Wax on, Wax off. Breath in, Breath out.....

[Garza]

I traveled here alone. Walking down the street as I used a lighter to ignite my cigarette. A slap click came from the lighter as the lid shut on the casing. It was then put away in my jacket. After taking a puff, I let the cigarette stay in my mouth as I popped my knuckles. The plethora of pops as well as the groaning of leather bracers, named after the creatures that were killed to create them, the Leviathan bracers I wore were nice. Kept my hands warm. and were well worth the 50,000 credits. That's not to say that these puppies were not cheep, but well worth the money. I moved to come to a rather semi-run down complex building. It was here that I hoped to get better at fighting.

This was supposedly a class about how to fight off force users so you could kill them. I had a feeling that this was a non-force user zone. Hence why I didn't carry my Sithsword, nor did I use any powers at all. I wanted to be safe. and as a ex-con, safe was not really a word for me.

I knocked on the door to the place, and then pressed the little button outside. maybe that would get some attention? nonetheless, I took another puff of my cig. Already thinking of the lies that I would have to tell. Not that hard to do when it has been a part of your life since you could remember.

[member="Skrik Piper"], [member="Zatten Black"],

 

[Zatten Black]

Abredago-Rae was definitely not the nicest place I've been to, but it was sure far from the worst. I was looking for a little... what was it called? Oh, yeah, a dojo. A place to learn how to fight off Force users. Irony abounded, and I smiled my crooked smile while I walked down the street. Rather than wearing my signature (and highly obvious) black armor, I wore a long black jacket, veined with golden and silver thread. Otherwise, I was wearing a pretty inconspicuous mix of a black vest and leather pants. Comfy.

I stepped into the dojo to see a man in a hat, who was almost glowing with Force energy, but seemed to have no Jedi or Sith weapons on him. Probably, he'd come to the same conclusion as I had: Force Users were not welcome here.

"Hi, there. Where's the master of this dojo or whatever?"

[member="Asher Kellan"] [member='Skrik Piper']

 

[Skrik Piper]

While most of her classes were typical self-defense, incapacitate-not-decapitate learning sessions, the human-rattataki instructor did host a more extreme variant of her courses twice a week around the primetime hours, when all the more 'sheltered' folks would be immersing themselves in the Holonet. That just so happened to be the time most of the truly committed--and sometimes shady--folks got in line to have their rear ends wiped across the floor. Piper had been locally reputed for years in the martial arts scene, and her training almost since birth had instilled the deepest dedication to violent techniques that the Rattataki were known for, making her an ideal teacher for those foreseeing a little violence in their future lives. Whatever their reasons were, they did not concern Skrik.

One of her pastimes, however, was the perfecting the art of killing the 'unkillable'--the Jedi or whatever pseudo-Jedi order they preferred to identify with (It mattered not to her.). Almost daily, the pale woman would reserve some personal time to study and practice the various lightsaber forms used by such supernatural warriors. She was becoming very good at swordsmanship--just like she always had with combat forms she picked up--though she learned them less for personal usage and more for analysis. Swords were an irrelevant weapon in this age, unless wielded by superbeings with reflexes that were substantially higher than your average life-form's. And that was what she was doing right now, when the doorbell rang.

Seriously, why did they have to install a doorbell? Her hearing was bad, sure, but the ring was just too sharp. Plus, she liked hearing the force of a person's knock on the door. It was often an effective gauge of how aggressive her visitor and potential student might be.

With an annoyed groan, Piper terminated her wall squat routine and ascended the small stairway to see who could be calling at this time of day. Not that she had specific times of the day that her martial arts worked. That would be unfortunate.

Opening up the door to let in the smoke, Skrik covered her mouth and looked at the odd pair of action-seekers. "How can I help you?" she asked in heavy-accented Basic. At least she had the verb formations memorized in this phrase.

[member="Asher Kellan"], [member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Garza]

I turned around as I heard a man's voice behind me. Already I could see that he was a force sensitive. I rolled my eyes as he asked if I knew anything about this dojo. I just turned back to the door as it opened before I could say to him to go do something to himself in very vulgar terms. I still carried my chain weapon. While it looked to be just an ordainment on my arms, it really could be taken apart and used as a whip. A very deadly one at that. I had not seen others who have been able to use a chain as a weapon so I thought that it was quite rare for someone to be able to defend against. And since it was on my left hand, where the man could not see it, I was more prepared for him. Unless he was hiding weapons under that piece of crap jacket of his.

Answering the woman as she spoke, I threw the cigarette on the ground and snuffed it out with the sole of my shoe. "Yeah, I came here for your more extensive lessons on fighting. Not sure about this duchebag here." Throwing a thumb over my shoulder in his direction to indicate him and his leather covered crap. Fetish? Ew. Nevermind.

Regardless, I was not happy that some other guy was there. Though there was always a second option for me to do. Though as much as this man could be in danger, So was I. It would be a Gamble. But maybe, Just maybe I could pull it off.

[member="Skrik Piper"], [member="Zatten Black"],

 

[Skrik Piper]

Her mouth twisted as she appraised the two man who stood before her. This was an unprecedented visit and request, but there was always a possibility that she could squeeze some training in. Besides, she had a reputation to keep on top of. As long as they learned to do one thing very well, it would give her more cred. And creds. Both were really good.

"Okay," she decided, nodding at the one who did not have such a leathery wardrobe. "You're have how many minutes in time you am wanting to learn?" Yes, some of these martial artist wannabes were more like tourists these days. They came for a lesson and left feeling like they were badass for learning one arm lock.

But that was all based on historical encounters. Perhaps these two really did want to get a little dedication going. She could at least ask directly how much effort they wanted to put in. "Or are you being more of serious?"

[member="Asher Kellan"], [member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I grinned at the lady, my slightly pointed teeth showing.

"I'm always serious. Whether I'm looked at that way simply depends on circumstance."

I spun around to the other guy, and my grin lost some of its volume.

"Who're you calling a douchebag? You and your stupid hat..."

[member="Asher Kellan"] [member="Skrik Piper"]

 

[Garza]

The woman came to the door and began to question on what I was here for. Just general lessons for fun. making a really bad joke about it too. I shook my head as the man behind me spoke up. Saying that he was always serious. I turned to him as he tried to make up for his loss of me calling him a duchebag for saying my hat was stupid. Really? of all the words in the fething galaxy, he chose stupid? I turned to him shaking my head, "Nice comeback asswipe. Let the adults here talk." Turning to the woman again, I spoke to answer her question before the man could interject. "I fight with my fists. Last time I did, I was beaten. So I want to become better. I want lessons in a fighting style that is not well known and one that will give me an advantage in a battle."

Indicating her with an open hand, "I hope that you can supply that. I heard you love to hate the force users. Seeing as how they use melee weapons a lot, I assumed you would know a thing or two about fighting them. If it works on a force user, then it will work on those that don't have the force."

[member="Zatten Black"], [member="Skrik Piper"],

 

[Skrik Piper]

Whatever these two were yakking about was a bit over Skrik's head, or it just did not make sense anyway. Either they were a couple of frat guys or they were complete--and rather self-confident--strangers who already appeared to have a promising relationship ahead of them. Whatever they hated each other for was beyond her understanding, though she may soon learn to hate them both, as well. The chalk-white woman hoped this would be the worst it got. But she highly doubted that.

"Fists are good," she acknowledged, following the hatted one's recounting of an unfortunate fistfight. Her narrow gaze alternated between both parties. "But you are need variation."

Now, this was interesting. Mention of her disdain for Force users was certainly interesting and quite uncommon. It was not every day that she encountered someone with this sort of knowledge and initiative. "And is it same with you?" she asked the one in leather as she opened the door more welcomingly--though still with a hint of wariness. There was no reason to trust either of them yet, if ever.

[member="Asher Kellan"], [member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I looked at the oddly-accented near-human woman, and nodded.

"I can fight with almost any weapon out there, but unarmed combat is not something I do very much. I need practice, and I need refinement. So, here I am."

I glared at the guy in the hat again, and turned back to the lady.

"Whatever you'll be willing to teach me, I'll be grateful."

[member="Skrik Piper"]

 

[Garza]

Turning to the man as he spoke once more before me, I shook my head. Oh was it going to be fun as sparing partners. I was so going to love beating his face in. I already was a semi-good fighter because of my street skills, and have fought before with my hands successfully. Yes, I have been beaten in a fight, however it was not a fist fight or a brawl I lost in. It wasn't even the fight that I had been in. I had the collected knowledge of two men in side my head. My own, and that of a Master Fire Shaper. His death brought me new life. And with that, it also gave me his temper, and his ability to fight.

My left hand clenched. I could feel my body temperature rise, However I sedated it as the woman spoke to me about knowing her hatred for the force users. Nodding my head, I turned back to her, "Many people don't like force users. I don't either. Those that tend to hate the same group know about each other." Tilting my head a little I smirked ever so slightly. "As well, your attitude towards us is questionable as though you are judging us by our actions. Meaning that you watch all that you want and need to get. You hunt or watch your prey. And I doubt you are an avid bounty hunter by the fact that you would not be having a secure dojo where any other bounty hunter could come and stop you from doing your own job. No you generally work in the shadows or in secret." I tapped my head with an index finger,

"We all have are talents. Mine is reading people from their actions and reactions. So far, you might teach us, and might even find it amusing to see the two of us go from bickering to beating each other's face in. So as long as you are willing to teach us, Then yes, we need variation and a pick me up in our fighting skills." I stopped speaking and turned to the man in leather. Just giving him a stare to show him that I was not as stupid as he thought. I really wanted to see him try. Maybe even squabble around trying to come with another lame comeback.

Oh what will he do. Oh what will this poor man in leather do?

[member="Skrik Piper"], [member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Skrik Piper]

((Very sorry for the unacceptable delay! I had a rough week at university and I was busy working on Rebel Alliance stuff, though I should have posted here long ago anyway.))


Enjenka furrowed her brow as she took in Hat Guy's perceptive observations. He was certainly good--or had been given excellent information prior to this visit--and presented himself as someone who was at least dedicated, though perhaps not the most savory of characters. He should do nicely. The half-Rattataki nodded approval at him and turned to Leather Pants.

Skrik stroked her auburn ponytail and attempted to look as judgmental as possible. She would take both of them on, of course, but there is just something a little suspicious and awkward about people who show up in that sort of attire. Though, in all honesty, Skrik had seen some weirdly-clad people--like the hipsters who hung around the smoothie bar a few seats to the left of her favorite seat. Yeah, at least this guy seemed like he could be taken halfway seriously.

The pale martial artist opened the door completely to allow them passage and stepped down the stairs to her basement 'studio'. "We're going to see your stancing, or yes," she began as her feet touched the floor level. "Showing me how you have place your feet." Hopefully they were not uselessly accustomed to some horrific fighting form.

[member="Zatten Black"], [member="Asher Kellan"]