[Video]

[forleaving]

[Adam isn't good at asking for help, and this video is long overdue, honestly. He's put it off too many times out of uncertainty or not wanting to bother people or...some other lame excuse. But he's done with excuses now.

He still looks unsure when the video comes on.]

Hello. So, I've been here for a couple of months now and I've seen that a lot of the missions involve fighting, which is something I can't do.

I want to change that.

I'm looking for someone, or multiple people [He wasn't going to limit it to just one person; everybody had different techniques and styles, maybe learning from multiple sources would benefit him.] to teach me how to fight.

I warn you though, I've never thrown a punch in my life, so we'd be starting from the ground up, but I'm a diligent student.

[He hesitated for another moment, biting his lip, then nodded.]

Thank you.

Comments

[forleaving]

[Adam almost apologized too, but instead he nodded.] It's okay.

[It wasn't Soldat's fault that Adam was easily frightened.

He appreciated talking in person, though. He didn't use the network often, but glancing at it in the past had made him feel a little overwhelmed.]

Fall? There's a proper way to fall? [Even that much was learning something new.] I'd love to learn how to fight. Thank you.

[worthallthis]

[Soldat doesn't laugh, though they do smile.]

Yeah, there's a proper way to fall. So you don't hurt yourself, so you can get to your feet faster. The first things I always taught people were how to break a hold, how to get away from someone trying to hurt you, and how to fall. Once you got those things. Then it's offense.

[Though from the ISP messages they'd been overhearing, they won't be the only one. Which is fine. They're a little surprised he'd want them, with everyone else on offer.]

Want to schedule a time? I visit the training car once a day, usually. When do you have time?

[forleaving]

That makes sense.

[The way Adam saw it, everyone was going to teach him something different, so the more the merrier. If he'd asked Ronan, the Lynch brother's father had taught them to box, so that would have been Ronan's approach to teaching Adam, which would have been different than someone else.

Basically, Adam was greedy when it came to knowledge; he wanted to consume as much information and skills as he could.]

My schedule's flexible; I can rearrange for any time that suits you. Mornings, evenings, afternoons; I can fit chores around anything.

[worthallthis]

Evenings, for an hour or two at seven, three times a week?

[Their own evenings are the most free, and the training car isn't as busy after dinner.]

Come wearing clothes you don't worry about maybe tearing or getting grubby, yeah?

[forleaving]

[He nodded.]

That sounds good. And all I have are my train clothes, so I'll just wear the ones that already have mission wear and tear.

[That seemed like the most logical thing to do. Especially when Adam had taken great care with his clothes back home to make sure they didn't get dirty or anything.]

[worthallthis]

[Better safe than sorry-- some people do seem to have a lot of clothes from home. Soldat will get there, too, but not until they've got all their gear and important memory items.

Satisfied that at least Adam will get to learn the basics even if the other trainers start him directly on offensive work, they ask,]

Want to start tonight? I've gotta finish up making dinner, but after that.

[forleaving]

[Adam hadn't spent any of his points in the shop yet. He'd just been...hoarding them, in case something important came up. They weren't literally money but he was treating them as such.]

Sure. Do you want any help with dinner?

[worthallthis]

[Whereas Soldat has been spending them as fast as they get them. Maybe less once they've got all their necessary gear and items from Beacon, but they haven't had to worry about something as mundane as money in seventy years. A resource is for using.

They nod.]

Sure, if you want to come along. I'm never alone in there, really, but I won't say no to an assistant.

[Maybe possibly slightly teasing, on the last bit.]

[forleaving]

[Adam smiled.]

I think you'll find I can be a pretty good assistant.

[So long as Soldat didn't mind that Adam was on the quiet side. Adam enjoyed helping people, and more than that, he enjoyed learning. Being able to do both at the same time? Even better.]