nine (video/action) ♞ ❝i won't hesitate; no more, no more.❞

[limitstorm]

Time!

[ the screen flickers onto a scene in the training rooms; there's a complicated systems of fabricated heights and landscapes, all metal, but changing. it's for terrain training; so people can understand and utilize the things around them. it's simple and made of clean metal, and riku stands on one side of it, breathing heavily, eyes focused ahead. the camera itself is wobbly as intense flapping can be heard--it's most likely that the device is in the hands (well, claws) of one stellaluna the dream eater, especially in the way he glances towards the camera with a little smile.

the timer blinks on a screen above him; he turns his head to watch it blink 2:03, and he narrows his eyes, obviously displeased with that. the terrain changes again, and he yells start before he's set to run.

he just... doesn't run normally. he jumps from edge to edge where he should probably topple over the edge, tucks into a roll when he makes a slightly clumsy fall so he doesn't injure himself, climbs back up, slides and pitches himself suddenly forward, grabbing onto a ledge and hurtling himself backwards onto another one. nothing is purely decorative, not even the flips he does that seem a bit like showing off, some aspects purely gymnastic. either way, if he isn't doing an essential move, he's booking it straight to the other end of the course, head dropped low and tucked against his chest.

when he finally hits the flashing button on the end, he turns sharply. ]

Time!

[ loading. loading.

loading--

the same voice from before crackles. 1:49. he grins, and glances to stellaluna, raising his hand. ]

Hey, high-wing--

... hold it. [ squint. why do you have his tablet. why is the red light flashing--

fzzt. end feed. ]

Comments

Action

[misplacedxsheath]

*Don't mind Margulis over here watching. He's got his arms crossed like he's making a judgement.*

Somewhat clumsy at points, but you're obviously not a complete amateur.

Action

[limitstorm]

[ sarcastically; ]

Thanks?

[ was that even really a compliment? he wasn't an amateur at all, he'd been doing this for a few years at least. ]

Action

[misplacedxsheath]

*He's been training in martial arts and similar practices for almost forty years. To him, you're a newbie. And it's the closest thing to a complement you're likely to get out of him having just met.*

You've been through physical training before this place, haven't you?

video;

[virtu]

[ Very impressed applause! ]

That's incredible!

video;

[limitstorm]

[ he'd been on his way to delete this entry. unfortunately, he can't, not with colette having commented--and he looks pretty embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck. ]

Uh--thanks? Oh. [ uh, bowing?? yeah, that's what people do when people applaud them, right? ]

I wasn't really expecting an audience.

video;

[virtu]

Are you some kind of circus performer?

video

[reshiram]

[that was a thousand times better than anything N could ever do, so he's thoroughly impressed.]

Amazing...! It was like watching an Emolga!

video

[limitstorm]

[ --some recognition hovers over riku's face. ]

N--?

[ wait. emolga? ]

So... what's an Emolga?

[reshiram]

Yes. Hello, Riku.

[have a cheery wave!!!]

I hope you don't mind my watching, I was just amazed by your skill. An Emolga is a tiny, rodent-like Pokemon from my world who is able to perform amazing acrobatics. It boasts great agility, you see-- so you reminded me a bit of an Emolga!

[it's a compliment, he swears.]

Have you and Stellaluna been practicing all day?

[voice; anonymous]

[pixieboots]

Well, now the gauntlet's been thrown. Can you beat the four this time or what?

[voice]

[limitstorm]

[ oh, great, an anonymous comment and he has no clue what they're trying to say. ]

What was that?

permatext;

[boughtabookstore]

You're making a great deal of progress.

permatext;

[limitstorm]

Yeah, I like to think so.

Looks like it's attracted attention, though. Not really what I wanted.

[video]

[demonbloodblade]

Impressive. And skillful. Perhaps next time add some opponents, increase the difficulty.

Considering the skills of people here, you might be able to get some items that would help you, as well... but I can understand wanting to perfect your on skills before that, so you don't need to rely on them.

[She smiles, very slightly.]

Roofrunning isn't the easiest skill to learn, so having a place like this helps.

[video]

[limitstorm]

[ kind of embarrassed, but kind of prideful, too. he's happy with how he's progressed in his time here. ]

Thanks; you're right, it's not. I'd add opponents if I was practicing on battling, but I'm just focused on stealth and escapes for now. Picking your battles carefully--that's just as important as how to fight.

[ hm. ]

What kind of items're we talking about?

[video]

[livethecreed]

[Altaïr had been about to ignore his phone when the sight Riku's movements. The boy was leaping and jumping across the obstacles in the training room with ease, and the sight of it brought a slight smile to his face; the flips and leaps were slightly different, but it was the same style of movement the Brotherhood used while traversing the rooftops of Masyaf and the Holy Land.

He pulled himself from thoughts of home with a reminder that he was brought here to fight, and training wasn't something one could be carefree about.

Courteously, Altaïr waited until the feed cut off to send a message to the boy. Distractions, while something one must always be prepared for, could lead to the boy injuring himself, and Altaïr wasn't about to have that on his conscience.]

Impressive. I wasn't aware others here had skills such as that. [Well, others who weren't future members of his own Order which would never be not weird for him to think about at least.]

[video]

[limitstorm]

[ he huffs with a slight smile to his face. he's trying not to be too prideful--this was on accident, after all--but he is proud of how well he did. ]

Thanks.

Skills like... what I just did? [ a slight shrug. ] I've seen one other person with this skill. [ a smile creeps onto his face. ] This, I'd be okay with teaching, though... the way you said 'others'--

Do you know how to, too?

video;

[bittertears]

Rather remarkable, I must say.

video; oh yeesh don't mind me coming back in here all late

[limitstorm]

Hey, I don't have something that can flash-change me into looking better. That's more remarkable than my fancy footwork.

[ he's teasing. mostly. ]

How're you doing, Alice?

text;

[painfeels]

Pretty slick moves.

text;

[limitstorm]

Thanks.

I thought it was subpar, but if people're impressed, maybe it's not that bad.

Won't stop me from trying to beat that time, but it's something. Wonder how fast other people are.

[ text ]

[reassures]

["Riku"... Well then.]

That was amazing. How did you learn to do that?

[ text ]

[limitstorm]

Mostly by watching other people do it, trying it myself, and then breaking a few noses in the process.

The best teacher is experience. ... unfortunately.

Video;

[sleepingvalkyrie]

[ A hand lifts, covering the amused curve of her lips. ]

I see what you meant about her.

Video;

[limitstorm]

[ exaggerated sigh. ]

Yeah, I can't take her anywhere.