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Post by kagemaru656 on May 7, 2016 0:09:43 GMT
Adri and Conner both leave off in their own directions as Celeste leads Zach towards the Cathedral. [See Adri and Conner solo threads respectively]
She leads him out the northwest door and along a path that follows the outer edges of the park. It's a fairly large park, with pathways, trees, pretty flowers and bushes and plenty of open grass. You can't actually see where it ends through the growth, which even manages to hide most of the buildings behind. They head further south, past housing and some lower rise apartments. The path takes them near the university, and they can see another field there. Some people appear to be fighting, hand to hand, but from their outfits and the outfits of those around them you are pretty sure this is some official martial arts fight. One of the fighters is attacking fiercly, never giving up with all the ferocity of fire. The other though just keeps defending, with the stoic patience of earth. When opportunity arises he lashes out past his defenses, but the other fighter only takes a few steps back and renews his assault with even more vigor.
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Post by FelixSparks on May 7, 2016 4:02:24 GMT
Zach pauses a moment, entranced by the hand to hand display. So fierce... Such tenacity... He had seen a paper about Dojos offering trial lessons, and a martial arts tournament in a few day's time... For a moment, his mind flashed back to a few of the fights they'd gotten into. He'd gotten himself hurt because he had no idea what he was doing. If he could fix that, learn some of these moves, then maybe he'd worry Adri and Connor less? He nodded, his resolve steeled. "Quick pit stop Celeste! Won't be but a minute!"
He quickly ran over, filing in with the crowd. "The fiery one... What form is he using? I'd like to learn it, especially if it allows weapons..."
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Post by haybalebarn on May 7, 2016 5:49:31 GMT
Celeste blinks and follows after him, watching quietly. She had seen the martial artists plenty of times in the city. Wasn't really her thing.
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Post by kagemaru656 on May 7, 2016 10:53:06 GMT
One of the Martial Artists watching turns his head slightly towards Zach "His is a style based on Northern Shaolin. It bases around extending the body and long, aggressive techniques that explode and drive through the opponent." A girl to your left follows up "The other guy is trained in Hung Gar, but whenever he counter-attacks he tends to start boxing. None of us here train in weapons particularly." As they are telling you this the fiery one explodes forward again, lashing out with both hands, but the earthen one takes a firm stance and deflects both armas away. He then strikes out with a heavy punch that connects to fire's chest. Fire takes a step back but then jumps forward, delivering a kick with each leg to earth's head as he flips, coming to land back on his feet afterward. a moment later the judge announces "Hohen is the winner!" Hohen, the firey one, joins his hands and bows first to his now rising opponent, and then to the judge, and finally out to the crowd, straight at you.
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Post by FelixSparks on May 7, 2016 12:45:51 GMT
Zach is a bit taken aback by the sudden bowing, and awkwardly tries to return the gesture, bowing at the waist slightly. After a moment, he walks up to Hohen, excitement evident in his voice. "That was REALLY cool! Which Dojo are you a part of?"
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Post by kagemaru656 on May 7, 2016 13:02:05 GMT
Zach's bowing gets a chuckle form some of those beside him, whom he notices aren't bowing. Hohen seems a bit surprised at your approach, and before he can respond the judge calls out "Please make way for the next combatants." Hohen puts his hand on Zach's back and leads him back past the crowd saying "You can't be here. Follow me." After leading you back into the crowd, 2 female fighters take position, each taking a different stance. Hohen properly addresses your question then "I study the Northern Shaolin style. There's a dojo for it over there." He points across this quad. "We always accept new applicants... just don't call it 'Karate', the sensei hates that."
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Post by haybalebarn on May 7, 2016 19:38:16 GMT
Celeste blinks as Zach immediately goes rushing off into the center of the circle of combatants without a second thought, not even bothering to observe the situation. She think she understand how he got hurt so easily now. She makes her way through the crowd and stands nearby, waiting for Zach to finish.
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Post by FelixSparks on May 7, 2016 20:37:26 GMT
Zach nods, thankful for the information. He makes his way to Celeste, blushing a bit. "Mind if we watch the next one? I've been considering learning how to fight for a while now..."
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Post by haybalebarn on May 7, 2016 20:39:27 GMT
She nods. "Sure, I don't mind." There's a bit of an awkward pause, but eventually she decides to make some small talk. "Why martial arts? There are other ways to fight."
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Post by FelixSparks on May 7, 2016 20:44:55 GMT
Zach shrugged in response. "I usually fight with my knife, but it hasn't been working too well... Plus I get riled up easily, so maybe a form of disciplined combat would help. If you know a sword school I'm all for it though."
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Post by kagemaru656 on May 7, 2016 20:55:54 GMT
As they converse, the judge yells "Sara, Talia, Fight!". The one on the left, Sara edges forward, keeping her movements fluid like water. The other one, Talia, circles around her, moving to some rhythm only she is aware of. She lashes forward, swinging to the floor in a low sweep. Sara takes this to the leg and rolls, lashing out with a punch as Talia spins away. Talia comes back in, circling behind Sara and delivering a short elbow to the side as she spins away again. Sara tries a final rush forward, bringing both palms forward in a strong strike. Talia takes this, and starts falling, only to turn this into another spinning kick that sends Sara to the ground. After a moment the Judge announces. "Talia is the winner! Time for the final match" Talia bows to Sara and the judge, and helps Sara up.
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Post by haybalebarn on May 7, 2016 21:01:19 GMT
Celeste thinks for a moment, then nods. "I do, actually. It's near the north side of the Eastern residential district, bordering the commercial district. Medieval weapons club, or something." She frowns slightly at this realization though, it was a bit closer to her family's house than she would have liked. Hopefully she wouldn't get recognized...
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Post by FelixSparks on May 7, 2016 21:05:37 GMT
Zach nodded, watching the fight intently. It was very interesting... But he couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to fight without risking his hands. If his hands got injured, he wouldn't be able to cook as well, and that'd defeat the whole purpose of his journey... "Maybe we can swing by there after the visit to Professor Pine's place... I need to go shopping for a new knife anyway."
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Post by haybalebarn on May 7, 2016 21:08:06 GMT
"Sure. I said I'd show you around, after all. Wherever you want." She smiles lightly at him, amused at how focused he was on the fight.
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Post by kagemaru656 on May 7, 2016 21:13:56 GMT
The last two fighters, Eddy and Toby, take the ring. The judge announces their names again and calls for the start. Eddy doesn't seem to be serious based of his stance, but Toby is in one of the most classical stances you can think of. Immediately though Eddy Rolls forward and delivers a kick straight to Toby's side. It connects, but Toby grabs the leg and spins him, throwing him into the ground. From his position on the ground, Eddy spins himself, first delivering a low kick to Toby's leg and then spinning himself up into a hurricane of legs as Toby picks himself back up. Toby takes a step back and grounds his stance again, and Eddy flips himself back onto his legs as well. Toby runs full speed looking to floor Eddy, but he stands his ground, lifting one leg and propelling himself full force upwards into Toby's chest. Between his speed and Eddy's launch there is an actual loud thud from the impact, as both of them fall back down, Eddy rollign himself upright. After a moment the judge calls it "Eddy wins" but this time rushes over to make sure Toby is alright. He was a big guy though, and was already picking himself back up. Seeign he was safe he announces "That was the last fight, we will be training back in the dojo tomorrow. Dismissed!"
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Post by FelixSparks on May 7, 2016 21:16:38 GMT
"I'm... honestly thinking of entering the competition. And maybe a contest with Evelyn." He'd returned the ball of fluff to her ball during their walk, and his eyes locked on the competitors. "That style... That one that Eddy was using. I think it suits me the best so far... I may have to look into it." He nodded, and grinned to Celeste. "Sorry for the detour! We can go to the Temple now."
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Post by haybalebarn on May 7, 2016 21:18:54 GMT
She shrugs. "Not like I have anywhere else to be." Then she begins leading him to the temple once more.
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Post by kagemaru656 on May 7, 2016 21:33:58 GMT
The Martial Artists are already dispersing. You make you way along the rest of the quad and now back in past housing. You see the top of a big building ahead. As you get closer more of the building comes into view, with 3 large towers atop an already huge building. It might have been outclassed by some of the buildings in the Industrial and Technical districts, but it is still the tallest and largest building around here. It is sandstone coloured... or possibly built of the stuff. A large stained glass window faces south above the huge double door, Which appears to show a collection of molten forms, that you can't recognise as any particular Pokémon, centered around a much more solid Pokémon (which Zach recognises from the religious books he has seen as Heatran).
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Post by FelixSparks on May 7, 2016 22:00:34 GMT
Zach bows to the door, saying a short prayer under his breath, thanking Heatran for his divine protection and favor thus far. He approaches the door, placing a hand upon it and pausing a moment, steeling himself. He'd never been inside a temple before... He pushes the door open, and looks inside, eyes full of wonder and hope.
Intuition roll Gci9oGcn5d65d6
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Post by haybalebarn on May 7, 2016 22:13:01 GMT
Celeste follows awkwardly. She knew less than nothing about religion, her parents having banned her from ever being near it, so she didn't really know proper procedure for this sort of situation. She'd just let Zach do his thing for now and follow him around, stuffing her other earbud into her ear and focusing on her music instead, switching it to something calming yet upbeat.
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