he gets the name from THEO BECKETT, who as of late has been instructing him to either train or recruit more of their members. it's a bit unusual, but jayden doesn't think twice about it — as he doesn't typically think twice about any direction from his superiors.

[break][break] jayden is at the edge of the training square, looking over their stock of weapons and observing which need to still be cleaned and polished, and which are fine for now. he sets one of the bamboo rods on the rack and with very little effort, snaps it in half.

[break][break] it needs to be replaced anyway.

[break][break] "oh," he says, turning. "yes. danny hall, correct?"

[break][break] he offers a handshake to the other. a greeting.

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL

danny accepts the handshake, returning one firmly.[break][break]

"the one and only."[break][break]

to be fair, there could not have been that many danny halls in rocket. surely not.[break][break]

his eyes trail over to the stock of weapons, eyeing a few blades in particular.[break][break]

"so! what's on the agenda today? weapons training?"

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

the handshake is firm in his grip. jayden takes note.

[break][break] "yes," he says, eyes grazing over the weapons and then deciding to pick two polearms. one, he throws at DANNY HALL without giving the other so much as a warning. "have you done much weapon training?"

[break][break] jayden has read the other's file. of course, it's always better to hear information straight from the horse's mouth.

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL

the only form of weapons training danny has ever received is kendo while in hoenn and later fencing while he was in galar. theo had aware of it somehow, so he imagines jayden is the same.[break][break]

"a little. mostly with swords, though."[break][break]

definitely not a polearm. he grips it in both hands, feeling the weapon before taking a step back into a stance.[break][break]

"similar logic applies, i imagine."

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

"swords. that's good to know."

[break][break] jayden had already been aware of his file. theo had given it to him, after all.

[break][break] "we'll do that after, let's start with this first."

[break][break] sliding his arm along the length of the surface, one hand wraps around the bottom third of the polearm and the other towards the middle. "we'll see. you strike first."

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL

similar logic in the sense of treating the weapon as an extension of himself. the similarities end there, however, as danny quickly finds that wielding a polearm is vastly different than a mere sword.[break][break]

"here we go!"[break][break]

the first strike is flimsy but aimed correctly. it falls towards jayden, looking to strike his head.

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

the attack is easy enough to dodge, clumsy as it is, as it swings towards him. that being said, jayden decides instead to block the attack by swiftly bringing up his own polearm. he knocks it back with just enough pressure to cause a clash, but not enough to knock it to the side.

[break][break] "once again — and fix your grip."

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL

"!"[break][break]

to think that his attack was so easily deflected...this is why he prefers sticking to what he knows but he can't change weapons right now. it'd be too obvious.[break][break]

nodding at the instruction, danny's grip tightens around the weapon as he goes for another strike.

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

"better."

[break][break] this time, when their two weapons clash into each other, it's firm and secure. the feeling rings beneath jayden's fingertips, but it's a feeling he's used to. time and time again, he can remember each time that he'd sparred with his father.

[break][break] "but faster."

[break][break] jayden darts forward again, this time spinning the polearm so that the sharp side would aim to cut into the other's. after all, if danny didn't have something to fight with, it would make that all easier.

[break][break] assuming that danny would knock his attack back with a rebuttal, jayden is quick to make his second-jab with the blunt end of the weapon.

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL

faster? this man really said faster like danny wasn't already trying his hardest. he mentally shakes his head as he reacts to the attack.[break][break]

danny spins his polearm quick enough to deflect the blow, meeting jayden's sharp side only to get smacked by the blunt end.[break][break]

"fucking hell," he mutters under his breath before striking back, polearm spinning to try and cut jayden across his mid section.

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

while DANNY HALL was focused on the task at hand, jayden's focus relied on assessing the grunt. he didn't know much about the other man, except from what he'd read in his file, so this was the perfect time to assess what he was good and what he wasn't. how slow his movements were, and what his blind spots were.

[break][break] the polearm slashes through the air and jayden's legs tense before leaping into the air, a quick backflip to give them some space. his shoes skid against the concrete.

[break][break] "good."

[break][break] jayden spins the weapon in his grip and onto his other hand.

[break][break] "but your stance is too wide." he points the polearm at the boy's left side. "when you stab with your right arm, there is an opening on your left. because the polearm is a large weapon, you must clean up your movements as to not provide opportunity for attack."

[break][break] the hilt of the weapon hits the floor as jayden decides to close the battle.

[break][break] "we can fight with a weapon of your choice now, or we can take a break. what would you like?"

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL

"yeah, i'm not used to the polearm, if i'm being honest."[break][break]

but he appreciates the advice. he listens intently, nodding and taking it in, and when the opportunity comes for him to change weapons, he instantly accepts.[break][break]

"fuck the break. let's continue."[break][break]

he steps away to switch out the polearm for a shortsword. he twirls it, familiarizing himself with its weight.[break][break]

"alright. hit me."

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

his brow arches.

[break][break] "very well."

[break][break] the polearm is swapped out for a shortsword, which is not surprising considering DANNY HALL's file. the sound of steel sliding sounds as the admin pulls the weapon from it's chamber, hands wrapping easily around the sword.

[break][break] at the other's words, jayden wastes no time.

[break][break] in an absence of sound, his feet slam against the pavement and he bursts forward. the sword slices down swiftly upon the air without remorse.

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL