The Gym, Sunday Early Morning

[intraspective]

Ino was there before dawn, putting her body through first stretches and then going full out against enemies only seen in her mind. A kick here, darting here, spin and punch there...

She fell into the pattern gladly, and in the back of her mind made sure that a small part of her was keeping an eye out for Liir.

The rest of her though was entirely focused on her practice. And gladly so.

[Ino is waiting for Liir, but the gym is totally open for all of your Ino-ish or gym-ish needs.]

Comments

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

That got another sharp nod.

[intraspective]

"Why?"

Simple questions with not so simple answers.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Because I believed in exactly one person," he said. "And then she died. And I never ever want to go through that again."

[intraspective]

Everything came back to the Witch for him, didn't it?

"She died," Ino said, "you didn't. And you can't help where your heart chooses to place it's allegiances. And whether you like or not, you already trust, and that's just a short step from believing. So isn't it better to do what you can so that it doesn't happen again? Rather than being scared."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

When that was the only person you'd ever really known your entire life? The only constant, the only base. The only thing you knew?

Yes.

His eyes flashed, something between anger and deep deep pain on a wound that should have scarred over.

"It's one short step I can't take. And don't try and tell me I'm being silly or stupid because you don't know. Maybe one day I'll be ready for it. Maybe one day I will be able to believe."

It's been less than a year.

"I'll do what I can. I always try to do what I can."

[intraspective]

"I didn't call you silly or stupid," Ino snapped. "And sure, if you can't take that step yet, then whatever. But if you just keep being scared of it then you'll never get over it."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I'm... working on it."

It was the same thing he'd told Andrew, but it was all he could say.

Whatever fire had been in his eyes and his voice was soft.

[intraspective]

"How?" Not disbelieving, but curious.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I... I've been... it's hard to explain," he said lamely.

[intraspective]

She continued to watch him expectantly.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He breathed out.

"I've been... trying to build a center. Inside. What I've been missing."

He sounded almost nervous at talking about it, as if he might injure something fragile or put something into a dangerous position by discussing it.

[intraspective]

...

...

"So it's not all sharp edges, like you said before?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I started before that," he admitted, "but it was like building on sand. The sharp pieces are there, but I'm... building with them. Slowly. I can't do too much before it starts becoming too painful."

He didn't know how else to explain it.

[intraspective]

"As long as you're trying then I'm good with it," she told him, "so long as you try."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He nodded and let that sit for a moment before speaking.

"Practice?"

[intraspective]

"Let's get to it," she said, "stances then, since we've spent so much time chattering."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He fell into a quick starting stance.

"Direct me..."