fandomhighdorms | Behind the Dorms, Tuesday Afternoon

"Alright!" When the Reserves crew assembled today, they'd be greeted by Zack, holding up... Half a sword! The last two feet of the length of his blade were nowhere to be seen, and what survived was the hilt, and a length of metal that had definitely seen better days. "Broken weapons! They happen! I know some of you think your blades are all but invincible, but considering the sorts of things we see around here every day, I think it'd be safe to assume that someday, something will invade that stands a chance at disarming even you."

Like, say, Klingons.

Zack tossed what was left of his sword onto the ground at his feet, and then crossed his arms over his chest.

"A broken weapon means that you're going to have two problems. First, the very immediate issue of an enemy that quite possibly has now gained a serious upper hand against you. And second, the eventual repair or replacement of your weapon." He perked a little, giving his hands a clap together. "So! What we're going to do today is discuss both. Can you hold your own in a fight with something big and mean if you've been disarmed? Is your weapon still capable of doing some damage with what might be left? My sword isn't any good for attacking anymore, but at least I can use it to block incoming attacks with what's still there. And then talk about the repair or replacement. Is there someone on the island who can fix your weapon in particular? Can you find another one if it's beyond repair, or is it one of a kind?"

"Some of you may remember the meeting we held on searching your environment for an appropriate weapon," Arthur cut in, "In a pinch, remember to look around you, and to make use of what you've got. In fact, you're best off making sure you've got the measure of the area before you even start - lest you lose a flail and don't know to find the blunt instrument you might need to take out your enemy." NOT THAT HE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. "Look around the grounds -- do you see anything you could use to your advantage if disarmed? And, on a related note - how great are your skills of avoidance -- although we'll go into that next week."

[OCD is up and the Reserves are open to all!]

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Ino's eyebrows raised sharply, but her voice stayed light. Mostly because she was amused, but shhh.

"Well," she amended, "there's times when it is shameful--if you're pulling back at the first sign of things going wrong, and just running away, then that's pretty pathetic. But if you're pulling back to lure them into an ambush, or to save your men 'cause it's getting devastating in the loss department and you need to recoup and re-plan, then yeah. It's a good thing."

"The last two are acceptable options," Azula said, still distracted. "The first is just cowardice."

"Yes," she said, after counting to ten in her head. "That's pretty much what I was saying. You just reworded it, that's exciting."

"But there's pretty much almost always a way to win--it's just a matter of thinking it out and being able to put it into action."

It was a testament to how distracted Azula was that it seemed she missed Ino's barb.

"Or putting aside squeamishness," she replied.

"If they're squeamish," Ino said, now getting a bit creeped out by the lack of response. "Then they don't belong in the field. You do what it takes and deal with any fallout later. You don't get cold feet in the middle of a mission, or a battle, and fuck it all up then."

Azula's golden eyes ticked towards Ino, suddenly very present and intense. "Yes."

...that was weird and disturbing.

"Shocking, I know," she said, "but I actually think 'bout these things. How nice of you to join us, and all of that, and yeah. Screwing up the job is worse by a million than if you freak out later 'bout what you had to do."

That was actually not meant sarcastically. Well. Much. This was Ino.

"Oh, it's you," Azula said, she was a tad interested Ino shared some of her philosophies. She studied her even more. "You're a soldier?"

"Special Ops, technically," she said, shrugging slightly. "At least, according to this world's standards. I'm a ninja, if you want the exact word we use back home, and that's pretty much--yeah. Soldier."

"Assassination?" Azula asked idly.

"Precisely," Ino said, with a sideways glance. "Along with sabotage and infiltration."

"Really," Azula murmured. She turned one last glance to Ino before returning her attention to the trees.

"What weapons do you prefer?"

"Kunai," she said, studying Azula. "Shuriken. Wire. Explosives."

Ino shrugged a bit.

"I'm not bad at hand-to-hand, either."

And that left out the mind powers.

Useful. She might need to see her in action one of these days. Azula only nodded, giving nothing away. "Poison?"

"Some," she said, "be damn stupid to ignore something as useful as that."

"Yes, it would be." She glanced at her again, "You also know Triela?"

"Mmm, yeah." Ino tugged at her hair and wished she had the power to draw more cookies over to her. "We're friends, I guess."

Azula supposed it was only natural. Like called to like. "That's good."

"Any particular reason it's good?" Ino asked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

Azula shrugged. "Not really. I was making conversation. It seemed like the thing to say."

Azula and normal small talk should never mix.

Oddly, that bit of honesty had Ino liking her a tiny bit more.

Funny that.

"If you're going to try for regular conversation," Ino commented, "you're going to have to learn to at the very least, fake interest."

"How kind of you to give advice," Azula said ever so sweetly.

Nice Azula, you were trying to be nice.

Ino's eyes were darkly amused.

"You're a warrior," Ino pointed out. "I'm the spy. I'm not telling you how to do your job out in the field, so kindly respect that I might know what I'm talking 'bout when it comes to the fine art of conversation."

She had a point and Azula acknowledged this with a bow of her head. Yes, she was arrogant and haughty and thought 90% of the population were beneath her but she wouldn't be where she was if she didn't acknowledge instruction where needed.

"I concede your point."

Behind the Dorms, Tuesday Afternoon

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