Practice

[alittlebitofjoy]

[in the lobby on the first floor, a little girl plays. Her hair pulled back into a tiny pony tail, just enough for a little tuft to poke out from the back of her head (some loose strands falling over her face because she hasn't really mastered the art of ponytail tying). She dances around the room in her little bloomer pants and white middy blouse

Comments

[old_papa_john]

[The old man was to wander on by but he ends up stopping dead in his tracks when he sees a child he hasn't seen before. Not to mention that, but she's practicing a fighting technique that's vaguely familiar.]

...

[He watches her for now, not wanting to interrupt her practice.]

[alittlebitofjoy]

[Lilly's a very diligent little girl and keeps throwing punches and kicks at the air. Each swing accompanied by a grunt. Her aim is a tad sloppy, but that's what practice is all about. Too bad little Lilly hasn't learned to be entirely aware of her surroundings yet. She'll get there, you'll see.]

[old_papa_john]

[That's for the best. He's got this thing about distracting good kids from good work, but if he spies that knee he may have to stop and CURE patch her up.]

[alittlebitofjoy]

[He won't have to stand back long. One misaimed jab in the air and a startled yelp pitches against the walls as the knife clatters to the ground. Red droplets trail down the back of her hand, down her forearms, and drip from her elbow. Lilly's cut herself and she just holds her hand palm down, staring at the angry diagonal streak. It stung and brought tears to her eyes, but she didn't cry.

Not yet.]

[littlespaceship]

[Lev watches for a bit.]

What you doing?

[alittlebitofjoy]

Huh?

[Lilly's step falters, but she recovers quickly; tucking her arms behind her back and straightening. The handle of the knife poking against her back as she beams at the inquiring boy.]

I'm practicing.

[littlespaceship]

[Lev can't help but smile at her enthusiasm.]

Cool, what you practice for?

[alittlebitofjoy]

For fighting, silly. Lots of people here are soldiers and one day I'm gonna grow up to be one, so I should practice. Right?

[In her mind it made sense. All of her other mentors always said 'practice makes perfect'.]

[thenextninjakid]

[After spending more than a year in the nexus, John had lots of time to practice too! He was no master swordsman, by any means, but he was still pretty darned good for a seven year old! Wandering around in the lobby, he paused as he glanced at the familiar girl doing lots of cool fighting moves! He doesn't remember her name, since it's been so long, but he's still happy to see another kid his age, nonetheless.]

Hey, don't I know you?

[alittlebitofjoy]

[She whirls around, careful with the knife, and smiles at a vaguely familiar face. Lilly's forgotten his name too, but that doesn't stop her from being friendly. Other kids were hard to find; like Sunny....or Mikhail.]

I think so. [she holds out her open hand for a shake], My name's Lilly. I don't remember yours though.

[thenextninjakid]

[John shakes her hand a little hard, because of the enthusiasm he put forth in it. He didn't get to shake too many hands, so he made the best of the few chances he got.] I'm John, and I'm seven years old! How old are you?!

[alittlebitofjoy]

[she screws her face up as she thinks. Her lips pursing and her brows knitting together.]

Well, gosh. I think I'm nine...

[mnotacomputer]

[Hal was peeking at the girl from the doorway of the lobby, watching her jump all over the furniture. And with a knife, even. If he had been doing that, his daddy would have yelled at him.]

W-what are you doin'?

[alittlebitofjoy]

[Lillian spins around on her heel and cocks her head when she spies a boy peeking out at her. She flashes him a brilliant smile.]

I'm training. [Lilly gestures with the knifeless hand] What are you doing?

[mnotacomputer]

Watchin'

[He smiled back a little timidly, watching the knife in her other hand.]

Isn't that d-dangerous?

[alittlebitofjoy]

Dangerous?

[She frowns and draws the knife, giving it a thoughtful look-over before shrugging nonchalantly.]

Ehhh. I s'pose it is. I can put it away if you'd like. It's just that soldiers use guns and knives all the time and I remember that what I'm practicing uses one of these. [said knife is wiggled for emphasis] Only smaller. I couldn't reachfind a smaller one.

[lil_plant_boy]

[Gerasim is peeking through the door, watching the girl there jumping and fighting like he never seen before.]

/She's... so cute./

[He thinks as he keeps watching her with his eyes all wide. He really doesn't want to get closer, not wanting to ruin whatever she was doing there.]

[alittlebitofjoy]

[Devoted as she is, Lilly still has some work to do; like paying attention to her surroundings, for instance. The little girl continues to skip, hop, and leap around the room while pretending to be facing an imaginary foe. At times she breaks out of stance to pretend sword fight because really, she's holding a knife and what child wouldn't if their parents ever allowed them to hold one in the first place.]

[lil_plant_boy]

[He had never seen a girl act like that. He's too used seeing the girls from his town just sitting around, learning how to sew, cook and do a lot of other girly stuff. None of them had this 'fighting' spirit about them and, even if they had, the adults would definetely disapprove that type of behaviour from a girl.

He gathers some courage to get into the room and stands there against the wall looking at her, wondering if she would understand him if he talked to her. Almost no one there seemed to understand him.]

[alittlebitofjoy]

[Movement reaches her ears and the little girl spins around to see an equally adorable little boy standing against the wall. Lilly places the knife on a table before skipping over and cocking her head to the side with a large smile plastered on her face.]

Hi there!