Training through the Centuries

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona was busy testing out the new treadclimber. Every so often she liked to upgrade the fitness room, and she enjoyed this new machine very much. She had headphones on, and didn't notice Rod when he walked in ::

[Rod Stafford]

Rod had come prepared, he wore trainers, a pair of sweatpants and a vest top. He fell into a jog alongside Fiona on the treadclimber. When he caught her attention, he mouthed the words: Going my way?

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona grinned and hopped off the machine. She was dressed in a yoga unitard and wore a bandana on her head. Stepping out onto the mats, she stretched ::

"Are you ready?"

[Rod Stafford]

"I think so," he said, and joined her in a series of stretching excercises.

"Are you going to teach me how to kill a man using only my thumb?"

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona blinked, then laughed ::

"You watch far too many bad movies."

:: She stood, hands at her sides ::

"Attack me, any way you like."

[Rod Stafford]

Rod almost took up a combat stance, but dropped his fists immediately in defeat. He shook his head and smiled.

"You know I can't just do that!"

[Fiona Devlin]

:: She laughed a moment, but was serious ::

"Stop that! Pretend you're a bad guy. I know you can do it, you watch enough TV."

:: She waited for him again ::

"Now get me."

[Rod Stafford]

He froze for a moment, and in thought stared down at the mat beneath his feet. He decided to go for an approach that was fairly risk free and suddenly lunged at Fiona, attempting to grab her arms and restrain her.

"Have at thee, vile strumpet!"

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona reacted without thought, sending him head over heels in a judo throw. Peering down at him after he landed on his back, her cheeks puffed ::

"Vile Strumpet???"

[Rod Stafford]

"I was in character."

He climbed to his feet and turned to face her, this time with resolve.

"Okay, here we go."

He stepped forth and threw a hesitant left dig at her lower torso.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: Fiona chuckled as he rose to his feet. She sidestepped to his outside and trapped the jab with her left hand, simultaneously punching with a right straight lead that stopped right in front of his nose ::

[Rod Stafford]

"You'll have to teach me that one," he said, staring at her clenched fist.

They broke and prepared for combat again. He looked at little Fiona and sudden pang of sexist shame stabbed at the back of his mind, he silently chided himself for it. He felt very awkward.

"Fiona," he said suddenly, "I'm not sure what to do."

[Fiona Devlin]

"Things have come along way, Rene. Don't worry, I'll teach you."

:: She moved over to the heavy bag, and attacked it with a swift combination of boxing jabs and karate kicks ::

"I did alot of traveling, and learned alot of interesting things in Cathay."

[Rod Stafford]

Rod found himself filled with curiosity. Fiona was the culmination of combat through the ages. He approached her with caution; the last thing he wanted was to intercept a roundhouse kick meant for the punchbag.

"In one-on-one combat, have you ever been matched?"

[Fiona Devlin]

"Aye."

:: She stopped attacking the bag, pausing a moment as she reflected on faces from the past. ::

"I've had many teachers. Nikoleta of Ambracia, Juan Sanchez Villa Lobos Ramirez, Yu Shu Lien ..."

:: She shook herself back to the present, and allowed Rod to try out the heavy bag ::

[Rod Stafford]

Rod nodded in understanding, and reeled back his fist ready to attack the bag. He threw a punch but it immediately lost momentum and he turned to Fiona with disbelief.

"Nikoleta of Ambracia?" he asked, his mouth agape.

[Fiona Devlin]

:: She raised a curious brow ::

"You know her?"

[Rod Stafford]

"Well," he said, and suddenly stopped himself, almost choking on the words.

"She's that... woman they... burned, right?"

He looked like he'd been slapped across the face.

[Fiona Devlin]

"No, Rene. That was Joan of Arc."

:: He looked guilty. Very guilty ::

[Rod Stafford]

"Oh," he said, and shrugged.

He was quick to lay into the punchbag; thud after thud, he knew how to punch, at least.