Fast as Lightning (Open)

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With every step that Xun took, he could feel the tension in his body raise.  It would have been minuscule if he had just been walking, or moving more slowly with less friction between himself and the floor.  But, as he was following a video for a new straight sword form that he was learning, slowness wasn't an option.  He knew the movements, he knew where he needed to go next, it was just a matter of picking up speed (without using his ability, or at least trying) and little details that he needed to work out.  He was excited, as he'd just started to really get down the transition from the aerial to the front slap kick more smoothly, which was something that had been catching him up for a while.

Eventually, though, the tension in his muscles started to become too much, and Xun knew he'd have to let it out sooner or later, or else he risked a lot of pain and inflexibility for a while after, which would be devastating for all the progress he'd made.  Taking a deep breath, he finished off the current set he was working on before starting into a form that he was more familiar with - only this time at several times the speed, inhumanly so.  Xun focused on releasing the energy that had built up in his system, slashing and twisting left and right as he slowly felt his body relax and become fatigued from using his ability.

Once it was all out, though, he was relieved.  Xun slowed to a stop, breathing harder than usual, and let his sword arm fall to his side as he wandered to the corner to grab his water bottle.  It was frustrating, really, to have to push himself so hard like that in order to keep training - he was always exhausted afterwards, but it was better than the alternative.  The Chinese boy snatched his water and took several small sips, taking several moments to catch his breath.

[Rain Tseung]

Rain exited the training grounds, she had been trying to meditate, and ‘practice’ her ability. However, sitting in a field of grass with a bunch of other teens didn’t work too well for that. She kept feeling pain from everyone picking the grass, or destroying it from their own training, especially pyros; they were the worst… That is why she made a beeline for the training rooms, she really wasn’t sure why, but all the pain from everything was overwhelming for her, and she needed to get away from it fast. The training rooms were apparently the closest. How she ended up in the one where someone else was training beats her, maybe it was fate, maybe the plants wanted her to come in here?


Either way, she liked making friends, maybe he would become one too. Silently watching the boy from afar, her bottom jaw dropped a bit as she watched him do whatever it was she was doing. It actually seemed pretty cool, and very fascinating. It looked like art, in its own unique way. Granted, Rain saw almost everything as a form of art. This was apparently no different. She really wanted to learn more about it, but didn’t want to interrupt the boy during his work. Her hand moved over her mouth as he started to move faster, now that was magical. Obviously his power had to do with something speed wise, mostly likely super speed, which was pretty cool.

She took a step forward, the hand on her mouth falling to her side as the boy stopped. What should she say? Should she say anything? Maybe she should leave… But she wasn’t quite ready to face all the pain again, it was still too overwhelming. Sometimes she couldn’t wait to graduate from Hammel, then she would be far away from people destroying nature with their powers. She took a few steps forward, not seeing any other choice for her. Hopefully this guy was friendly, or kind of friendly. “I… hmm.. Excuse me…? You were really good, and so cool.” She really hoped she was intruding. “I hmm. I’m Rain!” She waved, “ I hope I’m not disturbing you…” That’s the last thing she wanted.. “I was just.. kind of looking for a place… to hide, I guess..”

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Xun had been so caught up in his own little world while he practiced, he hadn't even noticed the new arrival, even after he stopped to grab his water bottle. He didn't expect anyone to stop by, so he had no reason to look towards the door. It wasn't until the girl spoke that the martial artist whirled towards her, eyes slightly wide, standing stiff and alarmed at the unexpected arrival. Xun didn't recognize her, which wasn't surprising, but he also belatedly remembered he didn't have his contacts in - he hated wearing them when he practiced, they just sort of blurred his vision and got in the way sometimes. So... He felt very self-conscious about the true pale gray-blue color showing clearly to this stranger.

However... She was complimenting him, so that helped a bit. Xun's gaze fell to the side, and he didn't smile, but he scuffed a shoe and lifted his sword-wielding arm to rest the blade on his shoulder. "Xie xie, ah... Thank you," he replied, his free arm swaying a bit uncertainly. "I didn't realize I had, ah, an audience." He bowed slightly when she introduced herself, sparing her a quick glance before looking to the floor again. "I'm Xun. And... No, you're not disturbing me. It was just... Unexpected." His features remained mostly emotionless, but the fact that he didn't look particularly angry meant that he really was alright with this, just... A little bit self-conscious.

He spun the straight sword in his hand absent-mindedly, realizing belatedly that Rain had said something else, something about... Hiding? "Ah... Shénme, what are you hiding from?" Xun felt the courtesy to ask. "Is... Someone bothering you?" Having dealt with bullies for a good portion of his life, that was one thing that the boy couldn't stand for.

[Rain Tseung]

Rain put her hands up in the air, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” It hadn’t been her intention, nor was had she intended to walk in on him. It was just out of chance. A chance that she was starting to think was a wrong one. Maybe she should just go… She could risk a little more pain for this guy to have his alone time.

Being happy that he had some kind of manners; even if he still seemed to not want her around. She didn’t want to be a burden, but she was glad that he seemed to have liked her compliment. “Oh, I’m sorry… I didn’t realize someone was in here.. Then I saw you, doing your thing, and I was just kind of captivated… Sorry.” She took a few steps closer to him, then sat down on the floor when he said she wasn’t disturbing him. She really hoped that was his way of saying she could stay. “Sorry for that. I just had to get inside… And I don’t know if I have the strength to go back outside yet..”


“Oh…No it’s… well it’s kind of more complicated than that.. I have Plant empathy.. and being training field proves to be really painful…” She hoped he got what she was trying to explain. “Oh! What kind of martial arts were you doing? I hope that’s not an imposing question, I am just really curious. Cause it look beautiful.”

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"Oh, no, you did not scare, just... Startle," Xun told the girl, cheeks flushing a little sheepishly. He was sure he had looked scared, though, reacting like he had. He really needed to work on not being so jumpy, he guessed. It didn't help that he was already on edge from having to use his ability and exhaust himself.

She seemed alright though, so Xun wasn't put-off when it appeared she wasn't going to leave. He didn't normally have an audience, but he wasn't unused to it - he'd had to perform in front of lots of crowds in his life for demos and competitions. "I know that many people here seem to be intrigued by blades," Xun replied with a small, sheepish smile. It was strange and exotic, and teenagers were attracted to the strange and exotic. "No need to apologize." Yeah, this Rain girl was alright.

He shifted his weight from foot to foot as he listened to her explanation, a small crease forming between his brows as he tried to understand. "Oh... So, you feel the grass in pain?" he guessed, hoping he was right. That must be frustrating. Xun blinked and looked down at the subject came back to him, and he spun another flower with his sword. "It is called wushu, it is Chinese martial arts," he explained. On a whim, he offered the hilt of the sword down to Rain if she wanted to hold it. "Thank you. I have been practicing for many years." He was starting to relax a little; his shoulders weren't so tight, and his features were a little softer.

[Rain Tseung]

“Oh! I’m glad, well.. not about the startling, but the fact that I didn’t actually scare you, because that would be worse than a startle… either way I’m still sorry…” She didn’t ramble often, she guessed she was a little nervous. Talking to a guy who didn’t seem like he was all the friendly, and then having him holding blades made the situation pretty intimidating.

She shook her head, “It’s not the blades that intrigue me, it’s the movement. It’s so beautiful; I really wish I could move like that.” She had done dance for awhile when she was a kid, but she could never do something so complicated like Wushu. “It looks like a form of art all on it’s own, and the swords are just an added bonus.” It wasn’t like dancing, it was something far more than dancing, actually it didn’t even seem comparable to dancing. “And what about the last part? Was that your power or can you actually move that fast..” That seemed like a stupid question, but eh she didn’t care. Maybe it came off as a cute stupid.

Rain nodded, “yeah, but it’s not just the grass, it’s all plants, and it’s not just pain, it’s all emotions… So! If a forest fire ever happens around town I’m completely screwed.” She shrugged, she guess she would have to have a power suppression person assigned to her so she wouldn’t feel all the pain. “And I don’t just feel them in pain, I actually feel their pain… It’s complicated..” She frowned, and looked at the ground. She never realized how complicated her power was till she actually had to explain it… It was hard! “Wushu, ohhh that’s such a cute word.” Xun’s nickname was now Wushu. She giggled, “it rhymes with Mushu… “ Like the dragon from Mulan… “sorry…” She felt like that had been rude, She took the sword with wide eyes, amazed that he let her hold it. She held it in front of her in different ways to look it over. “I wasn’t trying to make fun of Wushu.. I just think it’s cute.” Nope! Correction his nickname was now mushu! Wasn’t that cute? That is so going in her notes on her phone. “many years? Woah… You must be like a master of Wushu.”

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Xun allowed a tiny huff of a chuckle to escape as the girl rambled, amused by her talking. He wasn't sure how to reply, though, so he just nodded with a faint smile, accepting her apology silently. It really wasn't needed, but he wouldn't reject it.

"Ahh," he nodded again, understanding what Rain was saying. "It can be difficult, but it gets easier with practice. I think anyone can learn, if they are willing to put in the time." Xun had never really taught anyone, since he didn't feel adequate and wasn't actually a trainer or coach, but he wouldn't say no to someone if they asked to learn something. "I agree," he added, eyes brightening at the mention of art. Xun was glad she saw it that way. "It is just an expression of the body rather than through paper or canvas." Of course, there were guidelines, but sometimes he just liked to play around and see what he could come up with on his own. "Hm? Oh, yes, that was my ability," he replied, swinging the sword around lazily. "I don't like to use it often, but sometimes I have to. It... Builds up after a while."

His head tilted curiously as she talked about her ability, wondering what it must feel like. "That would be very unfortunate," he agreed with a faint, sympathetic frown. Xun tried to understand what she meant. "So you are saying... You do not experience their pain as a spectator, but rather, as though it was happening to you yourself?" he asked, unsure if that was accurate. He snorted a little as she mentioned wushu sounded 'cute', but didn't say anything. She was too nice to give a retort to something he might have otherwise been offended by. "Yes, people often mistake the two," he replied, shrugging off the apology. "It's alright, I am used to it. Not many people have heard of it before." Kung fu was a much more well-known term. He rolled his now-empty sword hand around uncertainly as the girl examined the weapon, giving a smile. "I know you didn't mean to," he told her. Had it been someone a little less curious and nice, he might not have been so lenient. But Xun could tell she wasn't trying to be disrespectful. "Oh, no, I am nowhere near being a master," he replied quickly, shaking his head. "I haven't even trained in China. Perhaps when I'm older, and if I attend Beijing Sport University..." He wished he could, but Xun didn't know if he would be able to.

[Rain Tseung]

Rain looked at the blade again, blinking in thought, would she really be able to learn? “Have… you ever taught anyone?” She didn’t want to be a bother about it, she also didn’t want to come off as pushy. If he didn’t want to teach, she didn’t want to put him in that type of situation where he might feel like he had to. “I always wondered about martial arts… And what it really is.. I know it’s an art form, but isn’t there more to it than that?” Was it self defense? A form of fighting? Was it really used for fights? Could someone really use the methods to beat someone in a fight? Not that she ever would… She nodded, “yes! That is a good way to explain it. It kind of like seeing the seeds of dandelions fly through the sky..” And there she went, comparing something to nature. “Have you ever gotten hurt?”

“You have a cool ability, I’m sure you aren’t ever late for anything ever.” She chuckled, “I’m sorry for all the questions, I’m just curious..” Though her asking questions about something he was passionate about seemed to have relaxed him a little. And everyone liked to talk about the things they were passionate about. She could go on and on about mother nature, plants, and art. If you gave her a chance, and no one actually really did but that was okay with her.

She grinned as it seemed like he got what she was trying to say, “Yes! Just like that. But it comes with up sides too. Feeling flowers being happy makes my tummy and heart all warm and fuzzy. And when I’m feeling sad all I have to do is surround myself with plants and I would feel better.”

Nodding, they did sound very similar, “I like to think I know the difference though. Though if Mushu was a mascot for a Wushu team that would be so awesome!” Her family was Chinese, so she respected the culture in many ways, and would never try to be disrespectful to anything that linked to the culture, but sometimes it was kind of hard because they had different ways of living. She held the sword out for Xun to take it back. She felt like she didn’t deserve to hold it anymore. “Ooo I want to go to China to visit… Mostly to eat the food.. The food looks really good. Sometimes I wish I could replicate some of the dishes here, but they have ingredients that I won’t ever be able to find here.” The same went for Japan and Korea, and any other country. “I think when I’m older and have a ton of money I’m going to go on a trip around the world just to try the different foods.”

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"Ah... I mean, I have helped some other students during practice before I came here, but I've never really taught anyone one-on-one," Xun replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Technically I am allowed to since I have competed with these forms, though..." He just didn't know if he would be a good teacher or not. With someone that had never even done the sport before... Maybe. Xun glanced up again as Rain spoke, eyes brightening a little. He really enjoyed talking about his sport. "Well, it actually started out in China a couple thousand years ago as a way to stay healthy," he replied. "Eventually it was used for practical fighting during wars, but then it became banned in China, and the masters that lived there had to move out of the country. Not too long ago the ban lifted and it became an international sport." Obviously there was a lot more to it than that, but that was the basic gist of what had happened. "Oh... Yes, I have gotten hurt," he chuckled, motioning to a scar on his cheek. "That one is from when I manifested." Xun had gotten many other injuries over the course of his training, but that one was the most visible.

He laughed again, a little longer, at her comment. "No... I don't think I've ever been late for anything," Xun agreed, definitely feeling more comfortable the longer they talked. "It is alright, I don't mind." He was interested in her own ability, though - it was much different than his own, and that made him curious. "That is... Very sweet," he murmured, imagining the young girl surrounded by flowers with smiley faces. "I am glad there are benefits to your ability as well." Because just feeling pain would be awful.

Heh, Mushu... "There is are dragon forms in wushu," he told her with a smile. "They are rather difficult, though. I don't know any." Xun had just seen videos on Youku. He finally sat down, determining he had probably practiced enough for the day anyway. "I like to eat Chinese food," he replied with a laugh. "It's what I grew up eating." And he still ate that way as much as he could. It could be difficult in a town as small as Pilot Ridge, but he managed. "That sounds like fun. I think I'll probably be visiting my family in China again this summer," he mused. He usually went with his parents every year. "Where, ah... Are you from?" he asked curiously.

[Rain Tseung]

“Oh… That’s pretty cool. I’m sure you would be a great teacher. “ She rubbed the back of her head, not really sure what else to say. It wasn’t like she wanted to ask him to try and train her… Nope… Not at all… Maybe she would if they became better friends, but as of right now, they were kind of like strangers. However, Rain did see him as a friend, she saw everyone she first met as a friend, if they left each other on good terms at least.. Rain crossed her legs, and listened to his story intently. “ohhh. That sounds really cool, and pretty interesting.” She would like to hear or read.. about the full story of Wushu sometime, not now but sometime in the future. “it’s pretty amazing how it went through all of that, and is still around…” She frowned at the thought of people getting hurt doing Wushu, “I’m sorry you have gotten hurt..”

Hearing him laugh at her comments made her feel warm inside. It was nice when people opened up enough to be able to laugh, and just talk like he was. She wanted people to be happy, and laughter was the greatest sign of happiness, and the greatest gift anyone could give her. “Do you think you are as fast as flash?” Cause, she was into superheros, it was about the only nerdy thing she was really into… but who didn’t like super heros? “Yeah, me too, but plant empathy isn’t my only power, plant manipulation is my main one.”


“Ohh, that’s so cool! I’m so going to have to go on youtube and watch wushu videos.” She giggled, it sounds so interesting to watch, and it was pretty interesting to watch Xun do it, well the little she saw anyways. “My family is Chinese, so we will have homemade Chinese food sometimes. But it’s still hard to eat food that’s not a part of the country you live in. Especially when that certain food is very different from the food in the country you live in.” It was kind of hard, but she enjoyed the food she ate on a regular basis, and the food her mom would make, she kind of missed the home cooked meals, with her whole family gathered around the table… It was something that she found hard to get used to… Eating by herself was not something she really enjoyed, even years later. “Ohh that is really cool. I wish you a good travel!” She smiled, “I’m from Canada! I will probably visit them sometime this summer too, I usually do.” She wasn’t sure if her brother would, since he is graduating, and probably going to get an apartment, he would probably be too busy having to work to pay bills.

[Deleted]

"Ahh, you're too kind," Xun replied modestly, dipping his head. Maybe he would be a decent teacher. He would feel a lot more competent if he got accepted to Beijing Sport University, though. He nodded in agreement with what she said. "Yes... I think so too." Xun tilted his head and added,"I wish I could see how monks used to use wushu practically in battle. I'm sure it was amazing to see." Xun wasn't particularly fond of violence, but he couldn't help trying to imagine what it must have been like sometimes. "Oh, it is quite alright," he replied, smiling faintly. "Injuries come with the sport, it's almost impossible to avoid it entirely." It was permanent injury he tried desperately to avoid.

Unfortunately, Xun wasn't familiar with comics and other 'nerdy' hobbies (not that he looked down at all on people who were), so he slowly replied,"I... Am not familiar with this 'Flash'." His cheeks blushed pale pink. "I am pretty fast though, especially if I've built up energy long enough." Unfortunately that came with pain and extreme muscle tightness, but it was what Xun had to work with. "Oh, that is fortunate," he responded with a blink. "So you can, um, make plants grow, or bloom, or something?" Kinetic powers were always interesting to him.

"Ah, good!" Xun beamed. He was always happy when someone seemed excited to learn more about his sport. "If you look up 'changquan', that will give you a more specific style to what I do," he added. He blinked when she mentioned her family was Chinese; Xun didn't want to be rude, but she didn't look Chinese at all. He wondered if she was adopted? "Yes, I know what you mean," he sighed. "And I am not a very good cook, so I am mostly stuck with pre-packaged sushi." Not that it was bad, just... Not as good as his mother's cooking. "Thank you," he smiled with a dip of his head. "Ahh, Canada... I've been there a few times, over on the west coast," he mentioned. He'd only lived about two hours south of the border, after all.

Xun glanced at the clock and stood, grabbing his sword as he did so. "I have to go to my training session soon, but it was very nice meeting you," he told Rain with a small bow. "I hope we meet again soon."