text | j.barnes | warden filter

[counterstep]

we're getting a lot more inmates lately, now with some of us getting double bookings. seems like a really good time to start combat training/review. not sure who all has had even basic training, but i'd like to share what i know since fighting is one of the things i do best, and even on a simple level, self defense would be good. to avoid what happened with mr velvet. before he left us.

anyway, i've found and prepped a room down the hall from the pool. last door on the right. matted floors and walls. MWF at 8pm for an hour or so, based on the ship clock. we'll start with hand-to-hand and shift to simple weapons later on. if you've never fought before and aren't interested, i can separately prepare a defense-only regimen, but i'd have to know beforehand, so let me know.

best to wear your regular clothing too. yes, it's physical activity, and you'll definitely break a sweat, but i doubt the inmates are going to wait for you before attacking if they get the chance.


oh and if you're already familiar with fighting, then i could use a good sparring partner (or two). reading is fine, but i need my exercise.

Comments

> private to james

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Real answers are tough. So, he'll get her sliding into his DMs.]

I've lost count of the the number of times I've been held with a knife to my neck or a gun to my head. I can't imagine ever being strong enough or skilled enough to protect myself if an inmate really wanted to hurt me.

> private

[counterstep]

self-defense isn't a fight of strength
it's about using your opponents strength against them

[nineteenfortyfive]

And if I'm terrible at it?

[counterstep]

it's your decision to make
i'm not in the business of making people do anything
that's not who i am anymore

if you don't want, then don't
i'd just prefer you were honest about it with me instead of making excuses
i thought we were beyond that

( apparently not. )

[nineteenfortyfive]

It's just not something I'm accustomed to, James. I'm used to having my husband, my son, my nephew. And if not one of them, a massive wolf-dog at my feet when they're away. I'm not good at physical endeavors.

But if you think I can do it, I'm willing to try.

[counterstep]

let me reframe this for a sec

don't you still help your family do other things?
cooking, cleaning, darning, all the usual homemaking suspects
you're a homesteader too
what about the animals? crops?

do you stop bothering with a task just to find one of them if it starts feeling too difficult, or do you push through it until there's no other option but to ask for help?

[nineteenfortyfive]

The latter. For better or for worse. [Why is everyone calling her out today...]

[counterstep]

people like to look at fighting different cause there's usually someone out there better at it
but it's a functional tool or process like anything else in life

it's taxing though yes
i don't expect most people want others seeing them sweating up a storm
or doing something they think is foolish or embarrassing in front of other people
wouldn't that happen anyway though, if we're all under threat?

[nineteenfortyfive]

I tend to look foolish either being kidnapped or attacked. Suppose I might as well look foolish learning something.

Maybe I'll end up rescuing you one day instead of it being the other way around.

[counterstep]

that's the thing
you never really know
that could very well happen, but only if you decided to learn how to

we're all supposed to have each others backs here
if no one wants to look weak in front of each other, i get it
i'll figure something else out
but that doesn't change that all of us have weaknesses
just because they aren't obvious doesn't mean they aren't there

and frankly anyone who says otherwise is lying
none of us would be here otherwise

[nineteenfortyfive]

What's your weakness, James?

[counterstep]

wow not even a warmup?

[nineteenfortyfive]

Sorry. We're friends.

[counterstep]

said a lot like you didn't give me a really lame excuse to avoid telling me the truth just now

[nineteenfortyfive]

I told you the truth. It's scary. Daunting. But I do trust you, James. I trust you most, here.

[counterstep]

( mutual. dangerous. too close.

unavoidable. )

i've told you already
technically

[nineteenfortyfive]

Technically?

[counterstep]

i already told you even though you didn't ask

[nineteenfortyfive]

Am I supposed to guess as to what you see as a weakness, then?

But I appreciate the trust.

[counterstep]

you honestly could

identity

[nineteenfortyfive]

I'll make sure no one preys upon that weakness if you make sure no one preys upon mine.

[counterstep]

sounds like a threat

yours is harder to keep people from guessing though
because it's still common in the time period i arrived from

anyway
you don't have to learn from me if it makes you uncomfortable
you'll only do well if you really want to learn it anyway

[nineteenfortyfive]

Maybe it is.

James Barnes, you've gotten me to say this much. We'll give it a go.

[counterstep]

brutal

with a group or one-on-one?

[nineteenfortyfive]

One on one Let's build my confidence some, first. If you don't mind.