Description: Antoine, at last, has come to Southtown - one of the very homes of street fighting. The expansive city holds many dangers and delights alike for the studious, dedicated fighter... but he is greeted along by a familiar face from one of his travels, whom talk over a collaborative work between Kyokugen students and Pacific High pupils who could really, really go for that extra credit that certain someone is offering.
Southtown is a bristling town.
This is, in fact, considered the 'mecca of fighters'. Antoine had not journeyed there on purpose because he wanted to see the rest of the world. The rest of the world had given him a nice view of fighters and the cultures. This brings him to his likely new home: Southtown.
This is a bristling city. The sun is shining as there is not too much snow at this day. Many of the people in suits are running about. The crowd is walking along and the cars are honking. Many of the drivers are tryin to get to their destination.
Antoine is able to gaze out to the sun, shielding an eye with a hand while the other hand holds onto the duffelbag's rope. As he gazes up, he cannot help but marvel. "So, this Southtown..." He looks ahead through the business district, "This is amazing!"
Southtown's a hell of a place to take in. In some places it doesn't even look like the place that was invaded, bombed, and razed back during the invasion. It's bouncing back, all right, it's bouncing back - and there's plenty of bouncing to go about here, if one is of the ability and strength. It's where many of the very strongest come from - where many of the very strongest live.
Southtown is a city of fighters, all right. A city of thugs, a city of dark whispers, and a city of children with too much power for their own good - truly, a city of fighters.
It's a bit cold out here, and bound to get colder as the day goes on. Yet... it's not cold enough to dissuade at least one older man, sitting on the back of his truck against cold steel, eating a sub sandwich while wearing the karate gi of a Kyokugen student and a yellow belt just a ways off from Antoine... blissfully unaware of their arrival to Southtown as he remains parked out on a lot set aside for some construction project or another.
While walking past many of the buildings of the streets, Antoine is taking in the sight of the surroundings. The people driving around, a construction that seems to be going on, and the familiar looking old man eating a sandwich on the truck. Oh hey! There is even a cellphone sto---wait. Quirking an eyebrow, Antoine sharply turns is attention to face the truck and the old man.
"Rust...?" The young man's face brightens, then he smiles, "It is good to see you again." The smile is an amiable one, filled with cheer over seeing a familiar face. "I finally completed my journey for now."
The man's hearing isn't the best nowadays, so when Antoine first addresses him he doesn't even notice anything. To be fair, it's a great sandwich he's eating. The sort of sandwich where you want to shut out every sensory perception available and just focus on the taste, the taste alone. The taste of good, wholesome American sodium and saturated fates. The taste of home. The taste of future health problems, but, the taste of home.
"Hrh?" The man swallows the latest bit of food, leaning up with a creak in one of his shoulders. "Ntwon!" He swallows it fully and clears his throat, "'scuse me, shouldn't, shouldn't talk with food in my mouth."
Nearby are a couple of students - some Kyokugen (almost all of them in their twenties), some dressed in Pacific school uniforms - messing around with the foundation for something or another. Some are eating lunch. The older man slips out from the back of his truck to meet Antoine on even ground, but... it's probably a little too cold to be barefoot, which is what this man is!
"Been to, been to a whole lotta places, huh," the man says as he reaches out to put a hand on Antoine's shoulder, "nice seein' ya again... I'm actually, uh, kinda on the clock right now, but hell, still got some, some time for lunch break."
He gestures with a thumb on his free hand behind himself. "They're, they're bug bombin' Pacific today, so... so I figure, y'know, get 'em some extra credit helping out the local folks."
It's arguable as to how much they're actually helping. Takuma is super strict about his students doing things with their bare hands. Rust teaches his kids to use tools. It's sort of an odd clash of teachings and philosophies that may or may not end with Takuma's disapproval.
"So, how ya been?"
There is a mirthful smile forming up as Antoine hears the older man talking with his mouth full. It looks like he was enjoying his sandwich a bit too much. The humor behind it is difficult to explan, but it is just adorable in its own way. Kind of.
Antoine offers the man a smile, keeping the bag over his shoulder. He turns to see the students, both Kyokugen and Pacific High milling about. "Community service?" He offers a smile, "While I am here how about I lend a hand then after the break is finished? I just arrived here earlier, so I am not in a rush to do anything."
How has Antoine been? "I've been well. I had a chance to visit home after my travel and reflect on my travel. Learning about the different fighters and the world itself... it felt nice not being sheltered as I was." The young man smiles warmly. "I improved on the techniques, hoping this will make sifu proud."
His eyes lift upto the air, "I ran into strange situations, but they were overall rewarding."
"Hey, ya could, but," the man shakes his head, "legally speakin', I can't... uh, I can't really pay you for it," not to mention he's budgeting his money tightly. Even after that little deposit of cash from one former Emperor of Muay Thai, he's being careful not to squander it - and to figure out how to use it to best benefit Quon considering his difficult life circumstances following that drunk driving thing.
God damned Cammy.
"'d still appreciate it, if you need a job or somethin' here, could probably get ya... get ya hooked up somewhere, maybe over in Sunshine." The aging man nods his head, going to listen as Antoine talks about being well, having had a chance to visit home after his travel, reflect on it... he kind of wishes he was able to do this in life, just, wander around, get in fights. Wander around some more, get in fights. That's not really something he can do now, being a grown-up with a number of responsibilities that tether him very strongly here. He pats Antoine on the shoulder again about making his sifu proud.
"Strange, uh, situations... what?" He scratches the side of his head. "Well, the world out there, it can get, it can get really dangerous." He knows that much, at least, even for being only in a small number of countries compared to the average fighter.
"It is no trouble, Rust!" Antoine's amiable smile does not leave him, "Don't worry about paying me. I don't mind helping out." He laughs, "It is usually good to help those who could use the assistance." He considers, "Sometimes, fortune has a way of paying you back." Particulary covers the rides that Antoine gets from place to place.
He muses, "I find myself taking the oddjobs every now and then, but I don't like to remain in one place for too long." In fact, it may be hard for Antoine to keep a steady job. Work, eat, train, and sleep. Though, there is the urge to try one of the arcades. He hasn't done so since he was a kid. How time has flown by.
While patted on the shoulder, he hrks before he turns to face Rust, "I was in a ship and it was attacked by pirates. One of them, in particular, had a strange bracelet. I had it for some time, but..." He shakes his head, "It did not feel natural to me. I gave it to Quon. I figure he can give it to a girlfriend or so." He smiles thinly, "...I did come here to be here for him. I think that I can hopefully do something to keep Quon in school." Maybe do some work for the board and all. Some favors.
Good to see at least one hard-working young man around these parts! It's a nice change from the typical Pacific student whenever he hands them some tools. A good number of them are making an honest effort. Some feel kind of intimidated, maybe even entirely frustrated, with the whole concept of having to really work at all.
The Kyokugen people in comparison are a bit more confident in what they do but are, somewhat humorously, a bit more injury-prone. Both ends require at least a little guidance by Mr. Rust, if only because he is in charge of the project.
"Ah, nomadic... right, that'd be kinda hard to get a, get a stable job like that." It's good to know the guy is so willing to do the work at least, he could probably get a permanent one easy if he ever chose to settle down somewhere.
He looks a bit confused when he mentions pirates. He knows some of the naval travel routes are really dangerous for that reason, and almost thinks to ask 'ooh, did you get out of that okay' but then again, Antoine's right here.
"A what now? A bracelet? Uh... what was so weird about it, I... I kinda don't follow." He's not much of a jewelry man. Maybe it was one of those ethnic pieces that culturally speaking may be the norm for whatever people attacked Antoine but would probably look gaudy or humorously plain whack on anyone else.
"Yeah... Quon's had it, had it rough," the teacher says as he pulls away from Antoine to wander back over to where one of the wooden boards are laid down, "gotta do a lot of community service hours for, for what he did... been helpin' him knock some of those down," he says as he holds the board there for two people. One Kyokugen, one Pacific.
The Kyokugen guy goes about hammering nails down with their lams. The Pacific one gingerly and carefully works at the nail with a certain amount of precaution, as if to not accidentally slam their fingers with a hammer. The differences in attitude are jarring, almost as though these two people really shouldn't be working on the same thing together.
"Hey, guys, this is Antoine," he tells to the rest of them, "friend of mine, he'll be, he'll be helpin' us out too. At this rate we'll get the, the basic frame done."
"The bracer was special. I felt that the ki was enhanced. However, it felt unnatural." He looks over towards Rust, "Sifu always taught us to never to use anything that is not of your own strength. ...If you do, you are weaker because of it." He then considers his fight with Farah. A frown starts to form on his lips. He will have to go back to save her somehow. Or at least hope for the best.
The nomadic fighter gives a thoughtful muse. He cannot help but look over towards the students with a mirthful smile. On one hand, Antoine envies them. They are people that will have actual education and the likes. "...I envy them and Quon." He offers a smile, "They have great potential to contribute to the world through education..." His eyes furrow, thinking over Quon's fate. "..It's why that I will see to it that Quon can continue classes." One way or another, Antoine will make sure Quon can continue.
While the others finally turn to face the nomadic fighter, the youth brings his hands together; the right fist smashes into the left palm. He tilts over to a bow. "Greetings. It is a pleasure to meet you all."
The way Antoine talks about how not using anything that isn't of their own strength makes one weaker... it does make him reflect on his training Kyokugen up until now. The pipe's all been regulated to a permanent place in the toolbelt, as much as he sometimes wonders if it's really worth letting it go. Fighting with a pipe has been his thing for some time, but, perhaps it is just how young boys eventually have to put away their toys and pick up tools to work... sure, he's stronger, more able now after the first of what is assured to be many trials in the mastery of Kyokugen, but is it really curtains for Ol' Rusty?
He muses to himself as he keeps the board firmly held for the Pacific student who is taking their sweet time hammering down a nail. It's okay to be cautious, work safety's a good thing to follow, but a part of him is also feeling a little conflicted at how /Takuma's/ students are doing better with this than he is with his. And Mr. Rust is the one who worked construction and later went to college for the education degree! It kind of inflicts a sort of crisis on oneself about whether or not some facets of his life were, in fact, worth it when Antoine muses how they'll have great potential to contribute through the world via their educations.
Antoine's greetings are met with a variety of 'hi' and 'hey' and 'nice to meet you' responses, though more of the Kyokugen guys bow back as is perhaps the proper way of things while the older man stretches a shoulder out.
"All right... so! That said, let's get to get to--" his eyes narrow as he looks at one of the ends that the Kyokugen guys were doing, "you guys... uh, you used measuring tape, right," he bears down on them, "did you?"
"Sakazaki-sensei says--"
"Jesus Christ!" Mr. Rust exclaims with a voice far less tired and quiet than Antoine might be used to. "We're workin' on a, on a budget here! We can't just squander any, any god damn lumber on an educated guess! Lemme look at that."
The shop teacher squints between the actual physical product and what's on the plans, "ehh, just... sand a bit off the top and it'll, it'll be okay, but use the damn measuring tape! When I'm in charge... when I'm in charge, you damn well make sure we don't have to, have to redo entire parts of this thing, you hear me?! Don't waste time, don't waste money! Lumber's just... just climbin' higher and higher these days!"
He shakes his head and turns to Antoine, "sorry 'bout that... anyway, if ya don't know your way 'round some tools, if you could hold some of those planks up, that'd be great."
Antoine considers, "...There are fighters, I realize, who have their weapons. I generally think that those who use it, that weapon may be an extension of them." His eyes become pointed towards Rust. "Something that a fighter has some sort of niche." He considers the old man. He gestures over to the pipe, "Whatever your style is, don't give up on that, okay? That style is part of you and it says who you are." He considers, "Sifu always told us that... the style of the martial arts is your lifestyle. It is your modi operandi."
However, when he finally gets up and gets ready to deal with the work, Antoine is dropping the duffelbag to join him. However, he blinks when he sees Rust at work. Hoo boy. Watching the man go off on the students earns a wince from Antoine, who watches thoughtfully. At least Rust is serious about his work.
As Rust apologies, Antoine shakes his head, "It is no trouble. I should be able to help out anyway that I can. After all, the sifu had us do a bit of building projects as well." He smiles.
Antoine's musing throws a bit more fuel onto that particular fire, that thought about how a weapon is still an extension of one's being... he'd like to think that, but with his right hand not quite up to full strength and his grip not as good as it used to be, can he really still say that? It's something to think more about in depth when he's not having to watch both the Kyokugen and Pacific guys together when their methods of doing things are so very different, both worthy of praise... and both worthy of criticism to a man who's been doing this sort of thing for years.
"Thanks," he says to Antoine as he guides him over to a part he could use help with - another set of hands to hold something up with. At which point, a new conflict arises - use his palm like Takuma told him, definitely faster than a hammer... or use a hammer, since in theory his kids are still supposed to be learning how to do this?
Not wanting to accidentally break the plank in two, he settles with the hammer as he starts to set another nail.
"Oh, hey, uh, I almost forgot," the teacher looks up to Antoine, "'bout King of Fighters... ya said you went home, right, uh... did ya have an invite there? Turns out, turns out everybody's gotta have one."
First thing is first. As of now, Antoine is rying to ease into things. So, he grabs over towards one of the planks and he holds it up for one of the students. "Alright. You all carefully just hammer away." He will actually watch the students to see how well they will do before he offers in helping them with the hammering as well; he will even show them how to use it!
The young fighter turns towards Rust as he finally asks about the invitation. A laugh comes forth, "Yeah, I received the invitation. One of the students of the temple handed it over to me. They said that it arrived long ago, but I was gone a while before it came." He laughs sheepishly.
"I suppose that is the flipside of being a nomad."
The Kyokugen guys Antoine doesn't have to worry about, even though they do pretty much everything with their bare hands as mandated by Takuma himself. For using their bare hands, they're pretty good.
It's the Pacific guys who seem unsure in places, and lazy in others. Chances are some of them that are here really, really, really need the extra credit. It... kind of shows. Very much.
"Did you? Well, that... that settles it, I guess," the teacher nods as he works away at a nail. He notices something shudder underneath where he hammers. He frowns deeply at this. "Great."
"Did you kids actually hammer this thing down?" He points to the plank standing next to what he's trying to put up. "It's unstable! This thing'd break apart under a strong wind! The hell... the hell were ya doin' the last few weeks in class, sleeping?!" He raises his voice. "Extra credit doesn't mean that, that you just show up 'n get it!!"
He shakes his head and looks back to Antoine. "Ahh, sorry 'bout that, they're... they're still learning. Thanks for the help."
Log created on 17:29:50 01/10/2011 by Rust, and last modified on 21:16:10 01/10/2011.