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Post by Nomz on Oct 14, 2024 20:35:41 GMT
Damian takes the compliments at face value, trusting that one such as Master Splinter would have better things to do than give out untrue words. His eyes trail to the cane as the older man gathers it and walks over to one of the walls. The little green dragon is held up and out where he can see it and his lips purse at the challenge.
His feet are silent as he pads over to where Master Splinter stands, gaze thoughtful. The boy keeps a yard between them as he goes over the possibilities. If Master Splinter had been raised to take over his clan in a manner similar to Damian's, he would not doubt that the old man is more skilled than he is letting on.
Renegade bows at the waist, arms at his sides before rising again. His hood shifts along the back of his neck, but he does not pay it attention. Slowly, he holds out his hand with his palm up and asks, "Master Splinter, may I have the dragon?"
He knows it is a long shot, but the man told him that asking is a good place to start. Perhaps it will work here as well.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 15, 2024 12:25:24 GMT
Master Splinter curiously watched Renegade; what was the young hero planning? He might have looked it, but the rat could have acted in an instant. Yet, he was not expecting the boy to do what he did, bowing first before holding a hand and asking for the dragon. Now, that was unexpected, so he had been listening.
After a few seconds, Master Splinter chuckled.
"Not bad," he said, "I did say get the dragon..." He had never specified it would have to be done with violence, and it showed quick thinking more than anything. It did fulfil the spirit of the lesson.
Master Splinter reached out and gently dropped the glass dragon in Renegade's hand.
"Interesting approach; you are different to my sons; they would have gone at me with all they had instantly." He twirled his whiskers. "It did not show your skills in battle, but I am getting a good understanding of your character, and you've got the makings of an excellent Ninja. Still, a demonstration of skill is also important, so we do this the other way; you will keep me from getting the dragon back... you may leave the Dojo if you wish." He placed both hands on his cane. "I think 10 seconds headstart will be enough."
There was a moment of silence before:
"Ten"
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Post by Nomz on Oct 16, 2024 19:22:43 GMT
Damian blinks in surprise as the old master chuckles and a small sense of pride lights in his chest. His guess was correct. Scarred fingers close around the dragon, keeping it secure from falling to the ground, and Renegade pulls it close to his chest.
"Thank you, Master Splinter," he manages to slip in. The words that the man offers only make his pride burn brighter. It is an interesting feeling to be complimented so much in such a short amount of time. He will need to strive not to let it go to his head.
The idea to run and escape the sewers rises to the surface of his tide of thoughts. He could navigate for the furthest exit and flee into the night. What would that prove? That he is good at escape and running? He is not here for that.
Master Splinter is at 6 when Damian secures the dragon in a pouch on his belt. 5 as Damian puts a few yards between them, pulling his collapsible bo staff from its holster on his thigh. He is at 2 by the time the boy has his gloves back on and is assuming a defensive stance.
He tips his head in acknowledgment at 1.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 18, 2024 8:42:23 GMT
Master Splinter curiously watched as the boy secured the dragon, created some distance, and pulled his staff. So, his idea of protecting the dragon was to defend himself directly? "2" Splinter calmly tilted his head slightly, "1..." What followed was a pause as the Ninjutsu Master looked at his student. Then:
He moved at lightning speed, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. The old rat attempted to kick Renegade, sending the young student flying into the opposite wall. Master Splinter was a master when it came to knowing how hard to attack, so Renegade would not break anything, as that was not part of the lesson. This was to get an idea of his skills.
However, if Renegade was not quick to notice, he might miss that Splinter aimed the kick so that it threatened to crush the bag with the dragon against the wall. Efficiency, not excess, was the path to success.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 19, 2024 2:48:33 GMT
Renegade holds his breath as Master Splinter reaches 1, dragging the second out. His body is loose, breath even, and mind ready. He knew that the old master would be quicker and stronger. All the training with Shiva pays off when Splinter is suddenly in his personal space.
'Block.' Her voice is soft and deadly in his head and he readily obeys. The bo staff shifts in his hands, taking the brunt of the kick, and does not snap the way the scaffolding bar had with Shiva. Renegade can't stop himself from being thrown back and he very quickly takes note of just how fast and how powerful Master Splinter is when his back slams into the far wall.
Standing toe to toe against the master is proving to have been a poor choice as Renegade reaches for his tool belt. He needs a second to breathe, to think past the cacophony of his body reporting injuries. It is the stitching in his side that screams the loudest.
If given the chance, he will drop a smoke bomb and look to inch his way toward the staircase as silently as he can without leaving the cloud. If not, he will dash to the side in order to prevent getting pinned to the wall itself. Either way, his plans revolve around evasive maneuvers.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 21, 2024 15:44:28 GMT
Master Splinter watched as the young student avoided getting the dragon crushed. He could have followed up with a combo, but that was not part of training, and he was here to see what Renegade could do. "No, I do not think so, my young student." Master Splinter said, and with a flick, he sent out a shuriken; it hit the gate's mechanism leading into the dojo, causing the grate to slam shut before Renegade could escape outside. "I gave you ten seconds, and you chose to stay. We must all live with our choices, a ninja more than most."
Master Splinter did not wait for Renegade to reply before he charged in again. This time, he attacked with a combo of blows using his cane and free paw. Sure, the cloud of smoke was a hindrance, but it was still possible for the rat to find the target using other senses... which was a bonus of being a rat.
Master Splinter had trained countless students and was not aiming to defeat the boy; each attack was made at such a speed that Renegade could potentially block or counter. In turn, Splinter was sure to analyze the moves he experienced and get a feel for who had trained him and in what techniques.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 22, 2024 2:17:27 GMT
Damian curses softly under his breath as he watches his only exit slam shut and he turns his full attention to the room around him. He has a slow, silent breath as he waits for his opponent to appear in the smoke, and he is not left waiting long.
A cane comes swinging out, followed by a paw and all Renegade can hear in his mind is 'Dodge.' The boy makes use of his training, focusing on a combination of the defensive techniques that the League taught him and the energy conversation that Shiva has beaten into him. A hop here, a duck here, and a twist there.
He keeps his breathing even, trying to hold his own. Renegade avoids making counters or blocks whenever possible. His intention isn't to try and topple the Master. Damian's only mission is to keep the dragon safe and he does his best to keep that hip away from the old Master. Their movement scatters the smoke quicker than it should and Renegade knows he needs to put more distance between them.
Renegade reaches for a pouch on his belt, pulling free a small, unmarked can with practiced motion and spraying it at Master Splinter like a weapon. If the old Master turns from the spray, Damian will take the moment to back up and away. If he does not, Master Splinter gets a quick burst of neon green silly string shot at his face.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 22, 2024 11:43:13 GMT
Master Splinter did not say anything, but he was forming a clear idea of how Renegade moved, how he used his body, and how he dodged incoming attacks. He was wise to focus on dodging, as blocking could leave him open and excuse the dragon; this was good. Yet, these moves, they were familiar... very familiar.
How interesting, indeed, that there was truth to what he had been told.
When Renegade pulled out the can, attacking Master Splinter with silly string, the rat was hit in the face by the spray, causing his whiskers to get tangled up with neon green strings and making it difficult to see. "Excellent use of resources; every tool at your disposal can be used; such is the true nature of a ninja. Enough to catch even great masters of guard, be spontaneous." He commented, not sounding annoyed by the move Renegade just pulled; if anything, he sounded delighted. "It is a great tactic against most foes; I, however," and Splinter closed his eyes and quickly followed Renegade, continuing his assault. "Don't need my eyes to fight."
Instead of attacking outright, Master Splinter changed tactics and aimed to put the young student off balance, such as swiping at his legs and throwing a few shurikens to stick his clothes to the wall or floor.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 23, 2024 12:29:55 GMT
Renegade is quick to abuse the time the man takes to talk to catch a breath, putting the can back in his pouch. Even his ears can tell that the old man seems happy about the unexpected attack and he makes a note to keep surprising him. He's panting as he swallows, "Thank you, Master Splinter."
He shuts his mouth when his opponent closes his eyes and continues the assault. If vision isn't what he uses, Renegade reasons, then it has to be smell or sound. He just has no idea which.
The lad shows a perhaps surprising amount of grace as the old master tries to unbalance him and take his legs out from under him. Hops, twists, and backflips are sprinkled throughout the encounter. While nothing he does is as showy as Nightwing, he does display a working knowledge of the skills. It is far from perfect and someone better than him could easily take advantage if they truly wanted.
Some shuriken are deflected with sleek, black throwing knives. Others manage to pin the sleeve of his jacket to the wall. Renegade knows immediately that he needs to escape and, without a second thought, slips out of the jacket to drop into a crouch. The action leaves him in just a plain black t-shirt and leaping away from the wall.
Walls and corners are always going to mean death for someone who cannot afford to be caught. Renegade does not have a tool that can produce a loud sound and he sees this as a lack of foresight on his part. It is something he will correct. He does, however, have a vial of Spoiler's personally made stink juice. Renegade decides there is nothing for it as he tugs his gaiter up from where it hangs on his throat.
If not stopped, he would shatter the tiny glass vial and release a most vile smell in the dojo. If stopped, he would return to dodging as much as possible while continuing to break the vial if it is in his possession.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 29, 2024 10:17:38 GMT
Master Splinter saw the potential and the skill. Yes, the boy had a lot of both, to be sure.He did not hesitate when abandoning his jacket; that was quick thinking.
"Yes," he said, more to himself than to Renegade. "Familiar, how interesting..."
The rat was not slow to strike; a quick jab of the cane would aim to send the vial flying across the room, spinning as it hit the floor before looking into one of the walls. Master Splinter had to admire the ingenuity. For being so young, he clearly had experience thinking on his feet.
"You're movements, the techniques." He said, "The movement of the feet, I know them. Are you perhaps connected to the League of Assassins?" Master Splinter was not above using surprise tactics, such as revealing that he knew those moves from before, and if Renegade hesitated for even a second, the rat would go in to try and claim the dragon with lightning speed.
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Post by Nomz on Oct 29, 2024 22:30:30 GMT
Renegade feels a bit off-balanced as Master Splinter talks to himself about this all being familiar. He doesn't react fast enough to keep the vial in his hands, but he doesn't dare to follow where it falls with his eyes. Recent lessons and fieldwork have retaught him the importance of keeping his opponent within sight. Gwen isn't here to cover his six.
All thought clears out of his head as the old master makes his reveal. The change in Damian's demeanor is as swift as a blade cutting through the air. A corner of his mouth lowers in a ghost of a scowl as tries to cover the fear bleeding through his very soul. His hand makes an aborted movement towards his hip where a sword used to hang and he curses his lack of proper weaponry to defend himself with.
When Master Splinter reaches for the dragon, Renegade does not stop him, and the prize is easily claimed. If anything, he tries to beat a retreat to where the gate had come down over his only exit. The mission and the lesson no longer matter. The only thing he cares about is if the old master will strike Damian al Ghul down where he stands.
"There," he says with a more even tone than he feels, "You won. Game over. Care to lift the gate?" The former League member holds his defensive stance, waiting to see if the attacks will continue.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 29, 2024 22:57:11 GMT
Master Splinter examined the dragon in his hand before looking at Renegade. "So I did," he said, " because you just let me claim it. I'm not an enemy of the League if those are your worries," the old rat sighed before returning the small dragon to its shelf and looking at Damian again; he also took a moment to remove most of the string from his face. "My apologies; I did not intend to cause you distress. Remember I told you you're safe in my home? That has not changed." Master Splinter then returned to his low table, taking a seat.
" So, tell me, what do you wish to use your considerable skills for, young master Renegade?" Master Splinter continued, carefully rolling up the parchment he had been working on. " If I should impart the secret Ninjutsu arts from my homeland. What will you use them for?" Master Splinter focused Renegade with his eyes,
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Post by Nomz on Oct 29, 2024 23:19:14 GMT
Damian al Ghul is lost as he watches Master Splinter return the dragon to its shelf, his sword hand clenched around his bo staff. He misses the weight of his blade most when he thinks his life may be on the line. His first reaction is to rebut, to inform the old master that he is incorrect. Everyone is an enemy of the league.
The young Wayne swallows, trying to unglue his tongue from the roof of his mouth and his bo staff collapses with a touch. He keeps to his defensive stance, ready for the mood to swing and change as it often did when he was before his grandfather.
"You have no need to apologize, Master Splinter." He meets the old man's eyes, brown pinched in confusion. "To defend those who need defending. There are many out there who do not have the ability to protect themselves or are forced into a position where they cannot. That is where I step in. I protect. I defend."
Renegade hesitates before walking over to where Master Splinter is sitting, attaching his bo staff to the holster on his thigh again. He lowers himself to his knees and dips his head.
"I apologize for my reaction. Being tied to such a group can be quite dangerous for one like me."
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Post by DornKoon on Nov 3, 2024 15:56:25 GMT
Master Splinter listened. He did not seek to pass judgment on a young man living a difficult life. He had a feeling there were enough of those people in the world willing, even eager, to judge. It must have been difficult to escape from the shadow of Ra's al Ghul, but he was a killer, not a ninja.
"Yes, I can tell you're life has been difficult," Master Splinter said softly, "I will train you. You will become a great ninja before you know it. As a sign of this, I will gift you a weapon of your choosing among those in my collection." He gestured to a door leading into an armoury of sorts, which mostly was a wall with different kinds of weapons used for Ninjutsu. "It will be part of your studies to keep and maintain this weapon, get to know it, and master it." Master Splinter looked to Renegade. "You are correct; many out there need to be protected. Take the weapon you believe will help you realize this goal."
What shape would Renegade's conviction take? Which weapon would he choose, and how would this reflect on his desires and his training path? Master Splinter did not say it, but this was also a lesson if not even a test.
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Post by Nomz on Nov 4, 2024 23:29:28 GMT
Damian's head bows an inch lower as Master Splinter agrees to train him, his heart rising to beat against his teeth. Hope blossoms, threading its roots through his ribs like a stubborn weed, joining the other little flowers that live there. At this rate, he will have his own personal garden hidden under his breastplate.
"Thank you for the privilege of your tutelage, Master Splinter," the boy replies, returning to his manners and his skin fits once again. He rises to his feet, understanding an objective when given one, and approaches the almost armory. Damian keeps his eyes low, avoiding his reflection in the metal of the few bladed weapons despite the near-desperate itch in his palms.
His feet take him to a traditional bo staff, pausing as he thinks of Drake and the countless people he's seen the old Robin save. He thinks of how Red Robin wields the mighty tool and the one attached to his thigh. The memory of Lady Shiva breaking his makeshift bo overtakes it all and he shakes his head, curls moving as he does.
A set of Escrima sticks draws his eye, and Damian considers them. Despite their disagreements and lack of understanding, there are few people the lad could see putting themselves on the line for others more than Grayson. The idea of emulating Nightwing feels wrong in the way that answering a question on a test incorrectly feels wrong. His nose wrinkles, and he moves away.
Finally, at the end of the display rests a set of nearly black, wooden tonfa. They are smooth and cool as he brushes them with the back of his fingers. It is not lost on him that he favors tools that remind him of the men who are meant to be his brothers. The tonfa are heavy, yet lightweight; unfamiliar, yet comfortable. He twists the handles in his hands, watching as they spin in response.
"Master Splinter," he calls, turning and heading back to the man, eyes focused on the tonfa. Damian twirls them again, adjusting his grip so they can turn with the least amount of friction. "What are your thoughts on tonfa?"
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