Forsythe

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: Foam sword fighting
Skills: None used

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Victoria was happy the situation seemed to defuse, even if the matter of perspective remained unresolved. She supposed it was good enough that Zari knew not to pull any punches in an actual fight, and that she could humor her roommate with doing things her way this once, in the name of making an acquaintance. "Yeah, no kidding. I finally got into a flight oriented class this year. I mean I guess it's good to first get us to learn to fight on our feet before teaching us to go airborne, but it feels like throwing away a massive advantage. I wonder who'll end up teaching the class? I hope it's not Phony Stark." Vicky frowned.

She also remembered she instigated this spar for another reason... initially. Time to see if she could get the truth out of this woman. "So, I see Mr. Eyeball, and did I also hear about Mr. Jaws? No space for robo-girls on your crew?" she asked, wondering how blunt was too blunt, although her logic circuits were not throwing out any VEIL warnings just yet. Come oooon, I can't actually ask you if you know I am a robot, help me out here! Said circuits also reminded her of an earlier note she made though: "Oh, if you need tools and a bench to finish the other guy, I have an entire workshop here. I'll show you later!"

That all said, as far as the fight went, she was fighting herself more than her opponent at the moment. Zari landed another blow on her seemingly effortlessly, while Vicky felt like she was moving through molten glass, her reactions slowed down due to inexperience. "I did not think holding back was going to be this hard. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to exploit every opening. Having to think about an action rather than just doing it by feeling stinks, it's like being in freshman year again." she shook her head, as if the motion could help clear her head or deactivate the mannerisms she learned in combat class for, well, all her life up until now. Still, the change in approach seemed to work somewhat - Zari only reached her arms this time, not her body. Theory is good, improve the execution... as much as you can in ten minutes. This time, she tried to fake an downwards diagonal slash from her left, only to change it to an upwards strike at the last moment.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: Foam sword fighting
Skills: None used

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There was the urge to roll eyes again, although for the sake of electronics everywhere and not pouring more gas on the fire, Victoria remained stone faced. Which one of us is misunderstanding things again? I do recall saying fencing or what have you. It doesn't matter what the rules are, there being any rules is the problem. Well, let's not agree to disagree, I guess. Let's ignore the fact that someone like Teddy would shatter steel blades and bend these ones into knots with one blow even if he followed tHe RulEs. It's never going to be fair, no matter what you do.

Done with that conversation topic, she decided to humor the asgardian and remounted her blade. That faced her with another problem though. She had no idea how to fight like this. Alright, Tori, pause. Take inventory. Analyze. Improve.
Replaying previous rounds…
Analyzing patterns and trends…
Simulating responses…
Tactical recommendations:
- Use of off-line footwork to obtain a favorable angle of attack
- Avoidance of movement directly toward the opponent
- Extension of the sword arm in a straight line from the shoulder to obtain maximum reach

Analysis time: 0.367 seconds
It wasn't much, but her instructions prevented her from doing much more than that. Not that analyzing a few hours of fencing footage would do her that much good without actual practice.

"Have at thee. Also, flying horse? That I can't wait to see! Sometimes it feels like i'm the only flier here." She smiled, while adjusting her posture. She turned herself profile towards Zari again, only this time with her sword hand forward at maximum extension, intending to move to Zari's right side, block her action while doing so and then attack with a thrust from the side or back.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: Foam sword fighting
Skills: None used

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Well, that was a bunch to unload. Victoria was initially taken a bit aback by the outburst, but it was a blessing in disguise, as she could learn so much more about people when they were out of their comfort zone than when everything was hunky-dory. Also, her choice of pretend-nationality could not be more handy right now, although she made a note to only react to what Zari said, and not to her robot companion. As Zari retook her stance, Victoria did the opposite, standing down.

"First of all, I am sorry. I was berating myself for that spectacular failure. I was not trying to insinuate that I failed because you held some unfair advantage, but because regardless of what advantage you hold, I should not have let that happen. If I worded it poorly and made it sound like I was a sore loser, I apologize." she started.

"However-" she took a breath, pointing to the sign at the stall, "-the sign says 'sword fighting', not 'olympic fencing' or what have you. The way they taught me here, fighting with a sword involves more than just wielding a blade, but also grappling, and footwork, and scaring the opponent among others. It's not that I don't care, or disrespect you, but I never fought or even sparred in any other manner than full on, so how was I supposed to know you've had a different rule set in mind?"

"Look, we're going to have to live with each other for at least a year, so I'd rather clear any issuess that come up between us. So I'll admit: I don't understand the point of it. I have dedicated myself to one thing only: To protect mankind from those they can't protect themselves from, and everything I do is to serve me on that path. To you, this may be a sport. But to me, this is my purpose in life. If someone who is stronger than me comes up later, what good would training with some limitations my opponent won't abide by do me then? They would turn me into a pretzel, and then stomp on a couple dozen civilians on their way to breaking the bank, because I was concerned with honor, and proper form, rather than... well... neutralizing the threat."

She took the weapon off off her forearm and offered it to Zari, "If that's not what you want to do, I understand, and I'll get out of your way so you can go have fun doing what you like to do. And, believe it or not, I may be smart, but that does not translate into people skills, quite the opposite, I'd say. So please, if you have any other bone to pick with me, now or later, talk to me? Chances are I don't even realize that what I say or do is grinding your gears." she sighed, as that seemed to be happening quite frequently.

Sum up your week in roleplaying in just 3 words

Dice hate me.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: Foam sword fighting
Skills:
Blade combat: Byron Pursebane wants the swords back
Giving up: Like hell!

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Victoria could not believe her optics. This should have worked, at least badly. Two blades versus one, even if she died on this hill, she should have taken out her opponent with her. That was basic arithmetic! But apparently, today probability said 'hold my beer' and decided to screw her over. She watched in horror and ever increasing shame as not only was her attack deflected, but she lost one of her weapons, with her own follow-up somehow not materializing.

She watched the lost weapon fly off into the crowd and frag a friendly, unable to avert her gaze from the unraveling disaster. The utter mortification resulting from this took so much of Victoria's attention, that she missed the fact that the disarming strike also launched her own arm in an arc towards her face, up until her own fist clobbered her own temple. Her head snapped backwards, now wearing a look of surprise mixed with bewilderment.

She stood there frozen still, quietly reflecting on her life choices. Perhaps she could still be an accountant? That may be more on her level, apparently.

Estimating probability of experienced outcome...
~ 0.25%

After taking a second to let that number sink in, she slowly straightened her head and glared at Zari. "Okay. I know I said I was going to be bad at this, but come on. I cannot be this bad. I refuse to believe it! Not after two years in this place! I know I don't have a super gimmck of my own, but there is a guy with bow and arrow on the Avengers, for zuck's sake! This must have been an extreme bad luck on my part, and a lucky shot on yours. If we do this again, this can't end this badly again... Right?" she frowned, taking a few steps away and readying herself for another round.

"Come on, one more time...?" she half ordered, half pleaded. Now with only one blade, she assumed the same stance as before, only with the freed arm ready to grapple instead.

Prepared moves

If attacked: Deflect blade strike with her own and try to lock Zari's main hand in a grapple.

If on the attack: Go for a weapon bind and then a gut punch.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: Sword sparring
Skills:
Blade combat: I watch Skallagrim - Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced - Expert

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Initially delighted at the challenge being accepted, and for now without any mention of robots other than a Mk II Eyeball, Victoria's excitement mellowed out as seconds turned to minutes while this girl spent as much time on picking a foam sword as others would spend picking clothes to try on. Victoria eventually moved to the arena, hoping the duel would happen sometime today. The mechashift sword slash flashlight caught her eye though. "So cool..." she whispered under her breath, making a note to ask to get a peak on the internal mechanisms.

Finally, her opponent decided to grace her with her presence. "Yawn. I was ready two minutes ago." She watched as the sword expert of the two of them took a defensive stance. It was something she noticed most of her peers in class did. Why did everyone give up the initiative so readily? She smirked, turning her body sideways, sword in the front hand raised to guard, the back hand prepared to strike. "Are we going to stand around here all day, or are we going to fight?" I would make a kickass Kingsman. I can even dress the part. she thought briefly, trash talking as much to try to throw her opponent off as to delude herself into thinking she had a snowball's chance on the surface of the Sun, before putting all of her focus on the fight ahead.

Almost as soon as she finished speaking, she lunged forth, intending to catch Zari's blade with her forward hand, and make a slash at her stomach with her back hand.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: The field (School Carnival)
Skills: N/A

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As the trio approached the swordfighting stand, Victoria fought and lost to the urge to roll her eyes. These guys escaped from Dungeons and dragons, I swear. She had to admit, she was finding body language a rather nice tool for expressing just how obnoxious she found this acting. "Someone let these guys attend the Shadiversity a few years too early. Tryhadries will never be as cool as Thor, regardless how temporarily displaced they try to make their speech." she frowned.

Apparently though, that didn't stop Madalyne from taking the bait, hook, line and sinker, as she volunteered to go against one of the knights brooding in the corner. Which suits me just fine, thank you. One I wanted to have a one to one with roommate. Two, she thought, stealing a split second glance towards Madalyne, I could get lost in those eyes and that is just unfair.

She joined Zarina at the weapons rack, looking for a pair of blades in particular. Time to start fishing for information. "Well, I mean, that's supposed to be part of the fun, right?" she raised an eyebrow at the experience comment, "I am definitely going to embarrass myself, as let's face it, without my armor, I'm only human." she said with subtle emphasis. Then again, given the interaction so far, she was not entirely sure subtle will be enough to provoke a reaction that would betray if Zarina knew. "Although it may be cool to make a blade mod to the armor. Not sure if practical, but cool definitely." she mused out loud, index finger tapping on her chin. Pulling the two gauntlet swords out of the rack, she gave the greenhead a challenging look. "So... care to show me how a pro fights with these?"

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: The field (School Carnival)
Skills: N/A

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I love it when a plan comes together. Victoria allowed herself a little smirk, as the group seemed to be mostly in favor of smacking each other with pieces of plastic for a while. "So long as we don't have to prove our worth by pulling the swords out of stones first, this will be great. I don't normally use blades outside of class, it will be interesting to scale myself against someone who does." she noted, softly calling dibs on a 1:1 with her roommate. Well, that, and she was genuinely interested in how she measured up. She has of course saved all of the knowledge she should need, however her construction and coding had the annoying property of still needing to practice to actually be any good with physical things like that. She still cringed in embarrassment when her memory took her back to the time she was learning to walk.

The topic then steered towards fortune telling and predicting the future in general, and if she was to be honest, it was grinding her gears. "I can not accept that future can be foretold." she finally shared her thoughts, "Only respect to the practitioners of the craft and the fact that some of them enjoy a modicum of success prevents me from dismissing the possibility outright. But to think that everything is written in stone and one merely needs to read it... I'd need copious amount of evidence to entertain such a thought. That would mean there is no free will and what we think are choices is meaningless." she shuddered just thinking about it. "In any case, I'd rather not know what my future holds. That's a Schrödinger's cat I do not want a glimpse of. I'll sleep better not knowing whether the future is fixed rather than not knowing whether I can do something about a future I know of. I should go wish the old woman a fare well though." she made a note to bring this topic up in philosophy class. Perhaps some ancient thinkers already figured out the answer. Who am I kidding. They probably only came up with more questions.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: The field (School Carnival)
Skills: N/A

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It would appear that what little intel Victoria was able to scrounge up on Zarina was correct. Technopathy seemed to be the correct power, seeing by the giant floating eyeball tagging along. Good thing for Victoria was that if Zarina knew about her nature, she did not seem to give it any thought whatsoever, putting her a little bit at ease.

Which was then blasted into smithereens as the motormouth started bombarding her with questions at a machine gun rate. Victoria involuntarily shrunk under the assault of words, wishing right there and then she could just turn invisible and not have to talk. To anyone. Ever again. "I-" She tried to answer some of the questions, however before she got more than one letter away, Zari has already answered her own question, got scolded for it by her own robot, and moved on.

Andy then mercifully offered just a single sentence to her, for which Victoria was grateful. "Nice to meet you too." the blonde answered, looking at Andy quizzically, "Is- Is she always like this?" Before she could get an answer back though, the only sophomore she knew in any capacity made an appearance, and the other two girls took their turn at failing to make the hammer budge. Victoria was still too stunned by the number of interactions to really make a beep. To top it all off, a conflagration took place in the sky, seemingly out of nowhere. I know I am supposed to socialize, but this is ridiculous! Where does one go to talk quietly with one person at most? And what the heck was that fireball?

Purging all of the stray thoughts, she took inventory and noted that all of them have been done with the hammer and gathered around. Ideally she needed to single out her roommate and make sure whether she knew of her not being human, and ensure that she would keep quiet about it - a goal that seemed so far out of reach with the cadence of Zarina's mouth that she might as well wear a silver and red ant-faced helmet. Not to mention that it seemed like she and Andy were sown together at the hip. It reminded her of her earlier idea though - maybe she could get a glimpse of the information she needed in a duel. "So, uh... Noone seems worthy on this particular day. Boring. Anyone did anything fun? I was thinking about trying my luck with the pool noodle swords, anyone else interested?" she suggested to the group.

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

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Shieldmaiden

Victoria van Dyne

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Location: The field (School Carnival)
Skills: N/A

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Victoria would be lying if she said she didn't expect the outcome. Statistically, given the observation of everyone in line in front of her, there was a pathetic little chance of anyone lifting that thing. Although unlike many others, she wouldn't be caught dead screwing around with it for several minutes in the vain attempt. One had to either be worthy or a hulk, and she appeared to be neither. YET. End of story. The blond gently patted the haft of the hammer. "Well, I'll keep at it. Do try to make it here next year, okay? It'd be a shame not to have a measure of progress now."

She turned on her heel and vacated the spot, looking back at the next person who likewise failed to make the hammer budge. As she watched, a strange thought entered her mind. Was that hammer even real or was it a prop mounted on a giant concrete block to ensure noone would move it, worthy of the actual hammer or not? Why would they do that though... Ohohoh, motivation, much? Well, if you did, then hats off to you, Coulson! Victoria smiled, promptly dismissing the idea of running a scan of the ground below - she didn't really want to know.

This however put her in the unenviable situation of having nothing to do yet again, and in retrospect, setting an activity that lasted all of ten seconds as a meeting spot was a boneheaded idea. It looked like she was in luck though - that green mane was impossible to miss even if one wanted to. Victoria found it a bit funny that her roommate was dragging another person behind her almost like a ragdoll. Someone's whipped. Nice jacket though. she commented to herself, before she remembered she didn't know if Zarina could actually hear anything she thought about, and instantly clamed her mind, only putting on her best friendly face and awkwardly waving the duo over.