Four Paths to Power [Action, Open]

[gunbladegrrl]

[A: Lunchtime!]

[Maria always carries that giant duffel bag around with her in lieu of a backpack, and lunchtime is the best time to see why. At a cafeteria table, she's pulled some of the contents out to sit beside her, and... apparently is trying to read three books as well as eat, all at the same time, while another pair of books and several magazines lie stacked on the table.]

[B: Extra-curriculars!]

[The only real hobby Maria has developed in Garden is Triple Triad, and to all appearances... she might not even enjoy it? Anyone who's played her knows she takes it deadly serious, playing to win. Right now she's sorting through her cards, ordering them by some arcane system only she knows, with all the intensity of a climactic battle.]

[C: The Training Center!]

[One things about Garden's weapon classes: they didn't promote type synergy in the slightest. That is, you could learn to punch, and learn to club someone, but you wouldn't learn how to combine the two into a blended fighting style.]

[This made academic sense; after all, generally SeeDs worked in teams, in which a person using a gun wouldn't need to pull a sword, since they have other fighters to engage in the melee. Still, thanks in no small part to her personal combat idol, she had a distinct interest in seeing if the two styles can be blended.]

[So the evening finds her facing down grats with her gunblades in their mounts and a rifle holster awkwardly affixed to said mount where she can draw it over the shoulder in turn. Watch her for a moment, and you'll see her engage a grat, move to swap the rifle with one of her gunblades and back in the course of the combat, then assess when the battle is over -- adjusting the angle and hang of the holster for a quicker draw.]

[It isn't going very well, but honestly, she hadn't expected it to.]

[D: Dorms!]

[Not long before bed, there's what practically sounds like an avalanche from inside Maria's room, followed by cursing.]

Comments

[gunbladegrrl]

[They're two of a pair, and despite being upgraded to a stronger grip not terribly long ago, still look marvelously old-fashioned, with wooden and pearlescent inlays in the grips and stock. They're also magnificently well-cared-for.]

No sir, at least not to my knowledge. I believe I'm the only one since SeeD Rinoa graduated.

[socialdisaster]

(...? Rinoa uses gunblades now?)

[He REALLY needs to catch up. Right now though he just looks at Maria, with a bit of a thoughtful look on his face.] Is Farron your instructor?

[gunbladegrrl]

She was more of a mentor to me, sir. She teaches projectile weapons classes, but is familiar with gunblades, as well as gunblades from her world, which are in fact a transforming weapon with both gun and blade modes.

[She recites her answers like she's being given a verbal examination.]

[socialdisaster]

[A curt nod, and he goes quiet for a few minutes, deep in thought. She was good -- she was really good. There wasn't much age difference between them, but he had the real life experience she needed...]

[With a heavy sigh, he looks up at her.]

...I'll talk to the headmaster about being your instructor. Maybe he and I can work something out.

[He has no idea what he's getting himself into.]

[gunbladegrrl]

[She practically fumbles her gunblades. Hey, she's only professional to a certain limit, and that just went right past it.]

Sir?! You -- mean it?!

[socialdisaster]

[He makes a face.] Don't hold me to it. I don't have a license, so he'll probably say no.

[His expression softens the tiniest bit.] ...But maybe I could tutor you instead.

[gunbladegrrl]

That would be -- amazing! Wonderful! I mean -- please, thank you, sir!

[She's all but staring in shining wide-eyed amazement that completely shatters her air of professionalism and responsibility. Hey, she's a teenage girl at heart... in fact, this is the closest she's come to acting like one since she got here!]

[socialdisaster]

...Right. [He lifts his shoulder in a noncommittal shrug.] I'm out of here.

[His allergy to emotion is clearly kicking in. As he starts to leave, he turns partially towards her.]

I'll send you a message when I get an answer.

[As usual, he doesn't give her a chance to reply, but as he walks away he can practically feel the salute that he's sure she's giving.]