video; unseelie

[unafraid]

So I know a lot of people probably have a lot of training under their belts already, routines they have no interest in changing, and the last thing anyone wants to hear is a new kid asking more questions, but- [ she shrugs ] Here I am.

For whatever reason, the monarchs decided to take me from right before I was about to start my formal training. [ a beat ] Formal in the sense that I was about to be someone's second. A total bad-ass literally told me I would start my training "tomorrow", but- [ then those sTUPID IMPS HAD TO GO AND- okay, not getting mad about the imps again. moving on. ] I've learned how to use a knife, and I've learned a lot of combat movement, stealth, the basics. But I never got much time to practice. So that's what I'm asking for now - people who want to practice.

New people, probably, but people who know what's useful and what's not in a war like this would obviously be good too. People who have a lot to learn, but won't be afraid to get hurt and mess up, then get up and try it again. People who won't shove my inexperience down my throat, but won't go easy on me either. I don't need to be babied, I need to be taught. [ another pause ] No magic, not yet. I get it, we need to learn it, but I need to know my way around a blade before I try figuring out any of that crap.

Which means I need a weapon of my own. Mine, not something borrowed. I know I can't fight a war with a small blade, but I don't want a sword either. [ not yet ] I want something more like a machete. Anybody know where I can get my hands on something like that? I'll work for it. Whatever it takes.

-- And that's it. Let me know.

Comments

video

[ofmyth]

[There's a moment of silence at the start of Thor's response, as sizes her up.]

Aye, I will aid you. Teach too, if you've none for that task yet.

[unafraid]

Really? [ Octavia don't be a dork ] Glad to hear it. I haven't even met up with anyone yet, so it's still on the table.

[ofmyth]

How soon do you wish to begin?

[unafraid]

Soon. The sooner the better. I heard the castle has training grounds, but I haven't gone out to actually see what they're like yet. And I'd like to wait until I can practice with my own weapon. But I can borrow one, for now.

Video

[benumbing]

You had me until you said I couldn't shove your inexperience down your throat.

[C'mon, not even a little bit? But Jack's smirk fades. This is actually important.]

I can see about getting you a blade like that, but you'll have to pay for it in sweat and blood.

[unafraid]

[ here's a "ha ha" face at the first comment ]

That's kinda what I meant by "whatever it takes". I'm new, so it's not like I have any coin in my pocket. [ or any real experience with money but she'll learn okok ] I just know I want a weapon that'll last. Something I can count on.

[benumbing]

It won't matter how long your weapon lasts if you don't. I want to see what else you can do first.

video; private

[badmedicine]

Are you only interested in training with a bladed weapon?

[ He's curious, because that is what it sounded like. He doesn't bother sizing her up at all, though. ]

video; private

[unafraid]

What else is there? Besides throwing a punch, or shooting an arrow. Do they have firearms here?

[badmedicine]

Huh, that's an interesting question. [ And he actually does seem interested in the problem of firearms. ] It would take little more than gunpowder and a tube to fire it out of.

[ He'll wave a hand, as if dismissing the topic shift. ] I was asking if you were solely interested in training with a bladed weapon, at the moment.

voice

[grandemalion]

I can offer hand-to-hand practice as well as blade.

Don't be so quick to discount a small blade. It can be just as effective if used with precision and end a war just as swiftly.

voice

[unafraid]

I'm not discounting it, I'm saying I know effectively using a small knife means sometimes leaving it behind in someone's chest. It could be my main weapon, and I'm sure some people have managed it here, but it's not what I'm looking for.

voice

[grandemalion]

That's good to hear. With a knife and... machete you'd be more effective.

Unfortunately, I can't offer you a blade and I'm not quite sure what a machete is but I'm willing to help you practice.

audio;

[zerotohiro]

[Um excuse you, Octavia.]

What's wrong with a small blade? [Says the one who's been training with a dagger for almost a year and just recently started to upgrade to axes and hatchets.] I can give you a list of people who've been training me if you want to start asking around though. I was pretty inexperienced when I started, too. [And he probably still is, but he's not going to elaborate on that either. Let him pretend he's better.]

audio;

[unafraid]

There's nothing wrong with it. It's the perfect weapon for speed, stealth and efficiency. It's the first weapon I learned how to use. But it's not what I'd prefer to use when fighting some kind of monster out in the woods, or when I'm in battle.

[ but well, she's grinning, and it's probably there in her voice ]

A list would be nice.

audio;

[zerotohiro]

You get used to it. [The ease of her tone helps him settle down, realizing she's not actually dissing his weapon of choice. Truthfully, it's nice to hear from her after their introduction at the feast. Means she found Bellamy and Clarke and got herself settled in.] Anyway, you can find all kinds of basic weapons in our armory but if you want really customized stuff you have to start asking around. I've been looking for a decent smith, too.

Anyway. I've been picking up bits and pieces from different people--[And now that he thinks about it, it's probably not a great idea to tell Octavia to learn from her own brother. This is about being independent, isn't it? He would want to be.]--but if you're starting out see if you can get in touch with Katsa. I started learning from the General of the Unseelie army last summer but Katsa's teaching me a lot more outside of the basics. You can always call Baron Archer, too. He's been talking about starting a boot camp for a while, he might know some good people, too.

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[anarchos]

[Ofc she waited till he LEFT but no he's not actually that annoyed, and he's not surprised either. By... anything his sister goes on about. He's not sure how he feels about her tailing around Indra, but that has less to do with Octavia herself and more his continued not-so-there trust in the Grounders as a whole.]

I can just give you one of mine, and then it's not technically borrowed.

[Though he understands wanting her own. Bellamy is nothing if not particular about his weapons stash.] Or at least just use something till you get your own.

[unafraid]

It would still be borrowed.

[ also if Bellamy ever gave her a weapon she'd cherish the shit out of it and only use it for really important things and she needs something she can beat the crap out of while she learns. but she's not going to be telling anyone that. ]

I might have already been borrowing from your collection over the past few days. Just while I was out looking for plants. Plus yours all have markings on them, I don't want to mess with that. Not if it's- Bellamy-specific magic. [ a beat ] That's what I would want to use magic for. A rune that burns the crap out of anyone that tries to touch my weapons without my permission.

[anarchos]

Not if I don't expect you to give it back. [That's not how gift giving works!!]

[He crosses his arms, but looks relatively unperturbed by her raiding his makeshift armory. He might've, a year ago, and he might've when the dropship first landed, but Octavia has more than proved herself, and he has beyond learned to slacken the chain. If there's anyone he wouldn't care pilfering his collection at this point, it's his sister.] They're boosters, mostly. It won't do anything to you, just makes the blades more effective. I don't need alarms on them, the house is secure enough.

[But it's not a bad idea, thanks for that, O.]

video;

[vrykolakas]

[The Brucolac takes a few moments to visibly examine her, a faint crease at his brow.]

There's a smith in Srathmarbh by the name of Grunyon. He's a pricy, prickly bastard, but his work is damn fine. He crafts all my armour.

If you've got no coin, I can bully him into letting you pay in instalments, or else work it off.

[unafraid]

[ finally. this is information she can work with. ]

I heard certain monsters in the forest have a bounty on them. I can get money. I'd rather get a weapon of my own first, but I'll work with it.

I can talk to him. [ there's that brief flash of "i don't need help i can do it!!1" but it's reeled in fairly quickly. she's still stuck in her mindset from home, but this- isn't home. she doesn't know the land yet, so she needs help. she knows she does. ] But if you think he'd negotiate something like that with you, that works, too. What do you think he's more likely agree to? Labor, or payment?

[vrykolakas]

Payment.

If you want to talk to him first, then by all means. [Part of the reason he's bothering to offer his help in the first place is that she seems almost urgent about helping herself. He can almost see her independence and practicality warring.] But he's typically about as flexible as your average two-by-four.

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[unsolitary]

I can't exactly train you the way Indra was going to, but I can teach you what I know? I've learned from some really great people over the last year; swords and close quarter combat. Things that don't need you to have a weapon in hand to be able to fight.

( and- she thinks about it for a moment. she knows Octavia won't just take money from her if she offers it, so. )

If you want to help me with some Midach duties, I'll pay you for your time. It can go towards paying for your weapon? And you'll get to learn the map as we go.

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[unafraid]

Yeah. Maybe. [ a beat ] Not that I don't want to take the offer, I guess I just need to figure out what I want to learn here. Lincoln showed me Grounder moves, you know? I started to learn how they survive. It makes sense to me. [ and not a lot about this place makes sense to her yet.

her head tilts a little at the offer, because it's- she knows what it is. but it's not an empty offer, so ]

I could do that. Someone's getting in touch with a blacksmith about making me something, and he'll want to be paid up front. I was going to try hunting, but something steady wouldn't hurt.

video »

[unsolitary]

Makes sense. Bellamy or I could probably direct your to a person or location where you can learn whatever it is you want to know, if one of us can't teach you. There are plenty of skilled fighters in Dorchadas to learn from.

( and, okay, she perks up a little at the agreement. she wants to help, and this is her best bet for doing so. )

Hunting is good, but unpredictable. There are supplies that I need from around the country, all of it can be gotten to using the teleporting rings. Most of them are plants, or water from specific sources, but I'll pay you for your time, travel, and what you bring back for me.