outer_divide | Friday, Week 74, Video

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Friday, Week 74, Video

While I don't know many of you very well yet, and you probably have no reason to take me on my word when I say I'm skilled in the area, I'd still like to know if anyone without any skill in combout would be interested in instruction in self-defense, were I to offer it.

Or, for those already more practiced, interested in further honing your skills with melee weapons, provided they could become available- though I can make practice swords from wood easily enough.

I can also give lessons in basic archery, but it's never been my strongest skill. I'm far better at deflecting arrows than nocking them. [She smiles a little, as if at a private joke]

I won't turn away any students, regardless of whether you can pay or not. As people have pointed out to me, there are dangers here, and it would be irresponsible of me not to do everything I can to help- and one of the things I can do is to teach.

Also, does the city have a library, or something similar? I'd like to know of the philosophers and literature of this world.

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[The masculine voice that replies carries a local accent, though it's shadowed by something else, as though he'd come from somewhere else initially, but has been here long enough that all but the vestiges of those roots have worn away.]

The library is in the city's center, nearby the college compound. Three stories, well signed. I am certain you can find someone to guide you for a few credits, if you have a knack for getting lost.

As for melee weapons, their availability depends on what you seek, and what you have to offer.

Thank you, I'm sure I can find my way around, perhaps once I have built myself more of a wardrobe of clothing more suited to blending in among the locals. I don't wish to be a bother or distraction.

I'm afraid that's unavoidable. Even if your were to dress in the local style, you're still clearly an outsider. Most, however, will be polite enough to restrict their gawking to a few moments when you do something truly surprising.

I assure you, my usual attire is... extra-distracting. Or so I've been told. But I'll keep that in mind.

And now you've piqued my curiousity.

A proper wardrobe may take time, but I can send you a list of shops willing to extend some credit to newcomers.

[Have an awkward selfie in which Diana attempts not to look too serious, not serious enough, or show too much cleavage which is kinda difficult when her costume is... what it is. She somehow manages, because... Amazon princess and all that.]

My people didn't see much point in designing armour that would restrict my movement when there wasn't much that could actually do much harm to me. There is symbolic meaning in the bright colours and emblem- it's a very long and kind of complicated story.

...I feel it may also be important to mention my people also didn't also have any men living among us, nor did we have contact with any at the time this costume was designed. The idea of the male gaze was still alien to us. Believe me when I say I've become very familiar with that concept since then.

Edited 2014-11-15 14:56 (UTC)

Male g-... Ah.

[He laughs, low and a little rueful.]

As much as I would like to defend my adopted countrymen, that will certainly be an issue here, amongst those who prefer women.

I would be interested in hearing your long and complicated story once you're more settled, if it's something you're willing to share. A greater understanding of one another's backgrounds can only help in the days to come.

Certainly, I'm all for trading stories, especially as I'm sure you have some of your own to tell- I clearly have a lot to learn about this world and I've found that's always the best way to learn such things.

A fair trade is a fair trade, after all.

I have some basic self-defense training, but the dangers that I'd expected to encounter in my world are quite different from the dangers here. I wouldn't mind some additional training.

I'm skilled in archery if you'd prefer an exchange in skills over coin.

I would be happy to offer instruction.

Either would be fine, whichever is more of ease for you to spare- or, if you'd rather, conversation, stories of your own home. Any such things would be fine. With people from so many worlds among us, I can only imagine the sorts of things we could learn from one another.

If you'd like, I can remunerate you in a combination of the three. I don't exactly want for coin, but we're trying to save for the next emergency.

That sounds like a fair deal. We'll have to compare skills and stories to see what we have to offer each other.

[ the responding video shows a teenager with her red hair tied up in braids, something ceremonial no doubt. if it looks like she's filming from somewhere in the wilderness surrounding poseidon, that's because she is. ]

I had little difficulty crafting one practice staff. It would be relatively little trouble for me to make as many as you needed. [ a pause. tenel ka is quick to offer assistance and yet slow to admit it would be nice to not train alone. she's made friends here, but she misses her own. and this woman could teach her things that would undoubtedly come in handy, she doesn't doubt. ] I am not untrained in combat, but should you prove genuinely skilled, I would be interested in this... skill-honing.

I would welcome that, sister. What is your name?

Tenel Ka Djo, daughter of Teneniel, of Dathomir. [ it's probably the sister that makes her feel inclined to add her mother's lineage to the introduction, a bit of a habit on her mother's homeworld. she adds a little nod of her head, too, for politeness. ]

I am known as Tenel Ka.

Diana, Princess of Themyscira. Daughter of Hippolyta. [Since that seems to be the manner of things]

Diana is fine, however.

It is a pleasure to meet you, Diana of Themyscira. [ princess isn't something she likes to add for herself or others, unless she's made to. it's her little bit of teenage rebellion, don't mind her. ]

Do you have any requirements for your practice staffs?

Sturdy- either that, or very easy to replace. Either way, probably best to keep the wood from being too dry. Better they simply bend and snap then explode into splinters.

With the state of the forest, easy to replace might be the quickest route to take.

[ better than spending a week just looking for perfect wood, at least. tenel ka offers diana a nod, obviously about to take this task very seriously. ] This will be accomplished soon.

They don't object to ship folk sitting in on lectures in the local school, though they also don't really know what to do with us, particularly, so there's quite a bit of extra work to do in catching up. I've found it useful.

[Admittedly, more for his general study of humans than any specific comprehension of Verdana.]

Thank you, that sounds most helpful. If you wouldn't mind some company one day, I may just join you. My name is Diana, by the way.

Can't think why it would bother me, should we happen to stumble into the same lectures. And I'm Loki.

[This is a very hesitant face. Luke had to build up a bit of courage to make this call though now that he's made it he's trying to look as confident as he can.]

Hi, my name's Luke Skywalker. I know you didn't offer this specifically but I thought I'd ask anyway. Would you be able to offer lessons in hand-to-hand combat?

[This is Diana's ever-patient, understanding diplomatic princess face. If Luke's name sounds familiar to her, she somehow doesn't show it.]

If you like, I'm quite experienced in many styles of hand-to-hand. Provided you're not planning on making a habit of attacking anyone unprovoked with these newly learned skills, Luke.

No, no, not at all. I, uhm-- [Despite his insistence he does seem to be nervous about something. The privacy of the video feed is changed suddenly.]

[locked to Diana]

It's just that... a couple months ago I was given a year-long sentence for a crime that I-- well, I fundamentally didn't commit it. I mean, I did, but I was forced to do it. It wasn't my choice. What happened wasn't fair to anyone involved.

[He lets out a nervous breath.] Anyway, I had my powers taken away and I'm not allowed to handle any weapons. I used to be a soldier and it's, well, it's been difficult to live with to say the least. All I want is to be able to defend myself and my family. My wife will be giving birth to our first child soon and... I just want them to be safe.

Though, if you don't feel comfortable teaching me I completely understand.

[Locked right back]

[Diana nods, and looks down sadly, holding her lasso in her hand]

I understand, and sympathize, and will agree to teach you if you answer a few questions in person first. I myself have had to do regretful things in situations where there was no fair solution.

Sure, I wouldn't mind that at all. My job has some long hours but I'm typically off a day or two per week. Where do you usually train?

That part, I'm still trying to figure out. It seems I have many potential students, but I have yet to familiarize myself with this place well enough to know of a good location to use.

I don't imagine it will be as simple as renting a gym on a weekly basis. Especially since I don't yet have much in the way of coin. [Diana really misses her Embassy right about now.]

I don't have a lot of money but I'll pay you what I can. Not sure if that'll help with location though. I don't know of any good places either but there might be a few people you can ask. Pepper Potts is the first name that comes to mind. Though honestly I just used to find an empty clearing outside of town.

That may have to work for one-on-one instruction for now.

Talking to Ms. Potts about somewhere a little more permanent does seem like a good idea though.

If it works for you then it works for me. I'll have a day off in two days... or should I wait to hear from you?

[Then he huffs a laugh at himself.] Actually I just realized that I never got your name.

In two days, then. I'll mark an area out with some posts that hopefully isn't too muddy.

My name is Diana. I'm told I'm... easy to spot.

[Luke doesn't quite understand what she means by that but he doesn't question it as he figures he'll find out in two days anyway.]

Sounds good. I'll see you then.

I could use some self defense training. I mean, I pretty much know nothing about self defense, so it would be a good idea to learn some.

[Sure, he could manage the 'panic when he was backed into a corner and lash out', but it wasn't like he really knew what he was doing, or like it was too hard to take him out if the person he was fighting knew anything themselves.]

I don't have a lot of money, but I have some if it's not too expensive. Kind of short right now, though, since a lot of the stuff I'd been doing kind of relies on being able to be outside with a violin.

[Getting a violin wet wasn't the best idea, after all.]

Edited 2014-11-17 05:06 (UTC)

I'd be happy to let you pay for the first few lessons in song, if you like. It's been a while since I've heard a solo violin performance.

It always makes me wish I'd paid more attention to the music lessons I had as a child. Sadly, the lyre and I really did not get along at all.

Thanks, I'd definitely like that.

[He always enjoyed having an audience, and since he hadn't had much income lately, saving money was an added bonus.]

Yeah, well...music lessons were pretty much the only thing I paid attention to. When did you want to meet up?

Perhaps next week, if things dry up a bit? I've been a touch busy helping as much as I can with the evacuees of late. This has been something of a bit of a chaotic time, with so many people displaced.

Yeah, next week sounds good, assuming nothing crazy happens.

[Like wraiths. Or more flooding.]

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Friday, Week 74, Video

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video; this is me not remembering if Star Wars exists in the DCU or not

haha either way works for me

I think it does but Diana's diplomatic enough not to say anything, being an actual diplomat and all.

Luke's already been fourth-walled a couple of times so if something slips it's nbd

Diana's been fouth-walled in canon. A lot. After Superboy Prime she can deal with anything.

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