13873/What lurks within

What lurks within
Date of Scene:	10 October 2021
Location:	Columbus Park - Chinatown
Synopsis:	While getting more information about the tai chi group in Columbus Park, Willow runs across Vitali. The two have a bit of an odd chat and a short sparring match.
Cast of Characters:	Vitali Svyatoslav, Willow Rosenberg

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Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
Habits. Everyone has them, to some degree or other. Some are good ones and some are bad ones and others still manage to be neither whilst still existing. It is morning, and one that is a bit misty or foggy in nature, drifting in some places whilst more clear in others. The park is peaceful and tranquil, an air of quiet possessing it at such an hour.

The group of seniors who practice tai chi are here this morning. And there is one who has joined them who has never done so before. Vitali is here, and he stands in a row with others who practice. He is bare footed upon the dewy grass. The outfit that he wears is a pair of loose black pants, and for today a dark blue tunic that has black frog closures, long sleeves, slits at the sides, and black cuffs to the sleeves. His black hair is braided, slithering the length of his back. His movements are graceful and serene, smooth and practiced, as though the tai chi is naught but child's play.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Sure Willow had thought about Tali and his 'guest', but really the reason she dropped by on the morning tai chi was that she had been wondering about purchasing for Pietro. Or just to talk (after all, she didn't know if these classes had a cost!).

Either way she meant to talk with the instructor.

Watching closely as each movement drawn elegantly, in and out, to the slowest motion each participant breathing in and out methodically she *knew* it was perfect.

And then she saw him. Tali. Or to be precise, Zhihao.

"Oh sugar!"

Yes, Willow actually says 'sugar'. Maybe just a teeny tiny bit too loud.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
It's not unusual for folks to wander by the park and take in the tai chi class. Some of the practitioners glance towards her, but they don't seem to pay her a lingering amount of attention. The tai chi itself is their focus. And thus it is until she speaks. Vitali's dark gaze settles upon her in that moment and follows her progress. Yet the flow of the movements is unbroken, unhindered, the rate of breathing kept slow and even and relaxed.

His gaze slides away as the closing movements of the set are made, and he takes a small step back. He brings his left hand to his right so that the back of his left hand is against the palm of his right hand, and then he bows, extending his arms as he does so. He straightens and lowers his hands before stepping away and thus out of the line, stepping over to where his steel-toed boots sit paired together. His steps seem at ease and relaxed, calm and unhurried.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
There is NO way he missed her.

Willow frowns. Really she should back away, possibly quickly, and retreat. That's what a wise Willow would have done. Unfortunately she is not wise. Furthest from it.

Lifting up her chin, she stormed the few feet between her and him. "I was wondering, do you recommend tai chi for a person who needs to relax. Specifically to slow himself down."

Well, it's true. And everybody needs to slow down. The odds of him putting Pietro and tai chi was infinitesimal.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
Smoothly, easily, he leans over to easily pluck the boots from where they sit upon the ground. He steps slightly aside from those who continue to practice but a touch closer to the instructor. A closer point from which to be able to overhear all that might be said. He makes a slight gesture of his hand, the dew neatly sweeping and gathering itself from the blades of grass, a breath of Vitali's magic easily controlling the water. Then he settles to the patch of dry ground in cross-legged fashion. The dew is idly flicked aside, and there is a droplet of it that seeks to land upon the tip of Willow's nose unless something stops its path. He notice her, assuredly so. He pulls on his boots and tugs the laces, tightening them and tying them up.

The instructor, a kind looking and elderly woman, greets Willow and smiles at her. "It is very much recommended for those who need to relax or relieve themselves of stress. It focuses the mind and the body," she explains, speaking in accented English.

Vitali looks towards Willow and there is the slightest hint of silvery-blue to show briefly within his dark eyes. He easily rises to his feet, and there is a faint adjustment to the tunic, and he raises an eyebrow slightly as he slants his gaze towards her. "This one would say that there are many benefits to the practice of t'ai chi ch'uan," he says, the name of it spoken with a native fluency. "The movements were designed for combat," he adds, a hint of a smile touching at the corners of his lips.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Okay, she had done it before. And were it known she preferred it to the usual practice she had done with the gang. Tai chi was relaxing; most of her training was not.

But she grins as she realizes that Tali was in control of a portion of his magic. The fact that Zhihao wasn't aware of the fact gave her some thoughts to mull over. If Tali can't do BIG magic, perhaps he could use minor things to wreak big changes.

Hrm..

"That's what I thought!" She talked first to the instructor, but included Tali too. "I had heard of that. Every position as a part of an attack or a defensive position. But it seems so relaxed. Not like a battle." She had no doubt that Pietro would like that part of it.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
What experiences Heng Zhihao has with the art are left unsaid. Vitali's dark gaze holds in steadfast fashion upon Willow, studying her. If there are boundary lines that have been drawn within the sand of Vitali's self, then it is likely that they're not static in nature but fluctuate with internal skirmishes. There are likely struggles, even though there are no outward signs of such happening.

Lightly, Vitali brushes his hands together, and then he slips his left hand to bring it to rest at the small of his back. There is a brief glance cast towards the seniors who have begun another set, and then his attention shifts back to her. "Yes. It is relaxed and slow when it is done thus. Very unlike battle," Vitali says, lifting his right hand to gesture towards the seniors. "This one has other preferences for combat," he says, giving a single nod.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Truthfully, Tali did tai chi, but not to the proficiency of Zhihao. And there were other differences between the two men. Like his posture during his goodbye and hello's. Tali still had a lifetime of 'other' behind him, while Zhihao displayed grace that was born with him. Amongst other things. Zhihao probably didn't even notice the tinybits he was showing himself off.

"I'm not very good, I'm afraid." At least compared to Buffy she wasn't.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
Indeed, Vitali's own skill with tai chi is far from being mastery. He enjoys it and appreciates it for many of the benefits that it offers. For combat, he uses a Russian martial art in which he is proficient but not a master. Heng Zhihao's familiarity with tai chi indicates a level of training that is well beyond Vitali's own, not to mention whatever skill level might be possessed in the martial art which was the one preferred for combat.

Vitali tilts his head a touch to one side, studying her for a long moment before giving a small nod. "This one was not always very good. This one practiced, many hours," he says, a thoughtful note to his voice. "This one is better than not very good, now. Every bruise in practice or in battle is a lesson. Learn the lessons they teach," he adds, giving a small nod. When bruises are mentioned, there is a slight shift of an adjustment to his right arm, a sort of resettling of it.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Ah.. there it is again. Something that is not Tali. And furthermore, it could be important. That right side check was an old injury. Perhaps arthritic as well?

"I'm really a nerd. You know, computers. Maths. Online games.." Willow looks at him, and pretends to consider. "Could you show me? I mean, show me?" She pretends to hold up fisticuffs poorly.

She figures what better way to gauge him than to try him.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
If it is something, Heng Zhihao shares nary a single detail on the matter of it. Vitali tilts his head slightly to one side as his dark gaze holds upon Willow, listening to what she says.

"Mm," he offers, a sound of acknowledgement. "There is importance in math. Children learn many skills in the course of playing games, though such things are oft grown past," he adds. He falls quiet for a long moment, looking her over from head to toe and back again. There is a breath that is exhaled, and a brief glance cast towards the instructor and the seniors before his attention returns to her.

"You wish to test yourself against this one. This one does not believe it is wise but this one will indulge your wish," he says softly, giving a short nod. His left hand moves away from the small of his back, his weight shifting to one foot as he adopts a traditional kung fu crane stance.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
"You won't hurt me, will you?"

With her hands held up, with the thumbs tucked in (on purpose!!) Willow tries to 'hit' him.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
There's a slight tilt of his head at the question, and then a faint headshake that follows. "This one will not hurt you," Vitali says. 'This time' seems almost as though it ought be added after the words that were said. There's a brief glance given towards the fist that Willow has made before his gaze lifts back to her face.

"You will break your thumbs if you land a struck with such a fist," he says, his tone patient. When she tries to hit him, he easily deflects her attempt. "Thumb outside, like this," he explains, displaying the proper way with one of his own hands. Once he's corrected her, he allows the mock battle to proceed. He either dodges or deflects her attacks with a measure of practiced and graceful ease, remaining within the skillset of kung fu in order to do so. There is a slight favouring of his right arm, and it seems to be his dominant side. There are attacks that he gives in turn, the force of the blows reduced to merely a touch rather than being all out, and the blows are aimed towards crippling or disabling limbs (if they hit full force, that is). He is controlled and skilled, and quite significantly.

Willow Rosenberg has posed:
Willow really has to work not to give herself completely away. She can't beat him at hand to hand battle, but she still could hurt him (to run away). And she has to be dumber than she really is to keep up the subterfuge.

But she's got a whole new category of things to discuss with Tali friend's.

"I give! I give!" And she puts her hands up. "No more. But I will remember thumbs on the outside of my fist. Thanks. And I probably should. I've got some work to do." At which she crinkles up her nose. "You taught me some good pointers on fighting."

She hopes that Tali gets the hint.

Vitali Svyatoslav has posed:
It is a small sampling of Heng Zhihao's skill that is displayed in their mock fight, but perhaps it will give enough information. As soon as Willow gives up, Vitali easily drops from his stance to be standing with tranquil ease once again and with his hands lightly resting at his sides. He gives a faint nod, and then he bows to her in that way (albeit not as deeply) he had before leaving the tai chi group -- right hand to the outside and with the back of his left hand against the palm of his right, the movement smooth and graceful.

"Yes. Remember it. This one will not correct it again," Vitali says, giving a single nod to her. There is a ghost of a smile that turns the corners of his lips. "There are always things to learn. Learning ends when death comes," he offers, tilting his head a touch to one side as he watches her. There is a silvery blue flicker that shows briefly in his dark eyes. "This one still finds ways to learn," he adds in a quieter tone, almost as though to himself.