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[nomorules]

Hey, Sakamoto Ryuji here.

I can't be the only one with ass kicking on the brain after that invisible dog bullshit. What's the consensus on fighting instructors around here? Did that turn out to be a thing?

If anyone's got the time show a few moves and still taking requests, I got one of my own. I'd appreciate a few tips if you feel like sharing. I'm talking about the badasses that know what they're doing, not just the make it up as you go kind (like me). Hate to say it, but the stuff we're facing in events is a little different from what I'm used to.

Dunno what I could trade for it, but I learn fast! And I'll think of something. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

PS: And if you're looking for Akira, don't worry. Nothing bad happened to him. He just went home. Sorry.

_{[The last bit is the real crux of the message and also the thorn in its side; bundling it in with the request lessens the sharp prick of it. Not by much, but some.]}



I | Exercise facilities + outer grounds

<sub>[Anyone with an eye for blond phantom thieves can usually spot Ryuji adhering to a runner's training schedule, a carry-over from home. Indoors in the weight room, outdoors on the grounds, casual long distance jogs, short distance drills--he's at it most days, alternating between staving off boredom and building on his strength.

Usually time following an event are cool down days, a period to let himself recover from the trial of the week. Not this time. He keeps his foot jammed on the gas pedal with the restlessness energy of someone who has something he has to face but is taking every detour to avoid it. The request for some self-defense pointers had been practical--if the Tartarus event taught him anything (and the Asgard event before that, and the zombie event before that), he could use them--but it's also fuel for the avoidance fire.

Usually there's room for a chat in between squats on the beach or a friendly wave on a run, but don't take it personally if he seems a bit standoffish today. He's distracted, brows set in a flat line, viciously pouring energy into his routine with a nice, healthy contempt for the ground or the horizon, whatever he happens to be staring at.

If someone catches his eye, though, he'll forcibly relax, offering a smile. It comes a beat too late to be effortless, but that's hardly out of place, right? They've all been through a lot coming out the other side of the event meat grinder.]</sub>

II | Training center

<sub>[Futaba. Morgana. Iwai. Yusuke. Ann. Makoto. Haru... Akira. How could he have thought this place felt small? With all of the people most familiar to him--people he'd shared the burden of events with, sat across the breakfast table with, lived with in the case of his two best friends--gone to fuck knows where, Wonderland feels infinitely massive and empty. He could handle this together. Alone, it's... it's hard. Harder than he imagined.

There's still Akechi, and isn't that the height of irony, to be the last man standing with Akechi Goro, out of everyone. He hesitates a while with phone in hand, Akechi's name in the To: field, but his hands aren't interested in sending more messages.

They want to make fists. They want to break.

Those in the training center will be privy to Ryuji, uncharacteristically stoic and grim-faced, slipping on a pair of gloves and squaring off with a punching bag with a frenetic violence to match. Either that punching bag insulted him, or someone didn't burn off quite enough energy climbing stairs in Tartarus.

The flurry is broken up only by a wince after a particularly hard punch. Peeling off his glove reveals a streak of red from split knuckles. Apparently someone also doesn't know when to quit.]</sub>

Fuck, that stings.

_{[Any gym rats handy with bandaids...? Alternatively, maybe you see him taking himself and his bloody hands for a walk to the clinic for something to wrap them with. He's probably not the only needing aftercare after that doozy of an event, even if his most recent war wounds are fresher.]}

III | Kitchen

<sub>[The thought of going back to his empty room in his empty section of hallway throbs worse than his bandaged knuckles. Suddenly it's like his first day in Wonderland all over again, not knowing what to do or where to park himself in a strange, unwelcoming environment.

He ends up in the kitchen, hungry but not really, searching the fridge and cupboards with a listless indecisiveness. He's probably standing in your way as you go to grab something--and will continue to stand in your way until prompted, or he notices you.]</sub>

--Oh, my bad.

_{[And he'll slide to the side to let you get to your business, smile apologetic.]}

Go ahead, I ain't really lookin' at anythin'.

IV | Wildcard

_{[Ryuji'll be going about business as usual in Wonderland post-event, so feel free to come up with your own starter around the mansion and/or elsewhere! Or hit me up for a different one if you're not feeling the locations/prompts.]}

Comments

np, np!

[nomorules]

_{[This guy sure sounds like he knows a thing or two. A thing or two more than Ryuji's unrefined back alley ways.]}

Damn, dude! Hell yeah, I'm game if you are!

c:

[mrsarcastic003]

[Nothing wrong with a little unrefined back alley brawling. It definitely gets the job done.]

Definitely. I'm always looking to stretch my skills a little. Should I meet you somewhere?

[nomorules]

Sure thing, I don't mind taking this in-person. What's your name? How about later on this week?

<sub>[There are a few technicalities to get out of the way before the main event, such as who he should be keeping an eye out for.

In truth, it doesn't much matter to him what kind of people they are or what they study so long as he can get out of his room and be involved in some form. Even testing his skills against someone else might help him exorcise this crushing pressure in his chest.]</sub>

[mrsarcastic003]

Tim Drake.

And that sounds pretty good. It's not like my schedule is all that full these days. I have a lot of spare time.

[Yes, introductions are kind of important. Kind of hard to figure out who you're talking to when you're just... texting.]

[nomorules]

American?

_{[Everything not Japanese sounds like the exotic land of excessive firearms and 128oz slurpees to him, though, so that's not saying much.]}

I appreciate any time ya give me! It's a big ask.

_{[Said with the knowledge he can be a total blockhead and a difficult personality. So. There's that to consider.]}

[mrsarcastic003]

[You say that like you wouldn't go swimming in a gallon sized slurpee if you could.]

Yep. Born and raised in Gotham, which is in New Jersey, if it doesn't exist in your world.

And I don't mind at all. How else am I going to keep sharp if I don't practice?

[Tim is... incredibly familiar with a variety of difficult personalities.]

Training arena in a couple of days? Are you a morning or night person?

[nomorules]

There's a lotta you guys here. Is that in New York?

_{[Jersey is like the Bronx, right? He's super down with American geography, as you can tell.]}

Well, I can prolly give you something new to test your mettle against! I can fight in other ways besides just swinging a bat--haven't met many people who do. But that's easier to show than tell.

Hit me with the day you're free and I'll be there. Night person, definitely, but I could make either time of day work. I'm usually up for warm-ups anyways, but I don't got school to go to bed early for anymore. A little extra cardio in the evening is fine by me.

[mrsarcastic003]

Uh. Close...ish. An hour or so away, but it's not that far.

[Well, that has Tim very interested.]

Yeah? I look forward to seeing it. And I'm much more of a night person too, so that works out just fine for me. We'll work out a time and see how it goes!

[OOC: And I can put up a thread for them if you want?]

[nomorules]

_{[The fact that it's on the same side of the country is impressive, given Ryuji's wild guess. He preens at being a geographical expert. Eat it, Yusuke.]}

Yeah, let's do it! Thanks again for being cool to meet up.