond's movements a few moments before getting the general idea at least. The pantheran reaching up to lightly punch at the bag before him, starting off with a slow even pace. Notably however he seems to have to get used to the idea of actually forming a fist rather than simply clawing at the swinging bag. As he does so his momvents seem to slow a little, as if his fingers were just a little more nible than the rest of his hands. At first he starts off with just one hand, and then the other, lightly punching at the bag as he tries to judge it's reistance. For while he's not as strong as Desmond by far, he's still hardly a weakling and had long learned to be a little careful with the equipment in the gym untill he was able to tell if it could take his full force or not.

Once Kesslan starts to work the bag, Desmond leaves off his own demonstration to move nearer his friend, observing keenly. His aid will be subtle. A brief few words of guidance. Brief touches to subtly correct his posture or method of attack at the bag. Though in part learning is done through doing and Desmond's positive reinforcement of the gains made. Good and Better are words that Kesslan will hear often from him.

Kesslan's form and posture slowly improves. However, it's not without it's occasional slip back to far more familar ways. Something Desmond will find he has to still correct the smaller feline on time to time. Eventually however as time wears on, while his speed does not increase terribly much, he gets a little more used to at least punching properly, more and more forming a proper fist rather than one with the fingers still held out slightly.

Patience is something Desmond has much of and he shows it as those small improvements are made. Soon enough, he calls a pause. "This was important, learning the proper fist makes for less chance that a sparring partner will be harmed," he notes. "True boxing loves are quite unwieldy, but we shall use those lighter when the time comes. Such that you need not grow used to those thicker gloves while learning the basics."

"Good that would be." Kesslan admits "Such things.. find I them un.." he frowns a moment, seeming to think "Srata" he says softly in his own native tongue, the language translator he has implanted soon offering up the answer "Un-well-d-yy." "Unweldy?" "Unwheeldy..?" the feline not quite clear on how to properly pronouce the word. "Is not comfortable feel."

Desmond nods his head, pausing the boxing training to pronounce the word for Kesslan again, slower with a proper emphasis where needed. This done without a flicker from his firm set expression. "I sometimes forget that your skills with the language are still improving. You've made great strides over the months. Nearly a year, I believe?" He frowns faintly, as if seeking to remember back through the hazy months that have passed.

Kesslan slowly pauses to turn and regard Desmond as he tries to think back on all that time gone by "By counting of Pantheran, it has been three hand of claws since Kesslan in Kingsdale come. Of time on this world spend, a broken lesser fang it has been think Kesslan. In numbers of the counting of this world, five hundred of days yours has it been or more since this world arrived did I." he frowns a little "Or more perhaps, hard for Kesslan to track of such thing."

"The days pass without counting when one does not pay attention to them," Desmond muses. He lifts a hand, firmly patting Kesslan's shoulder. "A good time in some ways for the both of us." More so, perhaps, for him, yet he avoids such a distinction. He considers, then motions for Kesslan to come away from the speedbag. "Something new.. we shall test your reflexes in striking a moving target," he decides. Moving to an open space.

"As good time as one expect can in world as this truth." Kesslan admits readily enough. He for one, dispite all his setbacks and other problems seems to at least try to keep a positive outlook on things. Afterall, it could all be oh so much worse for him and he knows it. "Better still is with help of Desmond and Aimee." he adds as he moves to follow. It's clear he's currious as to just what Desmond intends, seeming also a little suspicious of having an idea of just what exactly he wanted to do, but clearly not certain either.

Desmond explains readily enough once they stand face to face again. "Now, you will strike at my palms as I reveal them to you. Firmly. I will not move them as quickly as I could, but quick enough to provide a steady challenge." He lifts his hands then, turned side towards Kesslan. Once he's ready, Des will begin to slowly weave his hands. randomly turning a palm towards Kesslan, high or low, to one side and the other. Each will shift, moving in a quick dart to 'evade' a potential strike, giving him a brief few moments to react before it turns away again.

Kesslan simply studies the movements at first, ears perking up to full heightened alert. His body slowly starting to sway and weave just a little as he builds himself up to the moment. A calm metal reminder to himself to hold to the methods Desmond is training him in. "Karrta sorr-trak." he murmurs to himself as if some old saying, briefly pausing to explain to Desmond "Adapt, conquer. Or overcome.. several meaning have this in language yours. Meaning still same in end." a brief flash of a fist then towards one of Desmond's open palms. "This way fight learn Kesslan will to better adapt in future when need, yes?"

"Adaptation is the essence of a warrior," Desmond rumbles deeply, continuing to slowly weave his hands, save for those flashes of palm and quick darts of 'dodges'. Speaking slowly as he half focuses on the words, half on his own motions. "Many new things you will learn in this. Simple, but important when it comes to how humans fight. Not quite the same has how you and I are used to.. the claws are so much more natural."

"Truth." Kesslan admits as he seems to often find himself saying around Desmond. Another fist flashing out towards an exposed palm in an attempt to connect with a solid blow. "But so too have of other ways of fight Kesslan seen and study. Adapt as need to own way that better for Kesslan feel." Now another quick double jab, one fist followed by the next as he tries to concentrate on Desmond's movements. It's clear he's not as fast but he's still not a bad fighter all told, just perhaps a little slow or inexperienced. "This too in time Kesslan will master yes? Adapt as need. Learn from."

Desmond doesn't test Kesslan too hard, more wishing the movement than to truly push the envelope with his natural speed. Keeping it random and sudden, the reveal of palm target. Nodding at the better strikes, the ones that fall short simply ignored. "Yes, you will. This has led be to consider what you might show me. Perhaps some of your own specialized talents with firearms," he suggests. "Those times I have seen you fight, I have noticed there is something.. different about your own specialization."

Kesslan nods in response, still targeting the flashing palms as best he can. His vocal responses however slow as he starts to concentrate a little more uppon his present task. Still he responds to Desmond after a moment and a few punches later. "Kesslan can this try to show Desmond. Not know how well show can.. some is.." he pauses thinking of the word to use "Instinct. Thing Kesslan show Desmond can not, connection as this Kesslan have with weapon, is perhaps why Spirit Warrior is. Small and faint, but there still is. Know of those far better than Kesslan with these thing, stronger connection with spirits have. But so too is some this training, the knowing. Much as this thing 'Boxing' show you Kesslan."

Desmond nods his head once. "I excel at face to face battle. My skills at range are.. good, but common," hew muses slowly, continuing the smooth movements of his hands as they speak slowly. "Just as I learned this to strengthen my defenses, it makes sense that I now focus on those skills that I am lesser at. To balance my talents. Broaden that which I know."

"As Kesslan now does with thing other as this." Kesslan affirms "Adapt to that which understand not, learn when and what can. Better for shall you then be." he offers up as advice, finally pausing in the boxing practice to consider what Desmond speaks of. "Quick Desmond is, Quick.. but.. untrained yes in ways to better use such speed. Kesslan not as quick as, but adapt better maybe in part. Each to own strength and weakness."

Desmond pauses as well, his hands lowering slowly. He nods once, accepting Kesslan's words without a flicker. "My speed lends itself to the body and physical extensions of it. The claws, the knife, the cudgel. All I am skilled with. But the energy weapon does not have that same flow. It is not a weapon I feel at one with in the same way." His expression thoughtful on that point.

"Truth, such speed limited in is in way can use, but not as much as Desmond think. Need you only know the way of such a thing. The gun, like knife is instrutment of delicate precision. As with Boxing, need you only learn the rule of such thing. The restraint and flow. Like boxing, quick must you be to respond and flow and weave." The pantheran mimics the shape of a gun with his hand, pointing a finger as a barrel to Desmond as he darts to one side and then the other, training it uppon the large Kill Cat even as he preforms a brief single handstand before comming back down uppon his feet. While he's clearly not as quick as Desmond, Kesslan clearly shows he has some odd sort of sense of balance and control, perhaps simply more of the latter as even such simple movements flow at times almost as if he were like a juicer, and yet he could never quite match such a display as the chemically augmented warriors are capable of. Still, for a being who has no such augmentation it's hardly an unimpressive feat. "Better than Kesslan at this are many. So too in time with this Desmond may become. Have you grace of movement Kesslan natural have not."

Desmond observes Kesslan closely and nods his head once as the smaller male ends his demonstration. "That is not something I know the way of, yet," he admits. Curious, yet conscious of his own limits. "I would, of course, seek to surpass you as any proper student would. It would be my fondest wish to see your skills exceed mine, though I will admit that is unlikely." Plainly spoken, yet the wish seems true enough. "I find myself quite eager to learn more of your ways. To understand such control with firearms. Perhaps to learn to use more of them. The projectile weapons.. I prefer lasers as they are silent and there is no kick to battle. The projectile weapons.. they unsettle me when I have tried to fire them. Though manageable, that kick feels strange after having used lasers for so long."

Kesslan offers up another nod "Such is Kesslan preference too. More accurate the laser is in end. QUicker to respond and hit. But one discount must not the other weapons. Skilled is Kesslan in may such thing, but many other is not so. Understand however there never has been a gun could not. But to use proper? That is a thing not so good. In end, like any fighter Kesslan have preference over certain gun to another. Funny in way this is, for while many simple guns of Kesslan's world is not so good with, many other of the beings from beyond the stars Kesslan good with is.. very good. But not as good as could be if only way to improve could..." he pauses in thought "With augmentations of this world availble, could much better be.. but such is not a cost Kesslan wish pay if needed not. Of the chemical, life too short. Of the machine, too.. too much is lost."

Desmond frowns faintly at that. "Yes.. the Juicers." There is a soft distaste there. "Aimee once feared, perhaps, I would end up as such. I did once consider a softer means of chemical enhancement.. 'stims' they are called. Used to give brief augmentation. But the ones that I might use.. with minimal chance to effect me poorly, do little to aid. And Juicers.." He shakes his head. "I would not do such a thing," he states plainly. "I could not understand such a need.. though perhaps I never shall, as my own natural prowess is near to their own, some have said."

"Truth, but in end, for those not as you, not as I. It is a way to better become. Even for one such as I, even better still. But so too is this thing not for one as Kesslan made. Dangerous would be, too dangerous think Kesslan. But the cost. The cost is one Kesslan understands. The choice. To give up so much when reasons right are. For in end, with such power one could many life safe that would otherwise lost be. If one fight for those one love, for those one care and for generations future. Then such a price is worth paying." Kesslan suggests "IF such was the cost to save Sirev, many pantheran would pay. For in end, to save Pantheran many life lost will there be, but if one can do so with such augmentaiton then fewer life likely lost will be though many lost still."

Desmond nods, but his frown lingers, the big male breathing out a low breath. "I can see the logic, yet the sacrifice.. it is more than one could ask of another. To snuff life to a heartbeat of time. A year seems so small in a life such as mine, yet for one who is augmented so the span is greater." He extends a hand to place it on Kesslan's shoulder. "A selfish thing, but I do hope you never need make that choice, that sacrifice."

Kesslan nods in agreement "SUch is not a choice Kesslan easy would make. But if such a thing needed were, if such a risk worth were. Then Kesslan hesitate would not. Honor, Duity and more there is to such a thing. But for now Kesslan live must at all cost, and so instead to the machine would Kesslan turn. Live longer, but lesser in many way. This too a sacrifice is. It is not Kesslan's place to such the way of a Juicer follow. Such is not as Kesslan is ordered do." he pauses looking away a moment "When elder here come so long ago now, say he that Kesslan must try and live. And so then this Kesslan must do at any cost. But so too may the cost be things wich Kesslan not wish pay."

"I understand," Desmond replies simply, the hand on Kesslan's shoulder squeezing before he slowly releases. "Come now, we have allowed ourselves to be distracted.. hardly fitting." True enough, though more training would distract from the darker thoughts of the moment. And Desmond will readily spend a few hours more with Kesslan this day, patiently aiding him in the mastery of this new combat form.

Kesslan nods once and then returns to his practice alongside Desmond. The pantheran however seems hardly bothered by the idea of such a fate as he'd described. Of course, given how well Desmond knows him, that clearly can not be the full truth. And yet Kesslan has always been of a practical mind and purpose. Often all too ready to face and accept the challenges put before him and the sacrifices that such may demand... even if it means loosing the very things the smaller feline loves so much. Dispite such lingering possibilities however, Kesslan especialy now more so than before seems to live for the moment, clearly savouring his time with Desmond while he has it, even in such mundane matters as training.