Getting to know you

[pushesgently]

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.]

Comments

obstacle course.

[hisstrength]

[By now she's seein Altair move more than once. There's a particular silent grace that him and Ezio and, she's now seeing, Desmond have in common. Not that it's any surprise, even if she's not in on what the connection actually is. Seeing the lot of them in the same room makes it obvious there is one.

After she's run a few times, she stands on the sidelines watching and learning.]

So what is it you're not used to, the fire or the arrows?

[pushesgently]

[Practice makes perfect...or at least more deadly. That's why he's still at this; the course itself is easy pickings, but he's spent many months ignoring the gods' gift instead in favor of his own. That has to change now.]

Both, most likely. I'm not an expert bowman.

[hisstrength]

[Tris shrugs.]

Not yet. So you haven't done much with your power so far?

[pushesgently]

Up to now, I've been content to rely on my own skills—they can't be taken away at the whim of a god. But I can't deny fire will be a benefit against Thiazi and her minions.

[hisstrength]

Good point. And I guess if you combine it with learning another regular skill, you don't really lose anything. I wish I had powers that I could fight with.

[pushesgently]

Oh? What is your power?

[hisstrength]

Healing. Useful, but only once something's gone wrong.

[pushesgently]

To a man on the verge of death, more useful than anything else.

[hisstrength]

Yeah. [A pause. She bites her lip.] Do you think that's gonna happen a lot? Some of us getting seriously hurt or killed?

[pushesgently]

It may.

[He doesn't know whether that's the answer she expected or not, but he won't lie.]

This is a war, and that brings dangers to us whether or not we are true soldiers. But developing our skills and learning how best to work together, we will make it less likely.

[hisstrength]

[Tris looks down a moment, then nods.]

What are we going to do exactly, anyway?

[pushesgently]

Sneak in where the enemy least expects us. Kill them, when we can—though not Thiazi, not anytime soon. We will deal the greatest amount of harm possible at the least risk to us.

[Almsot nonchalantly, he flicks out his hidden blade with a simple gesture.]

[hisstrength]

[Tris sucks in a breath as the blade emerges seemingly out of nowhere. She can't help staring at him for a moment. Her eyes narrow in suspicion for a moment.]

So kill as many as we can as quietly as possible. You don't think they'll be on the lookout after the first time?

[pushesgently]

We're not about to march out to pursue them like soldiers. Opportunities will present themselves.

[They always do.]

[hisstrength]

Yeah? [A beat.]

Is that experience talking?

[pushesgently]

It is.

[As simple as that.]

[hisstrength]

[Tris crosses her arms in front of her chest.]

What are you really?

[pushesgently]

[He meets her eyes, not holding back, but not giving away his true thoughts, either.]

What do you think I am?

[hisstrength]

I think you kill people and get away with it. I think you believe you're doing the right thing. Not sure I know a name for that.

[pushesgently]

[He doesn't nod, doesn't shake his head. Again, there are no answers, no confirmation or denial.]

I'm sure there are a few.

[hisstrength]

Probably. There's all kinds of reasons to believe what you're doing is right, but that isn't what I asked.

[She keeps her eyes on him, determined and unafraid. If he wants her to keep out of his business, he'll have to tell her outright, but dancing around the issue has only made her more curious.]

[pushesgently]

[It isn't, and he respects the girl for being as forthright as she is. But this line of questioning can only go so far.]

What I am is a man willing to fight to protect his family and the people of this world. Right now, Tris, that is all you need to know.

[hisstrength]

[Her mind catches most of all on the 'right now'. The possibility of another time, perhaps. Not that it makes her like being told what she can or should know any better. But she accepts it with a shrug, easing her hands back to her sides.]

Alright. Can I ask you something else?

[pushesgently]

[He looks at her for a moment, then nods. Go ahead.]

[hisstrength]

Aside from- that, [she gestures at his arm with the hidden blade on it, pointedly not asking about that part,] what weapon are you best at? I want to learn something else, since guns aren't exactly stealthy. And knives aren't my first choice against giants.