(no subject)

[leftthecradle.livejournal.com]

The sun is setting over the Milliways lake. The air is crisp and cold, and snow covers the ground in a thick blanket. However, there is a large circle of ground where the snow has been cleared away. In the midst of it, there is a person wielding a metal pole in some type of martial arts form.

He is also shirtless and barefoot, but he doesn't seem to be noticing the cold much.

Comments

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

He caught it.

"...You're joking right?" He was going to be good at this, but he there's no way he'd ever be that good. Like, ever.

"Should I do this in my ghost form or...?"

Or should he give it a try as weak, lame Danny Fenton?

[leftthecradle.livejournal.com]

He doesn't deign to answer the first question. But the second...

"Whichever is more comfortable for you," he says. "Eventually, I intend to see you proficient in either form, but the first lesson is the very basics: operating the pike itself, proper stances and blocks."

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"Iiii'm going to stay ghost then."

He shook the cylinder lightly.

"How do I turn this thing on?"

[leftthecradle.livejournal.com]

He walks over to stand next to Danny.

"Like so...it's all in the wrist motion."

A twist-shake and the staff extends. He collapses it once more and demonstrates again. "Until you get the hang of things, always do it with your arm extended well away from your body. The pike expands at a terrific force. You do not want it ramming into your leg...or face."

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

"Thanks for the warning, because it would be just like me to slam myself in the face with this thing."

He held out his arm, away from himself and Loa, and flicked.

The wrong way. So he tried again, and this time, it lengthened amazingly fast.

"Cool."

[leftthecradle.livejournal.com]

"But you may want to keep that in mind for the future," he suggests. "There is a story about a Ranger in ancient times who, when captured and disarmed, managed to trick his captor into knocking himself out with the pike that way."

Loa nods in satisfaction. "The same motion to close it. Let's try it again."

[goinghost.livejournal.com]

Danny laughed. "Some of my bad guys are that dumb, so I'll keep that in mind."

He tried closing it--and got it. Then tried opening it again--and got it.

When he really wanted to learn something, and actually paid attention, he could pick things up pretty fast.

He probably shouldn't have felt so proud of himself for figuring out how to open and close the stupid thing, but anything where he could do something right away without looking like a totaly dork was a victory.

[leftthecradle.livejournal.com]

Loa grins approvingly. "Yes, gullibility of others can be a potent weapon. Well done. Now, for the basic stances..."

This takes somethat longer, but most martial artists will find the footwork very familiar. After all, with a basic humanoid form, there are a limited number of positions that provide the best combination of balance, protection and maneuverability.