Kane and Shatterstar - Weaponless combat
May. 10th, 2024 11:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsShatterstar has his first self defense lesson with Kane.
Shatterstar had signed up for a private session as soon as Kane had made the offer on the journal. He was ashamed to admit it, but he was out of practice with hand-to-hand, and the VR kidnapping had proved it to him. If he was ever up against someone who was actually well-trained and had to protect his friends by himself without his swords... well he might be able to do it, but it wouldn't be easy or guaranteed and the extra reassurance would be nice. And with one of the actual X-Men offering to teach? He had to take advantage of it.
He knew of Garrison Kane of course, but if he had ever met him it had only been in passing and found himself slightly worried about being judged by the older man.
:"Good morning." Kane said before a jaw breaking yawn. Sleep just wasn't helpful these days. He took a sip from his coffee and then put it to one side on a conveniently manifested counter in the DR with a quick motion of his hand. He'd created a number of shortcuts that worked from quick hand motions or voice commands in the room for when he was the operator.
"So, first off-" He said, bringing up a glowing gold interface to tap in some commands. "What should I call you in these sessions?"
"My name is Shatterstar," he responded, in a loose but ready stance. Looks could be deceiving- Garrison could strike at any moment to test him and he didn't want to be locked up and unready. That would be so, so embarrassing.
"Do I call you Dominion in here?" He had looked up everything he could get his hands on on the X-Men and was certain that was the older man's superhero name.
"Nah. When we do team training, we use codenames so we're used to using them in the field, but for one on one like this, you can call me Kane or Garrison. Whichever you prefer. Just don't call me Mister Garrison. That joke got real old real quick a long time ago." Kane pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. He was used to training with his powers, or at least feeling healthy. Now, he felt tired and sluggish. "I'm going to put you up against a fight simulator, just to gauge where your skill level is." A featureless white humanoid figure suddenly appeared in front of Shatterstar, like a department store manikin with no face. It dropped into a fighting stance and lashed out with a kick.
Whatever joke had gotten old, Shatterstar didn't even know it to make it. (Shatterstar was not much of a fan of animation, finding it hard to follow). Shatterstar's readiness was rewarded when he was able to avoid the kick, but his hand went instinctively to his belt instead of, as it once did, to defend himself. When had he become so reliant on his sword being there? Despite the delay he went to move to twist the humanoid's arm, but was clearly frustrated with himself.
The drone moved reasonably quickly, lashing out with a pair of quick jabs as he grabbed the wrist. The blows landed but at impact, it felt like it was wearing boxing gloves, lessening the force substantially. They continued to circle and the drone moved with a series of kicks and jabs, keeping him on his toes as it did so.
Shatterstar was able to keep up with the drone, but started to make a few mistakes the more frustrated he became with himself. He couldn't help it, self conscious at being watched by Garrison. He liked being watched and showing off, but he also knew Garrison knew his stuff and was probably noting every less than perfect move, which made for a self-fulfilling prophecy. Still, he was able to subdue the drone.
"Well, two things are obvious. First is that you have training. Second is most of that involved a weapon in your hand. That sound about right?" Kane questioned, touching a button to make the drone disappear.
"I used to not be so reliant on having one with me," Shatterstar said, annoyed with himself, but he nodded. That was the gist of it all.
"Fair enough. You move with the expectation of having extension in at least one hand and your footwork is aligned with supporting and powering thrust and slashing attacks. That's a good thing when you have a weapon, but it is limiting when you don't." Kane said, waving his hand as his fingers tapped an interface that flared into existence briefly. He stepped into the combat area as a soft grid of dim lines surrounded both of them. "This will leave an after-impression so you can see how you move versus how I do. For right now, I'm going to circle you, you do circle me. Hands up, basic guard of your choice."
Shatterstar willed himself to fall into old habits that he had unconsciously erased. The last time he had fought without a weapon in his hands was in juvie and he actively tried not to think about that time, not to remember. He raised his guard and moved to circle Garrison. It felt strange to do this without anger or a crowd.
"Ok, move like you're trying to line up a punch." Kane said, as mentioned, circled as he did so. As they moved, light lines started to appear, hovering in the air, mirroring their position a moment ago. "Come on, guard up. act like both of us are about to throw a punch any second."
Shatterstar had never properly learned to throw a punch, figuring things out for himself through experience only. His guard was a little too high, a little too hunched, like he was used to fighting people shorter than him.
"Kid, if you don't throw one, I'll start. You won't like that."
Shatterstar threw a punch, hard and fast and sure. He let himself fall into the violence and the focus only on the first in front of him- like Garrison was looking to seriously hurt him if Shatterstar didn't take him down first.
Kane slipped it, batting the hand away before it could come close. He was always moving, the target he represented shifting. "Good. I believed that punch for once. Do it again."
Shatterstar moved to hit him again. And kept hitting. And hitting. Until he managed to get Kane and continued after, very much acting more out of a sense of needing to protect himself than someone training. Once he had started it was easy to remember Kane was a police officer and held all the power here, could hurt him if he didn't take care of himself.
This is why he didn't like hand to hand. It was so, so easy to dissociate during it, to lose the when and where.
After a bit, Kane held up his hand. "That's enough for now." He had his own observations, but they needed some discussion with people who knew more about Shatterstar than he did. "Now, I'll show you something cool."
He flicked his fingers and the DR interface was suddenly showing animated their fight, but in a wireframe, focusing on the movement of their feet. "See these patterns? Most people think a fight starts with your fists, but it starts with your feet. Take a look. Can you see how my feet move every time I'm ready to throw a punch compared to yours?"
Shatterstar observed the wireframe animation carefully and much to his chagrin, Kane was right. His footwork was off, while Kane's was second nature. He scowled at the wireframe that represented himself. He knew better.
"You have much better habits and keep your balance sturdier."
"I've also got a lot more years and training than you." Kane said. "That's what this is about; transferring that over to you. So I say we end on that revelation." Kane said. "I'll got a couple of drone programs highlighted for you to work on. Next week, we'll see where you're at for lesson two."
"Yes sir," Shatterstar said, ducking head slightly at the reminder that Kane had much, much experience.
Shatterstar had signed up for a private session as soon as Kane had made the offer on the journal. He was ashamed to admit it, but he was out of practice with hand-to-hand, and the VR kidnapping had proved it to him. If he was ever up against someone who was actually well-trained and had to protect his friends by himself without his swords... well he might be able to do it, but it wouldn't be easy or guaranteed and the extra reassurance would be nice. And with one of the actual X-Men offering to teach? He had to take advantage of it.
He knew of Garrison Kane of course, but if he had ever met him it had only been in passing and found himself slightly worried about being judged by the older man.
:"Good morning." Kane said before a jaw breaking yawn. Sleep just wasn't helpful these days. He took a sip from his coffee and then put it to one side on a conveniently manifested counter in the DR with a quick motion of his hand. He'd created a number of shortcuts that worked from quick hand motions or voice commands in the room for when he was the operator.
"So, first off-" He said, bringing up a glowing gold interface to tap in some commands. "What should I call you in these sessions?"
"My name is Shatterstar," he responded, in a loose but ready stance. Looks could be deceiving- Garrison could strike at any moment to test him and he didn't want to be locked up and unready. That would be so, so embarrassing.
"Do I call you Dominion in here?" He had looked up everything he could get his hands on on the X-Men and was certain that was the older man's superhero name.
"Nah. When we do team training, we use codenames so we're used to using them in the field, but for one on one like this, you can call me Kane or Garrison. Whichever you prefer. Just don't call me Mister Garrison. That joke got real old real quick a long time ago." Kane pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. He was used to training with his powers, or at least feeling healthy. Now, he felt tired and sluggish. "I'm going to put you up against a fight simulator, just to gauge where your skill level is." A featureless white humanoid figure suddenly appeared in front of Shatterstar, like a department store manikin with no face. It dropped into a fighting stance and lashed out with a kick.
Whatever joke had gotten old, Shatterstar didn't even know it to make it. (Shatterstar was not much of a fan of animation, finding it hard to follow). Shatterstar's readiness was rewarded when he was able to avoid the kick, but his hand went instinctively to his belt instead of, as it once did, to defend himself. When had he become so reliant on his sword being there? Despite the delay he went to move to twist the humanoid's arm, but was clearly frustrated with himself.
The drone moved reasonably quickly, lashing out with a pair of quick jabs as he grabbed the wrist. The blows landed but at impact, it felt like it was wearing boxing gloves, lessening the force substantially. They continued to circle and the drone moved with a series of kicks and jabs, keeping him on his toes as it did so.
Shatterstar was able to keep up with the drone, but started to make a few mistakes the more frustrated he became with himself. He couldn't help it, self conscious at being watched by Garrison. He liked being watched and showing off, but he also knew Garrison knew his stuff and was probably noting every less than perfect move, which made for a self-fulfilling prophecy. Still, he was able to subdue the drone.
"Well, two things are obvious. First is that you have training. Second is most of that involved a weapon in your hand. That sound about right?" Kane questioned, touching a button to make the drone disappear.
"I used to not be so reliant on having one with me," Shatterstar said, annoyed with himself, but he nodded. That was the gist of it all.
"Fair enough. You move with the expectation of having extension in at least one hand and your footwork is aligned with supporting and powering thrust and slashing attacks. That's a good thing when you have a weapon, but it is limiting when you don't." Kane said, waving his hand as his fingers tapped an interface that flared into existence briefly. He stepped into the combat area as a soft grid of dim lines surrounded both of them. "This will leave an after-impression so you can see how you move versus how I do. For right now, I'm going to circle you, you do circle me. Hands up, basic guard of your choice."
Shatterstar willed himself to fall into old habits that he had unconsciously erased. The last time he had fought without a weapon in his hands was in juvie and he actively tried not to think about that time, not to remember. He raised his guard and moved to circle Garrison. It felt strange to do this without anger or a crowd.
"Ok, move like you're trying to line up a punch." Kane said, as mentioned, circled as he did so. As they moved, light lines started to appear, hovering in the air, mirroring their position a moment ago. "Come on, guard up. act like both of us are about to throw a punch any second."
Shatterstar had never properly learned to throw a punch, figuring things out for himself through experience only. His guard was a little too high, a little too hunched, like he was used to fighting people shorter than him.
"Kid, if you don't throw one, I'll start. You won't like that."
Shatterstar threw a punch, hard and fast and sure. He let himself fall into the violence and the focus only on the first in front of him- like Garrison was looking to seriously hurt him if Shatterstar didn't take him down first.
Kane slipped it, batting the hand away before it could come close. He was always moving, the target he represented shifting. "Good. I believed that punch for once. Do it again."
Shatterstar moved to hit him again. And kept hitting. And hitting. Until he managed to get Kane and continued after, very much acting more out of a sense of needing to protect himself than someone training. Once he had started it was easy to remember Kane was a police officer and held all the power here, could hurt him if he didn't take care of himself.
This is why he didn't like hand to hand. It was so, so easy to dissociate during it, to lose the when and where.
After a bit, Kane held up his hand. "That's enough for now." He had his own observations, but they needed some discussion with people who knew more about Shatterstar than he did. "Now, I'll show you something cool."
He flicked his fingers and the DR interface was suddenly showing animated their fight, but in a wireframe, focusing on the movement of their feet. "See these patterns? Most people think a fight starts with your fists, but it starts with your feet. Take a look. Can you see how my feet move every time I'm ready to throw a punch compared to yours?"
Shatterstar observed the wireframe animation carefully and much to his chagrin, Kane was right. His footwork was off, while Kane's was second nature. He scowled at the wireframe that represented himself. He knew better.
"You have much better habits and keep your balance sturdier."
"I've also got a lot more years and training than you." Kane said. "That's what this is about; transferring that over to you. So I say we end on that revelation." Kane said. "I'll got a couple of drone programs highlighted for you to work on. Next week, we'll see where you're at for lesson two."
"Yes sir," Shatterstar said, ducking head slightly at the reminder that Kane had much, much experience.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-13 07:38 pm (UTC)Liked seeing Garrison's generalized combat experience, not just hand-to-hand, coming out here. I thought he had a nice, easy chemistry with Shatterstar, who clearly came in tense.
Once he had started it was easy to remember Kane was a police officer and held all the power here, could hurt him if he didn't take care of himself.
Ha, Shatterstar said ACAB. Old habits die hard. Poor kid is always judging himself far more harshly than those around him, but when you view your ability to inflict violence as the potential line between life and death I can't say it's not understandable.
no subject
Date: 2024-05-13 11:08 pm (UTC)I really like the character moments you both bring here.