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Inside
Demontec listens quietly as people finish their introductions, many advertising their leadership abilities. He couldn't say it really surprised him. He checks the time on his bracer's display.
" I s'pose I'm capable of leading. I've done it before. I prefer not to though, so I'll leave you all to formulate a clue. I'll be out back. "
He gives Karou a nod in passing.
" Good to see you well, Karou. "
Out back
Demontec wanders around the yard behind the Dojo, studying the ranges and other training aids around the yard. After a bit of exploration he just leans against the back wall of the dojo, looking at the sky. It's not hard to see he is deep in his own thoughts as he looks up at the sky.
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Sophia
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Member #2232
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Posts: 219
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Sophia returns and heads out back and after setting her stuff down she koes to an open area to preform kata. her eyes are closed as she first goes through the basics of each kata for each style she knows before stepping it up mixing moves. At first only a few here and there but more as she goes on till her style seems utter chaos. She has it seems blocked out everything but herself, but in truth she is acutly aware of her suroundings, feeling their presance and moving to the underlying chaotic beat of life that surounds her.
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Out back
Demontec notes Sophia's presence as she enters the area, but doesn't move to acknowledge her. He just continues to watch the sky for a bit longer. His eyes do drift to Sophia eventually as she starts her kata. He watches her closely after a bit trying to find a pattern to her movements, and smirks to himself as he observes her movements becoming more and more random. He ponders momentarily of sparring with her, but he has always been a little leery of skunks. He is too well aware of their ability to sour the air supply of an area. It was a stupid old habit to keep a respectalbe distance from Skunks and he knew it, but it was a well ingrained habit. He's not about to approach her, settling just to watch.
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Indiana teen, life in a rut
Stuck working at the Pizza Hut
A guy walks in, looks military
With strange proposal, a little scary
"Kid, this here's a robot eye."
"Need a volunteer, now don't be shy."
Five-thousand dollars closed the deal
Replaced one eye with glass and steel
The teen shrugged, "Eh, you'd never know."
"Behind my shades it'll never show."
With psionics, bracer and energy blade
Our boy's outgrown the fast food trade
What will he do now as a man?
Demontec awaits a plan
OMG! Wow, Thankyou everyone! It's Incredible!
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Sophia
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Member #2232
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Posts: 219
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Sophia stops after a bit panting slightly and smiling. "That felt good." she says more to herself than anything. She turns and nods to Demontec. "Havn't seen you before, you new here?"
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Out Back with Sophia
Demontec smiles and nods to Sophia. He straightens and offers her a hand.
" That's right. Name's Demontec. That's an interesting set of moves you got. "
His smiles tilts into a smirk.
" Bet you'd be tough in a fight. What are you here to improve upon? "
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Sophia
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Member #2232
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Posts: 219
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Takes the hand in an iron firm grip. "There is a few styles that I do not know that Sensai does. Though he probly knows it not I'm hear mostly to heal... I am phiscly whole , Ye though I am not wholy so in the depths of my mind heart and soul. The reason I think be in the fact I can remember little of my past. I awoke in this place you call the dream with almost no memory of who I am.... It is my hope that through the disaplin needed in martal arts training will help awaken those memories I have lost." She smiles at the commebnt about her fighting style. "Yes well it is not compleatly unpredictable, but nearly so, took me the better part of a century to get it that way.... that much i remember but I do not remember who trained me or where... Strange is it not?"
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Karou follows Demontec and witnesses the Kata being performed, smiling, though also keeping an eye open for the other students.. especially Sesame.
After the introductions to Demontec are made he murmurs, "Interesting techniques there." His expression showing that he means his words.
He speaks to all those who can hear him, "While I came here to learn, I can also teach those who wish to learn the fighting styles I have learned."
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Karou's Live Journal^Karou's Descriptions (Semi-updated)^GG Profile^DeviantArt Gallery
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Sesame's half-lidded eyes narrow even further as she notes Demontec showing prior knowledge of Karou, as well as giving Sophia's kata more admiration than it deserved. Karou's style, however... Sesame's smile was more open to him. "Good students care for each other. I would enjoy learning a great deal from you, Sir Karou."
The discerning listener would wonder whether Sesame meant that Karou had much to teach, or that Sesame would find the lessons very enjoyable. As always, Sesame had not elaborated.
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Karou smiles at Sesame and offers her his hand, "I'm sure we have much to learn from each other, miss." He then looks around, "Might there be a room we can go to to discuss what might be learned first? I do do better with just one student at a time."
His muzzle splits into a soft grin, "And some folks might get distracted seeing you working out, at least as you're attired now." He smiles appreciatively at her young features, "Though, I do think that you'll like some of the styles I know more'n others."
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Karou's Live Journal^Karou's Descriptions (Semi-updated)^GG Profile^DeviantArt Gallery
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Sesame gave Karou a certain cat look. All cat owners know the one. It suggested sly amusement, deep understanding, grave concern, and complete amazement, all at the same time. Accordingly, her answer had four different meanings: "But of course. Your leave, Master Porter?"
And Sesame walked away, swaying her hips slightly. Eventually, Sesame lead them outside, to the archery range, out of sight of Sophia and Demontec. There was enough open space for some maneuvering, but the walls were not too far away. Sesame watched Karou carefully for the next cue, ready to sit, stand, or fight, as Karou desired.
OOC: If I am mistaken in any aspect of my post, do not hesitate to correct me.
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Karou smiles as he follows Sesame out into the arcery area, then gestures for her to take a seat, "What might you want to know first, young lady?" He takes a seat himself, arranging his limbs comfortably.
He does smile at her cat-like nature, his own vulpine nature quite evident as he swishes his tails mischieviously..
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OOC: Demontec and Sophia are already outside. Read location tags much? 
Out back
Demontec returns the firm handshake.
" I've never concerned myself much with the past. My past would be better off forgotten. "
His confident smirk fades a bit as he mentions his feelings about his own past. It returns again as he continues, giving a nod to Karou and Sesame as they join them.
" If I can be of assistance in your quest though, you need only ask. "
He then smirks at Karou.
" Maybe you could find time to teach me some new tricks. "
As Sesame leads Karou off to one side of the yard, Demontec bows slightly to Sophia and steps out to another side of the yard. He undoes the snaps securing his swords in their holster. Once a repectable distance from everyone he stops and stands for a moment, taking his shades off and clipping them on a pocket. He takes a deep breath as his glowing red left eye looks at the ground while his natural eye closes. After a moment he extends his arms out. His swords launch out of their holters, seemingly on their own, finding their way to his hands. The guards on each slide open and bright yellow light blasts out, forming into blades. The two swords Demontec mentioned earlier are now clearly visible.
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Sesame sat so that Karou's back was to Demontec, and Sesame could watch both by simply looking directly over his shoulder. One of her ears twitched slightly as she caught sight of Demontec's swords. So, that's where they were. Easily enough neutralized.
Smiling slightly, Sesame brought her attention back to Karou, though without visible pupils, there would be no way for Karou to tell when she would divert her attention again. "Please, simply Sesame will do. I am interested in everything about you, Sir Karou. Your past, where you may yet improve, your kungfu, your Magic... But for now, why not start with your kungfu? It would be most beneficial if you told me both the strengths and weaknesses of the individual techniques, as well as the style as a whole. I will watch, in my own way. Would you mind very much if I asked you to remove your clothes? " Sesame gestured slightly, a light fog enveloped Karou's body from head to toe, and Sesame waited for you to begin.
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Sesame by Jorick Soriano.
I find myself lost. The cold sea slowly swallowing me,
With hope in the form of water wings.
Ultimately I surrender, Drifting into her embrace,
The only sound my heart's final ring.
Oh mercurial sea, May my rest be into thee,
Where all things are created, Let me be undone,
And lay me to rest within the Earth's womb.
Lay me to rest in the salty tomb.
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Sophia
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Member #2232
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Posts: 219
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Irnoring Sesame and Karou, she watches Demontec and thinks to herself...'Yes if he can help I should make use of him, and those swords... something familure about them...' threre is a breaf flash of memory as her attention snaps down to her bags. She drops down to sit and starts working on a celinder like device.
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Out back
Demontec doesn't seem to notice the eyes on him. He holds the swords out, motionless for a moment, before bursting into motion. The swords weave in and out of eachothers' way, carving circles and figure eights in the air around Demontec. The style he is using currently looks like something a swordsman would use just for showing off for judges, but the nature of his weapons make the spinning of his blades very dangerous. The energy blades could go right through a limb without even slowing down. For observers it would be quite a light show.
After a while of this, Demontec stops spinning the blades, stopping in a stance with one sword raised above his head and the other held pointing straight out. He then continues with more standard sword moves, chaining together thrusts and slashes aggressively. He's had something on his mind and is obviously venting on some imaginary opponant.
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Dojo entrance
Sensi Porter stands quietly, with his eyes closed, as the various egos flare and ebb and as each of the new students strives to show the others how capable she, or he, could be. Some, it is true, are willing to simply place their skills at the disposal of the team, however he might see fit. Others, however...
For several long minutes he stands there, apparently ignoring all those around him. Then he walks quietly over to the edge of the stream, and kneels beside it, gazing into the depths of the water, watching the koi swim in the stream, and the cherry blossoms floating on the surface.
Ten minutes pass.
Twenty minutes...
Half an hour later, he smiles, briefly. Then he reaches out to a cylindrical bronze bell, some three feet in length and ten inches or so in diameter, and, taking the mallet that hangs from the bell's support post, he rings the bell one time. Then he places his paws on his lap, closes his eyes, and waits with a calm expression, for someone to approach him.
To the first person who speaks to him, he asks "How many heads has a Lion, and why?".
To the second person who speaks to him, he asks "How does one defeat a Hydra?"
To the third person who speaks to him, he asks "What is the meaning of the bell?"
He waits until three people have spoken to him, and given their answers, before he opens his eyes and replies...
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My Art Studio - My DeviantArt Gallery - My VCL Gallery
My LiveJournal - My MZDM PA Card - RP Medal from The Rescue
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Sesame Oil holds up a hand halting whatever Karou was about to do when the bell sounds, though she had been keeping a Magical eye on Porter from the stream for most of this time. What was he meditating about? When no forthcoming announcement was made, Sesame walked towards Porter, concerned. The fog surrounding Karou had long since dropped away.
Koans. It had to be koans. Sesame didn't let the realization bother her, for koans were meant to enlighten, whether directly or indirectly, not something to get into a fuss about. Nevertheless, Sesame stayed back, waiting until she had heard all three (and possibly the answers of those that had been questioned,) before also sitting nearby, and considering what her answers would be. When she had them, she spoke the answer to 'her' koan aloud, and sent her answers for the other two towards Porter's mind, and waited.
"How many heads has a Lion, and why? Hm... I shall give a practical answer: Count the skulls lying upon the floor of his lair, and then add one more, for either the lion's, or your own."
Sesame made no indications, gestures, or otherwise to Myra, Demontec, or Karou. They had to answer on their own, or decide whether to approach at all.
OOC: PM for you, Porter!
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Sophia
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Member #2232
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Posts: 219
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Sophia hears the bell and calmly puts away her project and goes to where porter is. Apon hearing Porter ask her how one might kill a hydra. she simple states. "One must strike at it's heart, for if you remove one head two more spring up in it's place, only by removing the heart of the beast can you kill it. The same can be said for most criminal organizations as well. Since her current outfit is sleevless one can notice a sleeve tatoo done in red ink (thereby causing the fur to become red due to a pigment change) of a tiger done in a traditional yakuza style.
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Taross had retreated a bit, settling down in the dojo for her own contemplation after everybody started to to their own way. Because of this, she's one of the latter people to appear and check what's going on when the bell is rang... and of such is asked the final of the three questions.
She remains silent a moment after that, looking at the cylindrical bell and then at the people already gathered.
"I'd say, in itself none. The bell was used as a tool to create a signal. The signal on the other hand, as small and simple as it may be, managed a rather big result."
She indicates the other two people who got there before her...
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Sesame nods fractionally in slight acknowledgement as Sophia and Taross approach and give their answers. Their answers, she thought, were quite telling. As well as those who did not choose to approach. Sesame scanned the faces of the others, watching for their reactions.
OOC: Editted my previous post to give Sesame's answer aloud, as it seems that everyone agrees that Sesame was the first to arrive. My apologies for the misunderstandings.
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Beside the pond
As Sesame approaches, Porter does not open his eyes, yet he seems to know she is there even before she speaks. Likewise, as Sophia and Taross arrive, they are greeted with the questions before they truly even identified themselves. Once all three answers are given, Porter opens his eyes, looking again into the pool.
"An interesting answer, Sesame. One which speaks of a bold spirit, seeking adventure and excitement. For you see yourself as approaching the lion in his den, and there being a decisive battle between you. Yet I did not mention where the lion was, nor that you must encounter him. It is not the answer that I sought."
"A Lion has but one head, and is the master of all he surveys. Had he many heads, he would not know which way to turn, and his attacks and defenses would fail. A lion with many heads may seem fierce, but would be more easily defeated by a determined foe, for it works against itself. Think to our current situation, and consider the group of us here as said lion. We must work together, to be of one mind and spirit, if we are to succeed. If people let their egos get in the way, if they each try to implement their own plan of action and do not act with a unified spirit, we will fail."
He turns and faces Sophia.
"Sophia, yours is a practical answer, and you saw the analogy to a criminal organization clearly. I believe I know the source of your insight, but your past is of no consequence to me. Only your current and future actions matter. You have almost the answer that I sought, but not quite."
"The hydra has many dangerous heads, and as stated, if you cut one off, two merely grow back in it's place. In classical mythology, a great hero did slay a hydra by engaging but one head at a time, and burning the severed neck, that it might not grow back. That is how a police department often tries to fight a criminal organization. They try to take out a head, and to win decisively enough that the head they kill can not grow back. But such tactics take much time, and while you fight one head, the others grow, and the hydra's body, the gang leadership, grows ever more powerful."
"The weakness of the Hydra is indeed its heart. But to strike at the heart, one must get past the heads. Ignore the heads, and the beast will devour you. Concentrate on one head, and you may make it even more fierce, and the other heads may yet kill you."
"To slay a hydra, you must first confuse the heads. Get them working at cross purposes to one another. Distract them. Cause them to fight one another. Then you may safely strike at the heart."
"When one fights a street gang, you see only the heads of the hydra. Remove a leader at that level, and more grow back in their place, even more determined to oppose you. We must identify the heads, and learn their weaknesses. We must follow the heads back to the body of the beast, and learn where the heart lies. Then we must confuse the heads, get them to work against each other, so we may strike at the heart."
He stands and starts walking to the dojo. He stops as he gets to Taross.
"You are correct. The bell itself has no meaning, other than to get the attention of the group, and to see who would respond. The signal it sends is merely that it is time for dinner. Please summon the others. Let us go to the dojo, and we shall eat."
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My Art Studio - My DeviantArt Gallery - My VCL Gallery
My LiveJournal - My MZDM PA Card - RP Medal from The Rescue
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Sesame stiffened slightly in disappointment when she had guessed wrong. She didn't think that Porter would make this an objective lesson. Nevertheless, she could not let this pass, for her answer had meaning to her. Sending another mental message, she explained. "You judge me wrongly, Sensei Porter. I do not seek adventure and excitement, only peace. The lion that I must and will face, has many skulls in her lair, and will doubtless collect even more in her tutelage under a dragon. I do not know when, I do not know where, but we will battle. And I intend to win."
Sesame turned, and went inside the dojo.
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Demontec hears the bell as it is rung and stops his movements, acctually pausing in mid slash and in mid air. He hovers for a moment, motionless as he glances in the direction of the bell. He then drops to the ground silently, only the hum of the twin swords can be heard coming from him. Demontec holds the swords out for a second before dropping them. The swords deactivate as they are released, falling only slighty before finding their way to their place at his back.
He doesn't say anything as he stands straight. Dem gives each question some thought. He will await Porter's response to those that jumped to answer. The answers he heard seemed reasonable enough, but Porter was trying to make a point. That was quite obvious.
The lion only needs one head, one mind with basic objectives; to pick a target of opportunity amoung a herd, stalk it, and bring it down. Right now we are a bunch of solo acts, all chasing the same prey. We only succeeded by completely overwelming the poor fools. A more organised attack may prove more effective against us. Hmmm...... I don't really get the hydra, or the bell.
He doesn't seem to react much to Porter's explaination, more thinking to himself in an 'of course' manner. He should have picked up on those. The dinner bell bit does get a smirk out of Dem and a small comment.
" I could eat. What's on the menu? "
Still his mind is working a mile a second about what Porter said, as Dem follows the others inside.
Porter's on the money. We need to get it together and not just to stay out of each others' way. We need to work like a single entity, each playing off of everyones' strengths and covering eachothers' weaknesses. It's not something that will happen overnight, but it is possible if everyone is willing to turn down the ego level.
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Karou comes up behind Sesame and puts his hands on her waist, "There is much anger in your voice, perhaps in listening to what I have been through, you can see a better path to dealing with that which caused the anger." He perks an ear at the mention of food and, hands still on Sesame's waist, murmurs, "Shall we eat, so that we may both learn from each other without fear that our stomachs will growl at the wrong moment?"
If Sesame says yes, he will guide her to the dining area, seating her at the table and murmuring, "What might the young lady wish to eat?" Being a gallant and handsome gentleman the whole time.
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Sophia
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Member #2232
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Posts: 219
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After Porter coments on her answer she bows low, ""You are most wise Sensai." she sits and waits for porters reply to Karus answer and when Porter heads in She follows. "Sensai, If you would... Could you tell me your openion of the other students... If I must work with them I must know more about them." She pauses a moment. "I know i'll have to learn of them from them but anything you could tell me would help. I can't help but feel sorry for Sesame though, there is so much anger within that one..."
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