fandomhighdorms | Combined Reserves, The Preserve, Thursday Afternoon (After Classes)

Today, the Reserves met outside. The leaders figured that people might need a little fresh air and the chance to move around a bit. There was the traditional table of ~~moddable~~ snacks and beverages for anyone to partake of. Assuming they had the appetite.

"Today, we're going to be talking about how to deal with an invisible enemy," Karla said, because they enjoyed being topical. "Of all the senses we have, most of us rely far too heavily on out sense of sight. That hinders us greatly when it comes to enemies that are invisible, or when it comes to fighting in the dark or when we're fighting enemies from ambush."

"Or when you battle disease, that some might have given you purposefully," Dolf said quietly. He hadn't quite managed to disassociate any of this from the Crimson Death since Cally's message yesterday. "There are many kinds of enemies that can't be seen, and not all of them are things you can hit. Or they might be things you can see, but that creep in when you least expect it, take someone and then go." Experience with that? Never. "But there are ways to deal with this. Keeping watch, and even just knowing."

"From a martial perspective, it's important to utilize your other senses as much as you can, to avoid letting a lack of a visible opponent become a handicap," Wesley added. "In an ordinary fight, one might not even realize all the clues provided to you by simply listening and being present in your physical space -- but when you're no longer able to see what you're fighting, it becomes that much more imperative to take advantage of these things."

Off to the side, there were basketballs and strips of cloth set out. "For martial and support," Wesley continued, "we'd like you to pair up and take turns approaching one another. One of you should wear the blindfold and try to -- gently -- toss the basketball at the other, using the rest of your senses to the best of your ability to try to locate them, while the other tries to be as quiet as possible. You can trade roles when you're finished."

"For magic," Karla added, "we're going to do the same thing, only use power to try to deflect or shield against the ball while blindfolded. If your powers don't work that way, we can talk about other ways to practice using your gifts while unable to see."

[Co-written with the usual suspects!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

As you do. There's plenty to eat. Share any progress you've made with research!

...Anyone? Anyone?

Raven was getting increasingly uncomfortable being around large groups of people, but she shielded herself as best she could. She was hoping there would have been some discovery of information that could stop and undo whatever was consuming other worlds.

Freddie Benson had not ever attended one of these meetings before. Mainly because he never thought he'd actually be of any help at this sort of thing. But it was funny how something really bad happening back in his own world motivated him to reach out beyond his comfort zone and try to be useful.

Of course, by the time he heard what the activity of the day was, he felt as if he'd almost walked in on a giant iCarly sketch.

How else can you fight some kind invisible foe? If, say, there was ever a call for it. For any reason.

La.

If you want to put a different spin on the exercise, here's where to suggest ideas or ask for help!

Freddie was a tech guy, so he volunteered some ideas of his own. "Night vision goggles could help for fighting in the mostly-dark," he said. "And, you know, unless invisible enemies are cold-blooded, they might show up on thermal goggles, too. But... that's a lot of goggles to carry around."

He was ever so helpful.

"I spend most of my time in the woods trying to be as invisible as possible," Katniss offered quietly. She felt like an outsider, but it was something where she did know the answers. "Not everything you think is invisible actually is. I'm silent and stealthy, but as solid and visible as anything if you keep your eyes open. Don't expect anything. Expectations are the enemy at a time like this. Look for any weakness possible, and never, ever let your guard down." She shrugged, and added, "Because as an invisible enemy, that's when I'd peek out of hiding and shoot you."

"There are ways to magically make things visible or invisible," Tara volunteered. "Or if that doesn't work ... if it's solid you could, um, throw paint."

Pair up and start trying to dodge the balls!

...In retrospect, softer balls might have been a better idea.

OH WELL. SUCK IT UP AND PLAY.

They must be in a better mood than last week, right?

Karla's mood was not much improved, no. But she was at least going to make it look like she wasn't windmilling between dread and hopelessness.

Wesley was not in a better mood. He also looked like someone who hadn't slept in three days.

Because, well.

Despite not normally attending reserves meetings, Katniss was here today. In part due to the subject matter, but mostly because after losing Johanna, she hadn't particularly wanted to leave Wesley long enough for him to disappear, too.

So she was here, quietly near Wesley, but not feeling much like talking to most. Katniss wasn't chatty under the best circumstances, after all.

Whereas anxiety just made Wesley want to talk, because if words kept tumbling out of his mouth, then there was maybe a chance that something he said would be right.

"I -- the weather today isn't bad, is it?" he asked, his voice sounding more than a little bit strained. "Warmer than I'd expect for this time of year. Unseasonable."

A small chance. But.

Katniss just slanted a look at him before reaching out to slide a hand over his back. "A little."

It was a nice try on both their parts.

That helped, actually, and Wesley could feel some of the tension draining out of him. Not all of it. Not even enough to feel anything close to relaxed. But some. For a moment.

"I -- I'm even a bit surprised," he added, even as he tried and tried to just stop talking. "In Sunnydale, it seems, these sorts of, ah, crises generally happen around May. According to Mr. Giles. Though the weather is usually fairly consistent year-round, I imagine, with the exception of that one, ah, snowstorm..."

Seriously. He needed to stop.

Dolf was actually closer to crying than anything else this week, but thank you for trying, narrative. He looked a little out of it.

...I really enjoy writing OCD. I think I might be weird.

I m thinking it's just one more symptom

*ducks*

Combined Reserves, The Preserve, Thursday Afternoon (After Classes)

Arrive and Mingle

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Share Ideas

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Blindfolds & Basketballs

Talk to the Leaders

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Re: Talk to the Leaders

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Re: Talk to the Leaders

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OOC

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