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Post by Basil on May 22, 2009 21:12:35 GMT -5
When he learned that his hotel boasted a gymnasium, Basil decided it would be profitable to spend some time honing his boxing skills. After all, fisticuffs had saved his life more than once, and it would not do to lose the knack. Even if one was on holiday.
Dressed in appropriate Victorian-era sporting costume, the detective took his turn at the punching bag with not inconsiderable adroitness.
Fortunately, the hotel provided rodent-sized equipment.
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Post by wing on May 24, 2009 11:42:22 GMT -5
A bead of sweat trickled down the face of Mulan as her steady and determined glare scrutinized the punching dummy in front of her. She took a step forward and lifted her arms, going through all the motions she was re-inviting into her attack sequence. With a war cry she slammed the side of her hand into her opponent. Then her foot. Then her other foot and other hand. And then finally a combination that ended with a sickening crunch against the dummy.
Mulan paused and breathed heavily for a moment, watching as the dummy sway back and forth from the result of the blow. With a sharp inhale she stood rigid and placed her hands together, bowing with respect before walking over to get herself a drink of water.
Her training had been quite vigorous for the past hour. She had been the only one that had stayed in the room for such a length. Some had come in and out. Others had never come in.
Wiping the sweat that fell from her brow, Mulan sat down on a bench and took a look around. The gym was fairly empty; just the way she liked it. Too crowded became a game of "try to find space before it gets taken up" and "don't hit other people by accident". Luckily those games weren't in progress today.
Deciding best to take a break, Mulan stretched out, her muscles crying slightly from the vigorous workout before. She gazed around, eyes falling once on the extremely large equipment that was so mind boggling she didn't even want to try to understand how to use it, and then the miniature sets. That's where she saw another companion in the gym. She smiled kindly, watching the small house (or well, she wasn't quite sure how to tell from the distance. Could have been a rat.) take turns at the punching bag.
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Post by Basil on May 24, 2009 15:47:51 GMT -5
Basil was pleased with his own skill; enjoying himself on an extended holiday had not dulled it appreciably.
Even with intense concentration, he was well aware of all that was going on around him. Including a young lady attacking a practice dummy.
The detective was surprised to see females in the gymnasium, assuming the hotel would provide separate accommodations. That they did not was a bit awkward, as it was not easy to acknowledge the presence of women with due respect when one was attempting to concentrate on one's training.
Still, he made due with bows and nods where appropriate and still managed his workout with tolerable success.
When the aforementioned lady had finished her own exercise, Basil felt obliged to speak up. "I say, that was quite impressive, Miss, if I may so observe."
Her attacks were graceful and well-coordinated, and involved a good deal of kicking. It was a marvelous display of strength coupled with finesse. "If I may, what do you call that style of fighting?"
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Post by Robin Hood on May 28, 2009 23:36:26 GMT -5
This park seemed to have many things he had not seen much of before. After walking through the hotel he found the gym quite a curious place. Along with a familiar mouse there was a woman also exercising near by. Maybe this would be a place he could keep himself in shape during the times there were not any villains for him to pursue.
"It is a surprise to see you here Basil. I did not think you were the type to exercise between solving cases."
Robin then smiled and bowed politely to the woman, introducing himself in a friendly manner.
"Excuse me if interrupted anything, I am Robin Hood, who might you be my lady?"
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Post by Basil on May 30, 2009 13:37:08 GMT -5
<<Oh-de-laly, look who's here! How nice to hear from you again >> Basil looked up to see none other than Robin Hood approaching. "Oh, quite. One must be physically prepared as well as mentally when dealing with the criminal element.""Do you by any chance box as well as fence?" he asked the outlaw.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jun 1, 2009 12:09:56 GMT -5
"Box? Well I do practice fighting in quite a few ways so that I'm prepared for a lot of different situations. Although I do believe fencing is more interesting practice when it comes to fighting. Have you had any interesting cases recently?"
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Post by Basil on Jun 1, 2009 19:52:10 GMT -5
"Oh, no, nothing worth speaking about." If he told the absolute truth, business was abominably slow. In fact, if it hadn't been for his share in that Spanish treasure some time back, Basil would be peniless just now.
"Of course, I am on holiday. This workout was just to keep the reflexes keen and all that."
"And how about yourself? Been righting any wrongs of late?"
It was not mere politeness that caused him to ask; on the contrary, Basil greatly enjoyed the tales of Robin Hood and his exploits.
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Post by Robin Hood on Jun 7, 2009 22:04:21 GMT -5
"I understand your feelings Basil. I had a run in with Prince John a few months ago, but nothing else to speck of. It feels as if all of us are going through times of boredom."
"I didn't think you ever took holidays, is there a special occasion?"
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Post by Basil on Jun 8, 2009 17:44:23 GMT -5
"Not really. Only I thought I should like to see America."
"I do a bit of fencing myself. A most civilised form of combat. Though its use in the 19th century is somewhat limited."
Basil enjoyed fencing because it always made him feel like a knight errant, but he wasn't about to admit that fact to anyone.
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