Daring Dauntless Brave and Bold {*OPEN* to all D1 Careers}

[Loki]

Dionysis Gleam

For once, I don't really feel like doing this: working out in the Academy's spacious gym, lifting weights as I am doing. I lay on the bench and push up the 225 pound weight with the trainer spotting me. Every time it seems like I can't do even this bench press but I end up doing that one, and then just one more. And then I decide I'm done; when the weight is in the rack, I sit up, looking around, probably annoying the adult man who'd been helping me. Other kids are sparring, hand-to-hand, a few running on automated treadmills, and my eyes are drawn as usual to the rope. The rope hangs down from the beam, which itself is the same length as the gym, running lengthwise under the vaulted ceiling for support, twenty-five feet up at least and perhaps ten inches wide. The rope has knots in it, to act as holds, though I have only seen a few people climb it, including me.

And then, of course, climb straight back down.

I go over to the rope, and look up, and wonder who tied it there, and how. I've never seen any giant ladders around here. I look up, and then I leap up, catch the rope, and begin climbing, sliding my hands up and gripping, then my feet, searching for a foothold. Hands. Feet. Up and up. This is hard work, and dangerous; at ten feet up I'd still probably break a bone if I fell, and I don't stop at ten feet. My arms start burning from lifting my own weight repeatedly so soon after the bench press, but I keep climbing. After what feels like forever, but is probably a minute or less, I reach the top. Now is when I am supposed to climb down.

Instead, I grab the beam itself and manage to hoist my way onto it. I am not thinking of anything but being up here, as I do that. I slowly, carefully, stand up with my feet on the beam, and then I start to walk, refusing to creep along like some old man, but still cautiously. I don't think I'd better look down to see, but I wonder if anyone has noticed. A moment later, I hear the voice of one of the trainers sounding a bit alarmed, saying loudly enough to be heard, "Dio! Get down off there!" Hah. She's afraid I'll fall. I picture the upturned faces, and grin.

I don't listen, of course, and before I know it, I am at the other end of the beam. I am quite careful as I turn, and begin the return trip. I don't falter on the way back any more than I did on the way over. I reach the near side, and climb back down the rope. Several of the other kids clap, and when I jump off at the bottom of the rope, one girl is there to give me a high five.

I look around the room, and then, smiling, I casually say, "Who's up next?" as if what I'd done was merely another exercise expected of us career-tribute-in-training people. The male trainer speaks up hastily, saying in contradiction that no one is going next, giving me a bit of a glare. Usually, I try to please the trainers, but right now, I don't give a whole damn. That was exhilarating, and, now, the rope and the beam have no more power over me. Not having the guts to climb and walk the beam before was a weakness, one that I've overcome. I despise weakness in myself. I head to the bench where I left my water and have a long drink from the bottle. I'm sweaty and aching and I feel great. I see the trainers speaking quietly, heads together, and smirk. Sure enough, a moment later I'm ordered to run laps, and I don't argue, just start running, and I keep it up for an hour, until they tell me to stop.

Time for another drink of water. I'm still smiling as I head to get one.

[kittyoemily]

Aaron A

Age 17

District 1

After being with Lapas the other week, this whole career training seemed boring, and easy. Maybe it was boring because it was easy. Lapas gave me more confidence than I could wish for. I actually had something with a girl. Pinning my opponent down rather effortlessly as I thought about how she disagrees with career training. You can tell she finds it repulsive or she would be here with her brother. I would stop too, because I am not sure how much I agree with it either. I mean yeah it gives good defense if you are called into the games, but how we anticipate volunteering for the games may be the reason why she dislikes it. only reason why I can't let go of this training is because I need to make my parents proud. I never could speak up well but this is my chance to make them happy that I can do something right even if it was never their original plan. The whistle goes off to signal that I had nocked my opponent out. A small smile comes on my grin still even though I wish lapas was here.

I get up off of my opponent and wait for them to pull him away and bring in my next opponent. I am told that it is starting to get harder to find me some worthy opponents. I just nod as they throw some other career in. This one was not as bad as the person before, but still I don't have to put much effort to pin him down. I saw his eyes dart in a different direction and a part of me heard some ohhing and awes but why should I look that way? No we are careers dammit pay attention. I nocked this person out a small whistle blew like the whistler was only half paying attention. I look up to see what all of the hustle was about. Some kid was on the beam that connects with the rope. Oh big whoop. I Can show my parents that any day. They will be more proud than before. A part of me knew that I would have to try this thing out in order to prove something.

I watched as everyone is told not to try it. A part of me listened and the other part of me just did not care. What ever I will try it soon enough. The kid is sentenced to a lot of laps, and I know that is a stupid punishment. We all know that careers should be doing this type of stuff anyways even though it might be a bit tedious at times. They did him a favor and soon they will be doing me a favor too. I walk away from the fighting area to go hide out in the hydration area so no one could miss me when I go to the rope. I drank some water then I figure the time was cool enough. I climbed up the rope. Then I easily, well with some swaying went across the beam. I jumped down with little to no notice. I guess you can say people don't expect things to be done again after someone was punished for it. I saw the kid slow down and go to the hydration station. I decided to follow suit.

I grabbed some water than looked at the kid who still smiled from running. I made eye contact I think then looked at the rope. I nodded like I did the same thing. I am not sure if I was challenging the guy, showing off, downplaying what he did, or just plain being friendly. I guess a part of me wanted a fight that was a challenge because I was soo mad at my parents, but then the other part of me wanted to just make truce with people, and stop being angry with others for who my parents are. I sipped my water to see if he realized what I meant. I still did not want to speak though.

[Loki]

I look back at the guy staring at me, my mind supplies a name, Aaron, though I don't recall ever actually speaking to him, but I've seen him around here, he's another of us, though he often seems bored, as if he could take it or leave it - he can fight, and well, hand to hand especially - and I know I've seen him in class and at assemblies before the torture known as school ended for me when I turned eighteen. I had hated school, so I don't have any positive memories of this boy, though they aren't negative, either.

He's kind of funny looking, at least his mouth; some of the others tease him about it, I recollect, but I never have. I'm not a bully, not unless someone tries to bully me, first. But it's not like we're friends or anything, and here he is ...what, challenging me in some way? That's sure what it looks like, so I grin in response instead of getting annoyed about it like he probably wanted.

I take the time to take another long drink of water, then look back at the kid. "Did you want something?" I ask in a voice just as sweet as I can make it. So, he duplicated my trick with the beam - I noticed - but still, I did it first. The concept belonged to me, and I don't mind if every other trainee here replicates my move.

I wonder if he wanted me to spar with him or something, and if he was either too shy, or too rude, to talk to me. I wait for him to reply.

[kittyoemily]

Aaron A

Age 17

District 1

blah blah blah something about lets fight D: I accidentally deleted this post D:
here is my lame make up

I interpreted what he said in a few ways. It took me awhile to think about it. is he trying to be nice? or is he actually trying to start a real fight where one of us will end up dead. it takes a minute for it to set in but then I realize I am not looking for an enemy but a friend. I smirk. " yeah lets fight" There as few words as possible. I can only truly talk to Lupas longer than a few words. I don't know if it is that I want to or just plain can't. I know I have a good fight probably coming to me at this point and I did not want to be busy thinking about my own drama so I payed attention again.

[Loki]

"Hand to hand?" I ask Aaron, when he says 'lets fight'. I know I am still smiling. He will say yes, and then I will have a real fight on my hands, because I am good at boxing and I always like to kick when I see an opening, but if I am recalling right, this kid likes to wrestle. I can give or take wrestling, really. I never was great at it, so we'll be facing each other with two different styles. I wonder how that will work out. I am ready to head out to one of the mats if he is, though I wait for his answer and wonder if he might pick swords instead of unarmed, because I excel at swords, but that is why I didn't suggest it - it didn't seem fair. I bounce a little on my toes, though I am more than warmed up, already.

((OOC: Ok sorry so short, but this way Aaron can actually reply lol))

[kittyoemily]

Aaron A

Age 17

District 1

"Hand to hand?" Is what he says next. I play with my smile a bit back and forth swishing a bit in my mouth. Hmm yeah I would assume I want hand to hand. I watch as he bounces on his feat a bit. I remember now that he is one to like boxing a bit. Maybe a mixture would be cool? Right mind as well give us both a fair chance, plus so neither of us could complain that it was not fair. I don't like that type of bs. " yep Hand to hand...." I paused for a second." lets keep it interesting and allow free hand boxing and wrestling?" I grin at this. This is probably what we both have been wanting for awhile. We both are pretty good Trainees, now we get to fight each other even if it is an unorthodox way.

[Loki]

"Sounds good to me," I reply with another smile. And it does: I honestly have to admit i love fighting. I don't bother with the gloves, because, I am in the mood for a spar that is more like a real fight. We, the older ones, at least, get to make that choice; a lot of our training at this point is self-directed, as long as the trainers approve, anyhow. But they approve most combat or exercise things as long as there is no slacking off. I stroll out to the center of the mats set up for sparring, and, stance off in an easy but ready pose. I watch Aaron as he comes out to join me, and know I'll have to dance a lot to avoid his getting his hands on me and wrestling me down to the floor, but that's ok, dance-and-jab is a good style for me. I have a lot of endurance, so, it's usually not too hard for me to wear an opponent down, but we'll see just how it goes, since I don't know that much about Aaron's overall style. I feel exhilarated and happy, waiting for him to come at me so the fight can begin; I notice some people already stopping to watch, which makes me more fiercely determined to do well and not get pinned or otherwise defeated.

[kittyoemily]

Aaron A

Age 17

District 1

Sounds good to me. I saw his grin, and I grinned back. He seemed like he actually wanted this fight too. This made me happy a bit that I was making more than myself happy with this one. I watch as he walk over to the mat and see other people already stop to watch. Funny he must be better than I thought because no one ever stops to see my fights, or I just don't pay attention. I grab another sip of water and swish it in my mouth. Then I spit the water on the floor. I catch a disgusted look from a custodian but I don't care. The blood has to be worse. I mean I don't mind it, but my spit right there was literally water. I take another sip to swallow then I spill the water on the floor specifically. Feeling a bit awkward I put a towel on the floor. Umm yeah okay mr I don't care about making someone mad is not me. I walk over to the mat after I have cleaned the floor. I get in my position. The whistle blows and I am ready. I run towards him and try a quick blow to his face in honor of him liking boxing. like I thought not as good as my wrestling trick. I slide against his cheek maybe cause a medium bruise if that. But I go flying with my weight. I land my hand on the floor and do a tumble and a quick spin with my leg in the air in case he was taking the moment to get me when my back was turned and come back facing him with that leg in front of me and being squatted on my other foot. I grinned. I will get a hang of throwing punches. perhaps he will try a wrestling move and I can punk him on that one. I jump on my two feet and am ready to rumble again. My arrogance a bit crushed, but at least I did not brake my own hand like I could of by just nearly falling on it.

( Occ. Do you want to do a Jff fight with no weapons, or we can act it out that they ultimately tie and such, but we can both have ups and downs too ya know make it logical )

[Loki]

(OOC: As long as it's all the same to you I'd just as soon act it out and they both have ups and downs. )

I am not expecting Aaron's first move to be a punch, and only jerk back partly, getting a good graze to my cheekbone. I laugh for a half-second, though he doesn't see it, when he goes flying off balance past me, and I wait for him to spin and grinned at him, not falling for the feint. He leaps back to his feet, and I dance back, leading, making him come in, and when he does I feint a jab at his jaw, and follow with the other hand for his midsection. I connect, but I haven't hurt him, I can tell. I didn't have enough oomph behind that one. I jab, I jab, I duck, I dodge, and then I go for a surprise move, after I've danced back I come in with a punch, kick, punch. I never specified standard boxing, after all, and I am satisfied when I catch him solidly and he stumbles back a few paces; I really have to watch him now, because he comes back at me in a rush, as I dance away, and I misjudge where he's coming next, and he gets a solid connect to my abs that makes me grunt. I am not angry, though, and I am still having fun, more so because we are nice and evenly matched. I swoop in with a big overhand that he barely dodges most of, but if I'd got him, I'd maybe have laid him out; I dance away again anticipating his next move, then try a spin kick...

(OOC: Hope this is ok? Otherwise I can fix anything you want.)

[kittyoemily]

Aaron A

Age 17

District 1

He continues with the boxing and does not even try with the wrestling. I take it he is not as much of a risk taker. I continue with the boxing trying to be a better career. Sadly I stink at it. I got him a little bit but he usually got me a few more times and plus then some. I don't care some how they were not even that hard. I even laughed at a few, but a part of me knew they were hard I just some how have grown a bit more immune to the pain. The one in my stomach hurts a bit more than the others but still I am smiling. Then he tries to drop kick me. I catch it and jump right over it. Through gritted teeth I say." Okay my turn now." And I go in for a wrestling move. I throw my body up against him as he is still swinging his leg, and what do you know he was off balanced by his one foot of the ground and probably my weight. I hear a crunch as we both hit the floor. My knee sadly hits the floor also with a crunch, but I ignore that pain as I pin him to the floor. " closely match I take it?" I say trying to keep him down. I throw a quick punch at his face and grin. " Hey look I actually landed that one. " I stared into his eyes and was trying to anticipate his next move if there was one, more or less if he could get out of this situation since I then got him in a choke hold on the floor. Yeah my weight is a bit unfair since I weigh a lot so half of it is strength half of it is broot force. But I have to admit I am good at this still even if he is good at this too.

[Loki]

I have to move fast, and I do, fast as I can the way he has me pinned, and I try twisting so I can throw an elbow back at him to get him to back off a little so I will be able to use my arms to push us both up off the mat. I have no idea if it's gonna work or not, as I writhe and flail for every inch trying to position myself to do the lift while he is bearing down on me with his full weight. Finally I manage to get a leg under myself, and attempt a lunge up that hurts, my thigh protesting loudly as I bear both of our full weight on it, shoving back and twisting at the same time. Its not a move I should do - it's guaranteed to injure me in a dozen little ways, but I do it anyhow, hoping I can break free.

[kittyoemily]

Aaron A

Age 17

District 1

I grip type ready for any rebound. I could choke him out here, but I did not want this decent fight to end so soon. Besides I think we may be able to teach each other some moves that our own trainers could not teach us even if they were paid double of what they get paid now. I try and keep him down as he skirms. It was a lot harder than just getting it over with and nocking him out. I was ready for the challenge though. The hunger games would be a challenge. A part of me started to feel hungry for blood again. Like being away from lupas as made me vicious and a savage animal again. I started to want to win the games again. I wanted to bring home the crown and money to my parents. Still I wanted to also bring it all home for lupas so I guess a part of me will never go back. I continue to struggle with him and then something unexpected happened.

He actually did what I thought he could not do. He was a boxer. I was the wrestler. I only expected him to some how throw a bunch or knee me in my gentle area. I mean really I guess we are all careers and should know all of it, and I know I do know " all of it." but this specific move. psh this was a pure wrestler move. One that a true wrestler must learn themselves, and only is it spoken to if both wrestlers knows they are alone and have done it before. How did I not see this coming sooner. I grit my teeth as I felt the one leg in position under mine. It was a minute to late. I could not reverse the angle he had me in. He lifts me up still in his choke hold and slams him and myself crashing against the floor. Adding to an extremely painful neck injury on top of the knee injury that I caused myself.

I am winded a bit as he lays on top of me and loosening my choke hold. I am trying to get back my strength before he entirely loosens it, but something a bout a person laying right on my chest cavity made it hard to catch ones breath. I knew he was going to be set free at any moment so I took it to hyper mode and regained my breath faster. I gripped him in a choke hold harder and rolled him onto the floor facing down ward still in my choke hole. Letting go of it I quickly knocked him up against the floor allowing his head to bounce back. I heard a cracking noise and knew the job was done. His nose must be broken. I side as I heard an whistling sound coming from the trainers, and I knew I went to far. But now I could relax with out forfeiting nor knocking him out entirely. Come on a broken nose is better than being nocked unconscious. I rolled my eyes and I moved over on my back next to him to relax my neck and what ever neck injury he gave me. My adrenaline slowing down I felt the pain in my knee. Too bad I caused that damage. Ugh how lame am I. I hurt myself really? I turn to my side to look at the other guy. I grinned at his bloody nose. " I made you Purdy at least." I said it in like oh that damaging fight was pretty rad, and pretty much saying that another one would be in order eventually. At least I think, I mean I have never really spoken too much but from what I can tell Career friends say things like that. I relax and wait for the academy's own medics to make their way over here. I wondered if in between spouts of blood would he be willing to talk.

Occ: okay so I am not sure if I took it too far with braking his nose/ ending it, I mean I will and can edit it if you want. I can allow him to get another punch in but I figure this was okay? I mean they seemed pretty even other than the broken nose part which may have been a bit vicious lol but yeah tell me if it needs to be changed.

[Loki]

I wince as my nose crunches, it hurt like hell yell one of those words that I only use in this sort of situation. Scrambling up with blood streaming down my face - already I am seeing red, from the actual blood, but I also lose my control when he taunts me. I can feel it happening, that killer instinct being triggered, and I am not smiling when I get up and aim a kick at other boy's side, my fists are clenched and I look pretty dangerous all of a sudden; fortunately for Aaron and for me both, two of the trainers grab me from behind and refuse to let go to I calm down enough to be led away and looked at by the medic. I cast a look over my shoulder to promise this isn't done yet, though I look less malicious than I did seconds ago. And then my noise is being snapped back into place and I yell and then curse.

[kittyoemily]

Aaron A

Age 17

District 1

As he gets up on his feet and his blood is oozing and dripping out I see his killer instinct kicks in. He looks ready to kill me and I know I did not make a friend. No I made an enemy. I shrug. Well I need a punching bag anyways, even though he will be using me as the same thing. "uh" Hit me kicked me in my side pretty hard. After he is carried away a medic comes to me. I sit up and she checks my neck quickly to make sure there is no awful damage. She tells me that it is swollen and that it is the immune systems natural defense. Other than that its fine. No training brakes, although I may want to ice it before I throw myself into another fight because I would not want to cause unneeded damage. I believe most of this is unneeded since we are not in the games, but I guess it is in preparation. I get up and as I hear the kids scream I feel bad a bit. I try and turn around before I have to face him again and apologize for my unneeded braking of his nose. I just did not feel right nocking him unconscious I just went the easy way with braking his nose. I know bad but ugh its different.

[Loki]

Dio had his nose broken more than just this time and was not very worried about it, since he could afford a surgery if it ever ended looking truly bad. His rage had calmed by the time the medic was done administering to his sorry ass. With both his nostrils blocked with cotton, he was hard to understand as he stood and said to Aaron, "Good fight. Next time were using swords instead so I can have a turn kicking your ass.. He smiled though, as best he could, that killer rage had calmed right back down.