18480/Combat Philosophy

Combat Philosophy
Date of Scene:	01 July 2024
Location:	Sporting Courts: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Today's lesson, fighting dirty
Cast of Characters:	Brian Braddock, Natasha Romanoff

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Brian Braddock has posed:
Still getting used to the SHIELD facilities and systems, Brian Braddock had sent an electronic request for a martial prowess training session, as he wished to improve upon his skill set. He had his powers, but they were a crutch, and not something that had to be employed. He could punch through a steel door, or turn a doorknob, with equal ease. Just as a body builder didn't accidentally break pencils all the time just because they could bench several hundred pounds.

There had been a response that a session had been planned, added to his calendar, and that a trainer would be there. He did not know who it was, so when he walked into the SHIELD training center, dressed for the occasion in STRIKE issued clothing, with their emblem on the left breast of his navy blue athletic polo shirt in white embroidery, an identical emblem on the right thigh, near the pocket. Both his top and bottom were navy blue, like on the Union Jack.

His shoes were also blue, but a lighter shade, with a prominent white trip around the cushion. He had a heart rate monitor combined with a watch on his left wrist, and carried a duffel bag over his right shoulder, which had a towel, bottle of water, toiletries, and a change of clothes. Setting them down next to a bench, he looked about.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
How did one teach someone who could bench press a battleship close quarters combat techniques? It was actually something quite thorough within the SHIELD database. Even without someone in the same weight class to have them match up against. Natasha Romanova was there, meeting Brian.

"Agent Braddock, your files state that you're trained in fencing and boxing. I presume Marquis of Queensbury Rules when it came to how most of your experience went?" She would go to take out a staff to twirl it about and wait for him.

"How much combat experience have you had when it comes to fighting those that have your approximate powerset."

Brian Braddock has posed:
He did not know who or what to expect, but a 5'7", 120 lb Natasha Romanoff was probably somewhat further down the list of his best guesses. "You would presume correctly, Agent Romanoff," he said with a cheerful and often infectious smile, which only grew when she began to twirl the staff about. "You're not about to call me Little John, are you?" As the size difference would fit with Robin Hood and the Merry Man.

Though as he approached, he stopped, pausing for a moment, "ridiculous levels of experience, actually. I have extensive knowledge of the omniverse and have met a number of alternate versions of myself with an identical power set. It's quite the conundrum, fighting yourself, being able to anticipate your opponents moves, while they can anticipate yours."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod over, "Very well. And fighting yourself means that you look your own style in. DO all versions of you fight fair? And hold themselves to your own familiar ways?" She would inquire over.
    "First of all, boxing is a rather standard combat style, even if you take it three dimensionally." Since he could fly and was very used to aerial combat. Likely as would anyone he fought against or alongside with.

Brian Braddock has posed:
"I haven't just fought myself. There's the Juggernaut, Doctor Doom, Mephisto, but most of the time, those I seem to tussle with require cunning and guile, rather than brute strength. I don't believe I've ever actually laid a hand on Arcade, for instance, but he has captured friends of mine on multiple occasions. Certainly intriguing, if you discount the concern for the wellbeing of those in his clutches." He nodded his head in agreement, "I am aware of my reputation as a flying brick."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
The Black Widow would nod over. "Very well. Those are the types that brute force is useless against. But boxing is still at best a moderately effective combat style. It's moves are predictable, leave you rather open to counterattack, and do not apply well to flight based combat." She goes to hold out her staff. "Limit yourself to human levels and attack me in your normal combat style."

Brian Braddock has posed:
"I can't speak for others, who may have less control, but the way my powers have always worked, is that I simply can will myself to exert greater strength than my muscle mass would otherwise imply. Similarly, my durability is just that. I can take a punch. But I have no innate density or other force that might prevent me from going flying when hit. That's the problem I get into when fighting someone like the Juggernaut. If he were to hit me while flying, I might fly back several clicks, before I can right myself."

Readying himself, he adopted a typical boxer stance, arms up to cover himself, and he would strike out, full normal force, knowing that she could one take it. She was a SHIELD agent, and the Black Widow. And that was assuming he even hit her, which he wasn't expecting at all.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha goes to circle around, and then goes to strike at Brian with the staff. Blow aimed at upper neck, strike then twisting about to aim at interior of kneecap. Thent wisting about to try and strike over at his right shoulder where the joint was. Followup attack aimed over at his skull. The strikes were quick and efficient, held back to do little more than daze or leave a sting rather than hurt.

Brian Braddock has posed:
She did say not to use his powers, so he didn't accelerate either. Brian wasn't just a brick, he could move at high velocity as well. He may not have been on the level of a Kryptonian or anything like that, but he wasn't that far off, since there was a limit to just how much someone could reasonably lift, or speed they could go. Beyond that, there were no markers or anything.

And all of that was to say he just got smacked, repeatedly. His head pulled back at the strike to his upper neck, which gave her an opening to go for the inside of his knee, then the shoulder, and finishing with one to his skull. "That... could have hurt so much more if you were trying to," he admitted, realising that she too was holding back.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Her next strike is held over aimed at his throat, where if a blow against a normal human that hit full power, would have crushed his windpipe. "Boxing primarily protects your upper body, and puts you in a position where you have a limited combat range. You can block at your torso, but you surrender the initiative. Blows in turn will go to close and middle range most often, but as you are standing still for the most part you limit the amount of force you can put in your attacks." Natasha goes to hold her staff.

Brian Braddock has posed:
She was making some good points, and the physical demonstration helped immensely. "Yes, you're right of course, my combat training includes rules and regulations. Areas that are legal to hit. Most of the people I might face, and fight alongside, come to think of it, don't play by those rules. Still, it isn't really sporting, now is it?" He gave her a wry smile, as if he fancied the challenge. "I've always thought that we should be better than ourselves, than we were yesterday, and set an example for others."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha would lean on the staff, "The point of a fight is to win. If you're flying away while your opponent is incapacitated, then that's a win. If you and yourself are fighting the same way, then they do the same style. You fight in a way to take advantage of the weaknesses, then you have a rather solid one up. Fight dirty."

Brian Braddock has posed:
"Not very... sporting," he was going to say gentlemanly, but he caught himself in this company, "is it?" She was making good thoughts, it just went against his values to an extent. Becoming a bit more real, and honest, "sometimes, I think this, all of this, is just a game, and that I am merely playing hero. That I am nothing more than a spoiled rich kid, wasting away my time, using my fortune and assets, and that someday, I might get bored, and move on. And then I think about all the danger in this world, the people who can be hurt by it, those I have helped, and those I have failed. And then I don't think that I am playing at all." Looking up at her, a new resolve in his eyes, "How do I fight dirty?"

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
There was a laugh from Natasha, "Not sporting at all. Which is why it's so effective. You're fighting to protect your planet and your cosmos. Why would you want to? Is there something within the terms of engagement that grants you your powers that you cannot? Are you expected to be honor-bound when you fight?"

Brian Braddock has posed:
"My powers have changed, repeatedly, over the years, but they originally stemmed from the Amulet of Right, that I am a Champion, a symbol, of everything... my nation, stands for." When he began, he had to wear the amulet, but in time, it was remade into his suit, and later he was imbued with the power directly. Did every hero go through such things?

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha would nod, "So with them are there restrictions on how you fight? On honor, on chivalry?" Sometimes magic came with such limitations on behavior. One could only fight fair when up against an opponent who did the same after all. Natasha goes to wait for Brian to elaborate further. "And most have to learn on the job. Few are formally trained."

Brian Braddock has posed:
"Not directly, but perhaps implied. I try not to dwell on it. There are aspects of Merlin's work," a pause, "yes, Merlin, that Merlin. It's a long story, too long for a gym setting. But, there are things that concern me." And how Merlin had possibly been manipulating his family for centuries to ensure that he, Jamie, and Betsy would be born. And if he had done it in this universe, he was doing it in all universes. "There's one way to find out. If I were to punch a villain in the back, and make them eat mud, and suddenly lost my powers, I want you to know, I wouldn't hold you accountable. Okay, a little accountable."

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha would nod, "That fits into what I've heard about the entity." Merlin likely doesn't see existence linearly and deals in an infinite number of dimensions with countless separate incarnations of the same individual. Reality is but a game to be played for best advantage. "And none taken. In a fight against someone skilled and precise, even if they can't directly bypass your invulnerability, you still have weaknesses that can be exploited with flaws in your technique. Boxing is a predictable combat pattern. You have to learn others purely for that. Even for someone that you are faster than, if they know how you are going to fight, then you are vulnerable."

Brian Braddock has posed:
"I have something of a love hate relationship with him, and his daughter -- no, not like that. His daughter Roma is," he looked torn, "hard to describe. She is not evil, per say, but sometimes I am not sure she really is a force for good. Kind of like my own personal hand of fate, able to make or ruin my day at whim." Yeah, there was a lot going on the other side of the Atlantic, and beyond. "But yes, you're right of course, shall we continue?" He would be observant, watching, and continuing with her lessons, from boxing, to some other styles, ones that she thought would benefit his physique and existing skill set, as it was best to build off what one knows. He did find himself on his back, or being hurled against the wall a few times, though. And if he could, he'd probably have more than a few bruises from it.

Natasha Romanoff has posed:
Natasha Romanova would nod, "Immortals often don't act in a way that is understandable for us. Their perspective, thier actions do not reflect on a judgemental level that we can grasp. That is not a good thing necessarily. It means they discard things that do not fit thier plans, or can ignore consequences because they think on a long term of thier own actions." And they go back to sparring and fighting.