Sep 11 01:07:21 107 PA - Spar in the Gym
From Chronicles
Kingsdale - Harry's Gym
1PM in Kingsdale and while slightly less than pleasant outside, the establishment is climate controlled, always staying a nice 75 degrees, not too hot and not too cold. The sparring room is dominated by the single huge sparring ring in the center, and currently there are two men, one with a bionic hand.. sparring. Both using fairly basic moves, just boxing really, with a few throws thrown in. Resting against one wall, Sarah stands watching them, a calm and very relaxed look on his features.
Some prefer training in the world outside, as the trials one trains for would arrive, whether it be to strengthen muscle, skill, or will. Not all do, however, so Daeni enters the sparring room to observe how others would better themselves, or if they truly do.
Sarah turns to look at Daeni as she enters, the elven woman getting a very polite smile and half bow as she nears him, as he's standing near the entrance. But he says nothing, instead turning is serene blue eyes back on the fight in progress. It's hard to tell if he is officiating, or silently judging them. The men go back and forth in the ring, and finally the one with the bionic one takes the upper hand, catching his opponents fist in that metal hand. From there it's downhill, a one sided fight.
Daeni comes to a halt just inside the entrance to observe. It appears that she arrived in time to witness the quick degradation of the duel into the unmatched results. She looses a mild snort along with an appraisal. "When no skill, strongest arm win."
Sarah breaks into a slight smile at Daeni's comment. "The two can go hand in hand you know. Skill and strength." He offers quietly, his sky blue gaze now on the elven woman before him.
Grey eyes pan from the end of the spar to the man nearby. Daeni surveys him as she speaks. "Can have both, not always. Many think same, are not."
Sarah looks more like a scholar than anything else. Perhaps he's quoting from a book. "Depends on the individual in question. Besides, strength does not always mean strength of arm. Perhaps it refers to strength of will, or character perhaps." He offers, his tone easy and polite.
"Not matter what strong," Daeni shares her opinion, "if not know how use. Only clumsy with no skill."
Sarah only smiles. "Indeed." He replies, not agreeing particularly, but not disagreeing. Avoiding conflict in either case.
Daeni stands just inside the entrance to the sparring room as she speaks to Sarah. A rather unbalanced has recently concluded in favor of the man with the metal hand. She now turns from the nearby man to regard the ring once more. Perhaps the subsequent duel will display more skills.
The older guy, for an adventurous type, at least, the one who is being seen increasingly more around the city just sort of wanders into the room. He's not dressed for sparring or anything. Probably just still exploring. The unfamiliar man and the tall elf woman are acknowledged with only a quiet nod so as to not disturb things in progress.
Sarah see's the older man enter but turns his attentions back on Daeni. "Perhaps you should spar someone, show them your skill?" He suggests to the woman, smiling easily as he does so. "I'm sure there is someone willing to spar you."
"Could show," Daeni admits with a light roll of her shoulders, "but human break easy. Is no challenge. If kill all, no more train fight." It is a simple enough justification in her mind.
The new fellow slowly makes his way over to the two who'd already been there. "Hello, Daeni. Sir," he acknowledges of the other man. "You're a very curious woman, Daeni. Always talking about killing or breaking things." His statement is closed with an honest smile.
Sarah nods easily and eases off the wall in a single relaxed movement. "Well, if you can find no other participants I will spar you." He replies, that easy smile on his face. Upon Gabriels greeting though, he turns and gives a slight bow. "Well met sir, I am Sarah." He tells them both, then looking curiously back at Daeni to hear her explanation.
Daeni eyes Sarah with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. "Are calm for want hurt, dead." Her focus pans to Gabriel following his words. "Not always. Only when need warn. When not need, not talk, only do."
Gabriel gives Daeni a wide smile. "Is that one of those 'there is no try, only do, and do not?' Because when I was in Red China, I met this guy who was about 100 years old, and that was his advice." His attention turns to the other man, and his right arm is extended in greeting, or at least greeting where he's from. "Good to meet you, name's Gabriel. Is 'Sarah' a family name?"
Sarah smiles at Daeni, offering only a shrug. "I am calm because there is nothing to get excited or upset about, and I don't want to hurt anyone, only to defend myself and those who cannot defend themselves." He says as he glances at Gabriels hand for a moment, then judges it to be freindly and clasps his arm, gripping his wrist, and putting his own slender wrist in Gabriels open palm. "Well met Gabriel. and you are close. My grandmothers name was Sarah, and she performed great deeds, I was named after her in hopes that I would follow suit." He replies simply.
Gabriel gives the other man's arm a decent grip, and a couple of shakes before releasing himself. There's a somewhat sad tone to his voice, and it slips from its more proper sounds and into what at another time and place would be called a good Kentucky accent. "My wife and I had a number of children, all girls. We had a Sarah, she was twelve when we left." He nods and purses his lips together a bit. "It's a good name." He looks around him in that way that people look around, knowing that they wont' recognize anything, and that they probably don't have a reference point to begin with, but do anyway, and asks, "So, are you from... ah, well, not just Kingsdale, I'll just say, 'around here?'"
Sarah doesn't volunteer any more information about his grandmother, but rather he answers Gabriels next question. "No I am not from around here. You would likely not enjoy my retelling my experiences there." He tells him gently. "I am new to the area." He finishes, leaving off any details.
The other man nods as if he really does believe at least that he truly understands. "I haven't been here long myself. I'm sure that I could entertain children, but among other men - or the right kind of woman - I'm sure that my tales would be equally bland." He manages a chuckle, a genuine one, and then comments on their surroundings. "The last time that I was in a place like this, outside of the Marines, it was mainly fat people with straps around their backs trying to have the weight jiggled off."
Sarah laughs at the visual the fat people comemnt gives him, choosing not to coment on the blandness of his own background. "My experience with the outdoors is rather more hostile than what I've encountered here. I've seen roadthiefs.. and bandits, and such here, but no demons or monsters."
Daeni is quiet for some time as she studies the newest combatants to enter the ring. Neither bears any apparent physical advantage over the other, so perhaps this match shall be more educational. When she rejoins the conversation, it is with only the last few comments in mind. "Fat good on prey, not hunter."
Sarah inclines his head. "Fat has it's uses.. Keeps you warm in the winter, if you render it down you can make soap." He comments, though it doesn't look like he has an ounce of fat on him, thin and wiry. He doesn't say much more, instead letting Gabriel speak of magic and monsters, and ...television. whatever that is.
"Is good for use," Daeni reiterates for Sarah, "bad make slow, weak. Not catch prey if weak." A simple roll of her shoulders is made to Gabriel. "Many try kill, many reason. Need train, be strong, not die."
Gabriel inclines his head sideways and takes in the elf. "Oh, I agree, miss Daeni. Train, stay strong, I exercise every morning before I put my pants on, which is why I made camp far away from everyone else." There's a little grin obviously hoping for a return. "But I've found, in my particularly chosen line of work that strength isn't always what's necessary. Being quiet is very good, and it takes just as much practice."
Sarah stays quiet for now, seeing that his offer is going untaken, he leans back againthe wall and lets the other two talk. Much can be learned by simply observing. Both hands vanish into opposite sleeves, and he simply listens.
Daeni lifts a brow and eyes Gabriel with mild curiosity. "Train no pants? Is dangerous." Her attention subsequently returns to Sarah with similar curiosity. "Why guard others? If not strong enough guard self, die or get stronger. Others not learn if always other guard."
Gabriel carefully opens his mouth and speaks, "I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I joined the Marines because it was the best way to protect my family from madmen. Darwin, Natural Selection and all, that's fine and good for the dumb animals. But not people." There's a big shrug and in a very honest tone, he closes with, "However, I'm talking about defending and protecting from those who would do them harm. I'm not going to carry a billy-club, a snub-nosed thirty-eight and hand out tickets for speeding."
Sarah chuckles at Gabriels description, but turns to look at Daeni. "You misunderstand.. I take the place of those who cannot help themselves. Combat training where I am from is very selective. Comparatively few people know how to defend themselves. Also.. children and the infirm cannot help themselves, despite whatever skills or physical capabilities they may possess. I'd rather take on the foes menacing them then let them get hurt."
"Protect self first," Daeni opines rather flatly, "others after. Best protect is stop, kill danger." A momentary glance at Gabriel includes him in the advice before she queries Sarah. "Not train now? Not keep strong if not." A hand gestures towards the men already battling one another. "You train or only watch?"
Gabriel looks rather wary at the suggestion, or at least offer, of some mock combat. An eyebrow is raised, and he looks to the other man, perhaps hoping for more insight, as he asks, "Daeni, I already know that you're a lot stronger than me. If we wanted to prove that, I'd just have us arm-wrestle. But, sure, why not. 'long as you promise not to tear off an arm, break ribs, crush a spleen..." it just trails off.
Sarah looks Gabriel over quickly, then turns to Daeni. "I will spar you. I will do my best not to hurt you." the tiny little man tells her. Climbing up into the ring, he ducks under the ropes and takes a place against the far end, standing at ease, hands clasped in front.
Daeni begins to correct Gabriel, although it is quickly apparent that she need not do so. "Ask first," she further explains with a tip of her head towards Sarah, "but you can also, if want." More can be merrier in many tasks, and a confrontation is one of those, if only in Daeni's mind. She turns to stride after Sarah, a smirk now curling her lips as her head shakes. "Not think will hit, know will not hurt." The reference is to herself, of course, and she simply vaults casually over the ropes rather the stoop to pass between.
Gabriel looks a little surprised, and utters a quiet, "Oh. Okay. Well, I'll referee. Where are the gloves and shiny shorts?" The last statement is obviously meant as humor. He manages to find a space to lean against a contraption that looks like some kind of advanced-technology Spanish Inquisition device. Wearing an almost toothy grin, he calls, "Hey, where's the bookie? I have a single credit that could grow, it I bet it right!"
Sarah simply stands and waits for Daeni in the ring. He makes no move to take a stance or make a quick offense. Instead he allows Daeni to make the first move.
Regardless of her preconceived notions, Daeni takes a moment to survey her rather relaxed opponent. He is either confident or ignorant, in her opinion. "If wait enemy die old, not win." After shifting weight between one foot and the other, she strides forward to advance upon him. The simplest means to learn what lies in store is to act.
Gabriel crosses his arms and watches, but is otherwise motionless and silent.
Daeni was uncertain what to expect, yet a withdrawal was not among her list of likely actions by Sarah. Following his resignation, she rolls her shoulders and moves to dismount from the ring. "Is other training here. What training you come to do?" The question is directed at Gabriel, who was in no great hurry to spar. She must assume that he had other activities in mind.
Gabriel stands to watch the other man leave, understanding that things come up when you least expect them. Even if to others it may appear as if you suddenly have a case of the trots. In any case, he raises his left hand up and begins to unbuckle the harness from around his right thigh. "Oh, I'll come up there. You know, just don't kill me. We trained with pugle sticks and wooden knives. Even had some plastic ones toward the end. Lots of grappling." A smile. "But there was very little full contact. I have a pretty face, and wouldn't want to hurt it, okay?" He begins to worm his way under the ropes.
"Try not crush all bones." Daeni's lips gain a near smile as she reassures him. Rather than leap over the ropes, she partially leans against them as she awaits his arrival. "Is best train real weapon, but grab, wrestle, also good. Can lose weapon, always have body to fight."
As he crouches into a rather unusual position, left-arm near vertical before him, right-arm obviously poised to strike, bent somewhat forward at the waist, and legs braced for movement. Movement, not brute strength. He does manage to comment, "I've hit girls before, but not many." Then, somewhat ironically, he moves left, and his left hand of all things moves forward, not in a fist, but flat, fingers out... then, rather abruptly, it goes back into being a fist.
Whether she was not expecting the sudden aggression, or believed the hand to be a feint, Daeni is nearly too slow in her response. Gabriel's incoming fist is just deflected at the last possible moment. "Are quick!" The compliment is far more flattering than to admit otherwise. She promptly rotates and firms her grip on his striking arm in attempt to flip him over her shoulder.
Gabriel himself seems surprised both that he almost hit the elf and... that he almost hit the elf. Nevertheless, he manages to roll free of the incoming grab. So, she doesn't fight like a girl. Getting back to his feet, he rotates on a heel, bringing his right hand around him like swinging a bat.
Daeni is impressed at his recovery. No, he does not fight like a girl, although it is a goal he might attain, with practice. Her hand snaps up to catch his wrist to halt the blow, then her grip tightens once more as she attempts to keep hold while pushing it aside.
The long limbs obviously seem to reach out for him, and frankly, Gabriel wasn't ready for it. But he somehow manages to skip over them, then drops an elbow toward the elf woman. Maybe he doesn't like using his feet?
Well, it's another whiff, but the small watch on his wrist suddenly emits two quick beeps, and he glances down, then does his best to flip out over the ring. "Sorry, Daeni, I forgot, I have a delivery to make. Got a job running afternoon vegetables at the Market...." his voice trails off, only a final shouted, "SORRY!" being heard.
Daeni attempts to not crush anything, per her statement, and perhaps this is why her grasp was not only laughably light yet also pulled her off-balance. Once again, her block nearly comes too late, which is far, far slower than she prefers. "Fight strong for old human." Despite her frustration at her own performance, her smirk is notably light and bears no ill.
Following an adjustment to, and the conclusion of, a comparatively friendly match in the ring with Gabriel, Daeni lingers in the ring. True to her word, she did not cause any fractures, contusions, concussions, nor cardiac arrest, enabling the man to walk away quite well under his own power.
Sarah watched that match with interest, studying Daeni's particular style of hand to hand combat. He kept any comments to himself during the match, and only when Gabriel exits the ring does the little man climb in. His face is passive still, showing only a peaceful look that tells the world he is at peace with it.
"Still want train?" Daeni lifts a brow along with one corner of her lips. "Are brave, strong, maybe stupid." The last adjective bears no true venom, but amusement. "Are now ready?" She accompanies the queries with a stride towards the average, somewhat unassuming man.
Sarah settles into a relaxed pose, not even a stance. He watches your approach with those peaceful blue eyes, studying you. "I can train with you, but I will not strike you until I know you can handle it well." He promises, offering a small bow to begin the spar, as in his world.
Daeni's partial smirk grows in size and bemusement. "Not hurt much is rule for train with human. Try not break rule, you." Following this final note, a hand darts out at him with intent to grasp rather than strike. A toss to the flexible floor of the ring is less likely to injure, and far more easily regulated, than a swing of fist.
Sarah get's grabbed by your swiftly moving hands and when he get's thrown to the ring surface, he tucks into a tight ball and rolls with it, coming up to his feet on the opposite side of the ring, where you started out. Turning to face you, his face is still impassive, standing relaxed. "Impressive." He offers simply, waiting for your next assault.
"Fall good." Daeni voices a compliment at the tuck and roll while pivoting to face him once more. "Maybe not so weak." Her follow-up is a brisk step which ends in a low snap kick with an intentional lack of force behind it.
Sarah takes the kick in the hip, or thereabouts, but he doesn't acknowledge it. Instead he steps into the blow after it's delivered, hands going for your shirt, and twisting to flip your much larger frame over his own and throw you to the mat.
Daeni rotates her forearm upwards sharply at the elbow to dislodge the nascent grip on her new shirt. The movement continues in attempt to reverse Sarah's intent back upon himself in a flip of Daeni's own.
Sarah allows himself a smile as his flip is grip is broken and the flip reversed. But instead of breaking Daeni's grip on him, he allows himself to be flipped, but he lands on his feet, summersaulting over Daeni's hip. Turning into the flip, he grips you again, and twists again, to throw you backwards over his hip.
The chain continues for another cycle of body turned over hip, and Daeni likewise lands on her feet. "Are quick, for human." Rather than maintain identical tactics any further, she alters her own slightly. This time, her attempt to regain a grip is focused upon the arm, itself, rather than moving Sarah's entire mass.
Sarah spins away from you to avoid the grip, but he kicks out at the elastic rope encircling the ring, catching it, and throwing the momentum backwards, directly at you. He rolls with it, and comes up in a single, open handed strike at the center of your chest, intended to cause a bit of pain, as well as drive you back.
Daeni's grasp is only firm enough that Sarah's spin away pulls her off balance. She is still able to deflect the incoming palm strike, however, and makes use of the opportunity to endeavor to recapture the arm attached to the palm.
Sarah flicks out his other arm to intercept your grab, pushing your hand away in time to avoid the grip, then half spins away from you, lashing out with his elbow to strike you in the side, perhaps in the back as he turns away, now striving to disentangle himself from you.
The elbow in her side provokes a reaction of suprise more than discomfort. Daeni's weight shifts somewhat with the impact, but Sarah may as well have struck stone, otherwise. "Are very quick," she amends her prior statement. "Not many hit." She is not impaired in the least, and promptly follows with an elbow of her own, aimed high due to the height difference.
Sarah is somewhat suprised, feeling his elbow stopped so very suddenly. At the very least he expected his strike to depress her flesh. His suprise is doubled at the returned elbow strike, catching him in the side of the head, due to the height difference. While it doesn't draw blood, it does hurt, and that suprises him more. "Perhaps not all people here are as delicate as I was led to believe..." The strike earns you a compliment, even if it is offhanded. He says this as the strike forced his head to turn, but just as with you, you might as well have elbowed a steel plate. "Perhaps we should explore each others full cababilities?" He asks, backing away just slightly, as so to turn fully towards you.
As witheld as it was, Daeni likewise expected more reaction from her own strike, especially as it landed on Sarah's skull. When he withdraws a step, she remains in place, brows lifting in curiosity. "You not break easy like other humans?" The query is a simple one, and her surprise dissipates rapidly.
Sarah smiles at that. "No.. I don't break easily.." He replies, though he is reffering more to strength of will than strength of body, they are equally as strong. "Neither do you it seems.. You are strong for a woman. I mean no offense, simply meaning that women back home tend more towards the magical strength rather than strength of body." He offers, working his jaw a bit to banish the ache your strike delivered.
"Am hunter," Daeni explains. "not mage. Need be strong to hunt. Here, prey stronger, hunter need be stronger." Her stance remains in a ready, yet idle, position, weight shifting between her feet.
Sarah nods at your explanation. "You are most certainly strong.. Shall we see how strong?" He asks, motiong her to come to him, while he takes up a relaxed stance, the rock to withstand the onslaught.
Daeni rolls her shoulders with a mixture of nonchalant ease and preparation prior to her renewed approach. "If want, can give." She is now less concerned of potential damage to her sparring partner than the same to the environment around them. As she nears, a less experimental, less restrained jab of her fist is loosed.
Sarah see's the jab incoming at the last second, not expecting it to be quite so fast. Instead of moving he simply tenses his abdominals, taking the strike full on and direct, wincing as it does hurt, but again, no bones are broken and it might leave a bruise, but it's a small one. It's like punching a wall. The strike is returned in the form of him attempting to grab you and flip you over his hip.
He did ask to learn more of her strength, therefore Daeni obliged. Sarah's grab in return is knocked away and Daeni delays a subsequent strike to inquire, "Learn enough?" Regardless of any resilience he possesses, she is well aware of the power carried in her fists.
Sarah smiles, and takes a martial stance for half a second, just long enough to coil his muscles and snap out a side kick, even as her lips drip her words, his foot is already on it's way. He's not trying to hurt her, only show her he can strike just as hard.
Daeni remains where she stands, although her back arches slightly to reflexively pull her upper body back from the arc of foot. Perhaps the man misjudged the distance, as the spasm proves entirely unnecessary. She awaits him to regain his balance and composure.
Sarah frowns as she avoids his kick so easily, he spins, stepping closer and snaps out another kick at her side. He never was very good at the offense, preffering to let his enemies come to him.
Some effort is required to deflect the kick, this time, yet Daeni again remains on the defensive. The two seem to have reversed their roles, for the moment. "Now get slow. Are tired?" There is a note of bemusement in her query and proposed answer.
Sarah composes himself, and returns to his ready stance. "No, I don't tire all that easily, It's just that I take the offensive but rarely, and am used to letting my opponents attacks break over my defence as water over a rock. My apologies." He replies.
"Cannot always wait." Daeni rolls her shoulders as she does precisely that. "If enemy not attack you, what do? Need learn better attack enemy." Sarah may be able to withstand a strike, yet Daeni holds no retraint in advising that he need give such, as well.
Sarah shrugs. "I prefer not to fight anyway, so if my opponent will not attack, then so much the better." He replies simply, holding to his philosophical stance rather than a agrresive physical one.
Daeni straightens, her stance also altering into something less active and more casual. "Only fight when need. For train, for hunt, for win." Her preferences and qualifications are both simple and adaptable.
Sarah smiles at the elven women, "Indeed. Unfortunately, as much as I would love to continue sparring with you, I must return home, and ensure that it remains safe. I will see you later."
"Go. Guard home." Daeni dips her chin in a nod to the man in acknowledgement. "Train more later."
