text ↪ un: うちは

[blackfire]

（ this follows the arrival of the newcomers, simple and direct — ）

If anyone wishes to spar, or finds themselves in need of training in weapons use or martial arts, come to the training room between 0400 and 0900 on any day that suits you.

Whether you possess extranormal powers, skills or abilities or not is irrelevant to my offer. You need only disclose what you are comfortable with.

Comments

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

Damn.

[Zhao didn't even have time to catch sight of that. That was a little off-putting, and not a good sign. But Zhao always did say he liked a good challenge. This looked ready to be one.]

Hey, Mizu-no-Ryū-kun. There you are. You ready for that spar?

[blackfire]

If you wish.

（ he cocks his head to one side faintly, as if studying the man. then: ）

What are your limitations in a fight?

（ itachi that's an asinine way to ask about abilities... local man, 22 ½, considerable jackass. ）

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

Limitations?

[He smirks snidely, arrogant as ever. But realistically here there were plenty of things he could not do. At least compared to others.

His expression peters out as he turns serious and admits:]

Well, I'm no super man. I don't have magic or powers, but I'm trained in martial arts of various styles and-

[He considers for half a second. He did not consider Heat to be magic or special powers but he'd seen the reaction of others to his skills. They apparently thought it wasn't normal.]

...qi control. It's nothing fancy.

[blackfire]

（ if the arrogance grates on him, there is no indication of it. instead: ）

Like the cultivators?

（ it's not especially surprising to learn — it grates on him as much as on wei wuxian to refer to qi, or to chakra as magic, but he was not aware there were other practitioners here. ）

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[Zhao shook his head.]

Nah, that shit seems more fancy. I don't do anything that showy.

[Their control over qi was quite magical even if it wasn't literally magic. Zhao hadn't learned much about it, honestly, but some of the things he'd seen looked impressive.

(Zhao's moves could look impressive, too, for someone without abilities but he thought they were pretty average. World differences, amirite.)

He was curious but he'd never gotten the chance to ask one of the Cultivators. He probably should. But he always felt awkward around them. His upbringing was so similar and yet so very different.]

Fighting is fairly simple where I'm from I guess. [shrug] No magic or super abilities or enhancements or even that fancy of tech where I'm from.

[blackfire]

Hm.

（ is the only acknowledgement he offers. ）

Very well. Then let us begin.

（ he'll fight at that level as well. sparring without chakra has become more common than not among the people here — there are not many people who can match him in matters of speed.

doesn't even occur to him that he should maybe

offer info in return

look, he's private. ）

[essenceofdeadlybeasts]

[Well, that was almost a let down. He shouldn't have expected anything else though. Somehow he was already beginning to pick up on that. Itachi just was the silent and aloof type.

That was all right with Zhao. He dropped down into a practiced stance, very Chinese martial art form. He waited but it occurred to him that Itachi was probably also the patient type so for once he might have to act first.

So he did. Zhao moved forward and, eyes gauging, looked for a point of attack. He liked to open with something simple until he knew what his opponent was capable. Then he'd get into the fancier, crazy stuff to throw them off. He began with a few quick punches, almost boxer like but with a more...feline feel.]