concoursec | Boxing Field Trip

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She drops down a bit to put a hoof to his shoulder reassuringly. Once he looks up at her, she slaps her other forehoof to her chest.]

You gotta believe. You have faith in your brother, same as I'm sure he does in you.

[Great, a pep talk. A pep talk from a flying pony.

...Yeah, it's not a big deal.]

Never been much of a believer, but I'll give it a try. Heh, at this rate, wouldn't surprise me if he found a way into this dump before I'm even close to getting out of it. [He doesn't look or sound particularly upset about the prospect.] That'd be something to see. He'd wind up flooding the Garden with stray cats within a week.

[That already happened, Ed, just neither you or Rainbow was around for it...]

That's the spirit! And then he could take the pet battling class and send his cat army out to defeat his foes!

[He takes a moment to picture Alphonse leading an army of kittens, then balks when he realises it's not actually a far-fetched scenario.]

Are you kidding? You couldn't drag him away from them long enough to get him into any class. And he'd just blow all his money on cat food until nobody wanted to sponsor him any more.

That's when you hit him right in the guilt.

[She puts her hooves together beneath her chin and looks upward with an expression of saintly, pure grief. (She assumes Ed would have to look up, because he's short.)]

"But if you don't go to class and get kicked out, who will take care of the poor kittens?"

Bam! [She swings a hoof.] Right in the feelings!

[WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE HAS TO LOOK UPWARD TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH A TEN-YEAR-OLD

...is not how he reacts, because he isn't aware of that either. He just hangs his head.] Yeah, right. He'd just come up with ways to make me look like the bad guy until I started paying for the damn things. I don't even know where he finds them!

Well, they're against the rules, so... you could tip off the Disciplinary Committee. Then THEY'd be the bad guys and not you!

[Rainbow, you're mean.]

Nah, too much trouble. [Possibly involving awkward questions about rockets.] Besides, he'd find out sooner or later. Easier to just throw 'em all out a window if he tries anything stupid, right?

[This may have crossed a line.]

Whoa, let's not be mean to the cats. It's not THEIR fault.

[He likes cats! It's a really roundabout way of sticking up for his brother, since he feels like he just gave Rainbow totally the wrong impression. ...But, okay, it's mostly because he finds it funny.]

They're cats. They'd be fine. Anyway, any fleaball dumb enough to follow him home had it coming.

[Rainbow will be coming away from this talk with a LOT of wrong impressions.]

[Speaking of, she looks at him for a long, thoughtful moment.

...hey, you're not jealous because cats like a suit of armor better than you, are you?

The hell are you saying? Who'd be jealous of a damn cat?

[He's not defensive! Or rather, he is, but he's always this defensive! Really.]

Oh sure, you SAY that, but I bet secretly it annoys you when not even a cat will give you the time of day when your brother's around. You can admit it to ME. I won't tell anypony.

[Okay, now she's just playfully needling him. It's your own fault for being so hilarious when you're defensive, Ed!]

[Back off a little, Rainbow, or he'll (accidentally?) headbutt you in a minute given how close to your face he's glaring.] What would you know?! Like a damn magic pony has any idea what a cat looks like when it's not fifty metres high or breathing fire!!

[She expected this! So she's not fazed.]

My friend Rarity has a cat, Opalescence. [And then she adds with a conspiratorial grin...] Who, by the way, is a total terror, and would make your brother sorry he ever tried to pet her.

So? That doesn't mean a thing to me if your cats are as messed-up as your horses!

[What? She had to expect him to go there eventually.]

Ponies! And we're not messed up!

And I'm not so insecure I'd worry about being outclassed by a cat, dammit!!

Okay, then who's your pet?

...Who needs them? What's your point?!

[She tsks sadly.]

I used to think that way, but it turns out, having a pet is awesome!

Yeah, you sure sound like a responsible owner. [She isn't comparing him unfavourably to a stupid cat at the moment, so he settles down just enough to get out of her face - though, since he couldn't stop himself making that jab at her, it might be a wasted effort.] I wouldn't mind having one, to be honest. It's just finding the time and means to look after it right.

You wait till we get back to Garden. You've never seen a better happier tortoise than Tank.

...Too bad Fluttershy isn't here, though. She's the one who helped ME find a pet. [They sang a song about it and everything.]

Ha, how can you tell what a tortoise is thinking? Those talk to you too? [A little smirk.]

Anyway, don't get the wrong idea. [Though it might be slightly late for that...] I wouldn't mind - doesn't mean I want one. I got enough to do without throwing some poor animal into the mix. [His eye strays over that notebook, just momentarily.] Kind of surprised you don't.

...Tortoises don't talk. But why does that matter? I mean, if I did THIS --

[She crosses her forelegs and gives him a withering glare for a moment before going right back to friendly chatter.]

--you wouldn't need me to TELL you I was angry, would you?

Pets are great companions to have, though. Even if you're busy.

Boxing Field Trip

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