ten_fwd | [ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

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[ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

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!

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If there was ever an opportune moment for the buzzer to go off, that was it.

With the way the rock bobbled, he didn't dare stick himself to it with chakra, and was forced to either roll or face-plant into lava. But just before hair or horns could get singed, the environment faded to that neutral black grid, and Minoru tumbled freely across the floor.

"Woah, that was close." he admitted, still smiling, from a seated position.

Raiden takes a deep, cleansing breath as the scene fades, standing upright with a spark of amusement lighting his eyes. He gives Minoru a closing bow, that faint smile on his face again.

"I agree. And I believe, on that note, we both deserve tea and good company." Raiden could continue sparring, but they really couldn't have a better draw than that, and it was the perfect point to call it a fair exchange.

Minoru let his Sage Mode deactivate, and he stood to return the bow. A part of him wondered if he could fully keep up one they left the planet and his access to his Sage Mode enhancements were limited. It would certainly prove to be a challenge - and a fun one at that!

"That was great!" He couldn't wait to do it again. He might not have called himself a shinobi, but Raiden fought like one, if not better. "Not many people can use jutsu without weaving hand signs. It's like the lightning is an extension of your body!"

Raiden gives a look that is a mix of pride and amusement at Minoru's statement. He's not about to mention the fact that in his realm, not even mortals need to use hand signs to use their natural element, once they have enough training to summon it in the first place.

"Your own command of fire is formidable." It almost reminded him of a certain Champion he had favored at one point, but they are not someone Minoru would likely recognize by name. "Not to mention your skill in combat."

In Minoru's world, pretty much everyone still did, though the truly skilled shinobi used less. It was his ability to use fire without hand signs that made Isamu think he really might have a chance at all that Sage training. Chakra didn't flow that naturally in many people. (And his genius of a brother had definitely studied enough to know.)

"Thanks." He smiled graciously. "I don't think I've had that much fun in a sparring match since Isamu made Hokage!"

He and his brother must have gone all night, just like the old times. Isamu's dream was about to come true. He was about to take over as leader of the village, and had worked himself up into such a ball of nerves that just had to be unwound! What are brothers for?!

Raiden walked over, offering a friendly hand out to Minoru as he sat on the floor.

"I have enjoyed the opportunity, and would be honored with your company to Ten Forward, if you are feeling up for further conversation."

Minoru took the hand as well as accepted the invitation. With a workout like this, he worked up quite an appetite.

It wasn't long before Minoru had filled most of their table in Ten Forward with a variety of vegetable-based dishes, a big bowl of rice, a plate of fruit and several decadent-looking desserts that (with Guinan's suggestion) all had some kind of weird red syrup on them. God, was it sweet!

Raiden, on the other hand, is helping himself to tea, and a rather small bowl of rice. Normally not one to eat, he's not about to let Minoru sit there and eat on his own, knowing such meals were usually considered social. He might sample some of that sweet syrup, but only if offered. He's just glad for friendly company, and the promise of future opportunities to spar and chat.

Plenty of jokes could be made about fueling that furnace inside of him. He was always hungry, but no matter what he ate, he still stayed lithe and nimble. His father was the same way, though, so even without the large chakra pool, it still would have been in his nature.

"Picky eater?" He nodded to Raiden's rice and tea between bites. "You're welcome to share some of mine if it looks good. I can always get more."

One of the benefits of this world - food was incredibly easy to come by. And free!

There really wasn't a particularly graceful way to get out of that question, or the offer. With a shrug, Raiden gave the best noncommittal response he could, not wanting to make Minoru's appetite and Raiden's lack of one an awkward point of conversation for now.

"Thank you." He does try just a sampling of that red syrup, eyebrows raising briefly as he finds it tasty, but then he's quite content to return to his rice. At least his tea he seems quite happy to work through, keeping both their cups full at all times.

Fortunately, Minoru tended to forget awkward moments fairly quickly. That was good, seeing as he got into them fairly quickly too. He could tell what kind of person Raiden was by the sparring match - and he was already honored to consider him a friend. No need to worry there.

"So tell me about your world. Where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"I have worked alongside many masters in my own realm, but most of my time is usually spent with the Shaolin monks." Granted, Raiden was doing more of the teaching there than learning, but it's a minor detail in his eyes.

"I've also fought alongside some of the clans native to the realm, and I've faced many fighters from outside of it, as well."

Minoru was forever a student - and as he learned on Ten Forward, a terrible teacher. But he was fine with that. It would take a lifetime to understand the mysteries of life, and there were so many incredible experiences to have along the way.

"I travel to a lot of worlds to study and train." In contrast to Raiden, where it sounded like people mainly came to his.

He graduated from his village's Ninja Academy and spent a few years under the monks of the Order of the Sacred Fist, but the vast majority of his life was spent under the tutelage of the Great Snake Lord Elders.

"Maybe, once I go back to Ryuuchi Cave, the Great Snake Lord Elders can open up a portal to yours."

Raiden looks less than pleased at the suggestion, but he's not angry. Just concerned.

"I would caution your Elders against such a thing. As much as it could use skilled fighters such as yourself, my realm is under constant threat from other realms attempting to merge with ours. I would not wish to put yours at risk as well."

"Merge realms?" He asked, leaning in.

Minoru was no stranger to dimensional travel, but while he knew that people could cross between worlds (if they knew the right jutsu, knew someone who did or found themselves on the receiving end of someone who did) this sounded a little more complicated than that.

"Worlds can merge?"

"If one realm is conquered by another, they can. Earthrealm has managed to fend off invasion, but other realms have not been so fortunate." The fewer realms that opened to Earth, the fewer that could be discovered if it fell.

A war that stretched beyond villages and even countries, to include different worlds altogether.. Minoru felt sick in the pit of his stomach. There was no greater tragedy than war, and the empathy he had for all who must have suffered because of this invasion was palpable. Furthermore, if Raiden was here, then he likely had no idea what was happening to his home world. That had to be very difficult to bear.

"Not all merging has to be malicious." He whispered. He also liked to believe he couldn't be traced, but that wasn't entirely the case.

Raiden appreciates the sentiment, a faint smirk on his face at the whisper.

"I would not be opposed to peaceful visitors. And I could always visit your own realm. Once I am returned to mine, I will be free to come and go as I please." Well, as much as his duties as Protector of Earthrealm would allow.

"You know a dimension traveling jutsu too?" Minoru smiled. "My mother figured out how to do it. He crossed over into Papa's world and after Isamu and I were born, he stayed there with us."

Yes, both of Minoru's parents were men. There's a jutsu for that too.

"Isamu can do it, but he gets lost. I never got it figured out, so I kinda have to rely on the Great Snake Lord Elders to open portals for me. I can get back to Ryuuchi Cave, but not anywhere else."

He gestured to the summoning tattoo on his left wrist. It could both summon snakes to Minoru or summon Minoru back to the snakes.

Raiden doesn't question it. Technically he didn't even have parents at all, and yet he had a brother. He glances at that tattoo when Minoru gestures, and that helps explain why he had as much ink as he did. Not that Raiden didn't know mortals who had more than that, and only for ornamental purposes.

"I used it often to travel between the realms. Unfortunately, here I can only move short distances with any predictability."

"I tried to use my reverse summoning here, and couldn't..." He noted. "I don't really know why. Maybe I actually have to be on a planet for it to work."

That was how the seal on his chest apparently worked (as there was no natural energy to speak of in the vastness of outer space), and Isamu was responsible for the mechanical design of both.

"But I'm not ready to leave just yet anyway." He laughed. "I'll still look forward to showing you around my birth village if you ever come."

Ryuuchi Cave, he suspected, wasn't a place just anyone could visit. When he was there, his mother wasn't able to sense his location or follow. It was like he was unreachable by those the snakes did not accept.

"I would be honored to visit your village." Raiden offers a tip of his hat and that faint smile of his.

"Meanwhile, I remain thankful for your company. I will be glad to have it for however long we are bound here together, and hopefully beyond."

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[ota] Putting the 'out' in working out

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