Training Log 01: Shiny new powers

[crypddyd]

It's been a day- or something similar to it. After all, time seemed to be a weak thing here. But it's long enough that the pounding in his head from the attack under the Founation is... manageable. His ribs still ache, but he's not going to let that stop him- if Rei needed them to fight, then he would fight. Especially since he now remembered HOW to fight- a weak memory that came with a few other things. Like that fact that he might be royalty(?), but more useful was his skills with a weapon.

So he goes hunting for a big open area- and every other Executor he sees he mentions his intention: to train and test out these new powers. Eventually he finds what he's looking for: what probably was supposed to be a park, though it was slightly twisted like everything else here. But it was open enough that he probably wouldn't hit any non-combatants. A quick switch to his Executor uniform, massive black armor with a fur lined cloak, and he spins his bone spear like an expert.

How strange to have this knowledge but almost no context. Well, it is what it is. He wonders if any of the others will join him?

((ooc: feel free to tag amoung yourselves as well!))

Comments

[schardynfreude]

No-

[He doesn't know why he's suddenly so wound up. Surely he didn't expect to be perfect at this in an instant, so why does it annoy him so much? And, as someone who can heal at a touch himself, he should welcome the offer of another to help, even if it's unnecessary. How hypocritical of him, to find distaste, repulsion, at the idea of the healing touch of another when he can do just the same. He grits his teeth and holds out a hand, a non-verbal order to stay her ground while he's on the ground.

Don't be so damned irrational.]

No. I assure you, I'm quite fine. Just a tumble is all, nothing to get excited over.

[mementomoritz]

Aw, okay. [She sounds mildly disappointed that she doesn't have the opportunity to examine some horrible wounds, but accepts it without further question. Fortunately(?), she's also too oblivious to his sharp reply to be annoyed by it, and just continues on cheerfully.]

For a group training with live weaponry, we sure haven't had a lot of injuries! I wonder if being an Executor makes people more durable? I have some ideas about testing the tensile strength of bone, but it turns out I can't heal myself, so I think I could only do those once- and that's just not enough for any useful data!

[schardynfreude]

[And she just keeps talking. Truly remarkable that she has not an ounce of ability to read a room. Not that she would be the only one lacking social graces. He just breathes for a few moments as she babbles before making his way back to his feet, a bit wobbly for a moment but steadies out.]

Well. You're in luck. If you should ever require healing, I happen to have some small skill in that as well.

But, forgive me, are you suggesting you want to break your own bones just to see how much force it takes?

[mementomoritz]

Yes! [Not even a moment's hesitation.] And then write it down, of course- documenting your results is very important.

I think one bone on each side of the body would be best for double-checking the results, but it would have to be my legs, otherwise writing the results is going to be very challenging. Maybe the left and right tibias?

[A pause, as something he said earlier registers.] Ooh, do you have healing powers, too?

[schardynfreude]

I wouldn't recommend it. I suppose it might help me figure out the extent of my own powers, but I would rather not see one hurt themselves just for the sake of a scientific breakthrough.

[mementomoritz]

You wouldn't? Why not? [She looks genuinely confused.]

But if I use other people, I have to make sure they sign a consent form first, and I'm running out of paper... testing on myself seems much more cost-effective. [The idea that she could just experiment on someone without their permission, at least, doesn't seem to occur to her.]

[schardynfreude]

You'd be in a great deal of pain, for starters. And should no one among us have the capacity to mend broken bones, then you'd be quite out of commission--and, again, in quite a bit of pain--for some time.

And wouldn't it be better to start smaller with experiments? If it must be bones, a fractured pinky finger would do better than breaking both legs. But even still, that's a leap that seems extreme.

[mementomoritz]

Ohhh, okay. [At least she seems to be actually listening to and considering what he says?] Pain is normally a problem for people, isn't it... I wonder why that didn't occur to me as an obstacle?

[Mostly because she still has a set of instincts wired for "I can heal myself whenever I feel like so pain is optional" but shhh, she doesn't know that yet.]

I guess if I was working with someone else anyway, I wouldn't have to worry about keeping my fingers in good condition for writing, because I could just ask them to do it. [She smiles cheerfully.] Thanks for helping, peer review is very important!

[schardynfreude]

[He runs a hand along his hair, much less unruly and quite tame now.] Glad to be of assistance? I mean no ill will when I say this, but you are an odd one.

[mementomoritz]

You're the third person to say that to me here, so far. The first one today, though! [Hard to tell whether that's an improvement or not, honestly. Yesterday was a confusing time for everybody.]

I don't mind, really- how would I know if I'm weird or not? I seem normal to me, there's not a frame of reference. Someone might as well tell me, if I'm ever going to find out.

[schardynfreude]

You do raise a fair point. Oddity is in the eye of the beholder. And nothing about this place is anything but strange. Perhaps we've different scales on weird or odd.

You could wait until battle, you know. Someone is bound to get injured, and in the aftermath, you should be able to gather some data before administering your healing touch.

[mementomoritz]

[She sighs forlornly, looking for all her oddness like the teenage girl she is.] I guess, but that's so long. Everyone's so fascinating, and I want to know about them, and they're right there!

[She shakes her head, a brisk little movement that makes her fluffy hair briefly obscure her face entirely]

No, you're right- I need to pace myself. Science requires patience! Otherwise you might bias your results, and that's no good at all.

[schardynfreude]

I would question the ethics of any test that willingly harmed someone. You could get to learn other things about your compatriots instead--everyone appears to have their own abilities, their own weapons, their own strengths and weaknesses, for instance. And then there's learning about the people themselves. As people, rather than as test subjects.

[mementomoritz]

Right, that's why they have to sign the consent forms first! That makes it ethical. [Stated with the absolute confidence that only comes from having no idea what you're talking about, but being convinced you do anyway.]

Oh, I've been recording those too- it's very interesting! [She holds up her new notebook, already filled with a fairly large collection of details about everything she's observed today.]

[At the distinction of "people rather than test subjects", though, she looks confused.] ...There's a difference?

[schardynfreude]

Between people as people and people as test subjects? There's a difference, yes. With test subjects, you're more removed from them. You see them as a being, yes, but less as a whole person with an internal life and thoughts and feelings and quirks. You're obtaining raw data, yes? And true enough that our memories are eluding us, but perhaps if we learn more, then we'll have more to share. Things that make us happy, favorite foods, the things we are afraid of.

Getting to know a person for themselves is, I think, more rewarding than reducing them to statistics.

[mementomoritz]

[She frowns, clearly listening to what he's saying but not quite grasping it.]

I don't understand... Why would I be removed from someone just because they're a test subject? I wouldn't be interested in experimenting with them if I didn't think they were- [She pauses, struggling to find the right word to convey her feelings.] -beautiful? Important?

[Medic looks slightly frustrated. She knows what she means, but it's hard to get the meaning across when she tries to explain.]

Everyone and everything is amazing. I want to experiment on them and learn more because they're amazing- I want to see all of them, and know everything. Why does recording and analyzing the data I collect make it less valid, instead of more?

[schardynfreude]

Oh...my, that's certainly not the outlook I was expecting. You're extremely passionate about this, aren't you? [no SHIT] I feel as though, however, not everyone would share that frame of mind? That they might not see experimentation the way that you do. But perhaps so long as you do so respectfully, it would be allowed.

Just please take care not to hurt yourself or anyone else too badly in your data collection.

[mementomoritz]

The one thing I can remember is that life was beautiful. [It's the feeling that forms the core of all her medical knowledge, the emotion threaded through every memory of learning and experimentation, even without the context of where she learned it.] Now I'm starting to think that death is, too.

[She smiles, rocking back on her heels a little.] I can already tell I'm not very good with people- maybe that's why the consent forms help. Having it all on paper, just so you can make sure everyone knows what they're getting into.

[His last request gets a quiet little laugh and a small nod.] I'll do my best! [She can't make any promises because, well, apparently Revenents happen. But she'll at least try.]