station72 | come on and rise above it

Entry tags:

come on and rise above it

CHARACTERS: Misato + Sam, Damon and you!
WHEN: DAY 012
WHERE: Training area
SUMMARY: Work, work, work, work, working on my shhhh
WARNINGS: None really!

FOR SAM: When you're born in the dirt the only way to grow is up.
[ Misato has her forehead against the floor, her arms forming guards on either sides of her head as she kneels there gasping for sweet, sweet oxygen. The thought that runs through her mind is becoming more familiar, punitive, blaming herself for having spent so many endless nights and days poring over battle reports, test results, requests to different arms of the UN, superfluous apologies for collateral damage, rather than keeping up her physique. There was never enough time for exercise, not enough time for proper meals let alone to think about them, not enough time to prepare or to live life as it should be lived.

She silences it all with a decisive statement: It was necessary. To survive.

She turns her head at the same time as she allows herself to fall to her side in a loose fetal position, letting out a pained groan as she does. ]

Damn it.

[ She never makes any concessions for herself. That feels too much like cheating. It doesn't matter that Sam can probably bench press her with one hand or that he's a veteran of real wars, unlike her pseudo ones fought against amateurs, or that he has had more time to train. She measures herself against him and falls far short, and uses that as reason to drive her further onward.

She may seem defeated, lying there on the floor, but her mind resonates only with resolve, unyielding, ironsteel. She needs to get better, and soon, now, regardless that her body is crying out for merciful release. ]

Another round. I need all the training I can get.

FOR DAMON: Gotta know where to go where angels fear to tread.
[ There's no such thing as overpreparation or too much training when the days leading up to the mission stretch on, turning her anxious with anticipation. She needs to be as strong as possible in all the ways she knows, only then will she feel ready-- no, that too is a lie. She will never feel ready, forever standing on the balls of her feet, prepared for the worst.

Only this time that extends to her broodmates, those extensions of herself, knowing that she needs to ensure they are just as strong. Shepard can fend for herself, Beth is proving hardier than she seems and Kavinsky has powers that renders him godlike. That leaves Damon. Being undead doesn't necessarily make him invulnerable. He could still fall to the same strange sleep as Sirius, he could be incapacitated, he could turn mercurial and useless to her, there are no guarantees, but that has never stopped her from trying to make her own hedges. Misato raises the stakes when presented with unknown, impossible stakes. It's the only way she knows.

So here they are. Her with her arms wrapped in the hems she cut off of her white slacks to turn them into shorts, all the better for mobility, standing with legs apart and ready for a fight. ]

If you can knock me down, I'll let you take a bite.

[ Why does that even sound sexual. Vampires, why. ]

FOR STEVE: Better make the shot go straight just like an arrow.
[ Misato lives a binary life. All or nothing.

When she's awake, she's awake, filling every moment with an unending list of pending tasks. Going, going, going. When she sleeps, rare as that may be, she's sleeping, dead to the world, commonly helped by alcohol when sheer exhaustion fails to do its work. It's probably fortunate (for her, unfortunate for others) that most people who snore hardly get the luxury of hearing their own horrifying sounds and as such she has little point of reference for the cacophony that makes its way through the walls of her room. Persistent, rising in volume every time she nearly drifts off to sleep, like a kind of auditory water torture.

Eyes still half open, she casts aside her blanket and stomps her way toward the sound, never allowing herself even a moment to rethink this. The knock on his door is unabashedly angry, with the might and force of a raging bull. ]

Are you strangling a lawnmower in there or what?

WILDCARD!
[ Throw me anything for last-chance station shenanigans! You can check out Misato's offscreen activities and bad habits right here. You're also most welcome to PM me or hit me up at unhedged to plot something out. ]

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[ Training. Katie needs more training. She doesn't have the castle here or Lance or Keith or Hunk. There's Shiro, but he seems more wrapped up in some of the mental stuff bouncing around his head and, honestly, she's still coming to grips with some of the... issues he's been going through with. Especially surrounding Sam and Aoba and the way that his symbiote ability seems to be working. It feels a touch safer to talk to Misato. Or at least find a better way to exert herself.

There had been physical PT at the Garrison. So what harm could come from asking Misato to help her stay in shape? The training area is mostly empty. Just the two of them when Katie arrives, feeling scrawny and short and all of the other things that come when you're fourteen and you're not sure you're ever going to hit any kind of growth spurt. That awkwardness and feeling of being in an ill-fitting body permeates the emotional space around her, even if she's here for a reason. She blows out a breath and then tries to smile. ]

Hey, Misato. You still willing to help me work out?

[ Doing it alone seems... inappropriate, for some reason. Besides, Misato had been there to help her when she'd almost passed out. ]

Uh, just as a warning, I kinda... sweat. A lot. It's kinda gross and I don't really know why, it's not even like I'm that athletic. I mean, I'm not out of shape, but I was a tech, but then I was a paladin, so I guess I should get better at fighting or running or whatever it is we need to do-

[ While others might look away from their fears and weaknesses, sweep them under the carpet and refuse to acknowledge them, Misato takes the other extreme. She digs them out, brings them to light and faces them head on to tame and subdue. The mirror she looks into is stark, startlingly vivid. She knows that she's trained (enough) and tactically smart (enough) but she lacks strength and stamina, because better than average just doesn't cut it when she wants to be the best she can be. There's no other way to ensure her continued survival, and survival is a non-negotiable absolute.

She spares the girl a glance when she speaks up, but doesn't stop her routine of frantically flipping the large tire that comes up to her hips when upright. Seventy-two, seventy-three, seventy-four-- ]

You're too small to fight.

[ Her words are rushed and breathless, dismissive. On one hand, she's had enough of training people. On the other, she wants to see if Katie will fight her on it and try to change her mind. Seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty. That beats her previous record. That done, she lets the tire roll away and crumples to the floor to lie on her back and catch her breath. Cheeks flushed, hair sticking to her face in the least attractive way possible, and very, very sweaty. At least her grin is amiable. ]

And do I really look like I care about sweat?

[ Katie's sort of impressed. Most of her physical training has either been fairly basic PT (push-ups, running, so much running) or the relatively individualized stuff they'd done on the castle. She didn't think of herself as out of shape, just... not as intense as some other people. Like Keith. Keith never turned it off, apparently. On the other hand, her expression falls as soon as Misato says "you're too small". It's not despair, it's more anger and indignation.

She'd thought better of Misato. That's evident from the discontent that roils the air around her and plunges the temperature of the room to somewhere below chilly. ]

I've fought before. I'm a paladin of Voltron!

[ She folds her arms with a frown. ]

Besides, it's not my fault my limbs are short. I just haven't hit my growth spurt.

[ Keep telling yourself that, Katie. ]

It doesn't matter whose fault it is.

[ That you're short and small and hasn't hit your growth spurt. But she thinks the girl gets the point. There's no use blaming anyone else for the things you can't help, better to find the things you can blame yourself for, because at least then there's a chance you can change it, even if it takes bleeding yourself dry for. Misato isn't really the person to go to for healthy life advice.

She props herself up on her elbows, flashing a cheeky grin at her. Teasing, mocking. ]

You're yelling about this "paladin of Voltron" like I should know. What's that? A cheerleading squad?

Cheerleading squad-?

[ Pidge groans. A part of her wants to be angry at Misato and another part of her sort of gets that this is just how Misato is. She scratches her cheek with a frown and bits and pieces filter down the link. Large, robotic lions. A futuristic cockpit. Explosions in the cold black of space. ]

No, we're... defenders of the universe. We're fighting against the Galra Empire. It's... sort of a long story.

[ It's comical how quickly her expression changes from mischief to surprise to newfound respect, or at least, some measure of familiarity. There's a moment of concern there too as she weighs the benefits of returning the favor, showing Pidge her side of the story, but decides against it. The point was for the girl to prove herself, right?

There's no need for her to show her cards any more than necessary. Maybe later. ]

Fine, fine. You owe me the story if I help you though, how's that?

[ There's something closed off to her, but Pidge doesn't pry or try to ask questions. There are things she prefers to bury and not discuss. She's sure the same is true for Misato. She sighs and offers a grin. ]

Deal. What do we start with?

[ It's true. There are things she prefers to never speak of, but not out of fear, only because they are long past irrelevant to her. Scarred over and forgotten. Why reopen old wounds?

Misato rises to her feet with a sigh, stretching her arms above her to loosen her joints. ]

Like I said, you're small. Without the-- Voltron, you won't be able to hurt anybody much really. But you can be fast. You can be smart and sneaky.

Well, I kinda knew that. It's what I've been doing.

[ Another bit of memory leaks out - crawling through some sort of vent system, trying to avoid getting shot by lasers. Yay. ]

I'm not strong, but I'm quick.

That's a start. You can turn quick into strong.

[ Misato walks over to grab Pidge by the upper arm with utter disregard for personal space, meaning to get an idea of her muscle mass. She seems disappointed. ]

Honestly though, why do you want to fight? Aren't you better at doing the computer stuff?

[ Pidge allows the physical contact, but she still pulls a face. That's not encouraging. Or all that polite. She tugs her arm back after a moment. ]

Why can't I do both? Like I said, I'm a paladin of Voltron. I've had to fight and I'm going to have to again and the other side isn't going to care that I'm short or that I might just be along to "do computer stuff".

[ Her face sets in an expression of determination. ]

If you don't want to, I'll find someone else.

[ She lets go without protest, crossing her arms over her stomach, striking her usual pose albeit with an amused smile playing on her face. The girl's determined, more so than others, and that counts for a lot by Misato's books. ]

Well, you know, I've met less likely heroes and they turned out okay.

[ Okay, she says, the master of understatement. ]

Run twenty laps around the room for me while I grab a few things for us.

Twenty laps-?!

[ Oh my God, this is exactly like the Garrison. Can't be any worse than Allura and Coran's training, right? She groans, but she starts running. This is gonna be a long day, isn't it? ]

I'm just warning you, I get pretty sweaty.

Edited 2017-03-24 02:53 (UTC)

[ Oh, this is about to be so much worse. Misato's expression turns from mildly pleased to extreme displeasure the moment Pidge expresses alarm at her order. ]

What's that? Complaining already?

[ There's little anger belying her words no matter her displays of irritation. ]

It's only a problem if you slip on your sweat and hit your head. Otherwise, get to it.

It's a free country!

[ Katie retorts, but she is starting to run. Besides, she's a teenager. Complaining is in her blood. ]

This ain't no country! It's my training.

[ It's not even a planet, or a galaxy, or an anything really. She sets aside the thought before it gets too existential, moving across the room to find a long unadorned pole and something that resembles a baseball bat, tapping it against the ground impatiently. ]

Not done yet? You gonna make me wait until I'm eighty?

[ WOW, give her some time to actually run, Misato. She shoots a rather typical teenage sulk in her direction as she starts on another lap. ]

It's not my fault I have short legs.

[ One of these days she'll hit a growth spurt. Hopefully. Still, she focuses on running and it doesn't take her too long to finish her first assignment. ]

[ Misato is quiet for a moment, uncharacteristically thoughtful when she walks toward the edge of the room as if to observe Katie closer, before she plants the pole against the wall to stop the girl in her tracks. The expression she wears is serious, severe. ]

You keep saying that, how things aren't your fault, well it doesn't matter. Life isn't a fair game. Suck it up and find a way to make up for it.

[ Katie jumps as the pole comes slamming down in her path. Unexpected. She stares up at Misato for a moment, looking confused and then more irritated. She rolls her eyes and sidesteps (or goes under) the pole. ]

I wouldn't be here if I didn't find a way. It's how I ended up in the Garrison. It's how I ended up a paladin.

[ She folds her arms with a defiant little scowl. ]

I already know life isn't fair. I don't need you to lecture me about that.

[ Persistent. It's enough to take her aback, eyes widening in surprise before her expression reverts to mild amusement laced with acceptance. Alright. If that's how it's gonna be. She takes the pole back and plants in on the floor, tweaking a little smile at the girl. She may not know what Garrison means or paladin (isn't that a better word to use for their heroes, rather than children?), but she doesn't think she needs to. ]

Fine. No more lecturing. Are you sweaty enough yet?

[ Huh. Pidge blinks and then decides to shake it off. It's not worth arguing about and apparently Misato is ready to move on. That's fine with her. She rolls her shoulder and half grins. ]

If I say "yes", you're just gonna want me to run more. So probably not, especially since we haven't even started>

[ The grin prompts one from her too. The girl is starting to get it. Sometimes, she doesn't mind being so easily read. Isn't that better than not being understood? She takes one step backwards before turning around to walk over and take her place in the middle of the room. ]

Nope. Come out here. Let's work on your core, it all starts from there.

[ "Core workout". She's heard that one before so she sort of knows what's coming. She follows Misato out into the middle of the room and takes a few stretches. She's actually feeling pretty energetic, all things considered. This isn't too bad.

Maybe she won't be a complete mess by the end of this. ]

So, what? Pushups? Crunches...?

That'd be boring. Save it for homework.

[ She sets the bat and the pole to the side, then stops to think, mind clearly spinning for ideas, before she goes to fetch a ball at the last minute. She gets down on the mat into a plank position and gestures for Pidge to follow suit. ]

We're playing ball. I'll hit this toward your left hand and you hit it back, then I aim for your right hand, and so on. But maintain the plank.

[ Sweet Jesus. Katie settles onto her hands and knees and then takes a breath and hoists herself into plank position. This is gonna suck. She can already tell.

But she did ask for this, so she can't really complain. ]

OK-!

[ She sounds a bit strained. ]

Let's go!

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come on and rise above it

WILDCARD

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