Posted by Lieutenant Patrick ‘Paddy’ McMillan (CNS) in Side Sim - Gym - New Skills (Open Thread)

Posted by Commander Mwezi (Executive Officer) in Side Sim - Gym - New Skills (Open Thread)

Posted by Lieutenant Patrick ‘Paddy’ McMillan (CNS) in Side Sim - Gym - New Skills (Open Thread)
Posted by… suppressed (28) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Mwezi stood almost perfectly still, focusing intently as he stared at a point on the wall. Then, like a mantis, he moved. His blades struck forwards then retreated back, singing slightly in the air as he swung his arms. A moment later, he was still again, his Fangs back where they had started. He let out a long breath, relaxing his mind and body before turning to place the Fangs back on the rack. He grabbed a water bottle and downed about half of it in one go before re-capping it and placing it back on the bench. He checked his chronometer. Five minutes before he expected his… students.

Mwezi was not a teacher. He never wanted to be a teacher. But… Shara had encouraged him very strongly to “make friends.” And pushing someone away or refusing when they wanted to learn more about you apparently wasn’t good “friend-making behaviour.” So. He’d agree to this little experiment. He really hoped it went well…

Mwezi, XO

bump for paddy and dacascos

As Laila approached Mwezi’s training area, her curiosity was immediately piqued by the captivating sight before her. Mwezi stood with the poise and grace of a seasoned warrior, a true sight to behold. The way his blades effortlessly sliced through the air and returned to their starting position was nothing short of mesmerizing. Clearly, Mwezi’s years of dedicated training had honed him into a master of his craft, and Laila couldn’t have been more excited to have another opportunity to learn from such a skilled mentor.

Summoning her inner calm, Laila took a deep breath before stepping forward to greet Mwezi with a respectful bow. “Greetings, Master Mwezi,” she said humbly. “I feel deeply honored to be in your presence once again and to have this chance to learn from you. Your expertise with the Fangs is legendary, and I’m eager to absorb any fraction of your knowledge and skill that you’d be willing to share.”

With her words, Laila conveyed her genuine respect and eagerness to learn from Mwezi, recognizing the privilege of being his student.

Dacascos, COO

Mwezi ran through a series of emotions at Laila’s speech. Most of the emotions were awkwardness. “No, oh no, no no no,” he mutter/stammered, taking a step backwards, his ears pack slightly and eyes closing. “Please don’t call me Master Mwezi or all of that formal, noo. I’m no master, and I’m not… that’s not…” He put his face into his hands, hiding his eyes. His cheeks were warm from embarrassment, although that wasn’t visible through his thick fur.

Mwezi generally put forth a façade of calm clarity and formality, so this was perhaps a sight into his more genuine self as an awkward sweetheart. Like all of his people, he was energetic and emotional, but his years living aboard human vessels, trying to put up a good impression of his people as serious and skilled, had trained him to be much less emotive. Adding onto that his need to hide his true identity while serving on the Asimov and only having revealed his proper origins to a few members of the crew, it was no wonder he didn’t share his emotions readily.

He was able to recompose himself eventually and let out a small cough, still feeling warm. “Ah, my apologies, Dacascos, that was inappropriate of me. I would prefer that you drop the, ah, honorifics. And the… deep respect. In this room, I am not your master or your Executive Officer. I am, I hope, a friend teaching his friend to dance. Or, I suppose, friends, given Dr. McMillan plans to join us. I’m not an expert in the Fangs either, I’m just an average user. I, ah, I could pull up some Holovideo of a true expert, they are incredible. I appreciate the intent of your words.”

Mwezi, XO

As Laila witnessed Mwezi’s reaction to her formal address, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his genuine awkwardness. It was endearing to see the more authentic side of her mentor, reminding her that he was not just a seasoned warrior but also a friend. “Of course, Sir,” she replied with a warm smile, dropping the formalities.

McMillan arrived a few moments later, dressed in the casual attire often worn by counsellors on Starfleet ships in order to give their patients a more relaxed feeling when pouring out their hearts to people. Paddy often prided himself on his particular ‘Counsellor’s Clothes’ having their own touch of Irish flair. A lime green tunic buttoned at the waist, completed by a pair of light blue trousers, “How’re ye Commander, I hope I’m not too late?”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Mwezi gave McMillan a small nod. “Not late at all, Doc. Dacascos just arrived herself. I suppose there’s no reason to delay. Are you familiar with the concept of warm-up exercises?” He appreciated the clothing the Counselor was wearing and didn’t think it would pose too much in the way of issues for the moderately strenuous exercise they were about to do.

Mwezi, CO

“Believe me Commander,” McMillian said, dropping his kit bag in a corner, “I know all too well the importance of stretching your muscles before a bout of ardouous work.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

“Stretches actually take place afterwards to cool yourself down. Warm-ups generally consist of constant movement such as jogging, jumping jacks, and lunges.”

When McMillan arrived, Laila greeted him with a nod and a friendly expression. “Welcome, Counselor. You’re right on time. We were just about to get started.” She turned back to Mwezi and nodded, acknowledging his question about warm-up exercises. “Yes, I’m familiar with warm-up exercises. They’re crucial to prepare our bodies for physical activities.”

Dacascos, COO

‘What’re you thinking, Lalia? A quick lap of the room?’

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Laila smiled, “I’ll race you,” she said as she bolted off not giving him a chance to prepare.

Mwezi nodded happily at their familiarity with the process. “I’ve already done my warm-ups, so I will prepare McMillan’s practice Fangs while you warm up. Before you do so, McMillan, would you please take this and give it a practice lift?” He held out his own wooden copy of the blade. Built for the relative giant that Mwezi was, he knew it would be too large for the human man, but seeing how he handled the larger weapon would give Mwezi a good idea of how much he would have to downsize the blade for the Counselor.

“Dacascos, once you both warm up, our first lesson will actually be in how to care for the Fangs. Honestly, I should have remembered this last time but it has been a while since I last participated in lessons with, erm… newbies.” He’d been about to say ‘pups’, the common term for adolescents of his species, but decided not to. “On my continent, we teach this first before anything else. The wood must be cared for just as carefully as the metal of a True Fang. Contrary to some of what I told you last time we spoke of the Fangs, they are used as weapons in some cases, but not in the manner you expressed desire to learn. Simply put… they are not used for combat against other sapient beings. They are tools used exclusively for the hunting of animals. Thus, they must be kept just sharp enough to land a killing blow while causing as little suffering as possible in one’s prey.”

Mwezi, Teacher? (Written by someone who knows very little about exercise or martial arts!)

Paddy gave a short whistle, “Can anyone get their hands on these?”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counselor-

“Theoretically you could replicate them, especially the practice blades. They are, however, usually custom-made, tailored to the individual using them. Unless you know the exact size you need to use them properly, it’s best to go to someone who knows how to determine that.” Mwezi handed the larger practice blade to McMillan so the man could feel the heft of it, asked him to swing it around a bit, then took it back. “I’ll be back in just a moment.”

Mwezi left the Training room, expecting Laila and Paddy to be finished warming up by the time he returned.

Laila finished her warm-up routine, then joined the conversation. “I’ve had a fascinating time training with Commander Mwezi and learning about the significance and purpose behind the Fangs. Caring for them properly certainly reflects a deep connection to both the weapon and the environment you’re a part of.”
She took out her own fangs as she prepared for another lesson on how to use them

Dacascos, COO

Mwezi, XO

As Laila picked up her Fangs and prepared for the lesson, “The beauty of training like this. You never know what insights you’ll gain. I have learned that theres a holistic approach. It’s not just about the physical aspect, but also about understanding the ecosystem and the balance within it. Learning to respect the tools we use and the environments we operate in is a lesson that can be applied in many areas of life.”

Dacascos, COO

Paddy flicked the blade around clumsily in his hands for a few seconds before giving out a big huff, “Jesus, these boys are bigger than you think.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counselor-

Mwezi returned with a notably smaller pair of wooden Fangs, (although still bigger than the ones he’d made for Laila) and exchanged them with Paddy. “I have a larger mass and strength than you, so I need Fangs that are balanced for me. These ones should suit you better.”

Mwezi, XO

Laila looked at Paddy with a smile, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Don’t worry, Paddy. It takes time to get used to the Fangs. They might seem imposing at first, but once you find your rhythm, you’ll see their elegance and power. Believe me, I’ve been there too. When I started, I felt like a newborn foal trying to stand. But with time and practice, you’ll develop a fluidity that’s uniquely yours. Remember, it’s not just about strength, but about finding your own balance.”

Dacascos, COO

Mwezi nodded in agreement, waiting for Paddy to experience the feel of the new blades.

Mwezi, XO

bump

“Commander, these are quite the weapons, I think I’m ready.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Laila’s smile widened as she saw Paddy’s determination. She knew it was time to put him to the test, to see how well he could adapt to unexpected challenges. Without warning, she lunged forward with blinding speed, her own Fangs gleaming as she aimed a swift strike at Paddy’s defenses.

Dacascos, COO

The rush of the blow caused Paddy to put his back foot in a compromising position, “Jaysus!” He pushed against the weight, trying to counter the hold.

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Mwezi quickly stepped between the pair, grabbing both of their wrists and letting out a snap and a growl, mostly aimed at Dacascos. “WHAT Did I Say about attacking other humanoids?!” He stood between them, glancing at Paddy to make sure he was okay. “The Fangs are HUNTING Tools and Ritual Focuses, NOT weapons of war.”

Mwezi, Angrr

bump

“Believe me Commander, I’m going to need a lot more training before we do anything like… THAT again.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Mwezi let out a quiet sigh and turned to the Counsellor. “I’m not upset at you, McMillan, you defended yourself as needed from an unexpected strike. You,” he turned back to Dacascos, “on the other hand, are in big trouble. If you ever attempt to attack a humanoid with the Fangs again, I will remove them from you and ban you from further lessons on their use.”

Mwezi, XO

“Eualia was just showing me her skills Commander, no harm done.”

-Lieutenant Patrick McMillan: Counsellor-

Eulailia took a step back, her Fangs retracting into their concealed sheaths as she nodded at Mwezi. “Commander, I apologize for my actions. I didn’t intend any harm,” she replied, her eyes still filled with a mischievous glint.
“I thought it’s important to test limits and learn how to defend oneself, even if it’s just a friendly sparring match. I’ll make sure to follow the proper protocols in the future. And Paddy, I promise not to lunge at you unexpectedly again.”

Dacascos, COO