March 06, 2003.03.06.03. - skill, not strength [diego-tristan][noje]
(james)
lo and behold it's actually a clear night
such a thing stunned him into actually making a point to take a walk
not just doing that needing to get out cabin fever thang
so he had wandered beneath the sodium floods and the far-off moon
finally finding his way to Grant's Gymbeen awhile since he's been here
the old codger is still at the front desk
watching the fight reruns from a glory day on the little thirteen inch screen
all black and white and crackly
few packs of Camels and a large hot tea buys his way in for the night
he doesn't have a membership, so doesn't have those dues
but he still takes care of the codger and pays his way in
rather than using Rage to intimidate complacencyit also buys him a quick phone call
he leaves a message at Diego's, thinking that's probably where they'll be first anyway
(if they ever left)
giving the time, and then directions where he'd be for the next few hours
and after that, he makes his way into the slum Gym
past the ramshackle weight sets
past the taped bags
past the make-shift benches which surround the decades old ringtattered trench tossed onto a bench infront of a rusty set of lockers
the combination half spun half forced onto the old lock
layers stripped down to wifebeater and BDUs
then the long strips of cloth are pulled out to wrap his hands
if they show, they'll show
he offered to teach but he won't force them to learn(diego)
lets just say there was a lot of eating soap since last saw him. and they where still at diegos so they got the message.one taxi ride later and hes turning up at the gym. light weight hell there are probably12 year olds training at this gym that are bigger than diego. yet still he enters. he pays his way in (its quick and easy). making his way slowly into the gym. half timid half excited. this latest accident with tristan has shown him that he needs to learn if for nothing else so he can break the creature who did this to the pretty boi kins neck...
gone are the expensive clothes and the layers and layers of insulation instead he is wearing a pair of loose jeans and a hodded jumper. smilling up from in the shadows is diego looking at the old (ancient ring) and the one inside it "so ready to kick my ass?"
(james)
the old codger had been expecting him
Camel dangling from between half-smiling lips, he waves Diego on in
muttering something that sounds like "ya paid foah" as eyes don't even leave the screenby the time the small Garou gets to the back of the empty gym
the Gnawer had been boxing shadows for some time
wifebeater long stripped away in the warm warehouse turned haven
hanging over one of the sideline ropes
light sheen of sweat gleams around the savage ashed scars clawing down shoulders and back"Depends....."
he turns around to face the younger male
chin lifting in trademark greeting - and also gesturing at the bench
there's two sets of boxing gloves laid out beside folded trench
and he's heading to climb out"Gonna see how much you know, first... grab a seat, I'll wrap your hands."
(diego)
gods hes so small, shirt comes off along with shoes leaving only those low riding jeans held so tightly with a belt. the long scar across his back and dissapearing into his pant line stands out so clearly silver against the caramel of his skincloth strip is gathered and he quickly begins to wrap his left hand "my brothers pack where enforcers, i know a little bit they spent a lot of time at the gym" doesnt sound too happy about it. doesnt sound anything about it actually just flat.
(james)
motion towards the bench stops when Diego jumps right in
elbows slung across the top rope, wrists dangling freely"Good, then you already have something to build on."
just because you're backed into a corner, doesn't mean you haven't learned anything
and the Gnawer is pretty apt at picking out the best of a bad situation
when the Walker is done and set, he holds the ropes open to allow him climbing in
slowly ambling back towards the center
hands clasped infront of him to stretch out the muscles beneath shoulder blades"What do you know so far?"
(diego)
diego learnt long ago if you move fast enough hit hard enough and run quick enough you can often get away before the thrashing. he also learnt when he had to take it. yet all those beatings all those sessions with his brother and the rest of the pack did teach him one thing. you will get up again and you will heal. its just going to hurt like hell till you do. it is a sort of mantra a steal determination as he climbs into the ring. a vague far away smile upon his lips. the masks we wear. he stretches limbers up a few shadow punches. followed by a roundhouse kick. before finally comming to rest in front of james standing there passive waiting"i done some kickboxing as well as ya usual tavern type brawl but i aint exactly got the upper body strength to throw a good punch." its true his body is smooth lean evern has the edge of definition but in homid he is still only 5 foot 5 and a bit and his body matches his height light weight.
(james)
a brow lifts at the roundhouse
(not bad)
but the explanation gets a soft chuckle"Strength doesn't matter... it's aim. Your fists are small enough to hit pressure points good enough to take most guys down bigger than you."
both of his hands raise
fingers waggling in invitation
then he drops into a balanced stance
the muscular Gnawer is a good seven inches taller than the Walker
and probably outweighs him by a good fifty pounds"Rely on skill, not strength. Bring it."
(deigo)
hes not used to having to press the attack so there is james first advantage yet he falls easily into a balanced stance hands raised enough to block to protect face. on balls of feet. he is however fast. the first few jabs are just fun. a simple test quick successions left and right like one would a bag this is followed however by a front kick that is almost as high as the small walkers body.(james)
the first few jabs are in fun
easily met with a soft block of hands that skim the punches away
but the kid is fast
faster than the Kin
soon enough the Gnawer has to think to keep up
and that front kick nearly catches him off guard
but after the roundhouse, he was fairly prepared for it
strong hands wrapping around Diego's ankle (firm, not brutal)
holding it at the extension of the kick
brow lifting a bit
Now whatcha gonna do?(diego)
hes too light to force the kick and to small to try and twist out of it without snapping his ankle. he grins however hes having fun at the moment its just fun.his other leg comes up even as he throws his minimul weight backwards downwards one leg held by you being pulled downwards by gravity the other quickly rising towards your groin. his back hits the mat his arm slapping down to absorb impact.
(james)
there's a breif look of surprise
(oh.... chit...)
that.... is whatcha gonna do...... ow.
even for a Garou, that's painful
luckily his weight was shifting forward to follow the pull of held leg
and so it doesn't land as solidly (or centrally) as it could"Good."
wheeezed
but the Gnawer bucks it up
following through with knees hitting the mat
straddling Diego when his fist slams into the mat next to the Latino's head
grin rakes over his features
(balls wanting to slink and whimper away)"Now what?"
(diego)
that grin is enough to do tristan prowd as he leans up and licks your face. "thats what now get off me before i follow through with my knee" doesnt want to ruin you rune might kill him. and from that position another attack on the groin is about the only one that would work at least for someone his size.(james)
he can't help but laugh at the lick
(okay.... THAT startled him)
shifting up to stand and holding a hand out to help the Walker up"You could throw me off, too. But please don't.... I'm already gonna need ice. C'mon.... I'll show you how to aim a punch."
(diego)
he takes the hand up gratfully smiling all the while, its feral almost dangerous smile. hand raises just to make sure jaw is in place. "i swear i am going to land a few blows this time"he had hit the mat a number of times now. the old man was laughing from where he watched the other side of the old gym.if he only knew. they had played around they had measured each other off. and had a begining idea of where each others skill level was at. now diego was determined to at least once land a few good blows. "i feel like i should bow and talk out of sink.... oh wise sensei where did i go wrong that time"
(james)
"You let me mount you."quipped with a wry (he... licked.... me...) grin, cuase he knows there's a pun in that phrase "If your legs had been around my waist you'd have been in control. But I can show you how to get someone off you that's straddling like that to beat your face in."but the rounds continued
the two continued to box away
commentary constantly running
little tips here and there
pointing out the openings to look for
pointing out the pressure points to aim for with gentle taps each time the Walker leaves an opening
showing how he was using Diego's own movements against him
because each time he was able to direct the swings past him"You've got a short reach.... use it.... try to get inside my strike distance."
(diego)
his biggest problem is stepping into someones gaurd. it is both his advantage and a disadvantage for him. from the close range he can take the advantage of his shorter reach while others cannot swing properly but looses the strength in his kick. and he will do it again it is most distracting. "if i end up in that situation again you will have to show me"the blows come fast repetative a pattern forming as fists fly just when you have it memorised block it with ease ;dont fall into a pattern they will take advantage of it' he spins the round house is slower but lot more power. you have time to block you can see its aimed high exept that he drops the other leg the last second leg sweeps .
(james)
close range loses the power of the kick
but you can also take someone to the ground with a shortrange sweep
what he's beginning to teach the little Walker is to be versatile
to think on his feet while he's at the advantage
so it will then come naturally when he's at disadvantagethat last roundhouse comes high
he's already moving to block that, too, then the pattern changes
it's not a clean sweep
he almost reacts in time to get out of it
(he street brawls, the martial arts aspect is new)
weight crashes to the mat anyway
but he's not alone
hooking fingers in Deigo's belt and hauling him off balance, too(diego)
he rides him easily to the ground (hey all that time spent with tristan has payed off) and they find themselves in a reverse of thier original situation... diego on top. and once more he licks you. grinning "ok now show me"
straddling you fists eitherside of your face. he grins. even as he steels himself for what will probably hurt.
(james)
he's got that playful eeeewww, dog slobber! type of look
and for a moment, all action is paused because the Gnawer's just laughing"You can do this even if someone outweighs you by a hundred pounds."
right fist wraps itself in the baggy denim by Diego's left knee
left hand settles itself on the Latino's shoulder, before it slopes into neck
his own feet plant on the mat, then hips shove up
Walker's weight thrown up above their heads
right hand dragging knee beneath and behind as the Gnawer uses his hips' momentum to roll right
effectively switching their positions on the mat
because now Diego's on his back with the Gnawer leaning over him"But, if you know what you're doing, you can still keep the advantage."
fist unwraps from denim
patting Diego's thigh
cause lookie there.....legs are around James' waist
and therein the little Garou can remain in control
See?"Cause if I move forward and try to belt you?" weight rocks forward just a little "Press you shoulders into the mat and arch - your legs keep me from getting any closer."
(diego)
his grin is delicious "belive me James i know exactly what can be done from this position" before his own laughter floods through his smaller frame "now get off me or i will slobber you again"(james)
there's a wink"Diego.... I had no doubts."
of the knowledge.... or the impending lick
when legs untangle
he's pulling backwards to stand
holding a hand out to help the Walker up again(diego)
this is getting a bit repetative. yet once more he takes the offered hand up. pulling self to feet before falling back into a fighting stance. "lets rock" next time he brings his cd player and some music. the attack is vicious it is quick and it is filled with short alternating punches. he steps in making sure to stay inside his gaurd (he did suggest it afterall) the punches are alternated with the occasional knee trying to drive up into ribcage. the close range afterall does work for him.(james)
they're getting better, faster
aim is honing in to where it's directed
and there's a pleased grin to see the Walker moving within the guardrange
because soon enough he's getting past to connect with skin as much as James is able to block
he's taking it easy on the kid, yes
but that doesn't mean he'll always just let him win
there's a definite improvement here
and the telltale oof of knee connecting with rib
it's the actual connection of knuckles to face that get's the bigger Garou to step back"Good!"
(tristan)
It was a clear night, and though being Mate to a Walker has its advantages - the Gnawer way is to pay ones own way -no matter how meager the offerings may be. That’s part of the reason that he chose to meet Diego and James later - the other part? Knowing James and Diego need this time to bond, just as much as he did/does. Stepping into the ring with the FullMoon is daunting at best, and doing it in front of one’s mate would probably be worse - even if he is just Kin.
So! It’s just now the kin is making it to the Gym, a hot tea left for the old codger who mans the front. He knows James would have paid the same as before - but by now the tea is long gone and cold, so he offers a refill. A boyish grin as he steps back into the depths of the slum gym watching the two sparring in the ring. He doesn’t say anything until James steps back, not wanting to distract the smaller Walker who is damn fast (lookit them moooooves) and only when James says ‘good’ does he set his violin case on the bench and applaud, fingerless gloves somewhat muting the sound. “damn boy - doing better then I did the first time around…” offered in way of greeting.
(diego)
stepping back as james does pausing to catch his breath "pffft thats the first blow i actually managed to get past his gaurd, and hes holding back" cause diego is a delicate little thing that might just break. grining as moves over to side of ring looking down at Tristan "glad to see your here"(james)
there's a soft laugh
his head shaking as Diego turns away
gesturing in exaggerated sign language to Tristan that the Walker is doing better than that
(even if he's holding back)
then joins them leaning on the ropes
easy grin on his face
sheen of sweat on his skin"S'up Tris?"
[enter comp crash and some npc exit of james]
Posted by james at March 06, 2003 12:00 AM
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