First Times (and not that kind, perverts) [FINISHED]

Nik waved Ryder off as well and turned back to the conversation. "Well, it depends on the weapon, and the experience. You're first mission will stress you out. There is no getting around that. The best thing you can do is trust your partner and use what you've learned. Specific advice for a bouncy ball.....hm, that isn't a weapon I have experience with." Nik said to Melody. He wished he could give her better advice, but it's a hard subject to advise on. In the heat of combat, instinct will be your biggest ally.

Melody nodded at what Nik was saying, filling the advice from the elder weapon for when she actually started to train. Still, she was unsure that trusting her instincts would have the best results. She was not a natural born fighter, and she skimmed by in athletics. He did know what he was doing, and maybe she would to when the time came. Jazz's comment, on the other hand, confused her. "Uhm..... Jazz? I am the shemen.... shaman. Not the seamstress. I do not fashion."

Jasmine laughed instantly, shaking her head and smiing wide. "Fashioning, as in creating. I am unsure of how to make the object myself, but I think that it would be interesting to essentially play jacks with your enemies. Send her flying and design some needle-jacks to work with her. I mean, it would be difficult... might need some witch help for it, but with your knowledge of anatomy..."

"That idea is equally fascinating and disturbing. However, all is fair when you fight evil souls. They will do anything to get an edge on you. You have to outsmart them and outfight them. Luckily, most of them aren't too bright, but the ones that are will push you to your limit. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't." Nik said, a clear image burning in his head. The sound of howling laughter still rang in his ears sometimes, and the sight of Svenja, cleaved in two.......Nik shuttered hard and banished the thought from his mind.

Melody could tell that something was bothering Nik. The weapon had a weight to him, and it has come up when talking about evil souls. And his comment about losing fights. Something happened. Like her. Her thoughts shifted back to her village, to the time when the monster was terrorizing the people. And her father, her papa, had gone after the thing. Melody's body froze up, her eyes became distant and lost their spark, as she remembered seeing her father's soul be consumed.

Jasmine's whole expression seemed seemed to fog over as the overall mood shifted, and she suddenly banged her fist on the table, a challenging, wide smile on her face. "Hey, Mel, you tried wielding anyone else yet?" Her eyes sparkled, a dare in them as she looked between the two.

Nik saw the change in Melody immediately, and understood completely what it meant. How many times had he made that same face when he thought of Svenja? Melody had lost someone important to her. Another victim to the evil in this world. The very thought just made Nik angry. However, he snapped out of it once Jazz's question passed through his head. He say that devilish look in her eyes. However, the thought of another meister wielding him made him queasy. It still felt too soon. He held his hands up and said, "No thank you. I don't feel comfortable be wielded yet." He looked back over to Melody and reached out to grab her hand. He whispered, in her own language so as to make it easier, "I understand." He released her hand and returned his attention to Jazz. "Any other dares you can think of?" He asked, hoping the challenge would distract them all from the macabre nature of this conversation.

The contact from Nik's hand broke Melody from her hypnotic state. She gave her head a slight shake and, seeing Jazz, immediately went about answering the last thing she remembered hearing. "Wha.. I uh.... no." Melody flashed her a half-smile, which was not entirely faked. "I cannot. I told you. I was the Shaman. I was the town healer. I was not the town smith. I could..." Her smile became more genuine as she thought of what she could do to Droon and other like people. "I could coat her blade in poisons. I have made those."

Jasmine slowly raised an eyebrow, looking at her uneasily. "Should I be more worried?" She let out a nervous chuckle, but shifted uneasily in her seat.

"That's one way to handle a situation." Nik said, chuckling a bit. It was odd to see this little girl talk about such things, but stranger things had happened. His brothers had some strange conversations, even when his parents were involved. "Also, since she's a bouncy ball, momentum will be your greatest ally. Doesn't matter how small or blunt something is. If it is flying at you at 200 kilometers per hour, it's going to do some damage." Nik told her. The image of that was a grisly one.

Melody shook her head at Jasmine. "No, no. Mother said those are only for bad men and bad tippers. And you..:" Melody accented this word with a small, not entirely flirtatious, smile, "You are neither." To Nik, she looked confused. "I do not think I can throw Candy that hard. And I was to put the poison to her blade. She has a small one."

Jasmine smirked, shaking her head and chuckling to herself as Melody continued to speak. "Either way, your knowledge will get you far, even while your lack of experience hinders you."

"After your first few encounters, you'll figure out what you're good at and what needs work. Don't worry too much about it. Clever girl like you will do great." Nik told Melody, smiling at her in the process. Like him, she had more reasons than others to hunt the wicked souls in the world. He could see her becoming great. All she needed was a confidence boost and some martial training. "If you want, Melody, I can show you some of what I know. I happened to be formally trained in boxing, kickboxing, and Tai Chi." Nik offered.

"Uhuh, uhuh." Melody nodded as she smiled at the praise. "I think I will. Kickboxing sounds like fun. Though," she tilted her head and gave him a look with her eyes wide. "Was not Tai Chi ter... ther.. therapeutic?"

"You got that one," Jasmine said, laughing softly before taking a drink and setting back to eating her food. "Personally, I think any exercise helps, but that could just be me."

"Tai Chi can be therapeutic and has lot of good health benefits, but it is, ultimately, a martial art. It is one of the best self defense arts in the world. I'll be glad to show you anything I know." Nik said. He checked his phone and saw that he only had a few minutes left. He quickly scarfed down the rest of his food before taking out a piece of paper, scrawled his number down, and placed it on the table. "Add me in your phones and text me with your name so I can add you, I have to go. It was great to meet you all." Nik said before getting up and throwing his trash away. He beelined for the door and left to go to his next class.

Melody looked at the piece of paper Nik had left at the table and then at his leaving figure already out the door, before getting a panicky, if adorable, look on her face. "Jazz! What should I do! I do not own a sími! Uhh.. a phone!" She leaned across the table getting close to Jasmine, knocking over her thankfully empty drink in the process.

Jasmine shot her a smirk instantly, checking her watch real quickly and tallying off the time. "Meet me at my room after class, alright?" There was something maybe a little deviant in her gaze, but the smile on her face was genuine. "I can solve that problem, right-o." As she spoke, she pocketed the slip, not bothering to put it in her phone just yet. "You'll be wantin' ta' get to class soon, chica."

Melody looked at the clock on the wall, and realized that she, indeed, was pressed for time. She looked back to Jasmine and then down at her uneaten food. "Oh. Uh, yes. I will see you then." She grabbed her hamburger of her tray and dashed out the door trying to eat and walk at the same time. "Muewy" She said around a mouthful, running a group of students out of the way as she looked over her shoulder.