( video | un: jaguar )

[scarcastically]

'Sup, ship mates. You've gotten the low-down from Newt already, Dusty's managing food and Grandpa Barnes is still passin' the buck as always . . . I figured I drop in my stuff too. A while back, I had a few people ask about self-defense classes and training.

And I figured that's useful 'cuz the last mission definitely went hairy and people got hurt. I'm happy to offer up some tranin', sparring or hell, even weapon maintenance or setting you up with some basic gear.

I got the qualifications. Did a stint in MIT, but also did a couple of active war tours 'round Afghanistan and Iraq, was a Navy Seal. Trained in a couple of martial arts disciplines. Ain't too shabby with swords and shields along with guns.

You're welcome to hit me up and we can start training. Skill's the best asset you got and you never know, even with superpowers or magic and whatever, to have an extra edge.

If that ain't your thing, I'll hook you up with some basic flash bombs. No fuss.

Comments

[scarcastically]

[ uhhh. ]

Not . . . seal. SEAL. Stands for Sea, Air and Land. It's an army unit.

[savingthrows]

[ It's a good thing he can't see her face right now, because 14 year olds hold a lot of power in telegraphing misplaced judgment. ]

If it's named for seals. Why do you call yourself a jungle cat?

[scarcastically]

Maybe I like cats.

[savingthrows]

[ Eleven hums, as if this makes great sense. Cats are nice - even if they don't like her powers much. Still - you can pet them. Unlike seals, who are in the ocean, and therefore you can't pet them. Waterproof logic. ]

Are you a bad man? You said army.

[scarcastically]

[ erik has to pause at that. ]

Well, the army's pretty shitty. Not gonna lie. But I haven't been part of it for a while now.

So yeah, definitely had my time as a bad man. Won't excuse it.

[savingthrows]

Pretty shitty.

[ She repeats that slowly. As if filing it away more memory. That will definitely be an expression she reaches for more now. ]

You were bad. But. You're better.

[ An earnest statement, not a question. Eleven thinks most bad men don't admit that they were or are bad, so perhaps that's a point in his favor. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik cocks his head. ]

Could be. Depends on what I do next.

[savingthrows]

Bad people are killed.

[ It's not a threat by any means - Eleven says it as if it's a universal fact, just because in her experience it's true. Bad people kill good people. And then other good people kill the bad people. And sometimes a monster kills both - a monster like the demogorgon. Or a monster like herself. ]

[scarcastically]

[ erik purses his lips a little at that. not in consternation as much as he wonders how much he wants to tackle that subject. ]

Usually. It's karmic. Do bad things, bad things revisit you.

[savingthrows]

What is... car-mick?

[ The pronounciation is a little off, Eleven's face scrunching up in confusion over the unfamiliar word.

It frustrates her - not knowing words. She's fought hard to gain as any as she has, but there are a lot more that she doesn't know. And if there's one thing she dislikes, it's feeling stupid. ]

[scarcastically]

[ hmmm. ]

It's a play on karma. It is the idea that your actions have consequences.

[savingthrows]

car-mah.

[ Got it.

... kind of. She parrots anyway, because that's how she learns: ]

Do bad things, bad things visit.

[scarcastically]

[ the corners of his lips quirk upwards. ]

Yep, that's it.

[savingthrows]

[ She grins, pleased. ]

Like giving someone the medicine.

[ Giving someone a taste of their own medicine, but close enough. ]

[scarcastically]

[ that's definitely one way to put it. ]

Yeah. Like medicine. Takin' their lumps.