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Chapter 13 - One Foot In Front of the Other
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Well, Flopsy has her collar back. Perfect success! Except... why does she have feet now? I'm sure it'll be fine. It's not like it's a constant reminder of what she's done and been through and make her feel like a failure or a rogue Construct or a danger to humanity, right?
In this chapter, Flopsy gets her shoes back from the enigmatic Locke, deals with Lydia lording her height over her, and experiences "Martial Arts" for the first time. If she does get this whole "feet" issue fixed, it'll be awkward to show up with hooves again, though. Generally don't let those onto the mat.
Ah well, I'm sure she'll think of something and it'll all work out.
<<< PREV | FIRST | NEXT >>>
Well, Flopsy has her collar back. Perfect success! Except... why does she have feet now? I'm sure it'll be fine. It's not like it's a constant reminder of what she's done and been through and make her feel like a failure or a rogue Construct or a danger to humanity, right?
In this chapter, Flopsy gets her shoes back from the enigmatic Locke, deals with Lydia lording her height over her, and experiences "Martial Arts" for the first time. If she does get this whole "feet" issue fixed, it'll be awkward to show up with hooves again, though. Generally don't let those onto the mat.
Ah well, I'm sure she'll think of something and it'll all work out.
Category Story / All
Species Original Species
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 136.1 kB
Listed in Folders
i had a feeling that Locke was doin somthin with those boxes.....
ive thought about learnin martial arts but i dont think i would emotionally handle the things that happen in a dojo very well. i dont like bein told to do stuff & then havin to do it, i dont like fallin over & gettin up over & over again, and my inferiority complex gets triggered when i see ppl bein better than me at stuff or dominatin me at stuff. but.... the fact that i dont know martial arts at all & other ppl do ALSO triggers my inferiority complex somtimes (same as when i see ppl who know multiple languages).... somtimes i wonder if i culd hire a private martial arts teacher to just teach me some really basic stuff.... altho my life/schedule these days doesnt have room for stuff like that....
srry for ventin. story wise, im guessin flopsy is gonn benefit from formal martial arts training! mayb she'll be safer fighting crime if she fights more defensively
ive thought about learnin martial arts but i dont think i would emotionally handle the things that happen in a dojo very well. i dont like bein told to do stuff & then havin to do it, i dont like fallin over & gettin up over & over again, and my inferiority complex gets triggered when i see ppl bein better than me at stuff or dominatin me at stuff. but.... the fact that i dont know martial arts at all & other ppl do ALSO triggers my inferiority complex somtimes (same as when i see ppl who know multiple languages).... somtimes i wonder if i culd hire a private martial arts teacher to just teach me some really basic stuff.... altho my life/schedule these days doesnt have room for stuff like that....
srry for ventin. story wise, im guessin flopsy is gonn benefit from formal martial arts training! mayb she'll be safer fighting crime if she fights more defensively
Locke is a sneaky one... Sure, he could just ask, but what guarantee does he have that Flopsy would have told the truth? She's clearly hiding things, after all. No, catching her by surprise is the only way to have a chance to see for himself, to confirm his suspicions. I'd say "You don't live as long as he has without being at least a little sneaky", but... Well, things are a little complicated on that front... ^_~
Pride can be dangerous. Wanting to be the best, and getting upset when proven wrong, comes from a place of not being aware of our own limitations. There's also the fear that comes from a lack of trust in others, worrying that they'll look down upon you for having room to grow.
For the first part, the virtue of Humility is the wisdom to acknowledge the places in which we come up short, to face the gaps in our abilities and knowledge and soul. It is the reminder that we all walk different paths, and that others are not more or less virtuous for having walked a different path that led to them being ahead of you in this regard. Just as you are not more or less virtuous for not having gotten there yet. We are all Different, we all proceed through life at our own pace, in our own directions.
For the second, things are a little more complicated. If you do your best, if you give an honest effort, then you are keeping to the virtue of Honor. You are having the Courage to make your words and actions reflect Truth. If you do that, even if you don't succeed, you've done what you can and that is Honorable. If others make fun of you, they only reveal the lack of virtue in their own hearts. Compassion, for not keeping in mind how such words can hurt. Justice, for being unfair in making fun of someone who hasn't had the same chance to grow yet. Humility, for not remembering what it was like when they were just starting. Spirituality, for not keeping in mind that we are all The Same, that each one of us has thoughts and feelings and hopes and dreams and an entire universe within each and every person, and that we are an interconnected web and you cannot harm one without harming all.
That being said, Lydia definitely has a moment where she does not take it well, when she's shown up in class. But that's not for a few chapters yet. ^_^;;
Flopsy's fighting style does shift to be a bit more defensive. It was already somewhat defensive, based on how much she's used to holding back, but early on she's still very proactive. After all, until recently, she's never had to deal with weapons that could do more than sting for a bit! It's made her a bit overconfident, and she was also trusting too much in her "holding back" ability. Malik... stripped her of that last part. She will have to really get in touch with her strength before she'll be ready to resume crimefighting. I do get to have a lot more fun showing off Flopsy's style and its evolution in Book 2, as well as other styles and how they compare. ^_^
One of the fun things I like to do is sneak in references. Just tiny little things that pretty much nobody but me would ever get, and letting them color Flopsy's thoughts. For instance, "That hated, horrid moment." She's had a thought phrased that way twice. It's not just to be fancy, it actually comes from a song: A Wolfrider's Reflections: Songs of Elfquest - Hands of a Healer. The graphic novel series ElfQuest had some pretty heavy stuff in it, and at one point, the Healer Leetah is forced to take a life in combat. Being a Healer, her telepathy/empathy causes her to feel the pain of others, which usually drives her to heal injuries with her magic, but here it meant she felt her foe's death. Now she worries if she can ever redeem herself, having spent an entire life healing and helping, after "that hated, horrid moment / that sprayed blood on healer's hands". Not only do I love the series (though I've only read up through Blue Mountain, I really need to track down more of it now that I know it kept going) but I also had the music CD and listened to it a lot. Seemed like a very appropriate song... ^_^
And for something less obscure, Sensei saying "Anger is a weapon only to one’s opponent." Sensei does a LOT of things he prooobably shouldn't be doing (letting the guest join and fight a student, especially after a heated argument, allow her to refuse padding) but I suppose quoting "Tae Kwan Leep / Boot To the Head" is one of those things you're legally required to do. ^_~
Pride can be dangerous. Wanting to be the best, and getting upset when proven wrong, comes from a place of not being aware of our own limitations. There's also the fear that comes from a lack of trust in others, worrying that they'll look down upon you for having room to grow.
For the first part, the virtue of Humility is the wisdom to acknowledge the places in which we come up short, to face the gaps in our abilities and knowledge and soul. It is the reminder that we all walk different paths, and that others are not more or less virtuous for having walked a different path that led to them being ahead of you in this regard. Just as you are not more or less virtuous for not having gotten there yet. We are all Different, we all proceed through life at our own pace, in our own directions.
For the second, things are a little more complicated. If you do your best, if you give an honest effort, then you are keeping to the virtue of Honor. You are having the Courage to make your words and actions reflect Truth. If you do that, even if you don't succeed, you've done what you can and that is Honorable. If others make fun of you, they only reveal the lack of virtue in their own hearts. Compassion, for not keeping in mind how such words can hurt. Justice, for being unfair in making fun of someone who hasn't had the same chance to grow yet. Humility, for not remembering what it was like when they were just starting. Spirituality, for not keeping in mind that we are all The Same, that each one of us has thoughts and feelings and hopes and dreams and an entire universe within each and every person, and that we are an interconnected web and you cannot harm one without harming all.
That being said, Lydia definitely has a moment where she does not take it well, when she's shown up in class. But that's not for a few chapters yet. ^_^;;
Flopsy's fighting style does shift to be a bit more defensive. It was already somewhat defensive, based on how much she's used to holding back, but early on she's still very proactive. After all, until recently, she's never had to deal with weapons that could do more than sting for a bit! It's made her a bit overconfident, and she was also trusting too much in her "holding back" ability. Malik... stripped her of that last part. She will have to really get in touch with her strength before she'll be ready to resume crimefighting. I do get to have a lot more fun showing off Flopsy's style and its evolution in Book 2, as well as other styles and how they compare. ^_^
One of the fun things I like to do is sneak in references. Just tiny little things that pretty much nobody but me would ever get, and letting them color Flopsy's thoughts. For instance, "That hated, horrid moment." She's had a thought phrased that way twice. It's not just to be fancy, it actually comes from a song: A Wolfrider's Reflections: Songs of Elfquest - Hands of a Healer. The graphic novel series ElfQuest had some pretty heavy stuff in it, and at one point, the Healer Leetah is forced to take a life in combat. Being a Healer, her telepathy/empathy causes her to feel the pain of others, which usually drives her to heal injuries with her magic, but here it meant she felt her foe's death. Now she worries if she can ever redeem herself, having spent an entire life healing and helping, after "that hated, horrid moment / that sprayed blood on healer's hands". Not only do I love the series (though I've only read up through Blue Mountain, I really need to track down more of it now that I know it kept going) but I also had the music CD and listened to it a lot. Seemed like a very appropriate song... ^_^
And for something less obscure, Sensei saying "Anger is a weapon only to one’s opponent." Sensei does a LOT of things he prooobably shouldn't be doing (letting the guest join and fight a student, especially after a heated argument, allow her to refuse padding) but I suppose quoting "Tae Kwan Leep / Boot To the Head" is one of those things you're legally required to do. ^_~
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