text | un: Sasaki

[ex_adept136]

It's occurred to me that since our membership shifts and our backgrounds vary so much, it might be good to compare what we're capable of. More to the point, I was thinking we might be able to help each other pick up relevant skills, if not hone the ones we already have.

If people are looking to train or think they could help others, why don't we discuss that here? I know at least a few of us don't have backgrounds in combat, for example. On our first day here I met someone who wasn't familiar with firearms but might get good use out of the skill, for another.

In my case, I have experience training others and can help with hand-to-hand combat. I can work with people ranging from average human strength to well above it. I've got some skill with swords and knives, but I wouldn't compare that to someone who specializes in them, and that's something I'd like to work on. In terms of non-combative skills, if someone wants to work on something like cooking, I'm reasonably helpful there.

Let's see how we can help each other improve.

[ooc: Please feel free to thread-hop/jack here, that's what this is for!]

Comments

[gunah]

There was a time in my journey when I was accompanied by an eagle, who shadowed my steps and chirped as I slept.

Is your brother kinder than eagles?

[dishearten]

considering I've not had the chance to make friends with an eagle, I can't say with utmost certainty

But the wolf tends to be too friendly for his own good, so I shall hazard a guess and say yes.

[gunah]

Eagles are short-tempered and stubborn, but loyal.

Then it is settled. Do you hunt for sustenance or for the thrill of it?

[dishearten]

sustenance. to survive and nothing less.

though I hunt more for my brother and the rest of the team these days. since I got the gift of understanding animals, eating them has been less than appealing.

[gunah]

Do you speak to them?

What do they say?

[dishearten]

depends on the animal, really
some can only talk about instinct, what they feel in the moment

some are more talkative. my brother likes to tell me about the things he's smelled in a day.

[gunah]

What scent most pleased him today? And don't spare the details.

[dishearten]

you'd think it'd be food, but he surprises me

back in Oska, he liked to mention the new hay in the stables. here he likes the smell of cactus, though he told me to be careful if I wanted to smell for myself.

( one can surely understand why! poor Bro. )

[gunah]

Your brother finds beauty in everything it seems.

Did you try smelling the cactus?

[dishearten]

it's a gift of his. an enviable one, I think.

I haven't yet. if I do it might be after I cut the thorns off.

[gunah]

I would leave the thorns be. They are what makes the cactus beautiful.

Your gift of understanding is just as enviable.

[dishearten]

that's an interesting way of thinking about it. not everyone would find self defense mechanisms as beauty.

I didn't ask for the ability, but I don't think I'd give it up unless I had to. there are so many ways of looking at the world besides our own.

[gunah]

Strength and pain can both be beautiful.

Will you give up meat to keep your ability to listen?

[dishearten]

I already have, in a way. I can persist without it, hearing them is far more important to me now.

( he'll eat meat for survival, but not for pleasure. there's not a lot of pleasure in eating an animal you can talk to. )

[gunah]

Then we will hunt, but only for your brother's sake.

Will that do?

[dishearten]

it will do nicely, thank you.

Graham. by the way.

( to give her a name to the username. more and more he wishes he could change that, though it's true that the Huntsman is and will ever be a part of him. )

[gunah]

You may call me Shuyi.

[ A beat. ]

Huntsman.

[ Graham tells her nothing of who he is, but huntsman does. Names should mean something, she thinks, all while she hides behind a nickname to hide how her people has defined her: evil. He doesn't need to know that. ]

[dishearten]

( probably a good call; he'd have a strong reaction to that particular world, even without a heart. )

I've not been called that in some time, but it serves.

( he's grown fond of his name, but the reality is unshakeable; it's not his, it's just another command of the queen. the huntsman was a title he earned. it's more his than Graham. )

when you're ready, I will be.