Gym, Saturday Afternoon

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

With immense trepidation, Pip peaked into the gym and quickly scanned for singers with New Jersey accents.


The coast seemed clear, so he slipped in and started his work out routine.

_{[[Gym's open]]}

Comments

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Cally wandered into the gym.

"Was it just me, or did you hear singing, earlier?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip paused as his fist hit the bag. "Oh, I didn't just hear it. I saw it."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Well, glad I wasn't affected, this time," Cally said. She gestured at the bag. "Heard you're pretty good at that."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "Well, that's the rumor."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Ever taught anyone?" Cally fiddled with her ponytail, making sure it was pulled back properly.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip was starting to wonder if someone had put up a poster for him and simply forgotten to tell him about it.

"That I have," Pip said. He moved into a spinning back kick and slammed the bag again.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"You, like, charge for it, or does a girl just have to ask nicely?" Cally wrung her hands a little, only slightly nervous.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Haven't charged for it yet," Pip responded. "Although maybe I could make some good money if I did."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"So, could you help a girl out, then? I was gonna get some tips from. . . well, you know. She ran off and stuff." Cally shrugged. "Figured you or Walter'd be the next best thing."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip popped his neck. "Well, I'm not sure how much Walter could help you. He relies a lot on his wires and his impossible speed, so I don't know how much unarmed combat training he actually has. But sure. I can help a girl out."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"I warn you, I've only thrown, like, two punches in my life," Cally said. "And neither was really effective."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Well, that'll make you the first complete beginner I've taught here," Pip said. "But I started as a complete beginner myself."

He nodded to the mat.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Cally headed over to the mat and smiled.

"Figured I might as well get a head start of basic, you know?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "Well then, shall we start with showing you the right way to throw a punch?"

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Sounds good," Cally said. "I'm guessing the first step is not to have second degree burns on your hands?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Pip responded. "That was the first thing my teachers told me. Don't do it with second degree burns. Alright, watch me."

Pip made a fist, tucking his thumb under his clenched fingers. "A lot of people make fists wrong. You can hurt your hand if you don't do it right."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Cally did exactly as Pip demonstrated. "So, this is the right way?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "Sometimes people will put the thumb in the fist. Which is a great way to break your thumb. Now, watch me and do as I do."

Pip through a straight jab.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Cally watched the movements carefully, then threw a jab of her own. She overextended a bit, trying to throw more force into it than she should.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip shook his head. "You overextended. Don't stretch your arm out all the way when you punch, ever. Actually, that applies to kicks as well. Always keep the limb slightly bent."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Oh, okay," Cally said, biting her lip. She shook out her arm and tried again, this time making sure to not extend her arm fully. "Better?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "Very. Alright, there's an important part of punching here, and that's this. You have to punch through whatever you're hitting. You can't stop at it. You have to aim punch through it and out the other side."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that makes sense," Cally said. "Cause that way all the force goes into the target, instead of half of it never even reaching it."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded, grinning. "Exactly! The same applies for kicks, of course."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"For once, book learning actually applies to something practical," Cally said with a chuckle.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" Pip asked. "What book?"

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Physics stuff," Cally said. "Dunno which one, exactly."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Huh. Well, here's a few more punches."

He demonstrated a roundhouse, an uppercut, and a more straightforward punch.

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Cally watched carefully, then tried to mimic. She got the roundhouse okay, but the uppercut ended with her bopping herself in the nose with her arm.

"Oops," she said, rubbing her with her left hand.

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip tried not to laugh. "Well, it gets easier and easier with practice. Try to aim a little lower."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

Cally nodded and tried again, slowly. No one would possibly ever get hit with an uppercut like that, but the form was correct, at least.

"I got a lot of practice ahead of me, I think."

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "Well, practice makes perfect. That's why I'm in here all the damn time."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, guess I gotta just win the fight against my lazy streak," Cally said. "So, I'm guessing I should start with just, like, the bag, right?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

Pip nodded. "You start with the bag and keep practicing until you move up to a live target. One that looks suspiciously like me."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Suspiciously, huh?" Cally smirked. "You don't have a secret double around here, do you?"

[cyclopeanmerc.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Pip said. "Only he has a goatee."

[sogothcally.livejournal.com]

"Evil twins," Cally said, shaking her head and chuckling. "We all have one somewhere." She nodded over at the bag. "Guess I should start practicing now, huh?"