[HUB ISLAND | NEWBIE TRAINING]

[spellbindmods]

Who: New coven members, Brie and assigned teachers (old blood can join too!)
Where: The coven base camp
When: Day 98
Open/Closed: Open to Alllllllllmost everyone, essentially top levels are newbies and teachers, but oldbies can tag around!
OOC: To be clear, top levels should only be new characters accepted in October and those who signed up for teacher slots. Old players ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAG AROUND IF THEY WISH, and of course other new characters can mingle with their newbie brethren. If your character is a teacher please indicate that in your top level to differentiate.

Danger may not be imminent -- but that doesn't mean things will always be so peaceful. Being new and gifted with magic, the time has come to try and create a force to be reckoned with. While Genette is more focused on interpersonal unity (and not her poor planning skills), Brie wants to worry about other, more important things. The explosions and power missteps grow older and older with each new batch of coven members, so let's nip that in the bud ASAP, shall we? All the newbies have been gathered together in the base camp clearing with very explicit instructions -- hopefully this isn't such a daunting task that she needs to resort to tying people together, like some bougie servants running around. There is a bit of a problem of personalizing activities -- A.K.A. she's not doing that again. It was a mess last time, and hard to keep up with who all was succeeding and falling flat on their face. Instead, there are three distinct stations that are being utilized in order to try and grab every type and subset of power. A ▢ For offensive type characters, wild boars have been enclosed in a large pen. Also within this pen are large pillowcases, filled with sand and tied at the end. It's as good a dummy as any, okay? Brie has instructed those with magic more in line with direct fighting to kill a boar -- or if they want to work up to that type of offensive magic, they can instead try to explode those sacks of sand. B ▢ Healing is a bit trickier -- some may get lucky and find someone who is unintentionally injured or who is harboring an old wound that Genette hasn't sniffed out. In the case of needing to focus on healing, Brie has a small knife at her disposal. Any volunteers are going to be sliced against their palm. Genette is on standby to heal this wound if a newbie can't pull it off, but don't worry. Even in the worst case scenario, this wound won't last long. C ▢ Other magic powers may work better with items involved -- dismantling, levitation, the like. So there's a big bin of items in the middle of another roped off clearing. From salt and pepper shakers to MP3 players, your character can find some sort of junk in this bag. Whatever your character wants to do with these items and their magic, they're there to use. D ▢ Another roped off area is for more abstract magic. Other volunteers can come and help with whatever these magics might be -- emotional reading, creating plants. Those hard-to-define magic types can practice here with as much help as they can find. E ▢ Some older coven members have garnered Brie's seal of approval. If they know anything about fighting or magical training, they've been welcomed to create their own space and get newbies to learn whatever skills they have to offer. F ▢ Finally, magic isn't the only training going on here. There's one final area that's roped off and filled with swords, stuck about a foot in the ground -- thanks Brie. Characters who are good with swords can of course show off their skills, but it's also a good idea that inexperienced characters learn how to wield one of these weapons.

Comments

teaching time

[potentite]

[D]
[Not being nervous is impossible but he's going to try at least. Magic is new to him, and it really isn't his strong suit but this magic, at least for small things, hasn't been too bad. No one's asked him for anything too abstract yet. So he figures he can probably help out here in figuring out easy ways to start off with something that is inherently a little weirder.]

Um, what sort of magic are you packing?


[E]
[Usually, Jake wields two guns. They're always on him in some fashion. Today though, if you approach him standing near a row of cans and bottles he found, you'll notice he's only fidgeting with one.

The other he's set near the line up. Almost like if he didn't, it would be harder for him to offer it up. He really, really loves his guns, okay.]

Um, ahoy there? I, um— [No, no, he needs to really sell this. The one thing he can do at least is fight, even if he's not as good at it as the others and fuck he's doing it again—] Guns might not be the most plentiful weapon around but if you want some training...

[Oh there was that boar instruction, too, so.] We could even go out hunting if you prefer.

E

[antemeridian]

... 'Not the most plentiful?' But, then, that does imply that there is more to go around.

[ her expression is the smallest of contemplative frowns. ]

How many do we have, and of what make? [ she'd lamented the lack of arriving with something more familiar some time ago, as well as her lack of knowledge on how to start crafting a proper bow— one that wouldn't run the risk of snapping in her face, because she can imagine how that could go wrong— but here we are. if something's available, she's absolutely going to jump at the opportunity to arm herself. ]

And— what of ammunition? [ she doesn't imagine that it'd be very easy to replace any spent magazines or cartridges here, but if there's any at all to spare she wouldn't mind at all. ]

[potentite]

[From how she talks, Jake can guess she at least has some familiarity with them, so.]

When I arrived, my sylladex broke. [No, he doesn't explain that but he continues to the important part:] I had some of my spare guns stored in it. I haven't touched them, so they're still full up. Two pairs of handguns and a hunting rifle. Um, if you have a preference, we can go grab them? Or just practice here for now but...

[He nods at the gun he set aside and holds up the one in his hand.] I use two personally. Um, they're supposed to have unlimited ammo but that's broken here, too. I could probably make ammo if I found the supplies but otherwise I've got just a few magazines worth of spare ammo.

[antemeridian]

Your sylladex is a kind of storage device, then? [ that sounds convenient. not that it broke, that is, but that some of its contents were still able to be salvaged...? ] I... don't have much of a preference, no. The ones here will be fine, although if you use two normally I wouldn't want to encroach on that. [ he does seem somewhat attached to his guns, and that's fair, really. she understands. ]

Admittedly, I'm a little bit out of practice myself. If we retrieved your other guns... We could make a competition out of it, perhaps?

... In fact, if you don't mind, I'm curious as to your technique. How do you handle the recoil? [ she's seen magical girls use different methods to deal with physics while maintaining speed and accuracy; Mami's single shot muskets lent themselves to being discarded after they were used anyway, which meant the empty air could take any impact not already covered by physical reinforcement and any kickback throwing off aim didn't matter. and Homura herself is somewhat fond of aerial combat and automatics for a reason. ]

[potentite]

[A competition sounds fun. In fact, it's probably the most fun thing he can think of. But she has a question, so he should address that first.]

Well, there's the ideal answer and then there's the practical answer. [Meaning: there's an answer for practice and easygoing situations, and an answer for actual fights.] I'll give you the latter. Keep your wrists locked. [Jake demonstrates with his own pistol, showing her how he holds it.] If it's locked, that's about 80% of what you need to do. If you can practice doing that while shooting, you won't have to keep track of the rest of your body's posture for every shot in a fight.

[Then he lays his thumbs forward along the frame.] This, too. It also gives you a second line of sight and a more secure grip. Um, this sort of hold is designed for speed and accuracy. So, perfect for a fight. And... the rest is just mental. Don't tense too much and don't let your thoughts go wild waiting for the recoil. I have never been to a dentist but it's probably like waiting for one? The anticipation is worse than the event.

[antemeridian]

[ she watches his demonstration with an academic sort of interest for the most part-- some of it she knows already, though she's also noting and filing away the different quirks in technique from when one isn't magically reinforcing their body against resistance, but her lips quirk up slightly when he starts on the dentist comparison. ]

That last part, I am well aware of. I do have some previous experience with firearms... but back during the learning period, I'm afraid I made quite a few embarrassing mistakes. [ like grabbing ammunition none of her weapons even actually used, for one thing, that sat embarrassingly unused in her shield for a few loops before she picked up her Beretta. or opting for a Desert Eagle as her first combat weapon. not the most practical choice for a beginner, given the weight and limited magazine, but she wouldn't have known any better, back then.

she mimicks his demonstrated grip around an invisible pistol to test the feel of it, mimes pulling the trigger with a smooth motion, pauses, then mock fires a few times with a few different, minute adjustments. all of it's from a very square, 'proper' shooting stance, but. hmm. ]

Thank you, though. I believe I have an idea of how it might work now. [ ... ] If I may, should we go retrieve your other guns?

[potentite]

Yes, of course. I, um, live in a hut down this way. It's not too long of a walk.

[He grabs his other pistol and pockets them both in his hoodie for now as he leads her.]

What sort of guns are you most comfortable with? My grandma was a crackshot with anything but rifles were her aces. I'm best with smaller guns myself but I trained in everything I could get my mitts on.

[antemeridian]

[ she hums a little, thinking on it as she follows him. ]

I can handle both handguns and assault rifles with roughly equal proficiency. I have used a few other varieties in the past, such as shotguns... but I believe either of the former would be best, in this situation.

Were you taught by your grandmother, then? [ he'd mentioned living alone, before, so was this before...? ]

[potentite]

You bet your sweet bippy I was! She was just about the best marksman in the whole world. [The past tense doesn't falter, so she can probably take a guess.] Probably the whole universe. She taught me everything, like to never leave the house without my guns and my computers. At least five of each to be on the safe side.

[A beat.]

Though, I've had to cut down here. Rather improper to hoard resources among us.

e

[precedents]

[ guns were never part of A2's arsenal, but she's familiar with them. she's seen the resistance members use them often enough, at least.

she glances at the lineup and tilts her head, considering it. well, why not. ]

Alright.

[ the gun is cool to the touch, a foreign weight in her hand. the safety is on but she flicks it off and raises it. for someone who has never fired a gun before, her grip sure is steady. but that might have something more to do with her status as an android than anything else. ]

[potentite]

[It impresses him even more than her unnatural beauty. He doesn't want to disturb her but he can't help commenting on it.]

Your form is excellent. Are you sure you haven't done this before, miss? It's quite good.

[precedents]

[ she glances at him when he speaks up, hand still steady as she looks back down at the line of her arm to the gun at the end. ]

I was built for close-range combat, [ she ends up saying, frowning a little at the line of bottles and cans. ] I didn't need to use guns.

[ that's what the pods were for, anyway. it still feels strange; she'd been using swords and spears and everything else for so long that they've become an extension of her. there's something a little less personal about a gun, but at the end of the day, a weapon is still a weapon.

she fires one shot, missing a bottle by a couple centimeters. the recoil is actually what surprises her the most, sensors processing the force as it ripples up her arm. ]

[potentite]

['Built', well, that confirms that. He didn't want to ask in case it's considered rude but it's nice to know. Actually, she kind of looks like 2B and 9S now that he thinks about it. Is that rude to say, though? 'Hey all you androids look alike!' sounds bad.]

Even if you're built for close range, learning how other forms work will help, I think? [Though he notices the problem she has.] Oh! Try to use the sight. If you need more help, um, line your thumbs up? Push them forward. That way, the gun is pointing where your thumbs are. Try to... think of it like aiming yourself.

[For Jake, funny as it might be to her, guns are an extension of himself.]

d

[oceanaria]

[ If not being nervous is impossible, then Jake definitely isn't alone in this. The same thing applies to magic, too.

Riko shouldn't be surprised by the question (it's a magical training, after all), yet she holds her hands up, thinking of a short explanation. ]

Um...it's nothing special! Everything I draw becomes real, that's all. W-What about you?

[potentite]

[Despite what she said, his eyes light up.] Wow, what a nifty ability! I bet you've got a creative mind, miss!

[But right, she asked him something.]

Um, mine is just... increasing the probability of an outcome of an event.

[oceanaria]

Um...I usually just draw from reference, so I don't think I'm all that creative. And please, feel free to call me Riko.

[ She should've introduced herself, where are her manners?! ]

Oh. So you could use it to make sure that a comic book is released on time with no delays?

[ Why did she think of that first...that is the question. Not to mention that's pretty specific. ]

[potentite]

[That might be specific but it is right up his alley.]

Wowie! That'd be quite the spiffy bit of prestidigitation to make a new comic release quicker! I think I could! Do you like comics too?

[oceanaria]

We won't be able to get it as long as we're stuck here, though...

[ The depressing realization. ]

I do! I also enjoy reading light novels...ah.

[ She's been too sincere, hasn't she. Nobody knows about this particular hobby of hers, actually. ]

It's nothing, nothing!

[potentite]

[Jake doesn't actually know what a light novel is but he knows she feels embarrassed and he understands enough from that. He makes a quick, bold decision to share something truly personal with her.]

Um! I'm kind of a massive dork! A nerd! So, um, it's cool to me if you like things like that? You don't have to be knotted up over it in front of someone like me.

[oceanaria]

A massive dork? A nerd?

[ RIKO YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT ALL THAT, SERIOUSLY. ]

I'm knotted up over everything in front of everyone, so don't worry.

[ That's pretty upfront of her, too. ]

Have I...really said that.

ddddddddddd

[reckoner]

[ Given that the last time Gaelio targeted a person with his newly granted power, it had been an unintentional, then horrifying mess, he's wary of this endeavor. Wary, but conscious of its being necessary for the same reason.

So he stands across from the (yet another) young man, a hand braced on his hip, his features hardened into a frown. ]

Illusions.

[ Sufficient, or does he need to say more...? ]

[potentite]

[Well. That's a start?]

Righto! Illusions. What sort of illusions? Any sort of, um, parameters that you know of or...?

[reckoner]

[ ...Yes, he'd needed to say more, as those are reasonable questions.

Uncertainty flickers across the hard set of his features. ]

I'm not sure. They've worked on boar, fish, men, and myself. It's easier if I've experienced it.

[ And perhaps impossible if he hasn't. That he's still attempting to gauge. ]

I think I have to catch myself, too.

[ So far, anyway. At least at first. ]

[potentite]

Wow, that's cool! [Illusions seem pretty useful to him.] What do you mean catch yourself?

[reckoner]

I haven't been able to do it without affecting myself.

[ Less convenient for an attack. ]

I have to... feel it.