[hr][center][h2][color=00aeef]Jonathan Walker[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

Jonathan was in the middle of loading plates onto a bar at a bench when Alexei entered. Two hundred and seventy-five pounds were on it so far, and he wasn't quite finished, given that the weight room only had a few fifty-pound plates available. The bench was saddened by the uneven load, but it'd hold up anyway. It always had. He responded with a cheerful façade, though he wasn't really the greatest actor in the world. [color=00aeef]"That'd be great. Thanks, Professor. I'll have to thank Daler too, next time I see him. How's the family?"[/color]

One last plate went on the barbell as Jonathan listened for Alexei's response, bringing the bar up to three hundred pounds total. [color=00aeef]"Starting off a bit lighter than usual today, since I've been out of it all summer. Not sure how much I've slipped since then,"[/color] he said as he lay flat on the bench, gripping the bar widely. He'd wait for Alexei to get into position before pushing it up off the rack -- form was everything, including waiting for the spotter to get ready. Even if he was a little out-of-it from the events of the day, he trusted Alexei enough to go to the man with his problems and for advice. It felt more natural than going to Daler or any of the other counselors, who Jonathan felt usually tried to solve problems with brute force.

[color=00aeef]"I've been thinking about what happened earlier. Seems like I can't connect with people today, if that makes sense."[/color]

[@Mercurial]

[hr][center][h2][color=92278f]Daler Ghumman[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

Daler nodded sagely as Meilin demonstrated her talents to Kasuke. Pressure points were valuable knowledge, and would permit even a frail student to drop a larger attacker with some finesse. Daler's preferred points to strike had always been the carotid sinuses, though, since that was a surefire way to put someone down even if they had nerve damage. It had the drawback of being potentially fatal to opponents with heart problems or aneurysms, so he tried to avoid it where possible in his older age.

[color=92278f]"Of course, the most dangerous knowledge comes later. While Eastern Martial Arts technically encompasses most arts of Asian origin, there is a lot of knowledge that's nothing like what most schools teach. It's one thing to throw and snap a straight punch. It's something completely different to know your own body and your opponent's like the back of your hand,"[/color] Daler thought towards the two. He'd taken a similar course in the past, though he no longer remembered most of the specifics. The only things that still came naturally to him were blocking and striking with his cane, as in the past two decades, it had fallen out of use with his arthritis. There was some certainty in his mind that Kasuke would do well in the class after some months, but it would be a little difficult pushing her away from her purely academic goals and towards a martial artist's mindset.

The approach of a new student interested him. Roy, one of the more 'troubled' new students, had finally arrived. Daler would let Asa or another instructor deal with his tardiness, though. He spoke using his mouth this time around, responding in kind to the boy's two statements, and his earlier near-silent insult. [color=92278f]"I'm sure you have, and I'm sure you are. Welcome to the Institute, Roy, and watch your tongue around here. I'm mostly harmless myself [sub][sub](mostly)[/sub][/sub], but there are a few real fireballs around."[/color]

[@13org][@Silver Carrot][@pkken]