Video 2 (Backdated to the 12th)

[toiletseat_girl]

[the video opens on an awkward looking teenage girl, sitting cross-legged on a bed, wearing a tank top and a pair of shorts. she's holding a sheathed sword in her lap.

finally, she speaks]

Okay. I'm looking for someone to teach me how to fight. Fist-fighting, martial arts, swordfighting, guns, I don't care. I'm just sick of everyone else fighting my battles for me.

I guess that's about it. Just--lemme know if you can help. Thanks.

Comments

video;

[toiletseat_girl]

Okay. I can go with that. I just wanna not be helpless anymore.

[George has seen a lot of death already, after all. granted, it was all caused by exterior factors, but she's had to scrub blood out of her clothes more times than she can count]

The armory should have those, right?

video;

[hasitsthorns]

Hey, I can get that. Just don't expect miracles immediately, y'know? I had two centuries to get as good as I am.

[ Rose has too but most of those blood splatters were directly her fault. ]

Yeah, probably. I haven't checked it out myself before other than passing glances. Haven't really needed to.

video;

[toiletseat_girl]

I'm not. I mean, I'm assuming there's a lot of practice involved, right?

[either way, blood is a nuisance to get washed out]

Huh. I guess I'll head over there, see what I can find.

video;

[hasitsthorns]

A lot. Like, a lot a lot. You're gonna need to put in the time if you want to get good.

[ And at least it'll be a better reason than Rose's. ]

I can join you, if you want. Might do me good to check out what's available.

video;

[toiletseat_girl]

That's cool. I mean, other than working at the temporary clinic, I've got nothing but time.

[but George still feels vaguely guilty all the same]

Yeah! I mean, sure. That sounds good. See you there?

video;

[hasitsthorns]

That's pretty common here.

[ It's actually not as bad as Haven, but... ]

Alright. Gimme like ten. Gotta' make sure Wolfie's alright, then I'll head out.

video;

[toiletseat_girl]

Yeah. I had a book in my bag when I got here. I've already reread it ten times.

[from what George has heard of Haven, that's putting it mildly]

Okay, I'll meet you there.

video → action

[hasitsthorns]

Tell me about it. I think I've actually listened to all the songs on my iPod without skipping several times over.

[ That's all she'll add before cutting the feed and moving to meet. The blond is there in about ten minutes, waiting idly outside the armory for George to arrive. ]

action

[toiletseat_girl]

[George arrives about five minutes after Rose does and approaches with a small smile]

You have an iPod? Lucky. All I've got is my old discman and four CDs.

[hasitsthorns]

Woah, a Discman. Retro. Don't think I've used a CD since the nineties...

[ They were still all the rage in Japan, apparently, but Rose hadn't been back there anytime recently to be able to tell. ]

[toiletseat_girl]

Retro is right. My parents wouldn't spring the cash to get me an iPod. They said it was just a phase.

[George has a grand total of four CDs, Tori Amos' "Boys for Pele," Hole's "Live Through This," Stone Temple Pilots "Unplugged," and Nirvana's "Nevermind"]

[hasitsthorns]

Shows what they know. Music's still alive and well. They're on, like, the tenth edition or something of 'em.

[ Anyway, Rose moves her way into the armory. ]

Here we are.

[ It's locked and loaded, ready to go. While it isn't an impressive selection, it's still something. ]

Find yourself a dagger and we can get started.

[toiletseat_girl]

Seriously? Holy crap. When I came here, it was 2003. What year is it in your world?

[George follows her inside.

she looks around a little, sorting through weapons and picks one up]

Would this one work?

[hasitsthorns]

2018 for me. [ Also, she's just exaggerating. Though they are getting close now she thinks...

The woman gives a weapon a look over. Solid piece of work. ]

Yeah, that'll probably do. How's it feel?

[toiletseat_girl]

Damn. I kinda wanna ask who won the last few World Series and who's the president so I can go back, make some bets, and make a lot of money. Reaping's not a paying gig.

[yay, she did something right.

she raises it up and down a few times] It feels fine.

[hasitsthorns]

No can do. That'd be cheating. You're just gonna' have to figure it all out on your own time when you go back.

[ Rose doesn't even want to think about messing with someone else's timeline. Besides, ]

There's no telling what happens in mine would be the same as yours anyway.

[ Anyway. There's more important matters at hand. ]

Cool. Think you can slash and stab with that then?

[toiletseat_girl]

Damn. Kinda figured you couldn't. I mean, that's what Marty McFly fucked up in "Back to the Future," isn't it?

[it might not matter in the end, George is considering relocation to another world. she's not sure which one yet]

That's true. All kinds of things that are normal in one world are weird in the next.

[there are indeed]

I think so. Lemme try it out and see? [she backs off a few paces and practices slashing and stabbing with the knife. the first couple of attempts are hesitant, but she stops a moment, steels herself, and tries again. she's better this time]

[hasitsthorns]

Yeah, exactly.

[ Hhm. Rose is content to stay here for now, honestly. Some people might not understand but... To her, Hadriel's practically a second home. ]

Sloppy, but you'll improve.

[ It just takes time. Of course, Rose teaching the technique will help too. ]

[toiletseat_girl]

[George considers herself better off here than at home because here, she doesn't have to reap souls. so that's nice]

Figured as much. And I hope so. Wanna show me how?

[yes, technique will be useful, please]

[hasitsthorns]

[ Hey, someone's got to do it. ]

Sure, [ the blond answers, flicking the knife out of its sheath at her belt. Hard to believe this thing was formed of shadows. It looks just like a regular dagger, glinting metal in the light.

With a little bit of showmanship, the blond twists in a blink and tosses the dagger. It gives a solid thunk as it sinks directly into the center of a nearby tree. ]

Pft. Getting rusty.

Sorry for being late in seeing this!

[toiletseat_girl]

[someone being Daisy and Mason and Roxy and Rube. not George. whoo-effing-hoo.

yes, the dagger looks like an ordinary dagger and George looks impressed as the dagger hits the tree straight in the middle]

...if that's getting rusty, I wanna see what well-practiced looks like.

npnp

[hasitsthorns]

[ Well, it's not straight in the middle. But it'd look like that to the human eye, probably. Rose's eyes aren't human though. At least, not yet. The longer she starves herself the closer to that baseline she'll get. ]

You will soon. Well. Soon enough.

thanks! :)

[toiletseat_girl]

[it definitely looks straight to George. and the longer she starves herself? that doesn't sound healthy]

Sounds good. How do we get started.

[hasitsthorns]

[ It's not. But it's also not anything that George needs to concern herself with. They're... dealing with it.

Hopefully. ]

Depends on what you're looking to do. You want to be more offensive or defensive? I can teach you both, but it'd probably be good to focus on one to start with.

[toiletseat_girl]

[George would say that as a friend, of course she'd be concerned about Rose, but what she doesn't know can't hurt her]

Offensive. 'Cause I don't think we've seen the end of crazy robot invasions.