[Open] En Garde!

[winged_knight]

WHO: Wing and anyone
WHERE: One of the larger lower platforms in Vector's Quadrant.
WHEN: Now (Wing personally practices twice a week, anyone may join/visit.)
WHAT: Melee sparring sessions, hand-to-hand and weapons combat. Anyone may watch, participate, receive or offer instruction. Technique discussion welcome as well.
WARNINGS: None yet.

Just enough light from Prima's quadrant touches the network of crystal cables crisscrossing Vector's domain that they turn slightly golden. One wide hanging bridge connects the main approach to one of many large platforms, Vector's tower standing vigil farther behind it. The platform has little in the way of walls, barriers or guard rails, but it is quite large with ample room for several groups to occupy should they choose to. There's a section near the middle, bare except for a large ring on the ground formed from bits of rope and cable knotted together. There's what appears to be a makeshift sparring dummy constructed of various bits of junk nearby.

The knight begins with a warm-up kata, slow and measured with empty and open hands, his movements pushing and pulling with a grace something his size and made of metal would not be expected to have. The warm up eventually transitions into faster flowing movements, punctuated by stronger, tighter fisted and more aggressive movements. Finally it escalates to drawn weapons, their plasma charge singing in the air as the blades move around the jet's body in a combative type of dance.

In several centuries of study and practice, Wing has mastered several forms of martial combat. Offensive and defensive stances, evades, holds, throws, parries, feints, disengages, missile deflects, but most importantly, incapacitates. Using knowledge precisely and intentionally applied to debilitate but not kill one's opponent was a key element to upholding the Circle of Light's philosophy.

All this, and yet Wing has had opportunity to apply but a small portion of it in true combat.

It's time now to expand that into practical application and test it in a much more informal setting. Wing seeks to expand the breadth of his experience while offering a vast knowledge base teachable to others.

Comments

[winged_knight]

Wing notes the presence of the other in between movements. Awareness of his surroundings was just as important as the exercises themselves, though some days he allowed himself to get lost in the tranquility of the flow of forms regardless. As his routine approaches its finish, he adjusts a few of the steps to carry him closer to his visitor. The knight ends neatly a few paces from the circle's edge, carefully stowing his plasma blades.

"Deckerd!" Wing nods a friendly greeting, smiling as he moves to join the Brave's leader outside edge of the circle. "It's good to see you. You've recovered from the trials of the invasion I hope? What brings you out here?"

[patokichi]

The Brave Detective uncrosses his arms and lets his face open into a smile. He's still banged up, filthy, missing the edge of one of his lapels, and the red glass on his chest is cracked and chipped, but he somehow manages to still look cheerful.

He refused to have his cosmetic damage fixed in lieu of rescources for the other, far more critical injuries of others.

"You too, Wing," He says, resting a hand on one of the partitions for Wing's small ring, "I was just on patrol. Trying to stay active..."

Trying to get his mind off of Gunmax and Drift. Still his fault.

"That... dance you were doing," A smooth change of subject, "What is it called? It's very ah."

He pauses, hand moving to his chin as he searches for the right words.

"Pretty."

[winged_knight]

It’s refreshing to see Deckerd’s cheerful air. The Brave Police force gave them all a bit of scare at the end of the invasion, so seeing a less grave demeanor was heartening.

"It must be an interesting challenge to adjust to this new place. We don't realize how much we rely on routine until it's been disrupted." He has a quiet, knowing expression. "Still, order needs to be kept even here."

Wing takes note of the damage still evident on Deckerd’s frame. Given what little he know of the other mech, he’d guess that the detective was putting others before himself again. "Haven’t seen to your maintenance yet." His tone isn’t accusatory, but it’s obvious he wants to be certain Deckerd is taking care of himself. “How are you all fairing?”

Wing glances back into the ring as if remembering the movements he performed but a moment ago. "It’s a mixture of a few different styles, designed to keep skills from getting stagnant. Most of the names have long been lost to all others save my order, but most Cybertronians would see it and call it Metallikato."

[patokichi]

Deckerd only nods, agreeing quietly until it's pointed out that he really hasn't seen to any sort of maintenance, even when Ratchet offered it. He saw it as a waste of resources and time. It takes him off his guard a little.

"Well," He shifts his weight awkwardly, "I was watching over Gunmax and Drift in the medbay for a while. I've been worried about them. And between that, patrolling for any of the straggling monsters, as well as looking for more fuel..."

He shrugs.

"It's not important. Just cosmetic," Cosmetic is right. He's utterly filthy. His usual white plating has a nice brown tint to it, "Everyone else is varying. McCrane seems to be dealing well at least. He's always been of a good, sound mind. Gunmax is in good spirits, but a little bored being cooped up. We're all surviving."

Certainly not thriving, though. It's been harder for them than many of the Cybertronians even.

Matallikato?

"You Cybertronians have such a rich culture. I must admit, I've been intensely fascinated by it. I only wish I had some time to sit down and really learn more."

[winged_knight]

Wing smiles, his suspicions confirmed. This mech obviously had a good heart and deserved someone watching out for his well being the same way he did for others.

"Thank you," the knight says, "For watching over Gunmax and Drift. I was quite concerned as well but...I got the feeling my presence might be troubling Drift so I did not linger as long as I would have liked." He smiles. "It's good to know there was someone else there to do it."

He shrugs with a rueful smile.

"But I digress!" He laughs gently. "Cosmetic indeed. But sometimes washing away the grime of battle helps sweep away the weight of the things we must do in it. At the very least, it can help make us feel better and more capable of handling the larger challenges."

Wing tilts his head and regards the detective thoughtfully. "Have you visited the washracks at Prima's since you got here?" It occurred to him that maybe the Braves needed a cultural primer there too.

A nod. "You persist, that is good. And you have friends and allies to help improve that condition. Soon, I'm sure." Wing reaches out to give Deckerd's arm a companionable squeeze. It's a thing he does, social touch, perhaps a little more than most Cybertronians here.

"Well thank you. Our race is quite old, which may have something to do with that. A single lifespan can span several million years. We do not reproduce very often however, so there is balance."

[patokichi]

Deckerd, for what it's worth, does not pull away from the touch. It's almost endearing in a way, how friendly Wing is. He doesn't mind it. It's comforting in a way, a surrogate for the lack of a child at his ankle or on his shoulder.

"It was my pleasure to look after them," He says, some of the weight of responsibility lingering there.

"Ah- no. I haven't, actually. Yuuta used to wash me every Sunday but..." He makes a vague gesture implying that's obviously not possible anymore. He's also a little helpless when it comes to that. Sure, he could suss out washing himself, but it has more to do with the emotional bond they shared and the routine and...

Well. Deckerd lowers his head.

"Hmm. Is it troubling, living so long?"

[winged_knight]

The knight can sense the lingering responsibility behind those words, it's not unlike his own tendencies. He gives that shoulder a reassuring rub before lowering it again.

"Well, I'll likely hit the washracks when we're done here. You should join me, I can show you how it all works. It's easier with two anyway, not exactly easy to reach everything by yourself!" His gives an affable grin, honest in his desire to help and perhaps cheer up the police detective a little. He knows he's no replacement for Yuuta, but it's something at least.

"Living so long? Sometimes, in the sense that somethings seems to pass by so quickly in comparison. A hundred years for us is not so long really." He shrugs a shoulder, it's really a matter of perspective.

"So what bring you here?"

[patokichi]

He actually looks a little startled by that.

"Th- with two? I... okay. I suppose it wouldn't hurt." He's never had to do this with anyone else. Now it's less missing Yuuta and more... modesty. For some reason. He can't shake it.

"I can't really imagine what things will be like in a hundred years."

Yuuta would be... no. Don't think about it.

"Just taking a walk, really. Patrolling."

Pretending to do work.

[winged_knight]

"It certainly shouldn't hurt. Not unless you scrub too hard." Wing keeps a straight face for all of three seconds before he breaks into a grin and laughs. "Really, mechs do it all the time. If you're going be really thorough you kind of have to have help. We aren't as flexible as organics are. Hard to reach, and see, some places."

Wing nods, "Sometimes a hundred years is exactly what you expect it to be, other times, decidedly not." Crystal City had stood and remained mostly unchanged for centuries. Yet outside of it, the landscape of the war was constantly changing.

"Patrolling?" He smiles, "I'm glad someone's here to look out for people."

He considers a moment. "Do you want to join me? Obviously you don't do swords but I know lots of hand-to-hand. My order prefers non-lethal resolution to combat so I know plenty of ways to incapacitate opponents and not kill them. Maybe some of them would be useful to you?"

[patokichi]

"I- ah. Yes. You do have a point." Deckerd is just a little bit helpless. But Wing is kind and trustworthy, just like Drift. It settles him enough to accept the idea.

The invitation is a new obstacle, but one that Deckerd finds much more easily acceptable. He shifts from foot to foot and smiles.

"Sure! I'd love to learn something. You've got really good form."

[winged_knight]

"I bet you underestimate how much better you'll feel."

He grins, because it's not to have to practice alone.

"Great! Can you tell me what kind of training you have already? That should help give me a place to start."

[patokichi]

"P-perhaps, yes."

Wow, you've actually really flustered him, Wing. He's grateful for the change of subject.

"I mostly use my gun, however I do have some basic hand-to-hand training. Definitely enough to hold my own should I need to.

[winged_knight]

Obviously someone needs to give Wing a primer on Earth culture, including the fact that humans don't usually shower together unless they plan to be, or already are...intimate.

But he's just going to continue being clueless for now.

"Perhaps you could show me what you know? That should give me an idea what your style is like, and if I need to adapt the techniques I know to it."