Self Defense (Open)

[Deleted]

He couldn’t believe he was considering this.

Jeff stood outside the gym, looking up at it quietly. About a month ago, he would have laughed at the idea of going in to learn to defend himself - but things were getting tougher. The kids on the streets were getting tougher. And he wasn’t just going to stand around not doing anything to learn to defend himself.

He looked at his cash quietly, chewing his lip. He didn’t have a lot, just some cash from working odd jobs to keep himself fed and OK (or his definition of it) but he definitely hoped it would be enough.

But they probably had some sort of programs he figured. He might have the money now but what about the next month? Or the next?

He leaned against the wall a bit as he tried to think it through. Or rather, tried to work up the courage to go inside. That was, after all, the hardest part of this whole dang thing.

[Gabriela Dawson]

Gabby had been roped in to lend a hand at one of the gyms. It was all to do with CPD and CFD trying to do the right thing by the kids in the city so how could she say no to that. If it kept the kids out of trouble with either department she was all up for it. Though in true Casey style, her shift had ended late and she was running late as she parked up across the street. Gabby could see a kid looking at the place though he seemed to be hesitating in his choice.

Maybe waiting for someone she thought to herself as she grabbed her bag out of the car, she had changed at the fire house but she knew better than to leave her things in her car on the street. No she had her gym bag in her hand as she crossed the street and glanced at the boy who was leaned against the wall of the gym. Maybe he just needed some encouragement go get inside or she would look like a fool trying to run up business for the place.

“Hey kid.” Gabby said smiling as approached him, “Fancy coming in for a while? You don’t have to do much if you don’t want to. I just go for the cookies there but then that’s just me.” She joked though really the cookies were good, sure they had all kinds of healthy oats and so on in them but they tasted better than the banana cookies Connie had made for the fire house. After all if in doubt always go with the food option was her philosophy in life.

@yugioh, (hope you do not mind me jumping in)

[Deleted]

Jeff jumped out of his skin.

He turned to look at the woman who approached. She didn’t seem at all dangerous, at least at first glance. But then again, it was easy to startle someone who typically spent most of his days looking over his shoulder and sleeping with one eye open.

He dug his hands into his worn out jeans and looked at the doors again. Of course she could probably tell he was a nervous wreck - but he tried to hide it as best he could.

“I uh... I’m thinking about it at least,” he explained with a small stutter. “Y’know how much membership or classes go for here? Ain’t got too steady a job, so I can’t afford the big bucks.” He replied honestly.

(Nope no problem at all!)

[Gabriela Dawson]

Gabby was surprised when the kid jumped out of his skin. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” She said having not made it a huge habit to start starting kids. It was fun at times, adults too but he seemed to be nervous enough without her added to the situation any. Gabby watched him look at the doors to the gym again as she knew it was hardly for everyone.

The only reason she had gone when she was younger was to annoy her brother and her parent sort of thrust it upon her for an after school club. It just happened she had taken to boxing of all the sports she could have chosen. Gabby smiled as she nodded, “Yeah I know how much the membership is here but today it’s a free class.” Gabby said, it was no word of a lie one for the community to join in regardless of money or jobs.

“So why don’t you go in with me and we can see what you can do in there?” Gabby suggested, “Then if you like it and you want to come back, I’m sure we can figure out a way to get you into this place whenever you want. Day or night.” Gabby explained, so sure she would either pay the fee herself or ask if it could be waived for the sake of a few odd jobs around the gym. Nothing fancy but if it helped someone out then Gabby was more than happy to do it. “So how about it?” She asked smiling.

[Deleted]

Jeff had to think about what she said for a minute.

He supposed that wasn’t the worst idea - to come in and see. But at the same time, he knew he’d stand out if it was a class and he hated standing out. What would they think when he came in there looking like he’d just crawled out of somewhere unseemly? It was hard to tell with people.

Yet this woman seemed really nice at the same time. In a way that seemed to relax him more the way she talked. And though Jeff had a hard time trusting adults a part of him did know there were adults out there who were not out to hurt him. Maybe even some that would help him if he gave them half a chance.

He sighed, it’d be some time before he actually accepted that fully however. And he had his own reasons why.

Taking a deep breath, he took a hold of the door and pushed it open. “Well, uh, ladies first then, m’am,” he explained politely. His father had always taught him to do things like that “manners maketh the man” and all that. “I don’t think I caught your name by the way? I’m uh, Jeff.”

[Gabriela Dawson]

Gabby knew that walking into new places could be difficult. Usually she had that personality that took no prisoners so with that she had a shield of amour up before anyone knew what had hit them. It was just her way and this class she had done similar before so it was nothing new to her. She had been a student at one point, being thrown into things for an after school club trying to find her place in it all.

Seeing the kid relax the more she talked it was nice to see, she knew it was hardly for everyone but if it gave him something to do then she wanted to help. Gabby watched Jeff take hold of the door and push it open before speaking. “A true gentleman, you don’t get many of those these days but thank you.” She said smiling as she walked through the door and into the gym.

Gabby was hardly used to kids having manners these days, arguing, trying to get them to do the right thing. Being yelled at sure that was her version though she refused to admit that she was a day over seventeen. No at heart she was still a kid so really this day was just a chance to prove she was still down with the kids in the neighbourhood. If that was at all possible now.

“Well Jeff it’s lovely to meet you and Ma’am is for others. I’m Gabriela but my friends call me Gabby. Only Gabriela if I’m in trouble which is more than I’d like to admit to.” She said jokingly as she held out her hand to him. “It’s nice to meet such a polite kid.” It did make a change and yes she could open a door but it was always nice to have the offer available.

@yugioh,

[Deleted]

Jeff blushed a little.

He was hardly a gentleman really, he figured. But his dad had definitely done his job in putting manners into his head - and moreover in teaching him to be kind to others. He felt in a way continuing to do what his dad taught him, even as a streetwise kid, kept him alive and in his thoughts. "Well, my dad is mostly to thank for that. He was big on manners and stuff like that," he explained honestly as he stepped inside. "I'm pretty sure if I slacked just because he's gone now he'd come back from the dead to clock me." he said jokingly.

At the extended hand, he carefully took it, shaking it. Gabby then, OK that was easy to remember. After all, Jeff didn't really like being called by his own full name, Jeffrey. "Nice to meet you too, Gabby," he explained. "And I know what you mean - same reason I don't go by my full name. I always feel like it means I'm about to be scolded."

Not that there was much of anyone around to scold him these days.

[Gabriela Dawson]

Manners were a lost art, sure Gabby might have been spending far too much time around a fire house but then it was still nice to know there were people out there who had them. Kids that seemed good and kids that used them rather than yelling at her for doing a job or worse just slamming a door in your face before you could even speak. “It’s good that he was and you should know it’s a great thing to have.” Gabby said as she smiled and went inside the gym. Honestly people needed to be nicer to each other these days.

“I’m really sorry to hear he’s gone but I can say, he’s done a great job with you.” She said with a smile at least wanting him to know that someone appreciated what he had done. It was easy to see that maybe Jeff was a little wary of what was going on but then he was the perfect person for the gym. “Exactly, and not sure if it happens to you but people always have that high pitch at the end of it when they say your name too. Like they are going to scream but haven’t quiet gotten to that part of their argument yet.” Gabby said with a grin, sure she had enough fights to know that she did that too.

“So besides that Jeff, have you ever been to a gym before?” Gabby asked wondering if he had or if the entire thing was new to him. She was fine with it either way she just knew asking might make things easier for him.

@yugioh,

[Deleted]

Jeff smirked.

He was glad to hear that someone thought he had done a good job with him. Sometimes he wondered that, the way he was always getting into trouble. Even if it was his fault for resorting to pickpocketing and living on the street rather than accepting help. He put his hands in his pockets, and nodded a little. Of course he was sorry he’d lost him too but there wasn’t much he could do about it. “Yeah. It’s ok, it’s been a few years - and he died a good man. Saving some kids even if it meant he got shot down,” he explained. “I’m just proud to be the son of one of the best officers Chicago has ever had.”

Maybe to some people that was an exaggeration. But to Jeff it was true - there was no one better, and there never would be.

When Gabby asked about whether he’d been to a gym or not - he had to think about it. It had been a very long time if anything really. He couldn’t remember if his dad had ever taken him somewhere during his training sessions or not. So he went with his gut... “I mean, not that I really remember. Maybe a couple of times when I was younger,” he explained. “Nothing serious though - mostly with my dad watching. I’m only here because I feel a need to learn to defend myself these days.”

Of course he wouldn’t say why. But no harm in telling why he was there at least.

[Gabriela Dawson]

Gabby looked at Jeff as she nodded, losing a father was never an easy thing. She was lucky as she still had both her parents but she understood that losing her brother was a daily battle to be fought. “Hey well then you’re one of us already then. Happy to help out the kid of one of Chicago’s best officers. Makes you practically family around here so you don’t worry about fees or anything of the sort.” Gabby stated, sure she would have tried her best to wave them anyway but a cop shot she could only assume in the line of duty. "I'm sure he was a great guy and must have been because you're a great kid." She added.

There was not a chance on earth that she was going to let the kid pay a penny. To her, her brother was the best cop in Chicago but then she would never tell him that or utter those words anywhere just in case it got back to him. No safer to pretend she was indifferent to it and let him think that she was just okay about it. “Okay then we’ll you’re in the right place for that and the gym isn’t serious. It’s fun and a good place to be.” Gabby said wondering what on earth had the kid wanting to learn to defend himself.

“So first of all, what is going on with you?” Gabby asked, “Just so we know how much we need to teach you. Total kung fu or just bank robber status or more a give me your lunch money sort of moves?” She joked though her question was genuine enough. She wanted to know what was going on with him, sure she could jump to all kinds of conclusions but hearing it from him. It made more sense to do that rather than put her foot in it. Not that she was against doing that as she knew she could be a little pushy but, he was just a kid and not a fire house friend. There was only so much she could ask.

@yugioh,

[Deleted]

Jeff smiled a little bit. That was definitely nice for her to say. He hadn’t thought of himself as family with the group his dad had hung out with in, well, a very long time. For the most part, he had never gone around the officers since, so it was hard to believe.

When she said he didn’t have to worry about fees, he did get a little nervous. “You don’t have to do that you know. I mean, I can find a way to pay,” he explained. “I’m not technically the kid of a cop anymore, right?”

When she asked what kind of defense he was talking, Jeff had to think about how to word things. He didn’t want to give away his situation, but at the same time he wasn’t sure how to put it without doing just that. “I uh... I live in a tough part of town. There are a lot of guys who would want to mug me. Best me up, you know?” He explained. “I just need to know how to fight them off. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Just want to make sure I don’t end up hurt myself.”

[Gabriela Dawson]

|| TAG: @yugioh,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Gabby shook her head at Jeff, “Yeah you might like to think it works like that but once a kid of a cop, always the kid of a cop and besides. You’ve got to get some benefits from your dad running out of family dinner, or home late and so on.” Gabby explained, “Just because your dad cannot be around for you anymore, it’s down to the rest of us to be there instead. So yeah no fees.”

If there was one rule in life, it was if someone was family like Jeff they got a leg up on life in general. Losing a parent was tough and for a kid tougher still so family meant a lot to her. She knew it was hard to come by but the people that mattered, extended family mattered just as much if they liked that or not.

“Now there’s a first, nice to know you’re not out to hurt anyone Jeff. You don’t hear that much these days either but we can show you a few things to get you started.” Gabby said as she motioned to a few of the people there. “My dad always told me never get involved in a fight and if you do make sure the other person gets knocked out flat.” Gabby said, “Might not have been the best advice he ever gave me but it works, so how about we see what you can do already here.”

Taking a step back Gabby dropped her bag on a free bench as she motioned to the punching bag. There was no use in going over old ground with him so it would be good to see what he could do already.

Red☠Frost

[Deleted]

Jeff nodded his head a little.

He guessed that did make a bit of sense. After all, he was just a kid, and most of the cops that had been working for his dad had always had his back. As a result, he knew that they were close like family. Even if she wasn't a cop, she was part of the "family" so-to-speak in that sense. "Alright, I guess that makes sense. That's nice of you, thanks." He finally replied.

The boy gave a sheepish grin, his dad had given him similar advice before. He nodded his head a little, also knowing you didn't hear that a lot. But being abused himself the though of hurting another human being was not one that Jeff took lightly. "Yeah, let's just say I don't like the thought of hurting anyone... It scares me. I don't want to be that guy who ends up on the front page news is all..." he smiled a little. "Plus most bullies aren't worth it."

At the motion, Jeff took a few steps forward. And started with a bit of a fumble - not very good to say the least. As he hit at it, he practically got that feeling of pure inability to hit very hard. Damn, he was so out of practice! His moves were sluggish, and he was... Just not very graceful. With one eye over at Gabrielle he wondered if she'd started laughing yet.

Gabriela Dawson

[Gabriela Dawson]

|| TAG: @yugioh,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Gabby just nodded to Jeff when he said it was nice of her, there was nothing nice about it. She was looking out for one of their own was how she saw it. Not everyone got to be lucky in life, she had a great family well her parents might have had a complete meltdown lately but that was another story. If she could make sure that Jeff knew how to fight off anyone that was after him, it was paying something forward. At least she tried to look at it that way.

“Oh you know exactly what I’m talking about.” Gabby said seeing the sheepish grin appear for her piece of advice. Sure enough it was the one piece of advice that served her well though life though she tried to keep herself out of too many physical fights as long as she could help it. “You’re right none of them are worth it but you know it’s not about hurting people at all. If they run into your first a few times then that is on them not you.” Gabby stated smiling, she was hardly in the hurting people business but some people just needed a good punch.

Watching Jeff she could see her had things down it was likely just out of practice with it. “Okay, first tuck your thumbs into your fists and don’t hold them so tight either.” Gabby said as she mimicked the movement to show him. “If you have to hit someone you don’t want to break your hand so a slightly open fist helps with the impact and just relax into it. You’ve got the movements just relax it’s not an Olympic boxing match, just the gym.” Gabby said trying to be supportive of him as she smiled.

Red☠Frost

[Deleted]

Jeff nodded in agreement, even though there were too many people he would love to punch. His foster father all those years ago was at the top of the list really. He just wanted to take his fists and beat... Come on Jeff, calm down. He could already feel his anger building up and he didn’t want to do that. Gabi seemed to like him and she may not so much if she knew he had problems - even rightfully so. He had to remind himself what he told Gabby was also true, they weren’t all worth it and most weren’t...

He breathed in slowly, letting his tenseness leave him.

He listened to her advice to keep his mind off of it. Instead carefully focusing on what she was throwing at him. It turned out to be a pretty good distraction. Because there was a lot to take in. He tired to take her advice and not take it so serious. And relax his fists a bit too. He found it was becoming easier as he did so - even if it exerted less of his pent up energy at the same time. “Like this?” He noted as he turned to her.

As he continued on - he decided maybe small talk would help him get less... Tense too. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, why did you start coming to the gym?” He asked - definitely curious to hear where she’d picked this all up at.