010 → Training montage

[wrigurun]

Characters: Wriggle Nightbug, Meiling, Open
Setting: Floor 32 (open logs)
Format: Action tags, tags will follow original taggers style
Summary: With her powers potentially being nothing but an illusion, what's a firefly to do?
Warnings: None

Closed to Meiling

[After everything seemingly goes back to normal Wriggle can’t help but be on edge. Even though most people seemed unimpressed, even empowered by Ruana's spiel on the network she couldn't get rid of that feeling of dread. She didn't want to die just yet.

Now more than ever she needed to protect herself, especially when her powers were blocked and she was at her most vulnerable. Luckily she had a friend she could turn to for help. With the glamour restored she goes looking for Meiling, now she can finally recognise her again. When she finds her she greets her with a smile and fidgets a little with her hands]

Hey, Meiling I've been meaning to ask… You’re really good at fighting aren't you? Not just spell cards but you’re good at close combat too. So, do you think you could teach me?

Floor 32 → Morning

[Early in the morning on the 4th Wriggle makes her way up to the thirty second floor. In her hands is a small box with a distinct buzzing coming from it. Stepping onto the floor she makes her way into the forest and lifts the box up to her face]

Now, listen carefully. I don’t want you to leave the box until I tell you to, okay? Even when I open the lid I need you to stay until I say you can go. You got that?

[At which point she opens the lid and a small swarm of blow flies pours out, flying in every direction. Wriggle is clearly distressed by their disregard for her authority and starts chasing after them]

No! I said to stay! You guys I really need your cooperation! This is serious!

Floor 32 → Afternoon

[Later in the day she seems to have given up on the flies and instead can be found climbing trees and jumping off the branches. Or rather, she can be found climbing trees and attempting to fly off them. Unfortunately it seems the only thing she’s gaining from this is a lot of scratches and bruises. That doesn't deter her though, Wriggle still keeps climbing and making those small leaps of faith. If you’re lucky you might hear her falling a little way away. If you’re unlucky, she might fall right on top of you]

Floor 32 → Evening

[Even though it’s starting to get dark, and even though she’s tired and sore from her unsuccessful flight attempts Wriggle can still be found on the thirty second floor trying her best]

Firefly Sign! Meteor on Earth!

[Despite her spirited yelling nothing happens. She held what looked like a small card or piece of paper above her head and stared at it expectantly. When nothing happened she pulled another from her pocket and thrust her arm out in front of her]

Wriggle Sign! Little Bug Storm!

[She willed and willed for something to come out, some little spark, but the forest still remains undisturbed. This was getting her nowhere and she throws her spellcard on the ground in anger]

Dammit!

[And takes out her frustration by trying to kick down a nearby tree]

Comments

Evening

[bloodredandblack]

[You know what Wriggle needs? A light chop on the head.]

Why are you trying to use magic in a place it won't work at?

[wrigurun]

Hey!

[She spins around and tries to swat Reimu's hand away but she's a little slow]

It has to work! This floor is more real than all the others!

[bloodredandblack]

In case you never noticed, magic doesn't work in 'real' places. That's why we have Gensokyo.

[wrigurun]

But Gensokyo is real too! It's this place that's the fake! I know I can fly and I know I can use spellcards and I know I can control insects!

This place is just broken, that's all!

[bloodredandblack]

You're not really getting what I'm saying.

[And she doesn't think she will when explained either.]

Whatever, just go practice somewhere else.

[wrigurun]

Then why don't you explain it to me then? If you always get angry at me for being dumb then why don't you change that?

If I go practice somewhere else then I'll only get tricked into thinking I can do it. I know I can do it really, it's just that I have actually used my powers in a long time, that's all...

[bloodredandblack]

I don't do it because its pointless. If you want to get taught something, go ask Marisa. She might give you the time of day.

[wrigurun]

I was being sarcastic...

I know exactly what I'm doing so why don't you go and bother someone else?

[bloodredandblack]

Because I'm bothering you.

And making sure you're okay.

[Nice way to tack that on, Reimu.]

[wrigurun]

I'm fine!

Do you think I can't take care of myself? I've been here way longer than you and I'll have you know I've only died twice!

[She smirks slightly as if it's some kind of achievement]

[bloodredandblack]

That's the problem! You're not Mokou so you're not allowed to die. Not anymore.

[wrigurun]

It's not like I wanted to! It just sorta happened...

Not that it matters. When you die here you just wake up in your bed the next day anyway. It's like you were dreaming.

[bloodredandblack]

I don't care what happens when you die since it's not going to happen anymore.

[wrigurun]

Why not? That's how it's always been!

[bloodredandblack]

I don't need to answer that.

[Mostly because she doesn't want to say that she'll stop it.]

[wrigurun]

Why not?

If you never answer any of my questions I'll start thinking you're not as smart as you claim.

[bloodredandblack]

Fine. You want to know? It's because I'll save your idiot ass.

[wrigurun]

[She almost wants to laugh at that but it only leaves her more confused than ever]

Aren't you some kind of youkai exterminator though?

Plus you hate me!

[bloodredandblack]

I hunt vampires now. And I don't hate anyone except fairies. Pretty sure you're not a fairy, even if you're as annoying as one.

[wrigurun]

Damn right I'm not!

[After being mistaken for a fairy so many times she was happy to get the recognition she deserved]

Wait...

Hey! They're a hundred times more annoying than I am!

[bloodredandblack]

Live my life and see if you can say the same.

[wrigurun]

Oh yeah?

Well live mine and maybe you'll see why I'm "so annoying" in the first place!

[She's sure to emphasize the air brackets around 'so annoying']

[bloodredandblack]

I already know why you are. Why would I have to be like you to find out?

[wrigurun]

You do...?

Then maybe you could be a bit more sympathetic!

[Wait, didn't they already have this conversation? This feels strangely familiar...]

[bloodredandblack]

Just stay safe, idiot, or I'll bop you over the head again.

[wrigurun]

That's why I'm training here. So I know how to fight back when I can't use my powers.

[bloodredandblack]

This looks less like training and more like waving your arms uselessly, though.

[wrigurun]

It is training!

Even if I can't use them here I should be able to. They're not just things I can do, they're a part of me! I'm not larviform, so it's in my nature to fly.

I can't stand being stuck on the ground like this...

Closed Prompt obviously

[colorfulbrilliance]

[Meiling had actually been just sitting in the forest, trying to keep her mind off of the current events and what they had learned. Even with the glamour back on, She was still a bit wary on everything. So being as lost in her thoughts as she was, she was a bit startled when she heard her name, head snapping up.

She recovers once she sees who is speaking to her and listens carefully, moving so she's sitting cross legged instead on knees pulled to her chest. A ghost of a smile works it's way to her face as the question of teaching comes up.]

I'm not that good with Spell Cards, I'm usually defeated when it comes to those...But I think I can teach you more close combat. It'll be tough and hard work but if you want to, it can help you.

[wrigurun]

[Wriggle's smile brightened considerably at the acceptance]

I do! I really do!

If they can do stuff like turn off our powers here it's still dangerous, so I wanna be able to fight even then.

[colorfulbrilliance]

[Meiling is quiet for a moment, considering exactly how she was going to do this. Wriggle wad a lot smaller then she was so some things wouldn't work well...But she could do her best.]

Alright. When do you want to start?

[Starting to stand up. Even if they didn't start today, she wanted to go over in her head what she could teach.}

[wrigurun]

Right now!

Or tomorrow!

Or any time that's good for you but I wanna start as soon as possible...

[colorfulbrilliance]

I understand.

[Standing tall there is a moment before she gives a slight bow. This is taking her back quite a bit. Old memories but for now, they would be helpful.

She kneels down, to be at eye level with Wriggle and holds out her hands, slightly cupped]

Alright. First thing is first. Throw a punch into one of my hands. I can see where we need to start from there.

[wrigurun]

[She watches as Meiling stands and bows, wondering if she should do the same. It was the polite thing to do, right? And she respected Meiling. Wriggle gave a light bow in response and waits for the next instruction]

No problem!

[She threw a punch as instructed as hard as she could. Her form was rather sloppy though and for a moment she even lost her balance before righting herself again]

[colorfulbrilliance]

[This does not discourage Meiling at all! She smiles and puts her hands down for a moment, waiting for Wriggle to right herself once more.}

That's good actually. Now I know where to begin.

[She shifts to show a ready stance..except she's still kneeling, her right arm held back a bit.]

Try to stand like this, knees a bit bent and try again okay? It should help with your balance.

[And then she will shift back, hands again held out.]

[wrigurun]

Okay!

[She mimics the pose as shown, although she tries to kneel down as well but soon catches on that she should still be standing for this. Once Wriggle felt she was in the right pose she threw another punch, much better balanced this time. The technique was still a little unpolished but she was heading in the right direction]

How's that?

[colorfulbrilliance]

Much better. That will allow you to put a bit of power while keeping your balance at the same time.

[Meiling is impressed already. With balance more things can come from it.]

Always keep your more dominate hand back, as you can step into the punch to give it a bit more of a hit and focus on the area you are meaning to hit. A clean hit can make the difference in a fight.

I think we can work on punches first and then once that is down, we can work on kick and other fancy things to join in okay?

[wrigurun]

[Her smile brightens as she's praised and she practices a few more punches to the air next to Meiling with each hand. At the mention of hands she looks down a little puzzled]

How do I know which one is my dominant one?

Can't we learn kicks now? I think I'm better at kicking than punching.