Dia
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
I could come on strong and willful but I'd rather watch it fall to the palm of my hand
Posts: 148
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Post by Dia on Jan 21, 2006 6:56:04 GMT
Never taking eyes off her opponent as they circled her, Dia waited for them to make the first move. She had spent most of the afternoon in what had once been the Hyperion’s gym and now served as a training room for the pack, along with one of the hopeful younger fighters- Vivian. Earlier in the day Dia had come down to the training room with the intent to get in a little practice and found the other werewolf working on her own techniques, immediately noticing a few things that could be improved on. Sensing that there was the reluctance to ask, Dia had offered to spar and give a few pointers. It had been beneficial on both ends really, since training was so much easier with an actual moving target, so it was two birds with one stone on that one.
The focus of the day was hand-to-hand combat. Currently the other female was armed with a particularly nasty looking dagger, and Dia with her emi piercers, one hooked onto the middle finger of each hand. The Alpha had perhaps somewhat eccentric tastes in weapons but the ones she did use were utilized to their full potential.
After a few moments preparation Vivian lunged at Dia, and they began again. A strike, an evade, a retreat; it was almost like a dance of some sort- the art of fighting. Soon enough the exchange reached a point of denouement, with Vivian’s dagger poised in what was apparently a clear strike. However before the intent could even be fully thought through the point of one of Dia’s emi piercers was already pressing against Vivian’s jugular. It was fairly clear who had the upper hand here.
“You’re still leaving too many openings. Always be aware of that. If you give someone an obvious way to get past your defenses, you’re done for.” The correction was firm but not overly harsh or berating. They had been at this for a while so no doubt the younger had a deal of information to digest. There would be time for the point to fully set in later and however slowly, Vivian was improving, so there was no need to discourage. Nonetheless, the point was something of a double-edged sword since at same time some lessons, if not properly learned, could be quite fatal.
The training room was on the same floor as the lobby and the dining room, and in the process of arriving, Heidi and her group had drifted close enough for the smell of food to waft in. At least, close enough that Dia had been able to detect it, and her body reminded her that she and Vivian both had missed lunch while training.
“Smells like the others brought a late lunch.” A quick nod indicated they could both drop their battle stances and weapons were lowered. “And you’re getting better, don’t worry,” she added with a slight smile.
Even as she spoke, Dia slipped the emi piercers from her fingers, twirling one idly in her hand. It was perhaps something of a ‘tic’ of hers that she often seemed to have the need to be doing something with her hands. Maybe that was part of the reason why weaving was her ‘calming’ activity. It was placid enough to put her at ease, yet kept her fingers busy enough to satisfy the quirk. “Come on.”
Continued in: The dining room with the others[/I]
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Feb 13, 2006 22:54:21 GMT
Continued from: Cole's Study.
Stepping through the doorway, Cole immediately smiled warmly as he saw his mate in the centre of the mat, going through a seemingly automatic routine by herself; her concentration was absolute, and if she had noticed his arrival, she didn't call attention to it.
He would let her finish; he was in no rush. Leaning against the frame of the large doorway, he waited, watching her go through the motions with kicks and swings and punches at invisible targets, completely unarmed but deadly all the same.
Only when she wound down to a complete, graceful standstill did he dare speak, having never liked interrupting her, "I'll be heading out in a minute." It would be enough to say what he needed to say, and get her attention at the same time; kill two birds with one stone.
Dia had felt her mate approaching long before he was actually in the room, not letting the impending proximity put a hitch in what she was doing. It wasn't like she was incapable of multitasking but she was one to fully see things through whenever possible. She turned as Cole spoke, at first only giving a nod in response. There really wasn't anything else to discuss at this point as it had all been beforehand. Matters and details were never left to the last minute when it came to things involving the pack. "You'll use any excuse to get away from me for a little while, won't you?" The smile that appeared on her face after a few moments widened into a near grin. Naturally she was joking but she never had been able to resist pushing her mate's buttons in certain ways.
"Absolutely," he retorted cheekily, moving further into the room, hands hooked in his pockets at the thumbs. "Took you long enough to realise it," he continued to tease, cocking his head a little. Clearing his throat, before they got carried away, he went back into 'business mode' without losing his casual edge that he always seemed to have around her. "I don't think we'll be too long. And of course, Kyle's volunteered to tag along, as well as a few others."
Knowing the conversation was at least in part a 'serious' one, Dia refrained from continuing their usual playfulness as well. "Then I'll hold Kyle responsible for bringing you back in one piece," she said with a smirk. "And I'll hold down the fort."
"That's what I like to hear," he murmured affectionately, moving forward enough to give her a slow but brief kiss, before pulling back. "I've got my cell, and we shouldn't be more than a couple of hours. From what Marion said, it shouldn't take too long to make her realise we're not the 'bad guys'."
"There are bad guys now?" she asked jokingly, not giving him the chance to answer and deviate again before continuing. "I'll call if we need you. And let's just hope she's as open minded as everyone's assuming, otherwise things could get interesting." It was more than this night in particular she was referring to. With the full moon approaching, the last thing they needed to worry about was a rogue roaming the city unchecked.
Cole chuckle. "All right," he agreed, nodding his head, before leaning in to kiss her briefly again. "Nate's on the way. I'll see you when we get back." With that, he smiled, and turned to leave the room. All he needed to do was collect the group who would be heading out with him, and then they could get on their way to the gallery. He'd arranged to meet them in the lobby, so theoretically, they should already be downstairs.
Continued in: The Lobby.
((Written with Dia, obviously))
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Mar 10, 2006 22:45:08 GMT
Continued from: The Kitchen.
He’d stopped off in his and Dia’s bedroom briefly to change into clothing more suited for training, and headed right to the appropriate room — essentially the Hyperion’s gym — directly after that. To one side of the room was a reinforced punching bag that had been specifically installed and ‘constructed’ to withstand the impact from a stressed or particularly energetic werewolf; they’d only had to replace it once or twice in the past few years, which was a new record. There were a few benches around the edges of the room, for those in the pack who might want to watch any sparring, or simply rest during a workout at any time. Various other equipment was arranged and tidied around the area, but Cole had in his hands the only things he’d be needing.
The katanas hadn’t been used in combat in a little while, and the last thing he needed was to find he’d let himself get rusty. Of course, he trained at least once a week, with any of the weapons he carried if ever going out to defend or fight, so for all intents and purposes, he would never get that rusty. Few wolves in the pack would spar with him though, unless he asked it of them; very few volunteered. William and Kyle were the only usual willing ones, and perhaps Mileena if she had energy to burn, and no one else to spar with. Dia, of course, was a given… Steven too. Perhaps Mara wouldn’t object, if he suggested it to her.
Taking the swords from their saya, he set the latter aside carefully, and moved to the middle of the floor, balancing their weight in his hands before even thinking of starting a routine with them. He closed his eyes, tightened his grip subtly on the katanas, and then, as if on some cue only he could hear, started to go through the motions of a routine he’d learned years beforehand; decades even, if not centuries. Over the course of time, he’d added to or changed it accordingly, to keep his skills honed and suitably fresh to the times. Everyone had a technique, and Cole was always, discreetly, changing his, if only to keep any opponent on their toes when he faced them.
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Mara
Rogue Werewolf
Departed
Posts: 260
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Post by Mara on Apr 13, 2006 23:11:30 GMT
Continued from The Hallway
She immediately saw Cole in the center of the mats across the room - working through a katana kata - one she'd never seen before. Her fingers itched to take pictures of the power that exuded from his movements - she had to drop her hands to her sides forcibly after closing the door behind her.
It wasn't polite to interrupt a kata - and she certainly didn't want to offend anyone in any case - but...especially this one.
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Apr 13, 2006 23:28:58 GMT
Intent on his movements as he was, he detected her quiet arrival, choosing not to stop and acknowledge her just yet. He'd never been able to just quit in the middle of something like this, unless there was an emergency... or unless Dia was the one interrupting. The rest of the pack knew and respected that 'rule', and he appreciated their paying heed to it. He knew from the scent who had entered, but still, he didn't slow, falter or stop.
The blades of the katanas weaved through the air, catching the light and casting flashes and glimmers of its reflection all around the room; over the walls, floor, ceiling, and even the other wolf. He gripped the weapons with ease as he turned and swung them, concentrating completely on what he was doing.
Only when he had reached the true climax of the sequence did he stop, poised as if about to strike with both swords, the blades angled towards an invisible foe. Breathing steadily, he allowed his body to relax, finally, and lowered the katanas, turning his eyes on Mara. For a few moments, he said nothing, but when he did speak, it was simple, and calm; "Was there something wrong?"
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Mara
Rogue Werewolf
Departed
Posts: 260
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Post by Mara on Apr 13, 2006 23:33:40 GMT
Mara shook herself out of the reverie that she'd fallen into at the sheer perfomance of the blades. "Wrong? Nothing's felt more right in months. This is an amazing setup - my own dojang didn't have half this equipment." She gave a grin - then asked more seriously - "I pocketed the key to the dark room - moved all my cameras and lenses in there - I hope that is permissable to you."
Her fingers still itched to grab the cameras - but another urge had begun. Her wolf wanted to train, and she would be hardpressed to say which was the stronger emotion.
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Apr 13, 2006 23:39:49 GMT
"I think one or two of the others use the dark room now and again, but there's more than one key. Don't worry about it. For the most part, it's not used... and no one's been in there for a long time, as I'm sure you noticed." Cole smiled at the younger wolf, cocking his head.
"Do you know how to use one?" he finally asked, balancing one of his prized katanas in his right hand, practically offered towards her. His wolf could sense her own's urging, and was willing to accomodate; Cole himself was curious...
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Mara
Rogue Werewolf
Departed
Posts: 260
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Post by Mara on Apr 13, 2006 23:47:08 GMT
Carefully putting her camera case on the bench, she moved back onto the mat - her body automatically relaxing as she moved into what was probably her second comfort, next to camera work.
Bowing before entering onto the mat, according to black belt etiquette - she approached and took the offered blade reverently. "I've had a small amount of training with katana - Greg...Greg was going to give me some lessons in it. I know one kata. I prefered my bo staff - " she laughed. "The blunt brutality of it was more fun than the deadly beauty of the katana."
Stepping back she made a few sweeps with the blade before turning it over and handing it back with an incline of her head. "It's a beautiful blade. I can tell you respect it."
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Apr 13, 2006 23:58:40 GMT
Cole smiled calmly as he watched her move the blade, seeing how she'd learned some of the basics and adapted them in her own way. He took the katana back gently when she offered it, nodding his head. "I forget how long I've had these exactly, but I rarely leave the hotel without them... and I never leave them behind if there's ever need for a fight." His face became momentarily serious at the mention of combat and defense of his territory; something he always took very seriously indeed.
"I've used a staff a few times in the past, and I trained with them when I was younger, but I prefer these... as you can tell." He chuckled faintly, glancing to the racks along one wall and motioning his head to indicate the weapons stored upon it. There were several staffs presented upon it neatly to one side, free for use. Glancing back to her, he quirked a brow, wondering if she would go over and investigate as he suspected she might.
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Mara
Rogue Werewolf
Departed
Posts: 260
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Post by Mara on Apr 14, 2006 0:07:14 GMT
Mara took the unspoken invitation and walked over to the weapons rack. There were two heavy weapons like her own, one lightweight one - and a well worn oak staff that was obviously well used. Selecting one that mimiced her own, she balanced it in her hand, turning back to the mat. Seeing that he'd given her space...necessary with the 6' reach of the bo... she knelt for the beginning of a dragon kata.
Her muscles moved through the pattern effortlessly - she adored the movement in this and it showed. Swinging the bo, it made a huge whooshing sound before she slammed it into the ground, kneeling so far as to nearly be laying down - then she was standing with the bo whirling over her head, controlling it as her wolf reveled in the added power.
With the final yell in the form, she slammed the staff down in the finishing move - the whoosh of air and the thud of the mat echoing in the air for a moment. Any man or beast under the staff would have been incapacitated depending on where she hit... and she loved the distance and additional reach it gave to add to the brutality of in close fighting.
Standing, the gold draining from her eyes, she looked over at Cole. "Am I up to your standard?" It was mostly curiousity. She was lethal in the human world. She wondered where she stood in this new world.
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Apr 14, 2006 0:22:27 GMT
"Impressive." Cole smiled to back up his compliment, nodding his head, before moving to return his katanas to their saya, settling them carefully back on the bench out of the way. Pacing back over to the mat, he observed her briefly, before saying simply, "You're restless."
Stepping more fully onto the mat, he cocked his head, eyeing her curiously. "You said you wanted to see the training room, and now you have. So... how about actually training in it... with someone else." His muscles were relaxed, but prepared, in case she accepted the invitation; his own wolf, with the approach of the full moon, was restless, and he yearned to tire it out. Of course, if she didn't want to train with him, then he supposed he understood; after all, he'd had several decline such an invitation in the past, and it wasn't exactly new to him. It was simply something he'd had to get used to as an Alpha - pack members, especially younger ones, had a tendency to be intimidated by a leader.
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Mara
Rogue Werewolf
Departed
Posts: 260
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Post by Mara on Apr 14, 2006 0:41:35 GMT
Her eyes widened briefly. To have the offer of a train was ...beyond anything she would have expected at this point. Cole was, in every case, aware of what he was asking. He knew her wolf would be restless, and he above all was probably more than capable of defending himself - or safely incapcitating her should it be a problem. That he was more skilled than she, there was no doubt.
Looking down at her jeans, she looked around once - in a corner was a pile of clothing - looked like warmup gear for the most part. When he saw her glance he nodded. Like lightening she grabbed a pair of soft training pants and what looked like an old long sleeved uniform top, moving behind a screen next to the clothing. She was dressed in a flash, her clothing neatly piled next to her camera bag.
Her reapproach to the mat was the only signal he needed to turn to her and she looked at him for a moment. "I haven't sparred since... well. You know what happened the last time. I don't know what might happen - though I think you're aware of that - but I thank you for the chance."
Her wolf was fully awake and anxious to stretch its legs. Its reverence to Cole had only increased since she'd first arrived. She knew it saw him as leader, and the impending fight as an honor. She gave a slow smirk, realizing that he'd earned her wolf's loyalty, and that her own was fast on its heels.
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Apr 14, 2006 16:40:06 GMT
Given his age and experience, Cole, naturally, was indeed capable of defending himself, and also knew several ways to safely incapacitate should anything 'unsavoury' come to pass, on the mat or off it. But despite his age and experience, he had never been one to brag, so he kept these points to himself.
"It's not a problem. I know what happened, and I know the risk." He smiled softly, to reassure her. "If you're going to fully understand everything that you are now, then you need to know the limits; the extents of your temper, and how to manage it. Sparring is one good way to test those limits, and expand on them. When I was your age, I'd already been a fully developed werewolf for years, but I was once as nervous and unaware of everything as you are now." He eyed her sincerely, and with understanding; he wasn't judging her, and he certainly wasn't going to patronise her.
He positioned himself on the mat, facing her fully. "Now... do you have a preference?" Green eyes wandered to the weapons rack again, and then back to her face. "Unarmed, or...?"
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Mara
Rogue Werewolf
Departed
Posts: 260
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Post by Mara on Apr 15, 2006 2:05:06 GMT
Mara gave a grin. "I would think that arming would be guilding the lily." She gave one glance at the staff on the wall, and another at his katana blades. "I'm not entirely sure that I want to try my first spar with something that could leave marks...new healing ability or not."
She looked once more at the bo staff and shook her head. "No weapons. I will take a raincheck on that though - and I'll bring my own staff next time."
Inwardly, she was greatful for his admission. Knowing that someone knew what she was going through was more than she could have wished for - and it made the pain of her time in jail recently recede a little.
She stood straight and gave a bow, pointedly putting her eyes to the floor - the sign of respect in her art. "Whenever you're ready."
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Cole
Alpha Werewolf
Cole's Pack
Fear of the unknown clouds our hearts today. Come into my world, see through my eyes.
Posts: 500
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Post by Cole on Apr 15, 2006 2:38:28 GMT
Nodding, he accepted her choice. It was only fair that he let her decide, after all, and he respected her decision, such as it was. He should have expected it really; considering he didn't plan to 'go easy' on her, for fear of making her feel demeaned or something equally counterproductive, the weapons would probably have been a bad idea. Of course, when he sparred with weapons, Cole always stopped before landing a blow with a blade; never had he drawn blood... at least, not in a very long time. He couldn't really recall the last time something like that had happened.
Returning the bow respectfully, he adopted a prepared stance, showing her that he was ready. A large part of him wanted her to be the first to strike. He wanted to see how she moved, and what techniques she used, and in doing so, judge just how well she could handle herself... and potentially others, too, if the need for such a 'duty' arose.
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