[Open]

[itwasrhetorical]

WHO: Glinda and OPEN
WHAT: Last minute training to try to teach herself some survival skills.
WHERE: Training level
WHEN: Today. Morning through to night.
WARNINGS/NOTES: Feel free to encounter her anywhere around the stations, just let me know.

Glinda had no intentions of leaving the training room without a literal fight. And seeing as real fighting wasn't particularly permitted it seemed that nobody was going to force her.

She'd had a nice enough time in the Capitol so far but the looming doom of another Arena - apparently the cruel things were frequent - left her feeling anxious and terrified. Enough so that she was waking with a start at night in cold sweats. She couldn't put it off any longer. If her magic wasn't going to be forthcoming despite her frequent attempts to schmooze the best of the Capitol's elite then she would jut have to learn how to defend herself with her own two hands.

Glinda made careful note to visit as many stations and get experience handling as many weapons as possible although the longstaff was most definitely her favourite weapon. It was the only one that she knew how to hold and twirl with ease.

Comments

[big_badass_hero]

Chris leaned back against the wall watching the woman. The staff was different from how he was used to weapons, though he was still missing his Samurai Edge. Though shorter batons were easy, he remembered training with those in basic and had a pair that he had been toying with. Wasn't as good as a knife, but would work in a pinch.

"Here, you keep that footing anyone who can get close enough is going to trip you up." Helping someone who was to be an enemy? Of course. Besides the woman looked like she could use some pointers. "Hand to hand's not my forte, but I've been in my fair share of bar fights if you want me to show you a few things."

[itwasrhetorical]

The witch had been unaware of her audience and turned en pointe to blink at him before looking down at her feet. A flush of embarrassment came over her when she realised he must have been watching her then. He must have thought her ridiculous. "Oh. I hadn't realised." She frowned down at her stance. She had tripped last time and that had been her downfall. Perhaps she needed to get quicker on her feet.

"I'm still not used to--" She gestured at jabbing at someone with her staff. "Help would be apprecified."

[big_badass_hero]

Chris couldn't help but laugh a little. It wasn't often he could get the drop on anyone. He held out his hands though to show he wasn't going to be a threat.

"I kind of figured. Here, you hold it this way and you have better control." He moved closer to show her. "That is if you don't mind me touching you. Ah promise I'll behave." He flashed her a smile hoping to put her at ease a little more.

[itwasrhetorical]

The Emerald City guard had taught her bits and pieces and she'd often spent long nights twirling her staff when waiting for the Wizard to finish his speeches so she could appear and smile and wave like she was supposed to. But it wouldn't hurt to be helped a little more.

Glinda amended her grip. "That's fine. I promise not to hit you." Not unless he got a little too friendly. Somehow she doubted that though.

[big_badass_hero]

Chris nodded. "Well shouldn't promise that, I'm going to ask you to in an a moment. But only so you can practice."

Once he had her hands on the staff right he stepped back. "You should have better control that way." He drew the two batons he had. Now with foot work, you want to make sure the staff goes further than your foot, harder for someone to get in and knock you down."

[buildingreality]

Ariadne wasn't sure that she was actually supposed to be down in the training centre any more now that she'd won, but she didn't think anyone would even notice. Not when she had her hair pulled back into a ponytail and she made a point of dressing like one of the Tributes. She didn't trust that she wouldn't need some skills in the future anyway, even if it all still felt like an insane dream levels upon levels deep (enough that she could only be asleep for five minutes, only to have years pass down below).

She found herself at the archery station, practicing her aim with relative ease. At this point, she didn't have much trouble steadying herself enough to nearly hit the target any time she tried. It was the same as a gun, not that she'd handled many of those. Of course, the trouble with this was that she would need the equipment; she briefly pondered moving over to the knives station, and let loose another arrow. For now, this calmed her.

[itwasrhetorical]

Glinda forced herself to make the rounds on the weapons stations though she could have happily of sat at the fire making station all day. It was warm and comforting. By the time she had made her way toward the archery station her hair was going limp in it's french plait and she was aching all over.

She paused to allow the girl already at the station the time to let her arrow loose before approaching it and attempting to familiarise herself with the longbow. It was doubtful she would choose such a weapon with it's violence and the requirement of fair strength in the arms, but it was good to learn how to use it if only so that she knew how to if she managed to get a hold of one of them.

"I hope I'm not distracting." She quietly commented.

[buildingreality]

"Not at all," she replied without hesitation, glancing over before nocking another arrow and holding off on actually loosing it. She recognised the Tribute, there was no doubt about that - one of the girls who didn't really have any idea what she was doing. She was pretty, but pretty didn't get you very far.

Part of Ariadne was pleased to see the other woman down there in the Training Centre.

"Did you need help?"

[itwasrhetorical]

"Oh."

The witch flushed pink. She hadn't realised her inexperience was quite that noticeable. "I've never used this before." She informed the other, though she could figure out easily enough that the arrow went on the string and you pulled the string back and it moved from there.

[buildingreality]

"I haven't used them much. I never got ahold of one in the Arena; just down here," she mused, frowning a little down at it before holding it up for Glinda to follow. She wouldn't profess to be a master at it, but it certainly felt right in her hands. What little help she could offer probably wouldn't hurt, at any rate.

"You hold it like this," Ariadne began, demonstrating.

[the_marshal]

Over the knife-throwing station there came a steady, rythmetic thunk. Like a hollow sort of heartbeat.

It went on for a few moments, then, suddenly, stopped.

His knives gone, Wyatt stepped off the line to retrieve the lot from the dummy across the way. He paused briefly before the target, studying his placement.

They wouldn't all be immediately fatal, and hitting a moving target was certainly more difficult, but it wasn't bad.

It'd give an attacker pause, that was for sure.

[itwasrhetorical]

The noise had caught Glinda's attention enough for her to look up and try to locate it. The sound had reminded her of the ticktock of the Time Dragon clock enough to make her think she was having a delusion. The witch pursed her lips when she realised who had been making that noise. It was the man who's snapped her out of her panic when the games had started and not taken advantage of her terrified state.

Leaving the poisonous plants identification station she made her way over to the knife-throwing, pausing and holding back as he observed the dummy. "Mister Wyatt, I believe." Glinda announced her presence.

[the_marshal]

This close to a new arena, tributes didn't often approach each other during training. Each of them to their own thoughts, preparing for what they were all about to face....

So Wyatt was a little surprised to hear his name - even more so when he turned and realized who'd said it.

The blonde from the arena - the, politician, as she'd said.

"Ma'am." He reached up and tipped his hat politely. "You believe correctly."

[itwasrhetorical]

Glinda inclined her head. Apparently curtseying wasn't of the fashion in this place.

"I also believe I have thanks to give to you." She commented, keep her back straight and her chin up. The witch didn't care for this uncomfortable atmosphere. Such dark days required bright light to keep it at bay. "For acting with such integrity and chivalry toward myself."

[the_marshal]

He blinked in surprise and color seeped up from beneath his open collar.

"No thanks necessary, Miss. Just doin' my-" he caught himself, and cleared his throat before trying again. "...Just doin' what's right. We've all been there."

And he remembered how it felt when someone struck first, rather than offering a helpin' hand.

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Even with her newfound drive, something in Momoko balked at physical training, especially the musclebuilding exercises recommended for her. She shuddered at the mental image of herself bulked up like some bodybuilder, and so put off weapons and fight training in favor of survival training.

She picked knot tying and snares to start out in with the vague thought that they were somewhat similar to embroidery. This was not in fact true, but it was enough to keep her absorbed and feeling productive, so she stuck with it, staking out her own little corner in the traps station of the building.

[itwasrhetorical]

After being shooed away from the archery station to allow another tribute to have a turn Glinda made her way over to the traps station. The fact they weren't told about what the arena was going to be like left her feeling nervous. Last time she had panicked and bolted, leaving her hungry and weak.

She spoke with one of the trainers about what to do for a moment before sitting herself down and getting on with it. The witch struggled with her dress for a moment - she still point blank refused to wear trousers - before she managed to tuck it neatly around herself. The knots were soon tangled around her fingers and Glinda found herself struggling and bored.

She settled instead for peering at the other young woman at the station. "Good afternoon." She politely announced herself, smiling softly.

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Momoko jumped slightly, startled. She'd allowed herself to become absorbed into the work, as though she was safely back home in her bedroom, Ichigo's jacket in her hands. She blinked and looked over at the woman, opening her mouth to reply to the greeting automatically before her eyes fell on her hands and the tangle of knots.

Her eyebrows and mouth both twitched in amusement, which colored her voice as she said, "Good afternoon."

[itwasrhetorical]

Glinda smiled with some difficulty. She always had been much too prideful for her own good.

"I don't supposeicate that you're good at this are you?" She questioned, holding up her mess of knots. "I could certainly use some assitifactions."

[cowardfacinghappiness]

Her first instinct is to, politely, brush the woman off, but considering where she is it's never a good idea to anger a potential ally for no reason. And maybe there's a little of her discussion with Ariadne sinking in--it's not a terrible thing to help someone if it doesn't help you.

After a brief hesitation, she moved closer, holding a hand out for the tangle. "I am good with knots," she said, already trying to figure out just where the woman went wrong. "It's actually easier like this, I'm used to thread, not rope."

[futilecycle]

During training sessions, Sigma preferred to observe. This way the newcomer had come to learn the faces of a few of his opponents, though they had never exchanged a word. But despite this being his first (and what he assumed would be his last) round in the Games, he had yet to train with a single weapon. The less the others caught on about his abilities, the better - he hoped overconfidence would be their downfall. And so playing the part of the frail old man, Sigma slouched against the wall. He pretended to catch his breath as he looked around the room, getting an idea of what, or who, he might find in the Arena.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow as he watched a young woman work with her staff. She seemed to be managing fine, though it was a shame to think that in a matter of days, twentysome of them with her included would be at eachother's backs. Would she be ready? Without making an effort to conceal his interest, he folded his arms and watched, making it look as though he were learning something.

[itwasrhetorical]

Glinda was aware that she was being watched. It came from a lifetime of being in the public spotlight to know when another's eyes were on her.

She was showing herself to be too competent, a little too eager to learn, she was making herself a target despite her low score. It didn't take much to rectify however as she let her staff fly from her hands, clattering on the floor and rolling away from her, flushing red the witch chased after it. The titters behind her would only serve to aid her cause.

Glinda snatched up the staff once it finally came to a stop, glancing about and finally caught a look at the man watching her. She stood stock still as if embarrassed at being caught.

[futilecycle]

Sigma frowned as the staff hit the floor. He thought to lower his eyes to spare her dignity, but knew he wouldn't be fooling anyone. As she stiffened, he rose from his spot slowly and in a way that he hoped looked painful.

"Am I bothering you?" he asks gruffly, meeting her eyes. The light behind his cybernetic eye focused on her uncannily. He gestures to her staff in what he hoped was an encouraging fashion.

"Go on. You were doing well."

[itwasrhetorical]

Glinda mutely shook her head, twisting the staff in her hands before seemingly forcing herself to play. Goodness, she had forgotten how easy it was to sink back into the role of the painfully shy ingenue. Much too easy.

"N-No, you aren't bothering me." She answered quietly. The eye fascinated her enough to prompt her to glance at it curiously. He looked like a ticktock man. But he was far too normal looking other wise. Glinda sighed. "I think I have made quite enough of a fool of myself today." She admitted.

[futilecycle]

Taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor, Sigma softens considerably, having fallen for her act. The old man gives a shrug, trying to seem less intimidating than before. Her glance at his eye didn't go unnoticed.

"Nonsense. What will you do, go back to your quarters after only one failure? Now isn't the time to give up." Odd, she really had been doing well until now.