the_central_library

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[In the spirit of Owen's intro video cue a short haired young woman with archery gear perched atop a desk in the marksmanship and martial arts section.]

Queen, Thea Queen.

Sorry. [She softly giggled.] Always wanted to use that line. But for those I've not met yet I'm also an assistant librarian whose turf involves weapons and martial arts. Oddly fitting since my main weapon is a bow and arrow right?

[But her eyes speak volumes, she's not sure she deserves to be an assistant librarian.]

So yell if you need anything, a sparring partner or something just feels fishy?

Oh Barry and Felicity: you two can visit whenever. We have to stick together after all.

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Is that a large section here? Weapons and martial arts, I mean.

Pretty decent sized, I've heard of a decent chunk of these forms but not all of them.

Will it be needed, do you think?

Maybe? Never hurts to know more I think.

Knowledge for knowledge sake is never wasted.

[Nita nods.]

Hey, that sounds pretty cool! It's nice to meet you, Thea. I'm Nita, Nita Callahan.

Might take you up on the sparring bit too, just in case.

Edited 2017-02-05 01:41 (UTC)

Hi Nita! I'm mostly an archer but am traded in a few different fighting styles if that helps?

... Learning archery actually sounds like a good idea! Don't know what skills I'm going to need in this place.

[And Nita hadn't necessarily done well the last time she'd learned self-defence martial arts... though she wasn't more than seven, then. And with her wizardry on the fritz it'd likely pay to branch out as much as possible.]

Going a bit James Bond on us there, huh?

Guilty, the line was too perfect.

[He can't help but laugh.]

When a line's perfect, you have to use it. It'd be a shame to let it go to waste.

You doing alright?

When the line is perfect it has to be used! [she's smiling]

I'm holding up: I've got friends from my world around which helps a lot.

Glad to hear it. If you guys need anything, Blue and I are always around. If you can't find me, she can so just track her down.

[A pause.]

You heard anything from the cat or the librarian since people started arriving?

[Forget video, Trunks just puts the bookmark in his jacket pocket, and heads straight for the Weapons and Martial Arts section. This place, the whole Library, was dangerous--that was why they'd all been brought into help right? If she was in charge of Weapons and Martial Arts, he needed to do some testing and assessing of his own. Not that he didn't trust the Librarians---he'd just feel better if he saw and spoke to her and verified it for himself.

So yes, there is a young man of about 18ish, with a broad sword slung over his shoulders, looking around until he spots Thea. Lavender hair, blue eyes, and definitely a fighter by the look and way he moves. Only a moment's pause on spying her, before he's walking towards her. Stopping a few feet away, studying her, maybe a hint of a smirk at the corner of his mouth.]

So where do we go, in this place, to spar and not actually damage anything?

[Yes, because that is SUCH a good introduction. But he's on a mission at the moment, and Trunks'll introduce himself later. Test first, politeness after.]

[A backpack of gear was close by as Thea fished for her map.]

Hang a left at Japanese weapons, that looks to be the largest space to not cause any damage. [She does ask since she's been itchy to train as well.] What's your style? I'm trained in a few different things but partial to bow and arrow.

[Okay, he wants a map. Maps are good.]

Don't have a formal one, but suspect they don't want us playing with the weapons while we're here.

[Playing with...yep. Definitely feeling on familiar territory now.]

[Thea passed over the quick and drawn map she had made.]

Already scoped out sparring space when I took over the section, figured be ready for anything.

[Once he gets paper, he is so copying this map. Quick look, and memorizing. First hurdle passed to, if she's aware she needs to be prepared for anything. Passing it back.]

Great, let's go!

[Gonna start walking that way.]

[Thea leaves a note saying she would be right back, this was mostly in case Barry and Felicity come looking for her. She accepts the map.]

Just from looking at you the itch to train is strong. [She goes for a joke to keep things light.]

[Looking at him? Is it because he's clearly there for a purpose, or because he looks like he knows what he's doing? Trunks just shrugs, but keeps walking.]

Good thing? I mean, you said you wouldn't mind a sparring partner.

Not at all. What are you trained in?

Again, no specific style or school. Hand-to-hand, ki-manipulation, sword-work.

[Casual and easily offered, coming to one of the turns as they were starting to get to the Japanese section.]

Archery, a few different martial arts, sai and sword to name a few. [Thea had located the space a few days before and the work did show.]

[Too bad she'd done the work on her own, or he'd have helped likely. Cleaning and organizing the dorms had helped him relax after dealing with a haunted village, after all. Physical activity had been a good thing.

General-styles, philosophy--walking and he can see how she's cleared space as there's a bit more clutter of chairs here. Especially as they get to--Ah ha! Weapons! A reasonably cleared space, book cases forming one edge and reading chairs obviously having been moved.

Almost reminded him of an informal tournament ring, from what he'd seen in videos. Perfect. He doesn't quite realize he's grinning at first, before he gives a small formal bow. Respecting the space, before taking a few steps in and turning to Thea. A less formal, but still respectful bow--thanks for her work at least--and then that grin is gone. Focused, feeling a familiar rush start to sing in his veins. Stance lose and relaxed, but time to get started. ]

For safety's sake, we stay unarmed...but fight me.

[A playful smile escaped Thea, sure this was pure sparring but she's game for anything.]

No weapons. [She also bows.] But now we spar. [throwing a spin kick and not doing too badly aim wise given the last few days.]

[Child's play--she'd telegraphed and that was the weakness with spin-kicks. Arm up and blocking it easily, taking the impact on his guard too. A step forward, testing her guard in turn with a low-punch towards her gut. He may've had more trouble sensing ki, and knew any access to his saiyan-heritage was blocked while they were in the Library, but it didn't make that much of a difference.

Trunks had still been in more than a few fights for his life against much stronger opponents. He'd grown up, with natural talents that even learning on his own, had taken him far. Limited as he was to even a peak-human level, the familiar rush of training and fighting that called to his blood sang through him.

For now, he was still testing--so she'd better not play around. He certainly wouldn't for long.]

[Thea dodged like a seasoned pro before using the heel of her boot to gain some badly needed leverage for a kick combo. She knew that summer of training was coming back faster but this time it was less painful, this was pure sparring and to be honest this was also fun. The skill is there but like every martial artist she can stand to improve on things.]

[So far so good. Trunks blocked one part and dodged another of her attack, a hint of smirk on his face.

She'd clearly had training--plus, it was actually nice to be training again. To be sparring, and not worrying about his own life or someone else's. Finding out he'd changed the past, that there were different androids than the ones'd he'd known, had been a nasty surprise. From there he'd been brought here, and then into a book with a cursed and haunted village.

This? This was just fun. Trunks felt like he was in his element again for once.]

That the best you got?

[He stayed close, striking back himself with a low kick-two-punch in succession combination of his own, then a higher-kick from the off-leg. Faster than his easy-to-dodge punch than before, and pulling his attacks only so he wouldn't hurt her if they connected.]

There's so much more but its only sparring! [Thea fired back but she's smiling as she used a chair to gain some badly needed ground.] Besides you should see me with a bow and arrow. [Going for light of course but there's a sparkle in those dark eyes.] Came in handy in my group's mission, we had to escape something out a Greek myth.

[Oh she's not going to be allowed to keep that distance or ground.]

Right now, you're not much of a challenge.

[Definitely still cocky, as he's quick and side-stepping the chair, lashing out with a high-round-house. Following that up by moving as close into her guard as he can get, to scrap. More power behind those hits, but still that control to not 'hurt' her--just test her. He's testing her.]

[Thea knew it was risky but she backflipped off the chair to dodge Trunks, but the kick nailed her her in the shins. The height she had did help but not by very much, good thing she was able to land pretty well right? That was also a sign that while she's got the training she can always use more work to improve.]

Ok, that was good.

Edited 2017-02-11 05:22 (UTC)

[Everyone could improve--always. That she needed to improve he'd been able to tell already. He needed to himself, and determination had always been one of his strengths.

Her recovery wasn't bad, but Trunks wasn't giving her space as he'd moved in. Striking out with an elbow that would go high, then feint to a jab. Covering as he moved to grab her arm and shoulder, sliding in close to get her off balance. If she doesn't correct, in another second she's going to get twisted and thrown from his hip and arm.]

Trust me, I can do better.

Edited 2017-02-11 05:56 (UTC)

[Thea actually over corrected thanks to misreading that last series of moves. So she gets thrown but lands well and was able to get off a couple of decent kicks in spite of herself thanks to how she landed.]

You have bested me, for now.

[Each one of those kicks is blocked or dodged, considering he didn't let her get any distance again. Except the last one; that kick is caught in his off-hand, crossed in front of his chest as he watches her. Studying her--blue eyes almost cold.

Taking the extra effort to read her ki. Several heartbeats, before he lets the leg go so she can have her balance fully. Backing up a few steps himself, before there is another bow. Formal, respectful, speaking as he does so.]

My name is Trunks Briefs. It is a pleasure to meet you, Thea Queen.

[Thea hits a pretty graceful bow once she's off the floor, her training once again kicking in.]

Likewise Trunks. [But she's smiling, no harm was done and if she's being honest she needed this session too.] That last series threw me for a total loop, but I needed that. Still have some work to do even now.

[Straightening back up, Trunks wasn't quite as cocky now although the confidence remained.]

There's always room for improvement, always.

[So very earnest there, not just meaning her but himself and martial arts in general.]

I apologize for the abruptness, but I had to see for myself.

[Get her measure, so to speak. He's not...impressed, but he's not going to question. She seems level-headed enough if a bit reckless.]

Something its taken me a bit to see. [Thea leaves it at that for now, but the darkness was still there. It was just inner rather than outer.] And its valid, you had to know more to understand if I have the expression right? [She knows that feeling way too well.]

[Trunks will let her have her secrets too--he's taken enough of her measure now. Also a decent read on her ki--human, but slightly stronger than one with no training.]

I did. It's...

[How to explain, without going into too much detail...]

I'm from a very dangerous, and very difficult time. When what remains of humanity is under constant attack. I don't question the Librarian's judgement, but I had to verify for myself, since they put you in charge of the Martial Arts and Marksmanship section.

[Still so very earnest there, because he really didn't question the Librarian. Just needed to see for himself.]

Totally fair. [Thea simply nodded, she in return lets a tiny shred of info out.] Last thing I remember was being stabbed during a fight, family enemy who was using me to get to my brother. You had to know what you were up against.

[He's sympathetic. A hint of concern too.]

You're healed here right? Not still wounded?

[Because if she were, then he'd feel guilty. Getting her to spar while still injured. Not a good move for his assessing her or for her health.]

In the physical sense I'm fine. [Thea left it at that for now, she only trusts the inner part to a small few.] Woke up here covered in blood but was healed like nothing had happened.

[Trunks nodded. Overall he was a lot more casual now, no hint of cockiness now that they weren't sparring. More serious too.]

I am glad then. I would've felt bad, goading you straight into sparring if you were still wounded.

Honestly I needed to train even in a casual way. [That was Thea being honest. She snags a bottle of water and tosses one to Trunks as she speaks.] Honestly am more at home with a bow and arrow however.

[Trunks catches it, offers a nod of thanks, but offers it back. He's good for now, and it sounds like she needs it more.]

I look forward to seeing that then. Just maybe not in the Library proper. If you want a regular partner for hand-to-hand though, feel free to look me up.

[A hint of smirk, and his manner is serious once again, and maybe a hint cocky.]

I won't go easy on you though.

I would like that. [As Thea catches the bottle in the process.] And I don't expect anything less after that especially.

Then we do this again tomorrow?

[Again there is that hint of smirk.]

I look forward to when we find a space where you can use your bow and arrows.

We shall, ping me so I can look for you? [But the smile is real.] And the same can be said for my seeing your abilites in full bloom?

How about if I find you? I can call first, make sure the timing is good.

[There is still that hint of smirk, but maybe a hint of blush too.]

Maybe. Like I said, I can back up my words.

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