(no subject)

[neverbelievedintheend]

There was a kaiju attack on St. Lawrence Island today. The memorial service for Gunnar and Vic Tunari is scheduled for three days from now.

Pentecost is not about to admit it in front of everyone in the Shatterdome, but he needs to punch something.

Perhaps there will be an opportunity somewhere at Milliways.

Comments

[knightoftheswan]

Opportunity might be closer than he thinks. The Knight is at the bar, making a quiet request. What returns to him are a pair of hand wraps and a simple loop of cord. He threads and secures his wedding band on the cord and pulls it over his head. That done, he wraps his hands while walking towards the bar's gym.

Going his way?

[neverbelievedintheend]

That... yes. That might work. Pentecost will follow along to see what's available, as the alternative was going to involve going outside for shadow boxing. Indoors might, he thinks, be more salutary.

[knightoftheswan]

When he arrives, he'll find Lohengrin with the heavy bag engaging in some gloveless routine.

It isn't any sort of modern boxing, less of an exercise and more of a physical memory.

[neverbelievedintheend]

It's interesting to watch regardless, especially since it's not a form he recognizes. One can learn a fair amount from something like that.

(Although he's taking the opportunity to warm up as he watches, because he's going to need it.)

[knightoftheswan]

The Knight eases up and takes a breather. His right hand goes to his left and he keeps it there a moment, thoughtful. He turns then and acknowledges his company with a nod.

[neverbelievedintheend]

Pentecost nods in return. "I trust I'm not intruding," he says. "I didn't know this place was here until I saw you."

[knightoftheswan]

Lohengrin smiles slightly.

"It's my understanding all are welcome in this place, a welcome I'm glad to extend."

Within reason, of course.

He takes a step back and gestures with a hand to the heavy bag, offering Pentecost a turn.

[neverbelievedintheend]

He squares himself to fight, eyeing the bag.

The basis of common experience is training.
The basis of training is an invariable set of exercises within a single discipline.
This discipline is the study of the Jaeger.

He may not be at the helm of a Jaeger any more- and the Jaeger he once piloted with Tamsin is gone to Oblivion Bay now, never to return- but he's practiced the forms of Jaeger combat every day of every week of every month of every year since the doctors let him out of the hospital. What hits the bag is the culmination of years of training in a fighting form designed to keep the feet on the ground and regain one's stance as swiftly as possible once disrupted, all the while mercilessly smashing an enemy of unknown shape but tremendous strength into pulp.

It wasn't enough for Gunnar and Vic. Not against the foe that found them. They went down with the beast.

He'll have to make it better.

[knightoftheswan]

Lohengrin observes, familiar with the pain that rolls off with every punch.

"Your skill is well-crafted," he says at a suitable pause.

[neverbelievedintheend]

Pentecost steps back from the bag, panting a little. "Thank you," he says. "I've had occasion to practice it."

"Your own was impressive to watch."

[knightoftheswan]

"Thank you."

And then there's a pause before the Knight chooses the clearest course: "Would you be interested in sparring?"

[neverbelievedintheend]

"Wouldn't say no," says Pentecost.

The bag's just not the same as a target he has to adjust to.

[knightoftheswan]

It takes a moment for the Knight to follow the answer but he catches on fairly fast. And he almost has to laugh.

"The last time I engaged in any sort of duel here, my opponent was woefully outmatched. It will be a nice change of pace to have someone who knows what they're doing."

[mnt_raph]

Perhaps there will be.
Heck, it's even quite possible that there could be a someone to be punching.

Maybe.
Possibly.

Oh hey! It's Raph sitting at Bar. He's in wide-legged pants and a black tank top, and there's a white towel draped over his shoulder.

[neverbelievedintheend]

That's usually promising, in Stacker's experience. He heads towards the big fellow sitting at the Bar.

"Excuse me."

[mnt_raph]

"Yeah?" he asks without turning to look up at the newcomer. "What can I do for you?"

[neverbelievedintheend]

"I'm guessing from the way you're dressed that there may be some kind of a training room or gym on the premises," Stacker says. "Either that, or you've just arrived from one. Is there some kind of facility the patrons could use?"

[mnt_raph]

He takes one more pull from his bottle of water, places it down on Bar's top, and then turns.

"There might be, who's askin'?"

[neverbelievedintheend]

"Stacker Pentecost. A former Pan-Pacific Defense Corps active duty ranger," says Pentecost.

He may be Marshal now, but it's the other part that burned in him when Coyote Tango went down.

[mnt_raph]

Raph gives the man a once over.
He's certainly put together like someone who could carry not only that name, but that title.

He nods, then extends his hand.
Well, after wiping it on the leg of his pants first.

"Raphael. Gym's mine, an' I ain't real fond of strangers usin' it. It's where I store my bike."

[neverbelievedintheend]

Pentecost would've shaken the hand regardless. Just as firmly and as steadily as he does now.

"Pleasure to meet you, Raphael," he says. "If the gym's staff-only, I'd settle for reasonably flat outdoor space."

It's not as if Jaegers can ever count on the ground beneath their feet being as flat as a proper floor, anyhow.

[mnt_raph]

Yeah, but then how could Raph showcase his limited range for manners?

"Pleasure's mine. It ain't that the gym's Staff Only," he says rising to his feet and taking the bottle with him at the last second. Raph waves Stacker to follow him.

"I mean, it's down the Staff Hallway, but it's the first door so it ain't like you're likely to go an' get lost or nothin'. 'Sides, everyone knows who lives down here, an' it ain't like they're jumpin' at the chance to go pissin' them off."

[neverbelievedintheend]

Stacker falls in behind him, listening. "Understandable," he says. "Ordinarily I wouldn't bother. We have facilities of our own at the Shatterdome. I suspect they'll all be in use for some time, so I thought I'd try my luck here."

[mnt_raph]

"Shatterdome?" Raph doesn't stop walking, but he does cast a glance over his shoulder. "Never heard of it, but it sounds pretty epic."

The swinging door to the Hallway gets pushed and then held open. The doorway to the gym is easy enough to spy, what with it being the only doorway with light pouring through.

"There's plenty of space out back, but if you're looking for more to do than run or shoot, you're probably better off in here."

The room isn't much to look at. There's no high-tech gadgetry. No state-of-the-art machines. Just what you'd find at your local neighborhood Gold's.

Well, if your local neighborhood Gold's had a large blue tarp covering a motorcycle in the way far back corner of the room.

[neverbelievedintheend]

"One of several. If you haven't heard of it by now you probably haven't got kaiju either, other than the sort in Toho Pictures films."

It's nothing fancy, but then the Kwoon usually hasn't got more than a few staves and other suitable pieces of equipment. Tech belongs elsewhere. "Not bad," he says.