Hitting the Gym

[Caburkad]

Nathan was walking along the walkways of Coruscant on the way back from his job at Zilka's Dinner when he stopped to admire the view. He had grown up surrounded by forest with the closest people being a thirty minute trip away. As such, every now and again, he like to just look out at the glittering city of Coruscant and marvel at the great metropolis. After he was done sightseeing, Nathan noticed that there was a notice board a few feet away. Never one to pass up information he headed over to take a look. What he found was the usual stuff. There were advertisements for restaurants, shows being preformed, even a few low level bounties for local criminals. You know, the usual. Nathan almost turned and left when he noticed something odd. There was a piece of flimsi stuck onto the board with what looked to be a hand drawn advertisement on it. It read, "Combat training offered at Freeworld Gym, training room 5b Mon, Wed, and Thurs at 1800. -Ra". Intrigued by this seemingly random offer, and knowing his skills could use some sharpening, Nathan decided to try it out. "What the hell." He thought to himself. "I've got a few days before that Munn needs me to take him to Mygeeto. Might as well see who put in all the effort to offer this training." With that he grabs the flimsi and searches for a directory.
After a short walk Nathan arrives at the Freeworld Gym. It's not bad as far as things in this part of town go. A little dingy looking but nothing's broken and the front lights are working. All in all not a bad place. He walks inside and after a few minutes, and a short conversation with the desk clerk, finds himself st the door to training room 5b. Pausing at the door for a moment, Nathan takes a deep breath and prepares himself for anything. He doesn't know what's through that door or even if there will be anyone there at all. Centering himself, Nathan pushes open the door to the training room and steps inside. "Hello?" He calls out. "I'm here to see someone named Ra about some sort of training."
@Ra'a'mah Numare

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Having arranged with the gym the use of several different items for hand to hand combat, Ra stood waiting to see if anybody was going to show up. Since this is for training purposes only, they are wooden, the worst hurt they would cause is a bruise.

She's wearing her normal street garb, but is currently weaponless, they are laying on the windowsill next to her. Her hair braided but the little ball not there. It's with her weapons.

Hearing the sound of footsteps in the hallway, Ra turns around to face the incoming person. He's a head or more taller than her and weights about twice what she does.

"Good morning."

Ra says this with a nod to the young man. He appears a few years younger than her, but is built well. She can tell by the way he moves he's not city born. While graceful in his own way, he steps weren't silky smooth. She would have her work cut out for her today.

"I'm Ra'a'mah, but as the note is signed, just call me Ra.
If you have any weapons on you, please set them to the side as we will be using our hands and these for training."

Waving her hand she indicated the wooden knives on the table in front of the room.

[member="Caburkad"]

 

[Caburkad]

Entering the training room Nathan's eyes light upon a short woman next to the window. She is intriguing in her own way. With her long white hair and golden eyes she would be hard pressed to go unnoticed. As she greets him and tells him to discard his weapons Nathan feels a twinge of doubt run through him. He moves off to the side and removes his jacket, placing it and most of his weapons in the corner. Nathan does however keep his knife concealed in his boot, it never hurts to be a little cautious. Now dressed in his boots, slacks, and a plain black t-shirt, Nathan walks towards the undersized woman. He casually picks up one of the wooden knives and says to her, "So you're the instructor huh? You look a little....... small, don't ya think."
@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

A small sound in his boot told Ra that [member="Caburkad"] hadn't quite left all of his weapons to the side. Knowing just how difficult it was be "naked", she allows it to pass at least for now.

"Indeed, I am a little small, but that means I'm quicker and faster than somebody that's bigger."

She watched him pick up one of the training knives.

"Test it's balance. You always want them to balance, if a knife isn't just perfect, then your moves will be slightly off."

Walking over to the table, Ra picks up another of the knives and shows him what she means by balance.

 

[Caburkad]

As many doubts as he had about this instructor, it couldn't hurt to continue. Besides, surprises came in all shapes and sizes. Though, he did give a little snort at her veiled suggestion that he would be slow and cumbersome compared to her. After balancing the wooden knife on his finger to find the center point he started to twirl the knife between his fingers. Sitting still was never one of his strong suites. "All right Miss Ra, what now?" He asked her politely looking down at her to meet her eyes.
@Ra'a'mah

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Taking a step back, looking up [member="Caburkad"] she motions to the clear area and ring in the center of the room.

"Before we begin, I would like to see what you know.
You can either show me in the ring or on one of the training dummies along the wall."

Holding the training knife, she points at one of the dummies.

She doesn't plan to use the Force in her lesson, but will include how to combat a Force user.

 

[Caburkad]

Nathan immediately started walking towards the ring after Ra finishes talking. As he's walking he calls over his shoulder, "As my father always said, no time like the present and no teacher like experience." Reaching the center of the ring he turns around, puts a casual hand on his hip, points the wooden plaything at the shorter woman and beckons with it. "Shall we?" He says with a smirk.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra picked up a second training knife being used to having two in her sleeves. Smiling inwardly at his cocky attitude, she watched him as he stepped into the ring. Her golden eyes took on a new lighter hue as she follows him into the ring.

She gets into her own position for fighting and waits for [member="Caburkad"] to make his move. Both knives are gripped so the blades are up arms and she can use either the weapons or her fists to fight with.

"Make your move."

 

[Caburkad]

Settling into his stance with his legs slightly more than shoulder width apart, his left foot leading, and his hands up to guard his face and torso. He has the knife gripped in his left hand held half way out towards his opponent to ward of her blows. Suddenly he sees the short woman's eyes curiously get lighter in color. "That's disconcerting." He thinks to himself. Testing the waters to gauge what he's up against, Nathan half heartedly darts his knife towards his smaller opponent then gives a snap kick to her right shin before dropping back into his gaurded stance.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Watching his whole body, tightly coiled for the spar, Ra anticipated his kick to her shin. Before he made a weak false stab at her, she saw he was poising himself for the kick. While a move she wouldn't make herself it would be painful if it connected.

"You projected that."

She avoids the kick by shifting her balance, lifting her right leg and setting it behind where it had been before. While in motion, she brought her left leg up to aim a kick at his upper arm. If it connected, no real harm would come to him.

[member="Caburkad"]

 

[Caburkad]

Slightly annoyed at her "projecting" comment, Nathan gritted his teeth and determined to try harder. Seeing Ra send a weak kick his way, Nathan slides towards her. Expecting her to be caught off gaurd by his advance, he doesn't bother blocking her kick. Instead, he slips his left arm around her leg and sends his right fist towards her face. "Now who's the one projecting?"

 

[Ra'a'mah]

He was better than a normal first time student at this she knew now. Allowing him to grab her, she let herself fall. His grip wasn't so tight to keep her from doing so and though it would put her at a disadvantage for a time, she right leg up, aiming her foot for his exposed back side.

"Of course this is a lesson, I'm moving slower than I could."

Her voice professional but friendly spoke up to him from below.

[member="Caburkad"]

 

[Caburkad]

Unwilling to take this fight to the ground just yet, Nathan released Ra's leg and dropped into a low crouch. On the way out he slide the knife along the leg he had just held. Had the knife been real it would have left a thin but irritating cut along her leg. Then Nathan seamlessly rolled backwards out of her reach regaining his feet a few feet away. Settling back into his stance, Nathan decided to taunt his instructor a little. "Maybe a little more speed would be better, seeing as how I just cut your leg like that." Giving her a self-satisfied smirk, Nathan waited for Ra to regain her feet.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Feeling the slide of the wooded blade on her leg, Ra gave him a point. The purpose of that exercise wasn't to win or lose, it was a gauge on his ability. And for him to gauge hers.

"You're good. Never got your name."

She said this as she stood up. Returning his smirk, she stretched allowing herself to loosen up more and prepare for the next spar. He would see the agile strength hidden in her catlike moves.

[member="Caburkad"]

 

[Caburkad]

Relaxing from his stance while Ra stretched Nathan spun the wooden knife around his fingers. "That's because I didn't give it." He said giving her a smile. "Now, are you going to keep talking or are we going to dance?" He emphasized his words with action by settling into his stance once more.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

"Very well, partner."

Though not fully trusting him, Ra did return his smile. A small crack in her façade, there for a moment. Her eyes remained the pale gold they were when she stepped into the ring the first time.

"Let's dance."

Making the first move this time, she came at him with her whole body. First with her fists, a rapid succession of hits at his chest, the down low with her legs. He blocked all her shots, surprising her very much and pleasing her as well. He really was good. Her last move, almost like a ballerina ended with her poised with her feet together and her knife in his face, though she didn't actually connect with the what would be killing blow.

[member="Caburkad"]

 

[Caburkad]

Almost before he processed her words she was on him. Had his father not trained him in self defense for six years he probably wouldn't have made it through that opening salvo. As it was he was barely able to hold his own, blocking or redirecting ever blow she threw at him. Nathan even managed to lift his leading leg out of the way from a low kick. It was at that split second when he was out of position that she proved her dominance and Nathan wound up staring down the blade of Ra's wooden knife. Holding his hands up he smiled and said, "Well I guess you got me. Round two goes to you Miss Ra."

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Ra chuckled a little at the young man, her eyes on fire, pulled the wooden knife away from [member="Caburkad"]'s face. She had clearly beaten him that round and they both knew it.

"Give me just a moment."

She walked over to a box and pulled out two waters and tossed one his direction. Opening hers, she took a drink and allowed Nathan to do the same.

"Now before I continue, do you know how to combat a Force user?"

Her moves last round had all been fast, quick and clean. She had not let up or stopped to allow him to do more than defend himself. While in a normal street fight, it wouldn't be anything like this training is.

 

[Caburkad]

Catching the water that she threw his way, Nathan relaxed and drank whole heartedly. Hearing her ask about the Force Nathan replied, "Yeah, shoot them before they notice you." He said with a chuckle.

 

[Ra'a'mah]

Tipping her bottle at the young man she had to give him credit in quick thinking.

"Ok. Good answer."

And not one she would ha​ve thought of. She's not good with a blaster anyway.

"If you're unable to for some reason shoot them first and wind up in something more physical. How would you defeat one?"

Setting her bottle down, Ra walked back into the ring with him, waiting on his answer.