Boxing Field Trip

[werepanther]

Character(s): Tom Bronson, Touma Norstein, Edward Elric, Billy Cranston, Chris Ramirez, Rainbow Dash, Damian Wayne, Sigyn, Espio, (+ any student/SeeD who signed up)
Location: Winhill
Rating: PG-13
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed
Summary: Tom and Touma take kids on a field trip to discover new opponents and learn more about the wonderful world of Boxing! So far, so good... right? Backdated to Saturday afternoon.

[Friday had been uneventful, as far as field trips went. Tom and Touma had requested Espio's help with flying the Ragnarok to Winhill, where the Cadets got a tour of the old boxing studio before attempting a few rounds... as well as a good meal from one of the local inns and a few (tolerable) remarks from some of the townspeople.

Saturday, everyone'd woken up bright and early so that they could take in the sights before heading down to the same inn for lunch. Tom was more than thrilled that everything was going so well; after all, it was his first field trip that he was in charge of, and it was going along pretty well!

This afternoon, they'd meet one of Tom's acquaintances, who was schooled in this world's form of Boxing, and get to witness Touma going against him before attempting to learn a few new moves from this "master of Boxing."

But first? Lunch! Tom's more than grateful for the spread of sandwiches, salads, and various beverages. There's also home baked cookies, for those who believe in dessert before lunch, but Tom won't judge too harshly if someone does stack up on dessert.

It's a lull in the midst of activity, and honestly? Tom's kind of grateful as he takes a seat at one of the empty tables. He's needed some time to think about the (tight) schedule they're on - at Touma's insistence, of course.]

Comments

[espio]

[Espio's not really here for the boxing stuff. He's just here because, well... flying the Ragnarok is always a good thing! Plus Tom went to the trouble of getting him a sub, which was just as well considering he'd missed the entire week's classes courtesy of someone effectively kidnapping him. At least his students would get one class delivered properly that week.

He's sat on a table on his own in the corner, trying to plan out his lessons for the following week on a notepad. So far, the page consists entirely of doodles.

Sigh.

At least there's food and coffee.]

[elementofloyalty]

[SOMEpony is very, very glad to have Espio along.]

[After all, if he hadn't been here, she might've been stuck playing pony. Or what these people thought of as 'pony'. Acting like she couldn't talk, maybe even wearing a saddle blanket over her wings, to not freak people out!]

[But with a humanoid chameleon around, what's the point in pretending?]

[So she's been enjoying this trip immensely, and right now, with a salad and some lemonade to drink, she's as happy as can be.]

[espio]

[BEHOLD a student. Though he notes that she hasn't said anything about him not actually being at her classes. Oh well.]

Enjoy yourself while you can, Dash. We've got catching up to do.

[elementofloyalty]

[Rainbow Dash takes an unusual level of caution around the Instructors, when she thinks to. She does NOT want to get in trouble. Or get thrown out of a school again...]

The catching up will be fun too! Besides, you know I'm already good.

[How did a pony get a black belt in karate?]

[...hard work and practice, of course,]

[espio]

In certain areas, sure. But this week was supposed to be judo introductions - you don't do judo yet, do you?

[rewritethis]

[Although this break from activity is probably the first opportunity anyone's had to really notice, pipsqueak here has been acting kind of subdued all weekend; while he may not be in a better mood than normal, at least it's a quieter one. Right now, he's not even trying to hog more than his fair share of food, so he must have something on his mind.

There's a small notebook open on the table in front of him, next to the barely-touched sandwiches. Its contents clearly have nothing to do with boxing - they're mostly made up of complicated geometrical patterns and almost-illegible annotations - but if the unfocused expression on his face is any indicator, he isn't hugely interested in them, either.

Maybe he just doesn't like the trip much? Well, what else could he possibly be moping about? Particularly in a rural town like this which looks one hell of a lot less alien to him than, say, Balamb.]

[elementofloyalty]

[Suddenly hooves. Which is to say Rainbow Dash has folded her forelegs on his shoulder and propped her chin on them to peer at his notebook.]

Why're you working on math when this is a BOXING field trip?

[rewritethis]

[Cue pushing his chair away from her so quickly he only narrowly avoids falling out of it.] Where the hell did you come from?! [Yep, definitely too much on his mind if he failed to notice a brightly-coloured pony sneaking up on him.]

[elementofloyalty]

Equestria?

[Of course, scrambling away makes it easy enough to see that she's simply floating in midair, her wings keeping her aloft effortlessly (and silently. So it's not AS bad as you thought, Ed.]

[espio]

[Espio spots the notebook as he passes on his way to get more coffee, and can't help but comment.]

Oh, great. Magic.

[Those are definitely magic circles. Yep.]

[rewritethis]

Where? [No, no they are not. And his scowl suggests that he doesn't currently feel much like going over the distinction for the millionth time.]

[espio]

[Taps the paper in reply.] Or are they just doodles that happen to look like magic circles?

[crockshot]

Doodling again?

[She knows they aren't doodles, but it's fun to call them doodles, if just because she's pretty sure it bugs him. Which is probably petty, but who cares? Not her.]

You should probably eat before your sandwich gets dry and crusty.

[Awwe look, she said something that can almost be described as nice.]

[rewritethis]

[He grabs the sandwich, takes a pointedly messy (though actually quite small) bite out of it, then sets it down and hunches over the notebook, all without looking round.] Working, okay?

[crockshot]

[Please Ed, she's dealt with speedsters. You're going to have to eat a whole lot messier than that to bother her.]

Oh so now you're working? Just a second ago it looked like you were spaced out. So which is it?

[Please, like she'd buy that.]

[fotlenke]

[Sigyn is wary about riding within the Ragnarok. Where she originates, Ragnarok is not a word taken lightly. No. No Allfather sir.

She sits near the instructors (far from Edward), fidgeting a little, poking at her cinnamon roll, nonplussed. She's dressed for the trip (shorts, t-shirt and her favorite boots) and has a little knapsack for in which findings may be stored. She plans to collect some rocks and minerals on this outing. Especially sand. She's missed sand.]

[morphitudinous]

[Billy is hesitant as well. It's a fascinating place, to be sure, but he has his place. And it's separate, for the most part. But he'll talk if the mood strikes him.]

I thought the purpose of finding a roll was to eat it.

[fotlenke]

[Sigyn turns her head towards the speaker, eyes distant.]

Hmm. I lack the nerve to eat.

[morphitudinous]

Lack the nerve? Are you worried about the matches?

(closed to Tom and Touma)

[wrnpcs]

[Just before the group's ready to head back, one of Winhill's higher-ups heads into the cafeteria and stops to talk to Tom and Touma:]

Hey, you guys're from Garden, right? Do you have any SeeD with you?

[werepanther]

[That doesn't sound good. Tom presses his lips together and glances awkwardly at Touma before he says slowly:] It's just us and one other guy.

SURPRISE MISSION ASSIGNMENT

[werepanther]

[Well. After that conversation with one of the city council members, Tom hadn't expected his Boxing field trip to get derailed by official mission business - with Cadets, nevertheless!

He sighs once he's gotten the entire room quiet:]

Guys? Change in plans.

We've been assigned a mission on the edge of town. Winhill's monster hunter is currently out of town, and there's an infestation on the verge of attacking the population. Our job is to attack each group of monsters and delay them from coming into town. I know you guys are Cadets, and not exactly trained for field missions so soon... but you're all we've got, so pay attention and listen to me, SeeD Norstein, and Instructor Cranston.

Anyone that's not willing to work with us? You should probably stay here. We can't promise that you'll be safe, but it'll be better than in the field.

[elementofloyalty]

We get a mission!?

ALL RIGHT! [Rainbow Dash does a quick loop out of excited delight.]

[morphitudinous]

[Billy flashes her a bemused look.]

Is it really something to celebrate?

Instructor Bronson's right. We weren't planning on giving you a field test, but if you're up for it, we could really use your assistance. Stick together and we'll stop that horde.

[rewritethis]

A test? Actual people are in danger and you're telling me we're getting graded?

[Nitpicking for the hell of it, of course. Inwardly, Ed's reaction is uncannily similar to Rainbow's.]