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Post by Gleam on Sept 13, 2012 18:55:06 GMT -8
Jacob swayed aside, allowing Echidna to pass, and then checked a covered wheel of pastisio. Judging it ready, he started to slice it into equal portions, adding olives and pita bread to the pasta course. "The courses here are rather learned towards English standards." he commented. "I try to fight back in my own little ways."
He left the dish-arranging to Echidna and proceeded to start packing away the soup into a covered container with the dishes necessary to eat it, true to his word. "I was emancipated at the age of fifteen, yes." Jacob replied with a nod. "I have lived on my own since then. I caused my family some worry, obviously, but after I proved capable of managing my own affairs, they stopped bothering me quite so much."
He poked the mousaka with a fork, and then moved onto boxing that as well. "Maturity is a thing that cannot be forced. It is - acceptance, tolerance more than anything. And that cannot be taught, only lived and learned."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 13, 2012 19:39:18 GMT -8
Echidna frowned as he mentioned how he separated from his family and lived on his own. She thought about her own experience and couldn't help but shy. Sure, she had been much younger when she was forced out on her own and at least it sounds like he still has contact with his family. That, however, still doesn't excuse the fact that she was years younger than this boy, mentally if not physically.
There was silence for a bit as Echidna continued to put the dishes away, adding new dishes as they became available. She mulled over his talk of maturity, wondering if she has really changed from the five year-old who escaped with her life and saw her family burn.
"You say it can't be forced, and I agree with you," Echidna said as she finished loading the washer and closed it up, "but it still seems like some mature much faster than others. I guess you can still say that experience has a lot to do with it, though even after all I've been through it still seems like I have a lot of room to grow."
She laughed to herself as she turned the machine on and then leaned against the counter, pushing herself up with her tail so that she was half-sitting on it.
"You know it's funny...I have so many things I want to do," Echidna said as she coiled part of her tail below her. "I want to learn more about my powers, I mean the ones beside the snake tail you see here. I also want to learn how to fight properly, more languages and even as much as I can about biology. Yet just a few months ago none of these things crossed my mind."
The Grecian laughed once again. "Guess that's what happens when doors suddenly open for you. I hope that I'll have enough time to do all of these things and more. However, I mainly hope that I can become as mature and skilled as you, one day."
Echidna scooted herself off of the counter and straightened her tail out. "Well, whenever you're ready we should head to the gym. You'll have to show me, of course, since I don't know the way," she said before moving over to Jacob and taking the boxes he filled. "I can carry these, since you're the one that made them. It's the least I can do since you've helped me so much."
Echidna then frowned to herself. "Which reminds me...how do you know Cael? He seemed to know you fairly well, though you are much nicer than what he made you out to be."
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Gleam
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Post by Gleam on Sept 13, 2012 23:09:44 GMT -8
"You have more reasons to mature now." Jacob commented, and grabbed a pitcher of Greek tea as he headed towards the back door of the kitchen. "Your world has quite abruptly expanded - and so now you, too, must grow into the size your dreams demand you be." He turned a wry smile on Echidna as he leaned on the door, holding it wide for the lamia to slither through. "Though, miss, if you continue to compliment me I am going to start returning the favor, and then we will be completely hopeless from then on. The cycle will perpetuate."
Once she was through, Jacob stepped away from the door and took the lead, turning left down a hallway. His smile dimmed a little as he tackled the new topic head-on. "Cael and I have met twice, and disagreed both times. Once over a student I brought to the infirmary, and once over a discussion within one of the laboratories. He is - mischievious, at best. And I am not fond of tricks or games."
Jacob pursed his lips momentarily. "I believe it is a moral contention we have with each other. Cael is fiercely independent, and denies the concept of personal responsibility. I do not, and in fact advocate it." He shrugs. "There is little actual substance within our differences, but I believe our shared stubbornness is plenty enough to spark dislike."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 14, 2012 10:10:14 GMT -8
Echidna laughed at Jacob's complaints of her compliments as she slithered through the door. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind the next time I want to praise you for something," she said with a chuckle before turning serious with her new friend.
She nodded to his description over his relationship with Cael and how the two butted heads. From what the Mediterranean boy was telling her, it almost sounded like two dogs that wanted to be pack leaders. Echidna smiled slightly when he attributed their clashes with stubbornness, making her believe that her metaphor was more correct than what she originally thought.
"Yes, I can agree that he is very mischievous," the Grecian said and frowned slightly. "I mean, I was with him and a few other students and he did something to the one, gave him some fruit, and the student didn't seem to like that for some reason. Heck, I thought his sibling was going to fight Cael, if not worse." She sighed to herself. "Oh well, again just shows there's a lot I need to learn."
The two soon reached the gym and Echidna moved off to the side and placed the food on a bench. The brunette turned and took the place in. The gym was quite large, there was clearly enough room that groups of students could play their own games without bothering the others. She looked down at the linoleum flooring and lowered her upper body to place a hand on it. Echidna frowned slightly, suddenly wondering if perhaps she could use her Earth powers here, or if she needed to be directly onto the Earth itself? Well, that was a question that could be answered later.
"Alright, you just point to spot and we can get started," Echidna said as she started to do some stretches with her arms, also twisting and curling her tail to try to get the muscles loosened. "I'll do my best with whatever you teach me."
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Gleam
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Post by Gleam on Sept 14, 2012 10:39:08 GMT -8
"He is fond of complex humor, this is true." Jacob said, sound vaguely disgruntled. "I will admit he makes me feel stupid on occasion. That is uncommon."
He rolled his shoulders in a peculiar fashion, starting somewhere in the lines of his back and rippling smoothly up through his body, out through his arms and neck. Then he glanced over Echidna, his gaze assessing, and stepped up beside her. "Your strongest advantage is what nature gifted you with." he said, and slid into a crouch, hands flexed out before him and spread wide. "Your lower body - presuming it follows the serpentine fashion - is incredibly strong, and not prone to breaks, locks, or blows as others would be. Therefore that is your focus: bringing your foe in so that you can put that tail to work. A grappler, in other words."
He turned to face Echidna. "In general: keep yourself low-slung in a fight, and keep your hands up. Guard anything that gets thrown at your face. Grab when you can, pull them into a clinch, and get your tail around whatever you can. Then squeeze it until it breaks. Repeat."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 14, 2012 14:30:45 GMT -8
Echidna couldn't help but flinch slightly when Jacob came close to her but made no move to get away. She knew that he meant her no real harm and was only getting a closer look at her. When the boy began to explain about what she had advantage of, she threw away her nervousness and slight embarrassment as she listened attentively to what he had to say.
"My lower body..." Echidna muttered under her breath as she looked at her tail, swishing all of it back and forth, feeling the thick, harden and conditioned muscles like she never had before.
So the bane of her existence would be her greatest strength? Though there was irony in that, it also made the most sense. After all, she had near nine feet of pure muscle and flexible bone. Echidna remember hearing that a boa constrictor's squeeze could break bones and even stop a heart. With her size and length...the brunette wondered just how much damage she could do.
"Yeah...keep low and squeeze them," Echidna muttered after Jacob was done explaining and swept her tail a few times before getting into a crouch of her own; upper-body low to the ground with her arms to the side and her tail in a close together swerve pattern. She remember seeing a snake do this on T.V once, ready to strike.
"Okay...so something like this?" Echidna asked right before she uncoiled and launched herself at Jacob with her arms posed to wrap around him. However, she went faster then what she expected and her aim was off to his left.
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Gleam
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Post by Gleam on Sept 14, 2012 14:54:18 GMT -8
Jacob hummed in acknowledgement and slid sideways, intercepting her rush head-on rather then letting it slide by. His hands clapped onto her shoulders, and the force of her charge shoved him back a couple inches, but the low, springy stance ate up most of the force.
"You are likely not accustomed to the amount of power your lower half can put out." He noted, and clinched with Echidna, his hands locking onto her collarbone and neck. "We will practice that later, once you have the basic idea. Now - pull me down and towards you with your hands, as you attempt to entangle with your tail."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 14, 2012 16:16:35 GMT -8
Echidna grunted when Jacob grabbed her shoulder and caused her to stop from her strike forward. She flinched slightly as he clinched with her but smiled slightly in embarrassment at his observation and just simply nodded. She had never thought about what her tail could do until her brought it up. Well, at least she would learn more about it now.
Echidna nodded when the boy gave her some new instructions. Though she was a bit hesitant to follow through at first. It all seemed so intimate, though this was not a surprise to the girl as she had seen many of the male workers wrestle on their days off. However, she was also afraid that she would squeeze Jacob too hard...if she did get her tail around him.
"If I hurt you at all, be sure you tell me right away, any way you can," Echidna said gravely before she grabbed his shoulders with her hands. She then twisted her body as she tried to pull him towards her and the ground, while at the same time her tail whipped around and tried to wrap around his right arm and around his torso.
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Gleam
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Post by Gleam on Sept 14, 2012 16:30:11 GMT -8
"I wi-" Jacob began, and then Echidna ripped him off his feet. He rolled with the throw, his left arm slinging out and impacting the mat as he did so, bleeding some of the inertia. Her tail wrapped around his arm, and Jacob huffed a breath before smiling. "That is a good start." he praised. "But I believe you should start by going for legs, because -"
He pushed a shoulder lightly into the bulk of Echidna's tail, at the same time pulling on both her arms - the beginning roll of a shoulder throw. And with his other shoulder pressed into the ground, that throw would terminate rather abruptly into the ground halfway through. "You give me very good leverage to throw you, like this." Jacob noted. "And you have not compromised my mobility. If my legs are bound, my flailing is noticeably less useful."
He smiled. "Very good first try though, as I said. You did not fall over, and I did. This is, I note, not a small thing."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 15, 2012 6:22:58 GMT -8
Echidna was at first very proud that she had been able to grab Jacob and successively bring him down while wrapping her tail around him. Granted she had taken him by surprise, but she decided to count that towards a victory mark. She grew even more proud when the boy complimented her, though frowned as he added the 'but'.
The Grecian felt his shoulder against her tail and grunted slightly when he grabbed both of her arms. She realized right away what her mistake had been when she realized that his legs were still free, giving him all the strength and mobility he would need to throw her. When Jacob confirmed this she sighed.
"Yeah, guess I was thinking that if I took you your arms then it would be harder for you to attack me," Echidna said as she started to unwrap herself from around the boy. "However, you are right. Not to mention it makes no sense to trap your arms when you have no weapons..."
Echidna just sighed again before smiling and pushed herself up. "Still, thanks for the compliment, I'll remember to go for the legs from now on," she said as she held out a hand for her teacher. "So, do you think you could teach me some grabs? I know I can mostly use my tail but I don't want my hands to be useless either."
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Post by Gleam on Sept 15, 2012 8:55:33 GMT -8
"It would be harder to strike you, that is true." Jacob said, nodding. "But were you to break both my knees with a tail swipe, I assure you that I would be just as uninterested in trying to hit you."
He took Echidna's hand and stood. shaking out his arms. "I think what you will do is a modified Muy Thai form." Jacob stated, and took an odd stance, elbows raised to shoulder level, hands up by his head. "This is their stance: it lets you guard your head from any kind of attack, and since your body will be slung low, that will be necessary. Whenever you move in on your opponent -"
Jacob turned to a nearby sandbag and slid in. He turned slightly as he came close, then drilled it with one of his uplifted elbows, smacking it to the side. "Your elbows will be your scout. If they block -"
The arm he had struck with snaps down, grasping the bag and pulling it into a harsh knee strike.
"You bring your tail into play. If they get hit . . . well, congratulations, and grab them with your tail anyways. Once your tail is wrapped -"
Jacob snapped his hips around and piledrived his other elbow straight into the bag, knocking it aside again. He didn't pause, and followed it with a third and fourth shot, alternating elbows. "Beat them into pudding while your tail does its work. The more your foe is concerned with getting elbows in the face, the less he is trying to escape your grip, and vice versa."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 15, 2012 18:29:42 GMT -8
Echidna nodded as Jacob began to explain what she should do to improve her form. As he mentioned Muy Thai and it's stance, she once again had to be impressed by this seemingly young boy's vast knowledge. He said that he had left his home at 15, but he didn't look much older than that he knew so much. Just what did he do before going off on his own?
Echidna shook her head to get the questions out of her head. There was no point in thinking about these things right now. She was sure that if there was anything she needed to know that Jacob would tell her. Right now, his back story was not important.
Getting through that, Echidna focused and paid close attention to what the Mediterranean boy had to say. She nodded and jerked her elbows slightly with him as he struck the bag to demonstrate what he meant. After he was done the snake girl slithered over to the bag and looked at it a bit.
"Okay...so if I understand this correctly..." Echidna said as she mimic Jacob's starting stance with her torso low to the ground, though she did not coil her tail like before,"I start out like this with my body low to the ground. Then I rush in like this-"
Echidna lunged at the bad though much slower than before, upper-cutting the top part of the bag. "Then if he attacks," the Grecian said as she moved her other arm to deflect any blows that were coming at her from the side, "then right after that-"
She brought the thickest part of her tail up and slammed it into the bag, knocking it wildly to the side. Echidna had to lean back to avoid having the heavy bag hit her, but when the bag came back she said, "Then I wrap my tail around them and-"
Echidna followed through with her description, wrapping her tail quickly around the lower part of the bag and began to squeeze with all of her might. Before she could begin the muti-elbow assault, however, there was a loud 'ripping' sound as the lower half of the bag that Echidna was squeezing suddenly gave way and fell to the floor with her still coiled tail on top, pouring sand all over the place.
Echidna gasped in surprise as she uncoiled her tail from the sand and moved it to the side as she backed up as much as she could. More sand was dumped from the upper part of the bag and she could feel the little grains getting into her scales.
"I'm sorry! So sorry!" Echidna said, her tail twitching involuntarily to try to get the sand out.
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Gleam
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Post by Gleam on Sept 15, 2012 19:20:01 GMT -8
Jacob blinked, then burst into rich, resonant laughter. He held up a hand and turned away slightly as he forced it down into a chuckle and then into a terribly restrained smile. When he had some vague control of his expression, he turned back to Echidna.
"Congratulations." he said, the corners of his mouth still twitching in amusement. "I would call that a successful self-defense. There is a water fountain on the east wall - come along, we will use that to wash the sand out. Much easier than doing it by hand, certainly."
Jacob's smile blossomed into a grin for just a moment before he smothered it again, placing a hand over his mouth. "You are a remarkably quick learner, I suppose."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 15, 2012 20:02:32 GMT -8
A large and deep blush covered Echidna's face when Jacob suddenly burst out laughing and looked to the ground, hands behind her back with her tail moving back and forth. Though she had to admit that the situation was funny, she was still embarrassed that it had happened at all. Guess she now had a gauge at how strong her tail was...which seemed to be extremely.
After the boy had calmed down enough that he could talk to her without a very wide grin on his face, Echidna couldn't help but to sigh and nod as she started to slither over to the water fountain Jacob pointed out.
"I doubt it's because I'm a quick learner," Echidna said as she reached the fountain and dipped the dirtiest part of her tail into the water, shivering as she felt the cool temperature. "I think it's just more that I don't know my own strength."
The Grecian lowered her torso and began to rub and wash her tail, doing her best to get the sand out. "I mean, it's great that I have all of this brute strength, but if I don't know how to control it then it would be very easy for someone quicker and more skilled than me to get away and defeat me," she said with as she slid the submerged part of her tail out and placed the next dirtiest part into the fountain.
"Still, I thank you for everything you've taught me," Echidna said with a smile as she continued to clean her tail. "This will help me in a fight. Though it's not like I'm going to go around starting them, unless it's to spar, there are just so many kids around and all with their own abilities and powers that at least with this I may have some hope."
Echidna then smiled and chuckled. "You know...it was pretty funny, though I hate to think about what that would have done to a human body," she said with a slight shiver. "Guess it's a good thing I never attacked anyone, other than that one time..."
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Post by Gleam on Sept 15, 2012 22:26:22 GMT -8
Jacob didn't really pause at all at the admission, instead grabbing apair of towels from a bench and carrying it over to Echidna, where he hung it over one of her shoulders. "It is a long process, control." Jacob noted. "But I imagine compared to those here who wield fire, thunder, or force as we would breathe, the consequences of your inattention would be rather minor."
He smiled wryly. "Not that I am making light of your attempts. I merely attempt to put them in perspective. Perhaps what you should take is the fact that you all, similarly, seek self-control."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 16, 2012 10:03:05 GMT -8
"Oh, thanks," Echidna said as she felt the towel fall across her shoulder and started to use that to dry her tail. She then chuckled slightly as he compared her to other elemental users. Guess it was a good thing she could only use the Earth to cover herself.
"Yes, I suppose that you are right," Echidna said as she carefully continued to clean her tail. "I guess my powers could be worse and would call for me to gain self-control sooner rather than later. While just the fact that I do need to control myself hasn't and will never go away. But...it's not like this is anything new."
The Grecian turned quiet as she focused on cleaning her tail, a task made harder to to it's immense size. Realizing the task before her Echidna just sighed and finished up the spot she was on.
"You know what, forget about it. This could take all day and I really don't want to mess up the water for others," she said as she held part of her tail up to dry. "Not to mention, it would be a lot more simple for me to turn my tail back into legs and clean them like that. Which I would if I could cover myself."
Echidna sighed before facing Jacob and smiling. "Still, thanks again for everything," she said then looked over to the packed food. "Mind if we take a quick break? I would love to try some of your cooking."
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Post by Gleam on Sept 16, 2012 12:26:15 GMT -8
Jacob's lips quirked, and he nodded towards the gymnasium shower rooms. "A shower might be quicker, and I generally take one after working out, in any case. But food first. I am hungry."
He carried the pinic cooler he had brought all the dishes in over to a table set aside from the main area of the gym, and unpacked the avolegumo, the mousaka, and the pastistsio. "It is only three courses, which is light for a full meal." Jacob said, with a frown. "But it will do, considering it is a meal on the go."
He distributed silverware - not the plastic sort, either - and then paused. A look of chagrin flickered across Jacob's face. "I forgot the drinks." he muttered.
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 16, 2012 13:22:21 GMT -8
Echidna followed Jacob's nodding motion and a deep blush came over her face once more. Oh...of course there was a shower section. Why wouldn't there be? It was a gym after all and people usually get sweaty in a gym.
The girl just shook her head and laughed at herself as she slithered along with the Mediterranean boy. She couldn't help but to lick her lips as she saw the dishes laid out before her, bringing her back home. She once again had to be impressed by Jacob's skill, and even how much thought he put into this. Real silverware for a break? This was almost too much!
Of course, then he mentioned how he forgot the drinks and Echidna had to laugh. "Oh don't worry about it!" the girl said after she calmed down. "Though a glass of wine would be nice right now, I'm sure the water from the fountains will be good enough. I'm not much for extravagant things anyway, so this is more than enough."
Echidna then picked up the silverware and cut herself a piece of mousaka. She then proceeded to place a piece into her mouth and let out a happy sound at the taste.
"Wow...this is...amazing!" The Grecian said happily inbetween bites. After swallowing she added, "You really are amazing Jacob! Maybe that's your power."
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Post by Gleam on Sept 16, 2012 14:31:25 GMT -8
Jacob hummed in acknowledgement. "Practice, largely." he dismissed."A very great deal of practice. There are no powers involved, I made certain of as much. That would be awkward to measure out."
He tucked into the soup first, taking the dishes in their traditional order, sighing in pleasure as he tasted the perfectly-heated soup. "Have you picked out a dorm, by the by?" Jacob asked curiously. "That might be wise, before your compatriots from your landing take all the good choices. We are more or less obliged to share a dorm with someone, and you will be happier to have a roommate you are accustomed to."
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Kynthia
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Post by Kynthia on Sept 17, 2012 4:48:51 GMT -8
Echidna frowned as Jacob mentioned dorms and added some soup to the meal. "No... to be honest I really haven't thought about dorms at all," she said then took a sip of soup. "I know Cael said that we could pick our own, so I guess I shouldn't just be standing around waiting for someone to tell me. As for sharing...it really shouldn't be a problem as long as our beds aren't two feet away from the other."
Still, Echidna took the time to think about what she would do for dorms. Though normally shy, if she had to bunk with one of the people she first met that would be fine. Though she was sure that would only be Manju, since the twins would definitely want to dorm together. Though the Grecian was sure that it would work out fine, it sent shivers down her spine.
"Well, I'm sure I'll figure it out..." Echidna said, then added; "How about you? Do you have a dorm roommate?"
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