6th Taunt | Video

[misterbrief]

[It's been a few days since Father's Day. And he got a really nice surprise from his daughter that he never thought possible. Bulla training and honing her skills and power, it really meant something to him; so he's flipping his journal open now since Luceti played a large part of it. He's not even angry this time.]

It's come to my attention that a good number of you had a hand in the gift I received over the weekend. I will say I'm impressed- the lot of you have done the impossible with my daughter Bulla and it most certainly paid off. So for that...[His voice trails off, since saying these sorts of things isn't exactly natural to him.] For that I am grateful. I know a good portion of the time we are safe inside this barrier, but you must understand that I worry for her safety regardless.

So I suppose this is the part where I ask something else not so specific. The gift I received was for your Earthling holiday Father's Day. I've never put much stock in such things, but this last weekend certainly has changed my mind about it a little. Is this something you also observe in your own worlds? And if so, what is it that you've done or would do that you would consider worthy of your father?

Comments

[aerialassault]

It was just a matter of having the right leverage. Figuring out her's was a piece of cake. [He grinned.] We did it at the beach too, so the sand was another factor she had to deal with. Fortunately, the water was nearby. I didn't stay, but she probably took advantage of that after.

That probably helped her mood, too.

[misterbrief]

Ha, no mercy I see. [Sand sucks to move in, he knows this.] That's probably one of my least favorite spots to get caught in, but you know that doesn't become a problem for someone who can fight in the air. I hope you didn't let her cheat, Cliff.

[aerialassault]

Are you kidding? That was my only rule: No Flying. That wouldn't completely wrecked the point. I don't care for the sand much either, but I can still maneuver just fine. She's half Saiyan, so she'd also be able to if she tried.

[misterbrief]

Her Saiyan blood should let her do things far beyond that. [YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE REALLY COOL IF SHE TRANSFORMED ONE DAY, SIGH.]

She never really put forth an effort ever into training before this, but I'm glad to hear you didn't go easy on her. Next time, if there is one, I suggest the same drills underwater. Though I'm not sure if Klausians can handle underwater combat the same as Saiyans.

[aerialassault]

Air kinda is a thing, you know. [As interesting as underwater combat sounded, he still needed to breathe. No number of sidekicks or uppercuts would work if he was choking while delivering the blows.]

There's limits to what I can do with her, but she's still someone who would think of this as 'working out' and not as 'defense training.' I'm just gonna try to mix things up for her if she decides to call me up for a few rounds one day.

[misterbrief]

Of course air is a 'thing'. You learn to deal without it for long periods of time. I think you should try it sometime. [Don't believe him Cliff, Saiyans are freaks like that.]

[He gives a little bit of a questioning look at the camera.] Call you huh? So it's not just me having delusions, she's really going to continue on her training. Well. Let me give you a little bit of advice.

With a girl like her, a lot of motivation comes from rewards. Dangle it in front of her face and you've practically got her on the hook. [You'd think Vegeta could take his own advice.]

[aerialassault]

Or I could just tell her that she might be able to expand her styles if she works on everything a little more.

[Leverage, man. Cliff thinks he has Bulla's figured out.]

[misterbrief]

The only style she likes to work on is her personal style. You're going to have to be more creative than that if you're serious about training with my daughter. [Though he can't deny paintball was pretty creative.]

[aerialassault]

What, and you think I'm not? [His grin was slow and sly.] I've trained up kids worse than her. She's got the talent-- that's more than enough to work with.

[misterbrief]

Well it's not like I've gotten many glimpses at your supposed creativity. What I have seen though is your foolhardiness by attacking a Saiyan warrior in the middle of the street. [Yeah, so what if he yelled at Cliff for doing that, it was still fun. Fighting is always fun.]

I didn't know you taught on a regular basis. I imagine finding students here is pretty easy.

[aerialassault]

Hey-- I'm an Artiste. It ain't my fault that people just don't appreciate what I do! [But he was grinning as well. He didn't regret jumping Vegeta at all.]

But I don't really advertise what I do-- an Artiste has to be picky, ya know? Also, I haven't had much chance to work on anything but my job lately. The last time I was able to just relax at home was....what, five years ago?

I just can't stand seeing kids getting themselves into something really stupid. That's why I've been working with a few people.

[Although only one of them was legitimately a child...]

[misterbrief]

An Artiste, huh. Is that what you call it. [Lol, just, lol.]

If they get themselves into something ridiculous then it's their own fault. [Sorry Cliff, he's not as sentimental.] And unless it's a life or death situation they can get themselves out of it as far as I'm concerned.

[aerialassault]

Normally I feel the same, but it also depends on what else is in play. [Like the possibility of getting family members imprisoned if they acted out too much, for example.]

The trick is watching and knowing when to step in. As a teacher, anything too dumb on their part is on my head.

[misterbrief]

[This is why Cliff is a much better teacher than Vegeta will ever be.]

I think a trial by fire would be more fitting. They won't learn unless they've paid the consequences for their actions.

[aerialassault]

That's where paying attention comes in. A few hard knocks never hurt anyone, but it sometimes gets too big. That's when it's time to step in.

[misterbrief]

Hopefully they've been taught well enough that stepping in isn't necessary. We're not going to be around forever, you know.

[aerialassault]

That's why it's up to us old guys to make sure that they're ready. As long as their mistakes don't put anyone or anything in danger and they're not green horns, they can take the consequences.

The Jinju style helps you find balance, refine what you're good at, and get rid of any weakness. That includes anything in the mind, because a distracted fighter who doesn't have their heart in it is liable to get themselves or someone else dead.

It's not something we'll allow.

[misterbrief]

[His eye twitches at the 'old' part, but he'll let it slide for now- he's not getting insulted by Cliff and wait did Cliff just call himself old, really what no.]

So you're not exactly a spring chicken either huh? [He swears he can't even be forty yet. Not that Vegeta looks like he's almost sixty, he's easily mistaken for forty-five to fifty.] Excuse me if that was something I was already supposed to know.

And what exactly does your Jinju style say about the idea of killing your allies or allowing them to die to win the battle? [In his experience, feelings, they often got in the way and it always had to do with saving friends. He's learned to avoid this mostly by sacrificing himself, and by now, more than once. Good thing he's only died the one time though lucky pos shoulda died again]

[aerialassault]

[He was 37-- close enough to 40 to start making him feel strange while interacting with all of these 20-somethings. He could be as wild as the best of them, but he also had a lifetime of experience over most. Though he wasn't as old as Vegeta, he was starting to notice the distinct gap between himself and most of the others in town.

But Vegeta's question got him thinking, and rankled a part of him that was hard to ignore. He relied on his neutrality oriented interpersonal skills to keep himself from showing his mood too much, but his dislike of the notion was clear.]

Number one rule: We don't leave anyone behind if we can manage it. Frankly, I'd rather be the one to take the heat rather than someone else. I can take it, and it'd be more than just irresponsible of me to let it be otherwise.

[More than the basic morality of it, he was a bodyguard. Even if morals weren't a thing, he still had his pride to maintain.]

[misterbrief]

So you're saying if you have to you will? If there was no other option? Or would you let the enemy go on the rampage just to save one life?

[aerialassault]

I'm sayin' that I'll personally keep them out of danger, if those're the options.

[C'mon, Vegeta. You're making him be serious!]

[misterbrief]

[Vegeta is a very, very serious guy.]

I think you're avoiding answering my question. You don't get the option of keeping them out of danger.

Because they've either become the problem or their death is the only solution. Now choose.

filtered | unhackable

[aerialassault]

[Anyone who doubted Cliff's capacity of making filters is suddenly met with an unhackable one, locking him and Vegeta off in a private corner of the journals. This was territory that he didn't like.]

Dammit, Vegeta. Don't ask me that!

[Because he wouldn't have allowed something like that to happen on his watch. And, if it did, then he was going to go down trying to fix it himself-- or, at least make sure the rest of the crew was safe as he dealt with the problem.]

Filtered | Unhackable

[misterbrief]

And why not? It's a valid question. I'll even make you a deal, you answer my question and I'll tell you what I would do if I were you. [His answer is pretty easy though, since Vegeta feels that this is a black and white answer.]

Filtered | Unhackable

[aerialassault]

[He huffed in obvious irritation.]

...

Look. If you wanna get heavy on me then we're going out for a few beers. Now.