[New Horizons, LDS]

[ogrewarrior]

Somehow, someway, Kaz has managed to get LDS Dueling Facilities up and running amid all of the turmoil of the last few weeks. There's a few obstacle courses going, one with what looks like lilypads floating through a river and getting to the other side is rewarded with having to climb up a waterfall. The other is more stark, bleak, where the 'goal' is clambering up the sides of pillars with rocky handholds and weapons that've been jammed into the rocks.

There's a few action dueling arenas set up as well. They're under the LDS teacher's control, so you'll need to bother Kaz or Mazane or Shinji about using them. When a decent chunk of students have gathered and before they scatter to the courses and arenas, Kaz has taken a stand near a podium and looks like he cracks his neck before he booms out:

"LDS and DA students. There's been a rise of violence in the pro league we adults should be preparing ya for, not ta mention the current state of the junior league which I'm sure most of ya have encountered. This ain't gonna be a lesson in escalation. I can't teach all of ya how ta get on their level in one day. No one can.

What I can teach ya? How to control the flow of duels. Ya can't let these people run roughshod over stuff ya love and your limbs, so I have very basic self-defense and agility training. There's obstacles in these courses. Fish in the water that'll knock ya off. Some of the foot and hand-holds may not hold your weight. If ya don't wanna run grueling stuff, if ya don't wanna learn basic dodges or counters, lemme know. This ain't gonna be for everyone, and I'll mark ya off.

If ya wanna work on stuff in particular or how to control the flow of duels, come ta me, come ta one of my associates, Miss Mazane or Mister Samasu. We'll get ya working on how to interrupt any flow your opponent might try and create, with violence or not.

And if I see someone intentionally using the lessons I'm trying to pass down for self-defense against Ryozanpaku, flying knees, or people who literally crush duelists for schoolyard rumbles or hit someone who ain't willing to hit back, I don't care if it's years from now, I will yank ya outta that duel so fast your head will spin. And if you're one of my synchro kids, I might fail ya for the year. If ya ain't, your teachers, even across the ocean will be notified and I will suggest punishments that fit what crap ya were tryin' ta pull. We all clear?"

Afterwards, Kaz can be found nearly anywhere in the aforementioned areas, working with students or silently judging them. Sometimes he can be found in a spacey looking state, like he's lost in thought in one of the inactive dueling arenas. He's actually here to help, so feel free to bother him.

Comments

[seaandsky]

*Shinji has set himself up around one of the arenas after Kaz made his whole speech, though he's left thinking about what to do, here.

Controlling the flow of the duel... Hmm...*

[ogrewarrior]

And now he's coming up to you, the most relaxed you've probably ever seen him.

"Sorry 'bout that. Think I mighta put ya on the spot more than I wanted to. I'll be honest.

I wasn't sure what I was gonna say 'till I got up there."

[seaandsky]

You did, just a little bit. *he makes a small gesture with his fingers*

I mean, it's fine. I sorta expected something like this. It's mostly thinking of how to do it, is the problem.

[ogrewarrior]

"Throw 'em off their game. Do weird and unexpected things with the deck and some of your movements. These kids aren't used to fighting in action duels, so we gotta give 'em the next best thing.

Does... does that make sense?

Like... A duel's got a rhythm to it, like a fight or flirting or..."

The metaphor got away from him.

"I... These kids are mostly good, but their opponents are good at setting a tone and a rhythm to the duel and they've been following along with it. They need to learn how to combat the opponent seizing that flow and either make it their own or better, make their own tone and rhythm. Does that make sense?"

[seaandsky]

I suppose, it's just not something I'm entirely familiar with. Movements, I mean. Action Dueling is not something I've had too much experience in just yet.

But, I'm a teacher here. I'll need to do my best instead of complaining about things I don't have experience in.

[ogrewarrior]

"Ya can just work on deck tactics with them, if ya ain't comfortable running around on the action duel fields. They need to get good enough with their decks they can duel in horrible stress."

[seaandsky]

Well... alright, start off with what I know, I suppose.

I've been so focused on Xyz Summoning at recent, so I hope I can give advice for other types. *he rubs his head, shaking it* Really one of the main problems with how LDS handles their classes...

[ogrewarrior]

"Yeah, I... I know. Luckily I'm just using Synchro right now, I kinda have a decent grasp on all the others, since I think I've run every deck under the sun.

If there's anything you're unsure about or not confident in, ya can get my attention to help. At the end of the day, we're here to work together and make kids into better duelists, yeah?

I'll get ya a beer or something after this."

[seaandsky]

*... he lets out a breath*

I'll think about it.

I should know enough though, to help them. I guess I'm just getting nervous now.

[ogrewarrior]

"Oh, I'm terrified, don't worry."

[shiningsylvia]

H-hi, um... dueling good?

[seaandsky]

*he blinks at Sylvia, wondering for a moment what she's asking*

... I think that's the question I should be asking you. How's your dueling, miss?

[shiningsylvia]

Sorry, uh, yeah... uh...

*She breathes to collect herself*

I'm in the playoff thingy for the Junior League, but I'm not very confident so I figured I'd try to get like... advice.

[seaandsky]

Hnmm... Alright, miss. *he puts on a smile, trying to calm you down*

What deck do you use?

[shiningsylvia]

Ch-charming Defenders... It's like a fusion thing my partner got me, it's really cool.

[seaandsky]

Fusion, huh...

Well, let's start with this: Do you feel confident in your cards?

[shiningsylvia]

Nnot really, no... uh...

I rally like them though! Fusion clicked with me a lot, and I really like the way they play. I just... don't do great most of the time.

[seaandsky]

If you don't have confidence in your cards-- your partners in the duel-- you can't necessarily have confidence in yourself.

You like them though. Yes? The cards themselves.

[shiningsylvia]

Yeah! I like to like talk to them and stuff in duels. They don't really talk back, but Del's really cool and plays along with it a lot. Also Kit-Kat is very good, he's a really good kitty.

[seaandsky]

*oh, so they talk to her? Well, that's at least a bit easier on him...*

Do you think they're confident in you?

[shiningsylvia]

Mmm, I guess so? Kit-Kat really likes me for sure. He always rubs against my leg and stuff when I summon him. Hermione seems too caught up in fighting for me to tell, Diana and Del trust me, I think.

*She pauses*

When Hermione turns into Deimos or Phobos she seems pretty similar to everyone else, so maybe that's a good sign?

[seaandsky]

Probably. If your cards like you, I think it at least says something about their trust in you, right?

So you should at least be able to show trust in them, too. So what exactly do you think you might be lacking in?

[shiningsylvia]

Uh... calmness.

[seaandsky]

Do you think the lack of calmness is due to yourself, or due to your deck's build and balance?

[shiningsylvia]

Uh... probably me? Yasha helped me build my deck, so it's pretty good. Like... I can't concentrate very good sometimes if I start thinking too much, it's more me than the cards.