( open ) downtime catch-all

[decommission]

CHARACTERS: Steve Rogers + anyone
WHERE: Station 72
WHEN: Day 168 and forward, I'm flexible with days!
SUMMARY: Training montage and general roaming.
WARNINGS: Will update if needed.

i. TRAINING WING (GENERAL LESSONS AND EXERCISE)

[ It's not the boxing gym. Wrong lighting, too sterile. The inexplicable moment when he craves a cigarette is when he really notices how there's not a room that he's found in the Station so far with even the faded scent of them.

He's here at least once a day. Running, using the lifting machines, sometimes swimming by the end - or floating. His presence is loudest when he's mid-movement, a pulsing spectrum of rushing blood and exhilaration, winding down to a pleasant humming by the time he's finishing up. He doesn't mind a partner, he's glad for it, usually. Anyone willing to teach is even better. ]

ii. TRAINING WING (CLOSED TO SAM)

Take this. [ They're in a far corner of the wing, standing on the mats. What he offers Sam is an aluminum bat and another brief explanation to go along with his slightly longer one involving convincing lines like I don't know my symbiotic ability yet and well, it worked once before. ]

I'm not gonna move. Aim for my shins. [ In his memory there's water, rain dripping down his hood and jacket. A man (a lizard) aims some kind of weapon at his knees. He focuses on that echoing sense of fear, the understanding that there's no way he'll be able to get out of the way in time to save his bones from being shattered.

His body is stronger, but that's not going to be enough on these missions. This is the safest way of figuring this out.

Option #2 was going to involve finding something tall to jump from. ]

iii. REC WING (THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL)

[ All the equipment he finds is well worn already. On the one hand, he can't complain about a mitt that's already been partially broken in. On the other hand - there's still that nagging question of what happened to all the people that this stuff used to belong to.

He finds a space in the wing that's relatively clear of miscellaneous junk and faces the closest wall. The mitt's on the ground, he's playing hitter. Tosses the ball up into the air and gives a almost lazy swing. The impact barely rings against his hands, the ball sailing in an arc to smack against the wall. It bounces back, rolling past him.

There's a small pile of baseballs next to his feet, all in various states of wear and tear. Rather than chase after the first one, he picks up another. Rinse and repeat. ]

Comments

[adamance]

[When she takes the stick from him, she's surprised by its weight. It's heavier than it looked, but no heavier than any of her weapons. She carefully shifts her grip along it, getting a feel for it, and then she moves into the position suggested. If nothing else, she looks awkward.

But she does have good hand and eye coordination. That should ... probably help. Probably.]

And what do the positions do?

[decommission]

Depends. [ He takes a handful of steps backwards, rolling the baseball between his hands. Explaining something that you feel like you've always known is a little difficult (even if there was once a time he had to be taught it himself). ]

Both teams take turns playing the field and hitting - defense and scoring. So if I'm playing pitcher for my team, I'm trying to throw the ball so that you can't hit it - [ pointing with his finger, he draws a square between them ] - but I've gotta throw it within a certain area... [ he trails off again, there's more to it. For now he sizes her up, cocking his head to one side. ] - while you wanna try to hit it as hard as you can, so -

[ He waggles the ball in his hand for a second, a warning, then gives it an underhand toss in her direction. ]

[adamance]

And it's up to the defense to prevent the ball from going very far, correct? [It's her way of showing that she's catching on. To a degree, she doesn't understand the point of this, but she can see how it can improve hand-eye coordination for someone to practice, especially with a stick like this. It's weighted well enough to provide upper body strength. She can see the point, even if she's missing the point while she's seeing it.]

I can think of a few people who could use that. [Those who haven't exhibited an interest in training or exercising. She recalls Ilde's bemusement over having to run for exercise, for one thing.]

But first, let's see how I can do.

[Her handling of the bat isn't clumsy, but she definitely holds it up like she might two hand a spear. After a moment, she slides her one hand down to meet the other. The bat remains standing straight up, and her stance is like that if someone about to fight. It could be worse.

Of course, "worse" comes moments after, as she whips the bat in a backward arch down until it comes to slap the ball up into the air—right up, making it so that it basically has only one place to land: down in front of her.]

[decommission]

[ Bobbing his head in a nod, she's got the idea - though he cocks an eyebrow when she mention the other people on the Station. He's been so wrapped up in his own little training regime that he hasn't been noticing much of what everyone else has or hasn't been up to since they've been back. Unless they approach him, like now.

He's played enough to sort of gauge where that angle's going to go - ]

Watch it!

[ The ball shoots up into the air, out of habit he runs forward in an attempt to catch it. He's about a step away when the ball hits the floor for the dull thud, quick to scoop it up before it can roll away. ]

Nice - [ He crouches there for a second before straightening again. She's got the coordination, if not the form yet. He gives her a half smile. ] If I'd caught that, you'd be out. Once three batters are out, the teams switch places.

[adamance]

I assume I'm meant to get it out farther. [The swing of the back was awkward, like she had been swinging it like a paddle, albeit a very large one. Her mind does the calculations (minus any actual math) on how to improve that. She has an idea of how to handle it.]

Do I throw now, then? Since it's just you and me.

[She does have the instincts, as well as the skill. But her mind works less like an athlete and more like a warrior. It is how it is.]

[decommission]

[ He cocks his head, then shrugs. ] If you want to. Or you could keep practicing hitting.

[ Doesn't matter much to him. Back to the other part - ] But you're right, you kinda wanna hit it... far. Means that the players on the field have to spend more time going after the ball, so you've got time to run the bases - like uh, checkpoints.

[ He's still looking for bases to use. ]

[adamance]

What's the minimal number of players we need on each side? [It's a question that comes with intention. While she waits for his response, she tests the swing of her bat again, this time correcting a little more like a baseball player and a little less like someone uppercutting with the butt of a spear. She's not perfect yet, especially since the bat's weight is awkward, but she's getting there.

If the members of the Nest can work together on an athletic activity like this one (and improve their coordination), then it may help them in the long run.]

[decommission]

[ He starts backing up, putting some space between them again. ]

Well, you can get away with five for each team if you're really short. Pitcher, catcher, and then the other three cover the bases. [ He throws the ball up into the air, catching it in one hand. A few weeks ago he probably would've dropped it. ] If you've got someone that doesn't mind sitting out they can play ump, they'd be the one to call whether someone's out - that sorta stuff. Keeps the arguing down.

[ ... sort of. ]

[adamance]

[Having someone call the game and keep things in check would help, but Lexa doubts that there's anyone among the newcomers who could do that. Aside from Angel. Angel might work.

But there's a better choice, one who appeals to most of the Hosts.]

We can see if Cathaway is interested.