Gym, Thursday Afternoon

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip grunted as he counted off the last push-up. Vernoica was supposed to be coming by soon. Unless he was getting the time wrong. He couldn't quite remember.

Maybe he should invest in some post-it notes.

_{[[The mercenary's here for Veronica, but anyone can use the gym for their work out needs.]]}

Comments

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

For now, follow me," Pip said, walking over to the mat.

Veronica followed him with a mischevious grin on her face.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Alright. We're not going to work on hitting you just yet, but we're going to work on something pretty important if you're going to learn any form of grappling. The breakfall."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"That sounds painful," she said skeptically.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Well, theoretically the idea is to not cause pain. Breakfall is about learning to fall without hurting yourself. Watch."

Pip fell to the mat, slapping his arms at his sides at the moment of impact. "Try to reduce the fall as much as you can, ya know, bend your knees into it, relax your muscles, and break the fall by slapping the ground."

He leapt to his feet. "Try it."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica tried to follow Pip's instructions, but couldn't resist the urge to try to catch herself instead of just letting herself fall.

She sat on the floor, rubbing her wrist.

"I think I know why they say drunks and babies don't get hurt when they fall."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Because they don't try to catch themselves? Makes sense. Try it again and don't try to catch yourself. It's one of the times that the human body's natural instinct is very stupid."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica chuckled, but stood up and tried it again. She didn't quite relax all the way, but she didn't really try to catch herself either, so it was a better attempt, if not perfect.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded, smiling. "Goood. Keep it up." Pip neglected to mention that once she got it right he'd start tripping her once she got it right.

"You know, I've got Student Council with Blair. Think you could talk to Nadia?"

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, she's supposed to be stopping by to see me anyway, so I can mention it," she said, standing up and trying to fall one more time.

Third time's a charm and all that, she actually did it right.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip reached down to help Veronica up. "One more time, just to be sure you've got it right."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica let him help her up and took a moment to compose herself before attempting the fall again.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "Excellent." As Veronica got up and looked at, Pip rushed towards her, slipped his leg behind Veronica's, and pushed her back.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

There might have been a tiny bit of flailing as Veronica fell, but she did remember in time not to brace herself.

She frowned up at Pip from the floor. "What did you do that for?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"I do it to everyone," Pip said, reaching a hand out to help Veronica up. "The big trick the breakfall is being able to do it even when suprised. I mean, most potential attackers aren't as nice as me."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

She looked at him skeptically, but let him help her up.

"That's true," she said, thinking of her own attacks.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "What are you thinking about saying to Nadia?"

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

"I don't know yet," she admitted. "I'll wing it," she added with a grin.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Usually the best method," Pip said. WIthout warning he rushed at her and tripped her again.

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

Veronica was so caught off guard that she almost forgot Pip's lesson. At the last minute, she remembered though and fell the way he'd shown her.

"Okay, you need to quit doing that!" she protested from the floor.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip grinned and held out a hand to help her up. "Only when you do it right. And, since you did, I will."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

She grinned and let him help her up.

"Well that's good to know," she said. "So are we done? I think I've had enough abuse for one day. plus we've been slow playing this for two days, omg!"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "Yeah, I've got one of those finish at the eleventh hour projects to finish. Work on the stuff I taught you if you ever get any free gym time."

[marsheadtilt.livejournal.com]

She laughed. "Uh, sure, I'll get right on that." She picked up her water bottle and her keys. "So, Tuesday afternoon, same time, same place?"