[Video] Oooooops.

[knight_light]

[The feed fizzles on, something big in the way for a moment. It soon becomes apparent that it’s a giant metal foot. The Link is turned slightly on its side, and angled so it’s looking up at Drift and Wing. It was apparently Drift’s foot in the way.]

[The two are facing each other, moving in slow, deliberate movements. It’s almost like a dance, but not, and way too slow to really be...anything. What are these hippies up to?! Whatever it is, it’s clear that Wing is the one slowly guiding Drift through these odd, slow moves.]

[And Drift has clearly had enough of this. He stops, not hiding his frustration very well at all.]

...Seriously, though. we've been doing this for weeks. I think I get it by now. Would it really hurt to pick up the pace a little or-- or do something else for a change?

You are improving, Drift, but perfection takes time.

[Wing looks thoughtful, studying his student for a moment.]

Would it help to see the results of what all of the slow control will result in?


[Drift huffs slightly and straightens up, planting his hands on his hips and giving Wing a shrug.]

Couldn't hurt. As things stand now, it feels like I'm getting nowhere.

All right.

[Wing takes a fighting stance.]

You will do the first kata I taught you. Nothing more, nothing less. You'll go from start to finish as quickly as you can, understood?

[Drift nodded, mimicking Wing's stance.]

Quick as I can, got it. Say when.

Now.

[Wing says it even as he lunges at Drift. What follows is an impressive flurry movement. Wing strikes at Drift fast and hard, and Drift moves as though in response to block and dodge, despite the clear shock on his face. It’s a fight, it’s a dance, and for a moment it seems this may end with Wing not landing a blow on Drift at all.]

[Those experienced in combat may be the only ones to realize that from one movement to the next Drift’s footing ends up off, and so leaves the mech wide open to attack. Wing doesn’t hesitate to strike with a kick to Drift’s side. BAM!! Drift stumbles. He's able to regain his footing pretty quickly, but it's already too late. He knows what's coming next.]

Wait wait wait--

[This is lesson time, Drift. With a grab, a sweep of his leg, and not much more than a tug, all of which Drift should have been able to block had he managed to finish the kata, Wing will toss Drift aside, sending him tumbling across the ground.]

And that is why these kata need to be second nature. You lost your stance at the end, else you'd still be on your feet in front of me.

[Drift just stares up from the ground, clearly grumpy but not outright complaining. Yeaaah this was kind of his own fault. He waggled a hand in the air dismissively]

Okay, okay. I'll take my time with it.

[Wing smiles and steps up, offering Drift a hand to pull him back to his feet....and then gets a shocked look on his face, gaze going to the Link just beyond Drift's head...]

Oh...

What? Is something broken?

[Drift totally doesn't get it and starts prodding at his face with his free hand, y'know making sure nothing's actually broken.]

Wing?

[Wing covers his smile with one hand, making a soft buzzing sound.]

No, no, nothing's broken. But it seems we just put on a show for the residents of Haven.

[Drift gives him a confused look and glances around, finally spotting what Wing had been talking about. And then he looks absolutely mortified because wow. Wow.]

Oh hell.

Comments

[deadlydoctor]

Not in a temple? [Funny, Knock Out has 2 rooms in the hub too.] You don't trust the acolytes?

And back in the day you also had a master who kicked your aft, like you did to Drift?

[knight_light]

Not in a temple. I didn't feel quite right staying in one of the temples, not without being able to meet my host. [motions at Vector's glyph on his shoulder.]

[He chuckles.] I did. It's part of the nature of learning.

[deadlydoctor]

Is that the real reason? [Either Wing's too polite for his own good or he's hiding something. Knock Out wonder what is it.]

I can tell that you learned well. [Those movements, yo.]

[knight_light]

It is. [It honestly is. Temples are supposed to be sacred places, and he doesn't even know the deity offering him a room to stay in. He's much more comfortable in the Hub for now.]

Thank you. I've practiced for many vorns.

[deadlydoctor]

You are really something special, Wing. [That was said as a praise, even if it might not look like it.]

You are welcome.

What about drift, did he live with you in crystal city?

[knight_light]

[He smiles and shrugs to the first.] I try to live by certain standards.

[And the question about Drift? He laughs!] Well...yes, though not my choice. He'd only been there a few weeks before...things happened that brought me here.

[deadlydoctor]

How come you never joined the Autobot side? You would have fit in perfectly.

Things happened? With the war?

[knight_light]

...When I left Cybertron my priority was getting people to safety. Those unable or fight, or unwilling to choose a side, were caught in the middle of something they wanted no mart of. Once away from Cybertron our focus, my focus, was on getting everyone settled somewhere safe. Protecting Crystal City was my duty, not getting involved with a war that had been going on for eons by then.

[To the last he....nods.] Partially. [But that's Drift's story to tell if he wants.] We had run across a group of slavers when Drift and I met. They wanted...me actually, and those with me. They'd been trying to find immortality, and had watched our people over the ages, always there. They were hoping to find the secret to immortality within us, I think. [a shrug] Anyway, things were set up that required at least a few of us to face them, so I and the rest of the knights of Crystal City went out to face them. [He...hesitates, because this is a really awkward thing to say, you know?] I...didn't survive that fight.

[deadlydoctor]

I don't think there was anything like that in my universe. Either you chose a side or they chose for you. I'm surprised that no one came after the people from Cristal city to 'convince them' to join the war.

Ah, a common misunderstanding, among organics classes mostly. We can live for so long they believe we never die. If only...[At that last words Knock Out winces very slightly.]

I'm sorry, Wing.

[knight_light]

I have no doubt they would have, if they'd been able to find us. We made sure the people of Crystal City would be safe. [And it's his fault some of them are likely facing that war now...]

[nods] Drift had told me they were...modifying themselves, and hoping by adding parts from Cybertronians that they'd finally gain the lifespan that we had, if not actual immortality.

[He smiles and shakes his head.] I knew what I was getting into. I did it to protect people, I would do it again if I had to make that decision now even knowing the outcome. [In many ways he knew he was going out to die when he first volunteered. That was when he thought going alone would work, but even then, he knew the odds were slim with only the knights leaving the city to fight.]