eighteenth jump;

[mathematically]

CHARACTERS: any and all
LOCATION: Gravity Couches and beyond
WARNINGS: maybe some swearing, or even some violence, and more than likely some implied (and possibly explicit) nakedness.
SUMMARY: Another month, another jump, another round of new faces.
NOTES: Keeping up with the tradition and copy pasted like always from the last one 



You wake up in darkness.

There's a breathing tube jammed down your trachea, and you're suspended in a tube of clear blue fluid. Upon registering your level of consciousness, the gravity couch drains the fluid surrounding you and retracts the breathing apparatus; the doors in front of you open, and you're deposited on the floor of a stark, sterile medical bay.

You are not alone.
There are others who have come before you, others who are awakening beside you. Some may be familiar to you, perhaps even friends. Others have much less amiable plans. Some are merely alien and inexplicable, but there are always those who might mean you harm.

After you catch your breath and your vision returns, you notice a number on the inside of your forearm. Maybe it's a familiar number. Maybe it means something. Maybe it's just a number. But the number—completely unique to you—is a tattoo, and it does not come off.

If you enter the room adjacent to the medbay, you will find a small locker with your number on it, surrounded by rows upon rows of identical lockers. Inside, you will find a few of your personal items, a communications device, and a ship's uniform in your exact size. The comms device is fully powered and connects directly to the ship's network; it's your only means of communication beyond physical conversation. Upon turning the device on, a neutral, automated voice will say, "Please take the blue lift to the passenger quarters." Any other attempts at communicating with the rest of the network are met only with static.

This is your welcome party.

Comments

[ironsights]

[ he steps aside quietly when russia demonstrates, watching intensely. gives a small nod when russia steps aside, glancing down at his own hand to mimic the way russia had curled a fist, tensed his forearm. (it makes sense, that russia would be skilled at hand-to-hand combat. kazama's proud, but he won't turn down good advice.)

and while it's not quite as powerful as russia's blow when he mimics that punch, he's got the form down pretty accurately. it's swift, efficient, and kazama recoils his arm with the snapping motion of a spring. looking over at russia afterward to ask silently, 'like that?' ]

[za_rodina]

Better. [Russia nods and watches, gesturing for Kazama to do it again so he can make sure he's getting it right. And in truth Kazama is doing well, his movements are quick and efficient, nothing superfluous about them. It'll serve him well to remember that especially here.]

You fight often? [He means hand-to-hand, but it's rather clear that Kazama hasn't had much training here, probably just what he's picked up off others or through experience.]

[ironsights]

[ he looks carefully to russia for feedback. to be honest, kazama lacks a lot of proper training, rough around the edges, and it's good to learn something properly -- to make himself more efficient. that nod makes him perk up a bit, and kazama promptly throws a few more punches. he still holds himself a little stiffly, far too mindful of russia's advice, but he'll hammer it into himself so he acts upon it naturally, soon enough. ]

Not close-quarters. [ another punch makes the punching back twitch on its chain. ] Sniper.

[za_rodina]

[Russia quirks an eyebrow, head tilting a bit but that statement isn't met with much surprise. Kazama definitely doesn't have the build of someone who's used to fighting, but a sniper--well, from what Russia's seen he has the temperament and the patience.]

Yeah? Useful skill, that. [He himself had spent enough time in the last world war and after, keeping that skill polished. Here he didn't have the option, no rifle and the lack of proper spaces to do so. But it's okay, he can handle himself without it.] You're too tense. D'you mind?

[Russia reaches forward slowly, giving Kazama enough time to pull away, and tugs him further back from the punching bag. With efficient movements he nudges his arms out of the tense shape they're in.] Keep your arms loose, only tense at your wrist so it does not break. It offers you more power, see?

[He punches the bag like Kazama had been, shoulders tight and movements stiff. There's one look over at Kazama to make sure he's watching and then Russia shakes himself, leans back easily on the heels of his feet, shoulders in line with hips. There's a quick movement, like a snake striking and the bag reels back under the force. He does it twice more, slower, the only constant movement the straight line of his wrist.]

Don't put so much weight on one foot when you move, you want to be fluid. Makes it harder to predict and easier to react.

[ironsights]

[ kazama doesn't exactly show it, but he's conscious enough of how well he adheres to the likely stereotype of snipers: quiet, focused, a bit of a loner. he'd heard some off-hand ribbing about it back home, heard whispered comments behind his back about it, and he'd kind of expected russia not to be too surprised by the revelation.

but what he hadn't expected was for russia to actually step in and nudge him more into shape. kazama can't help tensing up even more at first, unused to anyone touching him, but he does adhere to that advice well enough -- looking down to try and memorize the position russia's fixed him into.

like some sort of model student, kazama watches attentively -- giving a small nod when russia looks over to him. and even discounting the obvious difference in bulk between himself and russia, he can tell that the simple change in positions done magnitudes in improving the power of that blow. ]

... got it. [ another curt nod, and kazama tentatively tries shifting into that position, mimicking russia's movements with fairly good accuracy. it'll take some time to get used to, but he doesn't mind training a lot ]

Thanks. But -- why ... ? [ kazama looks up at russia after that. he's not necessarily suspicious or accusing russia of anything. just wondering why he's bothering to help. ]

[za_rodina]

[Back home sniping had been part of the reason Russia had even survived the sieges of the second world war and it's something his people learned simply to feed themselves. Russia can respect a sniper, because he knows the mentality.

Still, Kazama tenses up further and Russia pauses where he stands, hands pulling away. Patience might not always be something he has in excess, but give him a job or a goal and he works with single mindedness, it comes through here in the way he simply nods and crosses his arms as Kazama tries out the form. If he was being honest, Russia never thought he'd be teaching someone Systema, it's something he tends to hold close after all, if too many people knew how he fought then what good would it be?]

Sniping is practically useless here. [He says it with a bland tone, as if Russia was talking about the weather.] Doesn't hurt to know how to fight just in case. Plus, you've got some power, be a shame to waste a potential sparring partner.

[Well, whoever said he was selfless, anyway?]

[ironsights]

[ that blunt comment does make kazama flinch slightly, his knuckles paling as he clenches his fists tighter. though he keeps his gaze fixed on the punching bag, his brows furrow slightly. it's something he's well aware of, the fact that sniping isn't quite as useful here as it is back home -- but it's rather discomforting to hear it worded so blandly. still, he masks that frustration well enough, whiffing a punch through the air that adheres fairly well to the form russia's taught him.

what makes him look up is that last comment, and kazama blinks. seeming to consider that phrase, 'potential sparring partner' for a few moments before exhaling softly through his nose. it's as close as he'll ever get to a wry laugh, and he gives a small shake of the head. ]

... 'll try not to disappoint.

[ after all, he remembers that last fight between them all too well. if a sparring match with russia is going to be anything like a repeat performance -- he'll have to practice a lot beforehand. no good in getting his ribs broken again. ]

[za_rodina]

[That's something he's picked up from Netherlands, the bluntness to his commentary, but still Russia thinks its true. If he hadn't spent so much time learning different way to fight Russia would be in the same boat Kazama's in after all. A smile edges at his lips, amused.]

Don't worry, won't break your ribs next time. [Or try not to. But still, he offers a faint explanation, not an apology, but probably the closest he'll come to one.] Don't usually have my control together right after a jump.

[ironsights]

[ a tiny twitch of his eyebrow at russia's comment. while he can understand the post-jump disorientation that russia's referring to, it's not exactly reassuring -- just because russia will be sober during any potential sparring matches doesn't neutralize his monstrous strength. ]

I'll do my best, then. [ another soft exhale that's close enough to a laugh. ] As thanks for this lesson, at least. [ yes that's the most roundabout way of asking for possibly more instruction like this in the future. ]

[za_rodina]

[It hadn't been meant as a reassurance, not really. But Russia's trained and learned and thought Kazama wouldn't know it, one of the biggest taboos they have is harming a Citizen.

(Russia doesn't mention that he's broken that rule.)]

Well if you insist. [He demurs, smile nearly wicked with mischief.] Just keep practicing and you'll get better.

[A pause, head tilting.]

I'm here pretty often, wouldn't mind makin' sure your form's right.