entrancelogs | first rule of fight club is...

Who: Jeep (

notready)
Where: An empty room on the 5th floor
When: Afternoon of February 13th
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jeep made the offer to teach Charlie how to protect herself, he intends to follow through
The Story:

[ Teaching Charlie how to fight had been bothering him for a while. All those years ago they hadn't had enough time to get prepared. He'd taught her a few things he'd picked up but it was kid stuff. How to punch without breaking your damn hand, things that would work better against a person than an angel. After she'd died well... he'd gotten smarter. Not fast enough but he'd learned. And he wasn't about to let Charlie go running around more or less defenseless with that bastard Gabriel about.

He's in one of the empty fifth floor rooms, getting it set up to work for what he has in mind. Gym mats on the floor, a dummy for practicing her punches on and a couple of wooden practice short swords. Guns were the best defense but a sword wasn't likely to run out of ammo. Once all that's ready he sends her a quick heads up over the network that he's ready when she is.

He tries to convince himself this is like teaching anyone how to fight. Too bad he was always awful at lying, to everyone including himself. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She knew a few things about protecting herself, but that was from guys who thought they had a right to touch her without her permission or people who were just asking for a punch to the nose. But the stuff Jeep had been suggesting is worlds different, and it's not like she can bring herself to say no. It's Jeep, after all. Older, far more handsome Jeep... Oh god. This is probably a mistake, and Charlie keeps telling herself that even as she makes her way to the room he'd told her about. Still, she'd pulled her hair up and had asked the closet for something to workout in--if yoga pants and a tank top could actually be considered appropriate for training.

Charlie pulls her sweater around herself, knocking on the door before letting herself in. Seeing Jeep still makes her a little nervous, but she smiles anyway. This is so weird. ]

Hey. Ready to start?

Ready as I'll ever be. [ For once he isn't wearing layers upon layers of clothes. Back home he'd taken to covering up every inch of skin where his tattoos might show. Here that wasn't necessary, especially not with Charlie. She'd been there when they'd been given to him after all.

He straightens up, and gestures to the gym mat in the center of the floor. ]

But first things first, you better warm up. I ain't gonna go easy on you even if you end up pulling something.

[ Charlie huffs. ]

All that time, and you're still tryin' to boss me around. [ But it makes her smile in a way that she hadn't since she'd gotten there, warm and familiar. It's what she misses about Jeep, wants to ask him so many things about the future and theirs. She can't help wondering how they are, if they had ever... She swallows and promptly plops down on the mat before she can think about it anymore, patting the spot beside her. ] Come on.

If I'm doing it, I ain't doing it alone. [ A pause, and then she adds: ] I don't care if you've warmed up either.

How about this? You get to boss me around when you get good enough to beat me. [ He settles down next to her and begins stretching out without a word of protest. It's a routine for him by now, a few close calls had taught him the value of staying limber if he wanted to survive. ]

I was thinkin' we'd start out with some regular self defense. Then, if you feel up to it, we might practice with a short sword a bit.

That's not how it's supposed to work. [ She wants to point out that there's no kid in her anymore, that should could totally take him, but it seems weird to mention Alex at a time like this. So, she sighs and stretches with him. Honestly, she feels a little out of shape, so this is going to go wonderfully. ]

You gonna teach me how to flip you over my shoulder? [ She grins at him. Lighten up, Jeep. They should have fun doing this. ]

That is completely how it works. You get to be in charge when you[ He can't help laughing a little at that mental image. ] Yeah, I'll teach you to flip me if you really want. But first you gotta learn how to break a hold on someone who's got you from behind.

Just promise to go easy on me, I'm old y'know.

[ It's nice to hear him (and see him) laugh, so she lets it go for now. Him and Bob had been so bad about that, telling her what she should and shouldn't be doing. It's almost sweet. At the old comment, she rolls her eyes. ]

Not that old. [ A little huff, and she keeps stretching. It actually feels kind of good to be doing this. ] Most people ain't interested in attackin' anybody around here, but I guess it's better knowing than not. [ A little pause, and: ] Gabriel's here, you know.

[ In case he didn't. ]

[ He goes still for a moment at the mention of Gabriel. He knows, and old bitter wounds never heal. The bastard had killed his father, had been responsible for so much death. ] ...Yeah, yeah I know. That's why we're here. If he's here then I wanna make sure you know as much as possible.

[ He twists, stretching one his arms and there is suddenly a very loud and audible crack from his back. ] You still wanna insist I ain't old? I never made that sound when I was younger.

I know plenty. He said he wanted to get along, but I don't believe him. [ If there's anyone she could be honest with about this, it's Jeep. Michael had reassured her of the same thing, basically, but that didn't stop a person from thinking the worst. She'll just casually leave out the part about where she'd kicked him and ran away.

Slowly, she gets to her feet and stretches the same way, hiding her smile when he comments. It's still weird seeing Jeep like, well, this. Older than her and kind of handsome in a rugged sort of way. ] Maybe you're just out of practice. You could totally take me. [ She's smug about it. ]

The whole point of this is makin' sure you can take me. And anyone else who might wanna cause trouble.

[ He walks over and takes her hand in his and forms it into a fist. ] Lesson one. Never ever punch somebody in the face or else you'll break your damn hand. Never punch anybody anywhere if your thumb is inside your fist or else you'll break your damn thumb. You're better off punchin' someone's throat if you gotta punch 'em anywhere.

Yeah, yeah.

[ It's not a complaint, but it's not her giving in easy either. Jeep should know her better than that. Charlie doesn't hide her surprise when he takes her hand, curling her fingers just so, and she falls quiet for a second or two. ]

You're talkin' like I've never been in a fight before. Or punched somebody. [ There's a pause. ] You, uh, want me to hit you now?

There's a difference between bein' in a fight and fightin' for your life. [ It didn't really need saying, they'd both had the experience of fighting for their damn survival too often for comfort.

However he releases her hand once he's sure the point is made and gestures to a punching dummy in the corner. ]

And I'm gonna start you out punching our friend over there. He'll complain about a broken nose less than I will.

[ All she does is give him a sigh. It's not like neither of them don't know that, but it's something else for Jeep to keep reminding her of it. Maybe it's a little sweet he's so worried. Still, Charlie almost wants to remind him that she can take care of herself. At least for the time being. ]

Our friend got a name? [ Trying to make this a little more fun, and she wanders over to it, giving the dummy a light punch. ] How am I gonna beat him up if he ain't a real big threat?

[ Her imagination isn't that good. ]

first rule of fight club is...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject