What’s in ‘a Tell’

Posted on 21 May 2018 @ 11:41pm by Ensign Callin Mastrel & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn
Edited on on 22 May 2018 @ 2:25pm

1,135 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Rigel II - Avondale Production Facility, Gymnasium
Timeline: MD 107, 0630 Hours

[ON]

Tris had enjoyed meeting Callin a few days earlier. The Andorian had found him very different than other officers; more curious possibly, but certainly a person who had a different way of thinking than most.

Tris had talked to him the day before to schedule some time in the gym. Since Calin was curious about fighting, Tris thought that going over what each of them knew would be a good place to start, and they could go from there.

Tris had prepared himself with close fitting mid-high black shorts and a skin tight shirt with no sleeves. It was black with three purple lines slashed across the torso at an angle. The material of both allowed for maximized cooling. The small fitting shoes and fingerless padded gloves completed his workout attire. The darkness of the outfit was a striking difference to his light blue skin.

There were a few others in the gym working out, but did not see Ens. Mastrel, so Tris began to do some stretches.

It wasn't much later that Callin arrived, and his choice of clothing was probably the first sign that he hadn't been lying the other day when he'd admitted to be lacking in certain areas. His Starfleet Academy-issued matching sweatpants and shit, grey and with the Academy's logo emblazoned on the chest, were easily a size too big for him, loose and baggy, and the scuffed and worn sneakers were likely those he'd worn there too all four years.

Clothes that made him a bigger target than he actually was, gave easy purchase for someone wanting to grab or throw, shoes with traction long since worn out of the bottoms and likely to slip. What he lacked for being prepared, he at least showed some enthusiasm for the grin on his face was ‘excited’.

"Hi!" Callin had a bounce in his step as he came to stand over in front of the Andorian, and he raised a hand in greeting. Without seeming to pause he launched into, "Thanks for doing this, Tris! Or do you go by Shizn maybe?" He hadn't thought to ask that yet, nor thought to look it up in the cultural library of the computer. "I mean, I know you gotta be busy, so I appreciate you taking the time to agree to help me out some. So what are we going to start with? Blades? Staffs? Cardassian hand-to-hand styles?"

The Andorian kind-of half smiled and nodded at Callin’s many comments. Tris had learned during the Academy not to ignore people when they were babbling about things that didn’t matter to him. On this day he simply responded, “Well, I think we need to start slow. . . And let me understand where you are . . mentally, so that we can quickly go into these more . . interesting aspects.” He paused for a second and asked, “Okay?”

With a willing shrug, Callin said, "Sure. Okay." He was trying very hard not to show his discomfort. Perhaps he shouldn't have read up on Andorian biology ahead of time. Seeing the average strength comparisons of the hardy, blue-skinned race compared to his own, admittedly softer people hadn't done much for his confidence. Now that the moment was here? Callin smiled hard to try to cover his nervousness.

Tris’ left antennae angled further to the left. He was trying to pick up a perception from Callin. He had sensed something in his reaction, but wasn’t sure what it meant. With no further input, Shizn decided to continue. “Let us go out onto the mat and begin,” as he extended a hand toward the center of the room.

Callin took a deep breath and walked where indicated. Okay, he was nervous, but he was going to try. Just because he usually wound up bruised didn't mean he wouldn't learn something. Sometimes, it could be fun too...a little bit. He took a place on the mat and stretched for a moment, not to show off but because he didn't want to injure himself either. Then he took the standard, basic defensive posture taught at the Academy, a partial squat, shoulders squared and arms held ready.

Tris followed Callin out onto the mat and watched as Callin stretched, but he just stood watching. Once Callin took up a defensive position, Tris chuckled slightly. He thought, So A-typical. Standard fleet pose.

Tris took up a similar pose facing Callin. He began to lift his feet slightly in a kind of walk, going around, as if sizing each other up. All the while still facing Callin.

Callin shuffled his feet as he shifted to keep Tris in front of him, no trace of smiles on his face now. Black eyes were sometimes hard to read, but his face showed his concentration. He'd caught that slight laugh, was more worried now than he'd ever been. This was going to hurt!

Tris and Callin had circled each other only twice when a slight smile curved up on the left side of Tris’ mouth. He didn’t mind giving this away to Callin, if he was watching, for Tris had discovered ‘a tell’ just in that short amount of time. He had noticed that when Callin shifts his right foot he hesitates in bringing up his right hand up for an easy block. Definately somewhere to start, the Andorian thought.

As soon as Callin stepped again with his right foot, Tris stepped toward him with his left and bringing his left fist directly to Callin’s cheek with a significant force to move the face, but he hoped not too hard that would knock him down.

Callin took the hit, keeping his hands up, but staggering back a couple steps.

Tris had no desire to move in and hurt Callin, but it was obvious that he could. He did want this to go well; encourage, teach, and gain a friend, so he waited and kept his distance.

Callin raised his gloved hands in the sign of surrender and asked, “What did I do wrong?”

Tris lowered his gloved hands, placing them on his hips and replied, “Knowing how to fight is good, knowing how to fight well is important, but even more consequential is being able to read your opponent. Knowing what they are going to do before even they do is the secret to a excellent warrior.”

Callin thought about that for a moment, and was about to ask something else before his Andorian instructor raised a poignant gloved hand.

Tris said, “I observed a ‘Tell’ in your style, and took advantage of it.”

Callin raised both eyebrows and mouthed the word, ‘Ohhh’.

[OFF]

--

ENS Tris Shizn
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

ENS Callin Mastrel
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

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