( open ) practice makes perfect

[winscenario]

Who: Jim Kirk & YOU!
What: Jim wants to learn how to wield a sword (and some other weapons)
When: Now-ish
Where: Temjask arena
Rating: PG-13 for possible mild violence, fighting and minor injuries


While not unfamiliar with using weapons, it's fair to say that Jim's well out of his depth here. Barring the use of magic, there's nothing even remotely resembling energy weapons, and even projectile weapons are nonexistent. He's checked out what's on offer but some of them he doesn't even recognize, and those that he does...

Well, he can't really remember ever holding a sword in his life, for instance. But he's definitely curious. He goes to the arena to train, keep his body in shape and possibly look for someone willing to spar with him, and after he's worked up some sweat, he heads out to where all those weapons are on display, looking over the selection with interest.

He picks up a sword at one point, a smaller and lighter-looking one, but not knowing what to do with it, he'll put it back down unless someone approaches or cuts in. He also walks around the training grounds, watching others use those same weapons, admiring from a safe distance at how skilled they are.

A more elaborate or showy move will no doubt get an impressed sound from him, and he tips his head at them. "That was brilliant. You're really good."

Not that he'd know the first thing, it just looked impressive.

Comments

[winscenario]

"Oh, no," Jim shakes his head, lifting a hand. "I've never wielded a sword in my life, actually. The weapons I'm used to are very different from the ones here."

He does look pretty interested, that much is clear.

[hikikomori_king]

Turgon looks curious at that.

"Oh? I do confess I find it most interesting to see what Men have come up with over the years.
What do you use instead?"

[winscenario]

"A variety of energy weapons. One that's commonly used is a phaser, which discharges a blast of energy that can either stun or kill your target. They're very useful, safe, easy to carry and handle, and come with the upside that you don't need ammunition."

It's difficult to explain a phaser to someone who's not used to the concept of guns or revolvers at the very least, but Jim tries.

[hikikomori_king]

"How fascinating! And you can even alter the power... Do they not....run out of power?"

[winscenario]

"Well, you do need to replace the power packs, but each of them lasts for a very long time. We carry them during missions as a reserve for emergency situations, for instance, but they often remain untouched for a long while. Phasers don't need to be reloaded nearly as often as the older, obsolete projectile weapons did, like revolvers."

[hikikomori_king]

He shakes his head in admiration.

"Efficient too. And I am guessing the power packs are quite portable, then? It sounds much more useful than bow and arrows!"

[winscenario]

"Oh, very. Tiny little things, about... this big?" He holds his thumb and index apart less than two inches. "We can just attach them to the belt of our holsters. Actually that's where we usually keep them."

[hikikomori_king]

"So small!" He marvels. "And to last for so long. Truly, Men have reached far beyond my understanding."

[winscenario]

"Not that far beyond, I'm sure," he smiles. "It just takes a bit of explaining. If you like stories, I can always tell you a little about how we came to be where we are in my time."

[hikikomori_king]

"I would love to hear, if you don't mind the telling! Although I fear I am the architect of the family, not the scientist."

[winscenario]

"I'm afraid I can't say much of architecture," he says with a little chuckle. "But I can give you an overview of our evolution. So, I'm guessing in your time... no electricity, right? Do you have plumbing?"

Jim realizes he's not human, yes, but clearly he's used to them, maybe even living alongside them.

[hikikomori_king]

"No electricity." He confirms. "Plumbing we have, yes - gravity fed, mostly, although I know there is work being done with steam."

[winscenario]

"But you're familiar with the concept? How it's a source of energy we can use to power various things?" At least he's guessing someone might've explained it to him before, since his first question wasn't about what electricity is. "I'm from around five hundred years after electricity was discovered, and it's one of the sources of energy we use to power a wide variety of machines, appliances and buildings surrounding us."

[hikikomori_king]

"Vaguely. It was described to me as harnessed lighting, and then I was assured it is not as... 'cool' as it sounded."

Amused still by this description.

"It is still a marvel, to me! I would never have thought that such force could be harnessed at all! Let alone set into such small receptacles."

[winscenario]

Jim lets out a little chuckle. "No, it's not that impressive. Just a lot of cables and wires. Little lines made of metal and covered in rubber. I mean, some generators can be pretty impressive, I'll give you that, but electricity has to be harnessed and distributed in a way that's safe for people."

He goes on to add. "Phasers aren't powered by electricity, though. I'm from a time well beyond that, where we have many other sources of energy. Phasers are particle weapons. They emit an energy ray composed of tiny little particles of energy that you can't even see with your naked eye."

[hikikomori_king]

"That makes sense, but I think you mistake how impressive that sounds to someone who didn't know it could be harnesed!"

He blinks. "So if they cannot be seen, how were they harnessed?"

[winscenario]

"I can imagine it does, yes," he agrees. Jim may not have the same perspective, but he does understand it.

"We have machines capable of detecting them, and others capable of containing and manipulating them.

[hikikomori_king]

"Utterly fascinating." He sighs with envy. "What I would give for access to such learning! Your worlds must be so beautiful with such power to hand."

[winscenario]

"Every world is beautiful in its own way," he remarks. "Ours has changed a lot over the millennia. And people have changed a lot along with it, too. But that doesn't necessarily make it any more beautiful than where you come from."

[hikikomori_king]

"That much is true, I would hope." Turgon agrees, eyes softening. "Beleriand is perilous, but fair all the same. And my city still stands, despite all the grief."

[winscenario]

Beleriand sounds vaguely familiar, but Jim can't quite place his finger on it. But any mention of other places is bound to pique his interest, and that's no different here. "What happened to your city?"

[hikikomori_king]

"So far, nothing." He says. "Fortunately our preparations and cautions have held, and the ways to Gondolin remain secret, and so we live in safety. I do not know how long this will last, of course. My son-in-law Tuor has already brought warning that we should prepare for the day that our secrecy will be breached. But to date the watchers at the gates and outer passes have reported no signs of the Enemy. But what lies outside my purview I do not know, and I... cannot think it good."

[winscenario]

"I'm sorry to hear," Jim says honestly. Even with such a vague description, it sounds like his world does have some sort of conflict going on, even if it might not reach the specific city where he lives.

"Sorry," Jim offers a smile, then reaches out with his hand for a shake. "I'm Jim. Jim Kirk. Never actually introduced myself."

[hikikomori_king]

"Thank you - we do our best! Or did, I suppose. I can hardly know how things are going while I am stuck here."

Turgon blinks at the hand and grips Jim's arm in a warriors handclasp.

"Ah, that is on me, also. Turukano, at your service. Turgon, is what everyone is using though. A pleasure to meet you, Jim Kirk."

[winscenario]

That works too. Not the first time he's been greeted in different manners, and this clasp isn't a first to him either.

"Let's agree to share the blame on that," he offers, friendly and diplomatic both. "Likewise, Turgon. So, do you do a lot of sword fighting where you're from, then?"