i_speak_softly: (I come in peace.)
i_speak_softly ([personal profile] i_speak_softly) wrote in [community profile] lucetilogs2010-04-16 05:05 pm

(no subject)

Who: [livejournal.com profile] i_speak_softly, [livejournal.com profile] gaijin_ninja, and [livejournal.com profile] thesevencodes
What: Training. For real.
When: Mike gets sent home. Don does some really unimpressive solo training, spends a night guarding Polka, and eventually gets his head back together. Then this happens.
Where: Starting outside C6, and probably ending up elsewhere.
Summary: Don apologizes to Raph for being a jerk in the best way he knows how: by giving Raph permission to abuse him until he becomes an acceptably competent ninja again.
Rating: PG-13
Where has Don been for the past week? Why, making a new bo staff. Crafting the simple weapon doesn't involve slaving for hours over a hot forge in the smithy - rather, he's been out in the woods, using the peace and quiet, the meditative carving of wood, to get his head back together.

He needs to train. He's been doing some work this week, out in the woods, and he's managed to bring himself back to a level that wouldn't make his father cry in embarrassment. (Shake his head sadly, yes - but at least he wouldn't be asking the ancestors how he got such lazy, undisciplined sons.)

Now, though, he needs help. He needs someone on a higher level, who can beat him back into shape, and then beat him into a better shape than he's ever been in before.

Fortunately, he knows such a person. And he knows that the individual in question will be all too willing to do it.

He prods the journal open with his toe. "Raph - come meet me behind the building. ... And don't panic. It's good news."

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, yeah." He huffs a sigh and walks over. Why can't he resist you when you're all logical and guilt-tripping him to death? Seriously.

"You are so needy sometimes. You know that?" But despite the grumbling, he's gonna fold. Just for you. "Okay, do your worst."

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
And up he goes. He is so glad no one else is around to see this.

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
He slips off gratefully, just to see that look of pain on his brother's face. "Don't hurt yourself or nothin'."

He stoops down to pick up the staff again. "You didn't even warm up before this didja?"

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Okay good, 'cause I ain't givin' you a message or nothin'." He grins at that and punches his bro roughly in the arm.

"So what do you want to do? 'Cause sparrin's not really working out."

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
Raph's face falls at the words 'when I'm from.' It's something he's easily pushed out of his mind since the first time they discussed it all those weeks ago. In fact, he hasn't let himself think about it much at all. The idea is too unsettling.

He folds his arms over his chest in the classic emotional shut-down response Don will so well recognize.

"Forget the weapons."

He promptly leans his staff against a tree and keeps his attention trained to the task far longer than what's normal.

"We'll do hand-to-hand."
Edited 2010-04-17 03:47 (UTC)

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Nothing." He does his best to keep his face placid, motioning to Don's staff. "Just forget the bo. C'mon, I'll go easy on ya."

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm askin' you to spar, just lose the bo. I'm sick of beatin' your butt so easily."

He moves into a front stance and motions for Don to come at him. "C'mon, I ain't waitin' for you all day."

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
Raph grunts at the attack and blocks them all relatively gently. He's resigned to watching your form instead of trying to make an ass out of you. "Aim a little higher."

His brother's form is sloppy at best, and not in Raph's own patented rough-but-effective way. And while Raph is usually one with the ability to lose himself in the focus that comes with physical exertion, this just isn't giving him enough of an excuse. Don's got something on his mind, and that always makes his fighting kind of half-assed, which isn't helping him prove himself at all.

"You ain't even paying attention." And neither is he, which is only making him increasingly frustrated.

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
He nods solemnly. "Better." And they continue their slow dance of form-focused sparring. He steps forward, Don mirrors him - give and take, so different from the satisfying rush of battle. Raph's frown deepens.

"If y'know I'm stronger than you, you don't have to block me head on." His memory flickers back to his brother's previous demonstration of acrobatics. "You're smarter than that."

He curls his fist and throws a quick dragon punch at his brother's jaw, then rocks back for a roundhouse kick meant to throw him off guard. "Dodge it."

He doesn't know who Don's trying to impress, fighting him like this. Their styles have always contrasted like night and day. Don is the brains, Raph is the powerhouse, but most of what Don's done today is try to fit himself in Raph's niche and fight fire with fire, like he's trying too hard to be something he's not.

Did Don want to get his shell handed to him?

As the match goes on, Raph wonders exactly how much of this session is actually for him.

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
When Don catches his ankle, he smiles. That 'a boy, now you're thinking.

Raph hobbles a moment with his leg caught, trying to twist himself out of his grip before falling over. But then it becomes very clear that he is falling whether he likes it or not. So he rolls with it, hopping a little on his other leg and using it to tangle with Don's as he gives into gravity.

If he's going down, he's gonna make sure Don's coming with him.
Edited 2010-04-17 19:43 (UTC)

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
His grin broadens even as his shell impacts with the ground. Then Donnie throws the punch and he reaches to grab his fist. "Now we're talkin'!"

Despite what little wriggle room Don's left him, he tries his best to wrap his legs around Don's and push himself off the ground with his free hand. He'll use his superior strength to try to roll his brother off of him and wind up on top, hopefully pinning Don to the ground.

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Raph's back on his feet in an instant, waiting patiently for his brother to get back on his. He holds the defensive stance, waiting for the next attack.

If anything, this little training session has been a wonderful lesson for control and patience.
Edited 2010-04-17 21:14 (UTC)

[identity profile] meanandgreen.livejournal.com 2010-04-17 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Which Raph completely evades. Yes, Raph's always been the slowest of the four, but he's also improved a lot in two year's time. Have a surprise lesson in balance and recovery, Don-san. Your brother's just going to stand here waiting with an amused look on his face.

Yeah, you're not so much fun to actually fight anymore, so he's just gonna bully you this way instead. How...Mikey of him.