[Open]

[strings_theory]

Who: Jolyne and open (closed prompt for Jonathan)
When: Sometime in November, idk
Where: Various places. Some empty room, the quad, etc.
What: Hamon training! More stupid dancing garbage! Training! Really bad memories time!
Warnings: Jolyne is Jolyne, as always. CW: drugs on the D prompt.

A. Dancing

As per usual, Jolyne can be found pretty easily outside practicing her ridiculous dance moves. Anyone who has been paying attention is probably more than familiar with her nonsense at this point. The song and dance for the day is kind of a little raunchy in lyrics but less so in the moves. A weirder one for her, certainly, and not as bombastic and loud as her stuff normally is.

As usual, she can be grabbed after she's done and taking a water break. With Stone Free, as usual, chilling out not too far away.

B. Training

Jolyne is the easiest to always find in the Legionnaire Quarters, as always punching the absolute hell out of a punching bag, swimming in the pool despite the weather outside, or jogging.

However, this time she's also seen... lifting weights? Weird and new, but why not. It seems her weights range from smaller weights up to something that would almost never be seen on someone with her body type. She doesn't seem to be having a whole lot of issues with this whole thing, especially since those who are paying attention my notice the strings wrapped around her wrists and on the weights themselves.

What the hell is she even doing?

C. Garage

Mechanics club was kind of a come or go sort of thing, Jolyne not particularly caring if someone really wanted to get involved or not. It was a formality to keep up with the whole list of those in the club proper, since she'd only really done the club in the first place to get access to parts she wouldn't noramlly get a hold of. But she's pretty easily found in there, working on her bike that... at least has a basic skeleton going on for it.

In fact, she's found in clothing that isn't her normal. Instead it seems to be a white (or formally white, now stained with oil and the like) shirt that's rolled up to her elbows and a pair of jeans that are just as covered. And goddamned black boots. Her hair is out of its usual style and instead tied back in a simple ponytail.

Anyone that bothers to check on her will find her hard at work and focused on getting the engine on this thing fine tuned. Or maybe it's better to not interrupt her while she seems something other than irritated at the world.

D. Greenhouse, potential CW: drugs

It hadn't been her idea to plant these, not in the slightest, but she'd... kind of inherited this particularly hidden little plot. A small crop of marijuana and mushrooms. She didn't know shit about how mushrooms worked, so she'd sort of let them go a bit with the least heavy hand possible while instead working on the crop she was far more familiar with.

Despite the falling out, despite the way things went, she at least was going to try and keep something alive that she was left with. And, despite everything, she actually was doing a fairly good job at keeping them alive and somehow not being found out.

She wasn't using it, of course not, but it was something to do and see how everything turned out.

Though anyone passing by might hear some music playing in the background. Certainly not something to be growing plants to, right?

E. Hamon training (closed to Jonathan)

This was stupid, the whole idea was absolutely stupid. But her great x3 grandfather had promised to teach her this whole... hamon or whatever thing. And she'd been debating on going through with it or not, she didn't mind learning something new, necessarily. But if she learned this, wouldn't this make her more of a target for them to keep her around? Ugh.

Ultimately she's determined that she might as well see how this goes, if it's utter bullshit then she can leave. It's not like a bat can stop her, anyway. She's even been nice enough to keep Stone Free unsummoned for the time being.

But she's prompt and on time, if nothing else, slipping into this empty classroom and frowning as she leans against the now closed door.

"This better be worth my time, I could be doing literally anything else."

Comments

[standless]

Lo and behold, the bat is there- giving a small wave from the only bit of furniture in the room...which was likely put there at his request.

"I'm certain it will be more than worth it!" He assures the woman, nodding. "I feel I should if anything apologize for taking so long to get started..."

Ahem. He continues. "I wanted to ensure that no matter the case, you would be able to learn this art. I know the potential is surely there- but as I myself required a 'trigger' of sorts, I did some research to best prepare. That way, we can first check if you already have it, lying in wait right now...or, if it needs to be quickly struck out!"

He at least sounds optimistic about it.

[strings_theory]

There's something inherently hilarious about this tiny bat on any piece of furniture just so he has some kind of perch. And, you know, instructing her on something at that.

But Jolyne seems fairly chill overall, pushing herself off the door to take a few more steps towards him, arms firmly crossed over her chest for now.

"... Quickly struck out? Are we talking literally struck or is this some weird-ass metaphor that I'm not getting right now?"

This is a disaster.

[standless]

"It's literal!" He's going to explain himself now, before he gets walked out on. "There was a particular pressure point which my master struck in order to draw out the potential you see- it had an immediately notable effect on even the plant life around me, so I'm certain we'll be able to tell that it's worked. The point in particular isn't a dangerous one, either."

Though if he screws up it's gonna hurt A Lot. But. Not mentioning that for now. "For now however, I want to see if there's already hamon there. All that needs is a simple breathing exercise."

[strings_theory]

Good thing he's going to quickly pick up from there because she absolutely was about to up and leave, she's not about to let him attack her for something she's not even sure actually exists. Good god. "... R i g h t, if it ends up being dangerous. I'll either haunt your ass or make sure your ghost doesn't come back." ... Jolyne, no.

Breathing exercises also sounds ridiculous, but she'll humor him. For. Now. "... So the fuck do I do first?"

[standless]

"Of course!" At least his optimism implies that he's 100% certain she's not about to die.

Now. "I need you to breathe in time with my wing movements- that's all you have to do! After a minute or so, we should be able to tell."

Seems simple enough.

Right?

[strings_theory]

"... Right." To both of those things.

Though him saying that to someone who has issues sitting still most days, this is probably going to end poorly for everyone involved. She doesn't do still well, she doesn't do calm well, hell, she barely does being a not awful human being well most days.

But she'll just lean against the wall and try her best, eyes closed and...

Yeah, that's actually more difficult than she thought it would be since her mind is literally in ten other places at once.

[standless]

...Erm.

She just closed her eyes.

"Oh dear..." Hm. "Jolyne? If it helps...you need not think of it the same way as meditation- this is a combative technique after all!" he shouts encouragingly. "All that's necessary is the breathing- if you're moving about, or even watching me, it works just as well!"

He's Helping.

[strings_theory]

What.

What the fuck do you mean breathing shit doesn't include meditation shit?

She's blinking slowly at him with that whole mess, he's... not wrong, she guesses. But it's also just kind of weird thinking of it like that, but maybe if she moves and tries to time shit, that would help get the anxiousness out.

Except it's hard to actually be aware of your breathing as she's actually almost choking on her own breaths.

Your great x3 granddaughter is kind of a garbage fire, Jonathan.

[standless]

Hmm.

This is actually harder than he thought. "...Perhaps we could count?" Is this going to make it worse??? Possibly! "Breathe in for four seconds- then breathe out four- and repeat. In-two, three, four, out-two, three, four," he tries.

Which sounds rather odd between the states of in and out, but somehow he's managing it.

A

[bolderfell]

[Sometimes Therion takes his time showing up, content to enjoy the casual nature of their... whatever it is, between them and between dancing. It's nice, having an excuse to spend time with someone and show off in a friendly way, without having to worry about developing expectations. Or jealousy. He looks forward to their practices together.

Today, though, he looks troubled, and he goes right to Jolyne without playing at stretches or warm-ups.]

Hey. So. Something weird happened.

[strings_theory]

[Honestly, she's come to expect him to come around at this point and it's kind of nice to have someone for that bit of friendly competition. It also helps raise her game where she needs to and... whatever the hell kind of weird feelings she has that she needs to work through.

But she's not at all oblivious to how he looks and is frowning to herself before motioning for him to sit in the stupid chair she'd dragged out here.]

Something weird? You mean other than people making piss poor decisions at the end of last month? [Maybe that was just you, Jolyne.]

[bolderfell]

Last month? ...You mean, at the dance?

[He actually had a great time at the dance, but that's neither here nor there. He shakes his head.]

No, it's nothing to do with that. It's...

[Ggghhh, he hates revealing weaknesses, but this is something that affects both of them. Kind of. In the way that it affects this thing they share.]

It's easier to show you, but I don't know what'll happen. Stone Free can protect you, right?

Fuck it, let's say this is after hamon shenanigans upthread

[strings_theory]

Eh, kinda. We'll go with that.

[She's immediately waving that off, good lord, Jolyne. But it's fine, she's happy for the change in topic.

Oh good lord, the second he's asking about if Stone Free can protect her, she's immediately wary of this entire thing. But...]

... Yeah, Stone Free can. Dunno how far that goes, but evidently my new shit also can help me heal quicker. What the fuck did you do, dude?

Works for me

[bolderfell]

Made a balance beam fly, for one thing.

[It was WEIRD and EMBARRASSING.]

Some other stuff, too. That's why I said I don't know what it's going to do. I'll step back before I try to show you.

[He doesn't wait for any possible macho response before putting some distance between them. Therion's well used to the idea of being the more cautious person in any given conversation.]

All right?

[strings_theory]

[Made a balance beam fly. Okay, that's a new one. And "other stuff" is extremely vague and she already hates every second of this. Why do you have to do this to her, Therion? Goddammit.

She's letting out a soft hiss of breath before taking some steps back herself, the more distance the better.]

I guess. Lucky for the both of us that I'm kinda quickly to adapt to a situation if it goes bad. [Hopefully she won't have to, but she's pretty sure that something being unpredictable is not a good sign for the possibilities.]

Go on, let's get this shit over with.

[bolderfell]

[He breathes out, nods, and moves into a bit of choreography they've been practicing, a speedy and precise series of steps he secretly loves for its difficulty. Feels so satisfying to get it right. He nails it this time, no problem, and it looks real damn cool.

...

...

But nothing happens.]

...

[strings_theory]

[Well, that is quite impressive. Even if nothing at all fucking happens and she's blinking slowly about a minute or so after he's done it.

Was...

Was something supposed to happen?

What.]

... I take it something was supposed to happen other than you nailing that shit? [Of course she'd be the one where nothing happens, Stone Free just hovering at her side and looking about as confused as Jolyne. They were promised something to do and then was let down.

Rude.]

d for drugs

[deuteranope]

[She really isn't hard to find, even if she hadn't expressly told him where to find her. A pretty fitting song, he thinks, frowning a little to himself and wandering through. He stops to check in his own addition to the greenhouse first, a glowing little hybrid flower in some sort of gas chamber swirling with a light layer of mist. It isn't dead, and hasn't stopped glowing, much to his relief. He didn't have a clue how he was supposed to keep it healthy, with it being from the Outlands, but so far? He was lucking out.

Eventually he wanders over to her though, and pauses with his hand raised in greeting. Wait. What the fuck? He knows that shape, and now that he bothers to think about it, he knows that smell, too.]

Are you fucking growing weed? What the fuck is wrong with you?!

[strings_theory]

[Goddammit, Maverick. She's letting out a soft huff as she hears those words and his tone, casually just leaning back and turning off the song for the time being. She doesn't seem particularly bothered about all of this as her attention moves to him, a brow raised slowly.]

Correction, Toki had been growing weed.

[Honestly, given the shit still has a fucking pink tint to it, that should be pretty obvious at that point.]

I'm sure as shit not going to be using it, but thought it'd be kind of a dick move to just let it die, y'know?

[deuteranope]

[He pinches the bridge of his nose, grumbling because of fucking course it was Mousie, fucking stupid asshole etc. etc. From where he's standing, that information doesn't make this any better!]

Why the fuck not? If you really ain't using it, and he sure as shit ain't using it -- nor should he, that's fucking stupid -- then why the fuck you keeping it around?

[strings_theory]

[That's... a good question, isn't it? She's quiet for a moment as she turns herself back to the plants, one hand gently checking the leaves for who the hell knows what at this point. How does she actually answer any of that?]

Something just won't let me, I guess? [That's a piss poor answer, Jolyne.]

The 'shrooms he'd been growing are pretty much a lost cause since fuck if I know how that shit works, but this is something I actually kind of know about. So, I dunno, feels like I kind of owe that much. [... No.]

[deuteranope]

Yeah, because the fucking kid having breaks from goddamn reality should really fucking be doing mushrooms... How could you fucking know about this shit and not do something about it?! Original question of "what the hell is wrong with you" still fucking stands!

[he sure is...worked up about it. enough to not even bother trying to hear her pathetic non-explanations, which hey, maybe she can try again later, that means!]

[strings_theory]

God, this was long after we were fucking done with shit, so it really wasn't my fucking problem at the time. Besides, I'm pretty damn sure neither of these were at a point where they could be fucking usable! [She mostly knows how they're supposed to look like, Mav, she is from goddamned Florida and has seen some shit.]

It doesn't really fucking matter now, does it? He's not fucking here anymore and no one's going to be using this shit as long as I'm around. No one but fucking you and I know this shit is here. And, again, I'm content letting the damn 'shrooms die as I don't know how to save that shit. And I don't even know if it'd ever be a good damn idea to touch the weed given he made that shit pink some fucking how. [... Good point, actually.]

I'm not about to risk my health for that.

[deuteranope]

[He's pretty sure half of this is beside the point, but to be fair, it's harder to pay attention when he's so assblasted in the least fun way. Well, really any way you're assblasted it's hard to pay attention? Things to consider that are valid, not at all like Jolyne's points.]

But it's fucking okay to risk your health over shit like this otherwise? Drugs are fucking fine and dandy, long as they aren't fucking pink?

[which, side note, he wouldn't have known without her. gotta love deuteranopia.]

[strings_theory]

[It's all perfectly valid points! Except the part where she's doing this clearly due to some weird fucking guilt than anything else, which is probably not the healthiest way of dealing with anything ever. Goddammit.]

Oh my god. Are you seriously going to be one of those people that thinks fucking weed is going to kill you or something? Because there's fucking research out there that it doesn't actually cause jackshit other than calm your ass down and numb out pain. Shit, they use weed for cancer patients and shit, so, like, don't try and get all high and mighty when you don't know jack goddamned fucking shit, Mav.

[Hey, learn something new every damn day.]

This isn't remotely why I told you where I was and yet this is just going to be us bitching about fucking weed that isn't even going to be used? Goddammit, I knew this was a fucking mistake!