[ OPEN ] Do you believe in magic?

[universal_charm]

WHO: Jim Kirk & Anyone
WHAT: Catchall through Harvestmere (October)
WHEN: Timing (backdated, covering a span, etc.)
WHERE: Location
NOTES: Content warnings, OOC notes, links to other relevant posts, etc.

A - The Magic Man's Come and He's Here to Stay
The morning that changed it all had not begun like he'd expected, obviously. It had been rather embarrassing actually (not that he would be recounting that particular part of the story, especially when he would be apologizing for it for the rest of the month most likely). But ever since the change had happened, he began to make regular trips outside of the walls of Skyhold and out into the forests, away from the immediate eyes and ears of the general masses.

After all, he didn't need everyone looking in on him as he pointed his shard-embedded hand at a tree, waiting for something to happen. He felt terribly foolish, but he knew he had shot a beam from his shard - several times, in fact. Whatever was happening, it wasn't a fluke, and he had better learn to control it less it get away from him in a critical moment.

"On!" Pause. "Fire!" Another pause. "Damn it, do something!"

Pew!

"Please don't let that be my trigger phrase...."

B - Listen Up, I Never Say Anything Twice (Classes)
Currently, Kirk run three classes, all at varying times. It made for an interesting schedule, but it kept him busy, and he enjoyed it. All three classes were open to anyone who wished to join, which meant his classes often had mixed skill levels.

Mathematics had Kirk walking between the students, grouping them according to kill level and doing mini-sessions. With the smallest ones or those with no knowledge he focused on the basics, patiently pointing out how to handle the equations. The groups went up from there, and after a bit Kirk clapped his hands to get their attention.

"All right, who wants to play a game?"

--

Once math was over, he moved on to the sciences. His focus for right now was an understanding of the human body (he was not comfortable enough in the physiology of the other races to teach it), and overall health, along with natural science such as how weather worked. Really it varied, and every lesson could get easily derailed as students asked questions and he expanded.

"All right, all right - anything else before I move on?"

--

And of course there was self defense classes, focusing on hand-to-hand combat. Like his other classes, he paired skill level with skill level. Unlike his other two, he was far more strict here, walking between partners, critiquing and demonstrating.

"Come on, go at it for real!" he called. "This is practice for a real life situation, so better treat it like one!"

C - The Man About Town
When not practicing with his shard or teaching his classes, Kirk was running errands around Skyhold, acting as a sort of courier for businesses. It wasn't the best pay, but it saw him through the days. It meant he ran between businesses in the market and even around the medical tents.

He spent time at the stables as well, working on his horsemanship, or visiting with Boggie. He could often be seen talking to him and petting the bog unicorn, sometimes with his cats, Leonard and Nikita, in tow.

Of course he would make appearances at the tavern, happy to sit and enjoy an evening of music and song with drink in hand. Some nights he could convinced to sing of his strange, other-worldly songs too.

Comments

[eternalsquire]

This is, in his experience, the only time in his life a human has been trying to throw him to the dirt to help him. Much of the time it's followed by kicks and a frantic scramble to just cover his head.

The difference is nice. It's also nice to not be afraid. It's even more nice that Kirk is moving more slowly, and Kif can follow the pattern, keep up with each swing and even meet them.

By the time that round is done there's the start of a small smile on his face. He hadn't failed this round. He'd learned and it's satisfying.

"I got it that time," he told Kirk excitedly, as if the man hadn't noticed.

[universal_charm]

Seeing the excitement on Kiff's face was enough to make Kirk smile too, to have that warmth blossom in his chest that came from the pride in seeing a student learn and do well. He had felt it when he helped train others at the Academy, felt it when his men and women had done well on the Enterprise or performed above and beyond.

"Good," he praised, moving back and resuming his start position. "I'm going to go faster this time, like in a more realistic fight. Do your best, and we'll call it a day after we stretch out. Then it's rest. Here I come." He breathed and lunged in, repeating the same pattern, but sped up to fighting speed.

[eternalsquire]

He tries to remember the pattern, knowing that in a real fight there's no cheating by knowing what an opponent is going to do ahead of time but he wants every advantage he can get. Kif catches some of the moves, but not all. That Kirk gets a couple strikes in has him swallowing after, but nodding, not feeling beaten down this time. Kirk had said good. He's not failing or disappointing entirely, and maybe this means he'll do better next time.

No. It means he'll do better this time, he decides.

"Thank you," Kif says quietly after. "I'll do better next lesson, sir."