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After school on Wednesday, Kel gets a Txt from Seth.

[Hey. I have a favor to ask. Is now a good time?]

Sometime after he leaves Wayne Mansion Kel sends a response, [Shoot and call me, this costs money]

Seconds later the phone rings.

"Hey Kel. I was wondering if...Maybe you could train me in the "physical arts?

I'm pretty worthless in a fight except for the whole mind thing. And... that... might... not always work out. You know.

So if you could teach me how to defend myself, I would owe you a solid.

Kel laughs a little on the other line, "Jack's stuff not enough for ya?"

"at the time it was offered, I had to turn Jack down.

Now, I'm really wishing i hadn't."


"But i think I'd perfer to train with you first anyway."

Kel nods to himself, interesting, he thinks and says, "Well, that's cool.  Do you know where I live, 'cause there's a nice park near by that no one would be around at this time of day."

"wow OK. I was just calling to ask. I wasn't expecting to start right away. Let me change my clothes and i'll meet you wherever.

I don't think I know where you live. So...Where Am I going?"

Kel laughs and says in a sensei like voice, "First lesson, expect the unexpected!"  He then proceeds to give Seth directions to the park.

The park is one of those small community parks that you find sprinkled through suburbia.  There's a baseball diamond in one area, a large amount of normally green grass and then a small playground with a jungle gym, slide, and a set of swings.  Kel is standing in the grass, in his usual dress, with his leather jacket zipped up nice and neatly he waves to Seth when he spots him and once he's in earshot says, "Howdy!"

"Yo"
Seth takes a deep breath, sighs, and then trots over to Kel. He's wearing a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt, which besides showing that he's indifferent to the wind, emphasize his skin and bones emo kid frame. Next to Kel, he looks tiny.

He feels tiny.

"So how do you want to do this? I know i kinda blindsided you, but i think we would both benefit from a groundplan"

"It's very simple,"  Kel said, as he looked him up and down, "Just throw a punch, like you were going to hit someone, and I'll tell you whether or not you're doing it right.  You have to learn the basics of it before you should even try and actually hit someone.  There's a lot to throwing a punch then just sticking your fist out there."  He then walks over to Seth's side so he can watch his whole body and gestures for him to start, "That's all I really think I can teach you besides dirty little tricks and stuff.  Just how to punch, kick, throw down a 'bow or two.  Then maybe show you how to take a hit but we'll have to wait for a good band to come into town before I can do that."

Well..I've been experimenting with some things..I think I've mastered a Force Field thing. It should resist a lot of damage. I haven't exactly you know fired a gun at it or anything.

Why don't you hit me now? We'll see how i holds up while i'm "powered".

Seth focused his Force Field in place...and rooted himself to the ground. Kel could punch pretty hard from what he understood, so lets see how well he could take a punch while he was expecting it...

Kel smiles and says, "Well if you really wanted to learn more about taking a hit..."  Kel comes up and rams his fist towards Seth's solar plexus and then his eyebrow arches, he looks at his fist hanging there in mid air, muscles flexing but there's nothing there, just his fist struggling to move forward but just hanging there practically shaking.  "Force field, eh?"

I have two modes..."the one like that" and then the one where i compress the energy around me...

It's useful...I can do variations on the theme too. You could probably try to trip me all day...It wouldnt work very well. I've rooted myself to this spot.

But showing off isn't what i came here to do. So I'm dropping my field now. I'm uhh..Undefended."

Kel gives a laugh and says, "Well that's silly someone could just hit you like this."  He then raises his backhand and goes to bring it down on Seth, but at the last moment he lets his knee jerk up into Seth's side.  Seth can feel that Kel is probably holding back on this but it definitely catches him off guard.

Seth grunts at the kick to the side.

Kel must really be holding back, because Seth is able to shrug it off without to much work.  But damn, if he wasn't caught off guard.

Ok, Seth thought to himself. You've seen kung fu movies. You recognize a defensive stance. Seth moved to adopt one. It was poorly executed. But damn it, he was trying.

"Ok, lets try this again."

(OOC- My first three toughness saves were a 2, 4, &3 respectivly....so the 4th attempt was a 19...No need for him to go unconscious right now. maybe in a bit

Toughness V Kel Attempt 4 (1d20=19) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=890338)
))

Kel smiles, "Good you can roll with it, I'm surprised."  He looked over Seth's defence stance and shook his head, "No no, more like this, get your hands in a place where they can move around your torso and your face.  Set your legs up so you can move them quick and give yourself a smaller profile."  He demonstrates for Seth and then starts bouncing around a bit, "Move around a bit."  Bouncing and bouncing Kel tosses out a few little slaps just so Seth gets used to the idea of getting hit, then moves in with one swift hit to the chest.


((Hey man don't matter to me, like I said, we could just totally roleplay it.))

"Ok...What to do" Seth thought in the second he saw the attack coming. If I scissored my arms down, I could lock my arms around his. And divert the motion and force of his punch down...Think of it like a physics problem....

Damn...to much time in his own head. He managed to pull the scissor maneuver off, but a split second too late. Kel's arm hit him solid in the sternum...and Seth's counter maneuver pushed it down his stomach.

[Cough] "So what does Kel stand for anyway?" Seth asked as he took a step back, and readied himself for the next attack.

Kel smirks as he sees what happens, "Don't think so much."  When Seth asks his question Kel gets an odd look on his face and brings his arm across in a smooth chop across Seth's arm, a bit harder than intended.  He sighs and says, "Kelly.  It's my grandfather's name."

"Irish much?" Seth asks as he shakes his hand down. Noticeable is the fact, that all though you've hit him a couple of times now, aside from the basic physical effects of the damage, Seth hasn't muttered a word of pain, nor has his face shown any registry of pain. No wincing, no breathing in sharply, etc.

"I know a girl names Micheal, and a boy named Ashley. My family is an immigrant family, I know the importance of family names."

Seth rolls his neck with a disturbingly audible crack, and looks ready for the next round. His arms are tucked in a little more this time.

Kel laughs and says, "So Stilley didn't just give it away?"  He begins bouncing again and his face gets determined once more, "I hate the name."  He then comes in with a quick one two punch, "What's with you, not enough for you?"

Seth dodges the first punch, and opens his mouth to respond , when the second clips him in the shoulder. "What do you mean "Not enough for you?"

"And for the record. I like the name Kel. And if people have a problem with the name Kelly, That's their Ignorant Shit, not yours" He says, coming up off the balls of his feet.

"It's not other people, like I said I hate the name."  Kel rolls his neck and says, "And what I meant was, you don't seem to gettin' to bothered by all this punching for a guy who doesn't know a thing or two about fights."

"Oh...That..." Seth seems genuinely surprised by the question. I mean yeah, he was getting hit, and it hurt, but it didn't hurt bad. I mean when people got in fights on TV, they took a lot of punches without much problem.

"I guess I don't really understand the question. I mean, I know I'm going to have bruises and soreness tomorrow, but people take lots of punches in a fight...at least the one's I've seen on TV"

Kel laughs and says, "People on TV when they don't really fight, don't really look like they are.  But watch a boxing match or the UFC and you'll see a guy wince and grunt and all that.  Ya know they're getting hurt."  He smiles as he comes in for another round along Seth's torso he adds on, "Keep your guard up," then continues,  "Don't try to act like the guys on TV, try to act like people who actually fight.  You don't want the guy you're fighting to think your tough shit, 'cause then they might whip out a bat or a knife.  Besides, if you act a little bit like you're getting hurt, then you can fake 'em and get in a good solid sucker punch.  That's dirty trick number one."

" I have a really high tolerance for pain. Probably because I live with it every day.

Seth dodges a few punches and turns a little seriousThere have been day's I've prayed to die. When the simple act of my mother  turning on a light switch in my room to check up on me, have caused me to vomit from pain. After almost a constant year of that,  I don't notice much pain anymore. Sometimes it sucks. Cause I'll like clumsily scrape up against something sharp, and I won't notice till someone Tell's me I'm bleeding. It's a little ridiculous.

So dirty trick number one is fake it, huh? I'll write that down.

Anything else on defense?

Seth dodges your next move with some actually complicated foot work. It almost looks like a dance move..."

Kel stops with the punches and kicks and says, "Interesting stuff."  He nods, looking Seth up and down, "Interesting.  Explains a bit.  As for defense, there's plenty but not much else that we can cover like this, we'll have to wait till the ground softens up a bit so we can concentrate on rolls, and whether or not you're showing it you're probably gonna be bruised and will definitely be sore tomorrow.  So let's just relax for a bit."

So what now?. Seth asks somewhat innocently.

He really is a sweet dumb kid. There is more to him than meets the eye. But he's a awkward little kid sometimes.

Kel gestures to the swings and walks over to them, then sits down and stares up at the sky and then says, "You're not that bad of a fighter, and generally you won't really need it with your mind powers...so why'd ya really ask me to teach you about this stuff?"  Kel looks over at Seth, he might not be able to pick up on people all the time, but after he's beat someone up for a while, he gets to know them a little bit better.

Kels comments took him a little aback.

A few reasons....

"One, I might not always have my mind powers.

Two, I would really like to know how to fight.

Three, My Teke is only as effective as I, and my imagination are. Actual experience works much better.

Four, I think of all the "usual suspects" i know you the least, and this seemed like a good way to get to know you.

Five, I'm efficient, and this kills several birds with but one stone.

Kel laughs at the answer, "I don't think anyone really knows me Seth.  Maybe Sylvia, but she and I haven't hung around too much since school started."  He then shakes his head and says, "By the way Seth, a good way to get to know someone, is to talk to them.  Not let them beat you up."  He winks and laughs again.

"You say that like it's a good thing. People the world over could have scars connecting them. Anchors for relationships.'

Ahhh" Seth says waving an arm at his own words.

"So tell me something about yourself then Kel. I'll Quid Pro Quo you."

Kel smirks and says, "I get drunk about once a week going to shows at bars that don't card.  How 'bout you?"

"I get offered Liquor a lot when i play shows. Sometimes I take them up on it. Most of the time I don't. I've learned that i like the taste of Gin. Which is apparently an old man's drink.

Kel laughs, and says, "The only person I've ever seen drink gin is my grandfather."  He laughs a little bit more.

Seth cracks an awkward smile. "So your turn again. New topic, your choice."

Kel thinks and says the first thing that could pop into his head, "I'm not a vrigin, what about you?"

Kinda personal information...But I did say I would quid pro quo.

"I am a virgin. I've had opportunities. Not many. Actually only one. But it didn't really feel right. So I gentlemen'ed out of it.

It's not that I don't think about it all the time...I Just...It's complicated...  Seth tapers off, and it's clear it's a sensitive subject.

Kel nods, "I get'cha man.  It's not always the right time, I can respect you for doing that."

So....What do you do for fun...? Hobbies etc...

Kel shrugs, "Go to shows, work out, and kinda just hang out ya know.  This year, I've been doing the whole cheerleading thing, it takes up time but it's not as bad as I figured it'd be.  Also there's the paper too, that's pretty cool."  He then looks back at Seth and says, "How 'bout you?"

He rattles it off like a laundry list.

Well, I have music from 5Am to school
School.
Band, and I'm helping the music teacher with some music stuff for homecoming and for the spring musical.
That lasts until about 5:30.
4 Nights a week I have dance class from 6 to 8
From 8 to 10 is more music practice...At ten i'm supposed to start thinking about sleep...

But I'm doing other kinds of training then. Mental training..Usually until 1:30ish

He thinks about it for a minute....

I try to play a show every other saturday night. I try to vary where I play them.... On sundays and the days I don't have dance class, I catch up on sleep....I don't need much though.

He says this all if it's a completely natural thing...and he didn't even mention homework....

Kel gives a small 'heh', and says, "Is that what you do for fun or just what ya do?"

Seth cocks his head..."Is working out fun?

You go to shows for release...I play them for release.....Also it nets me a fair amount of coin.

Getting to know my powers better....That's fun...Dance classes are fun. I'm in a swing class, a samba class, hip-hop dance, and a salsa class. I get a good workout. There are plenty of fun people making fools of themselves right along with me..."

He turns it down..."I guess I stay pretty busy.

As long as I can remember I've been playing music for at least 4 hours a day...Part of the deal with my mom, is in exchange for her driving me to shows at all hours, I practice the Classical music in the morning.

I like classical music....so it's not a big deal...."

Kel nods and says, "I see..."

You obfuscate just normally...or is it fun at my expense? Seth thinks to himself and says nothing....

"Indeed" Seth agrees...
....


....


....
(awkawrd silences are Seth's kryptonite-obviously so)

"Favorite movie?" He offers....

Kel smirks in the silence, and then says, "Seven Samurai, I didn't like it at first since it was black&white but it was pretty awesome so it kinda grew on me."

A kurosawa fan, eh?  I love his version of King Lear. Ran...You should check it out.

My dad has the whole Criteron collection...They just come to the house as they are released. Pretty much everthing Kurosawa has done is in it...

"Cool," Kel said, "I don't really watch alot of his films, only saw Seven Samurai 'cause I was bored once when I was in Tokyo a few summers back and there were a bunch of old movies playing at a movie theater so I figured why not.  A lot of them sucked, but Seven Samurai was awesome."

Hollywood is certainly the world standard when it comes to films, but i was raised on a diet of foriegn faire.

The german movie generally isn't any good, but the japanese make magic.

Have you seen Akira....I watch it alot, now.

Kel shakes his head, "Nope, don't think so...maybe?"  He shrugs, not sure really, if he has it's obvious it didn't make an impression on him.

Dude the word was spontaneous, and a little awkard coming from his mouth but it also felt somehow right...You have to watch it. You should come over to my place at some point, and we'll watch Akira. I really think you'll like it....

It's about a guy....No....No I won't spoil the plot.

Kel nods, "Alright, sounds good."  He then says, "Did you see Snakes on a Plane?  Now there was a movie."

"Black Snake Moan was better...." Seth replied"IN terms of movies with Samuel L Jackson and the word snake"

Kel shrugs, "I can't argue that, as any movie wtih Samuel L. Jackson is amazing, so it makes sense that some might be better than Snakes on a Plane."

I have to get going soon...But we should do this again in a few days...Once the inital soreness is passed.

Maybe I'll even throw a punch...

And seriously. Akira, my house....

Kel nods, "You got it, see ya later Seth."  He stands and begins wandering off down a street most likely towards his house.

(lock it up o executive assistant oracle)