Shooting Stars

Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:46 am

FILLER TEXT HERE

Artist: n/a - Song: n/a

In his time in the position, he oversaw the training of most of the members of his Division. He planned to be active and do everything he could. Working tirelessly to promote and better help the Squad. It was clear and self-evident that he cared. Taking time for each person to give insightful training.

It was now her turn to have his gaze, Saera Kirin, a general member. But she had the potential to go farther. She was already stronger than the average member of the Division. But this Squad didn't care about that, the totem pole while existing. Didn't dominate the ranks here.

Each one would be treated with equal care, from the bottom to the top. He'd sat a hell butterfly to her. While he sat in the unoccupied training area. This one had been cleared for today. Bokken sat ready in a stand neatly taken care of. The Division had a Japanese flavor to it and almost everything showed this care.

He sat considering and thinking, trying to get an idea in his mind. His hands slowly clasping into fists. They began unclasping as he inhaled and exhaled. Frustration would do him no good, it would come down to communication.

What strides did the shooting star wish to work upon? Where did she want to progress herself towards. These were the questions that had to be answered. Laskt was a simple matter, he desired swordsmanship. And understanding of the Inner-Hollow within.

These were of no difficulty for him. He respected all combat styles and promoted self-evolution. Not taking something and copying it down to the letter. Even though somethings were at the peak. The question would have to wait for Saera Kirin to answer.

Where did she want to go, what path did her story take in this adventure. These were choices he simply couldn't make for her. So the Captain waited to take in the sands. Over the sunset, his work was done for now. Paperwork that had piled mountain high all tended too. His time was always spent working, he'd not leave Saera unattended either. Everyone else got attention, so this was her turn.

She would be a figure he'd return to, someday she'd be one of his seated officers. Soon he imagined, her skills were there. Now the question came down to her personality. They had files on everyone, but a file is a sheet of paper with someone's impression of them. This was a world of combat and training, so this way he'd get to see her clearly.

Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:21 pm

Saera was a lot of things, but stupid she was not, so when she got a message directly from her captain for a 'surprise' meeting, she didn't bother to tally at all, and now found her self nearly at the training ground she'd been told to go to, and while she didn't mind being called if need be, she was a soldier in a military organization after all, she would have liked to have had more of an explanation as to why he was calling her. She hadn't been on any major missions that would require a personal debriefing lately, and for once she hadn't started any bar fights this week, so what would a captain want to talk to her, a general member, for?

Mysteries aside, it wasn't long before she stepped out onto the grounds, spotting Captain Jaiden waiting for her. She did take a moment to take a deep breath, partially to steady her nerves, partially just because no matter what the environment was, a training ground was a training ground, and the various sights and scents of such places was frankly comforting to her. After taking her moment to gather herself Saera stepped onto the training ground and strode towards the captain, stopping a few feet away from him before saluting.

"Saera Kirin, reporting. What do you need sir?"

Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:38 pm

FILLER TEXT HERE

Artist: n/a - Song: n/a

He was aware of her arrival, deciding not to spoke her. She was getting a breath together as she prepared. When she came it was a formal greeting, those were always nice. Gave a person a feeling of some sort of the work I did to get here was worth it moments.

"Well, I'd like to see what you feel like you'd want to improve on." He said softly, he didn't mind dividing his time up among the people in his Squad. He was a Captain, but the first place to be was here. To take care of the newer and older members of the Division.

"I can help with training and things, we are rebuilding this Division after some turmoil, so I'm giving each member private instruction. " He said, as he rubbed the back of his neck. Feeling his sore muscles, it had been an experience personalizing the training regimes for everyone.

"So, what would you like to improve at or work on, we can get a personal workout all set. I'll help however I can, with instruction on what I know..despite appearances, I've had a few successful students." Though calling them students was a reach.

None of them called him master, he didn't walk with a cane. Nor did he have a long white beard, so that may not have been fitting. But innovation was the key, it was about having an eye for what people want to do. Listening helped as well, trainers were often shrinks, and instructors. Had to pull double duty in this world to be good at stuff.

Wed Feb 03, 2021 10:36 pm

Saera took a moment to consider her captain's words, her eyes raising to look out into the sky as she did so. While they were straightforward enough, her answer could have some interesting implications, especially if the man in front of her was intending on taking a direct interest in her and, as she had to assume, her squad-mates training.

After a moment of consideration, which for any who knew her would signify just how much gravity Saera was lending to the situation since her go to behavior was just to blurt out whatever was on her mind regardless of who she was talking to, Saera responded.

"Well, that depends. You're asking what I want to improve on, and that's easy enough. Weapons work, preferably with my zanpakutou, and Kido. Specifically, the integration of the two into a cohesive and adaptable combat style. I've already got a handle on both things to a reasonable degree, ain't no where near mastering either though. I also have a solid base in using practically any weapon you could put in my hands, including improvised weapons, as well as in hand to hand combat, which I'm also honestly wanting to integrate my Kido into as well like with my zanpakutou, which I'm only really focusing on since that's going to probably be my go to weapon for as long as I'm kicking, and for other reasons as well I suppose.

But that's what I want to improve. If you're asking me about what I need to improve on? That's speed, pure and simple. Both shunpo and general swiftness, as it stands now I'm more suited to being a wall if you catch my drift. Put me in a choke point or defensive position? I turn the place into a damn blender, but I can't chase anyone down worth a damn."

Saera looked back down, meeting Captain Jaden's eyes directly.

"So, if you're looking to help out in designing a training regimen, which is what this sounds like, what ideas do you have? You know what my current goal is, the fusion of Kido and physical martial skill, but you also know my biggest weakness with speed, which should lay out what you're looking to know."

Wed Feb 03, 2021 11:45 pm

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Artist: n/a - Song: n/a

Jaeden sat quietly listening to her comments, what she wanted to work at. Making mental notes as he didn't have a good read of her skills all the way. He listened calmly to the goal being built up. He was at the moment the fastest in the Seireitei he would have guessed. Dusting his legs off a bit he nodded. "I see, so a blend of the two. That's a good way to go about it, I'm not a specialist, but I can perform upwards of the 70s in Kido. And specialize in Swordsmanship and...Flash step." Acknowledging his specialties wasn't too bad. He didn't attempt to boast or show his ego.

Now he had the information he was looking for. It helped a bunch to have that in place. He considered what her training should be, he walked a bit from her. Drawing his sword, he created a line in the sand. Before walking to the other side around fifteen feet making another. This was where he was going to start off her training. He was a master of flash step. He knew she'd watched him move and seen what he did.

He brought his sword back to its sheath with a resounding click. He'd once told someone to give him an absurd number of flash steps to crush their desire. It was also to make them aware of how crazy what they asked was. But in this situation the case was different, she was a member of his Squad. This meant taking care of her became more important. It became a situation where he wanted to help her create a concrete improvement.

"I'd like you to flash step from one line to the other, I want to see how you are moving. We'll see if we can help you with that speed issue. Speed is important, but being a balanced warrior is even better. So as your Captain, I don't mind investing and spending time to help you in this endeavor. Or others truth be told."

He said softly as he would also note she had peers as well. It wasn't that he wasn't going to be there for her, if she wanted to improve he would do his best. But to limit one's development to him alone wasn't wise. Many talented and skilled people were in the Gotei.

So he'd suggest Laskt and Hanako later, his Seated and Vice-Captain respectively.

Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:46 am

Saera watched as the captain drew two lines in the dirt of the training ground. She knew where this was going, and she had resigned herself to the fact that she'd have to deal with this kind of training before she actually let her captain know about her goals and weaknesses.

Didn't mean she was going to like what was about to happen though.

When the captain instructed her to step up to the first line she did so, though she refrained from initiating her flash step until after he'd finished speaking. When he did finish saying his piece she looked at him contemplatively for a moment, then nodded.

"That would be...nice. Your right that balance is more important than focusing everything in one area, and frankly, it's been a long while since I've had anyone take a direct interest in my development. A very long while. If nothing else, your interest in me speaks volumes about what kind of captain you'll be, and I'll admit I like what I'm hearing."

With that Saera turned back to face the target line, took a deep breath, gathered her spiritual energy just underneath her feet, took a step, and pushed with her energy. For a split second the world around her blurred as she crossed the short distance. Her toes touched the line where she had been aiming...and then promptly shot past it as her momentum caused her to continue moving beyond the line. Luckily her past training meant she knew how to take a fall, as she skillfully caught her weight in a roll before springing back up, roughly ten feet past the line.

Saera turned back to the captain with a frown, "I'm at least a little better when I'm making multiple jumps, then I can slow myself down, though even then it takes a moment for me to regain my balance. Like I said, I am not good at my maneuverability."

Thu Feb 04, 2021 1:33 pm

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He watched her closely, making notes about her step and her comments. He was always doing his best for his Squad. That was the one thing he did better than most people. But this was the job and what came with it in the end. His gaze observed as he considered what to do next. She lost balance, which was fine in his opinion. He didn't chuckle or laugh at her.

He merely nodded his head, as he got the sense she had trouble with the deacceleration. "What are you thinking when you step? Like what is your focus on when you move into the flash step? " He said softly as he walked over to the line himself. He did this kind of training on occasion as well. Because it was easier to go further than shorter distances. But the intended purpose of the exorcise was to gauge movement.

"It takes time before it gets to a point where it is as natural as breathing. So before that, it's good to have an image or a goal in mind when stepping. It helps you grasp it, some people have trouble going and others trouble stopping. But all of them start somewhere and slowly build towards the finished product."

He inhaled, his breath performing a step and landing over at the other line. Not missing by an inch his stopping point. He'd teach her Kido and Swordsmanship more. But she wished for speed, so it was best to handle that first. Given his mastery in that subject.

"Don't feel pressured to get it right always, practice makes perfect. But it does take time and struggle, effort is what will polish you until you shine. Far as I'm concerned, I'm grateful for the praise you gave me. But I'll keep polishing you until you shine brightly like a star."

He wasn't trying to build her up or anything. But instead was trying to make sure she knew, they'd get there. Not to feel discouraged, as he stepped from the line. Allowing her to take the spot again when she felt like it. If she had questions, he would answer them. Simple as that, she was a precious member of the Combat Squad.

Thu Feb 04, 2021 10:31 pm

Saera's first instinct to the captain's question about what she was thinking was to simply respond I'm thinking about getting where I'm going obviously, but she held her tongue, literally biting down on it while she thought, just long enough to actually think about his question. She had to assume that if he was asking her a question like that he wasn't looking for a blunt, simple answer. Or maybe he was, Saera didn't know, but she'd at least try to be polite for the moment. Eventually she spoke up.

"I think...I think I'm imagining myself as a projectile." Saera sighed, a mix of both longing and frustration in her voice, longing for the memories she was dragging up, frustration that she was having to be so introspective during a training session. She was the kind of person that bashed against a wall until it broke down damn it! She wasn't used to all this reflection crap during training.

"I don't know how much you know about me, but before I went to the academy I lived with my old man, who I found out after he died had been a Shinigami back in the day. The thing is, my old man liked to teach, though he never wanted to admit it, so the entire time we were together he would train me. That meant training in martial arts every day, no breaks, for something like...two and half centuries? I know it was more than two but honestly time kind of loses meaning by then, especially when your life is as consistent as mine was. Anyway, the point is, training for that long leaves marks on your thinking you know? The whole 'treat the weapon as an extension of your body, treat your body as a weapon' mentality. I think I might be thinking along those terms even with this, in which case, while I can't be sure since it's definitely not conscious, I might be trying to burst through my 'target' destination, just like if I was trying to strike a wall."

Saera shrugged, "Or I could be reading way to far into this and I just have balance issues when moving at those kind of speeds, who knows."

Saera stepped back up to the line before turning her eyes back to the captain. "So I assume this is a repetition exercise, you have a specific number of times you want me to go? Just go until you say stop? Or do you want me to go on your marks?"

Fri Feb 05, 2021 8:34 pm

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He smiled listening to her explain, he'd heard a lot of reasons before. From the classic destination, from the cannonball. So she was well within the regions of what he expected. So her step pattern and training came from her father. Sometimes people pick up habits that aren't good. This could be one of them since her image was crashing. He brought a hand to his jaw thinking carefully. He decided what he would do since obviously her watching him would be difficult.

"That is fine, I was trained by my family up until a certain age. I'm going to do something to help you, get a feel for this. That is the best I can do for you, this rest comes from within. I cannot say do it this way, there is no standard to Flash Step or Speed. Our bodies are vastly different, but maybe experiencing the movement will help. I cannot promise it will be easy, but we can train this skill. Slowly building up and demonstrating the others as we go."

He said as he walked over towards her, he held out his hand for her to take. He was going to move her with him. To let her experience what it felt like with her body. Simple telling someone this or that didn't help. The experience was the golden rule at the end of the day. To step like past masters of this art, you had to experience it first hand. Had to find meaning in those steps you took.

If she took his hand, he'd walk a bit closer putting his arm around her shoulder softly. He didn't intend for an intimate anything, as he would move them both to the other side of the line. He'd make sure she didn't fall over, he didn't force this if she said no. He'd simply let it go and leave it at that. But if she took the chance he'd make sure she didn't fall. Keeping her frame straight so she could feel the sensation of landing. How it felt to travel the short distance in what was in essence a burst of movement. Her safety was priority one for him, he'd educate her as best he could for this.

He believed it was the Captain's duty to prepare and help their squad grow, spiritually, mentally, and physically. That was the charge he took with every paperwork and everything he did.

Tue Feb 23, 2021 9:30 pm

Saera raised an eyebrow at the offered hand, but said nothing as she took it. Her captain might be...well if she was going to be honest she'd call him weirdly soft spoken, but so far he'd shown nothing but a legitimate interest in her development, maybe more than she'd expect from a normal Captain, but this was the combat squad, and she doubted that he was focusing on her specifically in anyway. She did tense up a bit when he put his arms around her shoulders, but she didn't pull away, and then before she could register what was happening she was over the other line.

Saera stumbled briefly as they reached the other line, but she felt the Captain steady her, and she didn't fall, though she did step away as she looked down at the lines in the dirt. While the action of the flash step seemed to pass by faster than she could process, she at least knew that just meant it was faster than she could conciously process, so she was silent for a moment as she pulled on the split second memory of the flash step, breaking down the information as she recalled it, turning it over just as if she was reviewing a particularly intense fight, looking for flaws in her form, or in this case improvements she could make based on Jaeden's form.

"I wonder..."

After a silent moment Saera stepped forward, an idea firmly in her mind as she lined up with the first line. This time as she stepped she didn't wait for the moment where she could get maximum thrust, but this time started pushing lightly at the beginning, increasing the force as she made the step, and using just a little bit of spiritual force from her leading foot to try and lessen the impact of her arrival. A blink later when she appeared on the other line, she still stumbled, but her balance was noticeably better, not nearly as good as it was when The Captain pulled her along, and even then she stumbled, but much better than before, she didn't even have to make any extra steps to avoid falling over.

Flash stepping with an actual process was significantly more complicated than the method she was used to, but it definitely seemed to be the right direction to push herself in.

Without another word she turned around and flash stepped, then turned and flash stepped again, and again, and again...

Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars

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