soul_logs | Morning Training Log

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Morning Training Log

Characters: Everyone!
Location: Training Ground, Shibusen
Rating: PG-13 for violence of the training sort
Time: 6am to 9am
Description: Training takes place every morning in the park to prepare the guests of the city for the ongoing war. It's handwaved most days, but approximately once a month this gets played out in a log. This log takes place on June 24th.

Official areas:

FAQ: In need of help or answers? Come here! Staffed by Neji.
Breakfast: The incentive for coming to Morning Training for those who actually don't care about Death City. All food providers are given funds to buy/prepare the food and are then paid for the time they spent cooking/preparing. Provided by Saya and Fabiola
Cake Stand: A place for delicious treats; only the best cakes by Betty Crocker! Staffed by Condesce
Combat Instruction: One can learn and improve on fighting techniques! Staffed by Cloud, Genesis, and Sion
Sparring: A bunch of people are there. You show up and pick one to fight. Staffed by Mulan (beginners), Fabiola (intermediate), Amaterasu and Cloud (advanced)
Weapon Transformation: New Weapon? Unsure on how to transform into a weapon (or how to transform back)? Go here! Staffed by Bakura, Aqua, and Gray
Soul Perception: Find out more about your soul, what they are, and what they potentially may do. Staffed by Shibusen
Partner Training: Learn how to work as a partner! Staffed by Azusa
Weapons Handling Training: Learn how to handle sharp things and not so sharp things! Staffed by Auron
Shooting Range: Learn to shoot a gun, not at quail though, so expect your face to come out of this just fine. Staffed by Naoto, Giroro, and Duo Maxwell
Meister Ability Helpers: Learn about your Meister ability and how to use it. Staffed by Edgeworth
Finding a Partner: Unpartnered Weapons and Meisters meet each other here! Additional help by Liz
Medics: A place for medics to hang out, recruit and aid the injured - especially if they get shot in the face by accident. Staffed by Rosalia
Watch: This is where members of the watch meet up, chill, recruit and train! People interested in the watch welcome!
SEES: This is where SEES members hang out, and recruit!
Hug Brigade: A begrudgingly still opened squad dedicated to hugs of encouragement. Thank Lee for this! Staffed by Lee and his brigaders!
Novelty Class: This month we have Stealth Training! Solid Snake and Raiden are going to teach your characters about some very important and specialized areas of stealth!

And of course, as always, feel free to make your own threads!

Open Character threads (Bear with me as I try to catch them all ;;):
-Lily and Lezard
-Sephiroth
-Auron
-Alucard
-Fujino
-Hiro
-Edgeworth
-The Condesce
-Saya Takagi
-Matt
-Chopper
-Raidou
-Shinji
-Amaterasu
-Yami Bakura
-Eren
-Steve Rogers (Captain America)
-Josuke
-Sai

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kaworu knows that I really don't like fighting, so he doesn't really offer. [Where as, if Asuka knows, she sure as hell doesn't care.]

She's a glaive.

[He frowns.] Is that like a spear? [He's had to learn so many terms relating to weapons after coming here.]

...And as weird as it may sound, I think it's the people who don't really like fighting who should be doing it.

[They're at a good place in the training field where they have enough space to practice, and Takuto fetches a short wooden sword to hold in his other hand while he works with Shinji.]

Sort of, but there's a blade at the end instead of a spearhead.

[He takes a moment to think over Takuto's statement, though he can't really see where he's coming from with it.] That does sound a little weird. It would make sense that someone who enjoys it wouldn't hold as many reservations about fighting when they need to. So... when it comes time to fight, you'd want someone who has an interest in it, right?

People who want to fight will do so regardless of whether or not it's needed--they destroy things. People who don't want to fight will only do so if they have to, because they protect thing.

[He holds out his hand to ask for resonance, giving Shinji a very serious look. Combined with his words, it seems like he's asking for a rather ominous trust.] Sometimes I'm not sure which kind of person I am, so I'm glad that at least you're the kind of person you are.

[As Takuto elaborates, Shinji remains quiet. Given the circumstances he was forced into back home, he's not really sure just how applicable Takuto's reasoning was to himself. After all, whenever he took a step back to look at the motives behind his actions and drive to go into combat, it was never as entirely selfless as just wanting to protect something. Of course, letting humanity get wiped out was something he would put himself on the line to avoid ~~not that it did him much good in the long run~~, but so much of his own personal interest had been tied up in being liked and treated well that implying he might be as noble as to fight to simply protect felt laughable.

His focus wavered off Takuto and down to the ground for a moment, the other's words clearly affecting him. When he looks back up, there's a definite lack of resolve on his expression. Regardless, he finds no reason not to trust him, so he extends his reach out to the redhead, lightly resting his hand against the other's.]

I'm probably a bigger coward than you're giving me credit for.

[With that, he swiftly shifts into weapon form.]

[Despite the sudden depression in the atmosphere, they're being honest and that's exactly what Takuto is aiming for. He doesn't need a repeat of what happened during his mission with Sugata.

He closes his hand around Shinji's hilt and tries not to let his dazzling wavelength crush the other boy. There really is a certain kind of calmness about his wavelength that wasn't there the last time they resonated--but whether it's Takuto's newfound determination to get his shit together or something to do with the conversation they just had, even Takuto couldn't say.]

And I'm a much bigger coward than you would believe.

[Likewise, Shinji feels less of a reason to be so guarded about himself around Takuto, and it's reflected in his own wavelength. Most of the previous tense uncertainty is replaced with a more melancholy feeling, and the subdued nature of Taktuo's normally overbearing wavelength is greatly appreciated. Rather tan floundering to keep up this time, he feels he can dive in a little more smoothly and match his own wavelength up with a little more ease. It's still a challenge, certainly, but it doesn't quite feel like as much of an unreachable feat as before.]

That is pretty hard to believe, [he replies, once he feels a little more settled in the connection.]

It's probably because I usually just avoid the things I'm scared of.

[Or at least he does his best to avoid them. But that sort of thing is easier to do when you're not really scared of most Kishin eggs or rioting crowds and people in masks. Getting hurt or, sometimes, even dying isn't something that deters Takuto.

The things that freak Takuto out the most are the intangible things, which of course come bubbling up through the shiny exterior of his soul when he's thinking this deeply about them. And his fears aren't just the run-of-the-mill, that's kind of scary fears. They shoot through him like big black spears. He really is scared. He fears failure, which is probably why he's working so hard to be successful. He's terrified he might turn out like his father--and because he doesn't know how to avoid that he's become very good at coming up with ways in which they are technically different. He's also worried that maybe he won't be able to find a cure for--

Actually, that fear gets quickly suppressed because there is no way Shinji gets to be privy to that. But maybe one of those other fears is something he and Shinji have in common, and hopefully they can use it to strengthen their resonance. If not, well... if not, Takuto can go back to his strategy of avoidance.]

... That can get kind of tiring, though, can't it.

[The fear of failure is definitely a shared trait, though Shinji's tactics at dealing with that particular phobia go in the opposite direction of simply never doing anything he doesn't feel confident in, unless someone pushes him into it. Given the issues he has with confidence, well, his methods have left him with very little he wants to do of his own volition.

That, in turn, branches out to form a plethora of fears that take a huge toll on any livelihood he might have. A fear of getting close to others, of being hated, or hurt, or betrayed. Things that wouldn't even occur to most people as something besides what typically comes with the territory of existing. His own fear of dying hadn't even been a major issue until right before BREW had brought him in, when he had found himself worn-thin from the trails that had come with simply living the life he has. Just thinking about it is enough to bring his sense of self-loathing rippling up into the wavelength.

For someone who faced off with monsters back home, the things that frighten him the most are surprisingly mundane.]

[That billowing of self-loathing is pretty intense, and Takuto does his best to wrap it up in a somewhat faltering radiance. He's been there, though, so he can't just tell Shinji that everything will be okay and that he's not supposed to hate himself. Instead, he adjusts his wavelength just enough to show that he understands. No one is perfect, least of all the two of them.]

It does. [He shrugs lightly, a small and somewhat sad smile on his face.] I hope you're not afraid of me, though.

Well, I'm not exactly avoiding you right now. [The comment is pretty lighthearted in the wake of such a strong surge of emotions.

He notices the shift in wavelength, and while it's surprisingly comforting, he does what he can to kind of reign in his own self-pity a little. It's the kind of feeling that can easily get overpowering and out of control, and this isn't exactly the time he wants it to get out of hand. It isn't exactly like he can just shake the mood off, though, but he can at least stop it from getting worse until it fades.]

... Sorry. [Old habits and whatnot. He does feel pretty bad for sort of unleashing that on Takuto, even if the idea was supposed to be that they were being honest with each other.]

[He actually lets out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. If Shinji can reign in the depression a bit, so can Takuto.]

You really do like to apologize for everything, huh?

[A spark of determination runs through him. They should probably get to some actual training, since they are taking up a space on the field and there's a training dummy in front of them that looks ready for action. (It also looks like it's seen way too much action and maybe needs to be replaced soon, but that's not the point.)]

[Shinji remains quiet for a few moments in a (largely unsuccessful) attempt to keep his wavelength from coloring with embarrassment.]

I-it's not because I like to. [He hadn't even realized that Takuto had picked up on it, not like it was a difficult trait of his to notice.

But, right, training. He can turn his attention to that spark, and in doing so block out a lot of his own negativity while focusing on the task at hand.]

[Takuto frowns, sizing up the dummy and trying to decide on an attack routine. Perhaps it would be best to practice against another team at some point, just so he got in some more useful practice.]

If you don't like to apologize all the time, then why do you do it? [There's a shift in his wavelength, something along the lines of 'you don't need to feel guilty for everything.']

[It strikes Shinji as a good idea to go up against some kind of non-stationary target at some point, too. That's the kind of training they'd put the pilots under back home, so that was more the type he was used to.]

... It's a difficult habit to break. [If nothing else, he doesn't immediately jump on the defensive, that's a good sign. Though, he's certain there are plenty of things he should feel responsible for, and it becomes a matter of being unable to sort out what is and isn't appropriate to take the blame for and apologize over after letting it all pile on his conscience.]

...That doesn't mean it isn't worth trying to break it, right?

[It's enough optimism for now, though, and Takuto leads with the longer wooden sword, striking the dummy's shoulder and then plunging Shinji into its straw-filled chest. He pulls the knife out, spins around to the back of the dummy, and slices Shinji across its tattered back. Straw and what might be some kind of cotton stuffing falls to join the small pile that's already accumulated at the base of the dummy.

He's more graceful than the last time he attempted to wield Shinji. He's been practicing his knife-sword technique, after all.]

[Takuto's question goes unanswered as Shinji instead opts to focus on maintaining the resonance, though the other's improvements certainly don't escape his notice. Without the choppiness and mild uncertainty that came from working with an unusual weapon, Shinji finds it much easier to keep up with Takuto's energy.

Of course, the prior openness and honesty between the two of them certainly helped strengthen the bond, as well.]

It feels like you have a good idea of what you're doing this time.

[There's a corresponding ripple of satisfaction in his wavelength.]

Thanks. I've been trying to practice with shorter weapons. [And then immediately he kind of grimaces, hoping Shinji, who is quite a bit shorter than him, understood what he meant.] Short as in blade length, I mean, not like it has anything to do with you being shorter than me.... S-Sugata is a knife, too.

[He'll just focus on keeping his practice routine smooth instead of speaking for a few moments. He tries another set of moves, attacking lightly with the sword first and then following with Shinji for what would be the "real damage" if the dummy were in fact a Kishin egg.]

[Takuto may notice a small bubble of amusement from Shinji's end as he tries to clarify himself. He had understood what he had meant, but now's really not the time to be distracting Takuto any further.

As he continues going through the movements, a bit of Shinji's training from back home begins to seep into his mindset. While simulations and such had been more oriented to firearm usage than use of the prog knife, the goal had always been to take down the enemy quickly. Thus, aim for the core had been a key tactic, and even if it doesn't really apply to the training dummy, the thought makes itself present through their connection.]

[He allows himself to follow Shinji's mindset--it is, after all, what he'll have to use Shinji for on their mission. Even though he plans to take his Watch-issued sword, Shinji's the only weapon that could do any damage against a Kishin egg.

He closes in on that instinct, trying to keep it strong. They'd need that for their mission, and he's glad that Shinji doesn't seem to be shying away from his job as a weapon.]

Shinji... do you have some kind of special ability? Most weapons seem to, so... do you know what yours is?

[He seems to be catching on to the fact that he's doing something right with the resonance and shifts his focus onto holding on to that connection. At least, until Takuto asks him that question.]

Ah, um, well, if it's anything like a progressive knife back home, the blade should vibrate on a molecular level to increase cutting sharpness. It- er, I should be able to cut through things a regular knife wouldn't be able to... [Steel, iron, anything thick and solid~~, A.T. Fields~~ Speaking about himself in terms of being a weapon is still really difficult to get the hang of.] If there's anything else, I haven't figured it out yet.

[He slows his routine and holds Shinji up in front, looking at him while he speaks.]

A progressive knife? So you're a knife that vibrates? [He's not sure what it would mean to vibrate on a molecular level but that doesn't really matter because the point is that Shinji is supposed to be a really sharp knife.

If only they can figure out how to do that.]

So do you know how to do that? To turn extra sharp? You're not a dull blade to begin with, though....

[Yeah, Shinji only understands it about as far as that. He's not entirely positive how he's supposed to get it to activate, though, it's not as if the real thing back home had an on/off switch. It probably had something to do with synchronization. He's pensively quiet for a moment before replying.]

Hang on just a second.

[With that, he dives back in to focusing on the resonance, zeroing in on his own memories of any time he had to use the prog knife. It deployed from the pylons on the Eva's shoulders when needed, and once it was out, it would activate on its own... About then is when a very faint humming sound comes from the blade, as well as a very slight glow, and the movement of the blade is subtle enough to not throw off Takuto's grip.]

[He lets his wavelength go a little calmer, to let Shinji focus on whatever he's focusing on. Their resonance isn't good enough for him to know what memories Shinji is reliving, but it's enough to know that Shinji is remembering something closely.

And then he starts humming and glowing and Takuto is very, very pleased.]

Sh-Shinji, you're glowing! [He tries to memorize the feeling of their resonance, so he can replicate it again when he needs to.]

[The sudden burst of excitement from Takuto is a small surprise, but not one that really effects the resonance greatly. He manages to pick up on the cue of keeping this particular feeling in mind to help with when they go on a mission.]

Then it should be working. [There's a small optimistic lilt to his mood! Having something go right is always good.]

Morning Training Log

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go tag me in the more recent morning training