For those who wish to learn [Open]

[swordofzero]

Characters: Suzaku Kururugi and anyone who wants training
Setting: Unpowered forest (32), backdated to the 10th (so the day after his network post)
Format: Prose but I can switch
Summary: Suzaku offered to teach anyone who needed it, especially those with powers who wished to learn to fight without.
Warnings:

Suzaku wasn't sure if anyone was going to turn up. The night had been long and hard, patrolling and checking on those he felt responsible for. With everyone forced out of their rooms he doubted anyone had gotten rest but he waited in the forest anyways just in case.

After all with this new threat of Ruana's it was more important than ever for people to know how to fight, and he was determined to help them. He had made a post on the network, and sent messages to a few of those he had spoken to about training in the past, so now he just waited, going through sword forms as he did so.

Comments

[marchwarden]

Ever since the fall of Dax, life within Animus took a drastic change for the worse. Haldir once believed the fallen administrator to be no different than his associates, but that lie was soon shattered by Dax's untimely demise at the hands of Ruana. Haldir always hated Ruana ever since the first time she terrorized the tower. The woman had a habit of constantly raining terror upon them in the form of bizarre and strange experiments, and this time would be no different. Once again, Ruana has assumed command of Animus this month and everyone's lives were in jeopardy. Haldir said very little when the announcement came, but an undeniable sense of dread washed over him once he heard it.

Whenever Ruana was in charge, death and destruction would soon follow. Fearful of whatever insanity she would brew here in Animus, Haldir fled to the forest. He soon realized long ago that the woodland areas within the tower were often the safest. Many of the events that transpired in Animus took place within the long corridors of the tower or near the living quarters. Rarely did the various rooms above suffer much besides that one incident when the tower itself nearly collapsed. Haldir still remembered that day in his nightmares.

The Silvan Elf made his way through the dimly lit forest in search of game, but instead found a boy. The youth looked no older than his teens. Haldir doubted that the boy would wander here into the woods without a purpose, but he couldn't picture the youth taking part within a hunt. The boy was far too scrawny to wield a blade properly and he seemed to be awkwardly shaped with rather petite shoulders. Haldir eyed the youth from on top of a nearby tree. He remain as still and silent as any tree with only the faint rustling of the leaves possibly urging the boy to look up. Dressed in a red tattered cloak with his sword at his side, the march warden couldn't help but wonder as of why this youth was here.

[swordofzero]

Suzaku paused at the rustling and turned around, looking for the source of the noise. It took him a moment but he spotted the man in the tree. He blinked but nodded politely. "Are you here for training?"

He doubted it, since he was up in the tree, but Suzaku asked anyways to make sure.

[marchwarden]

Haldir half expected hostility instead of pleasantness to be shared. Most people found it utterly unnerving how the march warden seemed to creep about. He rarely makes his presence known these days, and only Legolas could confess to seeing him daily. The Silvan Elf has a bad habit of keeping his distance from others. His aloof and distant demeanor sometimes earns him scorn amongst the other captives, but not from this strange youth.

He eyed the boy briefly before staring up towards the canopy above. "The answer is already known to you." He replied a moment or so later after an uncomfortable silence laid between them. "I have no need for it." A smirk suddenly ghosted over his lips once his blue gaze lingered upon the boy again.

"Unless you know of something truly profound."

[swordofzero]

"Not really, no more than any other fighter." He told the man nodding at his words. His posture was ready, in case this figure turned out to be a threat.

"I'm just offering what help I can."

[marchwarden]

A thoughtful gleam lingered within Haldir's eyes as he studied the boy. The lad has the right intention but in the end, it will all be futile. Or will it? Haldir certainly wasn't born with divination as a skill. No, that would be the Lady of the Golden Woods. If Lady Galadriel had walked amongst them, she would undoubtedly praised this youth for his efforts and encourage him to continue forth. That much was certain given that Galadriel herself often inspired hope within her own people.

Should he do the same and offer hope even when it's bleak? Perhaps. Clinging to hope is far better than clinging to the despair he allowed to infect him. Without a word, Haldir soundlessly slipped out of the tree and landed in silence before the boy. He wasn't one to often lend his aid to others, but in an endeavor like this he feels the need to act.

"What do you know?" The marchwarden asked quietly. "What sort of skills can you offer those here?"

[swordofzero]

"Hand to hand mostly, back home I was a knight but we fought in large machines." He had no idea what kind of world this man came from or if he would understand. "I was taught Kendo from a young age, and also know how to use firearms. I am mostly looking to teach those who rely on magic or other such powers for their defense, as our captors can turn such things off at will, and they seem to be part of the illusions of this place. But I am willing to teach anyone who wishes it."

[evokingfool]

After Minato received Suzaku's note yesterday, it didn't take long for him to make his decision. And so on the 10th, he armed himself and take the elevator up to the 41st floor and quickly made his way down to the forest floor. The darkness and unsettling atmosphere on the 41st floor made him wary of staying around for too long.

With Ruana in charged for the month, Minato was more cautious than ever. Death may have a different meaning for them, the collared residents of the tower, but Minato disliked meaningless deaths.

After some time, he finally arrived on the forest floor and stepped off the staircase. His guard still up, he walked through the forest and his eyes glanced around for a certain boy.

Sure enough, he would eventually find him.

"Suzaku-san."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku turned and nodded at Minato, "I'm glad you could come." Ryoji had suggested that Minato would want lessons and Suzaku was happy to teach anyone who wished to learn.

[evokingfool]

"I came as soon as I can." The trip from one of the elevator's stop and through the floors took a while. "After I got your letter, I don't have any other reason to put it off."

[swordofzero]

Suzaku nodded, "Have you done any training without your personas before? What do you know already?"

[evokingfool]

"I did. Mostly by myself and with Sephiroth-san." Who, despite Ryoji's warnings just recently, was a skilled swordsman to learn from.

[swordofzero]

"I know of him." He had been one of those who had gone down in the elevator with him. "So has he taught you the sword?"

[evokingfool]

Minato shook his head. "He's not my first teacher. I know kendo and most of my skills are self-taught before he became my teacher."

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji wanders into the forest, a little nervous, but still determined. He's been learning a lot from Diarmuid, but if he wants to become strong enough to protect everyone, and make sure nothing like what happened thanks to Sephiroth ever happens again.

He's borrowed the sword Diarmuid's been letting him practice with. He could always have used Thanatos' blade, but since Suzaku had said this was supposed to be training without magic powers, he's brought this one instead. Hopefully he's learned enough from his previous training to not make a fool of himself here.

[swordofzero]

Suzaku spotted the boy and nodded at him, he didn't know this Ryoji as well as he knew the others who had been here before him but they had been down to the administrative areas together and Ryoji was the one who had given Suzaku the idea for these lessons in the first place.

"Hello Ryoji, how are you?"

[notsogrimreaper]

Ryoji is still unsure, as he doesn't know Suzaku too well, but the older boy seems trustworthy at least.

"I'm good. Thanks for telling me about this."

Any opportunity to become stronger and protect others is one Ryoji will take.

[swordofzero]

"You're welcome. I was glad to hear that Diarmuid was teaching you. You will find me a poorer teacher than he but I hope you can still learn something."

[notsogrimreaper]

“Oh, no, I’m sure you’re great! I saw what you could do back then, and it was really impressive.”

Granted, Diarmuid could do more, but he wasn’t exactly human, and as far as Ryoji could tell, Suzaku was relatively normal. Though, now that he was near him, Ryoji couldn’t help but notice the strange aura Suzaku seemed to have… something dark, and familiar to Ryoji’s own experiences.

He hopes the other man doesn’t notice the small frown that appears before he can stop it.

[swordofzero]

Suzaku did notice, and frowned himself, looking around wondering if Ryoji had seen something. "Is something wrong?"

[tempus_scorpius]

[Rolo is just going to be leaning against a tree over here, playing with his hunting knife as he waits.]

[swordofzero]

[At least he came. Suzaku goes over.] You okay?

[tempus_scorpius]

[He stops playing and nods.] I'm fine.

[swordofzero]

And the truth?

[tempus_scorpius]

That is the truth. [sort of]

[swordofzero]

[He gets a look] The whole truth Rolo.