August Bonding

[sleight_of_hand]

WHO: Tohru Adachi (with some open prompts)
WHERE: Largely Heropa this month
WHEN: Through the month of August
WHAT: The last two months were hell on wheels for Adachi, and he's determined to focus on work getting his schedule back on track.
WARNINGS: None yet.

[ Early Morning | Heropa Streets | Viktor ]
[ Though he had promised he wouldn't be running away from Viktor that... didn't end up being the case. Once the rains had abated and allowed for him to go back home and recover from his cold, the horror of what he did finally set in. He had kissed a drunk man. If said drunk man hadn't been sober enough to push him away... well, he wouldn't have gone that far, but he certainly would have done a little more than just a kiss. How he felt about Viktor was getting way out of hand, and was definitely probably the reason for 90% of his problems. ]

[ Dammit, why did he have to be engaged? Or why did he have to be so free with his affections? This wouldn't be as much of a problem if either of those weren't a thing. Though as soon as such a though occurred to him, he had to smack himself. He wouldn't want to wish Yuuri into non-existence! Nor did he want Viktor to change the kind of person he was; that was part of what made him so damn likable! Why the hell was this so complicated?! ]

[ He knew he couldn't avoid Viktor forever, but he didn't want the chance of running into the others when he did either. So, Adachi opted for meeting him at the early morning workouts he had been missing out on for various reasons over the last couple months; seriously, if he managed to get through this month without any kind of serious injury, he'd be impressed. ]

[ Adachi stood there awkwardly once he approached, not sure what to even say after over a week of avoiding him. He rubbed at the back of his neck, before sheepishly raising his hand in greeting. ]

Y-yo!

[ Nailed it. ]

[ Night | Heropa Ice Rink | Open ]
Why are you still paying for this?

[ Adachi looked up from where he was writing out a check, raising an eyebrow at the ice rink owner. He was "awake" for once, staring up at him from around his "I rather be fishing" hat. ]

Your friends aren't coming around, you know.

[ A sour look came to Adachi's face at that, and he ripped out the check, slapping it down. ]

Just take my money, and let me get my skates.

[ He was out on the ice before long, blades cutting along the surface as he started on his circles, but he wasn't really focused on it. He really didn't need the reminder that the others weren't around that much, that him trying to learn this was probably going to be for nothing. But, dammit, he wanted to do this; there was so much he wanted to say and didn't have a lot of time to say it, or the words to say it. He had to do this now. ]

[ Adachi went drifting from circles to some attempt at a program, not that it was very much of anything. There was still a lot he didn't understand, especially how things were supposed flow together. Anyone that came in would be able to see he made an attempt at trying to understand, though. A small notebook was sticking out from his dufflebag where he dropped it, with the names of moves and positions along with scribbled stick figure drawings giving an idea of what they were supposed to look like. There were a lot of notes on the margins as well, mostly consisting of, "Hands go where!??!?!" ]

[ He's trying at it! A little harder than he tries at anything else at least. ]

[ Private Communication to Persona Users ]
So uh...

I know there's like.

A lot.

That we need to talk about with each other and all that? But uh... we've all got the same power, and we're all more or less on the same side. It's probably best if we at least prepare ourselves to fight like a team if we need to.

So uh

I'm totally up for training with any one of you guys. I need to find a new place to do it now that my old one's been compromised, but we should try to get to know each other's skills better.

[ He really hoped that sounded sincere, because he was definitely trying to be. ]

[ Wild Card ]
[ When Adachi isn't busy with others, he'll be all around the porter cities working various cases for his native clients. He's up for being stopped for just about anything. ]

Comments

[bypasser]

[Otabek immediately stands, rushing down the two steps and out the small door that leads him to the ice. The forethought of putting on his skates helps now, as he slides over and comes to his knees beside the man.]

Are you alright? Where are you hurt?

[He shouldn't have sat there, made his presence known long before it could have startled Adachi.]

I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking.

[His hands are outstretched, ready to examine him as soon as he's given permission.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Oh god, why did everyone but Viktor freak out like this when he fell on the ice? It's not like it really hurt or anything; maybe he should start being a little more upfront with what he could do? Either way, Adachi waved Otabek off, rolling over so he was sitting on his behind. ]

Don't worry about it, geeze; I've had worse falls.

[bypasser]

[Otabek frowns, eyes narrowing - he's curious if Adachi is truly uninjured or if he's the kind of person to pretend that he's not.]

Have you? Be honest with me. Are you alright?

[His tone is firm. He stands up, extending a hand with a brow raised, as if to dare Adachi to prove it.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi fixed him with a mildly irritated look. Not that he didn't appreciate the concern, but still. ]

I have had my ankle broken and my hand chopped off by laser sword. I've had worse.

[ He'll accept the hand up though; he may have been better with his skates, but getting back up from a fall was still a pain. ]

[bypasser]

[He's not phased by the look, in fact it's something that he's used to.]

That doesn't make any injury you have now less of an injury.

[Otabek helps him stand, glancing up and down him.]

But I believe you.

[sleight_of_hand]

I know, I know...

[ Talking to Adachi sometimes is like talking to a little kid, and this is definitely one of those instances. Though he does sober quickly, letting out a faint sigh. ]

...sorry. I just wasn't paying attention, so seeing you there caught me by surprise.

[bypasser]

It's fine. I'm the one who is sorry.

[Otabek lets the topic go, not wanting to argue over something that didn't need to be a disagreement at all.]

Are you staying a while? We could have a lesson tonight.

[sleight_of_hand]

I... yeah. If you still want to do this.

[ The implication that Yurio was going to be pissed if he found out about it was hanging in his voice. ]

[bypasser]

Of course I do.

[Otabek didn't want to talk about Yuri and he could tell that was an issue. He wouldn't keep this a secret from him and now that he knew it was happening, he'd tell him. He didn't know what that would mean for their lessons in the future, but they had tonight at least.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi hesitated a moment, before he nodded. ]

All right. Where do we start?

[bypasser]

Warm ups.

[He gestures towards the ice.]

Take laps until you can feel it. [Otabek remembers their discussion of endurance, so he's not referring to that.] Then go faster. Get to know the ice.

It will help me know which steps to teach you.

[sleight_of_hand]

Um... okay?

[ Adachi didn't look like he understood, but he wasn't going to argue with Otabek. He was the one that was the professional, after all. After a moment, he gave a nod and started off, taking laps around the rink. He had been around this rink so many times, he pretty much knew it like the back of his hand, so it didn't take him long before he was starting to speed up. ]

[bypasser]

[Otabek takes easy laps, watching Adachi as he goes. He's better than the time before which shows that he's continued to practice since then. When he speeds up, Otabek shifts to a stop on the ice, at the center, and extends his hand. As Adachi skates by, he raises his voice.]

Two more laps and then I'll show you the toeloop.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi beamed at him as he passed by, familiar enough with the rink by now that he could turn his head and pay attention to Otabek and still follow the curve of the barrier without running into it. ]

Yuuri-kun stopped in the other day while I was practicing. He showed that to me after I told him about the first time I tried to do a jump. I still haven't landed it though.

[bypasser]

Did he?

[That gives Otabek pause, hands resting on his hips as he thinks it over. If he's already receiving instruction from another skater, they'd have to collaborate or they'd only cause Adachi issues.]

Then lets work on that. If he's already started teaching you, we don't want to set you back.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi let out a laugh, not even breathing hard yet. ]

Trust me, nothing could really set me back right now.

[ He was still so new at this, he was amazed anyone wanted to show him jumps at this point. Maybe it was out of pity for breaking his ankle? Or just out of pity in general. ]

[bypasser]

[Otabek smiles lightly, lips curving up. It was a good attitude to have, especially when starting out in a new sport.]

How much has he shown you so far?

[He's going to need to speak with Yuuri now, so that he doesn't do anything to mess this up. He's been meaning to contact Katsudon anyway.]

[sleight_of_hand]

Just that jump. I can try it real quick if you want?

[ He wasn't very confident he'd be able to miraculously land it, but it was worth a shot? ]

[bypasser]

Yes, if you're ready.

[Otabek didn't want him to hurt himself. If he was confident that he'd practiced it enough that he'd be able to land it or at least, get close, then that was alright. Skaters fell a lot during training.]

[sleight_of_hand]

Got it.

[ Adachi looped around, and... well, his approach was getting better, and he had no problem with start of the jump, but the whole landing part was still an issue. His knee wobbled precariously as soon as he landed, and he quickly ended up falling forward, managing to stick his hands out to brace the fall a bit. It still didn't keep him from falling on his face, the momentum sending him forward a bit. ]

[bypasser]

[Everything was going smoothly, at first. His body, feet-legs-hips-back-arms-head, all in position to make the jump, but landing isn't always as easy. He braces himself, Adachi's feet hit the ice - and his knee wobbles, sending flying forward to fall on his face.

Otabek skates to him, but remembering the last time, merely bends forward slightly.]

Are you alright?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi nodded, pushing himself up and rubbing the ice flakes from his face. He let out a sigh after a moment, his hand dropped back against a leg. ]

Doing the jump isn't hard. It's coming back down from it that I'm having a lot of trouble with.

[bypasser]

You'll want point your toe more when you land. Firmly on the right foot, back foot toe down.

[Otabek shifts his body into position to show him as his mun researches the best way to land a toe loop.]

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi pulled himself up to his feet, giving a nod before bending down to brush himself off. He settled against the barrier once he was done, watching Otabek intently. ]

[bypasser]

[Otabek does the toe loop, start to finish, landing easily on the ice. He goes slower than normal at the start, but keeps his momentum up or he won't land it.]

You have to really push off, right at the moment you leave the ice. It helps you get the space you need to twist your hips and get your feet back down.