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Post by Ariel on Jun 10, 2013 21:04:41 GMT -5
Ariel got up to meet Sheng at the Dojo for training he was now teaching her how to protect herself she had gotten lucky enough to do one on one training with him even Arista was jealous.
Then they were going to have lunch. Which Ariel was looking forward to because she liked talking to Sheng and he seemed interested in what she had to say. Not that Hook wasn't he did listen but Ariel had a feeling his mind was on something else and she never felt that way with Sheng. If anything he was turning out to be a great friend.
Ariel went to knock on the door but realized it was open, "Sheng?" She called out.
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Post by Captain Li Sheng/ Li Shunyu on Jun 11, 2013 10:26:14 GMT -5
Sheng grunted furiously as he went to town on the punching bag.... but there was rage behind his movements, making them sloppy and uncontrolled. Which only angered him more. The bag sagged on it's hook, one of the chains working loose from the intense assault that had lasted nearly 10 minutes. Sheng roared at its weakness and tore it from the chain, giving a powerful kick that sent it sailing through the air to land on a bench, which snapped under the pressure.
He walked away, hitting the wall with his fist, before sinking down against it. He looked up to see Ariel standing in the doorway, looking shocked. He had forgot to lock it. So he could collect himself before having his lesson with her. Instead she had seen his little tantrum... and he couldn't say anything to justify it. He just let his head fall to a hand.
"...Forgive me, Měirényú...I just need a moment to...collect myself." Pressure was building in his head... an ordinary person would have cried just to feel release... but his upbringing and training had prevented that...so the war raged on in his head. "...I just need a moment..."
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Post by Ariel on Jun 11, 2013 13:23:09 GMT -5
Ariel wanted to comfort him but she wasn't sure that would be welcome so instead she nodded. This wasn't the first time she watched a man fall apart and Ariel wondered for a second if it was her?
Well no this was not her fault, she nodded at a loss for anything to say but she did wonder what made Sheng so angry. Ariel walked back into the main part of the Dojo and waited for him. She hoped maybe someday with time he might open up to her.
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Post by Captain Li Sheng/ Li Shunyu on Jun 12, 2013 18:25:09 GMT -5
Once he felt that the rage had died down to a flame that could be controlled with some meditation, he went out into the hallway, opening the door for Ariel. "Areil... please come in." He shut the door behind her once she was in; he avoided her eyes, embarrassed for his display of raw emotion. "I apologize for my behavior..." He finally looked at her, his mouth still opened, as if to say more, but he closed it. He turned away from her to head towards the center of the room, where his dojo insignia was in large font, smack dab in the middle.
"Shall we begin?"
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Post by Ariel on Jun 12, 2013 18:48:20 GMT -5
"It's okay Sheng but can I ask what has you so upset? I know its not really any of my business but it might help to talk about it?" Ariel offered.
He looked really upset and hurt, Ariel wondered if he might open up to her a bit he looked like he needed to.
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Post by Captain Li Sheng/ Li Shunyu on Jun 13, 2013 21:03:21 GMT -5
Sheng looked at her; he felt as though he could tell her anything... but would she understand something like this?
He sighed, putting his hands behind his back in a militant stance, pacing to and fro as he spoke. "Today during my morning run, I took a different path. It took me right to the Storybrooke Cemetery... where I found my father's grave." He passed, taking in a breath, trying to keep his rage in check.
"I don't know what a mermaid's customs for burying their dead is... but to my people it is a very sacred process. To disrupt their peace... or remove them from their shrine is... unthinkable... for the soul is lost... and disaster sets upon the household." He looked down at his fists, clenching and unclenching. "The Witch, Regina... her curse has damned him to wander forever in the afterlife..."
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Post by Ariel on Jun 13, 2013 21:44:25 GMT -5
Ariel listened as he told her about his father. She felt bad it really hurt him to think about his father being unable to rest.
"Well we actually turn to sea foam when we die. So we don't really have a custom for the dead. However I can understand why you would be upset. Is there a ceremony of putting the dead to rest? Perhaps maybe you could do it for your father in this life?" Ariel wished there was more she could say to help him.
"I mean there must be a way for when people die in this world and their bodies are never recovered? Sorry I am afraid I don't know much about souls and after life I am not even sure if mermaids have souls?" Ariel admitted though she never wanted to believe that it was talked about in the sea a lot.
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Post by Captain Li Sheng/ Li Shunyu on Jun 16, 2013 16:51:49 GMT -5
Sheng shook his head hopelessly at her suggestion, but his eyes snapped up to meet her aqua eyes. Without thinking, his hand shot out to hold hers. "Of COURSE you have a soul, Měirényú, how could you even THINK that? That you're goodness, the beauty that you bring to this world with your heart and voice... that it could simply slip away into nothing at the end of your life? Your brilliant presence is SURE too leave an impression on this world and the next..."
She met his eyes, lips slightly parted in surprise. Sheng looked down at their hands... his thumb was caressing her smooth fair skin. How often had he thought about running his hands along her perfect skin...
He pulled his hand away from hers. "That...that is my belief, anyways." He turned from her. "Perhaps we should begin our lesson, yes?"
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Post by Ariel on Jun 16, 2013 20:09:36 GMT -5
"Sheng... well thank you." Ariel watched him turn from her she sighed a bit sad there wasn't more she could do for him.
"If you want to talk about it I'm here but I just wish there was more I could say to help you feel better." Ariel told him she wanted to hold his hand like he did hers but it seemed the moment had past.
"If you want to we can start lessons."
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Post by Captain Li Sheng/ Li Shunyu on Jun 18, 2013 10:25:37 GMT -5
"Yes, we should start the session." He said curtly, trying to shake inappropriate curiosities about her skin out of mind. "And... thank you." He turned towards her. "You are... a true friend, Ariel. Perhaps... after the session, over lunch, we can discuss it more?"
He took his position in the center of the mat. "Let us begin..."
He led her through opening breathing, meditation, and stretches before the workout portion; repeated high kicks and low kicks meant to improve balance and muscle... and then punches, straight forward, side swipe, and upper-cut meant to increase muscle in her back and tighten her core. After that half hour had passed, more stretching and water break.
Then it was time for the "combat" portion. She was limited in attacks, because she was a beginner, so he focused more on coming at her with a hand-held padded target for her to hit, alternating between kicks and punches. He grinned as he realized that there was much more strength behind her hits. Maybe not enough to take a man out... but enough to stop him in his tracks.
"Good... very good Ariel." He said as she delivered another high kick to the target. "And stop... water." Ariel gladly complied, collapsing onto the floor, reaching for her water bottle.
"The time is almost up... but I was wondering if you could help me with something." He said to her. "There is a move that I want to show my Women's Defense Advanced Class. Something... well... that I actually saw online. I studied it, and the technique looks very effective. I'd like to try it out with you... get feedback, and then maybe present it to the class with you as my assistant....if that is alright with you?"
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Post by Ariel on Jun 18, 2013 12:16:21 GMT -5
"Of course we can talk about it over lunch." She smiled.
They started their training Ariel felt she was making improvements small ones probably but they were there. When she wasn't working with Sheng she could work with Arista. Though Ariel had to admit it was probably more fun working with Sheng if she could stop staring at his chest. Ariel forced a few thoughts of running her hands down it out of her mind while she took her break drinking and resting.
Finally there session was drawing to a close
Ariel took a long drink of water, "Sure anything I can do to help you out." She smiled.
Ariel was tired but it was a good tired like how she felt after swimming miles under the sea. This training was really good and Ariel had never felt better. She stood up, "So where do we begin?"
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Post by Captain Li Sheng/ Li Shunyu on Jun 19, 2013 6:53:23 GMT -5
"Lay on you back." He told her. Ariel obeyed and he knelt in front of her. "Now this is a women's defense move, to help free her from an attacker who is trying to violate her." He closed his eyes. "Unfortunately, some of the medieval men here are returning to their medieval ways. I hope to supply women with such tools to help them avoid such tragedy.
He scooted closer to her, but pulled back to warn her. "The first position will feel uncomfortable, because it is a position of violation... but you can trust me, Ariel." His hand gently reached out pulling her towards him until the apex between her legs rested against his lap, her legs spread open around him. He assumed the position, as if ready to violate her.
"Now the FIRST thing you have to do is push your arms AGAINST my shoulders, straight out. Lock them, not bend, because I can easily..." He lightly hit the crook of her bent arm and it collapsed. "Keep it STRAIGHT... then you will have the advantage over me..." She followed his command, and he placed them on the right place of his shoulders. "In this state,you can with hold my full body wight away from yours... so you have the advantage. Now float my shoulder to throw me off balance." Ariel experimented with her arms, able to move his shoulders as he leaned his body weight into hers.
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Post by Ariel on Jun 19, 2013 13:04:33 GMT -5
Ariel did as Sheng told her to and she tried really hard to ignore how close he was to her or how strong he was. Ariel was however with his instruction able to keep him off balance.
"Actually I do think this will be very useful." She told him pushing him off her again and again. Ariel focused on his arms and not how his body met hers they were training damn it! there was nothing more to it then that.
Still Ariel liked him and there for owed him the truth at least that she was still living with Hook. Ariel decided to tell him at lunch. They weren't together but if it went any further she needed to be honest.
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Post by Captain Li Sheng/ Li Shunyu on Jun 19, 2013 15:29:11 GMT -5
"That is only the first half of move..." He smirked. She seemed... distracted. Sheng would NEVER take advantage of a woman while training... perhaps his Storybrooke self would, shamelessly so... but Sheng was honorable.
He pushed his slight amusement at her flustered, yet cheerful, responses to his questions and proceeded. "Here comes the tricky part, you have to knock me off balance, slide your hands down to lock around my wrists, so I cannot escape... suddenly you have me captive. While that happens, you need to decide which side you have more mobility on and turn the leg out to shimmy up, placing other leg on my thigh... okay good... and then follow with other. Okay... now with my wrists locked in your grasp, my natural response will be to break away, to pull free, giving you enough room to kick up with your foot, with one leg, joined by the other... and repeated use until attacker is unconscious. Thereby preventing him from following you as you flee. Can we try again?"
It took a few tries, but Ariel was able to master the slow-mo version of it. "Try faster..." Ariel smiled as she was able to get it... getting too comfortable with the movements. But if this were a real attack, panic would set in... the attacker would not go slow or gentle.
"Alright..." He helped her up from the ground. "This time, Ariel... I am going to come at you... you will be frightened... but you need to remember what we just did, okay?... And then I will treat you to lunch and ice cream." He grinned. Ariel nodded, trying hard to look determined... to not be caught of guard.
But Sheng came at her quick. He didn't hurt her, but he got her down to her knees and flat on her back in one swift movement. He was on top of her waiting for her to push back on him with locked arms, but it didn't come. He grabbed her wrists, giving her every chance to break free and lock her arms, but easily succeeded in pinning her hands above her head. She was breathing hard from the exhilaration from it...
"You... you didn't fight back..." He observed. He also observed that her legs were almost hooked around him. That's when he noticed the warmth of their two fronts pressed so tightly together. He released her and began to straighten up after a beat.
"Perhaps... we should stop..." He said. Reluctantly so.
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Post by Ariel on Jun 19, 2013 18:59:30 GMT -5
He was so warm and god she didn't want to stop. She tried to focus this really wasn't the time and they were training!
"Are you sure maybe once more?" Ariel asked not a hundred percent sure why she didn't fight him off. She really need to work on this it was useful information and who knows if Ariel would ever need it.
"Shall I stand up and we can try again?" She asked, "Or we can save it for next time?" She wasn't sure what Sheng wanted to do though Ariel had some ideas...
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