4529/Blind Fury

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Blind Fury
Date of Scene: 29 December 2020
Location: An abandoned barn in upstate New York.
Synopsis: Ruth and Mystique do a bit of training
Cast of Characters: Raven Darkholme, Ruth Aldine




Raven Darkholme has posed:
The dojo that Mystique has elected to use is an abandoned barn not so very far from Xavier's itself. She takes a bit of amusement in the idea of training a counter-operative right underneath old baldie's nose. She's taken the form of a slender redhead, long-haired and wearing a traditional karate gi, barefoot on the mats that she's laid out as she welcomes Ruth and offers her similar clothes.

"I think some simple hand to hand is a good start. We might try some swordplay soon, though. Your abilities could give you quite an advantage in a duel and there's something artistic in the idea of a blind swordswoman."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Finding the place was easy enough; Ruth hardly ever needed to be guided but if she knew that she did not want to be bothered by the other people within the school, she would take her rotweiler with her. He followed along happily, a bag of chicken which was baked and shredded, chopped into pieces for his grazing, a bowl of iced water off to the side as well and her bookbag being used as a pillow as well as the clothes she just removed.

"Yes." Ruth says in agreement, hand to hand was great, and the thought of being a blind samurai was almost fitting. But she could barely even begin to imagine how she would be in a fight, let alone right now. "Did your wife know how to fight?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique holds her tongue to keep from releasing a sharp retort to that. She didn't talk about Destiny, generally. She didn't talk about anything about herself, about her feelings. As far as most of the Brotherhood knew, she didn't have any and, if she did, she'd cut them out of her heart to make it easier to slice throats.

But she knows that Ruth is different and that she isn't trying to needle her. No need to punish the girl for it. "Irene preferred an intellectual life. She could shoot and knew some rudiments of self-defense, but she had no interest in being a warrior. If her visions had not driven us to the cause, she likely would have never hurt a fly."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Already in tune with the future, Ruth stood upon the mat with her feet shoulder length apart. She squats completely, attempting to loosen up her body with the future teachings of Mystique, well.. five minutes into the future of Mystique, rolling her shoulders and jumping to at least attempt to exude more energy than she's ever put out in the past couple of years.

"No, yes.. I lead a quiet life after graduation, and I died hard five years after." Ruth confesses. "Pardon, all my futures end quick. I dream of it." Little confession for the soul, which has Ruth moving into position. "I wish I could have met her." Probably the most sane thing Ruth has ever said..

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique isn't disturbed by the girls predictions of her death. A lot of people would die in the wars to come. Why should Ruth be any different? Raven herself had no guarantees of survival, although she did seem to have a talent for it.

"I do, too. I think she could've helped you a lot. She had decades to learn to control her gifts. I wish I had more of her insight to offer you," she says.

She starts out with some simple judo, bringing Ruth into a clinch. Raven is larger and stronger, of course, but she starts the basics of teaching Ruth how to use her smaller frame and leverage in order to throw or entangle opponents, both of them taking turns getting thrown onto the mat.

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Raven was also athletic in a way that Ruth was not. Not to mention, Ruth could pack two pounds of food into her tiny body and never had to work it off. So the exercises, while knowledgable, were a bit taxing. And they kind of hurt. Ruth was already breaking out into a sweat, her back a little drenched, taking the little moment she's allowed to drink some water with a hand pressed to her back like an old woman.

Finally, she pours the rest of it into the bowl with MacTaggert's own drink, who was helping himself to a tour of the abandoned barn.

"Sorry, do you have something of hers, yes?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique has some water of her own. Nothing has even come close to taxing her, of course, but that's to be expected. "Learning to take bumps and bruises, gaining stamina, that's part of the training, too, as much as learning the maneuvers," she says. "I have an advantage in that, since I can be as fit as I please, regardless of my shape. But I don't apologize for being better and neither should you when you are."

Mystique considers the question and says softly, "I have many things of hers. Many remembrances."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Ruth wasn't ashamed, she was T-U-R-D tired! But Ruth always made it a habit to never complain, as she always saw herself as a bother .. whenever she took a breath. But it was good to actually speak to someone, even if her own broken mind/thoughts was nearly put into overdrive.

"I would like something. Yes. Small to sleep with, sorry." Ruth says, figuring what better way to learn from someone.. than to actually see them as they were in the past? She was aware of how intrusive it was, but if Ruth was to be even remotely what Irene was to Mystique and her goals, she had to try.

MacTaggert returns to settle against the bowl, taking a few sips of water before her whimpers a whine.

"No." Ruth says to MacTaggert. "Pardon, we must train if we are to help her, yes." Clearly, talking to the dog. "Go run and come back." Ruth snaps her fingers and claps, pointing off to the distance. MacTaggert grunts and trots off to make his rounds and earn his bowl of iced water.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique would, indeed, normally snap at anybody making such a suggestion. Irene was hers and hers alone. But she recognizes that Ruth's position is unique and that, if Destiny can help provide guidance in any way, she would. No one would've sympathized with the girl more than Irene.

"I will get you something," she says, thinking of a pair of earrings that she keeps at one of her cache houses. Peacock feathers, a bit gaudy, but that's what Irene liked about them. She was a demure woman, in many ways, but she liked a bit of flash now and then.

Mystique tosses a stave for Ruth to catch, not giving any warning because she knows none is needed, "A little sparring with practice swords and then we'll be done for today."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
"Yes. The earrings are nice." Oop!

Ruth's hand was already out to catch the stave, but it didn't mean that it was perfection. She stumbles clearly, fumbling with holding on to it, dropping it onto the floor, picking it right back up to hold and handle as best she could. This was weird to hold, a little bit off balance. She wasn't going to complain though, as it didn't seem fitting or right for her to do so.

There was hesitation, she wanted to ask for more, maybe money for more food and clothes, her aunt was tapped out but..

"Wh..sorry, what do I do?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"Try swinging a bit, just getting a feel for the weight of the thing. It's not quite the same as a real sword, but it's close enough to get you started. I'd rather wait until you have a bit more of a grasp to give you a real blade, just for your own safety's sake," she says.

After going through some basic stances, she starts with a little light work, "Concentrate, try to predict my strokes to parry," she says, just doing some very light swinging.

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Ruth does as she's told, swinging the stave low at first, then bringing it up high. A little smile curls her lips at the thought of her whipping it around like a helicopter, but fades almost instantly as soon as MacTaggert returns. As he lumps over to his place, Ruth finally focuses, holding it with both hands, then one, then trying out a few stances that she's seen in random minds and dreams she happened to have..

The little light work was simple, save for a few clicks against her fingers, her twisting the stave and attempting to practice proper footwork while moving. She does predict, which was unfair, but midway through there was a change, she turned herself 'off' to make it all seem a bit more natural. Attempting to use her natural enhanced hearing to try to hear the movements Raven makes.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique can recognize the shift and approves, rewarding with simple praise on the improvement, "Good," she says. She isn't likely to be gushing, even if Ruth becomes a deadly samurai warrior, but her firm and sincere approbation will mean as much once Ruth's gotten to know her better.

Finally, the swords are set aside and more water is taken, "Anything I should be concerned about happening at that school of yours? Or are they playing possum for the holidays?"

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Practice was over, as much as Ruth wanted to voice her thankfullness, she knew that she wasn't going to get this type of lesson anywhere. "No.." Ruth answers honestly, but she does settle down upon the floor to think. "Pardon, most of the people are gone home, yes. There are a few of us there. Sorry, I am not as a friendly person as I wish to be." She takes another drink of her new water, then pulls the blindfold away from her eyes. She was sweaty and gross, but it was highly likely she wouldn't do anything about it once she returns home.

"There have been, pardon, talks of a party." She purses her lips. "And.. Emma Frost has arrived.. she.. sorry.. seems.. mean. Yes." Ruth nods at that, but a little smile curls and fades again. "I like it. Mean and friendly, yes. Impossible, no. Yes."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique smiles, "A party, eh? And Emma Frost coming under Xavier's wing. Either she's up to something or she's gone a little bit mad. We all do, now and again," she says.

"And do not apologize for being unfriendly. Neither am I, although I have learned to fake it for the sake of the work." she says. "You've done well," she says, "Do you need any money? Come, I'll drive you home," she says, shifting to assume the bearded countenance of a local Uber driver.