deercountry | (open) miyagi-do gathering for new & existing students!

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(open) miyagi-do gathering for new & existing students!

Who: You, you, and you!
What: For members of Miyagi-do, those interested in Miyagi-do, and whoever else might end up there! (Visiting a friend, etc)
When: Some time first half of month.
Where: At Miyagi-do Dojo in Crenshaw!

MIYAGI-DO: A NEW DAY (AN APRIL LOG)

Miyagi-do has seen some unexpected activity in the last few weeks, but has also--fortunately--seen a return to normality. An upgrade, even, where the damage sustained after a student's accidental explosion caught parts of the dojo in the ensuing chaos now gone after hard work hired, with thanks to the builders and those who helped with funds.

Even the sensei of the dojo has recovered from his own injuries, welcoming students--old and potentials--to classes. Along with a few touch-ups to the dojo, there are other changes, new and old, that should be addressed:

1. A (SEMI-)NEW SENSEI

He's been around for a month now, but here's your formal introduction to Miyagi-do's second sensei, Sensei Toguchi. Sensei LaRusso would have introduced him as a...not old, but dear friend from back home who has also learned from the school of Miyagi-do back in Okinawa. Skilled in the use of sais, you may find Sensei Toguchi a different kind of sensei from Daniel LaRusso. But we'll let you see that for yourself.

2. YOUR VERY OWN SNACK PROVIDER

Truthfully, this is a figure who's been around the dojo since the start, doing exactly what he does now...but Daniel LaRusso would not be himself if he didn't take some time to introduce Hakkai to the class as the person who makes their snacks and refreshments. Because Hakkai deserves his thanks, and you cannot escape a dad man like Daniel.

3. ICE BRACELETS: A NEW FORM OF PROTECTION

Miyagi-do has always worked to help individuals with what it is they want out of the dojo. Sometimes, this can just mean having somewhere to meditate and to find comfort in your own body than to focus on the fighting aspect. But Miyagi-do always leans towards protection, and learning how to respond and to engage with danger. It works to help individuals learn how they can use their own powers in ways that they prefer.

And in his announcement for the start of April's lessons, Sensei LaRusso has a bracelet to share to those who want one, after he's explained what they are. They're ice-powered bracelets--not super powerful, but with proper training they can be used as a means of defence. Spread ice over the ground, freeze certain limbs to surfaces, or even use it to shroud an enemy's face just long enough to distract them.

Sensei LaRusso will show how to use the bracelets to manifest the ice, and Robby Keene will also help in demonstrations, as well as with students individually. Dummies and can be used as stationary targets, and are a great way to learn how to disappear the ice, too--especially if you want to focus on using them for actual living targets, which either Sensei LaRusso or Robby can help with (or, if you're really that into getting iced...!).

ENDING NOTES

This log covers the first lesson of April, as well as continuing forward if you want to add extra days and lessons! Please familiarise yourself with what Miyagi-do teaches. Newcomers are welcomed, and there will always be a place to get food and drink...thank you, Hakkai.

Feel free to make your own toplevels on this log, it's meant as a mingle for existing students and those interested in checking out Miyagi-do! You can hang around the snack table, practice some karate, meet the teachers (and food provider...), maybe try out the new fun ice bracelets or.. you know, you can always just hang out with Daniel's Omen. He's a good boy who will stop to get belly rubs from everyone. You can't reject him. Sorry if you sat down for three seconds and are now stuck with a dog on your lap. He will not move.

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See? No need to worry about anything. I promise it's all going to be alright.

[ Even in a place like Trench - with its many dangers, most of which are completely unfamiliar to someone who comes from the sort of world like Daniel's own - he's willing to at least be optimistic about this much. Anyone can learn this stuff as long as they put their heart in it, Daniel believes.

Hence why he can say it with confidence. And with a smile aimed at her. ]

I know it can be a lot to lose a teacher, or the place you're used to learning. But if there's anything I can do at any point to make the transition easier on you, just let me know. [ Daniel is kind enough to accomodate, after all. ] I'm sure you'll find I don't mind many things.

I'm really glad to hear that, Sensei LaRusso.

[because best to start the situation off by showing him the respect a Sensei deserves. and Lexi has plenty of heart, it just went largely unnoticed by people at home because Lexi generally isn't one for dramatics. her sister and her sister's friends had those covered.

and she's grinning broadly back]

I will. I'm used to practicing at least a little every day, but I can run through drills in my backyard if the structure here is different. And I like...goals to work towards. Like a, 'okay, you did this thing, now do this slightly more intense thing and practice it,' kind of thing. If that makes sense?

[ He nods. ]

Sure, of course it does. [ He's used to people - or teenagers, mostly, since that's what Daniel is most used to teaching - having different things work well for them. Knowing that she likes goals being set only makes it easier when it means he already knows it right off the bat.

Daniel moves a hand, gesturing out at the dojo's yard, various students practicing everywhere. ]

We have established times for group classes, but I always keep the dojo open on the daily in case anyone wants to come over and practice even outside of those times. You're free to come here, even if it's just to practice by yourself, in case you prefer being in a different environment than just your own backyard.

[ Pulling back his hand, and seems to think for a moment, humming before he adds: ]

And if you need some guidance, or want to learn with someone, we make sure that usually either me or my co-sensei is here. [ It takes a moment of Daniel looking at the yard from where they're sitting, but he finally manages to spot the man - probably while Chozen is in the middle of helping a student. Daniel points at him. ] That's sensei Toguchi over here. So if you ever come here outside of class, just let us know if you want to train. We live in the house that's attached to the dojo.

[ So it should be easy enough to find them, Daniel thinks. ]

Oh good, thanks! [Lexi knows that this will keep her progressing, but not overworking herself. which is a fear she generally has when it comes to her and accomplishing any task. she's learned to be much kinder to herself here, but she wants to keep it that way.

and she watches everyone practice, curiosity and eagerness written on her face]

Okay, I think I'll go with both? Because at home, it's too easy to just curl up with a book and do nothing. Or experiment with cooking things. So having both structure and another place will help keep me motivated.

[but still again. healthy and willing to forgive herself when she's not perfect. she doesn't have to be a caretaker here, unless one counted her girlfriend]

And I will. [she follows the direction sensei LaRusso is pointing at and Lexi waves awkwardly] Oh. Oh, wow, that's convenient. Are there any particular no-go times, like when meals are served, stuff like that?

Well, as long as you're not showing up in the middle of the night.. [ There's a joking sort of tone to it as Daniel says it, though he does seriously mean that it's usually fine to just show up. They're flexible enough in their schedule, especially when Daniel cares so much about his students.

That last part is definitely why he adds: ]

Unless it's an emergency, of course.

[ He shakes his head. ]

I mean, I do want you to know that if I'm going to be your sensei here, you can ask me for help with other things than just practice as well. This place is dangerous enough, so we've got to make sure we have places to turn to when we're in trouble, right? And if I'm your sensei, I'm going to be here for you.

No. No, definitely not late at night. Maybe after dinner, though? I own the bookstore in Willful Machine and we close at 5:30pm. So add half an hour for dinner and that's 6:00pm. Is that still okay?

[because Lexi tends to be practical to a fault, except for when it comes to Luz. Luz is where she lets her romantic side shine through, but everything else is viewed through the lenses of practicality and efficiency]

I...hope it won't come to that?

[even though no one can. not here, not anywhere]

So, like...advice? Life stuff? That would--I'd like that. My mom did her best, but it's hard to see through a bottle of cheap chardonnay. We could count on her when things were at their worst, but the rest of the time we were kinda left on our own. Which was good or bad, depends on one's point of view.

But. Yeah. I'd really, really like that. Sensei.

[ There's a nod at the idea of after dinner - Daniel sure doesn't mind. It's not like he hasn't made time for students before, after all. But when the other starts about his offer.. well, that's when Daniel goes quiet for a moment.

It's not like he hasn't seen it before. Or heard about it before. He knows that there are parents out there in the world that aren't able to fulfill their duties towards their kids as much as they should, but it stings a little bit each time Daniel has to hear about someone having grown up with that. He definitely leans more towards the bad side of the point of view, indeed.

But he wants to be sensitive about it. So that's why he's quiet for a moment, thinking of how to best word this, one hand idly playing with the wedding ring on his other hand, twisting it before he speaks up. ]

How did you feel about being left on your own like that? [ Another pause, though smaller, and then he adds with a sympathetic gaze: ] I think that's the point of view that matters more than any other, you know.

[she does her best to make sure she can have dinner with Luz, either at her place or at Luz's. it was a tradition they'd formed not long after starting to date.

her mom was probably the easiest one to talk about. her dad was...so much worse. she honestly didn't know if he was alive or dead at this point and she wasn't sure which would be better for him. it didn't help that Cassie had a serious case of nostalgia goggles when it came to him.

and she worries that maybe she said too much. that her mom (and her sister) were a little too heavy]

I'm...used to it, I guess? [she said with a shrug] I have an older sister, Cassie, but she's so caught up in her own drama that she's not much help. We eat a lot of take-out and delivery and I do most of the cleaning. And it's what it is, I'm used to it. But...I like it here better.

.. I see.

[ It's always a sad thought. It's not a new one, not something he hasn't encountered before in this place, but Daniel hates it a little bit each time. The idea that some of these kids had such awful lives back home that they'd prefer this place over that. A place filled with monsters. A place where people die all the time.

They shouldn't have to find this the good option. They should have something better than that, he thinks. ]

I'm really sorry to hear it. [ It feels like such a dumb sentiment to express. He should have something better on hand - but there is nothing better, now is there.

At least Daniel sounds like he really means those words. ]

You shouldn't have to get used to things like that. No one should. Everyone your age should have an adult to be able to fall back on when it's necessary. [ .. He pauses, exhales, and then asks: ] Do you at least have someone like that here..?

[Lexi couldn't let herself think of her life back home as awful. she had once, and wrote (but never produced) a play that was, well. her id was showing all over the place and it probably wouldn't do anyone any good.

but she still liked it better here. here, she could be her own person, not constantly stuck in Cassie's shadow. after all, who'd pay attention to flat-chested, boring Lexi when there was curvaceous, friendly Cassie around? no one.

so she was here and she was staying here if she had anything to say about it]

It's okay. I'm used to it, really. [and it wasn't dumb. she appreciated people's sympathy. sympathy was different from pity.

and he sounded entirely sincere, which helped a lot]

Maybe? I don't know, a lot of other people have had it worse than me, so I don't wanna be all 'oh poor me,' when other people's worlds are really kinda dangerous and they have no one to fall back on. [and she considers] Well, there was Kyle, but now he's gone. Darth Maul has always been really nice and respectful to me, though, so that's good.

[ Oh, sheesh.

Daniel is just going to conveniently ignore that mention of Darth Maul for now. It's a little too much to deal with on top of everything else, and it feels like the least relevant part, so he breathes in and is careful to tuck away any sign of a reaction at that part.

It's better to focus on Lexi herself, without letting any of that get in the way. ]

Hey.

[ Daniel shakes his head. ]

This isn't a competition, you know? It doesn't matter who had it worse, or who had it better. If you hurt at all, then that feeling is valid. [ Maybe the words are a little cheesy, but Daniel doesn't seem flustered by them at all. Instead he just smiles at the girl. ] You don't have to compare yourself to others. If you're already living a better life than before.. that's great. If that's helping you heal from past hurt, it definitely is a good thing.

[is it a sign how messed up East Highland is that Darth Maul is a responsible authority figure to her?

probably.

oh, well. she was born there, but she's sure as hell not dying there. she has Plans for college. and Lexi still isn't used to being focused on]

Yeah?

[Lexi blushes]

I guess so. I know I don't want to turn things into some kind of competition on who had it worse back home, that's rude. And how are those kinds of things quantified, anyway, it's not like a magazine survey where each answer comes with a set number of points. [a little, but still nice. she really, really likes nice] I am. Healing, I think? It helps that I have a girlfriend I can really rely on. And being able to define me on my terms is a huge plus.

[ Daniel slowly nods. It's not an uncommon story in this sort of place, he's found. So many people who didn't have love before back home seem to be finding it here - and perhaps even the support they didn't have back there. It's surprising, the sheer contrast between how crappy this place can be and yet how good it seems to be to people in other ways. ]

That's good. [ Like he said just now. If it's helping her, if it's healing - then it's good.

Though.. ]

And what about the danger in this place..? Has that been giving you much trouble?

[before Lexi came here, she hadn't really realized how bad she actually had it. looking after an alcoholic mother and a beautiful but otherwise useless sister, not knowing what happened to her drug addicted father, trying to cope with her long-time best friend's drug addiction and her relationship drama, trying to be accepted by her sister's friends group because she belonged there, not just because she was Cassie's little sister...here has been so very infinitely better for her, mentally, socially, and emotionally.

honestly, it was worth coping with the weird]

What do you think of it? [she asks curiously, but knowing everyone has their own perspective on things]

Well...I used to spend the better part of a month locking myself in. Or only facing stuff when I was sure I had my girlfriend as back-up. But now I have control over my darkblood powers, I can take things on on my own terms now. At least when it comes to blood abilities.

But I know that's not everything, so that's a big part of why I want to study here.

Well, if I want to teach you anything here, it's how to be careful.

[ Daniel smiles a little as he says it, like it's a joke, but there's something softer around the edges. Something close to worry, or protectiveness. It's not even that he thinks Lexi is particularly reckless. He doesn't even know her well yet, after all.

But it's something he teaches all of his students. ]

Some of the threats here are way too overwhelming for any normal person to deal with. Even with powers, sometimes. [ Still an odd concept to him, but-- he too has grown into his own powers at this point. ] There's no shame in just creating circumstances that'll allow you to safely get away from a threat. Learning how to keep yourself and others safe that way is one of the most valuable skills you can learn in this place.

You and Sasuke have that in common. Both of you want us to be ready, but not actually look for fights. That's unworthy of us.

[she smiles back. she's warmed to him fairly quickly, he's said what she wanted to hear from a Sensei and she thinks she'll do well learning from him. and protectiveness...that she appreciates more than she'll say out loud. she's used to being the other Howard sister, the frumpy and responsible one.

maybe she's still frumpy. maybe she's still responsible. but other people seem to be responding positively to it, so on that level Trench is far superior to home]

That's...you're gonna laugh, but that's exactly what I'm looking for. I have my blood powers, I've finally figured them out, but I'm not the type to look for fights. I just want to be able to defend myself and those I love. And if that means getting myself out of a dangerous situation, I'm fine with that. No wounds to the ego here. And all I want to do is keep myself and my girlfriend especially safe.

I guess that extends to all of Trench, if you really think about it? We all deserve to be safe.

[ The man ducks his head for a moment, letting out a slight laugh. ]

You know, someone I know actually thought we were similar before. [ Him and Sasuke, he means. Though that person didn't.. necessarily seem to mean it in any positive sort of way, hence why Daniel is laughing a little at her making the same comparison. ] I wasn't necessarily sure I saw it, but.. I guess there's got to be something there if you're saying the same thing.

[ He shakes his head. ]

Besides, if he was all for keeping people safe too, then I respect him as a teacher. [ What more important thing is there than keeping your students safe, after all? ] It sounds like he's already taught you well so far.

Really? [but Lexi means it in a positive way, that they're both thoughtful, seemingly both in word and deed. she likes that in a person. she can relate to it. and if the other person didn't mean it positively, that said more about them than it did about anyone else] It can be hard to see yourself objectively. At least it's always been hard for me. I think that's why I struggled with my abilities for so long.

He was all about that. He knew too well what happened when he didn't have that goal in mind. [which might be a bit too TMI, but it didn't stop it from being true] He did. And I'm confident that you will, too.

Thanks for the confidence.

[ There's still something faintly bashful about the way he says it, since Daniel definitely feels the responsibility of teenagers opting to trust you like this, but he's mostly just smiling at Lexi as he says it.

Then he slowly moves to stand up. ]

So, how about we look to see if we can find a gi that fits you among the supply? And if you're up for it, we could already start with some training today.

Sure. I've--well, I've heard good things about you.

[and something bashful in the way Lexi replies. she's been here for over a year, but still has trouble believing she's wanted around at times.

she stands as well]

Sounds good! Both parts, actually.

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(open) miyagi-do gathering for new & existing students!

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(CW: parental alcoholism)

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(CW: alcoholic parent, drug addictions)

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