Sequence 03

[maestro_ezio]

Who: maestro_ezio and open!
What: Bare-knuckle boxing and sparring, what could possibly go wrong?
When: About an hour or so after this post
Where: Training rooms.
Warnings: Violence, blood, punching, manly bonding, potentially a lot of half-naked guys? (Ezio's a given here).

Comments

[thinkin_arbys]

She'd entered without making much of a noise, carefully glancing around before she finally slipped through a grate leading into the room. Though she had nothing to lose by having her identity discovered, now was not the time to field the questions of why she was dressed as a man, or why she even cared. No, this was about chasing the strange liberation Ezio kept offering her, that worldly alternative to what she'd been seeking for so many years. No one needed to know she was here. What if it didn't pan out? What if she didn't find her answers

[maestro_ezio]

"Are you trying to prove something, Giustina?" he asked her when he turned around. The pose was not entirely forced, but Ezio could see the facade it played. A hand went on her shoulder as he smiled. "It is good that you have come. Tell me, what do you know of fighting?"

He wanted a measure of her perceived strength, to know how she saw herself. Her actual skills would be presented soon enough.

[thinkin_arbys]

"Did I say you could call me that in a public place?" Her expression was stern, but she relaxed just a little when he touched her shoulder. For some reason, she'd half expected him to come directly at her right away. It wasn't precisely distrust, but their approaches to things had thus far seemed quite different, and she wasn't going to give him a single inch to get one up on her, physically.

She spun her Stand around in her hand like a gunslinger, depositing it in the holster that hung from her belt.

"I have no formal training. Everything I learned was from tussling with farm boys and--" She almost said my brother, but caught herself. Too much to explain, there. "--and a couple of men I met in America. I didn't let them get too close, so, as I've said, it was all done with my Stand. I suppose I could grapple someone in a pinch, but it doesn't really pay off to get that close around Stand users. It seems a lot of our ability is determined by distance, and every Stand works most efficiently at a certain distance from the User. You

[maestro_ezio]

Honesty, very good. "Then I will teach all I know. I know your Stand is important to you, but you cannot rely on it often. It is useful but the less you use it, the more surprised your enemy will be when they see it."

He crossed his arms against his chest. "Being straightforward and clever are good things to have. Not all battles can be fought merely with weapons or fists. If we are to meet these Purists, we will need to know how everything about them and new methods of fighting. I will be learning as well. We cannot feign ignorance, much less now. But do not think your sex is a weakness," he added, very seriously. Most in his time would frown upon women, but he trained several into skilled Assassins, and knew the likes of very intelligent and powerful women. "I will train you just as hard as I trained my recruits in Roma."

[birdthright]

After a few minutes of tinkering, Damian finally managed to find a map on his guide. He knew there was a manual, but figuring things out on his own was simply what he preferred. Following the map very closely, he made it to the training rooms and spotted who he assumed was 'Ezio' from the network.

He was actually planning to book a room of his own, but since this person had booked one already, it certainly did not hurt to use it. Besides, he was ... curious. Seeing that post was a break from the usual network dribble of people forgetting to shut off their feeds and people humiliating themselves at their jobs. Ezio probably had a love for fighting, so there was a chance he would be good. If he isn't, then Damian could simply go elsewhere.

He steps into the room, his arms slowly finding their usual place crossed in front of him. That 'youth' you spoke to just now, Ezio ...? He happens to be ten-years old.

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio felt the presence of another. When he looked, he was quite surprised to find a child standing with his arms crossed. "Are you lost?" he asked tentatively. Truly, he did not know what to make of this boy, who seemed mildly intrigued.

[birdthright]

"I am exactly where I'm supposed to be." The response came too quickly, as if he was used to such questions.

"And you ... must be Ezio."

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio shifted his weight onto one leg and placed his arms on his hips. "You must be Damian, then."

Now that the initial half-shock passed, he walked up to him. The directness of the boy was something he liked already. "So you are a fighter." He was interested in what he could do. "Since when if I might ask?"

[mister_nintendo]

It might take Mario just a little while to get there. He had no idea where the place was and he actually had to ask for directions one or two times, but he eventually finds out where the place is. It's actually pretty useful he found out about this place. Even if Bowser wasn't on the ship right now, it was still important to keep up with training.

When he enters the training room, he's probably going to look a LOT shorter than Ezio expected. He was shockingly small. Only about five feet tall or possibly even a little shorter than. He might not notice Ezio right away though. He's just going to look around and explore the place a little.

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio does not notice Mario either. He picks up his punching speed against the bag. It was not unlike the straw figures he practiced when sword training back home. This, though, was much more akin to a real human. He preferred it, in fact.

He kicked the punching bag several times between punches.

[mister_nintendo]

Well the sounds of training is definitely enough to get his attention. And upon looking over he see's Ezio who he recognizes from the guide. He could tell from his techniques that he was actually a pretty good. Obviously he had experience in this. Prepare to have a short stubby plumber running over Ezio.

"That'sa not bad! You're-a pretty good at this, eh?"

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio was caught completely off-guard by the plumber. Not only did he not expect to be run over, he did not expect such a short man either. "I've had many years of practice," he replied.

[missthewoman]

Irene had been quite intrigued by the gentilissimo's request for a place to fist fight. And for all that she might rather place a bet on a fight, she knew that she had best exercise herself. Besides, she knew Ezio to be capable of much more specular things, and she wanted to learn them.

So she came to the gymnasium dressed in her 'walking' clothes - trousers and a loose blouse, all the better for moving around in. A smile played on her lips as she watched him punch a bag - he had not seen her since he had handed over the artifacts to 'Nitsa', and she wondered how he would take the realization that she'd been in disguise.

Content to watch him for the moment (for he was quite enjoyable to watch,) she leaned in the door frame and waited for a moment to make her presence known.
If he didn't notice her first, as she wagered he might.

[maestro_ezio]

Ezio had gotten caught up with the punching bag for a few moments, lost in the rhythm, the quick punches he threw and the occasional kick. He stopped for a moment's respite, breathing deeply to catch his breath, when he sensed someone was watching him. A woman stood at the door, a very beautiful one at that.

And vaguely familiar.

"Are you looking for someone?"

[missthewoman]

Ah, but she loved hearing his Italian. Not that it made any difference in understanding, thanks to the babel fish (however that worked), but she still enjoyed hearing, and speaking, other languages. She wanted to speak Italian in return, but for now she stayed with English.

"I was looking for you, dear," she said, taking her Guide out of her pocket by way of explanation. She then entered the room and set the thing aside. Turning back she gave him a most confident smile. "I might not put up much of a challenge in brute force, but I hoped you might still practice with me."

[maestro_ezio]

That smile... he knew it from somewhere. But he kept the thought silent. "Brute force is only one way to fight. I would be honored to practice with you." Ezio bowed his head slightly, as he did often, with a grin. "You have practiced before, I take it."

[urnotafraid]

What did Sho know about formal training anyways? He had a been a street rat that relied on speed and cunning more than any physical strength. When Kei took him in, Sho had learnt everything the vampire had been willing to teach him. When Kei left, Sho got serious about the skills he had, toning himself and learning how to control his body. He was a street fighter with a few extra skills, and nothing he did was always fair.

He found where Ezio had rented a room and just walked in, arching an eyebrow as he spotted the assassin hitting a punching bag. Nodding once, he took off his white leather jacket and then stripped off the guns and holsters. Then after a moment's thought, he pulled his shirt off and laid it on top of the guns.

[maestro_ezio]

Whether for better or for worse, Ezio's skills in fighting were not exactly fair either. He had an edge of speed and the ability to climb and leap. He also knew how to punch, kick and break necks while being half-blinded by dust himself and his enemies. Training with mercenaries did that sort of thing.

Ezio heard movement, so he stopped to see what exactly was moving. "Sho," he said, approaching. His eyes flickered momentarily to his clothing, noticing a bulk of something under his shirt. "It is good to see you."

[urnotafraid]

"Good to see you too."

Sho nodded back in greeting as he finished unloading his weapons - this time a couple nasty looking switchblades and a set of brass knuckles - and dumped on top of his shirt. Last was the sunglasses, and it took a moment of squinting for his eyes to adjust to the lights.

"They've got a nice set-up here."

[maestro_ezio]

"It is very impressive," he agreed. The set of weapons don't go unnoticed to Ezio. He wondered how many others were so armed on the ship. He had at least six or seven different weapons on his person, not counting the Apple.