(no subject)

[gluteus]

Who| Maximus and YOU, OPEN for Mingling - All District 3 will be 'Asked' to attend, but everyone else is welcome
What| Come get Combat Training from the Cyborg Gladiator
Where| The Training Center
When| Two days after the Motorcycle Races
Warnings/Notes| Nothing so far! Maybe violence, but nothing with gore since it's just training weapons.

Maximus was a regular in the training center, but today was different. Today he had set up a good portion of the hall exactly as he wanted it - a large training mat (one of the better inventions in the last few millenia),  a large rack of swords, shields, and spears. He couldn't find pilla, but spears would do well enough. The day before, he'd gone around to each of the rooms in district 3 and told them to report to the training center the next day, or face consequences. He also, however, asked Wyatt to attend, and mentioned it to anyone else he thought could use some training.

It didn't really matter who showed up, he would treat them all the same.

It took more than a day to make a soldier, but perhaps at least he could begin to get some of the tributes thinking like one.

Or maybe they would start seeing the benefit of working together.

His Sabertooth Tiger, Ferox, prowled around the edge of the training mat, watching the tributes as if one of them might make a good dinner, and occasionally coming up to rub its large head against Maximus' prosthetic leg.


[OOC note: Each tribute will be greeted, have a rough assessment of their skills taken, and then given a series of instructions for training. Trainees of a similar level will be grouped together, for team activities. Feel free to either tag in for the greeting/assessment, or create an open post for other people to tag you for mutual training.]

Comments

[tis_allgood]

Cuthbert was there, bright and early, as instructed. He was eager to get more structured training in, but his face fell as soon as he saw Wyatt there. This was not the training he had signed up for. But rather than leave like a defeated man, he would stay and prove himself to be stronger and more worthy.

He was avoiding eye contact with either of the men there to train him, though. At least until he felt less like a child about to be punished.

[gluteus]

He'd been hoping that Cuthbert would arrive first, or at the very least, early. He had more than a few words for the boy, and the training center gave him an excuse to put them across a little more physically than was acceptable in the District.

So when Maximus spotted him, his expression turned stony, and he walked straight over to him.

He didn't even wait to talk to him before smacking him upside the head, like he might a rebellious child.

"You will not disrespect Wyatt again; do you understand me?"

[sleeplessinalternia]

Even though Karkat is definitely not one of Maximus' tributes, he still hurries the fuck down as soon as he's finished with the morning meal in the District One common room. Of about all the humans he's met, Maximus is probably the one Karkat would be most willing to fight under. There were some others he'd fight with, of course--Bert especially--but Maximus... Maximus is different. He's a soldier and a general and he saved Karkat's ass from one of those freaky xenomorph things and if he was going to be training people then Karkat was all over that.

So yeah, when he reaches Maximus' corner of the training room the first words out of his mouth are going to be: "Karkat Vantas, reporting for duty, sir."

[gluteus]

Maximus smiles when he sees the troll, stepping over to the boy, his leg squeaking almost imperceptibly under him as he stepped over. (It would need to be oiled.)

"Karkat. I am glad you decided to join us." The smile broadened. "I already have a decent grasp on your abilities, I think, but if you should care to show me anything that you've learned since we fought together--"

[medecin]

Word of mouth, which Joly certainly kept up with was that Venus's gladiator friend, the one that Enjolras had mentioned, was holding a session of sorts today. If there was one thing (there were several, but above all else) that Joly needed to improve upon, it was his fighting technique.

And he was also curious to meet the man himself. So...naturally, here he was, expectant expression on his face as he poked his way inside the Training Center, curious to see if anyone he knew was there.

[gluteus]

Maximus expected tributes he didn't know to arrive, so he wasn't at all surprised to see a face he didn't recognize. He immediately made his way over when he spotted him, giving a short nod.

"Maximus Decimus Meridius, District 3 Mentor. Have you come for training?"

[hit_girl_mindy]

Mindy showed up today, because naturally it was a training session with someone else and she would be here. She'd never met the man before, but he was supposed to be good. She was ready of course: work out shorts, hair tied back in a bun, and she was already looking over the different weapons. Mindy knew other people were showing up, so she figured she would treat them accordingly.

[gluteus]

He knew her. Of course he did. Even if he hadn't watch Wyatt's death - and he had - he would know her from everything that followed. From the win. From her name, her face, everywhere.

It was strange, the disconnect. She was a child - a female child, no less, though he'd known for a long time that gladiators could be either sex - and she did not deserve to be in another arena. So for that, she should be out.

But she had killed the man he cared for most in the world. Had shot him in the back.

The fact that Wyatt returned was balm enough for that wound, but it still made the meeting strange.

He stepped over to her, formal and stuff.

"You are Mindy, if I am not mistaken. Our newest Victor."

[titansnack]

Eren wasn't expecting for his Escort - which was still something he found strange - to pressure him to join this training session. He wasn't even sure who this "Maximus" fellow was. Apparently he was one of the off-world tributes and had been some form of general or...Something. Eren couldn't remember the fine details.

He figured he knew why they would be pressing for him to leave. After managing to go home for the briefest period of time - a time which proved to be more awful then he thought anything could be after the death of his mother - he had been sulking around the District 7 suites and he'd been quieter than normal. They probably thought going and fighting out his emotions would do him some good.

Or something.

Regardless of his Escort's reasons and Eren's lack of desire to go, he shows up at the training session bright and early. Immediately he drifts towards the weapons rack, but his attention is on Ferox. He's never seen anything quite like it before, and anything Maximus is saying is ignored. The man could be talking about how it's necessary for everyone to dress up in ridiculous ballgowns because it will make them take more notice of the space around them and Eren would still be more interested in the tiger.

[gluteus]

"His name is Ferox," Maximus said as he walked over to the boy once he noticed he was paying absolutely no attention.

"It means Fierce. You had best be careful - if he catches you staring at him too long, he'll eat you."

It was probably a joke.

Probably.

[silberfuchs]

Animals don't like Albert. With the exception of some birds they never have, even before he was a cyborg and it hasn't changed since he'd been cloned in a fully flesh and blood body again. He'd originally thought this would be something like what the Akademi had put them through, a physical gamut that he'd have no trouble with, having a military career of his own, but the cat prowling around the edges of their cordoned off area has him on edge and he has to wonder if the beast isn't the lesson instead of general training. Still he refuses to show any sign of fear, just a healthy wariness lest the cat spring at him without warning.

The cat's master he recalls seeing a statue of in the last arena. He'd even tried to pilfer the sword from said statue only to find it was also made of wax and useless, but it at least gave him a name. Maximus. A gladiator, either self-styled or actually pulled from the Colosseum itself, it's hard to tell with the Capitol so overtly Romanesque in its bloodlust, but still someone who's obviously seen his share of combat and who means to teach.

If his training with Jet yesterday was any indication, despite the better part of a century of combat experience, Albert still had more to learn. And that's what he intends to do, standing at strict attention with his pupilless gaze trained on Maximus despite the slitted cat-eyed stare of the beast set on him. "Albert Heinrich, reporting."

[gluteus]

"Maximus Decimus Meridius," He replies, giving a stiff nod to introduce himself. It's disconcerting, the lack of pupils - makes Maximus think of corpses, strewn across the battlefield.

He pushed the thought from his mind.

"You're here for the training," He assumed. He motioned at the racks. "Chose a weapon, show me what you're capable of."

[dividedgirlofmine]

Susannah's not in District Three, but she's a regular enough visitor there, thanks to Eddie, that she manages to hear about Maximus' military exercise. She doubts she'll be able to take part--not in the chair--but she's been meaning to ask Maximus something and this seems as good a time as any.

Which is why she ends up wheeling herself up to him when she thinks there's a lull in the training. "Excuse me? Mr Maximus?" Or would it be Mr Decimus or Mr Meridus? She hadn't done Latin since high school. "I've been wondering if I could ask you a few things about your leg."

If he looks down he'll be able to see the absence of her own--although if they've met before, he'd probably have noticed then. It's the first thing everyone notices.

[gluteus]

He'd seen her before, of course, both here in the Capitol before she slipped into Eddie's room, and on the television screens. He'd never bothered her - her business, romantic or otherwise, was her own - and they'd not really exchanged more than a good morning. He could see the serious set of her jaw, however, the determined gaze.

She was not here to mock him.

It was impossible not to notice the fact that her own legs were gone.

"Maximus," he corrects. Mister is not a word he's really understood. "What would you like to know, Susannah?"

[the_marshal]

Some might have taken offense at the insinuation that they needed training, but Wyatt wasn't one of them. If he'd ever met a more capable man than Maximus Decimus Meridus, Wyatt couldn't think of him. Even back home, if he'd been called to bring Max in for some reason or another, he had to admit he'd have given it some careful consideration.

It'd have been a fight like none other.

Turning up early, in case Max needed some help setting up, he walked over with a small, easy smile.

"Got some orders for me, General?"

[gluteus]

Maximus smiled as soon as he saw him, walking over and giving him a quick squeeze on the arm.

"I thought you could come help me keep the tributes in line," He said, a half smirk on his lips. "I think I will have my hands full."

[dividedgirlofmine]

After talking to Maximus, Susannah ends up wheeling herself over to Wyatt. Despite sharing a district, they'd barely talked, which was really as much her own fault as anybody's. She should probably fix that.

"I saw the final battle," she says. "That was some nice shooting you did."

She didn't quite care for who it had been directed to, of course, but Bert was back and fine, thank the Lord, and she could still admire the man's ability with the gun.

[splendid_roman]

Ian wasn't terribly enthusiastic about coming to the training session. He wasn't planning on doing anything in the arenas, but he couldn't say that, and it wasn't as if he had anything better to do.

So he'd come along, cooperated, and ended up on a mat holding a spear and wondering if it was anything like a dart to throw.

[gluteus]

He didn't have to be enthusiastic about it, he simply had to come, and once he did Maximus set him up. He wandered over when he saw that Ian looked particularly lost, an amused smile coming to his lips.

"I would be on you in seconds, if I saw you looking so lost on the battlefield," He teased lowly.

[polyturtle]

Don was there, as well, in spite of his injury from the motorcycle race. He was there, arm in a brace and bandage, because he wanted to practice. More specifically, he wanted to practice with his good arm, in case his other arm was indisposed of. He'd not exactly been good with it when Sigma and he had fought - not that he expected him and Sigma to fight again - but just in case he lost his arm again through other means, of course.

There was also the fact that he was tired of eating. He had been told his appetite would increase, which he suspected was a result of...whatever chemicals they used to invigorate his metabolism and immune system after his injury. But shell, he was practically inhaling food, and he needed a bit of a break from just wanting to eat the District 9 table. Even now, after eating who knows how many eggs and fruits and drinking more coffee than he thought was even possible in one breakfast sitting, he felt that he was going to be hungry again soon enough.

So he walked in, feeling the weight of the throwing knives once more (he had gotten better, but he wanted to be good at them without his rage fueling it), when he saw Maximus.

"Hey there," he greeted.

[gluteus]

Maximus frowned when he saw the brace, and the bandage.

"You should be in recovery," He said heavily. He didn't know how Donatello got injured - hadn't watched the races to their completion - but he could guess. He'd heard there'd been more than a few wounds.

let me know if this is okay!

[fearisinthemind]

Penny isn't here for the training. She has a day off, and having Avoxes massage her feet and slinking around her office hasn't satisfied her lately, so she's decided to visit the Training Center. That's where all the cameras are, after all. That's where the stupid, simpering public decides to devote their attention.

She sits at the Gamemaker scoring seat, picking away at a bowl of meat and noodles with her fingernails as she watches Maximus set out the mats. Ferox takes interest in her, but she doesn't notice until he makes a noise pleading for a taste of the strip of beef.

"Shut up, beast," Penny says, pulling a piece of meat from her bowl. She dangles it behind the force-field and then drops it, and it lands with a sizzle on the edge of the shield. Ferox snarls at it again, pacing just beyond the invisible field. Penny's eyes light up with a sort of sadistic pleasure as Ferox yelps upon touching the electric barrier when he moves again for the piece of food.

[gluteus]

He'd only seen her once before, and they'd never met. On the television, he'd watched her with Ariadne, before the mentor had been executed. She didn't scare him, exactly - it wasn't fear that he felt - but the hair on the back of his neck raised when he heard Ferox yelp. He immediately came over to soothe the creature.

The fact that he flashed a look of pure hatred up in Penny's direction? More or less a rebellious accident.

"Ignore it, Ferox," He reprimanded the creature quietly as he got him to lay down. "Wait, and you'll have plenty to eat."

[pythianjudgment]

It's not bright and early when Terezi arrives, but she arrives just the same. Her attendance isn't driven by the threat of consequences so much as her curiosity to know what Maximus is up to. It's weird to have someone prompting her to train, instead of just doing it herself.

She makes sure to give an audible click of her heels when she halts a few feet away, a smug grin on her face. "Is this some kind of shitty boot camp? Where are the lock-boxes for the delinquents? I want to write my name on mine so I don't have to share."

[gluteus]

The slang was difficult to parse but somehow he managed it, looking mildly amused but also a little bit hounded as he turns to see her.

"I'm sure all of the delinquents I have trained would massively prefer to be locked in a box," He said, delivering it perfectly flatly despite the fact that it was a joke. Probably. "Unfortunately for them, their punishment is simply more time to train."

[saisamour]

Maximus had offered training, so it was only natural that Marius would take excruciating pains to arrive on-time. There always had been something about this particular mentor that commanded his respect, in addition to walking Cosette down the aisle, and Marius wanted so very much to please him.

So Marius rushed to the training centre determined to putting his best efforts into whatever was planned for that training session. Unfortunately, once close to the mattress, the moment his eyes landed on Ferox he jumped, visibly and shamefully. He then yelped and staggered back, which only caused his heel to catch on the edge of the mattress and send him tripping backwards, hands flailing comically at his sides.

[gluteus]

He heard the yelp first, turning just in time to catch sight of Marius flailing backwards, Ferox growling at the boy. Maximus let out a sigh and walked over.

"He will not hurt you. He's had his fill of man meat for the morning," He said, unable to help the slight tease. "If you cannot face a docile creature such as him, how will you fare against the beasts in the arena?"

[shinyisfalse]

Honestly, the tiger was a pretty good deterrent. Peeta remembered that tiger at the crowning, and how it roared as it-- okay, the tiger was intimidating. And he'd never seen one before, which was unfortunate, because in any other situation, he would have loved to see one.

It wasn't just the tiger. Maximus made a very imposing figure, but if Peeta had any hope of staying alive if he was ever thrown into another arena (and protect Katniss by actually fighting, not dying), then he needed help. Especially from someone who also knew the difficulties of having a false leg where once there was a real one.

"Are you just training tributes today, or can anyone join in?" Peeta asked with a smile.

[gluteus]

Hey may never have met, but it was impossible not to know who Peeta was, or at least have a vague sense of it. So when the man walked over, Maximus gave him a genuine smile, from one Mentor to the other.

"It is open, to those who wish to take part," he said. "For you, or your tributes."

[retrieverchef]

Eliot reported to the training center relatively early despite how late he'd gotten back last night. "So what's your plan?" he asked, watching the tiger warily as he spoke.

[gluteus]

"Training. I'll be testing each of you on your current abilities, and then giving a training regimen."

Behind him, Ferox swished its tail, watching Eliot through narrowed eyes.

"I mean to make all of you as competent with a blade as possible."