((Collab Post between Letter Bee and Krodin329))

[B][I]Conor and Heinz[/i][/b]

"Thanks Mr. Heinz, but no, if he wants to contact me he will. This life isn't for everyone. I look forward to working for you again. Actually, Mr. Heinz, I'd like to talk to you about something if you could do lunch around noon. The restaurant is called 'The Conisuer.' It's a five star, the only place I go if I truly want to privately discuss business."

"All right," Heinz spoke, already having an inkling (an inkling that happened without magic) of what Conor was going to say. "I love that restaurant; it's a place I go to whenever bureaucracy doesn't bind me. I'll see you there at noon."

"Fantastic. Black tie, or just business casual? Either way, we don't need reservations I'm friends with Marco, the owner's son, James. I help train him for formal Eskrima tournaments."

"Something that I already know," spoke Heinz. "Head of The Agency, remember?" he quipped.

"Oh, right. I forget sometimes. Alright, well I'll see you there. Thanks, Mr. Heinz. I'll see you later!"

[B] Conor and Ascot [/b] 

Ascot smiled at Conor, before saying:

"While that offer's good; Uncle has...other plans." He then put up a Cone of Silence just so no one can hear them. "You see, I and Amelia, if she's willing, might leave the Agency and go to the Magical Peace Corps, once the year is done." The Magical Peace Corps was a group whose purpose was simply to help people, either by healing them with both Magical and Technological means, or replanting forests, or repairing infrastructure both in the US or abroad. Not merely that, but as reports of undead and hostile spirits increased, the MPC also acquired the role of exorcists, helping to destroy undead (Ironically with Death Magic) or calm down Spirits.

"Isn't that great?" spoke the boy, before continuing:

"Let's head for the training room, then," he spoke before noting, once again, that Conor was the only Agency member (alebit unofficial), who didn't take issue with him basically, being, well, his Uncle's child soldier. He had been meaning to ask him about that, but, well, he had forgotten due to the chaos of E3.

"That's fantastic man. I'm happy for you, honestly." As they headed to the training room, Conor considered telling Ascot about his future plans. However he decided against it. He'd reveal it to everyone collectively what he was planning. 

When they arived at the training room Conor began by stating, "Alright, Ascot. You're an excellent Eskrimador. However, your basics are actually a little lacking. The way you move with your forward triangles is a bit...staccato. It should be a little more flowing. So, to start with we're going to be practicing the basics. Don't take this as an insult, by the way. I spend hours on basics every day. It's an important part of Eskrima. So, the way I practice is I actually practice in water."

Conor walked over to a large child pool, only about two feet deep. Up to their knees. He said, "Alright, lets start with forward triangles." 

Conor began to step forward, right leg leading. His right leg went forward about thirty degrees to the right and then he switched his right leg with his left, moving his right leg back. Then, he repeated it. 

"Now you try, Ascot!" He said encouragingly. 

Ascot smiled, accepting all of Conor's suggestions. The young man reminded him of his parents, just like Heinz. This made Ascot extra accepting of the young Mage, and, well, Conor was a fun guy.

He stepped down to the child pool, inwardly worrying that he had gotten it dirty, then began practicing forward triangles. Although a little unused to the resistance given by the water, his young mind adapted quickly, and he was soon duplicating Conor's steps.

"So, Ascot what you're experiencing with the resistance of the water will strengthen and give your muscles control. This will let you be more precise, acting faster so your legs move in and out quickly. It's hard to explain in words, but it really works."

The boy nodded, continuing his training, gaining a better feel for the water's slowing effect on his body and reflexes. He tried to work with the water, to flow smoothly; knowing that to treat the water as an adversary was bad for him, bad for his training.

After twenty minutes of doing this, Conor's thighs told him they had had enough. 

"Alrighty. My thighs officially are tuckered out. Hopefuly you can see where I was coming from though." Next, I need to know how your tapi tapi is. Want to run through the twelve basic ones?"

"Yeah," said Ascot. He then drew two rattan sticks from a dimensional pocket, and readied his position.

Conor made a bewildered face and realized he hadn't been specific enough. 

"My bad, I meant twelve count tapi tapi abiscidarios." 

Conor swung forward with a head horizontal strike, and Ascot responded by striking the stick, taking the force out of it, and then taking hold of it, and providing feed back in a four count strike System. Conor continued to run through the other remaining eleven strikes, with Ascot performing them well. 

This continued for a while, with Ascot, well, having fun. When it ended, the boy said, eagerly, sounding like a [i]real[/i] 13-year old for once:

"More, more!"

Conor broke from his normal strike pattern and began to strike more frequently, harder, and more randomly, responding to the feedback with his own. Ascot's foot work had already improved exponentially, but he was still stuttering slightly at the tip of his forward triangles. To demonstrate the issue, Conor stepped forward in one of his strikes, blocked Ascot's return shot and flipped him over his shoulder softly.

Conor lifted him up and said, "You're close to having perfect footwork, Ascot. But you need to practice. How often a week do you practice?"

"Two to four hours a day, whenever there isn't a mission. True, I don't think that's optimal," answered the boy, "but I also have magic practice, lessons in history, literature, and philosophy, as well as the times when I try to tutor Amelia. Let's just say I'm booked a lot."

"I see. If you end up joining the Peace Corps you might have more time to practice, other than that... if you can't find time to practice, I can't really help you."

Ascot sighed, and continued:

"Well, I could slow down and speed up time for myself alone, but I'm afraid of its effects on my aging. Nevertheless, if you feel I need it, then perhaps I can use that power?"

"I don't know it's up to you", said Conor. 

"Then I'll use it," spoke Ascot, and, with a gesture, time seemed to slow down for the two of them; Ascot could slow down time for others due to having Law as well as Timespace.

"Now, what about a few more moves till we stop?"

"Sounds great!", exclaimed Conor. 

They then spent the next three or four hours in the timespace loop, practicing. By the time they were finished, they emerged sweaty, bruised, and over all happy. Conor hadn't felt that happy in a long time. He'd been far from happy since he was beaten by Omega. However after working out with Ascot, he felt decidedly better.

Conor looked at Ascot with the affection an older brother could deliver to his kid brother. "You know Ascot, if you ever need a place to go, somewhere safe, somewhere to get help...you find me. Okay?"

"Okay," Ascot spoke in a tired voice, nodding as he did so. Conor's affection was fully returned by the other boy, who [i]did[/i] see him as family. The boy knew about the other young man's tragic past, and felt that he wanted to give him the sensation of having family again. Not just that, but it also meant that Conor did see that, technically, Ascot's situation was bad; technically.

"I'm going to see Amelia once more, and then shower, brush my teeth, and then sleep," the boy said. "Bye." And then he left, not realizing that his uncle had risked his beloved's life...