fandomtownies | Combat Training For Adults - Atlas Gym [Thursday evening]

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Combat Training For Adults - Atlas Gym [Thursday evening]

"Last week we worked on balance," Max began, reminding those who might have forgotten and explaining to anyone who might not have managed to make it.

"This week we're going to be looking at another important aspect of combat." His sudden grin was one his old Fandom students would probably recognize as boding ill. "Endurance."

"If you're fighting someone who's got about the same level of skill as you do, often the winner will be determined by who can fight for the longest. And no matter how good you are, you can't win in every situation. Being able to outrun everyone else can be a very useful thing."

"So today we're going to be running. Once around the island. We won't do this every week here in class, but I did want to make sure everyone got a feel for it. And I encourage you all to take up some sort of endurance building exercise. Because sometimes the best choice in a situation is to run away, and it's important to actually be able to follow through on that choice."

"So, if you'll follow me outside, let's get to running."

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Enjoy the evening before Max tells you what's on the agenda.

Reno had decided to check this thing out after hearing about it on the radio, sure. And...

Well, he was wearing one hell of a smirk when he heard what the exercise for today was, yes. A lap around the island? Seriously, that was it?

Reno would do three. Possibly before most other people finished.

Max caught that smirk and returned it. Hey, you had to start easy for the newbies, right?

Well, duh. What good was taking on a bunch of rookies if you went and killed them before they ever did anything worthwhile?

"Not a bad idea, holdin' a group like this," Reno mused, sauntering up to Max. "Considerin' the kinda shit that comes down around this place, and how it's usually the kids takin' it on, yo."

Max snorted. "That's pretty much exactly what I was thinking. At the very least, it'd be nice if we managed to keep the adult population from being a burden on the kids..." Max wasn't sure the adult population was ever going to be saving the students, but...

As a guy who proudly called Fandom High his Alma Mater, Reno could totally vouch for the kids' ability to keep themselves safe, yeah.

"Funny how it's always the usual suspects gettin' involved in fightin' down whatever hits, ain't it? Skywalker, Deadpool, all them. It'd be nice to see some new faces steppin' in and actually bein' able to hold their own, zoto." Reno's smirk widened a little, and he offered Max a hand. "Name's Reno."

"Max," he answered, taking Reno's hand. "I take it you've got some training." That wasn't really a question.

"Experience, too," Reno agreed. It wasn't like there was much point to keeping this sort of thing to himself, so long as he was here. "But since there ain't no Fight Club no more, and I don't wanna look like I'm tryin' to take the reserves group over again by showin' up, I figured I'd pop by to see what this is all about, yo."

"Makes sense," Max agreed easily. "The kids do like their independence, don't they?"

He sounded more than a little fond.

"And then some," Reno laughed. "I was one of 'em myself, yo. Helped kick off that group along with Arthur an' Leto. If some so-called 'grown-up' decided to step in an' tell me what the hell to do, I would'a shoved an electrified baton so far up their ass they would'a been spittin' sparks for a month."

And he would have laughed while doing it, too!

"I suspect you're not exaggerating either," Max laughed. Whether he approved or not wasn't entirely clear... It was entirely possible that he did, though.

And it was also entirely possible that Reno really didn't care one way or another if anyone approved.

"Wht reason do I got to exaggerate? If I was tryin' to impress people, I'd just show 'em. And I ain't got nobody to impress, here."

Max laughed. "I'd feel hurt by the implication that I'm not worth impressing, but I suspect you feel that way about most everyone." He cocked his head slightly, eying Reno and wondering just how low in the single digits the other man's list of people to impress was.

Well, he could count them on one hand, and it consisted almost entirely of Rookies. Because if you couldn't impress the Rookies, the odds were low that they would actually try to learn anything from you.

"Damn near," Reno laughed, shrugging. "I'd say I was sorry, man, but I ain't got nothin' to be sorry for. You spend your whole damn life trying to make the world think you're better'n all that, and they'll start expectin' it from you even after you wear yourself down."

Once again, speaking from experience. Not that he was going to let that show too thoroughly in his expression.

"Anyhow, if I gotta actually try, I ain't doin' somethin' right, yo."

"My sentiments exactly," Max nodded. "And, besides, for most situations it's not such a bad thing for people to underestimate you at least a little bit."

And in response to that, Reno smirked for a moment.

"The more, the better, huh? Never hurts to keep 'em guessin'. Especially if you're expectin' to get a lot of practical experience out there doin' what you're teachin' here." A thoughtful pause. "You been around here long?"

Always good to know if there was someone who could give him a run-down of the invasions that he'd missed while he was away. Preferably one who wasn't a Rookie who would mostly just make him feel like crap because he'd missed a good time.

"I suppose I just failed to celebrate my one year anniversary," Max allowed with an amused shrug. "And while you're new to me, sounds like you're more of an old hand than I am."

"I remember when Hades was vice-principal," Reno agreed, chuckling a little. "And I know where them angels in the preserve came from. Comin' here was almost like comin' home, and I say that knowin' full well that sayin' it makes me sound like some sorta sentimental douche, yo. But I'm thinkin' you must'a seen some interestin' shit in the past year too, hm?"

"Well, I doubt the place has changed so much that it's gotten downright boring." Max grinned. "It sure keeps you on your toes. But it's been something of a vacation from home, so that's been pretty nice."

"You ain't from the most peaceful neck of the woods, huh?"

Really, neither was Reno. But like hell he was going to just up and announce the kind of crap that had gone down in Midgar.

"The weird around here kinda makes up for the calm, I'm thinkin'. It ain't always dangerous, but at least it ain't never predictable."

... Well, except for things like future kids, which you could pretty much mark down on your calendar. But besides that.

"Ah, peace is overrated," Max said with a vague wave that suggested that he thought pretty much the opposite. "But, yeah, unpredictable's a good way to put it. Always something interesting going on."

Millie was back. It was something to do after all.

And learn what Max's students have learned: he's kind of a sadistic trainer.

Piece. Of. Cake.

And maybe Reno was laughing as he went.

Oh no. There would be no running. Not in 3 layers of skirts and proper shoes and this heat. No, definitely not.

"You don't seem to be quite dressed for this," Max observed in something like amusement.

"For running? No," Millie said firmly. "I definitely am not."

About things related to the class. Or other stuff.

Sometimes Max is a bad person.

Okay. Most of the time.

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Combat Training For Adults - Atlas Gym [Thursday evening]

Arrive and mingle

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Run

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Talk to Max

OOC