II. (open) i'm gonna fight with myself til i'm bleeding

[oorah]

featuring: hotdog castle & everyone (open to new arrivals too!!)
what's happening? frank feeding everyone venison dogs; frank fighting everyone; introlog spillover stuff + whatever else you want hmu
day: 11th nighttime (after all new arrivals are out and about/getting settled)
content warnings: ground meat, being a good neighbor, boyfights
notes: hit me up on PM or plurk hotdoge if you want anything else! happy to oblige

A. have you ever had a hot dog cooked by a guy named hotdog? this is going on instastories.

[ the time has come for frank to probably show all you losers what a hot dog is. for posterity or some such. he's been curing deer meat from a recent hunting trip with aloy and after their housemate reigen had soundproofed house six's kitchen, well. it seemed as good a time as any to put his plan in motion. not to mention he's in a good mood for once after encountering his best friend among the new arrivals.

early in the evening, frank will be piping his mixture into homemade casings with the doors to the back deck wide open for anyone to come pester him. and then later on of course he will be cooking them up with mustard he made and onions he found. he will also chop up pickles from the natives for anyone who gets down like that. none of y'all better ever ask him what a hot dog is ever again!!!

if you come in while he's cooking expect to be put to work, and did i mention he'll be downing rosé the whole time? e n j o y.

note: the kitchen is only soundproof when all the doors are closed. he will tell everyone on arrival this, so while he's cooking the doors will be shut but all other times feel free to mingle!! ]

B. the rules of fight club are bring snacks and make sure frank castle stays in bruises. tia for your contribution.

[ after posting up this little gem, frank has been steadily gathering members for his and mike's "club." his garage is a makeshift boxing arena and open for all any time they want to blow off steam or learn some new skills from punching bag himself. or from whoever else is lingering around. feel free to match yourselves and have a fight without him too, he'll ref!

the only rules of fight club are: bring snacks, agree with your partner on tactics: weapons/no weapons, fists only/every man for himself etc etc. AND when one person taps out or doesn't get up the match is over. the garage is approximately 80% soundproof. every fighter must wear wraps on their hands to muffle sound and agree not to shout or make loud noises, even in pain. soft-volume trash talking is allowed and perhaps even encouraged... ]

C. write your own starter or ping me for one!

Comments

B. hope you don't mind!

[musubitori]

[ Houou's viewing the various bouts and training with interest, back to the wall and one arm tucked into the vee of his tunic. He's idly gnawing on a tooth pick after enjoying Franks offering of food and honestly, brawling is one of the few things that make him hungry anymore.

At the voice, his gaze flickers to it's owner and Houou's expression is blank for a moment, head tilted curiously, but otherwise enigmatic. It's a beat too long, perhaps uncomfortably so, before he's snapping the tooth pick in half and swallowing it as he pushes away from the wall. ]

Indeed I would. By what do I call you?

not at all! :)

[list_maker]

[The strange mannerisms are not unsettling at all to the young woman. If anything the odd way about him is familiar. It reminds her of Jaqen H'ghar. But... did he just eat the small piece of wood? That earns him a curious look. He is an odd one.

Apparently it's okay to speak in here though, so Arya puts away her device.] A girl is called Arya Stark. [Her own silent joke, speaking in such a way. Like Jaqen had. Like a Faceless Man.]

[musubitori]

This one is called Houou Maniwa.

[ He's smiling, echoing Arya's turn of phrase - oblivious to the significance - but charmed to how it sounds and adding his own turn to it as he takes his place across from her.

He tugs his arm free of his tunic, settling into a nonchalant stance; bandaged hands relaxed if a little bloody looking - seeming for all the world a if he's waiting on her - but as soon as Arya matches him in readiness he's striking out with an open palm.

Equally quick blows follow - he's apparently not about to go easy on her. ]

[list_maker]

[His own turn of phrase causes her eyes to go a bit wide. It's precisely the way Jaqen had introduced himself to her years ago. It almost has her wondering...

She's got an oddly distant look in her eyes for a moment as she considers him, but finally she gets into position. And then he's attacking her. The blow lands but as she's moving backward, so it amounts into little more than a glance. Arya needs to be quick to have any hope of fighting anyone here. Aside from the younger children, there's really no one else here her size.]

[Rolling away, she attempts to come back at him, a sidestep to one side and then darting to the other with a jab. She much prefers sparring with a sword or staff, but this will do for now.]

[musubitori]

[ Hand to hand is Houou's forte, so he's relaxed in his stance, hands up but loose. He takes the jab to his torso, impressed by Arya's speed and gauging her strength. His own return are quick swiping strikes, aiming high and low - Houou's not so much pulling his punches, as falling into an age old habit of leading by an example.

He's taught many of his kin, young and old, but strength is a wasted on one of Arya's build - a challenge of speed is far more telling.

He's reminded almost immediately of sparring with Shirasagi; quick, elusive and waiting for that opportune moment. ]

[list_maker]

[She's able to dodge some of the strikes, but a low blow to her side lands and Arya falls down and onto her back with a soft muted thud on the padded floor. But then she's up again with a flip, eager look still in her eyes. Arya can tell she can learn a lot from this man, whoever he is.

Arya rushes at him and then hits the ground in a slide, aiming to kick a knee cap. Perhaps thats a dirty play in friendly combat, but the Waif had never gone easy on her and this fight reminds her of that. Although she doesn't despise this man like she does the Waif.]

[musubitori]

[ He dodges, but just barely. It's a rather ungraceful hop up and over Arya's prone form, falling into a tumble and a low sweep of his leg around to cover his back as Houou faces his opponent again. He's smiling though, impressed.

As soon as Arya finds her feet again, Houou rallies; pressing forward with quick blows, but taking just as many in favour of the odd dirty jab or sweep at Arya's footing.

Houou remembers being small, having that disadvantage, but turning it into something useful, staying quick and sly and he sees it in Arya too. ]

[list_maker]

[He's better than her and Arya's seeinng with each move he makes that she could learn quite a lot from him given time. And should he care to keep sparing with her in the future. She moves, lifting arms to glance and deflect his blows away like she might do parrying a sword. It's going to lead to some very bruised forearms later, but she's saving her sides and stomach far greater damage. She hops over several of his sweeps, moving forward with a few quick hits of her own when she thinks she's spotted an opening...

And then one of his jabs get by her block and hits her gut and she crumples to the ground, clutching her stomach and fighting the urge to puke. But ultimately she forces herself back up again. It hurts, but she doesn't care. She's a bit slower now, but still as fierce in her will.]

[musubitori]

[ Houou backs up a single step, guard still up as she falls and his gaze is intense, watching as Arya gains her feet again. It's the kind of quality he's looked for in all of his kin, the level of tenacity in the face of a greater enemy, that would qualify her being considered included in his clan.

The Maniwa fought tooth and claw, they expected nothing less of those in their number, young or old. ]

You have a predators bearing-- I envy your teachers in their skill.. Here, rest a moment. We have the day.

[ Houou's not yet winded, but there's sweat curling the soft hairs at his nape and brow and he scoops up a cup of water he'd previously set aside, offering it to Arya. His other hand is offered palm up, a gesture of peace - he's not setting a trap.. yet of course. ]

[list_maker]

[She's ready to keep going, still ready for a possible continuation of the spar even when he offers the water, expecting a strike despite his peace offering. Arya is smiling though, even if she doesn't trust the gesture. She's having fun.

Eventually she does take it, sipping it as she moves back from him just in case.] Thank you. You are very skilled.

[musubitori]

[ He appreciates her hesitance - pleased with her survival instincts - and dabs at his brow with the back of a bandaged hand as she drinks. ]

Combat, subterfuge, it is all I have known - is it so to with you?

[ Houou's eager to continue to, but unfaltering curious as well. ]

[list_maker]

Not always. When I was younger I only dreamed of being a warrior. Never knew what it meant. Never saw any death. I was a summer child. [She smiles softly remembering how Old Nan used to always remind her, her sister, and brothers of that fact. What did they know of life? They'd never survived a Winter. But those of them that were alive knew now.]

But I've had to learn.

[musubitori]

The younglings of my clan learn from a young age. We live to die for our way of life-- that you have had to learn without that and are as skilled as you are says much.

I would have mistaken you for one born to this.

[ It's possibly the highest compliment that Houou can offer. Though many will find his manner and world view warped much by his upbringing, he knows strife, knows what it's like to fight because there is no other option, not even death and he can find nothing but respect for those who have carried on under the same weight.

There's a smile tugging at his mouth and this is clearly enough of a break, because he's raised his hands again - ready. ]

Shall we?

[list_maker]

[His words have her beaming. It's been a long time since she smiled so wide. There hasn't been too much to smile about back home.] I've only been training for a few years now. Since I was ten. [When Syrio had started her 'dancing' instruction.

When he gets back up she sets down the now drank glass of water, nodding all too happy to get back into the fray. He would best her, certainly, but as Syrio had told her 'every hurt is a lesson'.] We shall.