A Guarded Surprise

[tummyflowers]

Who: King Richard (tummyflowers) & Magnus Burnsides (ruffboi) & The Royal Guard!
What: Magnus and Richard have concocted a plan to train the new trainees. It's worked so well, why not try it on the other newbies?
When: This week
Where: Throughout Olympia, along several patrol routes
Warning(s): idk, maybe language and blood?


[It starts with an idea. Every great moment does, when two minds come together and realize that they can accomplish great deeds together. This is what had happened to Richard and Magnus some days ago. Now it was time for them to put that brainstorming effort to work. Since being assigned responsibility of the armory, Richard had been lending a hand in helping outfit and train some of the new recruits drawn in from the Olympian natives. They'd been young and keen lads who didn't entirely seem to grasp Richard's lessons, but they were still trying their hardest. And finally, after all the drills and strange parables of heroic valor, they were off on their first real patrols throughout the city. Richard had kindly volunteered to accompany them, even though he was very likely less equipped to do the job than they were.

Only once they were in the heart of the city did their real training begin, because Richard had enlisted the help of the swolest man he knew, a musclebound ginger with a brawny, hairy chest and an axe to match. He'd play the part of the violent criminal and give a chance to give the recruits some real hands on experience. Richard couldn't be more proud!]

OPEN PROMPT

[After some success(??) with the recruits, the two decide that it wouldn't be such a bad idea to help their fellow refugees who are equally new to the guards. It's a bit of a boring job, so something like this would surely spice things up and provide some motivation. So using his access to the patrol schedule, Richard has gone out to the city to join some of his fellow guards on their patrols all while a silent, lurking figure waits in the shadows... ready to strike.]

(tl;dr: fellow guards can have Richard show up on their normal patrols, only for Magnus to jump out and attack them! They're more than welcome to fight back and even beat up the poor guy! And yell at Richard too! It's for morale, right?)

Comments

[shashka]

[ to Richard: ]

Diamond Dog. He's named after the works of a great man, back where I come from.

[ not that he expects the Renaissance Faire to be familiar with David Bowie. DD, though, to emphasize the point, he gives an affirmative bark, leaning in for pets at his trainer's go-ahead. ]

Training exercise?

[ he at least does a decent job at feigning shock. DD gives him a "look" for a moment, as if to say you don't really expect them to buy this, do you?

given what he knows of Richard... yes. yes he does. ]

[tummyflowers]

[Diamond Dog? What kind of name is that? Richard honestly feels a little embarassed for the pooch, but he doesn't say anything.]

OH yes, just a little something here Mags and I cooked up. [Yes, he's calling him Mags now. They're THAT buddy buddy!] He was going to come out all "Attack!" and you'd be all "Waaah!", a bit of a scuffle with no serious injuries, but you'd be more than prepared for the next one, hm? It was a blast with the new recruits.

[ruffboi]

[Meanwhile Magnus, recognizing the dog is friendly, is just sort of on the ground sticking his face in the dogs' face, play wrestling it a little bit and baby talking the whole time. Yeesh.]

Whosha nice boy, DD. [Yeah, Diamond Dog is too much for him, too.] That's you!

[And then without missing a second of petting -- ] Exactly. Testing your reflexes, my man. Seems like your boss didn't do too much vetting - I've been able to get the drop on a bunch of you!

[shashka]

[ Diamond Dog is what happens when you let a Russian name a dog after your mercenary company. still, upon observing Richard's embarrassment, he appears torn between trying to growl at the man, and continuing to enjoy the pets he was getting, and responding in turn.

at least, he likes one of the men.

Ocelot, meanwhile can't help but shrug, as he idly twirls one of his revolers. might as well play along (though a part of him doesn't take kindly to being doubted in skills). ]

Actually, I'd say that I passed your test with flying colours. We went through this whole exercise without you laying a finger on me, didn't we? You were stopped dead in your tracks by DD over here.

[ DD, to emphasize the point, goes in to lick Magnus' face. ]

[tummyflowers]

My God. He's absolutely right. [Richard had by now likewise become distracted by the dog and was giving the pupper a good old backscratching.]

We've been played, Magnus!

[ruffboi]

Hmm. Okay, but in the field, you're going to be dealing with criminals. Some of those criminals might not even be dog people! [He's still ruffling DD's ears as he says this.]

You beat us, but that doesn't mean you're ready.

[shashka]

Oh?

[ again, he looks amused, though DD is looking a little more unimpressed by the minute as though he couldn't take simple criminals. still, Ocelot gives him a look, and he's back to all puppy smiles.

never let anyone know your true intentions until it's far too late. ]

If I'm not ready after beating you, then what do you want me to do?

[ he'll indulge in their little "game" for now. what else might he learn? ]

[tummyflowers]

[Oh, damn. Richard feels like he needs to take this one here, being the seasoned guard who is supposed to be 'training' people. What else SHOULD he be doing? Richard has to stop, ponder, and give his beard a little old scratch.

Aha!]

Well, I think it should be clear. You need to surprise attack Magnus and see if you can out-surprise him, even when you have your puppy here in clear view.

[ruffboi]

Great idea! I'll stay here and take care of DD, and you go off and see if you can get the drop on me. I'm warning you - I've been fully trained in thief style and I'm nearly unsneakable.

[Maybe he just wants to get a chance to be alone with the puppy. Is that so wrong?]

[shashka]

[ some people might be offended by the ridiculousness of the situation. not Ocelot, however. no, he was nothing if not a good sport about this.

of course, he's met a guy covered in bees, and his father was a psychic ghost so maybe it's just nice to be amused by the antics of others. so again, he feigns utter seriousness. ]

But isn't that a problem? If I try to sneak up on you now you'll know that I'm on my way.

[ but there were other ways to surprise the man, and he'd wait until the opportune moment. ]

[tummyflowers]

I dunno, it seems fair. Magnus is able to sneak around and he's enormous. Besides, we'll be distracted with DD!

[Even Richard now kneels down, intending to give the pupster his true and undivided attention.]

[ruffboi]

That's why it's going to be extra challenging for you. But if you wanted, you could disappear for a while and come back when we, and DD, least expect it.

[Sticking his face back in DD's face, though.]

Though I think you'll notice him coming, won't you, good boy? Yes, you will.

[shashka]

Well, when you both put it that way, how can I refuse? We need to make sure the guards are properly trained, don't we? Just make sure you give him lots of affection. He can get awfully lonely.

[ though he gives DD a subtle "look" before he goes. gotta make sure that he knows exactly what the game is.

it might be a minor 'betray' button that he's going to try to hit, but it'll make for good practice for when the real time comes.

and so, he heads off down the road, making an exaggerated turn into some bushes. Of course, he doesn't intend to stay there for long. ]

[tummyflowers]

[Richard gets in on this poochy petting. DD is a pretty cool guy, when it comes right down to it. Such a cool dog, even if he wasn't The Cool Dog.]

Such a nice fellow, isn't he? Though I mean, a dog is no dragon, if you know what I mean. [Except... he's never told Magnus about his dragon!]