STARS ARE ONLY VISIBLE IN DARKNESS | clanwide training session

[agathe.]

[align=center][div style="width: 500px; text-align: justify; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; color;"]Perhaps it was the nagging sense of pure boredom that accompanied Agathe day in and day out that led her to this decision, a predatory gleam dancing within golden eyes as she situated herself just outside the Observatory. It was chillier than it had been in weeks and the snow leopard's wounded side ached, but she ignored it in favor of contemplation, mind quietly alive as she wondered what words might garner the most attention. With the threat of war hanging over their heads and a killer on the loose, she was tired of sitting idly by and worrying that the Ascendants' lack of physical and combative prowess would get her (and so many others) killed.

She was a Lunar Lieutenant now anyways; surely she had the power to order something like this.

Clearing her throat, Agathe would draw her shoulders back and straighten to her full height, unnaturally still as she continued her survey of the land. "I'm having a training session," She finally announced, elongated canines flashing, "I recommend participating if you don't want to find yourself in a precarious run in with our little murderer." The word tasted like iron on her tongue but she did not flinch, no flicker of emotion - like always - gracing her spotted face. "No partners. We're doing this battle style. Those who have powers, get on the left. Those who don't or prefer to fight traditionally, get on the right. No questions. I'll explain further after." Authoritative, clipped words dripped coolly from black lips, though a certain sense of anticipation clung to them. Agathe already knew that this could go either terribly wrong or wonderfully.

Goddess above, she hoped that it was the latter.

[FUBUKI]

[align=center][div style="text-align: justify; width: 60%; font-family: georgial; font-size: 11pt;"]With training sessions more prevalent around the place than weekly tasks or adults, Ren was quick to tire of seeing them about. Yet, even though each time he attended he was careful not to draw attention to himself, this time the male was standing straight. Every part of him regretted being so open, his paws shuffled in place once he'd found a place to stand and his eyes seemed to wander out of a preconceived boredom, searching for anything but the possibility of having to exert himself in this. Once again, it would've been simple to just avoid the session by staying out of the way and holding himself up in his room, this time he'd be participating just out of respect for Agathe. A much bigger fan of learning on the go, he found himself too at odds with these lessons to care for them otherwise.

The real question came beckoning to him now - right, or left? The revelation that he could morph into a leopard had been rather public, yet since then no such mention had been made of it (mainly because he hadn't been able to transform and show off, no matter how part he forced his body to try and do it). Other powers lay deeper within him, but not keen on unveiling any hidden strengths, Ren had decided on a direction he'd be gliding towards. Perhaps it'd be better for him if the Ascendants thought of him as weak instead of strong, it bit at his ego but it'd mean that the feline could better keep himself on a leash. No words offered and only allowing his fleeting gaze to cast itself onto Agathe for a second, the slightest hint of a smirk would appear in that time, Ren sliding on other to the right.

[Grimm]

[align=center][div style="width:450px; font-size:8.6pt;line-height:1.2;font-family:calibri;margin-top:3px;margin-bottom:3px;letter-spacing:.5px;margin-left:0px;text-align:justify;"]Strange is such a choice of words, given edge within a voice that lacked the weight of emotional output, almost matter of fact. Yet it is there, the draw of that final word as though it bore something more, a want to place something there as slight emphasis leaves it to stick in his mind. Our murderer. High was the chance one counted amongst their number was the one to cause such destruction, leaving within their wake bodies chewed apart as though insatiable hunger was their only want for such.

Lips pressed together and for brief moment eyes closed, gentle sound escaping scarred throat. There was nothing good about lingering on the possibility, permitting those thoughts to rise within a mind that had felt the confusion of chaotic disorder, caught between various thoughts each vying for attention. Automatic and stiff were the movements of legs tucking beneath his belly, lifting him up before a paw slid forward, soil gathering about the toes. For a brief moment he permitted the idea to ignore the call, allow himself a chance to try and sort through all that had transpired within recent weeks but quickly was it pushed aside.

Slight smile touched his lips as he came upon the two, familiar both though he had not been within direct contact with either, names slow to arise. A seclusive child from the beginning it had grown difficult to pull himself from the want to hide away, indulge in simple tasks that brought him some sense of joy, but it had grown necessary. Oh where had the child that had been touched with boundless energy and joyed at the prospect of meeting others gone, buried beneath the pain touching soft coal toned features. Might it be Harland was still within, this child who bore his face and name simply a defence mechanism to allow no further pain, or could it have been removed entirely and this was who he was meant to be.

[ONISION.]

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ONISION M.F.

— WHEN WE'RE IN YOUR BED

[size=8pt]tags - plotting - reference

the ascendants
- lunar lieutenant
mentors watson
10 months old

physically varies
easy to piss off

demihomosexual
homoromantic

tsundere asshole
dating alexander

were-vampirism
known to shift into aloysius

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Onision had walked into something he obviously didn't like- fighting. That was Aloysius' job, and now that the witchling here was hosting the event, Oni tried to walk past the group as if nothing involved him. To be honest, he wasn't even willing to fight or train right now- he had to do other stuff. Like teaching Watson how to read a new book, or teaching him Latin! Yeah!

So, the chocolate feline merely walked off. Almost immediately, he stopped, turning to watch the group instead. Damn, he just couldn't make up his mind, could he?

all you give me is a heartbeat —

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[W]isker

[charlotte.]

[align=center][div style="width: 500px; text-align: justify; font-family: georgia; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 1.4;letter-spacing:.1px"]"Be decisive, baby bro," says the immense tigress as she strides past.

Brilliant eyes the color of the ocean on a stormy day peer down at Onision with a glimmer of amusement. Even from several lengths away, one could tell that her younger sibling seemed to be toying with the idea in participating in the battle training. The way Charlotte sees it, everyone should take advantage of the opportunity to hone their skills. Charlie already knows how to fight, and yet she participates because she does not wish to loose her edge. For others, partaking in the activity may grant them abilities necessary for the current times. With all the battles between the clans of late, Charlie would not be surprised if the clan would have to put their fighting skills to good use sooner rather than later.

With a last encouraging smile directed towards Oni, Charlotte approaches the small group of creatures. Those intimidating grey eyes examine the others' faces, seeming to linger upon Agathe's lovely visage. Hmmmm. She casually strolls over to the left--not taking a seat, but remaining focused on the lunar lieutenant for further instructions.

[BABY —]

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YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME

YEAH, YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T GO BACK, IT'S TOO LATE TO SAY IT'S TOO LATE. YOU CAN'T TAKE BACK THAT YOU SAID NOTHING. HOW COULD YOU DO NOTHING?

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Combat. Endurance. Strategy. Titan specialized in the art of war; the rules and laws of the game had been engraved into his mind as a cub. He knew how to win, he knew how to conquer the likes of the weakest innocents and strongest leaders alike. It was what he had been trained to do. He had been built up as a weapon, and now he was released into the real world, trying to find his place.

It was nice when these training sessions were held. It was pretty much every week now that the clan formed together to work on their battle skills, and Titan couldn't help but be reminded of home. Training was grueling and bone-cracking and exhausting — and while these trainings were not nearly as cruel as the ones he had endured, they were enough to keep him in shape. It really would have been a shame if nearly a year of combat training went to waste.

The lion was the next to arrive, silent and awaiting instruction from Agathe. He was curious as to what her teaching style would be.

[MARIANNA]

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MARIA

6 MONTHS

TAGS

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Maria’s background on training was...foggy.

There was something about the concept of it - of the movement and momentum carrying her forward; of the rush that coursed through her veins and the intoxicating slam of her heartbeat against her ears - that was so satisfying. It felt like art, like memory: like she’d repeated the same sequence over and over so many times that it was impossible to do it wrong.

Just the idea of combat pulled the girl towards the group. There was a thirst to prove herself in her pawsteps; in their eagerness and pressed curiosity. There was a desire, deep down, to know why her usually clumsy mannerisms felt calmed by the objective of attacking someone else. (That wasn’t it. That was never it. It was the action, the satisfaction, the praise.) Maria wanted so badly to know what her history was; why it felt like it was keeping her on her toes for good reason.

So distracted was the young Somali that she sat down on the right side at first, mind having already forgotten what she’d heard in the directions only seconds before. It wasn’t until she noticed most of the clan gathered on the left side did she move, readily accepting that she did not want to be on the losing team. (She honestly didn’t know what was going on.)

An absent, excited hum slipped past bitten lips as she took her seat beside Charlotte, idly tightening the bandage wraps on her paws and legs in her restlessness. This was going to fly out of proportion very quickly, sparks already heating the air around her paws. Her mind was two parts lost to the depths of her subconscious - as per usual - while the other part was solely focused on the goal of both impressing people and proving herself as more than a hyperactive klutz.

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© LEXASPERATED, PENNED BY MIITHERS

[ATTICUS]

▹▹▹▹Despite Atticus already knowing how to fight, the Melanistic jaguar found himself quietly approaching at the call of Agathe, ensuring that he dipped his head politely to her as he listened to her instructions, eventually stepping off towards the right side. Powers. Technically, he supposed he did have some; his senses, on average, were better than most, after years of training had made him more than attentive to every shift and change in the scenery or upon his person, in an attempt to keep from getting caught in a surprise, but at heart he did not fight with any powers like some he had seen. With a soft exhale, he sat quietly amongst the people on the right hand side, his gaze turned to Agathe as he, like many others, simply waited for the next set of instructions.  There was never any harm in brushing up you skills, and given this new territory, there was even less harm in learning how these people fought or were expected to fight. Perhaps, simply put, you could never stop learning, even when you thought that you knew it all. Eventually, someone would surprise you, and it would be then that you would find yourself dead.

//quick sorry c: I had a post then my computer blue screened

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[MOONMADE]

[div style="; width: 55%; margin-left: 180px; text-align: justify"][size=9pt]"We gonna' get this rolling, or what?" Says Moon, strolling in late with the attitude of someone who'd been there the whole time. It's the type of shit you can do and get away with, as an Astral Seraph. One of the few perks of the job. He's learned to cherish those.

The lion casts a glance around those gathered, glad to see there was a good turn out. Shit like this gave him security. Seeing Agathe and Titan working confidently in their positions with that mysterious way they had about them, that never-ending unruffled stoicness they held in the face of everything but Clementine, was something that made Moon feel that bit better about the state of the place. Sure, they had a colossal mess like him in charge whose only redeeming qualities was a set of cheekbones worth drooling over, but at least these two were around to keep at least some things from crumbling to the ground. He trusted them more and more each day. Even if Titan was about to serve his ass up to him on some fine china.

[agathe.]

[align=center][div style="width: 500px; text-align: justify; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 11px; color;"]This was a better turn out than expected, the faintest of amused smiles dancing on the corners of her lips as she drank in the familiar sights of her clanmates. The sides weren't exactly balanced, but in real battle, they'd never be. This was as about as realistic an experience as they would get, Agathe thought, which was good. Very good. But who was she to keep them waiting any longer? They had been patient enough, that was for sure.

Heaving a sigh, Agathe raised a paw and undid the clasp of her cloak, the red material falling around her and revealing the extent of her scarred body. Real battles would be fought with her prized possession on but in training, she didn't want to risk unnecessary damage to it. Flashing her teeth, she strode over to take her place on the right side, eyeing Ren with a thoughtful golden gaze. "Every man and woman for themselves," She almost purred before attempting to bat him to the side with a paw. If that wasn't indicative enough that they were beginning, she hoped that the delighted yowl she released was.

Let the real training begin.