voice; ota

[soulcomet]

[suddenly, a voice!]

Hello! I hope everyone's doing all right now that we're back here on the island.

Um. Sorry if this is a weird question, but ... if you're an experienced fighter, what sort of training do you do that helps you out the most? The sort of thing that maybe a beginner could pick up on easily?

[beginner isn't really the right word for Madoka. but with her usual abilities out of reach, floating along with wherever the high frequency is, and with only a bow that's older than she is to use as a weapon, she's not that many steps ahead of one. does that make her a novice? first class? junior hero?]

It couldn't hurt to have that information out there, anyway. For the people who didn't do any fighting back home.

— Oh! If we haven't met before, I'm Madoka Kaname. If you ever need healing or first aid, please come see me, okay? I'm usually at the beach or the base camp.

Comments

[soulcomet]

[it would probably be too much information at once, honestly. Madoka isn't a bad student, but she has been overwhelmed by infodumps before.]

If it's not too much trouble ... I think it would help a lot if you could show me?

[deem]

I'll do that then. It's not any trouble at all, if I can give you a hand for a change.

[After all, Madoka's always helping others, every time he's seen her around]

[soulcomet]

[if only smiles were audible. helping others ... that's exactly why she contracted. the wish she remembers making doesn't really matter much, in the end — it's the hope that she can be useful that drives her forward.]

Thank you, Nines. I'm sure you're busy, but ... I'm ready to learn whenever you're ready to teach.

[deem]

If you'd like to meet somewhere, just let me know.

I can always find things to do, I'm a Scanner after all, but that doesn't mean I'm too busy to help.

[Because, as he'd said, he'd welcome the opportunity where Madoka has done so much for others]

[soulcomet]

I have some free time now, if you'd like? I'm at the beach.

[deem]

In that case, I'll meet you there. Shouldn't take me too long.

[Androids can really book it, after all]

[soulcomet]

Sounds good! I'll see you soon, Nines.

[she'll be waiting patiently for him, hair pulled back in a single ponytail as opposed to the usual pigtails. she's ready!]

[deem]

[It doesn't take 9S particularly long to get there, despite the distance he needs to cover. One benefit of being an android is that, at least, though he still stumbles when he steps out onto the sand to meet her.

Even thousands of years of technological advancement hasn't overcome sand...]

Sorry for the wait.

[soulcomet]

[... 9S. she's trying her best not to look too amused at that stumble.]

It's fine, I was hardly waiting long at all. Are you all right, though?

[deem]

Yeah, I'm okay. Just never been a big fan of sand [he shoots it a pointed look, apparent even with his goggles on] and I'd say the feeling's mutual.

[Sand in his boots is just the worst okay]

[soulcomet]

[Madoka can empathize, though it's probably still much easier for humans to move about in the sand.]

Do you want to head back a bit, maybe? Where the ground's more sturdy.

[deem]

That might be simpler for working on unarmed combat, actually.

[And just so long as Madoka doesn't have monstrous strength by human standards, he should be able to help out here. If she does, well...he'll do his best.

Either way, solid ground will serve them well]

[soulcomet]

[Madoka doesn't necessarily have superhuman strength. it's more like superhuman durability! kid's a tiny pink tank.]

[but, once they're far enough away from the beach that the ground isn't sandy, she turns to face 9S.]

Will this work?

[show her what you've got.]

[deem]

[9S takes a good glance around before he nods]

Yeah, I think this'll work.

[And with that, he arranges himself into a more ready stance, planting his feet wide and raising his hands]

So what I get out of it is the main priority is manipulating an opponent's movements to your advantage. If they're larger or more aggressive, you can use your placement to undermine their attacks. If you don't mind coming at me I'll show you — promise I won't be forceful or anything.

[soulcomet]

I — okay.

[she trusts 9S, but Madoka has no idea what exactly to do in hand-to-hand combat, so she just ... heads straight toward him at a pace that's slightly above a jog. is she doing this right?]

[deem]

Alright, so— [9S sidesteps, catching one of her arms and levering it behind her. His grip isn't sufficient to wrench her limb, letting go if she doesn't halt because true to his word, he isn't trying to cause injury] If someone comes at you straight on, you can get control of an arm this way.

[A lot of the data he has comes in bits and pieces, and as a Scanner, his interpretation skews heavily toward strategy]

With that leverage you can also push an attacker down, especially if they're rushing you. Speed's key, in that case. Want to try?

[soulcomet]

[WHOA she can't help but instinctively flail a little bit — she is going to need to work on keeping her cool when it comes to martial arts.]

[but once she's settled, she nods. okay. you can do this, Madoka.]

I'll try — what should you do if you opponent is much, must faster than you, though?

[deem]

That's where observation is key, in my opinion. If you see the direction they begin to shift their weight, then you can anticipate where they're going to veer and start moving.

[And actually, he's got some experience with this, because—]

Like Jude's got this ability to just. Pop up behind you, you know? It caught me off guard at first, but details can make a huge difference.

[Scanner logic, right here]

I can practice that with you too. If their eyes aren't covered, sometimes they'll also look where they're intending to go, reflexively.