asgardmeridiem | Getting to know you

Entry tags:

Getting to know you

Who: Any/all strike team members
What: Training/mingling/SNACKS
When: Day 473-474
Where: The Citadel

[From the outside, the small medieval-style fortress appears unoccupied, but on the inside, the first meeting of Asgard's strike team. For the next two days, members are invited to get to know one another, share what they can do, train, or...you know, team build.

For those who wish experiment with working together, equipment has been set up to form an obstacle course of sorts that takes up half the gym area. (Those who have trained with the Assassins on their capture-the-flag courses may feel the similarities.) Plenty of seating is available for those who just want to mingle or talk strategy.

There are also snacks. Eat them.]

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[~~They probably deserved it anyway, but they do make some really nice soft cheeses okay...and bread. They're really good at bread.~~ She gives a soft laugh at that.]

They are likely thankful, and going beyond the necessary to show it. It is not everyone that is willing to forfeit the open heroics of the front lines for the quiet of the shadows, especially not when so much is at stake.

"I've... fallen... farther." She gasped, fighting back control of her breath and staggering back to her feet slowly. "I'm not... giving up."

She's stubborn, more than is probably advisable for most. "I just... keep getting... the distance judged wrong."

As much as she trusts Sam, Ellie doesn't like the thought of not being able to see someone, doesn't like this power being available. Being able to spot even the edges of it makes her feel better.

"I know some runes, but not those. Mostly how to get past protection runes. ... don't ask."

Without arguing, she jogs back around to the start, catches her breath, and this time plunges past the course, making the jump. She doesn't make one near the end, but now that she's learning to train herself to find wood and soil, she's able to catch herself with the vines. This time without noise.

Ellie doesn't often blush, but when she does, her freckles stand out. It's been some time since then, she hadn't expected anyone to recognize her, let alone remember that. She huffs out a breath, tries not to feel suspicious of him for paying attention.

Shit, Ellie, sometimes people can just be nice.

"That was all Sandy and Souji, they created it. I just got in on the growing part. Apparently I've got some crazy power reserves or something."

Not so much. But back then, she was one of very few with level three Growth powers.

"Mn. The skills I still have access to here are mostly reading maps, growing things and knowing more than a few different languages." She admitted, dropping the subject of Pitch.

"Pinch? May I ask what... or whom that is?"

Some people can even be nice and observant. That genuinely seems to be the case here; Connor is somehow completely unthreatening despite his height and muscle, smile warm and tone friendly. Amongst the crowd of glowering recruits and serious-faced mentors, his manner is refreshingly casual.

"Yeah? We all hit full power at different times -- it took me awhile." He gestures to the spot where vines burst out to catch her. "That's something else, though. That's intuitive."

"I noticed." Connor shrugs, not accusing her of being unable to do it, just... "We've got more blocks, hold on."

He leaves her there, breathing hard, and drags more of the wide heavy platforms out from their alcove and into stacks. Three high on one, just one high on the others, scattered around the higher point at a varying distances. The nearest is slightly closer together than the jump she keeps missing. (Those sections of the course are at least six high.)

"No giving up, and no cracking a rib. Win-win." Connor thumbs at the three-high platform. Go, recruit. Jump.

( it kind of seemed rude to glower back at him from across the room, especially since they've reached some form of a truce. she's not happy to see him here, but she won't object to anyone outside of the avengers .. some things out to remain a secret and he hasn't given her a reason to worry about him coming after her or steve yet. yet. that didn't she wasn't going to watch him.

instead, she sidles over to him and leans against the wall next to him, sipping a glass of something that looks like (and is water) and eyeing the rest of the crowd. )

What do you think?

( he was trained as well as she was to pick things out of a group. she wants to know his opinion. )

observing.

( as far as natasha is concerned, she's only part of one team and that was extremely grudgingly and completely not her idea. that said, she felt some sort of responsibility towards this group, mostly because she had something to do with the creation and recruitment (not a lot, but something), and because it was her bread and butter. espionage was her thing, the only thing she knew how to do better than anyone else, her 'mutation'. tony stark had the suit, hawkeye had the bow, thor had the hammer, steve had the shield and she had being sneaky. among other things.

so she watches the people running the obstacle course, making mental notes of what to train on later, when they faltered, when it seemed like they weren't sure, and most of all - when they were too loud, too bold and too flashy. bonus points for anyone who managed to incorporate their powers in to their run. )

running the obstacle course.

( most people are occupied or have left the gym area by the time she decides to give it her own shot; she doesn't want others knowing what or how much she can do, whether they're on the same team or not. it's similar to her own warm up around the city and what she does with the assassin's, though different enough that she's not throwing herself into it in her sleep. it almost reminds her a little of home, practice at the SHIELD gym.

her run is smooth, her jumps precise. it's clear she relies a lot on tumbling and perhaps a gymnastics background - she's fast, pushing her body to the limit just for a run, and when she lands at the end, it's with a slight flourish.

ok, maybe they could be a little bit flashy. )

[ Connor is also mostly observing, only stepping in to help recruits on the course when it's clear they aren't getting it on their own. He's working his way through the rest of the group, though, meeting the new folks.

He decides to give it a break when he sees Natasha, coming up beside her and mimicking her pose -- crossed arms, legs slightly apart, facing the obstacle course -- but tilting his head towards her when he speaks. ]

Any friends of yours out there?

[ To this point Connor has been mostly observing and introducing himself to those he didn't already know, determined to meet everyone and learn their strengths. When it comes to learning their weaknesses he's actually stepped up a bit, approaching recruits who failed a part of the course and offering instruction and advice. He's taught before -- in this very citadel, even, thus their being there -- but today is different. Today he's instructing as Altair and Ezio did for him, making the newcomers learn from the ground up rather than adapting their own techniques. Since it's not his usual method he's a little awkward at first, but by the time he's telling rather than suggesting tips to Kemanamil on how to jump he'd make Altair proud.

Every now and then a tiny shadow user with hair to her waist and bare feet finds her way to his side, hooking fingers into his waistband. They're extremely familiar with one another, and when she runs the course she's fast and graceful and just a little wild. Connor himself hasn't run the obstacle course yet, and there are good odds he'd still only manage to keep in an Assassin-style free run for half of it. If that. Maybe they'll find out.

Right now he's coming over to the refreshments table for a drink, which is right where Altair happens to be. ]

Hey. [ He grabs some water and a sandwich and steps aside, next to Altair. ] How do you think they're doing?

"That's true. It'd suck to get stuck on an important mission with someone you hate." He's really more accustomed to working solo himself, but given the nature of that particular job, there just hadn't been anyone else they could have sent with him. Not with the only other person of the correct age having skipped out two years prior...

"So, does that make this official business, or is it just for your reference, miss...?"

[What Altaïr knows is that he seems to be a foolish child, but as long as he doesn't hinder their work, that's fine.]

Luckily, many of us are well-acquainted with such matters. It's only the Giants' magic that may make a difference.

( she raises her eyebrows at his pose, realizing he's matching hers but refusing to blink first by shifting her position. instead she shrugs slightly, returning her eyes back to the recruits and wincing as one dropped to the ground, hard, after missing a jump. she knew how that felt. or at least, her body remembered how that felt; it'd been a while since she'd had a bad fall. )

Depends on what you consider a 'friend'.

( after all, james barnes was here. but he was more steve's friend than hers; she didn't easily make friends with those who tried to kill her (hawkeye was obviously the exception). )

What about you?

[Stiff indeed. He knows perfectly well that he isn't, but he also knows that she's trying to prompt a reaction, so he doesn't give her one—at first. For another minute or so, he continues on the course, leading Riley up a vertical structure—only to flip down behind her and hold a hand to her neck.

There's no weapon, of course. As far as she can see.]

You were saying?

[Riley watches and blinks as he does that. The appropriate reaction would be to tense up, maybe even show some fear. Instead, she just grins and looks behind her right at him. There's excitement in her eyes as she does, an eagerness as well.]

You are totally going to teach me how you did that.

[What? She knows she's not in real danger.]

[ He glances over the new folks, scanning their faces again. If Natasha is looking, she'll notice his eyes linger on Sophie and Kemenamil before sweeping back. ]

One friend, one recruit. I recognize a few others, though, from Alfheim and the last invasion.

[~~They also make nice wives. So he kept one.~~ He tilts his head as she speaks.]

Is that what you'd call them? [But many do, he knows.] Perhaps that is why war continues; so few are willing to see the reality of it.

[What a downer.]

[Papa eagle is so proud. Look at his feathers puffing up, and not in a threat display. Or he's nodding at Connor in greeting, whatever.]

Well enough. They were all chosen for a reason. Of course, the true test will come when we go to work.

[Altaïr ~~beams~~ smiles at her. Well done, recruit.]

Perhaps I expect you to learn by watching...and focusing.

That's the test for everyone.

[ Connor's been mentally dividing the group up by strengths, and realizes now that he's not sure where he falls. It'll probably depend on the nature of the next attack. ]

I wish we had a clue what comes next... my bet's on a dual siege if they have enough of an army left. Or do you think they're still fighting with each other?

She didn't. She didn't actually need to know, and the idea of learning how to break and enter some place that was warded wasn't actually that odd of a request. There were reasons why she wasn't surprised Ellie was here.

When she finished the course, after the vines caught her, she'd find nothing waiting for her for a split second before the world started to resolve away like the Predator's cloak disappearing. Samantha came into view and she motioned a bit away from the others. "It's not like it's dirty, but I don't really like showing off lots of skin to random folks," she murmured, not to mention the fact that she didn't like everyone knowing what runes she had.

"I can work with people I hate," she said, shaking her head. "I used to work with a guy who I thought was a complete idiot. Screwed up royally and nearly destroyed the world, but I could still work with him. Not everyone can just let mistakes go, or deal with personality problems."

As he continued to speak, the effects wore off and Samantha slipped back into view piecemeal until she was visible. "Samantha. And it's business. I'll share my thoughts with the others if we're setting up missions."

[She'd damned well make sure that genocidal maniac didn't screw anything up. They'd come too far to have him muck things up at the finish line.]

You guys have been to Thrymheim, right? What do you know of their magic. The fire giants... weren't as well known for it, as I'm sure you've heard. A lot more physical over there.

"Pinch of Sage," she said, motioning in what was the vague direction of the Hospital and adjacent Loki. "It's a little hole in the wall of an apothecary I set up not long after I got here. Kept my mind focused and gave me somewhere to vent my frustrations when I couldn't escape. I brew potions and fix herbal and regular medicines over there. It's serving as a hub for the Medic Corps right now, training mostly."

She shrugged. "Honestly, I hide out in the lab a lot of times. Things make more sense when I'm researching." Well, that or sneaking around places like a little git, but that was related to the other thing she did well, and she didn't like to telegraph that.

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Getting to know you

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mingle...?

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