The Gym

[Jaden Kalen]

Jaden smiled and sighed, "Always have to do one better don't you?" He laughed and walked towards her. He slowed down waiting for her to run down the corridor towards to Resting room. "After you" He said.

[Kunoichi]

Kunoichi laughed softly
"of course, it's part of the Ninja creed; equal is not good enough"
she smiled
"thank you"
((gonna continue this in the office thread))

[Jaden Kalen]

Jaden smiled and followed her.

[Austin]

Please Note
Time Jump Initiated
All following events are at least two months after those above

[adrienne]

Adrienne brought the sword she held in her hand down in a slashing arc, moving quickly she followed through the pattern of movements. Ending with the blade held up in front of her face she lowered the sword and moved into a new series of more complex movements immediately after that.
At least I haven't tripped yet. The rebellious part of her mind quipped, causing her to misstep and sigh then muffle a laugh. Turning serious she went through the pattern again.
"See what I'm talking about Cindy? Once you have the blade balanced it's almost an extension of your hand." She pivoted on her heel, then brought the blade up in salute.
"Right foot forward then you lunge." She said as she demonstrated.
"That is part of why I fight with a sword more now than before. it's more dangerous but sometimes it's better than with a firearm."
She'd first thought of the impromptu training sessions after the fight at the DA building, figuring Cindy had better have something to protect herself with if Adrienne wasn't there with her so she'd suggested the training to Austin with the idea of it being half at the HQ and half at Cindy's place.

[Cindy Harker]

Cindy watched from the sidelines with a worried gaze. She subconciously held one arm with the other, and tried not to gulp.

"...You make it look rather easy." She admitted awkwardly. Cindy didn't own (or understand) the concept of gym clothes, so was dressed in her usual fancy attire of a gown and heels, and it wasn't exactly appropriate for what Adrienne had in mind. "Why is it when I try it I tend to end up on the floor?" Because you can't even lift the sword, she mentally reminded herself, but luckily for her dignity, didn't say it out loud.

She really didn't feel home at gyms (or around physical exercise), being a member so far up the upper classes she was practically in orbit physical actions were for other people to do. But she knew Adrienne had been right and she couldn't avoid trouble forever. She just wished it wasn't so difficult. Apparently a life of idle luxury had left her muscles and body so weak and unprepared she could barely handle a small kitten.

"So, um, why is it better than a firearm? I don't like guns, don't misunderstand me, but one would think it would be safer far away from the people trying to hurt you..." She tried not to sound too scared, but it was obvious that Cindy wasn't going to adapt to the idea of being in a fight easily.

[adrienne]

Adrienne tilted her head to one side, puzzling on how to answer the first question while still being polite.
"I'm still learning, if you want to learn under a master watch the Commander working with a blade, I'm still taking lessons from him and he can still knock my feet out from under me any given day on the training floor."
Adrienne stumbled slightly then righted herself, pausing to sheath her sword and flop down on the floor dressed in only a tank top, jeans and boots and sat cross legged.
"Now I want you to listen to me on this Cindy." She said all too seriously." The reason I choose the sword over a firearm is more often than not it's saved my life. That does not however apply to all people. If you wish to choose a different weapon there is a practice weapons cabinet over on the other side of the room and I encourage you to find a weapon you're comfortable holding and that you think you can train with." She stretched fully, arching her back and raising her arms over her head.
Standing she moved to the cabinet and opened it.
"Some of these were mine after I learned to work on a lathe and in the forge. but most if not all are for practice and are as balanced as their real counterparts." She looked at Cindy, her eyes taking in the gown, the heels and the fear there out in the obvious.
"However we face a more pressing problem for now, you're going to ruin that gown and those heels if we try to train you in those and possibly injure yourself in the process. and a broken ankle or even a twisted one can hurt for ages." She made a quick series of measurements in her head.
"Come here a moment." She said softly as she moved to another cabinet and took out a pair of shorts, a tank top and a pair of soft kidskin fingerless gloves to protect the hands.
"These are mine and you'll be able to wear them or I can find you a pair of jeans and a t-shirt if you want, they're not very good for this but they'll work a little better for our purposes, I don't want to see such a beautiful dress and shoes ruined." Adrienne smiled slightly, her eyes displaying a hint of uncertainty for the first time.
"I probably wont be as good a teacher as Austin and most of the people in the Night Watch were to me but I'll do my best to be understanding and as patient as they were. And I'm not saying this wont be hard on you Cindy, it's alway hard taking on new things but if you want I can ask Austin to correct and stand in on lessons if you want too." Adrienne inclined her head slightly then offered the clothing to Cindy politely, not used to being looked at in unease.

[Cindy Harker]

Cindy listened to Adrienne quietly, standing politely. When she sat on the floor, Cindy didn't follow. People like Cindy didn't sit on the floor. It had never actually even occured to her as a thing to do. She still listened though. She really liked Adrienne, although Cindy's somewhat snobby nature might not always make it obvious. She owed her her life for starters, and Adrienne seemed to actually like her, which made her feel special inside. She hoped she didn't seem like she was against being trained by her. She'd much rather be taught by Adrienne than anybody else in the Watch.

She took the clothes Adrienne offered her and tried her best not to look at them in disgust. She didn't do a very good job, but she was trying. It wasn't her fault, she convinced herself. She was aware that other people didn't dress like she did, but she couldn't imagine ever doing it herself. When she'd been younger, before she'd actually learnt any sense of responsibility in her family line, she'd been the absolute glamerous princess, attending every upper class ball in clothes that cost more than most people would ever see in their lives. She never wore the same thing twice, never wore anything but the most extisquite gowns and dresses, usually made exclusively for her in Paris, and never wore anything else. Even if she was just spending the day in her mansion with her servants, she'd still be dressed like she was attending a fancy ball.

Now though... well, okay, Cindy had to admit nothing had changed. She had different values now, but she was just as vain as ever. Cindy was one of the richest people in Europe, and it just didn't feel right to dress down. And she'd been dressing that way her entire life, she really didn't know how not to. (And, as mentioned, she was as vain as anybody could possibly be, she might care about stopping vampires and demons and saving the world, but she also cared a lot about her hair...).

Still, she saw Adrienne's point. It was awfully difficult to run in a dress, or manage anything above a dainty walk in her towering diamond encrusted heels.
"Th-thank you." She managed to say, while inwardly cringing at the thought of having to wear them. "And I really do want you to train me, Adrienne..." Cindy was better around formal names, so hadn't yet taken to calling her a shorter version. Again, part of being around the upper classes meant that nicknames weren't often used.

She gave a genuine smile, and added.
"I'd much rather be trained by than by anybody else. I'm just not sure I can do this..." She glanced at the selection of weapons. She'd be lucky if she knew which end to hold, let alone how to use them. "I really am more of a WATCHer than a doer..." She added uncertainly.

[adrienne]

Adrienne did her best to conceal her smile at Cindy's reaction to the clothing.
She then took off her boots and socks and stood barefoot.
"It's not a problem, it helps with other things at the moment." She said quietly, inclining her head slightly.
Adrienne gave Cindy the closest to a Look since she had first met her.
"Oh no Cindy, when it comes down to when it's important you can and you have done it." She unsheathed a dagger from her belt, flipped it around and offered it hilt end to Cindy. Her hand was steadier than she thought.
"Take the dagger, I want you to familiarize yourself with that blade, keep it with you at all times, do not lose it. Do not draw on another member of the Night watch unless they know it is to practice in a training session and they agree to it. Austin and myself are your main teachers however I encourage you at every opportunity to ask questions, especially of the other people here because I don't believe in not questioning your teachers at times when it comes to learning your own ways."
Adrienne looked at Cindy again.
"I'll see if I can get Austin to set you up a room here so you'll have your own space to unwind and relax without having all of us bothering you, that's important too, in training especially."

[Cindy Harker]

Cindy took the dagger, surprised (and nearly dragged down) by the weight of it. She adapted after the slight surprise, and took it by the handle. She looked up and down the blade uneasily, a little worried by how sharp it looked.
"Everywhere? But it's heavy..." She whined in the spoilt tones only a complaining member of the upper classes could ever achieve. "And where would I put it?" Cindy wasn't exactly one for pockets. Again, like how only the extremely rich could, Cindy never needed to carry anything on her (including money). She supposed she could carry it in a handbag, but she reserved those for important things. Like hairbrushes.

"Thank you, though." She quickly added, not wanting to seem ungrateful. "I-I'll find somewhere to carry it." She added, realising she might seem rude. "Although I don't need to stay here. I do have my own place. It's got plenty of...space." Which was to say the least. Cindy's mansion was one of the largest in the country. It even had its own gym, Cindy was fairly certain. Only fairly, which showed just how big it was. She'd never been in it, and everything was still covered in sheets in there. It was the only room she hadn't spent any time in, though. That's how she was sure it was a gym.

"You are, of course, welcome to stop by." She added. She thought Adrienne might appreciate a visit to the place. To Cindy, it was an ordinary place to live, but for some reason, people from the city seemed fascinated by it. Cindy wasn't too sure why, but it was for the same reason she couldn't understand why everybody didn't dress in fancy gowns and heels...

[adrienne]

Adrienne tilted her head to one side, looking at Cindy sternly.
" Cindy, would you want a flimsy, impractical blade to protect you in a fight?"
She said calmly, her lips curving in a faint half smile.
"If so if the blade on the impractical knife broke what could you use for a weapon and why?" She gestured around at the room.
"There are at least a hundred things in this room I could use for a weapon in a pinch if I don't have enough time to get Austin back here and if I don't have my revolvers on me at the time. It's not likely someone will attack me in here again, but it is possible." She said quietly.
"So the key to all of this and everything I'm teaching you is Be aware and pay attention at all times." She snapped the last two words out as she ducked, drew her other dagger and threw it as hard as she could at the practice target to her left.
"You especially have an edge that I do not in battle. The big bad evil guys will not expect you to draw a weapon and go after them to kill them should they attack you." She smiled faintly.
She listened to Cindy talking about her place and nodded, going over to the practice target and pulling her dagger free.

[Cindy Harker]

Cindy found herself thinking about 'flimsy' blades for a moment. A lot of upper class gentlemen she had known were fencers, and talked about it as a noble sport. Those blades seemed light and pretty easy to use. Maybe she could-

Unfortunately, Adrienne picked that moment to throw the dagger. Cindy let out a terrified, high pitch shriek. She was caught totally off guard and terrified. It wasn't even dignified. In terms of terrified screams, it ranked up there with '1930's love interest in a monster movie'.

She blushed brightly afterwards, but luckily, her Cindy-levels of make-up made any change in her skin tone impossible to percieve.
"Um, uh, sorry..." She managed sheepishly.

"Th-th-there's a good reason no bad guy would expect me to go after them..." Cindy stammered. She was about as threatening as a sleeping kitten, that was why. And had the combat abilities to boot. She doubted she could throw the knife TO the board, let alone get it to stick in it.

She let her arm sag, the dagger weighing too much for Cindy to keep holding it up right. Her arm was starting to ache. It showed how little physical effort Cindy was used to. She looked at the blade and gulped, hoping Adrienne wouldn't ask her to throw it at anything...

[adrienne]

Adrienne had control over her expression though she thought she'd end up rupturing something from trying not to laugh and only showing it as a smile.
"Confidence is achieved by practice Cindy." I want to see the guys faces when I take her with me to go hunting next. "And it doesn't take having the faux macho appearance to pull it off, it just takes confidence and knowing what you're doing. Now if you'll come with me we're going to go change clothing and start on simple things. If you'll hand me the dagger I'll sheath it and find you a belt to wear the sheath on." She dug around the practice weapons cabinet, and pulled out a simple belt with very little decorations in black leather but gracefully styled and obviously for a female but in very good condition. She really wished Austin was here now as his presence would probably deter Cindy from thinking she was completely crazy before the end of training. Pulling off the sheath on her belt she felt a little stab of pain but mentally slapped herself upside the head as she put the sheath on the other belt.
Oh stop it you great hypocrite, you have another better set of daggers anyhow that are more worn in to you than those though you've been carrying them around the last two years since you were made second officer and you made them. Eesh go get the older ones out of that box on the top shelf. She snarled at herself, gently taking the dagger from Cindy and sheathing it.
"Put on the belt, it should fit you well. The dagger goes on your hip." She said quietly.
She reached up and took down a small box that held two sheathed daggers and exchanged those for the ones on her belt, they actually matched the belt.
Unsheathing one she tested the balance then tossed it from one hand to the other carefully.
"Brace yourself, I'm going to throw this one." She gave warning this time before she threw the damascus steel blade, sinking it deep into the wood of the practice target.

[Cindy Harker]

Cindy took the belt, and looked at it. She never wore belts, it never came up for her, and she didn't really like them. She put it on with some difficulty, not being used to it, and gave a smile.
"Thanks." She managed, before steeling herself for Adrienne to throw the dagger.

She still managed a shriek, but it was a lot quieter this time. It was obvious that Cindy was very jumpy around weapons when they were being thrown. Or used. Or generally existing. She blushed again and managed a muffled;
"Sorry."

She adjusted the belt a little, feeling it didn't exactly go well with the dress.
"So, um, do you have a changing room?" She asked, obviously still pained by the thought of putting on the clothes Adrienne had given her. She just had to remind herself nobody would see her like that, and it was for training purposes. As long as Adrienne didn't expect her to wear them all the time, then she'd...oh god, how am I meant to wear this!?

She blinked and came back to reality, forcing a smile and trying to not look too bothered by the thought.

[adrienne]

Adrienne couldn't help it, she giggled slightly.
"Don't worry Cindy, I'm not going to throw this at you." She said reassuringly, sheathing the blade and noticing Cindy's expression about the clothes.
" The changing room is the door to the left." She smiled again.
"And after we're done here we're going shopping for clothes for you online. You need clothing that you can move freely in and can work out in as do I as all my clothes are on the verge of falling apart in the exercise wardrobe department."