Training Day! [Closed to Guardian Dragons, backdated before mission]

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Who: Alric, Tiamaris, Marisa, Flandre, Alicia, Hijikata
What: Team training for the Guardian Dragons!
Where: Danger Room
When: August 23rd, afternoon
Warning(s): None anticipated

It was only a few days since Marisa, Flandre, and Alicia had joined--which meant that aside from himself and Tiamaris, and Marisa and Flandre, none of them had really worked together as a group. Considering the volatile circumstances, and the difficulties so many of them had had with control, it was important to get some training time in, especially if they were serious about the team's objectives. The control issues, Alric would try and work on with Tiamaris and Alicia on their own, as well; but getting everyone to know what to expect from one another, and used to working together and thinking of one another as teammates, would be crucial.

So. At a time when they were all available, he called them together to meet in the Danger Room, with Hijikata on hand to supervise.

Comments

[tiamaris]

Tiamaris slunk in. He carried his clothes folded, wearing the scales that came from his skin, making him look like he was covered toes to tips in antique scale mail armor. It was ornamental and pretty, but didn't sound like metal when he moved. His tread did shake the ground slightly though. His face was expressionless, though his eyes, which could be clearly seen, were a dark orange.

"I'm here," he said to Alric, as he got to him. Too much to hope it would just be the two of them? Probably.

[stardustreverie]

Well..it would be the two of them for a moment longer before Marisa walks in. She was in simple training clothes, a t-shirt and cargo pants that were decently fit. She was ready for just about anything and she was playing with a small device in her hands. Even thought the teams were merging, at least she was ready to work and focus. Any trace of her normal snark and mischief were gone, only seriousness for the time being.

"Yo...Time ta try and figure this all out I see."

[jolie_aile]

Flandre follows Marisa in, wearing mostly the same practice uniform as the last time she was in here.

Except this time her modified Vibrams were an eye-searingly bright orange, which she sort of tried to hide. But there wasn't much to hide them under; her claws weren't very good camouflage.

[tiamaris]

Tiamaris watched them, his face expressionless, though his eyes got a darker orange. Was Alric really sure this was a good idea? What if he hurt them?

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric smiled reassuringly at the three of them, raising a hand in greeting.

"Quite so, Miss Kirisame. I'm glad to see you're all prepared. Hijikata-sensei will be overseeing the scenario for us, today, so we can trust he'll give us a good workout. Our priorities are control--that includes minimizing collateral damage wherever possible, somewhat different parameters from our previous training experience--and teamwork, since our particular group hasn't trained together, before. This is our chance to get to know one another as teammates. Any questions or concerns before we join Hijikata-sensei to be briefed on the scenario?"

[tiamaris]

Tiamaris swallowed subtly, and watched, but he didn't ask anything. However...


minimizing damage?


He couldn't help but think that the best thing the team could do to minimize damage... would be to kill him before he went Dragon....

I KNOW IN PLURK I SAID SHE'D DENY IT BUT-

[stardustreverie]

Oh...Wow that actually gets Marisa to laugh a bit at the idea of that. It'd be worse but not in the mood to get hit and hers' ATTMEPTING to be X-man like about this...Of course, it's not working too well.

"Ya do remember that some of us are a bit prone ta doin' that even if we don't wanna? But I get the picture. Is a 'I'll try not to blow too much up and not try to blast a hole in the wall' good enough?"

There goes that last bit of serious X-Man attitude for the moment...

[tiamaris]

Tiamaris turned and blinked once. He was startled and confused, but other tan the blink and the orange in his eyes paling slightly, taking on hints of brown, there was no sign of it, his face remained an impassive mask.

That... kind of sounded like the kind of thing... he would do....

Was it possible he wasn't the only one Alric had been talking to... about minimizing damage?

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric raised an eyebrow and smiled to himself, a bit quirkily.

"...it's a start, certainly, Miss Kirisame, but let's see if we can exceed even that lofty objective."

Hijikata - Open, before or after the Danger Room exercise

[koukai_kirai]

Honestly, Hijikata didn't much like the timing of it.

Tiamaris was still volatile, still struggling to keep himself under control, and from what he'd heard, the new girl had some trouble with her own powers as well. It wasn't the ideal time to change up the team dynamic -- but what choice did they have, under the circumstances? Far from the reprieve it usually, the summer had been chaos, had left half their teams in tatters.

At least the remnants of Reimu's team had experience. Maybe they'd be a good influence on the more unpredictable elements of his team.

...Then again, when had Marisa and Flandre ever been associated with a decrease in collateral damage?

He looked the students over quietly as they arrived, one by one. The Danger Room was, for the moment, a blank slate, ready for the training session he'd planned to initiate. When everyone was assembled, he stepped forward, his back straight and his expression stern.

"This will be the first time some of you have trained with me, and it will be a little bit different than the training I usually focus on. Today isn't about drills or technique or individual success. Today, the five of you become a team, and that means each one of you has a greater responsibility than themselves.

"When the scenario for today is initiated, I'll be in the control room, so I won't be here to help you during the simulation. You're going to need to keep your wits about you, communicate, and watch each other's backs. Remember, you succeed together, or you fail together.

"Are there any questions before we start?"

[LATER:]

After he'd shut down the Danger Room, Hijikata went down and joined the students again. Whether or not they'd succeeded, he'd thrown a lot at them, probably put them under a lot of stress, but it was... it was for the best.

Better for them to get used to it here than in the field.

"That's all for today."

BEFORE

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric had rather similar concerns, although he did his best to approach those problems with confidence and all the sympathy he could afford--better to inspire them to improve than to browbeat them for their difficulties, so long as he had the luxury. Particularly when there was an instructor on hand who was so much better at the strict austerity thing. One of those qualities Alric hadn't entirely picked up from his grandfather, at least not yet.

To Hijikata's question, though, he nodded.

"Anything we should know for this scenario? Or would you prefer we enter blind, save expecting 'trouble' in some form?"

[koukai_kirai]

It was a good question, though of course, after close to a year of working with him, he expected no less from Alric. Hijikata shook his head, his expression carefully neutral.

"Even when you have more detailed information, flexibility and observance are key, so no specifics going in. I want to see you assess the situation and plan on your feet."

Not Alric specifically, though perhaps he had the highest expectations of him in that particular arena.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric nodded to that. He wasn't exactly surprised, although it remained to be seen what exactly Hijikata had in mind. Something challenging, doubtless.

"Mm. Understood."

Sorry, reply messed up x.x Went to the wrong place and had an error

[tiamaris]

"Which form should I go in with?" he asked, his face as expressionless as ever, though with the scales covering him from crown to toe, it was hard to tell. His eyes were a dull dead orange. He was trying to stay calm, trying to believe this wouldn't be a disaster.

[koukai_kirai]

Another fair question, and again, Hijikata didn't have to think before answering.

"Human form. The simulation is meant to evoke an unplanned for situation arising around you, so even though you'll obviously be aware something is going to happen, I want you going in in the form and with the preparation you'd have in a casual, everyday situation."

[tiamaris]

"......right."

What he heard? There goes another outfit. He lost track of how many pairs of pants and how many shorts he owed Alric, and how many he owed the school.

Saying nothing he turned and left, looking for a place to get dressed again, because he some how doubted everyone wanted him to shift back there and then.

[koukai_kirai]

Hijikata looked around at the rest of the students as Tiamaris turned away.

"Are there any further questions?"

SIMULATION

[koukai_kirai]

[One moment, Hijikata was clearly visible in the window to the control room, counting down on the fingers of one hand, and then he was gone, and the window was gone, and the blank slate of the Danger Room was gone.]

[In place of all of it was a small but bustling city -- a wide, open square with tree-lined avenues feeding into it and pleasant old buildings of brick and stone. Here and there, a gateway opened into a lush, plant-filled courtyard. The balmy, salty quality of the air hinted vaguely at the Mediterranean, or perhaps some coastal city in South America.]

[The area was packed. Buses and taxis rolled down the streets, and dozens of tourists wandered around obliviously, gaping at the buildings or frowning at maps or gathering in to try and fit a whole family into one selfie. Nothing seemed to be going wrong... for the moment.]

I am so sorry about him!!!!

[tiamaris]

Tiamaris froze as soon as it started. Though he had been so stiff it was nearly impossible to tell. He tried to remind himself that this was just a simulation, that these people weren't real, that he wouldn't kill anyone....

Except other people did come in with him and... even if he didn't kill anyone because they were fake, the fact that the others would see what would have happened... They would try to kill him. They would be right to.

His eyes shot to a dark red. Fast. His breathing picked up slightly. He was out of his gourd terrified, and it came along with the anger, as it always did. Anger at himself that he was right to be afraid, that he was a monster. Anger that they - well, maybe not Alric - would try to kill him; he was angry at them for it, and angry at himself that he'd make it necessary. He was going to betray all the trust anyone had put into him because he had no control. He was angry... that he was about to prove his father right.

Uh huh...Suure lol j/k

[stardustreverie]

Marisa seemed to relax, hands in her pockets, although to those who had a idea about her, those golden eyes were sweeping across the area. For now, nothing was going on but the knowledge that something was going to happen kept her on her toes.

Although seeing the red eyes of a new teammate had her even more on edge. "Chill man..It's cool. Save it for when the inevitable happens. Then you can let lose..mostly."

[tiamaris]

....Let loose? She.... she thought that he wanted to lose control? She thought he was eager?


Did he seem that much a monster? Was it so obvious, really? His red eyes flicked towards Alric, the only visible clue to his rising terror. And his anger. Anger at her for thinking that of him, anger at her... because she might be right,

[knighterrantofthedragon]

...that red, Alric recognized, and he held an open hand out to Tiamaris with a quick, meaningful glance toward the control room.

"...Tiamaris. It's all right. You're fine. What's the matter? Talk to me."

[tiamaris]

Talk to him. Right. Talk to Alric. Alric could help. Would try to help at least. Would try. Which meant... Tiamaris had to try too. Some of the red receded. Just a little. He gestured with one hand.

"Too many people. Too many ways someone could get hurt." too many ways he could kill someone, he meant.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Alric gave him a searching look for a moment, speaking in a calm, level tone.

"...it's all right. It's only a simulation. The purpose of the exercise is to learn to avoid anyone being hurt. I promise, you'll be fine--you just need to focus. If we fail, we learn from our mistakes, and do better the next time. That's how we make progress, right?"

[tiamaris]

Tiamaris stood there, breathing as he turned that over in his head. With his expressionless face, he looked more like he zoned out than like he was giving it the serious thought that he was.

"No one gets hurt if we fail..." he said softly, more to himself. That Alric was saying something like that did it mean that maybe, maybe failure was expected? That they weren't going to presume he was too dangerous if he failed...? Or... was that why it was expected?

Alric expected him to survive this, not just to survive, but to get better through it. That much he trusted. But Alric was one person. Even Professor Xavier was just one person. He had seen how quickly many scared people could become a mob...

Still... Alric... Alric thought this would be okay... wouldn't have brought him here if he thought there might be a real chance of Tiamaris hurting someone, or crossing a line... right?

Some more red receded. The orange in his eyes was still a reddish orange, but it was more orange than red. That was saying something. That was important.