[ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru was planning on working out in the holodeck, but as soon as they announced the ship was docking on Pacifica, he was on his way out. From the cargo bay if it got him there faster! He needed to be on a planet to absorb natural energy and he badly needed to recharge that seal.

Option A:
Unlike the last place the Enterprise docked, which was filled with mountains and exciting terrain to traverse, this wasn't all that interesting. He didn't like water and he certainly didn't like lounging around. But if anyone's up for exploring, Minoru is always happy to tag along. Perhaps a trip to the Submersible Research Institute would put him face to face with some sea snakes.

Option B.
The beaches are a lot more secluded at night - perfect for an after-dinner run or sparring session in the sand. As long as no one gets hurt, they won't get in trouble, right? Right.

Option C.
Minoru promised a few sparring matches, at least one of which would necessitate the holodeck. With natural energy flowing through his chakra pathways and a steady supply of it available until the ship takes off, he can use all his power without holding back!

Comments

Option C

[lightning_raiden]

Raiden had stumbled into the holodecks once already, but this time he was glad to be making his way intentionally toward them. He was quickly navigating about the ship, and having the faint pull from the orbit of a nearby planet certainly helped him with his orientation.

He has had opportunity to meditate, and while going planetside was tempting, he was facing certain concerns about any other entities seeing his arrival as threatening. So many years fighting Outworld and the Netherrealm, he didn't want to start something in a universe that wasn't his. Well, he didn't want to make things worse than they already were, anyway.

Arriving at the appointed spot, he was looking forward to a friendly match, something he really hadn't experienced in a long time. Training the potential champions had never really allowed for a relaxed meeting, and it had been many years since Bo'Rai Cho had goaded him into some light exchanges.

With eyes aglow, he looks to the touchpad at the door, checking to see that it is the right spot, and if it was occupied he would be certain to make his way inside.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru was already inside, scrolling through the list of locations that would make for good sparring matches. There were certainly a lot of options. He wondered if he could make it randomly change location every so often. That would make things especially fun. He still struggled with the controls, but had gotten a lot of help with them lately.

"You made it!" he looked up, grinning. He was looking forward to their match as much as he looked forward to the ones he had with Kaylin. But with Raiden, he knew jutsu wouldn't just be allowed, it would be encouraged!

<3 just, you win all the things

[lightning_raiden]

If Raiden knew he was sparring with Kaylin, there would be many questions being asked already. Instead, Raiden pauses just inside the doorway when he's greeted, giving Minoru a bow from the waist, one hand clasped gently over a loose fist in respectful greeting.

"Of course. I would not miss this." There's that strangely familiar smile, and Raiden's eyes glow a little brighter as he straightens again, walking over so he was beside Minoru.

"How would you like to begin?" They could certainly go straight to sparring with Jutsu, but they certainly had time with so many people planet-side taking demand off the holodecks. They could provide each other a demonstration, or try a match without using their abilities (which would be more difficult for Raiden, but do-able). Raiden had brought no expectations, just glad to be having the opportunity.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru returned the bow, one hand making the seal of confrontation. It had been a long time since he'd used the formalities he learned at the Academy, but wanted to match Raiden's level of respect. (He already matched his good spirits!)

"I guess the real question is how much we like surprises."

He already knew that Raiden used lightning, and Raiden knew he used fire, but that was the extent of it. He'd never seen Minoru's Sage Mode, and Minoru didn't know what other skills Raiden likely had. Anyone who understands chakra could have a wide variety of incredible techniques at their disposal! So, whoever is that complacent with being surprised is either too naive to know better or skilled enough to handle it. With Minoru's easy-going demeanor and scruffy appearance, people often assume the former.

"And how do we end? When one of us says they concede?"

[lightning_raiden]

Raiden already figures that Minoru is hardly naive, again having a precedent, and not desiring to be caught underestimating his opponent. When Minoru asks how they shall end the match, Raiden gives a gentle huff of amusement.

"We might be better off with a timed match. The limit can be adjusted as needed after each round, depending on our state." Raiden was perhaps a bit too stubborn to be willing to concede without the place either being destroyed, or he was nearly unconscious. At least this way they would have an end-goal instead of a brawl, and while he didn't care if they kept any sort of 'points' for hits, at least the timer would force them to pause, take stock, and reset if they desired to continue.

As for the fight itself, he was all-in for starting off at full strength and getting right down to business.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru could be stubborn as well, had large reserves of energy and often proved difficult to take down. But he was not above gracefully conceding a match when he had lost. He wondered how many rounds they would get through. That was a challenge in and of itself.

"Okay. Computer... Random program with exotic landscape. No other inhabitants. Three minutes and then stop." He looked to Raiden for approval. In theory, that should work. And since it wasn't one of the programs in his personal folder, he wouldn't have a home field advantage.

[lightning_raiden]

Raiden nods in agreement, curious to find out what strange world the computer selects for them.

He watches as the area around them shimmers briefly, and then a landscape takes form underfoot. A dry, craggy landscape of mostly sand and some large, brown boulders fill the space that had been previously empty. There's plenty of space for them to spar unimpeded, but the cover could provide some interesting turns in the situation.

"Timer has been set for three minutes. Please acknowledge start of countdown." The gentle voice from the computer intones. Raiden backs up, not turning his back but clearly relaxed since they have yet to start.

"On your mark, Minoru." He settles easily into a wide-legged stance familiar to Nan Quan.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru leisurely back-flipped into the sand, feeling it between his fingers and toes. He even hopped on one of the boulders in an effortless hop.

That, Raiden would soon discover, was one of Minoru's biggest strengths. He was ridiculously acrobatic for being in his early forties. The stance he took supported that style. It was very loose, very relaxed. Much like his personality.

"Start countdown!" he shouted, and the computer responded immediately.

"Three - Two - One - Begin."

Minoru didn't even need to move to make the first strike. He took a breath, and exhaled a ball of fire about half his size. It was the perfect environment for fire jutsu with no need to worry about collateral damage. The blast was aimed at Raiden's legs, to make him move rather than do any significant damage. How he moved would give Minoru some valuable insight, and might create an opening for his next attack.

[lightning_raiden]

After this opening attack, Raiden will not hesitate to agree with the 'dragon' title Minoru had used earlier. He jumps up to avoid the strike, and keeps going up until he hovers parallel to Minoru's height on that boulder. Even as he comes to eye-level, lightning is flickering around his arms before he points one hand straight at Minoru, sending a wide arc of lightning at his position.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru expected Raiden to jump, but he didn't expect him to stay up there! The giant rock wasn't going to be the high ground for long.

When lightning appeared around Raiden's arm, he knew what was coming, but not exactly what form it would take. He stayed light on his feet, and when the blast came toward him, he bounced over it. He wasn't quite close enough to turn that into a kick, so he rolled underneath him, content to dodge for the time being.

[lightning_raiden]

Raiden hovers, but slowly moves sideways to drop himself on top of a rock as he sends a much smaller volley of lightning bolts in Minoru's wake. They're not really aimed at anything other than the heels, more attempting to herd his friendly opponent instead of hit him. Minoru is light on his feet, and agile. He makes a difficult target to hit in the first place.

When his feet settle on a rock, one that is not quite as high as the one Minoru had originally perched on, Raiden stops and surveys the area while wisps of lightning gently dance around him.

Option A

[tactlenecks]

Archer's usually only a fan of beaches if there are bikini-clad women in close proximity. Beachside bars are a bonus as well.

Without either of those - well, what's the point?

He bumps into Minoru as he's unscrewing the cap on his pocket flask - which leads to a bit of scotch spilling down onto the sand and a mildly-annoyed super-spy.

"Watch it, short-round."

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru bounced back in the sand. He probably should have been looking where he was going, but at the time, he was just glad to feel actual ground between his toes.

"Short-round?" He wasn't short or round, so that didn't make much sense.

[tactlenecks]

Don't worry, Minoru, you're not alone. Little of anything Archer does makes much sense to a rational human being.

"Yeah. You know - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? Little Chinese kid?"

A beat, then Archer rolls his eyes as he takes a swig from his pocket flask.

"Actually, just forget I said anything."

And then, as he stows his flask in his pocket:

"So - do you have any idea what this place is supposed to be? Because I'll be honest, I was hoping there'd at least be a tiki bar around here."

[itmeanstruth]

It makes even less sense when you're talking to a man whose principal mode of entertainment is sparring with giant serpents. Modern movie references are lost on a wandering sage from a ninja world.

"A lot of sand. A lot of sky. A lot of ocean." he stretched. "It's a planet. That's the important part!"

There was supposed to be a town somewhere, wasn't there?

[tactlenecks]

If you count the floating cities as towns, yup!

"-well, okay. I'm guessing you've done this before." Phrasing.

"What's your name, anyway?"

[itmeanstruth]

"Been on a planet? Wouldn't mind if they left me on one, really." He laughed. Of course, he had his reasons. Most of his powers depended on the natural energy of whatever world he happened to be on. Flying around in space meant conserving those powers at the risk of running them dry.

"My name's Minoru. Pleased to meet you."

[tactlenecks]

"Archer."

(Only his mother calls him Sterling. Anybody else would just be - weird.)

He takes another drink from his flask, only to find it - empty. He frowns, shaking it gently to hear nothing swishing about inside. Yup, empty.

"You wouldn't happen to have any hair of the dog on you, would you?"

[itmeanstruth]

He glanced at the flask, and it actually took Minoru a moment to realize what that colloquialism meant. "I don't. Maybe Guinan?"

He didn't often other seeking out alcohol, given his tolerance to most poisons.

B

[the_blood]

There was more to Pacifica than the beaches, but they made a reasonable place to rest for the night. Ailyshia was not in the least overly eager to return to stale recycled air and artificial sun. Not after a whole day of the real thing. Even with Craft, she was not at her neatest, her bare feet had the look of dirt rinsed off in the ocean, and you could tell she had changed because that dirt went under the he of her long skirt. There was mud caked under her fingernails and in the deep crevices of the skin on her hands, though the palms were clean enough. Her long sleeved shirt had the sleeves half rolled up so she could appreciate the night's breeze. She was in a good mood. Her head was tipped back, hair trailing in the sand, and she even managed not to kill the idiot male who had whistled at her. She had managed to keep Theiorn from killing him, which had been the bigger achievement. For the moment, she was just enjoying the fresh natural air.

Theiorn was... irritated. But more he was exhausted in every way a man can be exhausted. and having the Queen out in public while he felt so weak was not doing his nerves any favors. He had done his best to stay to the shade during the day, but his headache was beyond tenable, and he was awake only due to sheer stubbornness. He looked unwell, but there were no others in the Court, and the Queen had told him to return, but refused to do so herself. So he couldn't. So he was sitting there glaring a bluff at anyone who looked that way, to keep them from getting too close. His jewel around his neck was dull, almost tapped out. There needed to be more males in the court, or he wasn't going to survive.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru was out for a midnight run. Like Ailyshia, he had little desire to be cooped up on that ship. Feeling actual grains of sand beneath his feet and real wind in his hair made him the happiest man on Pacifica, simple as that.

But as he started out, he came across Theiorn, who seemed a little rougher around the edges than usual.

"Hey, you okay there?"

[the_blood]

Ailyshia, having no idea just how bad a shape he was in since he wasn't telling her, shrugged. "He is welcome to return to the ship when he wishes to," she said simply.

"And the Lady knows why I will not," he said just as simply. His head was ready to kill whatever male needed killing to make this headache go away. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort offered, so he remained irritable.

[itmeanstruth]

Minoru glanced from the lady to Theiorn. "Maybe you should take her up on that offer. You look like you're going to pass out..."

[the_blood]

"The Lady has no other court here, where she is, it is my duty to be," he said simply.

"He is being stubborn, like a child. When he needs to go in, he will, he had better," she said sharply.

[itmeanstruth]

If Theiorn were a shinobi, he would say the man was almost completely out of chakra. And it didn't look like he was going to budge. Surely, there was a reason for it, right?

"Is there something about this place that's unsafe to you two?"